I sniggered as the hunter toppled to the ground. Anyone who had a mind to pick on weak little me these days had another, much different, event headed their way.
The handsome young stallion whinnied in delight, prancing away from his captor. I donned my cloak's hood and melded backward into the trees. The hunter lay stunned and groaning on the ground, a perfect opportunity. She stood, holding her dirt-dusted behind with a mumble of confusion. I lifted my hefty walking cane up high and whacked her with it, not intending to kill, but certainly meaning to put her out of commission long enough to flee uninhibited. Her eyes widened in the realization that she'd been beaten, before rolling back into her pretty little skull. Upon her collapse I sniggered again. "Not bad for a softhand, yes?"
I whistled for my new friend as I turned on my heel.
As I pulled off the wretched saddle, he chuffed lightly in surprise. "You don't need it to ride, little doe?"
I snorted. "Only weak men need to secure themselves to the backs of the graceful and their cousins. I intend to sell the wretched thing, if you could so kindly get me to the next village."
"I do so owe you the favor." He brayed, rubbing his head up and down my chest with grateful vigor. I chuckled. "Do you know the way, nightcoated? I have never been outside my own fiefdom." It was only polite to call the majestic by their color, especially one so supple as the young male before me.
He snorted again. "A pity. This area is lovely. Apples an' sweet grass an' clovers an' mud to roll in an'-"
Ebba cleared her throat, lightly hopping upward to perch on his flank as I unbuckled his wretched bridle. "Do get on wid it, ya big lug."
He whipped his head around and pinned his ears back in annoyance. "I would have a mind to pitch you off, you rude little furball." Ebba hummed her throaty feline chuckle. "It'd be at your 'ide's expense." He went to retort at my sassy feline companion, but I removed the need, shoving her lithe little form into her pouch within my cloak. "Pay her no mind. She has the manners of an unsociable kitten." This received a scandalized gasp and a light huff.
He snorted again. "Ready to mount, little doe?" I smiled at the nickname, finding it fitting given my newly born sense of belonging here, in the forest. "Indeed."
Upon reaching a gallop, I threw my arms out and took my hair from its cowl so it could billow behind. Nightcoated whinnied victoriously, free of a saddle as he should be.
I let out my own cry, finally, finally free.
