gazelles were watching from a distance. Camilla opened her mouth, but Carrott placed a hoof to
his muzzle, hushing her.
Rhys looked around. “Away!” He whinnied, and almost immediately, they were alone. Rhys
stared down the end of the cave, and then Albus shrunk out.
“What shouldn’t I know, then?” Hugh flared. Iris shivered.
“Well, you see, your father and I were talking…”
Hugh, for one of the first times of his life, glared at her. She shivered, before raising her head.
“Yes, and as you know, your father is the leader, so…”
Rhys finished her sentence.
“When I die you will replace me.”
Chapter 4
Hugh stared at him.
“Me?”
Rhys rolled his eyes. “Yes, you.”
“But, I-”
Iris interrupted. “So, Rhys doesn’t really, well, think you’re good enough.”
Hugh smirked in his head, despite the circumstances. Rhys, wish for him to become leader
of the Tribe of Endless Sand? Ridiculous. Rhys shot a menacing glance at him-Hugh had the
impression his father knew what he was thinking.
“Yes, I thought that fine young Carrott seemed suitable.” His father said in a tone of sharp
daggers. Hugh was on his hooves once again.
“Carrott? CARROTT? My best friend? So what will happen when I become his little slave?”
Rhys flared his nostrils, muzzle to muzzle with his furious offspring. “Carrott is more suited
to the job. He’s strong, young, fit, and-” Rhys paused momentarily to sneer at Hugh’s leg. “Not
fitted with the burden of something that you have.”
Hugh glanced at his leg, before pushing forward. “So?” Iris attempted to separate them, but
the two male gazelles were strong and powerful.
“Its just my leg, then?” Hugh huffed, his eyes vivid.
“You’ll be my successor.” Rhys concluded, turning around, his short tail in Hugh’s face. “I
cannot break tradition, even though you’re the lousy, lazy future king.”
In a flash, the scene changed. Iris screamed, Hugh leapt, Rhys turned around. Hugh’s powerful
figure collided with the one of his father, as they rolled into the sun and out of the cave. Hugh
fought with all his might, the tribe watching. The fight became ruthless, and some of the male
gazelles rushed forward to stop them, but had to retreat.
Another scream pierced Hugh’s eardrums, and he was afraid to open his eyes. Silence echoed
everywhere.
Something pushed him backwards, and Hugh finally opened his eyes. Many gazelles were
clustered around something, but Hugh couldn’t see. He scrambled up, his wounds aching, and
limped forward.
There, bleeding on the ground, was Hugh’s father, Rhys.
Chapter 5
