Just as he finished speaking, he heard a noise from the direction the horse had taken. Pettic raised his bow ready for another creature, but to his surprise it was the horse returning. Behind the creature was a winged foal.
"So that was why she was fighting so hard," said Pettic to Cledo. "She was protecting her foal. I expect that other creature, whatever it was. Must have fancied a bit of foal for its breakfast."
The horse trotted over to Pettic and knelt down. She made to push him with her nose. Pettic did not know what she was trying to do and so he patted her on the neck.
She stood again and then repeated the procedure. Eventually he decided she was telling him he could mount her. He picked Cledo up and tentatively placed him in front of the animal"s wings. The horse did not seem t
