The Fire Horse

Chapter 9 - Thunder

     I think Dark Core has turned people into horses somehow. Nina said in my mind. I had no idea how this was possible, but I wasn't surprised. I've seen so much throughout my life that it's hard to surprise me. I knew that only dark magic could do anything like this. Nina told me there were files showing pictures of people and the horses they had become. The only thing these people had in common was that they all had been people Dark Core didn't like. As Nina looked she told not all the horses were people. Only maybe five out of the twenty were. As for the others, who knows why they were there. I knew we had to tell someone about this. I peered over into Shadow's stall since Jacqueline occasionally falls asleep in there when she stays late. Luckily this was one of those nights. She was leaning on Shadows's side and both were laying on the ground asleep. I neighed loudly waking up her, Shadow, and every other horse in the barn. Most of the horses gave me annoyed looks. Shadow turned and looked at me sleepily. "What is it Thunder?" he asked still half asleep. "I've been talking to Nina" I said. That's all I needed to say. Both him and Jacqueline shot up. "What?" they both said at once. I told them about our strange way of talking and everything that had happened so far. "Well a lot happened while we were asleep" was all Jacqueline said. Shadow seemed interested. "So she's in the mountains west of Firgrove? I could fly and be there within two hours!" I knew I couldn't get there nearly as fast and not wanting to slow the rescue down I told them "Go, I'll tell her your coming!" They didn't say anything but Jacqueline got on and they galloped off towards the Everwind fields. I knew that they would start flying there, where there were less people to notice. I stood here for like ten minutes but it felt more like an hour. It was only like 4:30 in the morning so nobody was here. Nina then suddenly spoke to me. Thunder, we made it out of the building but have no idea where to go from here. I was happy to hear she was out. I quickly responded Head east toward Firgrove and keep an eye on the sky, Jacqueline and Shadow are coming to help you and should be there within two hours. Nina said ok and then was silent again. I was stuck waiting again. I couldn't stand not doing anything. I felt helpless just standing here, I wanted to be involved. That definitely wasn't how I'd felt two years ago when... No! Let's not think about that. I thought to myself. Thankfully Nina hadn't heard that. Not wanting to linger on my past, I decided to try and do something. I leaned my head out and unlatched the stall door. I raced out of the stable into the Everwind Fields. I hadn't used teleportation for a long time because it took a lot of energy. I only used it in emergencies. I decided this definitely qualified. I knew I wouldn't be able to teleport back, but I knew the mountains better then Nina or Shadow. I could only teleport to places I've seen, so I took a deep breath and focused completely on a cave I'd hidden in once. Next thing I knew I was standing in the cave, completely exhausted as if I'd just galloped for an hour. I walked out of the cave not wanting to stand around in there. I knew I couldn't use that cave as a hiding place anymore so I didn't want to hang around. I leapt off the ledge in front of the cave since it was faster then taking the path and raced west towards the base I knew she was near. I just hoped I found her before Dark Core or the Wind Horses did. I honestly didn't know which group was more dangerous.