Tale of the Loyal Steed

A Southern folktale, the story of a desert tribesman and his horse, raised to adulthood together and true friends as well as mount and rider. But a sandstorm unlike any seen before arises, and the two are separated, the horse cast into the deep desert. It struggles to return, finding allies amongst the desert animals and spirits which help it on its journey and applaud its love for its rider.

At the story's end, the horse reaches home at last, using his final strength to cross the last dune… but the tribe's village is empty. The rider, and the entire tribe, have been wiped out. Its strength expended, its hope gone, the horse dies alone amidst empty ruins.