Panicked, Kisha looked around hastily.  Sliding off her horse she spotted a bird the color of autumn leaves.... or fire.  Te bird was curiously looking at her, his head slightly tilted.  

"WHOOO ARE YOUUUUU" Kisha called.  Well, I can't speak bird, but I might as well try.  "CHIRP CHIRP! WHO CHIRP AR--"

"JUST STOP!  Please. You're just humiliating us in front of him!" Penny whinnied, stomping the grass.

"Well what am I supposed to do???"

"Listen." DUH, Penny thought to herself.  Kisha had a puzzled look on her face and listened.

"Why hello, traveler.  Hello Penny." the bird said.  Kisha gasped and squealed.  

"I understand you, too!!! I can understand animals!!!"

"Uh, no.  Also, I prefer being called a Phoenix." the bird said.

"A phoenix?  Also, how did you know my horse's name??  What do you mean by me NOT understanding you and Penny???"

This time it was Penny's turn to snort.  "I know him!  He's the one who gave me 'powers' to speak human.  So technically Phoenix and I are speaking human, so ANY human can understand us." she explained.

***********************************************************************How Phoenix and Penny met:

Penny was sleeping while P.B slipped out.  When P.B. was galloping away, he went through a forest filled with bright gold and orange leaves, and he was too excited to notice Phoenix.  Phoenix saw the direction the horse had came from, and decided to explore a little.  He found the farm Kisha ives in, and the first thing he spotted was Penny bucking about her stall in surprise, noticing that P.B. had disappeared.  Phoenix flew up to Penny and used some magic to calm her down. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, curiously.  Penny then explained what had happened.  Phoenix pondered what she had just said, and peered into the main farmhouse building.  Inside there was a girl who seemed to be packing up to go somewhere.  "You know what, I'll give you a gift."  He told Penny.  Phoenix something under his breath, and suddenly Penny felt a twinge throughout her body.  Her throat started to tickle and she nearly bucked once more.  Closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath calmed her down.  When she opened her eyes again, Phoenix was gone.  Only one yellow feather was in her stall.  That was when Kisha came.

***********************************************************************

As Kisha puzzled the pieces together, the bird looked amused.  That was when Penny noticed a something unusual about that bird.  It had silver gauntlets decorated with amethyst, and a glowing cobalt amulet.

"Wass that?" Kisha asked, pointing.  Instinctively Phoenix covered it up with his wings and almost fell off the branch.  Regaining balance, he shook out his ruffled feathers.  

"Sorry" he apologized, "It's just that it's very important to me.  Since I trust y'all, I'll show you it's full potential.  Follow me." he said, and gently glided off his branch, as the leaves rustled in his wake.  Kisha walked next to Penny and followed Phoenix.  As they went deeper into the woods, the leaves turned back to its lush green color of summer.  After Phoenix disappeared into the bushes, Kisha started to wonder if she should be trusting a magical talking bird.  Reluctantly, she ducked into the foliage.  Penny couldn't fit in, so she had to kneel down and watch what was happening from outside.  "So," Phoenix whispered, "this charm was given to me... by the unicorns." Kisha furrowed her brow in disbelief, but then again, talking animals.  "It gives me magical powers, and symbolizes I can be trusted,and I guard this forest." Kisha nodded, listening intently.  "It is very important, and it has to be safe.  It has been passed down the firebird race for generations."

They both stepped out of the bushes and Kisha sighed.  " Is something still bothering you?" Phoenix asked.

Kisha nodded wearily. "I still have no idea where P.B. is.. I gotta find him, so I better move on.  C'mon Penny, let's go."

Be for the rider could climb onto Penny, she whinnied and stamp her hooves, preventing Kisha from getting on.  "You don't understand!" she neighed, "I brought you here because Phoenix knows where P.B. is!"