Thanks for all the great reviews, I really appreciate it. Oh, and to jiamine, no I am not going to put all the creatures in at one time. I had planned on doing several different stories, each focused on a different mythological creature.
Disclaimer remains the same: I own nothing, with the exception of Onyx, and I have nothing, so don't sue.
CHAPTER TWO
She was right, the chase hadn't lasted very long, and as she was running she felt her leg start to go numb. Then she could hardly put any weight on it at all and it gave out on her sending her crashing heavily to the ground. Unfortunately, there was a deep gully right in front of her and her momentum kept her going right down to the bottom. That really hurt, and she had no more energy to fight. So she lay there quietly, unmoving with her eyes closed, when she heard the hoof beats come to a stop on the rim above her. Then the sound of two feet making their way down the slope to her, and in the distance she could hear more on the way. She sighed heavily and opened her eyes; taking in her first glimpse of what she thought would be her doom. The human looked straight into her eyes and just stared, as though he had never seen another living thing before. She sent out a tentative mind probe and discovered that he was a human mage, a very powerful one at that. And there seemed no intent to harm her, only great concern for what he believed to be his territory and strangely enough, concerned for her. Shifting her exhausted body, she glanced away from the mage and back towards her throbbing leg. She whimpered slightly at the sight of so much blood, the front of her leg nearly pure white with the liquid, and the wound was swollen and sore. She quickly looked away, trying desperately to hold off the wave of dizziness that took a hold of her; and gathered her legs beneath her.
:Easy there, dark one, please don't do anything to hurt yourself. I realize that we frightened you badly, but you gave us quite a scare as well.: Onyx jerked her head around in surprise, hearing the mage's voice echo inside her head. :You see, we protect this land, and when our scouts saw a large shapeless shadow moving towards our home they thought it best not to chance your intent towards us.:
Onyx considered this the mage very carefully, He treats me like an equal, if a little wary of me, and he has to know that he could kill me or capture me easily. Perhaps he means what he says. Once again she looked at her injured leg and sighed with the realization that she had little choice but to trust him.
Firesong waited patiently as she composed herself and saw the desperation in her eyes as she thought over what he had to say. Silently he prayed that she wouldn't fight him, he desperately wanted to help her, and learn from her. This chance to discover something previously unknown to his people gave him a feeling of being young again, and he felt an long forgotten stir inside of him that reminded him so much of his younger, much more vain and confident self. Shaking his head, Firesong locked eyes with a very unsure Darien.
:Darien, I don't think that this creature is a danger. Why don't you take Moonstone and Stormsong back to the vale, and get another scout to take the rest of Moonstone's patrol. She has had a long and exhausting night.:
Darien jumped slightly at the sound of his teacher's mindvoice. He gave a quiet nod and led the other two out of the gulley.
Onyx sighed with relief as the other humans left, their presence had been unnerving and the female's fear obvious. This greatly confused Onyx never had she encountered a creature that feared unicorns, granted she was unusual, even for a unicorn. Few were ever born solid black as she was, although they did come in a variety of color. She cleared her head of thoughts of home before the loneliness took over and turned to the mage.
:I can see that you mean me no harm, human, and I think that you believe that I am no danger to you. Why do you stay, when your companions have already gone?: She asked him.
:My name is Firesong, and we Tayledras have lived with and helped our nonhuman friends for as long as we can remember. Lady, you are injured, I am offering you a warm, dry place to stay, and healers who can help with the wound.: Firesong smiled down into her eyes.
Onyx didn't know what to think, first she was chased through the forest, apologized to and now she was being offered a place to stay and heal! Her body hurt with unreleased tension from the past several weeks, and her mind and heart ached to find companionship and a home; the offer was very tempting. Another gentle probe of his mind, slightly deeper this time, proved that he was sincere.
:Very well, Firesong, my name is Onyx, and I would be glad to accept your offer.:
I know this one was kind of short, but let me know what you think while start working on the next chapter. And the more reviews I get the more I am inspired to write. R/R!!!!