by Liara Woo
"Let's go," Katie decided. She stood and mounted Darktail, hunger replaced by deep concern for her friend.
The wild stallion took off through the forest, through a land of tall pine trees with bushy branches and thick trunks among aspens and spruces and firs. His hind feet kicked up large clouds of dust that trailed behind them. Looking ahead, Katie saw a tent among the trees ahead of her. "What is…" she began, and Darktail charged through a campground, dodging tents, vehicles, trailers, and children, causing general chaos among the startled campers. He clip-clopped over an asphalt path and past a bathroom before charging back into uninhabited forest.
The yellow grass was greener and taller here, and the trees had moss on the northern sides of their trunks. They passed a family of tall, white aspens, a large copse of shadowy pines, several graceful birch trees, and then a cluster of twisted oaks before reaching a large burned-out area with scant traces of grass among charred remnants of pines and aspens. Darktail raced between the tree skeletons and came to a vast field; a virtual ocean of tall yellow grass. Here he slowed to a walk.
"The sun is high," Darktail panted. "I must rest for a few moments or the heat will overwhelm me."
His coat was damp with sweat, and his nostrils were flared. He was breathing heavily. Katie dismounted and walked next to him, not wanting to be too much of a burden. "Thank you," she murmured.
The grass stuck to her socks, and the summer heat was beating down around her. The sun was high, and Katie was still in her pajamas—a sweatshirt and fleece pants—which were meant for cold nights, not the middle of a summer day. After a while they came to a little creek full of clear water, where they stopped and drank.
Darktail straightened when his thirst was sated, lifting his head high. Drops of water clung to his whiskers and dripped from his muzzle. "I'm ready to run again," he announced, tossing his mane. Katie got to her feet and wiped her mouth. Then she swung herself onto his back and wished for a saddle and stirrups, which made mounting up infinitely easier.
The stallion began at a walk that smoothly changed into a canter and then a full gallop, sending him racing across the field. He was a black and yellow streak, kicking up grass behind him and tearing it up with his forelegs. It was all Katie could do to hold on as he plunged down small mounds and sprinted up hills. The wind was in her face, making her eyes tear up. She heard the horse's heavy breathing and his powerful hooves beating the ground as if it had personally insulted him.
The field came to an end and Darktail reentered the forest, streaking past pines, aspens, and spruce, leaping over fallen trees and skirting around boulders. He charged through the woods with his head stretching out. Katie clung to his black mane, again wishing for the safety of stirrups and a saddle horn.
It seemed like the horse could run forever. He flew over a small watering hole, past a trailer and another tent. His hooves seemed to merely skim the ground as he galloped up and down earthen mounds and taller hills, swerving to avoid the trees, skidding around stumps and leaping over logs. Several times he jumped over fences that would be too high for some horses. But after about ten more minutes, he had to have a break. Katie dismounted and stood beside him, grateful for the chance to stretch her legs. "How much longer?" she asked.
Darktail was breathing heavily, and his sides were lathered with sweat. He stopped walking and let his head droop. He was trembling. "We're almost an eighth of the way there."
Katie sighed. When they reached Joran, night would have fallen. By then, he might be…dead.
She fanned herself with her hand. "It's hot out here," she muttered, trying to distract herself from the grim thought. Darktail bobbed his head in agreement.
Katie looked around. After seeing so many trees already, the forest seemed common and boring. She found herself gazing at the sky. A familiar figure was circling above her.
"Drorin!" she exclaimed. The red tailed hawk swooped down towards her, landing on her shoulder.
"I told you!" he exclaimed, abandoning the sing-song voice he normally used. "I told you someone was coming! It wasn't the moon!"
"Nope," Katie agreed. "It was an elf. But he's been captured now, and even if I somehow manage to rescue him, I need to get him back to where he came from. I just don't know how."
Drorin was silent for a moment. "Ask Starling, the oldest stag in the forest. He is thought to be mad because of his strange ideas about a foreign world. I'd see him, if I were you. He lives in a hidden cavern that can only be reached by swimming to the bottom of the crescent-moon lake." He still wasn't speaking the way he normally did. It was as if a barrier had been removed when Joran had emerged from the mist, and now Drorin was able to speak intelligibly—or perhaps she, Katie, was simply able to understand him better.
She cringed at his words. "We could drown. In fact, if we try, we'll definitely drown. There has to be another way."
Drorin shook his feathered head. "There is no other way. I will alert the forest creatures to your plight and hopefully they will help. Goodbye," he squawked, flying away. Katie shook her head. Drorin was so weird...but at least he was helping.
After several minutes Darktail was rested enough to gallop again, across more fields, over a small creek… Through the pines, among herds of cattle, the stallion raced onward, his eyes narrowed in determination. Katie was growing sore from the swift, rocking gait. It went on and on forever, among tall grass that whipped her ankles and so close to trees that she scraped her legs on their rough bark. She felt tired and cramped.
I'm being selfish, she scolded herself. Darktail and Joran are much worse off.
From then on she tried to find joy in the journey. Although it was dry, the forest looked green. Moss grew on the trees and rocks. Hummingbirds flew above the tasty yellow flowers. Katie admired the family of deer they passed—a doe, a fawn, and a young buck just beginning to grow his horns. Darktail barely glanced at them, but they stared after him with curiosity gleaming in their large brown eyes. The buck followed them for a few paces, but he quickly lost interest.
Squirrels and chipmunks looked up from their activities, and in their small minds they wondered what a human was doing on a wild mustang's back. Coyotes yipped encouragement as they passed; they knew that some epic race was taking place. A bear stood on his hind legs, sniffing for food. When he saw the horse and rider, he dropped on all fours and stared after them, wondering at the novelty.
Darktail leapt over a fence, into a huge paddock where five domestic horses grazed. When the stallion passed them, they galloped alongside him, nickering words of praise. Katie admired their long, flowing manes and tails, and their sleek coats. But she loved the rugged beauty and great heart of Darktail even more. The brave horse leapt over the other fence in the paddock, and the five others turned away, neighing excitedly.
"The buckskin stallion rides for the prince of the woods!" they called out, repeating what they'd only recently learned from Drorin. "Let all aid him in his quest!"
The message passed from hawk to horse to elk to deer, from deer to coyote, from coyote to bear to horse again—Darktail's father, Blackmane. The proud leader of the herd raced out to meet his son, and they were reunited in a small clearing.
"Rest, Darktail," Blackmane nickered, trotting up to them. "The entire forest for miles around is aware that you intend to save the elf prince from the human scholar's home. I will carry the girl onwards from here." He paused and looked deep into his son's eyes. "I never knew, when you were foaled, that I was siring the greatest horse this land has ever known."
"Thank you," Darktail panted, his head dropping from fatigue. "Good luck, Katie."
"Thanks," she whispered, hugging his neck tightly before she swung herself onto Blackmane's shoulders, and the powerful stallion bounded forward with fresh energy. Katie watched Darktail shrink into the distance until the trees obscured her vision.
"I will carry you as far as the next watering hole," Blackmane told her. "Then Hoofoaken, an elk, will carry you to a large meadow. Wolfbane,
the great warrior of the bears, will take you the rest of the way to the house, and she and a troop of coyotes will stay hidden in the forest to provide any assistance if you need it. I will soon have horses stationed at regular intervals to carry you safely away after you reclaim the elf."
"Thank you," Katie said gratefully. "I can hardly describe this. It's…amazing!" She felt something stir within her. The whole forest knew of her mission. The whole forest! All because of Joran. It was the most spectacular thing she'd ever heard of; not even in her wildest dreams could she have imagined an entire forest uniting to save…to save…
Katie paused. To save their king, she finished. The cougar called me a queen because of my abilities. Since Joran has those powers as well, he is the king.
The sun was beginning to sink into the horizon when Blackmane stopped at a watering hole near a herd of elk. It might be the same herd I travelled with last night, Katie realized. They sure travel fast.
The largest elk stepped forward; Katie could guess that he was Hoofoaken. His antlers were large enough to impale a small car; Katie felt almost frightened in his mighty presence. The way that he carried himself and the light in his eyes showed that he was a powerful leader. "Come, Katie," he said in a deep voice—deep, resonating, and utterly beautiful. "Time is passing swiftly."
Blackmane watched her swing onto the lead elk's back. She could feel the sturdy muscles in his lean body and felt them surge as he bounded away. It was difficult to adjust from Blackmane's gallop to the jolting leaps of an elk, but Katie sat tall on Hoofoaken's back as he jumped through the forest. The powerful beast charged past the aspens and birch trees, spruces and firs, leaving them far behind as he reached a huge meadow—almost as large as the one she'd crossed with Darktail.
I probably look pretty cool right now, on the back of such a strong animal, she thought with a grin. And soon, riding a bear, I'll look even more awesome.
She could already see the hulking silhouette of the bear, dark against the light-colored grass. Katie blinked; black bears were never as large as this one! It reminded her of Emma's story of a giant fish in the lake. Named Bob, she remembered with a brief smile.
Hoofoaken leaped right up to the bear, a feat that Katie admired. What other animal of prey would get so close to a predator this size?
The bear, Wolfbane, dropped onto all fours and crouched so that Katie could get on. "You're almost there," the bear growled, and to Katie's surprise the deep voice belonged to a female creature.
"Let's go, then,"Katie said, sliding from Hoofoaken's back and reaching up so that she could grab onto the bear's shoulder. Even crouching, Wolfbane was a gargantuan creature. Almost the size of a grizzly bear. Katie swung herself up, and the bear roared and reared on her hind legs before taking off with surprising speed the rest of the way through the field. Her large feet made an odd thumping sound against the grass. She reached the end of the meadow and entered the forest, galumphing past trees and bushes.
Katie felt invincible, sitting astride the giant of a bear, traveling through a vast woodland to rescue her new friend. The wind swept her long red hair behind her, stinging her narrowed green eyes.
Wolfbane bounded throguh the trees and the shadows that were steadily growing longer. Birds, squirrels, and chipmunks shouted encouragement in their own languages, cheering on the chase that they couldn't participate in because of their small size.
When the bear slowed to a stop, Katie could see a large white house in the distance. "There it is," Wolfbane whispered. "I will wait here with a several coyotes. If you call for us, we will come. Once you escape, call for help, and a horse will meet you here and bring you to safety. Good luck."
Katie nodded her thanks. Swallowing nervously, she approached the house with as much stealth as she could muster.
Rescue
Rescue
The front door didn't have a doorknob, let alone a keyhole. In fact, the front door was a large screen. Katie scowled in annoyance; she wasn't good at opening screen doors. She placed her hands on the screen and tried to slide it away, but it didn't work. She pushed, pulled, and slid her hands the other way. But the screen wouldn't open.
Katie was about to give up and call Wolfbane when she saw Drorin circling above her. She called his name, and the hawk descended, banking towards her. Then Katie realized that it wasn't Drorin after all, but the bird had seen her dilemma and decided to help anyway. He slashed through the wire mesh with his sharp talons until the hole was large enough for her to climb through.
"Thanks," Katie whispered as the hawk dipped his head to her and flew away, although she felt guilty about breaking the scientist's door. Her chest felt constricted, as if a massive snake were squeezing the air from her lungs. This was illegal. Would she really break the law for someone she barely knew at all? Was it worth it?
She took a deep breath. I got him in there. So I have to get him out.
I am so busted when I get home.
Katie stepped carefully inside, walking silently over the smooth, polished wooden floor. In the center of this first room was a blue rug with a cream colored sofa on it, facing a large window lined with dark navy curtains. There was a fancy chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow on its surroundings. On the opposite side of the room from where Katie stood there was a long wall with a graceful arch in the center, leading to the next room. On her left was a long table with a few chairs gathered around it, facing another large window.
Katie walked across the room and through the arch to a white-tiled kitchen. There were dark brown cupboards on the walls and she checked in each one that was large enough to fit an elf. She even checked the refrigerator.
There was no sign of him. But Katie pilfered an X-acto knife she found in one cupboard, just in case she faced any more obstacles like the screen door. Another worm of guilt snagged her insides, making her feel nauseous.
She searched the entire first floor, double checking every nook and cranny as fast as she could, knowing that he most likely wasn't here, that he was probably being examined or something, but she looked around just in case. Then she climbed up the curving stairs and opened a simple oak door at the top, entering a large white room full of chemicals, beakers, a fire extinguisher, and even a fume hood. It was a scientist's workroom, and in the center there was a table. Firmly strapped on top of it was Joran, shirtless and gagged, with a bandage around his upper arm.
Katie didn't hesitate. She raced in without a moment's consideration. "Joran! You're alright!"
Joran's blue-green eyes widened and he raised his head weakly, trying to speak through his gag. "Mmmf! Mmmmmmf!"
Someone was entering the room through a back door. He looked around and his dark eyes widened as his gaze fell upon Katie. He walked up to her, his white lab coat flapping around his ankles. Beneath the coat he wore jeans and a red shirt, the collar of which was obscured by a black beard streaked with gray. The top of his head was bald.
"What are you doing in my house?" he asked in a voice that was restrained but still held hints of burning anger. "You're in a lot of trouble, girl. Explain yourself."
Katie was speechless for a moment. Then, haltingly, she told him the truth. "W-well, you've captured my f-friend, and I'd like him back, please."
The scientist laughed humorlessly. He was furious. "This is your friend? It'd be a foreigner even without the glow and the ears and the strange clothing. I've been studying it for a while now—and I'm certain that it's an animal, albeit an intelligent one. I've done some internet searches, also, and this appears to be a creature never before seen on Earth. How is it your friend?"
"He just is," Katie snapped, trying to muster her bravery. "And his best friend is being tortured as we speak. He needs to leave so that we can save him."
The scientist snorted. "You've definitely made that up. Now leave this instant and I won't call the police, but if you return I will." He bent down, turning away from her to study a vial of dark red liquid with a distinctly silver tinge. He was
totally engrossed in his work, ignoring her completely. "It has silver in its blood, or so it seems." he muttered. "But there's no trace of argentum of any sort within it. How? What could have happened to make the blood abnormally colored in such a way? And it glows in dark places, too…"
He was talking about Joran's blood. "It's probably magic," Katie said. "Magic and Light."
"You're not leaving. I can still call the police, you know. And I'll have you know that I deal with fact, not fairy tales." He turned around and huddled over a notebook. Holding her breath, Katie walked softly over to the table. Then she took the stolen X-acto knife and began slicing through the black strips that held Joran down, trying to ignore his solid bare chest and focus on getting him free. The elf lay motionless, eyeing the knife warily.
Suddenly Katie felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped in shock and nicked the flesh on Joran's shoulder.