River Horse

Chapter Seven

We had been traveling for two days at an almost breakneck pace. Tyson finally called a halt after the pink streaks of sunset faded into a dark blue-black. We had been swimming along the bottom to avoid humans, but quickly began to rise. I was eager to feel fresh air again. Ugh, I've been spending far too much time as a human.

We slowly rose to the surface before cautiously poking out our heads. There were no signs of any human activity. I breathed in, analyzing the differing scents. I could discern deer, muskrat, bird mouse, and a multitude of other animals. There was no stench of human though.

I clambered up the bank with my siblings and took human form. When we transform, anything we wear will transform with us. That includes clothing, jewelry, makeup, and bags. Diana had packed a backpack for me, with food, water, three large hunting knives, medical supplies, and other essential items. She had used a small charm in order to fit everything that I needed into a small, water-tight pack. There was even a sleeping bag!

I walked into the bushes at the edge of the river and changed out of my jeans and hoodie into a tight grey tank top and black leggings. I frowned. The tanktop was smaller than before. It rode up a bit, showing a strip of fair skin. Oh, well. I pulled on my hiking boots and hoodie before walking out again. Diana was wearing a dark green T-shirt and black leggings like mine. Ty was wearing a black muscle shirt and black sweatpants.

At first glance, our clothes looked to be normal. But half of the threads were enchanted Dwarf work, impervious to most blades and weapons, yet flexible and comfortable. I don't want to know what it had cost Mom and Dad to get the clothes for us. Probably a small fortune.

We quickly set up camp. Ty pitched the tent, I built a firepit and lit a fire, and Diana cooked us dinner. We had a simple meal of plain hot dogs and dandelions. I have no clue why, but all kelpies love dandeloins. It's from the horse part of us, I guess; kind of like stroking our noses.

We barely talked; we were exhausted from traveling the whole day. We had one or two more days before we reached the Gathering if we continued this pace. I groaned inwardly. We crawled into the spacious tent and fell onto our sleeping bags. I curled up, knowing that I was going to be sore in the morning.

I was lying in bed, still unable to completely fall asleep, when I first felt it. The hairs rose on the back of my neck and I shuddered. I felt a deep seated fear, even worse for not knowing what was scaring me. I felt increasingly uneasy as I sat up. Ty and Diana were awake too, their eyes confused and fearful. That's when we heard it.

"Ahwoooooooo!" The long, bloodcurdling howl echoed through the forest before being joined by several others. We froze and grasped at our weapons. All of us knew that dreaded cry, if only from the stories. The ancestral enemy and predator of all magical horses, the race that had always clashed with ours, leaving bloody carnage behind; werewolves.

Their hateful howls began coming closer much faster. I caught a new scent, the stink of dogs and blood. I relaxed a bit, only to grip my huge hunting knife more tightly as a new scent floated to me on the wind; unicorn. I could smell the metallic blood from its wounds as it fled the pack. Unicorns may not be of our species, but they are kin and fellow magical horses. This one was very young, perhaps only a few years old. It was running remarkably fast, even though it was injured.

Diana turned to us, her face grim. "we have to help," she said, and we nodded. Diana and I slid out knives into shieths on our thighs and hips and grabbed our personal weapons. Each of us had a special weapon; Diana used a sickle called Titan, Tyson used a hammer called Lullaby, and I used a curious weapon of my own invention. It has a solid shaft of enchanted oak wood, with two razor sharp disks on each end. I called it Whisper. We swiftly exited the tent and ran with all speed toward the pack and its prey. The baying of beasts out for blood surrounded me, and I felt nauseous fear. I let my eyes fall half shut and let my mind calm. I made myself as empty as a clear crystal, sharp and focused. I opened my eyes again, my fear mastered. I saw a silvery shape darting between the trees and called out to it.