“Meg?” Air leaned close to Fog’s neck. “You shouldn’t be outside now.”

“I couldn’t stay with all those other humans. They’re nice people, but... my skin. Too many prophecies.” Behind Air, she could see tree branches bending, almost breaking, but around the BOW there was no wind. “I was hoping Jester would let me stay with him at the Pony Barn.”

Air studied her. “You want to stay with our ponies?”

“Yes.”

The Elemental smiled. “Follow us.”

Meg turned on the BOW’s lights and followed in Fog’s wake. That was easy enough to do since the fog made by the steed swirled around her, but she had no trouble seeing him.

She pulled up at the Pony Barn, thankful that Air was still sheltering her from the wind. One of the barn doors opened. Jester ran out and helped her out of the BOW. Then they both yelped as the first fat raindrops changed to hail.

“Do you have a change of clothes in there?” Jester asked.

“No.” She hadn’t thought about that.

“Then get inside before you get soaked.” He gave her a push toward the barn door.

Hearing a familiar arroo, she turned toward the road instead. “Sam?”

Sam and Skippy ran toward her.

“Well, chew my tail and spit out the fur,” Jester snapped. “Get inside, all of you.”

“The BOW,” Meg said, finally realizing the little vehicle could be seriously damaged.

“I’ll deal with it. And the Wolfgard,” Jester muttered as he got in the BOW.

“Get inside, Meg,” Air said. “What is coming does not like humans. But you’ll be safe with our ponies.”

“Thank you. Come on, Sam. Come on, Skippy. Let’s get inside.”

She rushed into the barn, the two Wolves right behind her.

Jester returned a minute later and scowled at her. “I know you’re human, but I would swear you have some Coyote blood. Only one of my kind could cause this much trouble so easily.”

Before she could apologize or explain, Jester was conferring with Mist and fetching a harness that had baskets with flaps that kept mail dry in bad weather. As soon as the pony was fitted out, he trotted off, heading toward the Market Square.

“That stall has fresh straw,” Jester said. “We can all curl up there and keep an eye on things.”

“Okay. Jester...”

The Coyote waved off her apology before she could say it. He glanced at Sam and Skippy, then at her. “Good thing Simon is going to be busy most of the day. I don’t imagine Blair will be able to get here either for at least a few hours.”

Meg spread blankets over the straw, then sat down with Sam while Skippy explored the Pony Barn.

“Did you run away too?” she asked Sam.

Sam looked up at her. “Arroo.”

She sighed. “We’re going to be in soooo much trouble.”

“Roo.”