Back in the ancient days of my people there lived a horse - the fastest and gentlest of all Cherokee horses - called Thunder Horse, but his kind will never be seen in the world again. The reason that this horse will not be seen again is because of love. I have been told that one day, when Thunder Horse was feeling happy and blessed from being free, he heard a terrible cry for help. He ran to the forest and found a little boy who had gotten his foot caught in a trap meant for a bear. The child had managed to free himself but could not move, the trap had cut off his foot. The Cherokee boy, who had no name, could not believe such a beautiful horse would come to him as a friend. He gave thanks to the Creator and prepared himself for death. Knowing the wound was fatal, Thunder Horse bent down with tears in his eyes to let the boy get on his back, so he could take him to the land of the Creator, where he would no longer know pain, fear, or need for anything. Just the thought of a child so young going to the other side made Thunder Horse sad, but he did not want the boy to suffer. The boy hung on to Thunder Horse’s back, the pain in his foot forgotten. All his life he had lived alone, because his parents were dead and no one else wanted him. Riding Thunder Horse, he felt whole, as though he had finally found a family. The boy held Thunder Horse tighter, afraid by what awaited them at the end of their journey. Thunder Horse was the last of a great race of horses who could share the feelings of their riders. He had never allowed anyone to ride him for too long, but there had been a great bond made between him and the little one, that would not or could not be broken. He knew that if he continued this run, he would never again be free.As they traveled, Thunder Horse listened to the boy’s hopes that someday he would run with the leaves that blew across the ground. He felt the boy’s dreams for someone to love. But who could ever care for a nameless, little boy with a bad leg? As he listened, a great love for the boy grew in his heart, and Thunder Horse knew that this would be his last rider. He nuzzled the boy with tears in his eyes and slowed down, the end of their journey was near. The boy looked up and saw the home of those who had gone before him. He realized that this journey was the last one he would ever make, and he became filled with fear. But as Thunder Horse finally stopped, the boy realized that all his wounds, hunger, need, and hurt were gone. And since Thunder Horse had not moved to leave, the boy knew that at last, he had found the companion he had wished for all his life.As Thunder Horse and the boy walked into their new world, the Cherokee felt great sadness. Even though they did not know what was happening, they felt the last Thunder Horse pass from this world to the next, and all cried with grief. Thunder Horse heard their cries, but he had made his last journey. He knew that with the passing of many suns and moons, they would soon forget him and his race. He prayed to the Creator to send a reminder of him to the Cherokee to comfort them. And, that is how horses came to us as gifts from the Creator and the last Thunder Horse. - William