Tesaldia was crouched down for what seemed like forever. When she finally looked up, she saw the snake, an inch away from her head; frozen in a layer of ice. "What happened," she asked.

"You flung your arms out in front of you and the water came forward and hit the snake, and it froze instantly."

Tesaldia looked at the snake one more time. She shivered. This was only one of the many times she had stared death in the face, and Tesaldia knew it wouldn't be the last.

Shai, Tesaldia, and Sharaes started again down the mountain. They all managed to get to the bottom without any more problems.

Tesaldia's heart was still pounding. She had never been so scared. Even when she had to fight off Vyrdaes dragons'. She knew she had been lucky. "We should be getting close to the village we saw."

"How much farther do you think we'll have to walk," Tesaldia wondered.

"I don't know, a mile or two."

At that moment Sharaes stopped and snorted. Tesaldia turned around. "Sharaes come here, there's nothing to be afraid of."

As she said the words, she stepped backward and was suddenly in the air. She and Shai were hanging, twenty feet above the ground, in a net. "Okay, so I lied. There is something to be afraid of."

Sharaes started pacing and stomping her hooves on the ground. Then a large group of people came running out of the forest. Sharaes spooked and side stepped. "Sharaes, run," Tesaldia commanded her horse.

Sharaes hesitated and then went galloping into the forest, she wanted to stay with Tesaldia, but Tesaldia had given her a command. "Shai, what do you think they're going to do to us?"

"I don't know, but they might want to kill us for trespassing."

"Oh well, isn't that just reassuring."

Tesaldia looked down at the people who were walking in circles around the net. "Shai do something."

"Do what. I'm stuck in a net, same as you."

"Use your powers, make a vine come up or something."

"I can't, I don't have enough room and I used most of my energy when I made the vine go up the mountain."

"Again Shai, you are very reassuring."

"Why don't you use your powers?"

"Because I just used all of my energy freezing a giant snake."

"Oh yeah, well I guess we'll just have to sit here and hope that they won't kill us."

"You're a very negative person, aren't you?"

"I guess you could say that."

Tesaldia sat in the net. She was thinking that coming to Flodil wasn't such a good idea after all.

After the people had walked around and around the net they finally let the net down. Shai and Tesaldia dropped to the ground with a thud. One of the people stood with a knife and he pointed it at Tesaldia. He started to walk forward when Sharaes came bursting out of the trees and she reared up in front of the person.

The water on Sharaes back was churning like the ocean during a storm. Her eyes were glinting with fury and her nostrils flared. She let out a shrill whinny, warning the people to stay away from her girl.

The person tried to walk forward again and Sharaes turned, as if to run. Instead Sharaes let out a mighty kick that sent the person flying. Sharaes snorted and dared others to come near.

"Sharaes can sense your fear Tesaldia, and she's trying to protect you."

Tesaldia looked at Sharaes. She had come back for her. Tesaldia jumped up. If Sharaes could fight then so could she. The group of people were standing there with their weapons in hand.

Then Tesaldia whispered to Sharaes. "Okay girl, let's show these people what we can really do."

Sharaes snorted and nodded her head, in agreement. Tesaldia moved ahead of Sharaes and waited, daring someone to step forward. Then two people charged out of the group toward Tesaldia. She acted quickly and raised her arms. "Water come to me."

The water lifted off of Sharaes back. "Now, destroy them."

The water rushed toward the people and knocked them back up against some trees. "Water, drown the rest of them, now."

Tesaldia watched as the water flew toward the people and carried them off into the forest.

Shai came up behind Tesaldia and put his hand on her shoulders. "That was amazing, I thought you said you weren't powerful."

"I guess I underestimated myself."

Shai laughed. Tesaldia turned around to face him. "Maybe there's some hope for me after all."

"Yeah, there just may be."

He smiled at her and she looked at Sharaes. "She's the real hero though, if it wasn't for her I couldn't have done what I did."

"Yeah, but you did help a little."

"Yes I did, just a little though."

Tesaldia and Shai both laughed. Then they sat down. Tesaldia couldn't believe what she had just done. It all seemed like a dream. A month ago she would have never guessed she was capable of doing such things.

The sun was starting to sink behind the mountains. It was a beautiful sight. Tesaldia felt happy. She felt she had done something important. Sharaes came over to Tesaldia's side. Tesaldia smiled as Sharaes laid down right beside her. Sharaes was the best horse in the world, she would never give her up; and Tesaldia couldn't ask for a better friend than Shai. At that moment Shai turned toward her. He stared at her and she looked at him. "What is it?"

"I was just wondering."

"What were you wondering?"

"Are you afraid to fight Vyrdaes anymore?"

"A little bit, but I think if I tried I could defeat him."

"You do?"

"Yeah, with a little bit of practice and a little bit of help, I think I could win."

Shai laughed again and looked at Sharaes. "Well you'll get all of the help you'll need from Sharaes."

"What about you," Tesaldia asked.

"Don't worry, I won't let you down."

"I know that now."

Shai smiled and looked at Tesaldia. She blushed and quickly looked away. Then Shai leaned toward Tesaldia, and kissed her on the cheek.