Please be aware that when I say this is AU, I mean it's *really* AU. For those who understand, this series is set in the same universe as the Horses of Different Colors series by James Walkswithwind and Wolfling, which you can find at http://gila.fakingsanity.net/horses.html -- I have, however, written it with the intention that it will still make complete sense to people who haven't read that series.

Thanks go out to James, who let me play in her world and answered a bunch of questions about it, and to rebecca, who first provided first reactions and then jumped in with both feet and also betaed for me. All mistakes remain mine.