Monif and his son, Teric, rode me along the trail from another village. Monif had been the one to find me lurking around the village and he quickly decided to catch " the strange beast" and see if he could domesticate me. Well, naturally I let him catch me easily and he climbed onto my back within two weeks. He made a clothe saddle and clothe halter with rope for reins and has used me for fast transportation ever since.

Let's see, now that was over sixty years ago and Monif is an old man and Teric is middle aged with children of his own. No one ever questions my lack of aging because I am the only "horse" that they have ever encountered. Everyone calls me Wraith Jewel, two guess what makes them all call me Wraith, but they refer to me as Jewel for short.

Monif and Teric had ridden me a nearby village, one to show me off like they always do and two because they didn't want to have to carry the goods that were loaded into a little cart behind. Again, no one questions my abilities either. The sunlight is shining through the leaves over head and leaving an appealing display of intricate design on the ground I walked on.

I enjoy the rides that Monif takes me on everyday but I relish the trips to the other villages, especially when Teric joins. It is because of them that the villagers have not accused me of the "attacks". I haven't killed anyone and I make sure that Monif is fast asleep and doesn't wonder where I am when the attacks happen. When I hunt, I do so as a white wolf and the many villages have sent out countless hunting parties in search but I'm always back in my enclosure with Monif. For publicities sake, I scarf down the food that everyone gives me. What would you think of an animal that doesn't eat food and never shrivels and dies?

I sigh as I think of all that I have gone through to keep from being discovered. Apparently, Monif takes my sigh as one of tiredness because he pulls back and asks Teric if he would like to take a break and eat something. Teric unhitches me from the cart and takes off my saddle and reins to let me relax while Monif gets lunch ready for them. Automatically I lower my head and start chewing grass. I let it fell out as I get another mouth full and continue this routine until a decent amount of time has passed for a horse to get either bored or full. I raise my head when I hear my name in their conversation.

" Father? Have you ever wondered what Jewel really is?" Teric asks as he watches me watch him.

Monif looks up from tying the left overs up in a tattered old clothe, " Of course I've wondered what she is, son. Have you seen the looks that the traders get when they come from other worlds? There is nothing like her in the entire galaxy." he voice filled with pride and awe as he finished.

" Yes, Father, I have. And have you also seen the traders that stay away from our world because not only is she unknown but they believe that she somehow belongs to Wraith?" I always do my best to remain casual when people start speculating about this.

Monif sighs heavily, " Yes, I have. I even find myself questioning her origins, wondering if she really can be a part of the Wraith. But, son, it is only natural, especially with her coloring. So think, if she belongs with the Wraith why does she stay here? Why does she not go around feeding on the villages instead of feasting on things such as grass?" I love Monif, he can make just about anything sound logical

.

" I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting suspicions in my old age," he laughed with Monif, " I have always found her intelligence astonishing, haven't you?"

Monif nodded as they both continued to study me. Hopefully, you will never know the difficulty of trying to look normal when your mind is thousands of miles away and people are expecting you to perform. I don't think that I completely fooled them that I was totally unconcerned with them watching me. I waited until Monif asked Teric about his newest daughter before I turned around lethargically and walked a few feet down the trail before I turned into the trees. Monif would not worry about me disappearing into the trees, he knew that I always came back when I was ready.

It was cool and dim under the trees and the ground smell of decomposing material and animal scents. I pricked my ears forward as I heard a large heartbeat ahead, I walked forward and saw this planets version of a deer. My mouth watered, I had not been able to slip away the past month and at this point blood was blood. Lowering my etched head, I meander in the critters direction. Sensing falsely that I'm just another plant-eater who is curious, it doesn't run while it still can. Though, the only reason I wanted it to run was because I hadn't had the thrill of the hunt since coming here. I was close enough now to sniff the animal, and it did likewise. My fangs extended as I neared the back of the critters neck and before the animal could understand what I was doing I bit down hard enough to snap it's little neck. When it came to animals, I had gotten in the habit of killing them before I fed.

Now, I immersed myself in the richness of the animals blood. I growled low in pure delight as the hot liquid soaked into every last inch of my burning body. Much to soon, the dead body was depleted of all blood and I released the still warm neck with distaste. I starred down at the body and examined the mutilated neck caused by my fangs and the rest of my teeth. If someone found this body, say Monif, they would leave the cart behind and gallop me all the way to the village to get another hunting party. For some reason, I was just tired of this trip and this was the best thing that I could think to get "home" as soon as possible.

With my plan made, I waited until they were ready to go. Monif would send Teric out to track me down and when he got close enough I would scream and freak like any prey animal would when attack by a predator. I didn't hear Teric though until the sun began to set. He was following my hoof prints in the soft ground that would be easy for him to see. Time for the show.

I opened my mouth a let an ear piercing scream reverberate through the trees that would have been heard more miles. Bucking, I kicked a young sapling and uprooted it. I was rearing when Teric burst out of a small grove to land in front of me. My ears were flat against my head and my eyes showed white as pawed the air with my hooves.

Teric's eyes darted from my dark form to the lifeless deer-like animal that I had killed three hours ago, I saw the ragged neck in his mind and the understanding as well as the need to catch, get to Monif, and get out of here.

" Easy, Jewel, easy. It's okay, nothing is going to get you. No, not a strong, powerful animal like you." he approached me cautiously but hurriedly, I let him but held my ears back. He grasped my halter and swung himself onto my back, no sooner had he done this did he kick his heals into my side.

I leaped forward with a stiff wild jerk and loped through the trees to the trail. Teric pressed his right leg hard into my side and I snorted as I whirled towards Monif. He used my white mane as make shift reins but he was placing a lot of faith in my ability of self control. Monif jumped up from the ground when he saw us advancing so quickly.

" Teric, what is wrong?" he asked confused.

" Get on, Father! That murderous beast is in the woods and it nearly got Jewel! Hurry!" I threw my head back and neighed.

Monif didn't waste time and climbed onto my back with help from Teric. With no encouragement from either men, I bolted into a fast gallop and raced along the trail like my life depended on it. Monif clung to his son and gripped with his aging legs to stay on but every now and then I would feel him start to slip, so I would slow to a quick trot signaling Teric of his distress. Since there was no real danger it would be wasteful if Monif died for no reason in "the mad dash to escape".

I slowed automatically when we entered the village boundaries but didn't stop until I was standing in front of Monif's home. Both men slid from my back and Teric raced back into the center of the village while Monif lead me to my holding pen. He left my halter on and closed the gate behind me before hurrying after his son.

The party would leave as soon as all the men from the village were ready and then it would most likely be daylight before they returned. Knowing this, I lowered myself to the ground and lay flat on my left side and closed my eyes.

This is what I had been suddenly looking forward to, my time alone when no one would disturb me and I could visit my Wraith in my dreams. It hadn't been long enough for the population to grow and I knew that I was still at the beginning of my long wait.

TBC

I think this is the shortest chapter in here.