It wasn't so unusual that Penny be riding in the forest. She was taking a ride out to her sister's place, an impromptu decision on her part, the sort of decision she made from time to time when the weather was clear and she managed to get out of the house unhindered. What was different, however, about this particular trip was the fact that a passing shadow spooked Copper. While generally a steady mount, something about this particular shadow had set her off and Penny was nervously trying to get the jittery mare back on the path.
"What's spooking you so, Copper?" she spoke to the mare in what was supposed to be a soothing voice but Penny wasn't exactly the bravest of souls and the thought of encountering something out of the ordinary frightened her a bit, too. Still, she had never encountered anything terribly frighting in the forest before, she reminded herself. When Copper, didn't calm, however, Penny dismounted, taking the reins in hand and stroking the mare gently, all the while talking to her soothingly. She could hear the rush of water nearby and decided to see if Copper would take a drink. "Come, why don't you get some water and see if that calms you," she murmured, taking the reins to lead the mare toward the river. Unexpectedly, the usually docile mare whinnied with fright, rearing up and tossing Penny to the ground. Nothing, it seemed, could keep the mare there and she bolted in the opposite direction, leaving a disoriented, bewildered, and very frightened Penny on the ground in the middle of the forest. What was she to do?