The Painted Ponies of Partequineus and The Summer of the Kittens Read Online Free Page A

streaming out behind her in the wind, her lungs filled with pure, sweet air and her nose with the fragrance of a hundred thousand blossoms. She gripped the saddle with her knees, rising and falling effortlessly with every step of the sure-footed pony as he gobbled up the miles. It felt as if the two of them were one.
    Suddenly they were in the foothills, leaping over fallen logs and meandering streams. Vanessa’s powerful steed never broke stride, never seemed to tire as he plunged up, up, climbing higher and higher, until below her she glimpsed the far reaches of an incredible valley. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen, sparkling in the sunlight.
    The ponies thrust themselves upward, scrambling over cliffs and crags until at last they burst forth on the very topmost mountain peak. All around them the earth seemed to hum with song, a beautiful melody of peace and happiness.
    Vanessa’s pony pulled up on the highest point of all, and she slid down off his back and spread her arms toward the valley, as if trying to capture it all and take it to herself. The pony came near and nuzzled her hair. She laughed and stroked his neck, and together they stared out across the vast landscape, girl and pony, completely in tune with each other. Vanessa felt an almost overwhelming sense of contentment, and wished that she could remain in that very same spot forever.
    But that was not to be. The ponies began to stamp their hooves impatiently, and Vanessa’s mount reared up and spun around, pawing the air. She flung herself into the saddle again, and they took off in a wild, plunging, gleeful run down the mountainside.
    Twenty-eight flying legs thundered into the meadow, scattering leaves and flowers into the wind. The ponies galloped straight to the edge of the desert and raced onto the burning sand, heading for the cool, green trees of the distant forest. Vanessa whooped and yelled at the top of her lungs, happier than she had ever felt before.
    Then suddenly the air began to change. Off to the west, beyond the mountain peaks, an ominous black cloud appeared in the sky. Higher and higher it rose, and as Vanessa watched in fright, it grew two gigantic wings, a long tapered neck and a lashing spade-shaped tail that thrashed the air and shot bolts of lightning into the ground.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” she cried out. The ponies skidded to a stop, then began galloping in confused circles. Vanessa’s mount reared up and turned back toward the meadow, but it was too late. The gigantic cloud swallowed up the sun, spreading monstrous wings halfway across the valley, and opened a hideous red mouth in a screech of fearsome fury.
    â€œI’m afraid!” Vanessa cried out to her pony. “Help me!”
    The pony slid to a stop so quickly that Vanessa couldn’t hold on. Her feet flew out of the stirrups and she sailed over his head and sprawled on the desert floor. The pony whinnied madly and struck at the air with his hooves, trying to defend her against the huge cloud-dragon that swooped down toward them, its mouth agape.
    Vanessa scrambled to her feet and started to run, and suddenly a voice inside her head shouted to her. “Stop, Vanessa! Hold your ground!”
    She whirled around to face the hideous monster that blotted out the sky above her, lashing the air into a hurricane with its tail. Its terrible black wings reached out for her and threatened to scoop her up.
    â€œBackwards!” the voice shouted. “Take three steps backwards and you’ll be home! Quickly, before Guaryntis captures you forever!”
    Vanessa stepped back, once, twice. The cloud-dragon’s huge wings brushed her hair as the third step plunged her into the purple mist and sent her stumbling to the floor of her bedroom.
    An unearthly shriek of rage and frustration deafened her, the cry of a predator deprived of its prey. The sound faded away as the mist swirled into the fireplace and vanished with a sound