"No!" Katherine shouted. Both Shelby and the horse looked at her, surprised.
"No, Shelby!" Katherine repeated. "It's a kelpie!"
Shelby looked back at the horse in shock. The horse nickered softly, nudging her with its nose as if to say 'of course I'm not'. But now that Shelby was looking, she saw the predator's eyes and sharp fangs and long, dripping mane. Taking a step towards Katherine, she never took her eyes off of the horse.
Furious, the kelpie neighed loudly and reared back onto her hind legs, pawing the air angrily. From the lake came five other kelpies. Eyes full of rage, they fixed on Shelby and charged.
"Oh, no, you don't," Katherine muttered. "Get behind me!" She ordered her friend.
"No!" Shelby protested. "They'll eat you!"
"No, they won't!" Katherine shouted over the hoofbeats. "Do it!" She shoved her friend behind her, drawing her sword with one hand.
"I don't want to hurt you!" she told the kelpies. "You're rare and beautiful. Go back to your lake and we shall leave you in peace."
The kelpies paused as if considering.
"They won't do it," Shelby murmured. "It's not in their nature, and they're probably starved for human flesh."
As if on cue, the lead kelpie tossed her head and charged. Katherine dodged, pulling Shelby with her. A huge stallion ran at her, but she sliced her sword across its throat and it dropped to the ground. She killed one more and wounded two others, leaving them racing to the water. Finally, the only one left was the huge mare Shelby had almost ridden.
"Shelby," Katherine said. "Get. To. The. Trees."
Shelby retreated. Just in time, too, because the kelpie managed to throw Katherine onto her back and dove into the lake.
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Knights Are Brave and Strong
FanfictionBefore she can become queen, Princess Shelby has to go on a quest. Before she can become a knight, Katherine has to do the same. The two have been best friends since...forever. So when Shelby's father, the King, has the bright idea of sending them o...
