He pried his water-soaked eyes open, removed his hands from his sight and gazed around at the now threatening forest. Just this morning, his forest had been a place he loved, now it was his death sentence. Another batch of tears erupted from the young boy in green, who could be no older than seven. He was crouched in the wood, on his knees while dressed in a green cape over a brown tunic and white pants. He had knee high leather boots and a matching belt, a quiver strapped over his shoulder attached to said belt. In front the sobbing child lay a ratty bow.
He was abandoned. Lost. Disowned.
Hated.
Even his own townspeople made horror stories of the young boy, if mortals didn't want to be around him, and neither did the immortals, then who did he have? Even his own family left him alone. They had survived, alone together from the mortal townspeople, but even they have moved on.
The child began to weep into his hands again, the boy crying for his mother, his brother, anyone who would care. Between his hands he caught a glimpse of something on the hill between the trees. He quickly looked up, his hands frozen in fear and eyes wide. He knew he should have not made as much noise, many things lived in this forest, and most were not friendly. He stared at the back of a white creature, it faced away from him. Slowly, and with eyes still wide, he stood up, small hands grasping a small bow. The creature heard him take a step, and it's head turned, showing a long spiraling horn out its head, and a glossy, beautiful mane.
A unicorn.
The boys eyes widened. He stopped breathing.
His mother told him stories of the elusive creature, but he had never seen one before, and really never expected to. The beautiful white mare stood on the grass hill, and the boy seemed to be drawn, one foot after the other carried him up to the mythical beast. When he reached her, she bowed her head slightly and seemed to have a charm in her eyes. The young boy instantly felt safer, he reached up and softly felt her jaw line, feeling her fluff.
"H-hello."
The unicorn did not respond, but seemed to understand.
"A-are you alone too?"
The unicorn shook her head.
"Oh, well I am." He felt more and more comfortable around the foreign beast, which was odd to him, but he did not question it. The unicorn cocked her head to the side.
"My parents, they do not get along, shall I say. My father found out that I am not his birthed son. My blood father is from a different clan." The unicorn seemed to be listening, and sensed the distress in the boy as he told his tale.
"My mother was screaming this dawn, my older brother was fighting my father, but my father got me. He left me in these woods, with nothing but my bow. I am alone. But you are not." The child smiled, "Mother says beautiful creatures are never alone."
The unicorn nuzzled the side of his head, making the child giggle.
"Stop! That tickles!" He wiped the tear marks away from his face with the back of his fists. The unicorn paused and looked over the hill, the direction she had been facing when he had first seen her. She suddenly began to walk in that direction, heading down the hill and startling the child of his words. The mare made it halfway down the hill before the child spoke, himself jumping forward.
"W-wait!"
She turned her head to face him.
"I don't know where you're going, but do you have room for one more troubled soul? I don't think I'm coming home." He glanced down before remembering to speak again, "I'll leave come morning! I don't know paths but I just need a place to rest! Honest!" He crossed his heart. The unicorn seemed to smile and she gestured him with her head.
The young boy's face lit up, and he trudged his way through the mud to meet her, resting a hand against her shoulder. Together, the white mare and the boy in green walked off towards a place called the Preservation.
-
NEW STORY~! I will continue Wire Tied, this is just a short lil story I wanna get out my system.
~CANTRELLER
