A long time ago when predators ruled the earth there was a horse, her name was Shanteh and she had a herd of 25 horses to look after in New Zealand. But as predators ruled they were constantly living in fear of being attacked, because they were slow and they were an easy target for all predators.
5 years later Shanteh’s herd was the only one left on earth. The predators were taking over completely and Shanteh’s herd were worrying that they might become extinct, Shanteh kept telling them that they would be safe with her in the clearing in the middle of the kauri woods, but she couldn’t promise everything. And one day the predators pushed through into the clearing so forcefully that the surrounding trees shook in terror, the predators chased the herd around the clearing taking them down one by one.
Injured and with only 5 other horses in her herd Shanteh had managed to escape from the predators but now she had decided that enough was enough and she went to speak with the storm goddess Aliya.
“Aliya! Aliya! I want to speak with you!” Shanteh yelled to the sky. There was a rumble, a crack of lightening and then a melodious voice rang out.
“Very well then Shanteh what do you wish to speak to me about.”
“The predators are destroying my herd! Soon we will all be extinct!” said Shanteh.
“Ok I will look into my globe for guidance.” Aliya replied.
Shanteh waited for about 10 minutes and was about to walk away when ….
“I see what the predators are doing, I will make a potion, come back tomorrow I will have it ready, but if you do not come back I will not wait.”
“Alright thank you Aliya.” Shanteh replied.
The next morning Shanteh went back to Aliya for the potion,
“Good morning Shanteh the potion is right by your feet.”
Shanteh looked down and sure enough the potion was there, it was purple and the bottle holding it was quite small. “Thank you Aliya” said Shanteh.
“That's ok, but remember only one drop each for you and your herd, anymore than that could be fatal,” Aliya warned.
“Ok, I shall go and do it now,” said Shanteh.
Shanteh went to her herd, she took one drop and watched the others take their part of the potion. A few days later they were attacked by a predator, but with their new burst of speed it was unable to keep up and Shanteh’s herd galloped up and over the ranges unharmed.
