Hauron of the Eleven

Shaylae had woken early. This was going to be a great day. Tonight she would be reunited with her friends, Micah and Ayanna. She could hardly wait. It had been hard to be separated from them, especially Micah. What had been even harder was to resist the urge to shift over to them in New Mexico, an urge that had come to her most days since they had been apart. But deep down she knew that her Powers were not to be used gratuitously or for simply personal reasons. So, she had settled in to life in the Salt Lake Valley with no complaints. Her father’s research into hyperspace had reached the point where he was ready to construct a prototype field generator so the government had set up a huge lab at Fort Douglas on the University of Utah campus. He had taken most of his team from the National Lab with him, including of course Reycita, who had quickly caught up the nine years she had missed while held captive on the Dark One’s ship. The team of theoretical physicists had been complimented with a team of top engineers from Thiokol whose long history with NASA, and then WWSA, had made them the perfect partners. The government had also provided a beautiful home one and a half kilometers up Mill Creek Canyon, with plenty of land and plenty of room for Snow Lion. She could ride out of the stable, directly onto the trail that took her up the beautiful canyon, never having to go near a road. It was ideal. Even before she finished getting dressed her jubilant mood was replaced with foreboding. For a few months now she had been getting fleeting feelings that something was happening on Yurob, something big. She was not sure what it was, but each time the feelings had become stronger. Today the feelings were unmistakable. Something was definitely happening, and she had to find out what it was. She wondered if it was anything to do with the hundred and ten Dark Ones that Elder Nashota had taken back to Tal’el’Dine’h. She hadn’t heard anything from her since the day she had defeated them aboard Revenge, and had driven Rolling Darkness from their souls. Nor had she tried to find anything out for herself. Elder Nashota had made it quite clear that she shouldn’t. “Shaylae, dear child,” she had said. “You must not come to Tal’el’Dine’h, or even try to contact us until the time is right.” “And how will I know when the right time is?” Elder Nashota had just smiled. But she had to admit, even though she was troubled, it still didn’t feel like the right time. She looked at the clock. It was just after 6 am. She found her mom already at the computer—it would be an hour before her dad got up, but like Shaylae, Reycita was an early riser. “Mom, I’m going for a ride up the canyon. Won’t be long.” Reycita looked up from the computer. “Don’t forget we’re leaving at four.” Shaylae smiled. “You think I would miss it?” *** Snow Lion felt a thrill of anticipation as she bridled him, but of course put no saddle on his back. For almost four years now he and his friend had been inseparable. He had been with her through most of her encounters with the Dark One’s and had proved as trustworthy, reliable and brave as any human companion. He had learned to read her every mood, just as she could read his. He was certainly pleased to see her—he always looked forward to his rides with her. They were not so much rider and steed, they were like a single entity as they galloped through the forests. The feel of her legs gripping his muscular body without the impediment of a saddle only heightened the pure joy he felt whenever he was with her. He sensed mixed feelings coming from her. The exhilarating anticipation of the ride, but also there was a dark, somber side to this mood. Still, he whinnied with wild abandon and shook his magnificent golden main as she leapt onto his back and spurred him on. While he was on the even, first part of the trail he couldn’t resist galloping. He would have to walk most of the way up, but for now she left him free to indulge himself. He felt the shock of her sudden excitement as she whooped for joy.