Chapter 38
Mitternacht made a beeline for a deer trail at the edge of the forest that rose up in front of them like a fortress.
His long strides ate up the ground like the wind itself, his rider's excitement fueling him as they speedily passed over the dead plants and past the few naked trees.
Fresh air pumped into both of their lungs, urging them on.
Approaching the line of green, Avalina realized the opening of the deer trail was grown over, where they had not gone through it in some time.
With nothing to eat on the other side, it was no wonder.
Realizing she was too close to stop, she simply checked Mitternacht slightly,and braced herself for the impact.
He flew over the bushes that blocked his way like an eagle and landed with a grace that only an equine of the finest balance could manage, before racing on down the trail, not even pausing to get his bearings. He knew exactly where he was.
After another couple minutes of letting Mitternacht gallop himself out for all he was worth, Avalina pulled him up to a walk, noticing how labored his breathing was.
After three agonizing weeks of being locked in a building with no fresh air, no exercise and no mental stimulation to speak of, he was more out of shape than he had ever been in his life, as was she.
After getting the initial adrenaline rush out of their systems they were quite happy to simply walk along and enjoy the scenery as they caught their breath.
The birds were singing and chirping, and the sounds of the forest gently closed over them like a comforting veil.
The million different sounds, scents and tiny bits of normally hidden scenery the forest reserved only for its most attentive visitors filled Avalina's senses to the brim.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, losing herself for a long moment in its tranquility.
What she wouldn't give to stay here forever! Everything else faded in comparison to this.
Opening her eyes reluctantly after a few moments, she realized she recognized the large hunk of rock sticking up a foot out of the ground as her horse passed it.
A few feet off the trail, it was thick and grey and reminded her somewhat of a dwarf soldier.
She knew where she was now!
Not able to hide a grin, she gently eased Mitternacht into a trot after he had regained his second wind.
She had to get home! And she didn't have much time!
Mitternacht leapt eagerly into a smooth and steady trot, his hooves hitting the dirt path in muffled clops.
It was obvious he had missed this as much as Avalina had.
Over four hours later of alternating Mitternacht between walking, trotting, and the occasional canter, Avalina had traversed her home woods and fields, and was now standing in the treeline a hundred yards from her kitchen door, suddenly struck by a feeling of doubt.
'Am I doing the right thing?' She asked herself miserably.
'Letting them see me? I'll be leaving again very soon.'
The words the Horned King had spoken to her earlier echoed inside her head.
*"Did you not think, that perhaps it might be wiser to let them go on believing you are gone, now that their initial grief for your supposed death is past, rather than returning to them, only for them to realize you cannot stay?"*
She had realized earlier he had a very good point, and every word he had said made sense.
Tears beginning to fill her eyes again, she wondered if it would be best to just leave.
'No!'
She thought to herself, straightening up in the saddle.
'My father did not raise cowards. And my point is far better than *his.*'
She fought down a shudder at the thought of her captor.
'Mother will mourn the rest of her life if she never knew. The only way she'll believe I'm alive is to see me herself.'
Making up her mind, she trotted Mitternacht out of the treeline, making a beeline for the hitching rail by the porch.
Mitternacht whinnied loudly as Avalina shouted out a hello.
Hardly a second passed before the kitchen door was thrown wide open, revealing a strong young man and a peasant woman in the door.
Avalina leapt from the saddle as they raced out to meet her, screaming her name.
Forgetting her legs still weren't quite up to par, Avalina fell into their arms as they all started crying at once, holding her like they were afraid she would disappear into thin air.
Avalina felt her own tears choke her up as she held them both, not able to do anything but whisper one word in the peasant woman's ear.
"Momma."
After all of them sitting on the ground together crying their eyes out for a very long time, they eventually pulled apart, albeit very reluctantly.
They tried to usher her inside for some tea and food, but Avalina was adamant that Mitternacht be seen to first.
As dearly as she wanted to spend time with her family, she had to take care of the dear friend that had carried her all this way without a single word of complaint.
Her brother, by some magic, amazingly coaxed her mother (who was less than willing to let her daughter out of her sight) off to the kitchen to fix a little something for her before coming out to the small barn.
As Avalina began untacking Mitternacht, she noticed that his stall had not been used since he left.
Pulling the saddle off, she puffed as its weight sank onto her legs, only to have it lifted a moment later as her brother's strong arms took it from her and set it on the saddlestand.
They hugged each other tightly.
"I've missed you so much, Arran!" Avalina cried, starting to cry all over again.
"As have I, little sister," he answered fervently.
"We thought you were. . ."
He couldn't make himself finish it as he hugged her tighter.
"But its over now, and you're home. That's all that matters."
Avalina felt a stone drop into her stomach, and she stiffened in her brother's arms.
Realizing something was wrong, Arran pulled back.
"What is it?" He asked, his deep brown eyes dark with concern.
"And who hit you?"
He nearly demanded, looking at the fading bruise on the side of his sister's face.
Avalina swallowed.
"I. . .I'll. . .tell you and Momma both when I get inside."
Only her brother could have handled something that suspensefully horrible with a simple nod.
He helped her brush down the horse, who was exhausted.
Arran was no horseman, but his sister had had this horse for years and he had never seen him this tired, not even after a long day of plowing in the searing heat and then pulling a wagon axle-deep out of a mudhole during a rainstorm that night.
As he helped Avalina curry the animal down, he noticed that he was thinner than he had ever been in the time Arran had known him.
His sister's horse (Who's name he could never pronounce nor spell no matter how many times Avalina tried to teach him both) had always been thick, but there had never been an ounce of fat on him.
Seeing all his ribs this pronounced through the black coat was highly unsettling.
Where in the world had they been these three weeks?
Looking over both the horse and Avalina again, he noticed the worn look they both carried, as if they had been through something horrible.
His sister sported faint dark marks on her face and neck, clearly something that had been bruising at one time, but it was nearly gone now, and it may have been only his own imagination, but she seemed exhausted and looked like she had lost some weight.
Being so small already, his sister couldn't lose very much.
Arran gritted his teeth.
If somebody had hurt her. . .
After Avalina cleaned out the horse's feet (Arran didn't dare, the horse would tolerate him brushing most areas, but there were many places that were strictly off limits and his feet was one of them) they walked silently to the house.
Avalina's mother swept her up in a hug when she came in, holding her like she would never let her go again.
Avalina gladly returned it, before gently prying herself away and sitting down at the table, dreading with all her heart what she was about to say. It was best to get it over with, but that didn't make it any easier.
"Mother, Arran, there's something I have to tell you. I. . .think you'd better both sit down."
Her mother, having caught on to the mood between her children, did so with a tense look in her eyes.
"What is it, Ava?"
Her mother was the only one that ever called her that.
Avalina took a deep breath, determined to make it at least halfway through without crying.
"If I'm ever going to get through this, there is to be no interruptions, ok? Momma, you and Arran can ask all the questions you want when I'm done."
Choking off a sob as she watched her mother and brother exchange frightened looks, she began.
"Three weeks ago, when that massive storm hit, I was on my way back from Dalben's. . ."
So far, only one person has guessed what breed Mitternacht could be. Come on people, guess-guess-guess! XD I know there's more readers than just the ones who comment regularly, so take a guess! XD I know you're out there! LOL If I can get at least four people to guess I'll be thrilled, and I've already got one down! So come on ya'll! XD