Heron Lake Plateau last night i had a dream that i was brushing a horse.

The glimmer in Wildfire's eye flickered at her godmother's response. She was momentarily swept up in her own silent disappointment and didn't think to question the source of Finley's injury. "I hurt myself," she'd said and the ever klutzy four-year-old could empathize, once she swallowed her secret chagrin.

"I'm sorry," she offered a little lamely, cool nose gently touching her godmother's brow now. "Have you ever thought about domesticating a bear or something, riding it around?" she quipped in the next breath.