So guys, how fun are retainers? I can hardly stand these things! I mean, good on me for getting my braces off and all, but really! I think I'd rather go back to having braces for another year. It's not like they bothered me that much. Retainers are annoying, though. But hey, I got this really cute Uta (from Tokyo Ghoul) key chain that I bring to school with me! I was looking at him all day today. It just makes me smile, having a little friend right there with me. I know I'm strange, thinking of it as a friend and all, but for some reason it made my day a whole lot better. It's been pretty boring, I dare say. I guess it's at times like these they say to enjoy the little things in life. I mean, it's not like there's anything big to enjoy. So, for the next few days I'll be peacefully drifting through classes with my little chibi Uta at my side. Oh, the joys of life.

Here's my little thing in life to brighten your day. Another chapter!

"But didn't you say you'd only take me to find Noni?" I didn't really think they'd offer to help me find the unicorn again. When they gave me the choice between the unicorn and Noni, I chose Noni no questions asked. I thought I'd have to either give up or go after it on my own.

"Yeah, but we changed our minds." That one is Hikaru, I remind myself. I had them tell me their names again, since I wasn't looking at which one introduced themselves as what name when they first told me. Considering they're identical twins, I'll probably get it mixed up often anyway.

"Instead of taking us up on finding the unicorn, you chose your precious dog, instead," Kaoru explains. "If you'd selfishly went after the power of a familiar, we might've just left you there."

"Most of the people who come through here are like that, you know? They come in just to find power and don't care about anything else." Hikaru sticks his tongue out. "We don't like those people."

"If you want the unicorn as a familiar," Kyoya suggests, "you should go meet him. Sometimes the personalities just don't match up between a witch and a desired familiar."

"Okay then. I would really appreciate it if you took me, but can I bring Noni?"

"Well don't leave him here," Kyoya requests. "All of this took me quite a while to craft." Noni has never destroyed a piece of furniture in his life, but I let it slide.

"There's plenty of room on our back," Hikaru agrees. "He can come." This earns him a sharp glare from the elf. "Don't worry, we won't transform inside."

"Let's go then." I push myself to my feet, pleased to find all traces of pain gone. "There aren't any side effects to that medicine I should know about, are there?"

"Not unless you have the blood of a nymph in you."

Good. I'm pretty sure there's none of that running through these veins. Noni stays at my side as usual, the only difference from usual being the obvious limp he's burdened with. I asked Kyoya to heal him, but he refused using the excuse of the rarity of whatever ingredient that sap was. He said he didn't want to waste it on an ordinary pet, but he did at least wrap it in some sort of gauze. It looks to be some sort stretched out leaf that sticks to itself.

Outside the tree, the twins join into a single dragon again. I have to physically use my hand to close my mouth as, once again, I'm met with a magnificent orange beast with two heads. The right head, which seems to be Kaoru, leans down to me.

"Can you get you and your dog on?"

"Yes." I shake off my remaining disbelief and climb first onto the leg of the beast, having Noni follow me. From there, I assist him onto their back and hoist myself up after him. After situating myself sidesaddle over the ridge of their spine, I realize something. "I didn't hurt you by climbing, did I? I might have put a little too much pressure on certain spots, and Noni's claws are pretty sharp as well…"

"We're fine," Hikaru assures me. "Hold on to whatever you can."

When Kaoru faces me, I swear he's somehow smiling. "It's going to be a bit bumpy."

They start moving, but it isn't too bad. I hold some ridges that seem to be connected to their shoulder blades under their scaly skin, really able to keep balance on my own. It isn't long before we're at the cliff. Whether or not it's the same spot I fell down, I don't think it is, but it's nearly as steep.

"You holding on tight?" Kaoru checks.

Finally understanding, I move Noni between my arms and tighten my grip. "Yes," I squeak.

"Good!" they chorus. And then they're bounding up the side of the cliff. Noni presses heavily against me, barely keeping himself in place, and I struggle to keep ahold of the dragons. As they zigzag up, I'm almost jounced off more than five times. When we arrive at the top I catch my breath, willing my heart to regulate.

"I," I gasp, "do not want to do that ever again." They take me along what appears to be the deertrail I'd been following earlier and I notice a subtle light emitting from somewhere. "Hey, Hikaru, Kaoru? Why is it getting lighter?" When I was walking here hours before, I had to have a flame to see by.

"When the sun goes down-"

"The plants produce light."

"Oh." The glow comes as the same color as the fog. Now that I think about it, the fog has also begun to clear. Gradually the forest becomes clear and I gasp. The trees' bark are black, their leaves a soft pastel green in contrast. Giant mushrooms of all colors grow around the trunks, letting off a sparkling dust that reflects indigo light throughout the air. The grass appears a complimentary blue, as gentle as the leaves above, and fluffy white berries grow on tangly brown bushes covered in purple thorns. "It's beautiful!"

And then there's a disturbance and I stop breathing. A horse a head taller than any horse I've ever seen steps over a fallen tree, its white fur speckled with the indigo glitter and its hair shimmering gold. The horn protruding from its forehead gleams solid silver, more precious than a diamond.

"Mari-

"-meet Tamaki."

I slide from their back, watching the beast in awe. I've heard about the unicorn's immense beauty, but this is amazing! Such a gorgeous creature, looking so strong and bold, and yet I'm afraid any sudden movements might frighten it away. I start when, instead of darting off, it approaches me openly.

"Greetings, my fair maiden." Even the voice of the beast is charming. It bows its head to me as if I were royalty. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"I…" I stammer, "I'm...looking for a familiar. I came searching for you to ask if you would be my familiar and return with me to the village."

"Oh my, a familiar? Does that make you a sorceress, fair maiden?"

"I am."

"I would love to comply to such a request, coming from such a lovely lady as yourself, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I am," he flips his mane dramatically, "still solely devoted to the sorceress from all those years ago. I am her familiar for all of eternity!"

I pause. "Is...there any way I convince you otherwise? I really need your help, Tamaki."

"Is it to heal your wounded dog over there?" he asks, flipping his head to motion to Noni. I'm about to say otherwise, but he goes on. "I shall assist you anyway, fair maiden! I cannot be your familiar, but how could I turn down such a humble request from a beauty such as yourself? I will heal you precious companion! Come here, pet of the maiden!"

What's the harm? "Noni, come here." I help him down off the twins and the unicorn kneels down on his front legs. All he does is tap his horn on Noni's head before standing back up. I look between the animals, hesitant. Did that really do anything. And then the unicorn begins to change shape. Like the twins, he molds into a handsome young man. His hair dulls only slightly, keeping a golden sheen, and he wears a white suit. His eyes, which had been endlessly black, fade into the blue of a sapphire that reflect the same indigo of the forest when the light captures it just right. Again, he kneels, this time removing the gauze from Noni's front paw. In response, he receives a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"My young fair maiden, I apologize with all my being in having to decline being your familiar!" He takes my hand, kissing it.

"I appreciate you healing Noni," I thank him, seeing that the husky's limp is gone, "but that wasn't the reason I want you as a familiar."

"Just say the word, then," he expresses. "I shall do whatever you desire!"

"There's a legend. It says that whichever witch manages to secure a unicorn as a familiar will gain unimaginable power. I want to be the most powerful witch, so that no one will oppose me."

Silence settles over the forest as I finish my declaration. Tamaki stares at me, unmoving, even the breathing of the twins having gone quiet.

"I want to be absolute," I continue. "Please, I'm pleading for your help, Tamaki! This is what you can do for me."

"We can't do that." A new, younger voice draws my attention to a small unicorn foal. By his feet is a pink bunny.

"Why not?" I wonder. "Either one of you, I need one of you! Please, can't you help me?"

The foal shakes his head. "Not for that reason."

"Then what? What reason must I have?"

"We won't help you."

I stiffen, feeling tears gathering in my eyes. "Fine! I don't need your help, then! I came all this way to look for you, entering the forest where I thought I might die, horribly injuring myself falling from a cliff, and trusting these creatures I've been taught are bloodthirsty monsters my entire life, just to ask you to be my familiar, but I guess I really don't need you! Who would want a monster for a companion, anyway? " Trembling, I set my hand on Noni's head. "Come on, Noni. We're going home."

Forget the medicine that elf had. We've been living just fine without it until now, and all the children will be missing me anyway. I don't want to spend more time in this haunted forest than I have to. I walk to the deer trail we came from.

"We could carry you back," Kaoru offers mutedly.

"No thanks. I've relied on you enough." We've gone a ways down the path before the twins, in human form, catch up to me.

"At least let us lead you," Kaoru pleads.

"People get lost a lot in these parts," Hikaru adds.

"Thanks, but no thanks," I retort, taking my map out. "I have this."

"Come on-"

"Shut up!" I snap, holding my eyes wide to stop the tears from falling. In a quieter voice, I repeat myself. "Shut up."

They follow me silently, sharing glances around me. Neither one lets me out of their sight, but I keep my head lowered to the map and Noni. Even after we've broken out of the light of the forest and plunged into the regular darkness of night, they stay with me. I don't complain, not speaking another word to them.

If I were to open my mouth right now, I'd end up thanking them again.

I'm going to say right off the bat I thought she'd be staying in the forest longer. But hey, home is good, too. Where someone lives can say a lot about a person. Plus, I'll get to describe the town a bit. The forest is extremely fun to imagine, but sometimes it's relaxing to write about normal places with a new perspective. You know what I mean? Yes? No? Ah, well, whatever. I'll write what I want. How does that sound? We'll see how it turns out next chapter.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!