"Chapter 2 - Hope" by Dawn Jane Holliday

Chapter 2

It was a searing, dry day beyond the flaming forests, in the land the creatures called Montriste. Plants were limp and water was scarce. The only place life could be found was under the nurturing limbs of the trees. It was here the inhabitants of Montriste often lay in shade or dug for water under the parched soil.

Beneath a great Oak tree lay Amara. Her once pure white coat, speckled with grainy soil. Her weary emerald eyes fighting off the midday sleep. The twisted horn that sprung from her head lay neatly across the bare ground as her tail swished away the pestering flies.

Mostly She wandered the forest alone, day and night. Searching for food, water and any signs of life. The burning reign of fire had split the land, and Amara had been confined to a small desolate area. She had witnessed the capturing of her own family, and the face of her love Casimir disappearing behind the flames that tore them apart. At night these terrifying, vivid images haunted her dreams, until the dampness of her tears caused her to wake.

It was for this reason that Amara seldom slept, she roamed the midnight forest, desperately seeking some aspect of her former life. Sometimes she couldn't even remember what it was that she sought. Other times she would determinedly search, and over-come anything that blocked her path. When she did it wore her out, and by the time morning glistened through the canopy of trees Amara would be exhausted, and often doze-with a heavy heart, in the cool of the shade.

As Amara rested her weary body away from the heat of midday she noticed a twig snapping in the distance, it wasn't often she came across other creatures like herself, and so any noise was a form of hope. Amara strained to lift her head. Her inquisitive eyes darted across the forest floor. All was still. The frail beast struggled to her feet and shook the dust from her mane and silvery coat. A breeze began to whisper through the trees as Amara made her way to water. The last place she could drink at was rapidly drying out. She often hoped that she would meet another unicorn there, especially since the other watering holes had long evapourated.

The birds of the forest sung sweetly and dandelion seeds danced with the timid fairies. When you wander through these enchanted forests you can often hear the playful creatures giggling on the safety of tall branches. Or the gentle thud of seeds hitting the ground and perhaps unfortunate animals, that happened to pass under the tree at the wrong time. The elves, fairies, pixies and other such creatures, known to be mischievous, had pacified notably since the black dragon's rein. It seemed no creature, not even the wild and spirited fairies, dared to question the new way of life, however much Amara wished they would.

Eventually after roving southwards through the dense forest the glade appeared in the distance. The previously beautiful lake, brimming with life had been reduced to a shallow, muddy pond. The deer, rabbits, foxes and other animals all had to learn to get along, if just for a short time, whilst they shared the only water for miles. If this wasn't such an ill-fated situation, the image of these animals side by side would be a hope giving one for Amara.

 Although many creatures gathered here, never once had Amara seen another unicorn, lion, or even a dragon. She sometimes wished during her darkest hours that the dragons would find her too, then at least she could see her family, even for the price of eternal enslavement. However Amara knew better than to wish this too often. It wasn't what they would want for her. It wasn't what she truly wanted either.

As she neared the pond a pair of deer lifted there heads and gazed at her with their sad eyes. She looked around. Nothing. Only the same pitiful creatures that gathered there day after day. Amara approached the waters edge and dipped the tip of her long beautiful horn into the murky water. Shimmering ripples began to glide over the surface, and bit by bit the shadowy water turned crystal clear. The animals didn't seemed alarmed by this, only relieved and began to splash joyfully. Amara placed one of her worn hooves into the cool water, and then shook her mane as it sent a shiver throughout her body. She lowered her head and began to drink, her eyes, ever alert, darted around.

There was a rustle in bushes behind the two deer, Amara's ears pricked up. A moment later a frightened rabbit darted out of the undergrowth and meandered its way back to the safety of it's burrow. Amara ceased drinking and lifted her head, keeping a close watch on the bushes from which the little auburn rabbit had emerged.

Suddenly a large breathless creature threw itself out of the bushes and fell to the floor. The drinking animals fled into the forest, and a flock of birds took to the sky. Amara jumped backwards in astonishment and stood on her hind legs as she tried to make out what it was. A silence fell upon the clearing.

"Is it dead?" She thought to herself. She curiously tilted her head to the side. There was a twisted horn, just like Amara's, escalating from the top of the creature’s head. Yet a thick mane clung to it's neck, just like a lions. "It has paws on the end of its feet, hooves as well.. What is this creature?"

Amara's curiosity got the better of her and she cautiously made her way around the pond to where the motionless being lay. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. She wasn't sure whether to be alarmed, or relieved to see another creature vaguely resembling herself. Nevertheless Amara found herself standing only inches away, watching it quietly sigh, it's ribs barely lifting at all. As the vulnerable body lay on view to all Amara's unease began to fade and pity fell into its place. She knew she had the power to heal him, as do all unicorns. The soft expression on the animal's face melted any last traces of worry held in Amara.

She lowered her head until the very tip of her horn gently touched it's shoulder. Amara closed her eyes as an intense wave of light moved across the creature’s body. She stepped backwards and watched attentively. The breathing rate of the creature seemed to speed up, one of its hind legs began to twitch. Adrenaline rushed through Amara's veins, it'd been so long since she'd been anywhere near another like herself.

The wind began to pick up and lifted the creature’s mane so it hovered and danced in the warm air. Amara closed her eyes as the wind rushed through her soul; she sensed something, which brought her great comfort, a stillness. When she looked up there it was. Gazing back. Wide-eyed and strangely calm. For a moment they locked gazes. Each one not quite knowing what to expect.

The creature turned its head and looked at itself.

"Thank you," it whispered.

"Your welcome," said Amara. She paused for a while and then blurted out "Who are you? It's just, I've never seen another creature like you before."

"My names Albern," he began, "and I'm… well I'm a liocorn. That is, I am half lion, half unicorn. I’m sorry we've met under such strange circumstances, I don't really know how I got here…" "

Well hello Albern, the liocorn" Amara smiled "Im Amara… and please, don't be sorry, I'm just glad we met, I..I haven't had anyone to talk to in so long."  Amara's glance turned to the spring grass beneath her hooves. Then swiftly she looked up "You gave me  a shock bursting through like that, why were you running Albern?"

All of a sudden the liocorn jumped up in panic "I remember now!" he shouted, "Where is it? Did you see it come through?" Albern ran to the forest's edge and looked around for while inside, then came anxiously wandering back to Amara looking in all directions. "We can't stay here, it's just not safe."

"What's wrong? What are you talking about?" asked Amara. "   The dragon, it found me.. I was in my forest, all alone, searching as usual for something…anything"

"That's just like me!" interrupted Amara.

"Yes well I heard a noise and in vain hope made my way over to where it had come from. There it was, a towering green dragon running towards me, screaming at me… Something about a meeting, I..I can't quite recall,  but I knew at once my only chance was to run. So I ran. I didn't look back, so I don't know when I lost him, I just remember seeing a clearing, and you and then I.. well here I am now.." 

Albern gazed blankly over to the other side of the glade. Amara watched him with curiosity "And this dragon was trying to capture you?" she said.

"Well I don't suppose it wanted to play chess with me.." Albern laugh nervously "Of course that's what it wanted. They'll never rest will they? Not until they've got every damned one of us." Amara sighed.

Albern looked up swiftly and turned, then began walking across the clearing towards the edge of the forest. "Come on, follow me," he called enthusiastically.

"Where are you going?" cried Amara "I’ve roamed that forest for most of my life, there's no way out through there."

Albern turned to see the almost sorrowful expression on her face. At once he sensed the pain in this creature's soul, as if her thoughts, in the form of a thousand tears, transferred themselves straight into his heart. Amara must have felt something too, and she turned away. Albern walked gently back towards her, and when he was close enough, reached out a paw then looked into her eyes that glistened with pain. Amara looked back into his, and saw something in them that she barely remembered..

Their pain was mutual, as was their desire to be free again, to seek whatever caused this aching deep within the very core of their being and to rid Montriste of it forever more. From that moment they knew they weren't alone anymore, they were in this together now. As a tear rolled down Amara's silky white cheek her hoof brushed Albern's paw and all at once there was hope again.