Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or it's Characters, they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own Storm and her alter ego as well as Striker and his alter ego and their story line. This has come from the haunted, depraved, tortured darkness that is my mind.

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Forest Ride

=Ms. Star's P.O.V=

I grinned gathering Gunner's rein's and nudged his ribs lightly as I adjusted raising myself out of the saddle slightly as the stallion beneath me picked up the pace into a dead on gallop, his hooves chewing up the leave strewn ground underneath us.

I gasped softly reining Gunner down, his hooves digging deep into the ground nearly pitching me over his shoulder as he turned and threw his head up giving a half hearted rear. "Jesus fucking Christ Graham" I exhaled softly at how close Gunner and I had come to running over him.

"Ms. Star? What're you doing out here?"

"Well darling what does it look like I'm doing?" I shot back with a sarcastic snap. "I'm ditching work in favour for a ride with Gunner" I patted the stallion's neck as his nostrils flared, head rising up high into the air as he whinnied loudly. "Now what are you doing out here?"

"John Doe went missing from the hospital, he came out this way"

"He just got up and walked out?" I queried.

Mary Margret nodded. "He woke up"

I looked over in surprise; I hadn't seen Mary Margret and Emma Swan standing there. "Oh hey, didn't see you both there," I stroking Gunner's neck feeling his muscles twitch, his head going up high in the air, lips peeling back over his nostrils trapping whatever scent he'd smelt in his lungs. "Well I haven't seen him up that way if you're wondering" I jerked my head towards the path I'd been travelling along.

"Well he can't have gotten too far"

"Don't suppose he would have, he's been fed from tube from tubes since he was found"

"That's why we need to find him"

Gunner's head turned towards the bushes as they rustled, Henry bursting forth and sliding down the bank to join us.

"Well hey kid"

"Hey Ms. Star"

"What're you doing here? Your mum will freak" Emma stated.

"She doesn't know I'm gone"

"Exactly"

I looked to Graham and nodded north. "North is the old Toll Bridge, west drops off into uncharted woods and east heads towards the beach and coast line"

"Where should we start?"

"We'll carry on along the path, it's the main path through the forest, he'll most likely be along it somewhere"

"Then we best hurry hadn't we? It's starting to get dark," I nodded towards the darkness creeping over the sky. "And I would prefer not to have to ride home in the dark" I stated nudging Gunner into a smooth walk as Graham headed towards the Toll Bridge.

"Is he yours?" Emma queried wearily eyeing the stallion.

I grinned softly nodding. "Meet Gunner, registered Irish draught stallion," I leant forward hugging the black stallion underneath me. "He's really just a big baby, sweet as anything"

"He's huge"

"Eighteen three, one of the tallest of his breed"

She reached out stroking his neck carefully before Gunner turned his head towards her and blew out his nostrils softly placing his nose into her palm. "He's so calm"

I nodded lightly. "He's a real gentleman, treats me better than any real man I could find" I grinned softly as Gunner threw his head up and whinnied loudly in agreement.

I stood back with Gunner, the stallion straining to watch what the paramedics and fire fighters were doing to hoist John Doe up to the bridge in order to get him into the Ambulance.

"You three head back to hospital, we'll meet you there" Graham stated giving us leave to head back to the hospital.

"Do you think he'll make it?"

I looked from Henry to Emma at the boy's fearful question. "Of course he will kid"

Emma smiled wearily and nodded. "I'm sure he will Henry"

The path cleared to the hospital car park after what only seemed like minutes. I glanced back at the forest and furrowed my brow; something had always felt strange about the forest like it was capable of screwing with the time around you while you were in there.

"Come on; let's go see if John Doe is ok"

I glanced up the road before looking to Gunner. "I need to get Gunner home but get Graham to give me a call and tell me how he is afterwards"

Emma nodded before steering Henry into the hospital.

I turned swinging back into Gunner's saddle and nudged him on, it would be a long ride back home from the hospital but cutting through the town would cut some time off the journey.

I glanced at the pawn store and smiled softly seeing Mr. Gold locking the doors, Gunner whickered softly stopping from the gentle pull on the reins. "Evening love"

"Good Evening Ms. Star," He stepped over placing a hand on Gunner's shoulder as I slipped down. "What are you doing out here tonight?"

"John Doe woke up apparently, managed to go walk about's in the forest"

Mr. Gold nodded lightly. "I take it you're heading home then?"

I nodded lightly leaning against Gunner's shoulder. "I was thinking maybe we could have dinner again sometime?"

Mr. Gold nodded lightly. "Tomorrow night at the Diner?" He queried. "It would be my shout"

I smiled softly and nodded. "Ok, tomorrow night"

"I will meet you there then dear"

I nodded lightly smiling softly before Gunner nudged between my shoulder blades forcing me to take a step to steady myself but also pushing me straight into Mr. Gold's arms. The stallion snorted nickering softly before shaking his head out and stamping a hoof, a soft laugh emitting through Mr. Gold's chest.

"It would seem as though Gunner is trying to tell us something"

"Yeah, he's good like that" I shot the stallion a light glare before feeling nerves flare up through my stomach as Mr. Gold place a hand lightly on my cheek, lips claiming mine in a sweet simple goodnight kiss.

"I will see you tomorrow Ms. Star"

I nodded, my cheeks burning slightly from the blush creeping across my skin. "Goodnight love"

"Goodnight dear"

I watched him slip into the old white Morgan before hoisting myself back into Gunner's saddle and watched him drive off before smiling softly and touching my lips. "Thank you Gunner," I murmured leaning down to hug the stallion. "But I think we need to get home now"

He snorted softly bobbing his head in a nod before picking up a lazy long strided walk before I had a chance to pick up the reins; he knew his bearings and his heading, his feed bucket and home.

Another update soon!