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It was late summer and Turag was walking by the forest edge. Day had just began but the sun was already shining bright warming up cool air and soon it will be time to find nice thick shade to hide from it till late day hours. But for now he was satisfied with his early breakfast slowly munching the grass half sleeping. This was his last meal before he sleeps through most of the day. Nights were time when he would be most active and days well they were still hot anyway so it was best to sleep through them.

Eyes closed he lazily scanned the area with his ears. Although confident in his chances to escape any predator thanks to his wings and fast reflexes it was best to be always on guard to avoid too dangerous situations. At some point he thought he heard someone walking near by but it sounded like soft hoof steps so he let it slip of his mind. Something that steps so gentle on the ground cant be life threatening for him.

Turag ate in silence for little while longer and after finishing his meal looked in forests direction though he didn't notice a stranger standing there and observing him. It was time to take shelter in shades. Slowly but sure he passed between first trees occupied with his thoughts passing by the mare. And for a second he thought he saw a movement with the corner of his eye so he stopped and turned his head in desired direction to see what was there. There she was mostly hidden with bushes a mare that looked very interesting to him. He observed her for a few minutes and then smiled softly.

'' Well hello there. ''

Mares serious face while she was examining him with her eyes along with her ears laid back seemed so strange reaction to his greeting that he had to raise his eyebrow in surprise. On top of it all her question and tone made Turag laugh. It wasn't intentional she just looked funny in a sweet kind of way.

Amused with all that was happening Turag turned himself so he could face mare and see her better. And with a smile answered to her question.

'' Well maybe you could. What is you're name little one? ''

The mare managed to confuse Turag completely. Somehow she didn't looks so innocent now as she did on first sight. Her smirk was partially responsible for that. And his interest in what kind of life story follows her grew while he watched her make circles around him.

'' Voodoo? ''

Now this was a new word in his vocabulary. What did it mean? Maybe it had something to do with charms and small trinkets she mentioned. But what exactly he couldn't imagine to himself. Or maybe it was a name for some kind of merchant trading. He heard of others that would trade either small things or knowledge for things they might need. But those were rare and he had never met any of them till now.

'' What exactly is that? Do you perhaps wish to trade something? ''

'' Black magic... a wonderful thing... ''

Turag was now interested what exactly is so wonderful in it because he had no idea what black magic is. Maybe some kind of ancient knowledge. He sure would be interested in learning something new about old days. But what would he have to offer? In all his life he never saw any of the two-leggers items she had mentioned. He did meet one of them once as a young stallion when he was still living with his parents herd but the only thing he was given was his necklace and beads in his hair.

'' Well... the only thing I was given from a two-legger are my necklace and beads in my hair... ''

This was the first time he actually thought about this gifts. He was happy when he received them and wasn't sure if he would be ready to part with any of them. Well maybe few beads since he did have more than one of those.

'' I am afraid that my necklace is too dear to me to trade it. ''

He paused for a bit thinking if he really would be ready to part from some of his beads. After few minutes of trying to find a good reason for giving them up he came to decision to find more about this black magic and see if it really is worth giving up on few of them.

'' I might be willing to part from few of my beads. They have interesting property of glowing with dim light in dark. But what use would I have with this black magic? ''

((No problem.))

Chill passed through Turag's spine. Something was telling him not to play with this mare. Still her mysterious behavior attracted him like honey did bear.

What was passing through her mind when she thought about personal trades.

'' What kind of trades? ''

Turag knew that he should have known better than let him self go blindly where his heart desires but this voodoo thing was so new to him that he just had to learn more about it. So he followed the mare. And yea he knew that curiousitty killed the cat. This was just a situation where he would have to keep his eyes wide open and hope nothing bad happens.

'' Tell me can those that seek your services do a certain task for you that would lead to your benefit? Can that also be considered as payment?''

Turag took time to digest mares answer. This meant that searcher of her services doesn't have to have anything valuable. Still it meant that they could be asked to do something that would be opposed to their moral standards. Turag refused to believe such thing was possible but than again he saw so many things on his travels that he couldn't deny it completely.

'' How interesting... ''

Yes life could be cruel and Guades remark made him pay attention to the ground to be more careful where he steps. It was now that he started to question how his curiosity was going to effect his health.
He knew that two-leggers had individuals that could speak to those that crossed over to ever green pastures and those individuals were called shamans. Their connection with nature allows them to heal and protect their villages from evil.
This made him wonder if her voodoo was same.

'' So how do you learn this voodoo? ''