Keisin spent several minutes writing an intricate rune in the air, sweat starting to form on his brow as he concentrated. Pheona watched uneasily, hoping he knew what he was doing. He finally finished the large intricate rune, the room glowing with golden magic, which poured toward Lir. The glow surrounded Lir, making him look at the swirling vortex uneasily. It suddenly coalesced around him, making his entire body glow brightly and flash. Pheona flinched from the bright light and looked up as it faded to see Lir standing somewhere between human and unicorn- still standing on two legs, but covered in soft white fur with a small horn in his forehead. He looked to Keisin, very annoyed.
"Try again." Lir growled in anger.
Keisin couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous Lir looked, but raised his hands to try again. He wrote another intricate rune in the air, following the same steps as before. This time the transformation was complete- Lir stood in his unicorn form, whickering happily.
Keisin looked at Lir in surprise- he really was a pretty impressive creature in his unicorn form- several feet taller than Keisin, the unicorn stomped on the wooden floor as if getting used to having hooves again.
"Do you think you can find the kirin now?" Pheona asked Lir, standing with Keisin's robe still around her shoulder.
Lir nodded, pushing Pheona toward Keisin with his snout. He snorted one, looking at her intensely before stomping his hoof on the wooden floor once.
"I think he wants you to stay here with me." Keisin looked over to Lir as the unicorn nodded, walking over to the door and looking down at the knob. His ears flipped back in annoyance and looked back ay Keisin with a frustrated expression.
"Regretting not having hands now?" Keisin laughed and turned the knob, watching Lir run out into the snow, rearing and kicking for the sake of being able to do so before galloping off into the forest.
Lir ran through silva forest, reveling in the feeling of his hooves crushing leaves beneath him as he flew through the trees, the wind making his mane fly wildly behind him.
Lir! A soft voice filled his mind, making him jump in his run as he heard his mate's voice.
I'm sorry I've been out of touch for so long, love. Are you okay? Lir answered, slowing to a canter as he looked around the deep forest for any signs of a kirin.
I should ask you the same. Why have I not been able to contact you for so long?
Lir didn't like worrying Amalthea, and he felt guilty he hadn't had another way to contact her while human. A sorcerer turned me human, so I wasn't able to contact you. I'm back to normal now though, so all is well.
A sorcerer? Amalthea said in a panic. Is Pheona well?
Lir couldn't help but whicker in laughter. Oh yes, she's fine. Remember that vision you had when we first met Pheona all those years ago?
Amalthea stayed silent for a bit. The golden haired human? What about him?
Lir felt power thrum through the forest and looked around for the source of the magic. It was obviously a Kirin making the magic flow through this deep part of the forest- deeper than he would ever want Pheona to travel through. This part of the forest did strange things to humans.
We have found him. Ironically enough, he is a sorcerer. Lir answered Amalthea.
He heard Amalthea's whicker of laughter through his mind and joined her. I found it amusing as well.
You must travel back here as quickly as possible. Centurion found out what made the frost unicorn so sick.
Lir froze mid stride, a shiver of dread traveling up his spine. Why?
The guardian of that forest was killed.
Lir's eyes widened in horror. Whoever is killing these creatures killed a kirin?
Amalthea stayed silent, which was all the answer he needed. I will pass the news on to this guardian. For now I will stay silent, love. I must speak with the kirin and try to convince them to help Rynu. I'm afraid he's been turned to stone by Medusa.
Poor lad. I'm sure there was good reason?
She was going to be taken by the Brotherhood.
Oh, well that is certainly a good reason. I will speak with you later- stay safe, Lir. There are dark times coming ahead.
Lir sighed, knowing Amalthea was right. He didn't have the ability to foretell the future like she did, but his sense of dread told him to be wary. He looked up to see a kirin walk toward him, the golden light dappling through the trees against the brown scales on her back.
Hello, stallion. What brings you to these woods?
I have need of your assistance, guardian. Lir bowed his head politely.
Keisin walked back into the cabin, seeing Pheona petting the small hatchling gryphon as it slept.
"This is the only way I can get close to him. He doesn't seem to like me much." Pheona smiled up at Keisin as he walked over.