</style>
Word Count: 308
Powerplaying them to AniWaya, then this thread can be closed.
Part II in AniWaya will be added shortly.
★ ★ ★
The long minutes waiting for Taj and Layla to arrive were a test of Grace's will. She watched Hadley, hoping that he would not change his mind and go back to his master. Her mind wandered. What must he be going through right now? How conflicting was it for him? She thought about leaving home, though it was hardly the same thing at all, really. She had left on good terms, with her parents' blessing, and the blessing of Briar's parents, as well. They had equipped the girls for their journey, traded trinkets and tokens of bond and family, nuzzled them goodbye. There was no one coming for Grace, to punish her, to harm her, or to recapture her. She was free, and she always had been. But right now, Hadley was not. He was only now shrugging the shackles off; time would tell if he would be strong enough to break free of all of the ropes that still bound him.
Taj came streaking toward her, about as fast as he could, and landed on her head. "Hey, Taj! Talons to yourself, please!" He regained his composure and settled, and soon after his arrival, Layla came galloping. She was unsaddled, which Grace had known that she would be, and looked a little sleepy, as if Taj had woken her up for this. Her horse-mistress stroked her nose gently and gave her a sugar clump. "Thanks, Lay. I owe you one, promise." It occurred to her that they would not both be able to ride Layla, when she noticed a second form: Faris. Grace smiled. Now, here was a horse that could carry Hadley, and she could lead him on Layla. She directed Hadley on how to mount the stallion bare-back and where to hold on, then mounted her mare and took off toward AniWaya, Faris not far behind.