A/N: well, I edited this chapter finally... months after the story ended but still, at least I FINALLY fixed it. I am going over all of the earlier chapters and editing them so its easier to read. Well, remember, this was my first fan fiction! I am currently working on a sequel (go read!) enjoy and don't forget to review!

--Emily—

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Tears streamed down the girls face as she stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her. She flung herself onto her bed, breaking down into sobs.

"I can't take this anymore! I have got to get out of here. And that's final" she thought, with sudden anger. She just couldn't take the fighting her parents put her through, she glanced at her latest bruise and felt fresh tears well up in her eyes.

"No, I will not cry!" she thought stubbornly. She stormed to her closet and began pulling things out, packing them into a large bag. "I can leave later tonight, my parents will be so drunk, its not like they will even notice". Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. "O no! Pita! I can't leave him here! I have GOT to take him with me, or at least maybe I can ride him to the barn, put him there, where I can no he's being looked after.

The girl, known has Annie snuck out of the house at about half past 12. She journeyed out to the barn, where her show horse and closest companion was kept. She was greeted with a soft nicker as she opened the heavy, wooden doors. She greeted him with a cookie. She gave the bay gelding a quick grooming; quickly packing some of his brushes and of course his treats. She slipped on his tack, and her chaps, brought him out to the mounting block she gave one last look at her home, the place she has suffered in for so long before gently clucking Pita on.

They had been traveling for about half and hour when a noise spooked Pita. Curious, Annie gently nudged him forward to investigate. She gasped as she felt herself and Pita being drawn towards a larges, black portal. She had enough time to murmur "what the hell" before blackness took over her.

At the same time, a young woman sat on a grassy hill, leaning up against a shady tree. Her smoky brown curls fluttered slightly in the gentle breeze the woman was to caught up in her focuses on her lover she didn't notice the scream, coming somewhere in the woods. Luckily, the small, shaggy, dappled grey mare heard. She glanced up at the two legger. It was quite obvious that the woman hadn't heard the scream.

: Humph, I will fix that!: thought the pony devilishly. Daine what brought back to reality with a sharp pain. She looked up to see Cloud standing above her.

: What was that for?:

: You were to caught up thinking about your stork man to hear that scream: Daine glared at the pony.

: What scream? I'm sure it's just a bird or something:

: No, it wasn't! YOU humans may not have much sense, but us horses do:

: Well, I don't hear it now; maybe it will just go away. It's probably nothing:

: Whatever you say: said the angry pony. She didn't like it when humans tried to act smarter then her. A few minutes later, Daine felt the mare bite her in the side.

:ow! What was that for?:

: Your sitting on a nice patch of grass, move before I kick you!:

Suddenly, Daine stood up. She could hear the sound of hoof steps coming from the forest. She quickly grabbed her bow, stringing it and getting ready to shoot. Then, out of the woods came the figure of a horse, the most magnificent animal Daine would ever see, and a rider holding onto his neck.

The horse was a gorgeous bay gelding, whose coat gleamed in the afternoon sun. He had the type of face that automatically could draw the attention of anyone. A big blaze ran down his face, his eyes were like two deep, brown, trusting pools. And his movements. He just seemed to float on air.

Daine was so caught up the grace of the big animal she didn't notice the girl or the fact that he was wearing some strange tack. Suddenly, a loud shrill erupted from behind Daine, Kit stood, looking with interest at the advancing pair. Obviously, never seeing a dragon before, Pita was NOT sane. He let out a terrified whinny and reared up. Daine was extremely surprised to she the girl staying on, and quite calm Daine watched in awe as the girl gently petted the great animals neck, murmuring to him "its ok baby, momma wont let anything hurt you, its ok boy". As the gelding dropped back to all fours, the rider dismounted and Daine got her first look at Annie.

The girl gently coaxed the horse over to Daine, who was trying to heard Kit out of sight. Daine looked at the girl, who was removing a dark helmet from her head. A ponytail of blond hair, sweat matted fell from it. The girl wore a tight t-shirt and strange leg coverings.

"Where the hell am I" was the girls first Words.

"Why, Tortall!" said Daine. The girl looked at her horse.

"Pita, I have a feeling we aren't in Florida anymore!

Review!!