"That's the third one this week but whatever it is, its killing off the ones that are too old to race."

"Do you think wild dogs could be cause of it?"

"Why would wild dogs bother to kill a horse and suck it dry of it's blood?"

"You should keep Naniki safe Miyako, you wouldn't want her to fall prey to whatever is killing our old horses."

"Anybody who dares harm my mustang will die, and how come no one sees what's attacking our horses?.

Xiao Lang shrugged and a gave a pat to Naniki's back. Miyako shook her head and led Naniki out of her stall.

"Are you going to ride this early on a Saturday?"

"Yeah," Miyako replied climbing on Naniki's back.

"But it's too dark Miyako."

"Don't worry Xiao Lang I have my shotgun and I can see very well in the dark," Miyako replied and gently tapped Naniki with her ankles.

Naniki walked out of the stall and as soon as she reached the stable door Miyako prompted Naniki to start galloping.

"Those horses have been dead for about half an hour whatever killed them must be nearby," she murmured to herself as she held to the reins.

After a reaching a stream she made Naniki stop and climbed off her back when she heard branches crunching nearby.

"What is a lovely lady like you doing all alone in a dark place like this?"

Miyako turned around and there was no one within her line of vision. Still she brought her hand over her right shoulder and took out her shotgun. It was already loaded so she only need a target to fire at.

"Maybe if you looked up you could see who is talking to you."

Slowly Miyako looked up and saw man sitting on a tree branch.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my family's property?" she asked aiming at him.

"There is no need for you to know my name young lady," he replied and jumped down.

Miyako took a few steps back until she stopped because Naniki was right behind her. He landed as gracefully as a cat much to Miyako's surprise, and this made her more wary. However instead of looking up at her, he looked at the ground.