Why?

Chapter 2

I ended up winning our little race, Elli letting out an annoyed huff when Alex said that Indigomoon and I had won. "Sorry Elli, looks like it was Indigomoon's day today," Maya stroked Ellis' muzzle affectionately after dismounting. "Good job, Ethereal!" I looked up in surprise at the voice, dismounting almost immediately when I realized who it was. "Lin-Lin!" I squealed and gave her a big hug, Meteor grazing nearby with Tin-Can. Inidgomon then went over to the troughs again with Elli for a drink.

"Aww, I missed you too," Linda hugged me back and kissed my cheek, giving me a loving smile that I happily returned. "Now that Linda's here, let's go on that picnic!" Alex cheered, Meteor perking up at the mention of the word picnic. Food, hungry, hungry! Meteor came over, along with Tin-Can. All you do is think of food, Brother! Tin-can teased. "Don't worry, Meteor, we have plenty of food. I even baked you an apple pie!" Maya chuckled.

//*V*//

"That was great," I stretched my arms and then snuggled into Linda's side happily. We had just finished our picnic and it was delicious! The four of us had agreed on the beach near the shallow pass close to the Riding Arena as our picnic spot. Our horses grazed a little ways away from us, all four seemingly content. "Yeah, it was." Alex agreed, Maya dozing off with her head on her shoulder.

Linda gave me a quick kiss on the head before reaching into her bag that lay on her side and taking out a comic book. I recognized it as the one that Linda and I were reading together, Canter Ella: Carnival in Venice! Ever since Linda first introduced me to the series a little after I first arrived on the Island, I became a die-hard fan of the series. The two of us would read and reread the entire series together, first as friends and then as lovers. I really enjoyed the quality time that the two of us would spend together, be it by going out on a trail ride together, going out on a picnic like this one, saving the world from Garnok and his evil forces, or even mucking out smelly horse stalls!

Alex yawned, wrapping an arm protectively around Maya and gazing at her with a loving smile on her face. "Aww! You two are so cute together!" I gushed, Linda flipping to the page where we last were on before shifting so that instead of sitting, she was laying down next to me. "If you want to see something cute, then look at Linda," Alex teased, causing my face to bloom. "Wha-whatever," I grumbled, Alex and Linda giggling in response while my face heated up a bit more. "It's ok, babe, I don't mind if you decide to look at me with those beautiful magenta eyes of yours," Linda poked fun at me, letting out an adorable laugh when the tips of my ears and my entire face turned about as red as an apple.

"You are so lucky that I love you," I sent her a playful glare, Linda pecking me on the lips in reply. I couldn't help but smile before silently gesturing to the comic on her folded knees. "Alright," Linda smiled back before leaning her head on my own and beginning to read. "Canter Ella had just..." Linda started, Alex dozing off with her head atop Maya's after Linda and I had read about twenty pages further into the story. "Hurry Tintoretto, hurry!" I gasped, Linda and I having just reached the part where Canter Ella had fallen into Duca Arlecchino's trap and it was up to her faithful steed to save his rider and Venice's elite.

FLASH!

Something bright flashed out of the corner of my eye, Linda not having noticed it as she was too engrossed in the comic. I looked up towards the shallow pass only to see a lone figure just standing there, with no horse in sight, holding up a phone. I recognized them almost immediately when they lowered their device. It was my older sister, Bailey! I instantly felt fear overwhelm me, and I began to tremble with fear. Linda seemed to sense that something was wrong because she stopped reading and gave me a worried look. "Ethereal? What's wrong, love?" she asked, though I couldn't hear her. I couldn't hear anything except for my pounding heart beating in my chest.

I began to sweat profusely, my breath suddenly coming out shallow and quickly. Linda seemed to notice that my eyes were fixed across the pass and looked up. What was Bailey doing here? Why was she here? How did she find out it was me? Did she even know it was me? Judging by the smirk on her face, yes, she did.