Kingdom of Ash

Abraxos was not there with her.
Abraxos’s wings strained, fighting with
that mighty, loving heart to reach lower air.
Manon sized up the distance to the bull’s
flank, ripping off her gloves to free her iron
nails. As strong as any grappling hook.
Manon rose in the saddle, sliding a leg
under her, body tensing to make the jump
ahead. And she said to Abraxos, touching his
spine, “I love you.”
It was the only thing that mattered in the
end. The only thing that mattered now.
Abraxos thrashed. As if he’d try to stop
her.
Manon willed strength to her legs, to her
arms, and sucked in a breath, perhaps her last
—
Shooting from the heavens, faster than a
star racing across the sky, a roaring form
careened into Iskra’s bull.