Long story, I found Epona. The girl gave her up willingly once Colon explained the story with Talo, but then these hobgoblin creeps came out of nowhere and kidnapped everybody. I ran after them, but the path was blocked by this wall of darkness. While I was comprehending what just happened, a hand reached out, grabbed me, and pulled me through the wall. Next thing I know, I'm a chained up wolf.