Fourth chapter.

"Okay," Jem said, still smiling a little. "We'll be back before dark."

Kadin perked up a little. :Really:

"Would I say it if I didn't mean it?"

:Yes.:

Jem laughed. "All right then, lover-boy, let's go the short way."

:Off road:

"That is the short way."

Kadin's tail flagged, carried high and happy as he pranced off the beaten path. Then he broke into a controlled gallop, neck stretched out, hooves pounding independently of one another. With Jem stretched out over his neck, the very picture of a perfect rider, they made quite the striking sight.

It was just too bad there was no one around to see them…

:And appease your vanity: Kadin teased.

:I could stay at an inn tonight: Jem answered in mock-sternness.

:Too late for that,: his Companion replied cheerfully. :We passed the last inn about fifty steps back. Now only Haven is ahead.: Kadin stretched his neck out farther and Jem moved to compliment his change. The two of them gathered, ready to jump over a fence barring the pathway.

Jem's peripheral vision caught sight of a blaze of white just as they soared upward. His distraction put Kadin's landing off slightly, but instead of being annoyed, his Companion was just as intrigued as he.

A shining pale stallion was circling a spot on the ground, staring at whatever it was in the middle.

"Is that a Companion?" Jem asked, wondering if another Herald – or Herald Trainee – was out here.

:No,: Kadin replied, :but there is something strange about him.:

Jem's Companion carried him closer. The white stallion smelled them and his head flew up. Between them and whatever it was he'd been circling, the stallion reared, but not all the way.

Kadin's ears pricked up. :That's the strangest horse I've seen: he commented, going closer despite the animal's obvious discomfort.

Jem agreed. With any other horse, the size of Kadin would have been intimidating. Not this one, though. His white body trembled slightly, and he was back on four legs, but instead of pulling back, he made himself huge, bunching the muscles in his neck and back.

"I've never heard of a white Shin'a'in stallion," Jem breathed.

:That's notShin'a'in: Kadin put in.

"Not even a riding horse?"

Kadin replied with grim certainty, tempered only slightly with curiosity. :Not at all.:

The white stallion rose to its hind legs and walked forward, swinging its forelegs dangerously.

Kadin retreated a safe distance, waiting until the animal calmed down a little bit.

:He's guarding something.:

"In the middle of nowhere?"

:I'll distracthim. You go see what he was circling.:

"And why would I want to do that?" Jem demanded.

:Because you're curious: his Companion answered matter-of-factly. :And so am I.

Only slightly reluctant – because he really was curious – Jem slipped out of the saddle and watched his Companion again draw near to the white stallion.

It looked like it could turn into a fight. The horse reared again, coming after Kadin with hooves and teeth.

:Go look: his Companion cried, dodging the attacking white beast.

Jem ran forward. Crumpled in the circle of overturned grass was a human. It looked to be a young man – possibly late twenties, maybe early thirties.

:Can you pull him into the saddle if I can get over to you: Kadin asked.

:I think so.: He wasn't that heavy after all.

:Good. Here goes.: The white Companion was a blur as he shot towards Jem. The young man kept a hold of the stranger when he pulled himself onto his Companion's back. He didn't manage quite as well as he wished, only half-pulling the stranger onto Kadin before his Companion shot off again, nearly causing Jem to lose his precarious hold.

Kadin slowed slightly. :Still got him:

:Barely – yeah. Now I do.: Jem had managed to haul the man up in front of him across the saddle. :Let's get out of here.:

The white stallion grew smaller behind them as Kadin made headway for the capital at full speed.

Author's Note: Well, Jem's back with Kadin. Possibly two of my fave OCs ever, and they're not even remotely based on anyone! So, it's two years later, because we only had a teensie bit of Jem after Keighven spent two years in Haven, so I figured the boy's grown up a bit. Not sure if his bro will be in this or not. Anyone likeNadav enough to insist he's in here? Otherwise... may just drop him. Not that he got a lot of screen time to begin with. xD