Author's Note

I figured I'd take a step back, and give a back story on my main character, to give the audience a feel for who she was. I'll be getting back into the main story right after this.

Step Back

I was your typical Canadian female. Well dressed, polite, and not quite religious. I grew up in the the suburbs of Toronto with my mother, my father having passed away before I was born. It got tough, not having a father around for guidance, but i relied heavily on my uncle, who was really close and would stop by every week to make sure mom was okay. She worked 2 jobs to make ends meet, the work load taking a toll on her health.

I remember my first job, working at a fast food place downtown. People would come and go, not all that polite. Rude, impatient.... You name it. It was a thankless job, going home each night smelling like a french fry. My social life wasn't all that great. I woke up, showered, went to work, and came home, occasionally going out on the odd Friday for a drink with old school friends. I wasn't big on get togethers, instead, I'd op to stay home, read a book, browse the net, or just help out with chores around the house.

Popularity wasn't on my side. I kept to myself in school. Sure the jocks would hit on me. I was 5'8" with hazel eyes and brown hair, and fit. But most of them just seemed to want to try getting into my pants. Never once, did I have a serious relationship. What can I say? I didn't want to be tied down.

I cannot remember how I went from being in Toronto to some "Magical Land" filled with talking horses, but I know what I was doing that night.

It had been a long day at work, so many customers had come through. I had been busting my butt off all day to make these miserable people happy, and come the end of my shift, I was exhausted. I found a long walk had always helped to clear my mind.

It was five pm. Dinner for most Torontonians. I had decided to run home, change into some comfy clothes and go for a nice long stroll through the wooded area just outside of the downtown core. I always brought a bottle of water and my iPod, so I could get my mind off the stresses of the day.

I started my walk around 5:30pm, making my way down the path in the woods just outside of my home. Normally the path was full of cyclists, rollerbladers, and dog walkers, but tonight seemed off. As soon as I stepped off, the sun was swallowed by clouds. Not rain clouds, just eerie looking ones that seemed to have come out of no where.

The path was completely empty, not a soul in sight, the trees looming overhead, as if silently watching me.