Regina gave Grace her head, and for a time, the mare kept to a pleasant, springy trot. Soon, though, she took them into an enormous open field that looked almost silver beneath the moonlight. Beneath her, Regina felt Grace's muscles flex and tense like she wanted to run and Regina let her--full out and her hair streaming on the wind to match the mare's mane and tail.

The first snort, Regina took for playfulness and enthusiasm. The second had Grace slowing, her gallop collecting and her neck lifting. She tossed her head, snort and blowing. "What do you smell, girl?" Regina murmured and patted her neck.

Just then a flash of silvery-white loped between the trees and Grace shied, hard, spooking. Regina kept her seat, but the mare had caught the predator's scent and she feared Grace would hurt herself. She hopped down and did her best to calm her.