My New Pet, is a Unicorn?

Sitting in the corner of the kennel was a live lavender horse: it’s coat was covered in dirt and looked like it hadn't been combed in a while including her mane and tail. The light within her eyes was gone as if a part of her soul left her body; how sad it was for him to look at the spirit within her was undoubtedly broken, she barely even noticed Anon looking at her.

Anon looked up at its head and was shocked when he found that it wasn't a horse. It’s a Unicorn? Are you kidding me?! He thought to himself as he continued to study it’s appearance. He saw that it had an odd marking on its flank. But with the splotch of mud blocking it he couldn’t tell what it was. The very first thing Anon thought besides the fact that there was an actual real pony sitting inside the kennel was:

“What happened to you..?”

“Unbelievable, isn’t it?”

Anon heard a voice from behind him instinctively whipping around facing a man in a black suit and blue tie. He wore a button on the right side of his chest resembling the logo for the store, his eyes were chocolate brown behind his glasses as he adjusted them in the proper position.

“She’s been like this for a month now,” said the owner. Least Anon learns she’s a female.

“What happened to her?” He asked, looking at the man curiously.

“Come, let's have some tea.” He responded without answering his question and passed by Anon leaving him with all the animals.

Anon looked back at the broken unicorn one last time before exiting the room. When the two gentlemen took their seats while having their tea, he spent the next five minutes talking to the owner. Drake Henson introduced himself to him: He began telling Anon his side-story on how he found the broken mare at a night when the moon was full.

One
month
ago

MONDAY
11:47AM

The Moon. Its round white circular form moved ever so slowly behind the tip of the mountain as its main rival had finally spun around the other side of the planet. Small dotted lights began to sparkle in the sky going in a straight line spreading miles and miles. When the moon had reached the top it’s movement had slowed to a halt till it stood floating above the earth then the source of its light spread far from mountain—to town. All boys and girls were on their way home with their mother’s and father’s by their side after leaving school. All sales-men in the market and shopkeepers closed up and galloped along home to call it a night.

At an empty parking-lot stood a small store: Armies pet-store.

All the employees that were there minutes ago had finished their routine within the store and headed home, leaving one individual inside.

Their boss, Drake Henson.

Before going they asked if he was coming along but said he was going to stay behind and finish some of his paperwork before driving back home to his family; they agreed—leaving him to finish his activities. Once he was done putting all of his paperwork to the side,working on his computer & taking a few calls from other companies, making deals—setting up meetings with them, he decided to call it a day.

He made sure to turn off all the lights. Checking if the bathrooms were clean and all the dogs, cats, birds, critters, and reptiles were well fed. When everything seemed in place to him Drake locks up the store, exits the building then sighed with a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion he walked towards his car.

“You sir had a long day.” Said Drake under his breath, making his way towards his truck. On the way he wondered what his wife would make for dinner once he reached home. Probably a plate of crab-legs, or sushi? Maybe a bowl of spaghetti with bread or possibly—

By the grip of the door handle is when he stopped in his tracks. There was no doubt that he heard something just now. His head tilted up in a slow take, then turned behind him scanning the area around him but found none of the source he heard. After a few seconds of confusion, the source returned clearer this time, and Drake was able to identify the noise. He was left in wonder when he picked out what he was hearing.

It sounded like... whimpering?

Indeed, someone was crying... but where? He tried to look harder for the source but couldn't find it anywhere; he looked to his left to find nothing, looked to his right to find nothing. Looked under his car—looked to the sidewalk if anyone was passing by and found nothing! Then he rolled his body around. His eyes focus on the dumpster.

Maybe from over there? He thought to himself. He walked towards the dumpster taking it slowly in his approach, as he drew closer he took a turn to his left.

When both Drake’s eyes lowered his world went slow, both his eyes widened as his mind couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Laying tiredly on the ground was a small lavender horse. As Drake stood there studying it’s features he noticed a few things: cuts and bruises from its hooves to its back, it’s coat covered in dirt. Their eyes were puffy due to the many times it was crying. But wait he thought in his head as he noticed something sticking out of it’s forehead, a horn.

It was a unicorn? A Real Live unicorn?! This was blasphemy to Drake, he never believed in fairytales like the tooth fairy, Pegasus, unicorns or any kind living-other worldly creatures that would just be proven false in reality; and yet here it was, laying injured, crying, sitting before his very eyes.

This was such a shocking discovery, and he would be lying if he wasn’t in awe.

Wait... did it stop whimpering?

Drake came back from his thoughts looking down at the lavender, finding his answer straight there. Their eyes met each other—very tense the scene was but this small horse was more surprised to see him there than he was. He swore to the all-mighty that as soon as it noticed him it turned a tail and galloped, but due to it’s injuries it didn’t get far as it tripped on it’s hooves.

Without hesitating he sprinted—tackling the small thing in his grasp. The lavender unicorn struggled to break free using a bit of its strength to almost hit the man, but it was no use. He could tell all of the unicorn’s energy was drained and it was too weak to go on and eventually it passed out. When Drake notices this he lets go of the small creature and just stands there rubbing his hand on the nape of his neck pacing back and forth.

Pacing around he thought. What should he do? Should he bring it home? But what would he tell his wife and children? No! It would be bad enough if anyone knows about this. As if now he can’t tell anyone—nor should anyone know of this unicorn’s existence, for it’s sake it has to be hidden safely. Gently he took the unicorn in his arm and carried it towards the pet-store almost without thinking.

“And for a while everytime I came back to work I found her looking like that; I’d say she’s grown used to my presence but doesn’t trust me going near her or even touching her.”

Anon took another sip of his tea then cleared his throat. “So, she was still like that before I got here?” He asked him in concern. The man nodded, answering his question, “Has anyone else seen her beside me?”

“No,” he replied. “You're the first one, however, I do hope that you don't speak of this to anyone, for her sake at-least. God knows what would happen if word went out that a living unicorn actually existed.”

Anon nodded to his advice assuringly. He’d given himself a moment to think about all the information he got from Drake. Those bruises, those cuts and all of that dirt. What did she go through that was so awful she ended up like that? Were there people hunting her, has she been abused by someone? The way she looked in that room there's a possibility that she was; no wonder the poor thing was so frightened of humans.

“What're you planning to do with her?” Anon asked.

“Well to be honest with you kid I really don't know.” He replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Nothing I do ain't seem to be doing anything for her so I got nothing.”

“Would you mind if I took her off your hands?”

Drake turned his head. His eyes widened, his brow shortly raised, he couldn't tell whether he was joking or being serious or both. He adjusted his glasses once again. “How do I know if I can trust you?”

“You don’t have to; and besides, I think she’ll be a lot safer with me than out here.” He told him and he wasn’t wrong. Sometimes in this world, it can be a cruel place to live in and it's hard to trust anyone nowadays: Anyone could have that one friend that could be so dear to them but they'll never know when or where they'll decide to stab you in the back and betray you and once that happens. Who do you think you can trust? Trust your friends, or yourself?

As minutes went by Drake took a long minute to think before making his decision. Once it was made he turned around to face Anon again smiling at him and said.

“Alright, she's all yours.” Drake said, accepting the offer. The two smiled at one another before the two shook hands slowly. “But a bit of advice, kid. Never let her out of your sight keep her close." He nodded and took his advice to heart. When Anon was ready to head out he stopped standing outside of the door turning his head at the owner.

“Also, I’m not a kid. I’m twenty-three now.” He said his smile unwavered. Realizing that he had probably just offended the man that he had first met, Drake immediately apologized while letting out a humble chuckle.

It took long enough for the sun set over the horizon for the moon to take its place and drove back to the store to pick up the lavender unicorn, once Anon got there he found her sitting beside drake's right leg facing down. He said his goodbyes to the owner and watched him get in his car and drove off leaving them in the dark. Anon let out a collective sigh then looked down at his new unicorn pet. He got down on one knee facing the broken lavender before taking her cheeks into his palms.

This action was enough for it to finally remove her eyes off the ground and stare blankly at him. To his ability He gave her the warmest smile and reassured her with kind words. “Don't worry, everything's going to be okay... I promise.”