Chapter Four

A mighty Stallion and a Scottish Warrior become friends and a magical stone is found.

Chapter Four
“Eclipse and the Stone”
Eclipse, John’s horse walked into the cove and started to graze on the bright green grass. John walk to a near by tree and sit upon the cool ground. As he leaned against the trunk, his mind began to wonder and think. He looked up at his brilliant black stallion, and thought on the day he and his horse became friends. The thought of the friendship put a smile upon his face. His magnificent friend was a wild fiery animal. It was on the day of the solar eclipse that he had become acquainted with his horse. John remembered how he had gone to the cove to hunt; hunting was a quite sport and he enjoyed the silence in nature.
He was sitting against this very same tree. He had his bow ready and waiting for a deer to graze into the cove. He waited and waited, resting and thinking on things within his life. Then the sky began to grow dark, the eclipse had started. He had forgotten that the eclipse was going to be that day. The moon slowly rested itself in front of the light of the warming sun and it turned dark. It was almost too hard for him to see anything, but he caught a glimpse of eyes in the field. John then slowly leaned in to see if he could get a better look at what was in front of him.
He could barely make it out; it was a dark as night, a horse, a wild stallion. He felt drawn to the creature before him. John took out a rope he had with him. He made a loop in the rope and stood quietly to his feet, he was only a few feet from the creature. He then tried to slip the rope over the horses’ head. John recalled unusual it was for a horse to not have run by now. He knew in his heart that it was destiny for this horse to be his.
As he grew closer to the mighty animal, the moon started to uncover the sun. The light shined upon the splendid animal before him. Standing in just hands reach of the animal, he slowly moved closer. The fierce horse looked deep into His eyes and let out a fierce snort. John threw the rope around the horse’s neck and the horse took off in a wild run. John griped the rope with his mighty hands and held on for dear life. The horse was dragging him though the cove, yet he was standing on both of his feet. It was the oddest thing that he had ever happen to him. He was not going to let such wonderment get away from him. So John clinched the rope tighter, he buried his feet deep into the soil. The black Stallion headed straight for a cave.
The Cave was just along the other side of the cove and inside of the hillside. Holding on, the whole way, fighting and pulling to bring the horse to a stop. He was drug inside of the cave by the horse. The horse come to an abrupt stop and then started to bang its hoof upon the rock of the cave. The frightened animal started raring at him and splashing around in the water’s edge. Instantly the horse stopped still as if it had became aware of something more, something magical that was sensed but not seen.
John, holding to the rope with all his might, he tightened his grip upon the rope, and stabled himself more firmly upon the ground. Most young men his age would have been drug to death. He was only 15 years old but he was still stronger than all the men in the Clan. That is how he became the man that people seen this day. His strength was amazing to everyone, they all knew of his worth. He was more valuable to the Clan that he would ever know.
As John stood still directly in front of this mighty beast, he slowly spoke in calming declaration, “It is okay M’ friend. No harm will come to ye.”
It was as if the horse understood him. How would anyone, believe this. As he looked at the horse, the horse gazed at him. John noticed a shinning blue light. He looked around to find out where it was coming from. Down at the horse he noticed that the blue shimmering light was coming from there. He wanted to find out what it was, but did not wanting to startle the horse.
He spoke in a friendly calming voice, “Ah am just gonna squat by yer hoof. Dornt be alarmed, no harm will come to ye. ”
After assuring the brilliant animal, he slowly reached down into the waters edge. Staring into its deep coal black eyes of this wonderful creature, showing the creature no harm he meant no harm.
The water was as cold as a winter ice and chilled him to the bone. Ignoring the bitter cold he plunged his hand in the water a little deeper until his fingers touched the bottom of cold rock floor. He felt warmth within his finger tips and he squeezed slightly, pulling the blue light from the water. John held it in the palm of his hand, as he stared into the horses’ eyes. He never let go the gaze, until the horse looked down into his palm. The brilliant Stallion gazed magically at object within his hand.
When John realized the horse was taking more of an interest of what was in his hands rather than the fact that he was a stranger. John slowly took his eyes off the horse and placed them to his open hand. It was only a blue stone, but it was so different from anything he had ever seen. It gave him a warming feeling throughout his body. He felt such a power he never felt before, electric waves flowed through his body. John felt as if he could move mountains and cause the ocean to give way. He had never experienced anything like this before. He was going to keep this stone always and never let it go.

John looked up at the horse and it was as if all the wildness fled from his beastly personality. It was as if John was looking at a whole new creature before him. He slowly placed his hand upon the horse and said, “See, Ah told ye would come to no harm.”
“We must be leavin’, th’ day grows long.” John insisted to the stallion.
John tucked stone into his carrying strap that hang upon his chest, and then gently tugged upon the rope, to lead the horse home. The stallion slowly followed the led of his new friend. They walked all the way back home to the Castle.
On the way home John spoke again, “Eclipse, th' name Ah give to ye, for it was durin' th' eclipse of th' day we found each other.”
When John reached the Castle grounds he headed to the stables, and led Eclipse into a fenced in portion. It circled around the corner of the barn, to the back of the stables and back to the other side. A beautiful white fence outlined the barn. It would give plenty of ground for the stallion to wonder around. It was going to be a grand home for Eclipse.
John made sure Eclipse would have plenty of water and food, and then he locked the gate behind him as he left. Eclipse seemed different since he had found the stone. It was a change from night to day. He would never forget it. He found a friend, and brilliant stone which covered him with such a wonderful feeling of peace and power. “What a day?” John thought to himself.
John decided to work on a chain for the stone, so he could wear it around his neck. He was a very talented man and he could do anything he put his mind to. He was an excellent blacksmith. A man full of talent he could be anything he wanted to be.
John walked into the stables and grabbed his tools and he started a fire. John then melted some silver. He carefully molded a thick silver chain. He let the chain cool down, and then he put the fire out. John’s body was growing so tired. He checked the chain once more; it had cooled enough for him to place the stone in. He secures the stone safely in its new nest of silver and places it around his neck. What a wonderful feeling? He thought to himself.
I will never part with this stone, it has be an adventure finding it and now I have many things to show for it all. I have a new friend, and a peaceful stone. All this nearly causes the pain I carry to subside a bit. John thought to himself as he settled down against a big mount of hay. He laid back in it to rest his tired self, continuing ponder about life, his life.