Midnight

On a thunderous night when lightning streaked the sky in bright flashes, a horse like figure slid out behind a tree. The lightning bit through the sky and her white pelt lit up and her silver horn sparkled. Her flames, though it was wet, flamed brightly and strongly. Her nostrils picked up every scent and her ears every sound. She knew everything in this forest, from the owl in the oldest oak, to the grass that grew under the stones. Her frame was strongly built and she was powerful looking. Her belly was round with foal and sharp pangs attacked her sides.1

A sound so sweet the Mother Earth cries every time it is sounded was let loose among the plains, the sound of a brand new unicorn being born and taking its first breath. The young filly was silver and had a black horn. Her feet did not hold the same flames as her mother, but eventually those would appear. 2

She stood on her weak legs and then fell. With encouragement from her mom and slight nudging, she stood and began to suckle. Macca, the proud mother, gently rasped her tongue over, her new daughter, Ashoola’s, pelt. 3

Macca stopped her grooming and her head pulled sharply up. Nostril’s flaring; she urgently nudged Ashoola to the cave she had been born in. It was dark and she was nudged to the farthest corner. A sharp rock jutted out in the way and Macca cut her hawk on it. She turned, whisking her tail in Ashoola’s direction, telling her to stay put. She stepped out of the cave into the downpour of rain. 4

The fresh smell masked the scent she so desperately needed to find. Her ears flicked back and forth, trying to get a hint of the danger she had sensed before. Ashoola was slowing wobbling over to her and she pinned her ears back and bared her teeth. Ashoola eased back and Macca sidestepped to cover the entrance of the cave. 5

Behind her, she heard the slight scrape of claws and she whirled around, horn lowered. A black jaguar slid over, standing on top of the rock cave. He pulled back his lip, showing sharp teeth. His pelt was slicked down from the rain and made the smell confusing to Macca. 6

She reared up and lashed her hooves at the attacker. The jaguar swiped his claw and hooked the base of Macca’s horn. She shook her head and the grip was dislodged. Behind her the rest of the pack assembled. When she tried to back, her hawks were swiped and bit. She felt the weight and sharp pains of the jaguar. It raked her sides and she twisted to try and get it off. However, when she twisted her head to look her back attacker in the eye, she left her neck unprotected. Another jaguar saw this and leapt at this opportunity. He latched his teeth and firmly gripped Macca’s neck. Blood gushed from this new wound and he let go. Macca felt detached and her head heavy, no longer supported with the muscles of her neck. 7

She wrenched her neck from the view of the new attacker, lowering her head and ignoring the jaguar on her back. She sparred at the jaguars and twisted. Her head began to get light and blood welled from her nose. She snorted and a fine red mist was excreted. Her attacks began to slow and her judging faltered. Finally, with a final over judged lunge, she fell, nose diving into the muddy ground. 8

Ashoola watched silently as the jaguars ate her mother, a gruesome process, bone, hide and all. Blood was strewn all over from her mother’s futile attempts. Soon though, nothing remained of the mare, even the puddles of blood had been lapped up, and what wasn’t, was washed off in the rain. The jaguars began to disperse and Ashoola silently trekked towards the entrance. However, her hooves brushed the same sharp rock as her mother had, at made a clopping sound. The jaguars twisted their ears around.9

Ashoola stopped, wet and cold, and began to edge herself towards the back again. The jaguars turned and saw her. Stalking swiftly, the closed the exit of the filly. Her back was to the cave and she was pinned by the jaguars in front. She backed and the jaguars followed. Soon, she was inside and the jaguars were halfway inside. Then, suddenly, she threw her head up and then lowered her stubby horn. 10

Stomping, she edged forward, tossing her head. She kept her neck closely guarded. The jaguars allowed themselves to be pushed back and they soon were back in the rain. Her stride faltering only slightly in the mud, she pawed the air. The jaguars leapt and she shied away, kicking and catching it in the ribs. Another lunged and she twisted out of its way, revealing a sharp jutting rock. A big male jumped up, but faltered in the mud, and so fell short of his target. Ashoola rushed up and kicked in his head. 11

A growl sounded and the jaguars stepped aside. Up walked the biggest cat Ashoola had seen so far. He was huge and his two top canines stuck of his mouth. He opened it and revealed large, sharp, pointed teeth. Ashoola backed, but found herself against a rock wall. He leapt and she closed her eyes, bracing for pain. 12

All of a sudden, she felt a hideous pain on her forehead, searing. She cried in pain and opened her eyes. She wanted to see her killer’s eyes when she died. However, when she opened her eyes, she did not see a vicious killer about the make another kill. She saw her horn, fully grown, protruding into the big males shoulder. He cried out in pain and Ashoola wrenched her head, ripping his shoulder. He wailed and retreated. Snarling, the others followed. 13

She pulled her head up, rearing in victory, but she over balanced and fell. After attempting and finally succeeding in getting up, she walked around a bit. After a while, Ashoola went back to the cave and curled up to sleep.14

Ashoola woke the next morning as the sun’s rays warmed her pelt. She walked back outside. The smell of the grass was enticing and she nibbled some, but it made her belly ache. Her digestive was not ready for the whole food, she was a day old and needed her mother’s milk. Her fully formed horn got in the way a lot and added extra weight on her head. She wandered around a lot and soon left the perimeter of the death cave. She entered the nearby woods and wound through the trees and over thick underbrush. She continued on and began to get tired. She swatted the flies and gnats that bit her flank with her tassel ended tail. She blinked sleepily and closed her eyes. 15

The ground began to get light feeling, like it wasn’t there. She hastily blinked open her eyes and examined the ground. She shook her head in wonder as she noticed she was walking on air. She tested her step. The going was a little weird, but she was able to adjust and she continued on. 16

Every now and then, she would touch a weak spot of air and her leg would plummet and then catch again. The moon rose and she was exhausted. She slowly eased herself to the ground, realizing that it was quite difficult. Wearily, she circled and then slept.17

When she woke, there were bright red apples in front of her. She sat up, weary from hunger, and edged over to them. She bit them and they tasted sweet. The juice ran down her chin. She bit into another and noticed green eyes watching her intently. She sniffed and saw a long body. Stomping, she went over to the bushes. A snake slithered out, startled at Ashoola’s vicious approach. 18

“Hey!” he hissed. “This is what I get for trying to help?!” His words held the ‘s’ in his words too long and the unfamiliar sound tickled Ashoola’s ears. 19

“What do you mean by that,” she demanded, “hiding in the bushes, watching me eat? You call that helping?!”20

“I brought those nasty things to you! Those have the vilest taste I’ve never tasted!” he hissed back.21

“What do you mean by that?” she inquired.22

“You looked hungry when you stumbled into my territory. So I slithered up the tree and had to carry the apples in my mouth. In fact, I carried them carefully as to not puncture the outer skin so they would be fresh for you when you woke.”23

She eyed him suspiciously, remembering the jaguars. “How can I be sure you mean well?” 24

“My name is Ricks, son of Jakar and Vitor. I control this territory and had I meant ill, could have bit you when you lied down to rest.”25

She stiffened at this formal introduction. Dipping her head she acknowledged. “My name is Ashoola, daughter of Macca, father unknown. My mother was slaughtered by jaguars yesterday night.”26

Ricks loosely twined around himself, hissing and crooning over the unfortunate filly.27

“I need to leave, for if I am to survive, I must find a mare,” she said to herself as it came to her. 28

‘Yes, very good my child, find your mare, there you will find a home and duty.’ Ashoola’s ears twitched. Was the wind speaking to her? ‘Go child, do not worry about it now, you will learn soon enough. Trust me, I cannot harm you, or you me.’29

Ashoola pawed irritably at the ground. Was she mad? However, the wind whispered kind words and she trusted what ever spoke. She began to leave. 30

“Wait!” Ricks cried. “Would you leave me after I had so generously helped you? In return for my deed, I require you take me with you.” 31

Ashoola’s ears swiveled in confusion. “Ok…” she began. “If you really must then you may clamber on.”32

He did so and his touch was smooth and dry. She bounded and climbed into the sky. 33

‘Good child, that’s right. I will soon show you where you must go,’ someone whispered.34

********** 35

“Do you know where we are going?” Ricks shouted. 36

“No,” Ashoola said, “not the slightest idea.” Ricks pouted at her and twined his tail tighter around her neck. 37

“Will you at least put us down? It’s nearly dark and it’s chilly up here!” he complained. 38

Ashoola did so, landing softly in a large patch of over grown grass. She folded her legs under her and tucked her head on her side. Ashoola looked up at the evening sky for a last glimpse before sleep. She saw small insects darting here and there. Then out of nowhere a huge black figure darted out of the shadows and snatched up an insect. Ashoola realized it was just a bat. So she settled down and drifted into a deep slumber.39

Fog clung to Ashoola’s body and she felt like the life was being squeezed out of her. As she squinted through the fog she saw two dark shapes. Feeling her way, she made it closer to the shapes. With a start she realized it was a mare unicorn. She was black and small in size. Ashoola looked down at her feet. She has no flames! Ashoola thought. Then, the mare dipped her head down and nudged the second dark form. Ashoola took a few steps forward and saw a small black colt. His sides were not rising and falling as they should have been. The black mare curled up with the dead foal and cried out with loneliness. As Ashoola ran towards her, the fog swirled around her, blocking her view of the mare. “Come back!” she cried, but black was everywhere. But just as she thought all was lost, she was above a valley. It had two rivers running on both the north and south. As she tried to fly away she saw the valley was surrounded by mountains.40

Ashoola woke in a cold sweat. “Ricks!” she screamed. He slithered up.41

“What?” he asked sleepily. 42

“Get on we need to go, I know where, we’ll I think I do. Anyway, get on we’re leaving!”43

Ricks began to curl up. “What ever it is, it can wait,” he mumbled. 44

Ashoola stepped on his tail. “No it can’t!” she yelled. “Get on or I am leaving with out you!” 45

Ricks clambered up and grumbled the entire time. Ashoola launched herself into the air again, renewed with hope.