Cate stops in a forest clearing next to a small stream to catch her breath. She sits down on a nearby boulder. Bastet, her small black pet cat rubs against Cate's leg reassuringly.

"I think we may have lost them, Bastet." Cate gasps.

Bastet meows in agreement and swishes her tail.

Cate looks around. "I think we may be lost."

Bastet flicks her ears and swishes her tail back and forth. She gives a small snort. "Not lost just not know where we are yet."

Cate looks at Bastet and laughs. "Is that so? Isn't that being lost?"

Bastet shakes her head and flicks her ears irritated. "No!"

With laughter in her voice, Cate asks. "Then what is it then?"

"Just not found our way yet." Bastet answers calmly. "Must ask."

"Of course. Why I didn't think of that?" She says with laughter threading through her voice. "Who do you think we should ask?" She smiles. "There is not anyone around at the moment." Indicating the surrounding forest with her hand.

"I find someone." Bastet sniffs disdainfully and walks away.

Cate shakes her head and smiles. "Just as long as it's not one of Louthe's men."

Her only answer is another disdainfully sniff from Bastet.

Cate takes off her backpack and sets it down on the ground. She opens it and looking for her water bottle. When she finds it she opens it and takes a drink. She closes the bottle and puts it away. She closes the backpack and puts it back on. She sighs and closes her eyes for a moment. She relaxes listening to the sounds of the flowing stream and the wind through the trees.

Suddenly there is a rustling of nearby bushes. Cate tenses immediately alert. "Bastet is that you?" She asks as she rises halfway from the boulder getting ready to escape if need be.

What steps out of the bushes is not Bastet or one of Louthe's men.

"Oh my!" Cate exclaims breathlessly. Her eyes widen with surprise. She drops in shock back down onto the boulder when she sees what steps into the clearing.

A large, beautiful white horse-like creature with an translucent ivory-colored horn, flowing cream colored mane and tail steps majestically into the clearing. Large dark intelligent eyes calmly regard Cate. At Cate's exclamation, its ears flick forward and it looks at Cate curiously, tilting its head.

Cate looks on in admiration. "Oh! How beautiful." She exclaims softly and involuntarily sighs.