It was around one in the morning when I met up with the three. Elena and Malcolm both looked bright and awake, unlike my partner who seemed to be falling asleep just standing up. He had a lead rope in his hands again, as if I’d allow him another try at capturing our culprits.

Upon arriving at the lake, Malcolm skipped a rock across the water. “They’re not here. We’ll have to sit and wait.”

“Or maybe we can just leave and come back another night?” My partner shuffled close to me in a fit of anxiety. “I really need some sleep, anyway!”

I grabbed the back of his coat and yanked him back toward me just as he attempted to take a start at running away. “I don’t have time for your foolishness right now, James. Sit still!”

Elena gasped and looked up, pointing out at the water. “There!”

She guided all of us to look at a large ‘kelpie’ in the distance who seemed to have just emerged from the water. It was idly eating at some grass like any other horse. I immediately took the lead rope from my partner and forcefully gave it to Malcolm. I was surprised at the way he flinched, seeing as he’d been so confident at catching these things.

“Why me?”

“Why shouldn’t you do it?” I pushed him toward the direction of the kelpie, but by now, it was staring at us to acknowledge our presence. I didn’t know anything about equine, but something told me this one didn’t have malicious intent. Still, Malcolm took many fearful steps toward it and was soon standing directly by it.

As he threw the lead rope over its neck, it stayed perfectly still. We had one of the creatures in our grasp, and this one knew how to cooperate.