She had been searching for a mare that looked like Lorelica, but that had been little description in this wide land, and with every day that passed, she was certain the young girl's sister was drifting farther and farther. The ink-colored mare still remembered how peaceful the glen had been and how sweet the taste of its grass: the type of land for which summer was created that made one yearn for the past and revel in its gilded memories. But that place was now some distance away, and autumn had arrived with its own sort of elegance, and she refused to return without a thorough search of all this area.

This was quite a rocky area, Eglantine thought, hooves nevertheless dutifully carrying her up the mountain path, the sound of them echoing into the still air like muffled screams. The birds, too, were quieter than usual. She supposed it was because the new season had brought with it a dryness, and energy had to be preserved for finding adequate food and shelter. It was just a thought, though; Eglantine had become far too accustomed to the company of her inner voices to let go of them now. She doubted Lorelica would want to stay with her after her sister was found, if ever.

She had never been enough, had she? It was a bitter little crumpled memory that made her feel so shrunken and useless. Windy, the graceful Arabian to whom she had promised her protection, was gone. Sadie, the woman with an intriguing air of mystery, had left. Muerdago? Disappeared. Thursday? Flickered away like the ghost she had always seemed to be, the wolves so close behind she could, at one point, feel their panting breaths on her hind limbs. And Ebony; Eglantine wasn't even sure what had happened to that confident young stallion she had encountered in the meadows of the land of spring. Oshea had left, too. In return to all of their's, Eglantine had taken part in her own share of disappearances. It was all too easy to slip away and never look back, especially when there was nothing worth loving but a few trees and dirt. She could do the same right now if she so wished... But no. She was here to find Clinger for Lorelica, who was somewhere near here, too.

"Hello? Clinger? Lorelica, are you here?" The scent of a stallion drifted to her nostrils, but she hoped he would forgive her the trespass of his land. Unlike many claimed, no one was inherently evil. At least, that was what Eglantine believed.

the (possibly) last summer