No I mean help him He could be in trouble and I don’t want anything to happen to him same as you Tuck nodded at Sam Sylvie knows the forest better than we do Sylvie zipped her bag closed Come on she said We’ll take Hunter In Hunter’s stall Sylvie gracefully swung herself onto the horse and then extended a hand to help Sam and Tuck climb on behind her They just barely fit but Hunter didn’t seem to mind He twitched and pranced eager to be off Keep your heels down Sylvie instructed Tuck you hold on to Sam and Sam you hold on to me We don’t want to lose anyone else I know how to ride a horse Sam grumbled putting her arms around Sylvie’s waist Sylvie pulled on Hunter’s reins and 2
squeezed her legs into his sides He shot out of the stall and she steered him toward the stable door Go Hunter The horse raced along the flaming bushes then cut through an opening in the trees I think we should head for the river Tuck said Agreed Sylvie said Sam hung on tight Sylvie’s warmth seeping into her The three of them took turns calling out Barloc’s name until it echoed through the woods In the distance a faint whinny reached Sam’s ears She gripped Sylvie’s waist a little tighter Wait she called over the pounding of Hunter’s hooves I heard something Sylvie pulled on the reins and Hunter slowed to a trot Sam listened for another whinny but the woods were silent 4
There Sam shouted pointing as a flash of white whisked between the trees Sylvie urged Hunter to where Sam had pointed but nothing was there I know I saw him Sam cried He has to be here somewhere Hunter continued galloping toward the river Sam searched for that flash of white but she couldn’t focus on any area for more than a second I can’t see anything Sam called out We’re moving too fast Sylvie slowed Hunter to a walk We’re close to the river We can keep looking on foot They dismounted and Sylvie tethered Hunter to a nearby tree As she looped the final knot along the branch Sam noticed Tuck hanging back Are you okay she asked 5
