Mike woke as the sun rose, feeling good, if a bit thick-headed. Something was bothering him, a strange sense of something caught up around his head. And as he opened his eyes he blinked at the too-familiar split vision that was totally wrong for a human head. He whinnied in shock as he saw the full muzzle, and the rest of the group's horses standing on either side of him. He was tethered to a rope along with the other animals, a dark leather bridle over his head and muzzle. In truth, he felt perfectly comfortable, but the surprise at being a full horse again made him snort and stomp his hooves.
Brian came over and reached up to rub Mike's neck. "What's the matter. boy? Want a carrot?"
No, he did not want a carrot! Mike snorted and whickered. He should be a centaur, not a horse. Brian must have been changing him the rest of the way - no wonder it felt so good. Well, the transformed elf would just have to find... carrot. Mike caught the scent and lipped up the crunchy treat from Brian's hand. It tasted really good. He liked carrots. As he dropped his head to snuffle for more, Brian patted the top of his head. Mike felt a moment of confusion, and then forgot everything except that he was a draft horse.
Tye appeared in the middle of camp. "OK, gang! Time to head off. Pack up and load the animals."
Joe and Christine gathered their belongings and let Brian load up the big black draft horse that was their pack animal. None of the three remaining members of the party remembered Mike at all, other than as the black Shire they had bought in the last town to carry things.