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I landed hard on my side knocking the wind out of me. I knew immediately what had happened: Maria had hit me. I chided myself for letting my guard down as I scrambled onto my hands and knees, forcing air back into my lungs.
Cloud had turned towards Maria, still on her horse, and was rearing up on his hind-legs and neighing loudly.
As the two animals began to fight, Maria slid gracefully from the back of her horse. She ran straight for me.
“What the hell did you hit me with?" I yelled as I struggled to my feet. My vision was blurry, my head swam. Maria snarled as she bent down and picked up a large rock. "Well, that explains that,” I said as Maria whipped the rock at me. I turned instinctively from the flying object and caught it in the wing. I felt the tiny bones fracture under
