Mikaela's love for Apollo grew with every second they spent together. As days became weeks and weeks became months Apollo learned all sorts of tricks, bow, rear, kiss, working bridle-less and so on. No one ever doubted the pair. They were meant to be, and will always be more than best friends, companions or what ever you call the perfect bond between horse and rider. Or at least, as long as Apollo lived.
But sooner or later the fateful day would come, and for Mikaela, it was all to soon...

Apollo's eyes were closed as Mikaela stroked him with a body brush. As she scratched his favourite spot on his wither he let out his awkward neigh that was to high pitched for a normal horse, this was one of his little quirks Mikaela had discovered, he did it whenever he was excited or content. Once Mikaela had brushed away any dirt that was in him she slipped his bridle over his head, unclipped his halter and leaped onto his back from a mounting block. After months of riding him bareback most of the time her balance was incredible. She leaned down and grabbed her black cowgirl hat and slapped in on her head. "Alright Apollo lets get out of here." She chimed as they walked out of the barn and behind the house to the trail that led through the forest all the way to the road and then across the road to follow a stream all the way to a miniature waterfall. About half a kilometre down the path forked. To the right led to the Crownbrys Ranch where Mikaela's friend Anna lived. She was going to join them when they got there. To the left was the trail that led to the waterfall. Mikaela squeezed Apollo into a trot and jiggled along until she could see Anna waiting ahead of them on her flea-bitten grey mare, Callie. "Took you long enough Em I've been waiting for fifteen minutes!" Anna laughed as she checked her watch. She was riding bareback too since Callie was sore around the girth area because her last owners had mistreated her. "Yeah I know sorry but Callie is looking so much better now!" The two girls chatted away endlessly and urged their horses into a canter as they weaved through the trees.
  Soon the forest became less dense and the trees began to spread out more and Mikaela and Anne knew they were getting close to the road now. Mikaela listened above Apollos thundering hooves and could hear the faint drone of a vehicle. The road was dirt and it was hardly ever used, most of the cars went down side roads, even if the car went past them it sounded too far away to reach them in time if they continued cantering.
As the forest wiped past in a blur of green and brown a log about a metre tall appeared over head, if they jumped it they would land on the dirt road and cross to the track on the other side. Mikaela listened and still the vehicle sounded to far away so she kicked on. Apollo locked eyes on the log and pricked his ears forward eagerly, preparing to jump. In the last few strides lending up to the log the vehicles drone multiplied into a roar, Anne who was a couple strides behind Mikaela had just enough time to pull Callie off course and stopped, Mikaela however had left it too late, she would have to risk it. As Apollo tucked his hind legs under him and propelled himself over the log with plenty of room to spare.

For a moment Mikaela was filled with the mystical sense of flying, before they collided with cold metal and were thrust to the side...