Lockslear rode on for a good couple of meters.

The village disappeared from sight, after a while, giving Lockslear, as well as Syrena, who he wrapped his arms around her as he rode on across the green and yellow grassy plain countryside, plenty of time to keep riding towards the lush, green leafy forest ahead. He didn't know where their journey would take them, besides to the Land of Unicorns, but he hoped they would reach Syrena's homeland before nightfall.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, reaching its highest point at noon, with the blazing heat from the yellow sun beaming down on them. Lockslear stopped his horse in front of a shady oak tree, nestled next to a pond of freshwater. He dismounted, helping Syrena do the same.

They locked eyes, as Lockslear set her down. Oh, he wanted to be with her! More than anything, he wanted this dream to come true. Well, if he was lucky, he'd propose, but that could wait until after their task was done. For now, anyway.

"Do you want to sit down?" Lockslear asked, gesturing to the oak tree's shady spot, where his painted horse walked over to the pond for a drink of water.

"Sure," Syrena said, sitting down by the shady oak tree. She leaned her back against the oak tree's bark, loving nature's serene beauty and splendor. She looked up at Lockslear as he tossed a red apple down to her. She sniffed the apple with great joy, digging into the apple's red skin with her teeth. She smiled, nodding to him in appreciation, "Thank you. I don't know how we would acquire food out here."

She sniffed the air, right as Lockslear joined her by the tree, carrying two tuna fish sandwiches in their brown papers. "It's going to rain soon."

Lockslear looked up, spotting the grey clouds turning darker by the second. "Yes. I suppose it is." He looked up at her, telling her as he handed to her a tuna fish sandwich. "Come on. We'd better eat and get going." He said, wasting no time eating his meal with Syrena, who did the same, but not so much that she threw up her food.

Once they were done, Lockslear's horse ate some apples and other food, too, before Lockslear helped Syrena mount his horse. He joined her, setting out again, as light rain showers poured down on them.

.

Rain pelted down on them from the dark cloudy sky.

Memories flooded Lockslear's mind. Memories of his golden house cat mother and his black cat father on the day that Lockslear was born. Lockslear remembered his mother's smiling face, as she licked him off, while his black cat father purred and snuggled up next to him.

Lockslear loved this memory. It made sense his parents were kind to him.

His expression turned grave when he remembered his golden house cat mother laying on hers and his father's cat bed. Lockslear was six months old when he realized his mother was sick. He approached her, doing what he could to keep her alive.

"You can't die! Please!" Lockslear wept, not knowing what to do.

"Listen," his golden house cat mother said with a tender heart, "one day, you will rule. You are our first-born son." She glanced up at Lockslear's black cat father, as she said these words to their son. "Lockslear," that got his attention, "don't forget. You'll find happiness and hope… someday." She closed her eyes, sighing, and drawing her last breath. She was gone. Dead.

"No. Nooo!" Lockslear was pulled back by his black cat father, who he embraced. He wept in his father's fur, unsure what he wanted to do. "I can't believe she's gone."

"And now, you must take your place on the throne," King Forstead, a male golden house cat, got Lockslear's attention. A new memory resurfaced in Lockslear's mind. It was a few days before he turned a year old. Lockslear grew up and studied among the best scholars in the Kingdom of Forsythia. And yet, even after the loss of his mother, it wasn't enough. Lockslear shook his head. He didn't want to take the throne.

"Lockslear, you have to. For your mother's sake, and for mine," Lockslear's black cat father said, encouraging him to take the throne.

"No. I can't! I'm not ready," Lockslear said, taking a few steps back from the wooden throne.

"Nor should you," Alindor's ghost, as he appeared in his golden house cat form, said right away. Alindor appeared in the room, reminding everyone, "Everyone, I know this may look bleak, but let me assure you Parker Dooley is coming, and he's bringing the new king with him this year. Don't fear yourselves with doubt or hate. We knew this is the right choice."

"Well, I'm out of here. I'm going to find myself a house, close to the Land of Unicorns. I feel like I should do this," Lockslear said. He turned to Alindor, who smiled at him. Lockslear nodded, reminding him, "One day, our bloodline may shine yet again. But now, I cannot take any throne, not until I'm certain I've found a unicorn who is my mate. A unicorn will be my mate, right?"

"It is written in the stars that you will mate with a unicorn, Lockslear," the golden-brown Lion named Aslan entered the throne room as well, a warm smile on his face. "Don't worry. You will still have your title, and you will rule something someday. But for now, when the time is right, your bloodline will return to this land and the land of your fathers. But now, be grateful that Parker Dooley is coming here, to this kingdom, with the new king in tow."

"Right, I had better get going," Lockslear said, making his way out of the throne room.

"Lockslear!" Alindor got his attention, "Don't forget. You will be prince of our land again, as will your children."

"Thanks. I'll see you later," Lockslear said, waving to Alindor, before making his way out of the throne room at last.

.

Locksler's thoughts returned to the present, just as Syrena brightened their trail with a bit of her unicorn magic, making it easier for them to travel through the rain and the thunder. Syrena also used her unicorn magic to create a clear umbrella over their heads, at least while they rode on through the plain countryside.

Lockslear was relieved of this. It gave him some hope, at least, while they were on the road.

Soon enough, Syrena spotted a cave that looked dry enough for them to rest. At least, until the storm passed. Lockslear made his way into the cave with his horse, dismounting, as well as helping Syrena get down, just like before.

They locked eyes, leaving Syrena perplexed and in awe. She breathed again the moment Lockslear looked away, preparing a campfire for them, while they waited for the storm to pass.

"I'm sorry about the accommodations. I think the food's all right. Hopefully, the food's not too soggy for us to eat," Lockslear said, checking his leather satchel for food, only to find it soggy. He looked at Syrena, disappointed, "I'm sorry about the food. I wish it was dry."

"Oh, that's easy," Syrena said, snapping her fingers, allowing the food dry off and still taste delicious.

Lockslear gasped, impressed, "Oh, thank you!"

Syrena smiled, pleased, "You're welcome."

"So, can shapeshifters use magic? I heard unicorns can do magic, but I don't know about shapeshifters," Lockslear said with a disappointed sigh.

"Do you want to use magic? You are a shapeshifter," Syrena said, surprised.

"No, I don't think so. I only know how to shapeshift," Lockslear said. He shrugged. "Maybe I do have magic in me, but I don't know. I don't really shapeshift that often."

"Well, if you want more food, all you have to do is summon it," Syrena said, snapping her fingers, as more tuna fish sandwiches appeared in her hands. She munched on them, enjoying their fishy texture.

"Well, you do that," Lockslear said, surprised when his fingers tingled, showing gold sparks of light coming off from his fingertips. He jumped, shocked and surprised when more food appeared in his satchel. He smiled, grateful for this. "I guess shapeshifters do have magic!"

"Mm hmm. They're supposed to," Syrena said, surprised by him. "It's one of their gifts."

"Maybe you're right," Lockslear said, grabbing more food to eat, while they waited the storm out. As he sat down, he looked at Syrena, admiring her more. "You look beautiful," Lockslear said, mesmerized by her, "I mean that. You look beautiful. How can a cat be so lucky?"

"I guess I was destined to be with a cat in the first place," Syrena said, inching closer to him.

Lockslear sighed, enjoying her company. "Well, I'm glad you came. I don't think I could do this by myself, let alone get out of the village safely, if it weren't for you."

Syrena sighed. Yes, she couldn't imagine a more perfect moment than this. It was truly splendid being here with him, "You're welcome," she said, admiring him. She looked around the cave, sighing in admiration and love, "It's beautiful here. There's no bones. It's peaceful. Everything looks good."

Crash!

Syrena jumped, wrapping her arm around Lockslear. Lockslear smiled, resting his head against hers and smelling her sweet flowery fragrance. It was nice being around her, that much was certain.

Now, he just hoped they could survive the afternoon, while it lasted.

.

Lockslear waited until the storm passed and the weather cleared up, revealing the sun was going down in the sky. He looked up at the forest. They were so close now! He felt sure they would reach the Land of Unicorns before nightfall.

"I think the storm has passed. Come on," Lockslear said, helping Syrena mount his horse again, while he did the same. The moment they were ready, Lockslear rode his painted horse across the wet yellow and green grassy field, heading straight towards a wet lush, green leafy forest, which loomed in the distance.