And then there were none...

In a land undiscovered by humans, undaunted by chemical warfare or polution, there rested four dormant islands. The mainland was connected to three other islands by small paths, although hard to cross, were manageable, and had never erroded over the years of wear from the ocean. Wildlife lived there, birds and small rodents, but carnivores were hard to find, if even existant on the islands. Though uninhabited by few species of intelligence, that was about to change. Man had a ship, a large cruise ship, and on the lower deck, there was a cargo of precious equine. A few breeds were hosted on this ship, a small variety, though a large treasure. They were being transported to the coast of Mexico, so they could later be sold to wealthy residence in the United States. Though the ship was ill-fated, and the sea took it and every man that sailed on it. Though the equine were luckier. None of them were taken by the ocean, and natural instict kicked in. Soon, a stallion by the name of Dalestor found the four islands. His companions were soon to follow him to the land he had claimed, along with his sweetheart, Alessa. The twenty or so equine inhabited it for a while, whist being pampered by their owners, they had to learn to survive the elements. Bands of them would explore, until they had the whole land documented mentally. Dalestor and his queen, Alessa, ruled the island, and under their rule, religions were born.

Now there were the equine that were strict in their moral codes, the Heavenly equine. They took up the eastern-most island of the three add-ons, whilst Dalestor and Alessa resided on the mainland, with the few who followed them. There were the horses that weren't so keen on right and wrong, the Hellish equine. They believed in bettering themselves, which in the end corrupted their minds, twisted them. Some became insane, while some were diseased, and died. And then there was Purgatory, the center island, between the eastern Heaven and the western Hell. These horses didn't really care about religion, though kept rather to themselves, and believed what they wanted. Dalestor had no problem with this, seeing as they all got along fine.

Though that was not forever. Soon the island was populated, and another ship, destined as its previous, felt the cruel hands of fate near the land, and more horses were introduced, as well as different breeds. This created some conflict after a while, and egos were boosted as the numbers on the island began to rise. The Hellish fought with the Heavenly, arguing about who was right. Dalestor advised Purgatory not to join in, which they followed. The two alliances, however, spilled much blood upon the rocky fighting terrain, which released something in the soil. Soon equine were becoming ill, falling and dying from a mysterious plague that had befallen them. The residence of Purgatory, terrified, took refuge with Dalestor and his mighty herd. Though illness shook the mainland, and soon their great leader had died. Alessa took over from their, grief-stricken but clear-minded. The remaining equine took to their sickbeds, and some eventually overcame the illness. Others died, but never was their such a war again. Years passed and the numbers grew again, though nobody remembered the great plague that had befallen them previously. Alessa, being the sole memorykeeper, died before the knowledge was passed on. Having no son, the royal throne of Dalestor was abandoned, and the remaining equine retreated to their respective beliefs.

Though history forgotten is destined to repeat itself. And that it did. Recently another war, under same purposes, was waged upon the islands, causing the same, horrible plague to rise once more, slaughtering those who came in its path. Though like before, the plague started to die down, and only few cases are left today. Yet nobody seems to remember how it all started...