On a colonized world, a genetically perfected horse is a young girl's dream. But its creation has awakened the planet's original, lethal inhabitants.

On the terraformed planet of Pax Caledonia, sixteen-year-old Kelli waits for a dream to be delivered. A horse bonded to its owner through their own "essence." This isn't just an animal; it's a friend tailored to a one of a kind bond. A living marvel of power and grace with a "flowing obsidian mane" and a coat like shining silk. For Kelli, the arrival is the culmination of a deep and personal longing for a perfect friend. But on this remote world, a dream-come-true can cast a terrifying shadow.