Hooves quiet, a conscious mind of his breathing, Braylen did his best to stalk his father. So far he was succeeding, not daring to step on a dead twig or rustle the leaves upon the branches that were beginning to fall to the ground as the seasons changed. He felt as quiet as a panther, crouching and ready to pounce on its prey. Hind quarters giving a slight wiggle, the boy stuck his tail straight up in the air as he dropped his head and narrowed his eyes. Yes, he was a stealthy cat and his prey was just up ahead.
As Lyden disappeared around another tree, Braylen had taken a few hurried steps and nearly collided with his father’s hindquarters as the stallion came to a stop just to look around the scenery. Scrambling backwards, Braylen hid on the other side of the tree once more and dropped his head so he could spy on his father’s legs to see that he wasn’t moving. Only when there was a rumble in the earth, a new voice echoing in the small open clearing did Braylen lose sight of his game and peer around the other side of the tree to see another boy his own age and a gigantic stallion!
Pinning his ears and raising his head so that he could puff out his chest, Braylen had realized his father was much taller than the thicker made man. Surely that made him the king of this territory since he could reach towards the skies? But as he watched his father venture forward, the relaxed and mild temperament of a second, Braylen couldn’t help but deflate. His father wasn’t king.
Turning his blue eyes on the other boy, Braylen then decided even if his father wasn’t king he would should the other boy who would lead in their father’s hoof steps. Better to start now, to assert his dominance, so that one day the other boy would simply fallow out of habit without ever questioning his loyalty. Yes, it sounded like an excellent plan!
Raising his head again and puffing out his chest with his short tan tail held straight up, Braylen strutted out into the clearing with the other horses. He passed a glance over his father and the stranger before moving to stand in front of the other boy. “My name is Braylen.” He stated. “What is yours?”
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