"Beware of the unicorn" by Natalie Touretsky (Gerie Aren)

Beware of the unicorn

Jerry and Helen knelt behind a row of bushes. It's hard to believe, that in the middle of the megapolis you can find the landscape looking so wild-like. But Grand Park is really big territory and its inner regions are pretty wild. On the outskirts it looks like any urban park, but deeper you go in, less and less civilization you will see. The concrete paths are there, ok, and even wooden benches here and there, but the moment you step down from concrete, you seem to cross the border and enter a different world. World of the wild woods, full of secrets, unknown to townsfolk, and, therefore, dangerous.

The view was lovely – sunlit meadow, surrounded by the great old trees, contrast of pale mourning sun and dark, mysterious shadows, but not the lovely view was what brought two teenagers so deep into the Park in such an early hour…

The snow-white beast walked lazily out of the shadows into the pale mourning sun. It pretended not to pay attention to the hiding spectators, but one who learned its ways good enough would know, it's only a show. Anyway, this time the unicorn really didn't care about the visitors.  But if the girl came here alone, it could be different…

Helen watched unicorn with almost hypnotized expression. The semblance was prefect, like it really stepped down from medieval painting. Every bit was in place – pure white color, deer-like body and mane of the horse, brushes of long hair over cloven hoofs and on the tip of long tail, delicate ears, blue eyes, sleek silvery horn…

And yet, something was missing. Helen couldn't shook off the feeling of wrongness the creature gave her.

Unicorn came a few steps closer, and Helen finally figured it out – the way it moved was not at all deer-like or horse-like. His movements were much like those of lion or tiger. And his eyes were not like eyes of deer or horse too…

Jerry bent to Helen's ear and whispered sharply: "Rule number two – when dealing with Unicorn, never meet It's eyes, always look aside, if you don't want to fall under It's spell!"

Unicorn stopped right in front of them, yawned in most decorous fashion and Helen made one more horrific discovery – the month of this herbivore-looking creature concealed a set of teeth more fitting for a great wolf. It seemed to her, that the time slowed down and she managed to have a detailed view of it. Long, curved fangs, to hold and tear the prey, triangle back teeth, to crush bones…

Unicorn closed it's month with a snap, like dogs sometimes do, and gracefully walked away. Audience was over.

Helen crouched on the ground, feeling weak, wishing she could lay down. Jerry whispered again, knowing for sure, that this time she will listen and will remember: "First rule – when meeting the Unicorn in the woods, don't let It close by all costs, especially when you are alone!"