Crickets sang and the wind rustled through the camp, making soft music that trailed through their tents. The coals in the firepit were still gently glowing. Marshall slept deeply, fatigued from the constant running. It was difficult for him to fall asleep with the images of his capture and Laci always on his mind.

  A terrifying scream filled the night, waking Marshall right away. It only took a moment for him to realize that it had to be Laci’s. Exhausted, he stood slowly and cloaked himself, then went out to find her.

  Greg waited outside with his medkit across his body, watching the woods for any sign of Laci. Miracle poked her head out of a tent.

  “What’s she doing out this late at night?” Greg wondered aloud.

  “Who knows,” Marshall complained. “She’s got to get a hold of herself.”

  She burst through the trees with a horrified expression, her face covered in blood and nostrils wide from exertion. Sweat foamed down her neck, and her legs twitched incessantly as if she could not stop.

  “Laci, what’s going on?” Marshall demanded.

  “They found us.” Her voice was shrill and anxious. The sound of the approaching officers grew closer by the minute.

  “We’ve got to get out of here,” Greg whispered. “I can hear them coming.”

  They shot into the woods together, running as fast as they could manage. Laci held herself back and watched out behind them for danger. Marshall’s fear intensified as he heard the speed of the horses chasing them. They were not drafts or cobs. One stumble from Doctor Greg and they’d be surrounded.

  “Stay where you are. Do not move,” a rabbit’s voice commanded in front of them.

  Marshall slid to a hard stop, reeling back on his haunches. He looked to his left and right, but there was no escape. The uniformed officers had made a tight circle around them, wielding tranquilizer guns and copper branding irons. The horses were truly broken-constantly anticipating a jerk on the rein or a jab from a spur. He didn’t have to read the lettering on their saddle pads to know these were federal agents.

  One of the officers kicked his horse forward and thrusted his brand at Miracle, sending her flying backwards and crying out with pain from the cursed metal. Her skin hissed with magical energy at its touch. Marshall flattened his ears and backed away, shying at another officer who tried to corner him. Greg pulled a needle from his bag and held it out defensively.

  “Drop your weapons and surrender now,” the rabbit demanded. He tried to sound confident, but Marshall heard fear behind his voice.

  Out of nowhere, Laci leaped forward and grabbed the top of a horse’s crest in her teeth, sending blood splattering out. She released him intentionally, letting him race off into the woods, and galloped after him, screaming wildly like a predator on a hunt. Concerned, the other officers pursued, kicking their horses into a gallop.

  “What in Epona’s name is she doing?” Marshall cried.

  Greg looked around at the carnage. “She’s trying to distract them so we can get away. It’s her they’re after.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Frightened, they continued into the woods, leaving Laci behind. Marshall felt sick with worry as they travelled further away. After only a quarter mile, they heard one of the chargers circling back toward them, saddle skirts flapping noisily. Doctor Greg stopped and pulled his needle out again, flicking the air out of it rapidly.

  A riderless bay Thoroughbred appeared in the trees. He appeared to be no more than three years old, and wore an anxious expression, throwing his head in the air nervously. Without hesitating, Greg stuck the horse in the neck, sending him stumbling to the ground. Marshall crouched over the fallen horse’s face, remembering Laci.

  “Leave him where he is. We need to find Laci,” Greg said.

  After a long spell of wandering through the darkness, calling Laci’s name, and hearing nothing in return, the three horses decided to call off the search. They turned back to where they had left the Thoroughbred, and stared at him, no idea what to do next. Miracle collapsed to her knees, unable to go any further. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

  “It’s not right. They take everything away from us.”

  Marshall sat by her side, and embraced her. “She did it to protect us.”

  Doctor Greg gasped, and his ears snapped forward in terror. “I can hear someone coming in the woods. We’ve got to keep running,” he cautioned. But no one could move any further.

  Twigs snapped and leaves rustled as a spindly creature came closer. Standing in the woods was none other than Laci, soaked in blood and delirious. She nickered softly, and wandered over to Doctor Greg. Her whole body was covered in wounds and burns, but most of the blood was not her own.

  “Laci!” Marshall exclaimed. He hugged his neck against hers tightly, not caring about the stains he knew it would leave. “I thought I lost you.”

  “Come on. Let’s get you patched up,” Greg said, opening his med kit. “It’s going to be a long night.”

  She sighed long and low, letting blood fly from her nose. “Do you still think I can’t rescue Orion?” she asked Marshall softly.

  He looked at Doctor Greg and Miralcle, whose eyes were wide with shock, but also a tiny shred of hope.

  “I think we might have a fighting chance.”

  The Thoroughbred on the ground began to stir. Laci noticed immediately and tried to attack him, but Greg held her back.

  “Maybe he can lead us to Orion,” he suggested.

  The stallion lifted his head, stunned. He spoke a little, but it was unintelligible. Greg pulled the saddle off of him and ran a hoof down his body to check for injury while he was still dazed. The horse was ribby, sweaty, and bore marks on his sides from repeated spurring. His tack was stained with rabbit’s blood.

  “Laci, what happened to his rider?” Greg asked.

  She grew quiet. “I..don’t remember.”

  Marshall put a hoof to his head. “Laci, whenever this is over-you have to learn to control yourself. Those horses you hurt could’ve been any one of us,” he griped.

  Laci dropped her head and tucked her tail, embarrassed.

  Greg continued to rummage through the horse’s belongings. One saddlebag held a well-used notebook. He had to peel it open, pages stuck together from age.

  “It’s the case notes. They have a map that can take us to the Federal office,” he said, holding up a detailed drawing. The office had been circled in red pen, and someone had jotted down “Possible Target?” beside it.

  “I think they already know that we’re coming,” Marshall pointed out.

  “Well, we’d better make an entrance,” Miracle piped up. “If we can’t surprise them by coming in the first place, we’ll surprise them with what we’ve got.”

  They picked up what was left of their belongings and pressed on into the wilderness, Marshall leading the charge.