Unicorn Rider
Deep, deep within her dream Jola could hear the neighing of a horse in fear, and she immediately headed to the sounds of distress, her bare feet running quickly over leaves and jumping over logs and branches.
She heard the wolf pack long before she saw them, and knew they were waiting for her, but then she saw the unicorn, bigger than any horse she had seen, it’s massive horn already covered with blood as it struggled to win freedom once more.
“Help me,” it cried in desperation, the voice was in her head, and she saw a large, golden tear roll down its cheek, “you and I are the last unicorns, the last of our race.”
“How?” she shouted, “I don’t know how to help.” and the wolves snarled in anger at her approach.
“Climb on my back and ride me to freedom” was its fearful reply. “But be fast, because I cannot fight for two for very long.”
“ But I’m not a virgin.” She almost wept as she said the words, “I can’t ride you.”
“Remember. Remember and believe.” His words were soft in her mind, almost like a caress, and she shuddered. “Take my hand and I will help you” and even while the thoughts of not believing ran through her mind, she felt his hand in hers, and his strength flowing into her, and knew at once that he was sharing his soul with her, that the hand she now held so tightly was part of his spirit. She threw back her head and screamed, it was a primal scream, a scream long since gone from the earth she knew, but the wolves knew it, and feared it.
Refusing to let go of his hand in case she forgot how to find it again, she ran through the stunned wolves and climbed on to his back, almost slipping as his flanks were covered with blood, but she managed to at last climb on his back, and she began to see with his vision, his eyes, and she understood. Twice now he had met these wolves, and the growing pack had nearly killed him both times, “But why?” she wanted to scream, and she knew the answer before the words left her mouth, this time the pack was hunting her.
With her at last safe on his back, he reared, lashing out with his hooves, scattering the wolves further, and ran with a speed she would have not thought possible, taking them both to the safety of the deep forest. Still holding his hand so tightly that she was scared she would break it, she suddenly knew who he was, she recognised the tenderness in him, that she had sought out every night, the innocence that had once made her angry, until she understood that he didn’t know he had hurt her feelings.
Suddenly is hand disappeared from hers, and his strong legs collapsed under him, tumbling them both to the ground, and in her mind she heard, so very faintly, “I can take you no further Jola, now it is up to you, remember and believe,” and then his consciousness faded into unconsciousness and she could hear him no more in her mind or heart.
Alone she stood and let her mind remember, to her birth, and beyond, through each incarnation, to the birth of time, and she understood. She saw herself as a unicorn, so wonderfully beautiful, a black hide that seemed to glow, and a large golden horn, and felt the strength flowing into her, her hair was now a mane, and as she tossed her head it flowed around her face.
And she believed, stronger than ever before, first she felt his hand in hers once again, then he stood beside her, at last the unicorns were reunited, and she smiled.
In the twilight she reared and felt him doing the same, and knew she had at last found her heritage, and would never let it go again.
