last time. One loud shot rang out, making Aleta jump even though she was safely far away. Both Irish and Flick went over the edge. The sounds of rocks clattering barely made noise above the roaring of the river. Then there was silence. The other two-leggeds froze, staring over the edge. Aleta did the same, ears perked and eyes wide. Any second, Irish would climb back up. Any second. 

After several minutes, he still hadn’t. Aleta let a out a desperate whinny, making some of the two-leggeds look her way. 

Irish couldn’t be gone. The two-leggeds clearly realized Flick was gone. They started to leave the canyon at a slow, sad walk. Aleta lowered her head. She should do the same. 

Suddenly, a triumphant neigh echoed, making Aleta whip around. 

Irish neighed louder, rearing up and thrashing his front legs. Aleta neighed happily in return, half-rearing as a sort of bittersweet goodbye.

Irish took off at a dead gallop, ropes still trailing behind him as his moonlit shadow disappeared into the canyon. 

Aleta smiled sadly. It killed her to leave the canyon and Irish... but maybe she’d find something better out of the red-striped maze...

Taking a deep breath, the oldest daughter of Spirit and Rain started her trip out of the canyon, hoping to find something to fill the new empty feeling swelling inside her.

Spirit and Rain (c) DreamWorks

Aleta, Irish (and unnamed ocs) (c) me

Tauri (c) Raven of the Shadows

Paint and Plattoe (c) Artemis

Rozene (c) MishaN