Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 21

The sun is beginning to make its slow descent in the distance, leaving the evening sky stained in shades of orange and pink. Bands of sunlight are cast across the clouds that have rolled in as I sway to the motion of the horse that I'm riding on. It's crisp out, the leaves rattling in the trees above me as a breeze is kicked up, a few dead leaves scattering like mice across the path.  Violetta and Sophia are riding ahead of me, their horses kicking up pebbles as we follow the trail that winds through the acres of woodland surrounding the academy.

It's peacefully quiet, the rocking motion of the horse I was loaned for trail riding nearly putting me to sleep as I allow my shoulders to drop. I reach forward to stroke the gelding's mane from where it tapers right before the saddle. 

"Good boy, Wolfsbane," I murmur to the gelding. 

Astrid and Tessa are close behind me, Tessa riding on her own horse, Kashmir. Astrid, on the other hand, is 'borrowing' her cousin's horse, Hex, a brilliant red thoroughbred that probably costs as much as a house. With all that's been happening lately, Tessa hasn't had much time at all to take Kashmir out riding. I feel guilty as I glance back a few times at the stout horse, who is quivering with excitement under his rider. Kashmir's ears prick when I look at him, his dark eyes reminding me of the same friendliness in a Labrador's eyes. 

"So, word is that you're truly an Unfamiliar," Violetta calls over her shoulder and I goad my horse to catch up so I can ride next to her and talk.

"Yes, that's right," I reply in a low voice. 

But most everyone at the academy knows what I am already, so there's no point in denying it.

"That's really cool, have you figured out if you have a special affinity?" Violetta asks casually.

"No, I've just now gotten a wand," I murmur as I touch the new pouch that I have on my hip, which is threaded through the belt on my jeans.

Inside of the pouch is a delicate, moonstone wand that is a shade of clear, shimmering blue that is sometimes a milky white depending on the lighting. I touch the pouch out of a tentative habit, finding comfort in the item as it also offers protection.

"The coven can maybe help you figure it out early," Sophia offers from my other side, "we could do it tomorrow night?" 

"I could maybe do that," I promise her and she grins.

My horse, Wolfsbane, balks suddenly, his hooves skittering on the dirt path as he snorts and paws at the ground. I am uncomfortably tossed in my saddle as I squeeze my legs instinctively to keep myself upright. Wolfsbane squeals suddenly, high-pitched and sharp as he does something close to a crow hop. I lean forward just in time to see that the creature's eyes are rolling white with fear as he lets out a tight huff of breath. I lean back to sooth him, reaching out to touch his neck. 

I can feel the reins pull taut right before his muscles bunch and he blindly lunges forward.

I grab the reins as my head is abruptly jerked back, my teeth clacking as pain smarts through my jawbone. I hold on with white-knuckled fingers as my heart jumps in my throat at the sudden motion. The gelding is fueled by something fierce as he blasts off of the path, his hooves clattering loudly before it's muffled by grass. I can feel the shrubbery dragging at my legs, nearly tearing my jeans to shreds as Wolfsbane gallops deep into the woods, not intent on stopping. Leaves crunch beneath us, sounding much like the entire woods is alive with gunfire. 

I flinch when a vine is dragged across my face, my cheek stinging from the prickling thorns. 

A frantic squeal tears from Wolfsbane as he leaps over a fallen log and I am painfully jostled in the saddle before I right myself. Branches claw at my face as he thunders through the forest, his breaths coming out in ragged snorts. I try to sit up in my saddle to pull back on the reins, but no matter how much I pull, Wolfsbane arches his neck forward and keeps running, surging out from under my hands and control.