#Chapter 19: Guardian Angel

I roll out of the way in the last minute, as the boar charges past. “Esther!” Cynthia calls. She’s steadied her horse somewhat, several yards down the trail. Sparkle Heart, already upset from earlier, continues to run. “Go! Keep riding!” I shout to her. “Get help!” “I can’t just leave you!” Her horse is unhappy with the stillness. It beats at the ground with its hooves. Soon, Cynthia’s hesitation won’t matter. That horse is going to bolt. “Get help, Cynthia! Go!” “Fuck! Shit!” Cynthia shouts. She grabs at her reins, but it’s the horse leading her now. It hobbles about for only a moment more, before turning and running up the trail away from me. “Esther!” In a way, I’m relieved. Cynthia and the horses are safe. On the other hand… Boars are invasive species. There shouldn’t be one in this forest at all. Perhaps that was why it had been overlooked – none of the staff thought to actually look for it. This boar in front of me is like some kind of boar king, bigger than I even