This is an alternate history short story set in a world I have created. I have some other stories written, as well as a novel, set in the same world. Alternate History is a subset of science fiction. It is typically not about the future but about a profoundly different past or present. The main difference in the world I have created is that the Neanderthals have not gone extinct. They are known as Ancients. (We are known as Newcomers.) Instead of running away from us, or trying to fight us, they decided to help us. Especially, they helped us increase our psychic powers. This has had a profound effect on our history, which I flesh out in my novel and short stories. In this story, a young man, Tadeu, has a favorite horse, Branca. Branca can think, and can communicate mentally. She especially enjoys it when Tadeu reads juicy novels set in Medieval times. Their life is upended by a terrible natural disaster and the equally terrible reaction to it by the survivors of the disaster. If you enjoyed this, I would love to read your comments.