It had been months maybe even a year since we have continued our journey. I was maturing into a young mare. Dakota didn't pay me as much attention as when I was a foal. She let me further then I had ever gone, I walked down the mountain and walked into the lake. I drank some water from the lake and began grazing on the green grass. I had been grazing for about 5 minutes and I heard Dakota come up behind me. " We should get going I don't think we should stay here any longer Phoenix" she told me. Her flecks of grey in her coat shined in the sunlight. " alright fair enough Dakota." I told her. We continued walking down the mountain and she soon stopped. " Is something wrong Dakota ?" I asked the old mare. " I'm going to rest for a second you keep going I'll catch up Phoenix" she assured me. " are you sure I don't mind waiting?" I asked her. " no my dear you keep going I'll be fine I'll catch up in a minute or two" she said standing beside me. I continued walking down the mountain, "it had been about ten minutes and still no Dakota yet? " I asked myself. I heard a loud horse scream and I put the sound to Dakota the poor old mare. I ran back up the mountain to her, she was laying in a pool of blood with gashes on her neck. " Dakota!!" I yelled. " go on Phoenix my time has come" she told me very quiet almost a whisper. " I don't even know where to go how am I supposed to continue this journey on my own?!" I asked her. " You'll find out soon enough" she said right before she died. my head hung, I turned and continued down the mountain. " Dakotas gone now who's supposed to look after me I don't know these parts of the forest." I thought to myself.