The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

These are not ordinary horses. Drape them with charms, hide them from the sea, but today, on the beach: Do not turn your back.

The closer it gets to November, the more horses the sea spits out. Those islanders who mean to race in future Scorpio Races will often go out in great hunting parties to capture the fresh capaill uisce, which is always dangerous, since the horses are hungry and still sea-mad.

horses that have been comparatively docile until the smell of the fall sea begins to call to the magic inside them.