River Horse

Chapter Twelve

AND HERE IT IS

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED 12th CHAPTER

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY :D

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"Alicia!" Susana shouted, running over to me as fast as her human legs could allow. I shifted to human form and braced myself as she crashed into me. She looked up, a huge smile on her face.

"Look what Diana taught me to make!" she squealed, holding up a wreath of tiny white flowers woven into a crown of springy twigs. There was already one perched lopsidedly on her head, the flowers yellow and pink.

She shoved the wreath at me and said, "This one's for you!" I bent over and allowed her to place it on my head before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks, Susana," I said, smiling brightly. She beamed at me before shifting and galloping away over the grass.

We were in a large meadow not far from the gathering, mostly for Susana's sake. It was the perfect place for her to romp without the disapproving eyes of others looking on. Multicolored flowers mingled with the long green grass, waving at the touch of a breeze.

I closed my eyes and tilted back my head, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. I couldn't really feel it when I was in my true form, covered completely in scales.

At a loud whinny, I opened my eyes and automatically sprung up, crouching and putting up my arms in a battle stance. I relaxed when I saw that it was only Diana playing tag with Susana, flicking her with the tip of her tail.

I sat down with a sigh of contentment, plucking a nearby dandelion. The flower's head was covered with fluffy white seeds, which trembled with every pulse of my blood.

I leaned forward and blew on it, watching the seeds scatter through the air. I didn't bother to make a wish; I was perfectly happy with what I had at that moment.

A light breeze played with my hair, making the long red locks dance. I pushed them back and closed my eyes again, listening to the sounds around me. I could hear Diana and Susana playing, the excited squeals and amused whickers making me smile. A bird called from somewhere in the forest, singing a sweet melody. The grasses whispered in the wind as they brushed against each other, murmuring secrets known only to them.

Suddenly, a loud bugle split the silence, a sound that was infinitely familiar to me; an Elvish horn. It lifted to a piercing note on the end, stopped, and let out three short blasts. An emergency.

I scrambled to my feet and shifted, neighing as loudly as I could. Susana and Diana stopped playing and turned to me.

I just heard an Elvish horn, I said to Diana. Something's happened. We have to go back.

We're coming, Diana replied, nudging Susana. They began to gallop, and I waited until they were level with me before joining them.

Sweat coated my flanks as I flew through the meadow and into the forest, agitation lending me speed. I trusted in Diana to help Susana keep up and put all of my energy into running faster.

Finally, we burst out of the trees and onto the beach, the lake glimmering in the sun. Hundreds of kelpies were already there, standing in a semi circle. All were in their human form. Before them was a group of elves on black stags, dressed in the garb of the guards of the Lady of Fallen Leaves.

We joined the crowd and wove our way through to the front, shifting as we did so. Tyson was already there, his face grim. Susana reached for my hand, and I wove my fingers through hers.