Chingo cantered leisurely over the seemingly endless grassy-plain toward his herd. He had just gone to the top of Mane Hill, to check for any trespassing stallions or cougars. There were plenty of cougars hiding around in little caves, and forests here. As for stallions. There were a few, one exceedingly annoying one. He was a red hot-head stallion. He had a few unruly mares he had mustered up from who knows where! They supposedly stayed on the other side of snorting river near Large Forest. But every once in awhile he would try to take Chingo's herd. All was well today, thank goodness! For his mate Dandelion, had been bitten by a snake last week and was still weak. Chingo plodded down to a trot, then a walk, and stopped next to the foals. Who always waited in the same spot till he got back from patrol. "Everything seems fine and peaceful." Chingo told the foals gently. Then he watched in amusement as they trotted joyfully around to spread the news. Dandelion limped over to her mate and nickered a heartfelt hello. "Hey Dandelion! How are you feeling?" Chingo asked in a concerned way. "I'm fine" She said with a dismissive flick of her ears. " But guess what Swifthoof told me!?" He knew what was coming. Swifthoof was the best mare with the foals and pregnant mares in the herd. "I'm gonna have a foal!" She whinnied excitedly, not waiting for his respond. Chingo was very happy, and he told her so. But he couldn't help thinking. What about her snake-bit leg?
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Chingo didn't have much time to think about Dandelion because Jewel, a gray yearling galloped breathlessly up. "Theres- There is a cougar. Had three babies........... Near Dragonfly Brooke! Under Ow-Owl tree!" She told him quickly. Her stuttering might have been funny, if she wasn't stuttering about THIS. " Well, they can't live here can they?" Chingo said calmly. Jewel nodded her head vigorously. It was important for him to stay calm,so as not to scare the other horses. " I will take four mares with me to drive them out. Ginger, Colby, Horsetail, and Dustyheart." He told Jewel after a moment of pondering. She nodded and headed off to find and bring back the mares. Duranga trotted skid-ishly up, with her foal Dapple right behind her. " Will the cougars eat my baby?!" She asked in a high-pitched whinny. " Can i help?" Dapple nickered eagerly looking at him after her Mom had finished. " No Duranga." Chingo snorted with a roll of his eyes. " AND sorry Dapple, no. Maybe next time, OK?" Dapple nodded, disappointed and walked away. Her mother followed slowly, glancing around as if cougars would attack any moment. Just then the group of mares appeared. " Normal routine. Dart, kick-bite, retreat, repeat. Ready? Lets go." He said in a firm, leader-like voice.