~Nature Walk~ (Tall Grass Prairie)

"Hear that?" A smile lit across Nadeem's face at the pitched wails of the coyotes in the distance, eager to share the sights and sounds of nature with the two citizens that had braved these early morning hours for the nature trek. "Coyotes. Their numbers have seen a rebound in the last few years, and if we're lucky, we might spot one on the trails today." He swiveled around in his saddle to say this, looking back to check on his two clients, and gauge whether or not they were enjoying themselves.

While his owner was enthusiastically dishing out nature facts, his black-coated steed was holding back a disgruntled snort. He didn't find coyotes nearly as fascinating. The old Marwari was more focused on the two mares that had been rented out to carry Jacks and Sammy, and it was to them that Abhay spoke, "No need to fear ladies, I have a lot of experience around canines. Most here in the Valley know not to mess with me...eee, what's that?!!"

Abhay's curved ears pitched forward and a sharp breath whistled through dark, flared nostrils. Being upwind of Pomme, and more than a little distracted by his chat with the females, the gelding hadn't noticed the chestnut mare as they were cresting a slight hill. Not until they'd begun to descend the other side did the notoriously flighty horse catch sight of her mane billowing slightly in the wind, which from the edge of his peripheral vision and overly active mind might as well have been a bear or a marauding pack of wolves.