Valerie’s gaze followed the herd. They were arranging themselves in a semi-circle. Miranda looked their way and twitched her tail.
“I think we’re invited to the meeting.” Floyd led the way to the group.
Valerie shimmied up a smaller tree and installed herself in the bigger one next to it. She probably wouldn’t understand a word of this.
“Since winged horses don’t exist yet,” Miranda looked pointedly at Floyd. “The footage our drone captured was unusable.”
“You’re welcome. I wasn’t about to watch my daughter get killed making a propaganda video. Floyd gave her his most intimidating “Dad” look.
“I wasn’t going to get killed. Ever heard of editing?” Miranda stamped a foot and addressed the assembly of bachelor horses in their own language.
“We’ll have to pick another day to run it again.”
“You’re not doing that again.” Floyd interrupted.
“This is my father, who has his own ideas about how to proceed. We’ll keep working until we get what we need.”
“What’s with the human?” A dun horse asked. Valerie had understood everything Floyd and Miranda said because of their translators. But now she was lost.
“She’s with him.” Miranda pointed her nose at her father.
“But is she with us?” A bay horse spoke up. “And when do we get to see these wings?” Floyd didn’t like the way he was looking at his daughter. Not one bit.
“Floyd!” Valerie whispered. “What’s happening?”
“We’re discussing your loyalties. Hush!”
“Floyd?” Miranda spat the name. “You’ve given yourself a human name now? No wonder you took forever to come home.”
“It was the name on the bill of sale, Miranda, and I’m not so sure I like your tone, young madam.”
Miranda dismissed the group, and gave the orders to take their guard positions. She waited for them to leave, then marched right up to her father, and stared him down.
“After all you’ve done to this family, I think I’ve earned the freedom to use whatever tone I feel like.”
“What are you talking about?” Floyd asked. “I’ve only been gone a month.”
“Of course.” Miranda scoffed. “Most of them are technically ‘missing’, so we’re not all officially dead yet.”
“Miranda!” Floyd reached out and bit her shoulder. She shied away from him. “Back up. Who’s not dead yet?”
“Like you don’t know…” Miranda studied his eyes. She sucked in a breath. “You’ve been gone a month?”
“Closer to five weeks, but basically a month. Why should it matter?”
“Never mind.” Miranda wheeled away and trotted after the rest of the horses.
“That girl has never been so confusing before.” Floyd watched Valerie navigate her way back to the ground. “I was her hero once.”
“She’s from the future.” Valerie said.
“Well, obviously, she’s from the future, Valerie. I’m from the future, too, in case you forgot.”
“No, Floyd. This Miranda isn’t just from the future, she’s from your future.”
“How can you possibly know that?” Floyd stared at her.
“She asked how long you’ve been gone, but she was angry about something in the past. Something that hasn’t happened to you yet.” Valerie wiped her hands on her jeans.
“I’ve made a mistake, we shouldn’t be here!” Floyd realized. He started to paw at the ground.
“Pay attention, buddy.” Valerie patted his shoulder. “That’s old news.”
“We have to leave.” Floyd started working on his watch.
“You would really do that?” Valerie made him stop and think. “You would leave your daughter in a war zone, when our help is needed?”
“When you put it like that…” Floyd stopped himself. “Let’s see what we can do.”
