Rowena leaves a trail of smoke in her wake as she crashes through the darkened wood. Her anger is hotter than the sun, cooled only by the icy grip of worry. Her mind yet reels in disbelief. She can't make sense of Elvira's behavior. Their encounter has left Rowena feeling wounded, both physically and emotionally. The shock of such a personality shift has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her own daughter. Her trust is broken, and her world shaken.

The war raging around her only fuels her inner turmoil. Screams of pain and aggressive battle cries ring out all around her. The voices coming from every direction are chaos in her ears. The moonlight filters through the canopy leaving much of the forest in shadow. Only vague shapes of other horses can be seen moving through the sparse, dappled light.

The black mare's heart races, and her hooves pound out a rhythm of similar urgency. Her mission now is to find Dances With Wolves. She was engaged with Elvira when he slipped away into the night. Rowena has no idea which way he went.

Rowena trots on, ignoring the sting of thorny undergrowth tearing at her legs. Her mane and tail are a dark and wild mess just like tonight. She is bruised and battered, and covered in fresh bite marks. Bare patches of skin catch the light and blood oozes from a shallow wound on the underside of her neck.