Disclaimer: I do not own the Unicorn Chronicles, the name Hunter, or anything else but my ideas and my computer.
Early that morning, venturing through the forests, a certain being waited for the arrival of that excited, happy aura that kept invading his forest. Jadyn found that he had begun to look forward to that happiness, even as he fought not to venture closer to it. He knew the danger he was in, but the childlike glee he kept feeling was intoxicating.
But this morning, it never came. Instead, an awful feeling seemed to spread through the forest, and Jadyn sent his consciousness out, searching for the cause of this sickness. He found it in the body of the little girl he knew from her jaunts into his territory. Despite his worry, he couldn't go any closer, but his thoughts rose, unbidden, into his mind.
'Is she sick?' Tuned to her, he could tell the instant she reacted, and when he suddenly heard a small, feminine voice in his head, he shied away, jade green eyes widening. 'Well, gee, I guess, since I'm throwing up…' Shocked, Jadyn snorted and shook his head, mane rippling as he sent another thought, hesitant about it, but needing to know if that had truly just happened.
'I hope you get well.' There wasn't any response, and for a moment, Jadyn allowed himself to consider the idea that he had been imagining the whole thing, until that small voice piped up again. 'Who are you?' Nostrils flared at the question – how was this child doing this? He had not met her to initiate communication, they certainly weren't touching…This was impossible. And she was still broadcasting, although this time it seemed it wasn't on purpose. She seemed to think his name was Peter. Jadyn wrinkled his muzzle at that, digging a cloven hoof into the earth.
'I am…a friend. And my name is not Peter.' He added that last almost huffily, before recalling that she had never seen him, and thus did not know he was named for his unusually green eyes. To his surprise, the girl actually argued with him, her voice sharper and clearer than before. 'Hey, you're my imagination, so I can name you!' The stallion couldn't help but chuckle deeply at that, and his response held his amusement.
'I am in your imagination? Well, tell me, imaginator, what is your name?' He shouldn't ask, and he knew that, but it was as if he couldn't help himself. And she answered, which he knew she would. '…My name is Tessan. And are you saying you aren't my imagination? Prove it!' He could hear her getting stronger, feel her interest growing, and he was enjoying it.
'Perhaps when you are better…And back within my forest, Tessan.' That was the wrong thing to say and Jadyn knew it. Instantly, he was bombarded with questions, and he forced himself to move away, locking his thoughts down until he couldn't hear her anymore. He should not have said that to her. If she came looking…No, hopefully, she would think it was all a dream.
Despite hoping that, Jadyn had the uneasy feeling that this girl wouldn't give up so easily. Perhaps it was time to move again.