"Twilight Falling" by Amber Silver

         Thyon approached the young girl cautiously from the shadows of the woods.  From the quiet chirping of birds settling down to rest, to the rambunctious twittering of squirrels, the forest was alive with the chatter of animals.  In the distance, a lone wolf howled.
         He walked towards the girl who was sprawled beneath the sheltering bows of a pine tree.  He could smell blood and he saw it splattered across her gray, homespun dress.  Her face was terribly pale, and Thyon's heart ached for her.
         ‘What a pity.' He thought, ‘That one so young should succumb to the woes of the forest.'  Having lived here all of his life, Thyon knew that the forest was rich with magic and home to many different forms of life from the great griffons of the north, to the noble centaurs of the west.  However, along with the many wondrous creatures of the forest, the magic which resided deep within the ancient trees also beckoned creatures of a dangerous nature.  The shadows of the forest were sometimes home to monsters whose souls were black, and whose hearts delighted in killing.  When Thyon decided to leave the safety of his home and family to travel the woods, his grandfather had profusely warned him of these dangerous creatures.  It was a warning he did not take lightly.
          The forest was filled with mystery and that mystery was terribly alluring to humans.  Indeed, Thyon understood the allure of the forest all too well.  Quickly he glanced to the now-violet sky and then returned his gaze to the child.  He knew that she had not yet expired, but if he did not aid her before night fell, then he would not be able to protect her from the creatures, ordinary or magical, that roamed the forest.
         His mind made up, Thyon walked towards the girl-child carefully, making his way over knotted tree roots and around pikes of granite slanting from the turf. He knew precious little magic, and now he cursed himself for taking to hiding as a child whenever his grandmother called him to his lessons.  What little magic he did know, he would use to get the girl conscious enough to ride to safer territory.
         Thyon stopped in front of the child and studied her face.  No older then nine or ten years of age, she was a cherub with a halo of golden curls that must have glowed in the sun.  She had a tiny face, with long, thick eyelashes and lips that were parted slightly.  She was beautiful, and Thyon's heart pounded in his chest in a sudden fear that he was too late.
         Thyon knelt beside the tiny body and studied her face intently.  Then, to his amazement, the young girl's eyes flew open and blue orbs of terror fixed upon his own.  Suddenly, a great commotion erupted from the woods.  Fear clutched his hammering heart as he struggled to his feet and turned to behold a group of the dangerous monsters his grandfather had warned him about.  There were four of them in all and they were tall, covered in armor made of animal hides and each had a terrible face covered in long, knotted, dirty fur.
         Thyon bristled in preparation for battle; all of his muscles became taunt as he stepped between the child and these creatures.  He was certain now how she had come to be injured; clearly they were
tracking her.  Yet Thyon's bravery would be for naught; the creatures pulled strange weapons from their backs and he was enveloped in pain as multiple wounds were suddenly inflicted on his body.  Thyon screamed in anger and pain, before he collapsed to the soft earth floor of the forest and died.
 
         Edward waited until his friends had slung their bows over their shoulders before he went to his daughter.  The young girl, trembling with fear, leapt to her feet and ran to his embrace.  He picked her up in his arms and stroked her hair comfortingly.  She buried her nose into his neck, nuzzling his beard, just as she always did.  Hanna hated the hunt.
         The three other men came from the woods and circled the bleeding corpse.  Thomas spit upon the body, and John kicked it.  The last man, Peter, looked to Edward for approval before he drew his
blade and severed the long, silver horn from the head of the unicorn.
         "Do we have to do this, daddy?"  Pleaded Hanna quietly from her father's shoulder.
         "You know we do, kitten."  Was his reply, as it always was.
         "For how much longer?"
         "Until they are all gone."
         "Why?"
         "Because they are dangerous, Hanna.  Unicorns are malicious and cruel; that beast would have killed you, you know."
         "I know."
         "Then don't ask questions, kitten.  It must be done."
         Edward was already walking back into the forest as Peter picked up the horn and tied it tightly to his belt; this was the longest horn they had found in their three months of hunting.  There would be a celebration tonight.  Quickly the three men followed their leader from the clearing, and left the body of the unicorn to rot in the darkness.