Page 25 of Time to Stirrup Love
“Looks like it.”
Margaid pulled up and got out of her truck. “Good morning to you both! I didn’t expect to see you here, Finn.”
“Phineas needed a ride,” Finn remarked, heading to the back of her truck to help with the gear. There wasn’t much and it was all packed in a big rucksack that looked bigger than her.
“I’m saving up for a truck,” Phineas stated. “I’m into peat.”
“So I’ve been told,” Margaid said, smiling at Phineas tenderly.
“I can take that, Finn.” Phineas slipped on the rucksack. “We’re headed to the punchbowl, right?”
“Right.” Margaid grabbed another bag out of the backseat of her truck and then locked it. “You can show me the way.”
“Sure can!” Phineas agreed eagerly.
“Well,” Margaid turned to Finn, “I guess we’ll head off.”
“Do you mind if I tag along?” he asked.
Phineas stood behind Margaid, grinning like a smug idiot, and Finn was ready throttle him and that knowing smile.
“Sure,” Margaid said, stunned. “It’s going to be boring.”
“I’m used to your boring collections. Besides, I’ll have to give Phineas a ride home and I don’t have anything else to do today. I wouldn’t mind the hike.”
“Well, let’s go.” Margaid started walking and Phineas quickly walked ahead of them on the trail, while Finn fell into step beside Margaid. Neither of them said anything as they hiked, following the Harmony River.
“Tell me about this punchbowl at the top of this river,” Margaid said, finally breaking the silence.
“The devil’s punchbowl? Not much to tell. It’s a natural formation, very deep and fed from below, but the exact source is kind of shrouded in speculation and old lore. There are a few waterfalls in the glen, we’ll pass them on the way to the punchbowl.”
“It’s an interesting name.”
“It’s not a formal name from a map, but a lot of the lifelong townsfolk call it that because it’s somewhat of a mystery, and there are lots of old tales about it due to its depth. You’ll find a lot of places have the name with devil in it. Why are so many ski slopes names Devil’s Arse or Devil’s Elbow or something absurd like that.”
Margaid giggled. “Devil’s Arse? Can’t say I’ve ever skied down a slope like that. Then again, I don’t really ski.”
“Me neither,” Finn agreed. “I know I used to come up here when I was a kid and swim in the summer. Fun to swim under a waterfall. And when we were still in hiding, it was pretty safe for me and my dad to swim here. My mom could take Pearl to the beach because she blended in. Except on nights of a full moon.”
“Why? What happens on a full moon?”
“Female glashtyns shift whether they want to or not.”
“Kind of a like a werewolf?”
“Sort of, but unlike werewolf myths which have them rampaging around town eating people, which they don’t by the way, Pearl is fully aware of who she is.” What he didn’t want to say it was also a fertile time for the female glashtyn. The moon brought about an abundance of fertility for the females of his kind. Their blood during this time had very magical healing qualities, just like their horns, and they were sought after. Full moons were nights that Pearl stayed locked in the house, even if the unicorn side of her wanted to run free across the countryside.
Thankfully, Pearl hadn’t escaped yet and stayed put, but then again, she was young still and didn’t seem to be a in rush to date or anything like that. She wanted to go off to college too, but it was those unknowns that scared him, and financially he couldn’t help her right now.
They continued their hike, talking about nothing in particular, which was nice. Phineas was within eyesight, carrying that heavy rucksack farther up the trail, giving them some space.
It wasn’t long before they finally made it to the punchbowl. The waterfall from Glen Creek fell gently over the rock ledge into the deep, cool waters of the eroded bowl-like formation. Around them were rounded shale cliffs, but from where they’d hiked up, they were able to meander their way down the rocks to the water’s edge. A stone bridge ran across the top of the punchbowl over the waterfall where the trail continued.
Phineas was able to scramble over the rocks, no problem. His scales didn’t seem bothered by the toughness of the terrain.
Finn went first and offered his hand to her, so she wouldn’t fall, as it could be a little bit slick to navigate thanks to the mistfrom the waterfall. Margaid slipped her tiny little hand into his, trusting him completely.
“Be careful,” he warned.
