The sun is beginning to make its slow descent in the distance as the evening sky is stained shades of orange and pink. Bands of sunlight are cast across the clouds that have rolled in as I sway to the motion of the horse that I'm riding on. Violetta and Sophia are riding ahead of me, their horses kicking up clouds of dust as we follow the trail that winds through the woods surrounding the academy.

Astrid and Tessa are close behind me, Tessa riding on her own horse, Kashmir while Astrid is 'borrowing' her cousin's horse, though Eleanora doesn't know about that. With all that's been happening lately, Tessa hasn't had much time at all to take Kashmir out riding and I feel guilty as I glance back a few times at the stout horse, who is quivering with excitement under his rider.

"So you're an Unfamiliar," Violetta calls over her shoulder and I goad my horse to catch up so I can ride next to her and talk.

"Yes," I reply in a low voice, most everyone at the academy knows what I am already, so there's no point in denying it.

"That's really cool, have you figured out if you have a special affinity?" Violetta asks casually.

"No, I've just now gotten a wand," I murmur as I touch the new pouch that I have, which is threaded through the belt on my jeans.

Inside of the pouch is a delicate, moonstone wand that is a shade of clear, shimmering blue which is sometimes a milky white and reminds me much of a fairy godmother's wand. I touch the pouch out of a tentative habit, finding comfort in the item as it also offers protection.

"The coven can maybe help you figure it out early," Sophia offers, "we could do it tonight."

"Oh, uh...," I resist the urge to look back at Astrid and Tessa, lest it give away our plans, "I can't."

"Why's that?" Violetta inquires as she tilts her head, her dark hair falling forward around her face.

"I'm going to be busy tonight," I say quickly.

"Maybe tomorrow night then?" Sophia suggests.

"I'll see, I'll try though," I promise her and she grins.

The horse I'm riding on balks suddenly, its hooves skittering on the dirt path as it snorts and paws at the ground. I lean forward just in time to see that the creature's eyes are rolling white with fear before its muscles bunch and it blindly lunges forward like a cannonball.

I grab the reins and hold on tight as my heart jumps into my throat at the sudden motion. The beast is fueled by fear rather than logic as it blasts off of the path, the shrubbery dragging at my legs as the horse gallops deep into the woods. A frantic squeal tears from it as it leaps over a fallen log and I am painfully jostled in the saddle as I nearly fall off.

Branches claw at my face as the horse thunders through the forest, the horse's breaths coming out in ragged snorts that accent its desperation and fear. I try to sit up in my saddle to pull back on the reins, but no matter how much I pull, the horse arches its neck forward and keeps running. We break from the tree-line, a car-horn honking as we are suddenly crossing a road.

The horse rears, flinging me back as I lose my grip and crash to the pavement.

Terror makes my throat swell shut as I can't even find a moment to scream.

The air is forced out of my lungs as I slam down hard onto the road, my skin stinging from the impact. I look up just in time to see that one of the horse's back hooves is kicking towards me and I roll out of the way as air courses across me from the striking hoof and it just misses my skull.

There's another honk and I glance up as harsh lights bear down on me and it's the only thing I can focus on.

Something lifts me out of the way then and the wind from the passing car buffets me, tearing my hair out of its ponytail as it swirls viciously around my face and the car passes me by. I'm still in shock as I'm slowly lowered to the ground next to the road by an invisible wind and I fall into a limp heap, unable to move for a long moment. I glance behind me when I hear the clattering clomp of hooves as Astrid and Tessa ride their horses down the road toward me.

Astrid has her hand raised and her fingers splayed as the wind dies around me. She lowers her hand once she sees that I'm out of harm's way and turns her horse so she's riding across the road. My horse is a dozen yards down the road, its saddle loose and its reins hanging awkwardly as it tosses its head and twists in a couple of circles, its eyes searching for a clear path to get away.

Tessa dismounts as she gets close to me, her eyes wide as she stares uncomprehendingly at me. Violetta and Sophia have just gotten out of the woods as they hang back toward the tree-line, their eyes wide and their faces pale.

"Are you okay?" Tessa asks as she walks up to me.

I nod a few times as I try to steady my heart, which is beating out of control, "Yeah, I think so."

Astrid trots back up to us, my horse in tow behind her as she grips its reins and leads it along behind her horse. My horse snorts and shies as they get closer to me and Astrid stops several yards away.

"You can ride with Tessa, I don't trust this one anymore," Astrid says as she motions toward my horse, which is still acting skittish as its eyes roll.

"Okay," I mumble as I walk to Kashmir's side and clamber onto him, my shaking fingers making it difficult for me to hold on as I heave myself upright.

Tessa easily swings herself up into the saddle in front of me and Kashmir whickers as he twists his head around so he's looking at me curiously.

"Let's not go trail riding again for a while," I say in a low voice as I look back out toward the road at the spot where I could have nearly lost my life.

"Agreed," Astrid mutters as she clicks to her horse and we start back in the direction of the academy.