Prologue
The fading light of afternoon shone through the verdant canopy of the forest sending a dappled pattern of gold across the pathway and onto the flanks of two horses laden with traps and bow. Ahead walked a pair of woodsmen hunters, their steps betrayed their weariness and the absence of game explained the air of defeat that followed. The lonely sound of hooves was all that could be heard.
“I shall be glad to step foot from this eerie place” remarked the younger, his voice seeming to echo in the unnatural stillness of the woods.
“In all my days I have never known a wood so silent or bereft of life. ‘Tis not gods work, this place.” He added, looking to his partner for a response.
They had been walking in silence for some time, this in itself was not unusual, as they were professionals whose quarry amounted to more than a lord’s prize. For them the hunt was their livelihood and they could expect a cold reception when the castle saw horses laden with traps instead of meat.
Like his comrade, the elder huntsman had also long given up on the hunt and instead his thoughts had turned inward, to stories from his childhood and campfire tails. He looked up at the lush canopy and around at the beautiful forest flowers.
“In the time of my father” he said slowly, a faraway look in his eyes.
“When the land was rich and bountiful. There were woods so pure as to make tears flow from a grown man, where spring never slept and winter never tread. A place where man could gather wood but no fire would burn, to hunt its game or fell the living trees was impossible.”
They had neared the edge of the forest and sounds of the world were beginning to filter through the few remaining trees.
“These woods were the domain of god’s most beautiful creation, angels that bring life wherever they lay.”
He stopped in his tracks with a firm expression, as if having made a decision. Cupping his hands to his mouth and looking back, he called out loud and clear.
“Unicorn. Stay here, guard your forest, never leave, for you are the last. There are none such as you on this earth anymore.”
And with that he said no more, but with a tear in his eye, hoisted himself upon his saddle and galloped off, his companion struggling to keep up.
Atop a hill within the woods, where she could observe her domain, coat and mane dark against the crimson sky, the unicorn stood. Her ears flicked towards the voice and her brow furrowed. The last, she wondered, and then as was her nature, spoke her true thoughts.
“pfft, that’s stupid” she said, tossed her mane and pranced down the hill.
Luna
The last unicorn
At the base of the hill she slowed.
“Preposterous” she said to herself, and yet she couldn’t quell the feeling that was stealing over her heart. It was loneliness and, though she would not admit it, shame.
They cannot be gone, she thought, we are immortal and no being would dare to harm a unicorn; but her heart betrayed her. Thinking back to the others she remembered their nature, shy, demure and passive; even when faced by lesser creatures they would simply run away. No, she thought, they cannot be harmed, but would they have left? Would they have left without me?
Her chest seemed to be engulfed by fear, clutching her heart and catching her breath. She’d always been different, she knew that, something from a past she couldn’t remember, from the dawn of time when the world was new and man lived in his garden. But it had been eons and try as she might, she could not remember.
“They have never liked us” she said bitterly.
But no, she thought, they would not have left the land unless called and she had heard no call. Then what? What could have happened?
The butterfly
These thoughts consumed her as eve gave way to night and night made way for morn. The fear had subsided and in its place a burning desire for answers.
Of course! She realized, those that fly will know. She looked around and saw a small brightly colored butterfly flittering between the flowers.
“you there” she said sternly “butterfly”
“um, er, y-yes, um, ma’am” the butterfly replied tentatively, coming to rest on the petals of a daffodil.
“do you know what I am? hmm, have you seen creatures such as me before?”
“Um, I know that, um, your, v-very important, and, um, pretty, very pretty” she said smiling, like a child that’s worked out the answer to a difficult question.
“Well” Luna said haughtily “that is, correct”
She continued, more kindly.
“I meant, have you seen any unicorn, other than myself. Think hard, butterfly, it is important”
“I’m sor-rry” stammered the butterfly “I’ve never seen anything like you before”.
With those words Luna’s heart sank and she drooped visibly, of course, it could not be so easy. She turned away.
“b-but” the butterfly squeaked “I-I have never been out of these woods. I don’t know anything of what’s outside” she looked at the ground, she didn’t know why but somehow, seeing the unicorn sadden, was the worst thing she had ever seen.
Within the butterfly a tiny flame of determination ignited.
“I’m sure” she said, as Luna’s gaze lifted to meet her own “I’m sure your family’s out there” she cried “and, and I’ll do anything I can to help”
Luna could not contain her shock and gasped at the determined expression on the tiny creatures face.
“Although” she continued submissively “I don’t know if I can do anything to help”.
Luna smiled, in part at the strength that had momentarily emanated from the butterfly’s earnest expression, and in part at her own foolishness.
“Thank you, little one” she said softly “it has been a long time since I have left this place also”.
Luna raised her head and, closing her eyes, drank in the scents that rode on the wind.
The butterfly looked on rapt as Luna’s features became serene, a faint glow surrounded her and tiny points of light blossomed in her mane as it lifted in the breeze. This was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
It could have been minutes, or hours, to anyone lucky enough to witness a unicorn grow closer to the world, time has no meaning. But then Luna’s aura began to fade, and the butterfly was struck by a profound sense of loss. Her heart had been filled with something she had not experienced before and as it ebbed away, the butterfly began to cry.
With incredible delicacy, Luna lifted the butterfly till their faces were level.
“perhaps” she said “you would like to come with me?”
The butterfly gave a long sniff and blinked the tears from her eyes.
“c-come with you, oh” another great sniff “I, I don’t know, um” she began to breathe heavily.
“I’ve, I’ve never, I don’t, I mean, I-I mean”
“Ok, ok your hyperventilating, here, breathe into this” said Luna.
With a brief glow of her horn she plucked a single bluebell, which the butterfly accepted gratefully.
Luna was struck, quite suddenly, by the notion of the butterfly’s incredible fragility. Looking to her left she saw a robin perched on a branch, it licked its beak and rubbed its belly hungrily.
To the right a moronic looking lizard randomly snapped at every thing that moved whilst a spider that had been climbing the now unoccupied flower attempted to look nonchalant. Noticing Luna’s scrutiny it twirled its handlebar mustache in, what it presumed, was an innocent fashion.
“enough” she exclaimed to the world at large “ you shall accompany me thither.” And, with a tiny flash of aura, plucked a single yellow bloom and nestled it behind her ear.
“this flower shall be your home and sustenance, hold tightly.”
With that Luna turned and began to gallop.