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"Just trust me and follow me.  Those brownies that you found in the refrigerator are the key.  We all had some and turned into a centaur family.  I am sorry we never told you until now but we couldn't take the chance of the government finding out.  If they did then we would be in some lab somewhere for experimenting.   We decided to protect you from this life and that we will be able to protect humans form the evil in the world from the shadows.  We called up the schools and told them that your younger siblings where now going to be home schooled.  With them turning in their reports on time with flying colors the state doesn't think anything is out of the ordinary.  Your father and I can still run our family farm over the phone, we just needed some more time to tell the employee's that we will be around a lot less that than they have come to expect.  Please Mina; trust me that I didn't want this life for you.  But since you found out the hard way I want you to be a part of a team, our family team, to protect our neighboring humans from harm. We still are able to get to our main home to clean it and keep up 'appearances' in the corn fields.  But no one actually sees us.  Please come with me Miranda and everything will be explained," pleaded Mina's mother.

Turning around Mina looked directly at what seemed to be a centaur version of her mother.  A moment later Mina said, "I trust you.  My mother will never lie to me.  Where will we be going and why haven't you been heard on the news?  I am curious about being a centaur now".

"Within the next few days everything will be explained to you.  I know it is a lot to take in on your first day.  But I'm afraid we must wait until you are ready for the full explanation of what has happened. Believe me it was by a complete accident that it happened.  Let us go," stated Mina's mother.  She then ran off in a northerly direction.  Mina galloped after her mother.  Finding that running on four legs was as easy as if she had always had them.  It amazed Mina, running with the strength of a horse, the air passing by Mina's face as if the wind itself had decided to rush by to cool her face.  Mina finding that her hair wildly caught the wind made it feels like she was actually free from the responsibility of her life.  Her agility, she found, was higher than she ever expected.  Twisting and turning past trees and through brushes at near full speed made everything she was feeling amplified to the nth degree.  Mina couldn't explain it to herself; she was far freer than she had ever felt in her entire life.  A smile of happiness crossed Mina's face as she continued to pursue her mother.

Without realizing it Mina had been running around for nearly 20 minutes before she caught up with her mother.  They both had made it to the most northern edge of the forest.  There Mina saw that her father and 5 siblings where gathered in a grass clearing.  All of Mina's family was centaurs of different colors and types of half horse.  All looking like they were having a great time prancing around the forest.

Snorting in awe Mina couldn't help but stare.  This was all too much for her.   They shouldn't have made it to the northern edge of the forest this quickly.  She had so many questions to ask and concerns about what other people would do to them if they were found out.

As if she read Mina's mind her mother said, "Don't worry honey.  We will not be found out.  In a quark of our transformation people see us as human when we want them to see us as human.  I can't explain it fully but it is what seems to be the truth of our existence".

"How did you exactly find me at that old house mother? It seems convenient that you did so," asked Mina.

"I was coming to get you at the house.  But before I got there you had just turned into a centaur and ran off before I could say anything to you.  I followed you to the old house and caught up to you there," said Mina's mother.

Before Mina could respond she heard someone else call out to her.

"Hey sis! It's nice to see that you are now one of us and will be protecting our human companions along with us," yelled out Mina's younger sister Coventina.  Conventina was the second oldest of the six children at the age of 18, she was a senior in high school and is strong willed and independent.  She was named after the Roman-British Goddess of life cycles, wells, and springs.  Their parents were always for giving their children's names as a way to make them unique and therefore strong.

Unsure of herself, Mina looked at her sister and smiled.  Trotting up to Mina, Coventina smiled back.  Coventina's horse half was pure white, not only that but her human skin had seemed to follow that pattern and become white, as well as her hair.  Mina remembered her sister's hair being brown and her skin tanned; not white on white.

"What happened to you Cove?  You use to be the tannest of us all," said Mina.

With a giggle Coventina stated, "Come with me and we can have a talk about what has happened.  I hope mom has brought you up to date about how we are supposed to protect people".

"In actuality she hasn't.  I can't wait to hear this," responded Mina.

"Well then come with me.  We will have a talk and you will be brought up to date on what is what," said Coventina.

"First, give me your bow and arrows young lady.  I will not have your weapon on you when you are off with your sister," said their mother.

"Yes mother," said Mina, rolling her eyes before she gave her bow and arrows to her mother.

"Let's go big sis," said Coventina with a smile.  She then galloped off into the forest.

Mina had no choice but to follow.  She galloped after her younger sister.

Mina caught up with Coventina fairly quickly.  "What's going on?  What has happened to us"?

Slowing down to a walk Coventina said, "What's going on is that we accidently became centaurs and now we are responsible for the protection of the people that we live with.  We didn't know at first that those brownies were life altering brownies.  Our neighbor, Donald; you remember him, the old guy from two farm houses down.  Well one day he brought us brownies to give us thanks for all the time we helped him.  He said they were going to help us help others.  But we didn't believe him at first.  We just thought he was being a strange old man.  So we thanked him and took the brownies.  Later on that night well all decide to have a snack and took out the brownies and ate them.  Well to our surprise, as it was to you, we all were turned to centaurs.  We were confused and frightened all of us.  We all ran out of our house and eventually into the woods we are in now.  Not too long afterwards we met up with the 'woman' who told us of how we can help the people of our town by protecting them.  That was 4 months ago.  We tried to find our neighbor but he was nowhere to be found.  Now we are all centaurs and have to protect those who are not as strong as we are.  The best we can do is protecting them from the evil of the world.  As centaurs we will be able to fight this evil before it can over take our loved ones.  We have the ability to protect those we care about most".

"What evil?  There is no evil her in Iowa.  What possible difference could we make in a farm town? " Said Mina in a defensive tone.

Coventina came to a complete stop and looked at her older sister.  She responded, "You will understand soon enough".

Not understanding what her sister was saying, Mina just gave an odd look to her sister.  She thought, "How was being a centaur going to help anyone"?

That is when Mina noticed a leaf fall in front of her.  The leaf itself was a reddish- orange colored leaf, just like a leaf that one would see in the autumn time.  Looking around, Mina noticed that they both were standing on the old road that lead people to the old lake just northeast of town.  A pile of an old tree lied in front of them waiting for someone to come pick it up to use on their back yard fire.  Red and yellow leaves lay on the ground.  The trees themselves carried yellow and red leaves.

"What the!?  It looks like it is autumn but I know for a fact that it is the beginning of summer," said a confused Mina.

Smiling, Coventina said, "It is ok.  You have accepted what I have said in your heart.  We do have power over our surroundings.  Your change is just starting to take hold and nature knows it.  It is allowing your old thought process to die and will allow a new thought process and life to spring to life soon.  I am so proud of you sis for accepting this so quickly".

"I don't know what you are talking about.  What evil?  What protection do people need?  You need to explain more to me," responded Mina.

"The protection from an evil that is only afraid and is able to be killed by the purity of a centaur," responded Coventina.

"What evil?" Mina responded.

"The evil of a man who does not wish to cross over to the afterlife.  He doesn't understand that he is dead and needs to move on.  The 'evil' in him is just a manifestation of the real person.  He feels like has been betrayed by life so he looks to avenge life for his anger," responded Coventina.

All Mina could do was to look at her sister with her mouth agape.