A/N: Okay, I don't own anything. I don't own Ace, Sam, Jake, Jen, Blaze, and I don't own the Phantom. Although I wish I could own that stallion.

Samantha Forster looked into the warm, August sunshine.

Since it was Saturday, she had been working on the ranch since six that morning and now, almost three o'clock, and wanted to take a break. She stood from where she was weeding Gram's garden and started walking to the house, but then she heard a nicker from the pasture.

Ace stood by the gate, directly across from Sam, and nickered again.

"You wanna go for a ride, boy?" She crooned as she walked to the mustang and rubbed his nose. When she pulled her hand away he bobbed his head up and down a few times, and she laughed. "I'm supposed to take that as a yes, right?" Ace pranced a little and watched her, and she could see mischief in his big brown eyes. "All right, sneaky, I'll go tell Gram that me and you will be going out for a while." With that she gave him one more kiss on his velvety nose, and then continued on to the house.

When she got there and walked into the kitchen, she couldn't find Gram. Or anyone else for that matter. She knew that Dad was on the range, and Brynna was at work. But Gram was supposed to stay home and watch after her and Cody, though, she thought. I think an almost sixteen year old can watch out for herself.

She walked around the downstairs, calling "Gram? Cody?" then did the same with the upstairs. She walked back downstairs when her efforts proved worthless. That's when she saw the note stuck on the fridge.

Sam, It said. I had to drive to Darton for some things, and I took Cody with me. I trust you to look after the ranch while I'm gone, though I should only be a couple of hours. Love, Gram.

She looked around for a pencil, found one, flipped the page over and scribbled her own note.

Gram, gone out for a ride on Ace to War Drum Flats. I finished weeding, I fed the animals, gathered the eggs, and I fixed me a sandwich to take with me. I'll be back in about two hours. Sam.

She tacked it back up on the refrigerator and ran outside.

Sam saddled up Ace, and they hit the trail.

They had just got to War Drum Flats when she remembered something she had heard at school the other day. Someone had said that there had been a few wolves set free and were roaming the area, and to stay away.

We'll be fine. She thought and patted Ace's neck.

That's when she saw them, the new wild pack. The mangy looking wolves, all either a nice gray or tan, were glaring at her from about a mile ahead, with cold, hungry, hateful gold eyes. She felt Ace tense beneath her, and knew that he wanted to run.

"Get! Go on, get!" She yelled at the wolf dogs, but knew it wouldn't work.

So Sam sent Ace into a sudden gallop, hoping the wolves would be to surprised to chase.

It didn't work.

As they gained on Ace, and then when one suddenly pulled in front of the horse, she knew they had them cold.

She would probably never play with Cody, talk to Dad, Gram, and Brynna, look deep into Jake's mustang eyes. Never talk to Jen or help Mrs. Allen, never see Tempest or the Phantom again.

When she looked ahead from where she was trying to keep Ace calm, she saw the sight that had never been more welcome: a silver stallion galloping toward her, with a black mare and rider close at his heels.

Her Zanzibar and her friend Jake.

The wolves paid no attention to the new comers; they were intent on getting their meal.

Now.

She looked down at the wolf that was now circling Ace's long legs, and prayed that Jake would hurry up.

She looked over at him and could tell he was still over a mile away, and the wolves wouldn't wait that long. Sam tried to stop her tears, but she couldn't. She tried to smile and tell herself that it would be all right, but she couldn't.

When the big gray wolf lunged at Ace's neck the horse reared, and Sam knew she was falling. The last thing she saw were gray paws and a long nose pointed down and the silver and black legs that galloped so slowly.

A/N: Okay, I know it was a bit odd and a tad bit bad, but it was all I could come up with. Deal with it. Chapter two coming ASAP. R&R