His heart pounded in his ears as the wolves drew closer. With every passing moment, he could feel the blood rushing through his veins as he prepared to fight. He had never been in a serious fight today. He didn't know how to use his gangly legs to his advantage, or the strength he had lurking within him. He took a deep breath, steeling his nerves for the biggest fight of life. Right as he started to rear and as the first wolf started to lunge, a bloodcurdling scream came from his left.
The mare from earlier, the one who had warned him away, came barreling down the slope of the mountain. Jay watched in shock as the first wolf went flying, yelping as it hit the ground. He watched as the mare danced around, her hooves flying with perfect accuracy. He listened as they connected. The hard thump of hooves hitting flesh, the occasional snap of a bone or ligament, and even the wolf’s yips of surprise and pain. He stood still, almost forgetting to breathe as the mare stared down at the last wolf. There was a moment of silence, where nothing seemed to move before the wolf slunk back into the forest.
He flinched as she spun towards him, shaking with fury. He pinned his ears and lowered his head, bracing himself for her anger. He almost would've preferred the wolves. Mentally, he started to prepare an apology speech. The air itself seemed tense enough to cut, and he feared what would happen next.

I'm such a fool, he thought to himself. The only thing he had needed to do was pay more attention to his mother. Maybe if he were stronger, he wouldn't have been driven out. Maybe if he were more assertive, he wouldn't have been left behind by the other stallions. Maybe if he weren't so pathetic, he wouldn't have needed to be saved.
Tears welled in his eyes as the adrenaline started to leave his body. He was so tired. For all his bravado, he was still just a baby. He wasn't supposed to be on his own already, and he felt lost. Even though the mare was clearly angry with him, he couldn't help but to take some comfort in the fact she even came back for him.
Slowly, he unpinned his ears as she began to talk.

"You can stay in the Peak until you are two, or until you learn not to ask the wolves to eat you, whichever comes first."
This time, he had to stop himself from reacting.

She continued to speak, and he listened. For once, he had learned to keep his mouth shut. He had so many questions. How would he prove himself? How big was the Peak? How would he know when he was ready? What was a captive, a Trinket? Most importantly though, where were the lower lands?
And yet, he said nothing. He nodded respectfully, and when he finally spoke, he was surprised to hear his voice was deep and steady.

He stalked forward, a new confidence in his gait. He had somewhere to go. For the first time in a while, he had a goal. He was going to learn how to defend others, like the mare had defended him. He was going to make sure no one felt powerless as he did, and maybe, he would take back his herd. He toyed with the thought, then stored it in the back of his mind. He didn't know if he wanted to go back. He wasn't sure what was left, and either way, he had more pressing problems to deal with.
He turned towards the river he had seen earlier, then turned again so that he was headed parallel to it. He would likely be able to find the creeks if he followed the water downstream. He cast a parting glance over his shoulder, then slipped back into the trees.