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In the Meadow
Journeying along with the Unicorns are the gentle Tree Dwellers giving escort to the edge of their forest. Birds fly above singing sweet melodies while the cotton tails and fawns all move along prancing and dancing in joy. The Unicorns pick up the pace, drawing energy from the joy they sense from the little creatures, as they look forward to the open meadow. The trees thin and the friendly creatures stop to watch as the Unicorns move out into the Meadow.
Rosepetal and Thistledown reach the Meadow of Magic as the sun rises
in the sky. They find berries of all kinds to eat and drink in
the nectar from the meadow flowers. The ground turns into a velvet carpet of green grass reaching out to the bright blue of the sky. Colorful wild flowers decorate the sprawling meadow for as far as they could see. Off in the distance all of the other Unicorns have gathered.
Thistledown and Rosepetal were very tired from walking. Their
hooves were hurting and they wanted to eat and drink. They came
upon a steam called Blue Stream so they started to drink and ate some
grass nearby. Ever alert Rosepetal heard something behind a
bush. It was a baby unicorn. "My name is Starlight," said
the small unicorn. "I lost my mommy and I am scared of the
people." "It's okay. We lost our mommys too", said
Thistledown. "Can I stay with you guys until I find my mommy?"
asked Starlight. "Yes, you can stay with us," said Rosepetal.
Just as Thistledown, Rosepetal and Starlight trot out of the trees into the openness of the meadow a bright red fox scampers away, running quickly to the other Unicorns yelping an announcement of their arrival. Look up and seeing the Unicorns the other mystical creatures all run to greet them. They charge near and surround them, pressing forward in welcome. Rosepetal shyly moves to stand behind Thistledown while he greets all of his friends. When the gathering quiets Thistledown says, "Everyone, please greet and welcome Rosepetal. She and I have had quite an adventure and we are joined now as lifelong companions. We found this little stray back on the edge of the meadow. Her name is Starlight. Does anyone know her mommy?" The mares of the group press forward and greet Rosepetal. They push Thistledown aside and gather around Rosepetal to hear of the adventure. Starlight is right in the center of the group looking all around at the lady unicorns. Out of the group steps Mistycloud. She looks down at Starlight and shakes her head. "I wondered where you had gotten off to. I thought I told you that you could go play but you were not supposed to leave the meadow. Now you have to stay near me and you can't go play with the other baby unicorns until you have learned your lesson. Come with me little lady." Mistycloud and Starlight gather close to Rosepetal to hear her story. Thistledown moves off with the stallions. They also want to hear of the adventure and how he and Rosepetal became companions. Looking back Thistledown feels odd. He is happy to see his old friends but is sad to leave Rosepetal even for a moment. He sees her glance quickly to him and then slowly turns to give attention to the gathering around her. Thistledown walks off slowly but a short distance and stops to visit with his friends. He keeps the distance away from Rosepetal short so he can glance in her direction every so often and keep watch for her.
Thistledown tells all of his friends about how his mother was taken by the men on the strange, noisy machines. They were all full of questions and he answered all he could and just added a caution to each unicorn of the Meadow Dwellers to use care and to be alert. All the while the questions were coming Thistledown kept glancing over at Rosepetal who was also surrounded by questioning friends. She was busy explaining what had happened. Every once in a while the companions glances would meet. They knew they wanted to end the gathering and be alone together once again but they also knew it was very important that their friends be told of the dangers. As the questions ended each of the unicorns seemed to understand, and concern shown in the way they looked. At the same time a resolve was firmly set that they would use all of their magic to protect the Meadow Dwellers and the other dwellers in the realm.
The conversation ended and Thistledown walked over slowly toward Rosepetal. He saw her glance to him every once in a while as he hurried his pace slightly. Just as he approached he heard Rosepetal say, "Oh yes, we are companions now. And I am happy." Thistledown approached slowly so they did not know he had overheard. Rosepetal looked in his direction and he asked, "Rosepetal, if you are ready we might want to go off and rest a bit. It has been a long day." Rosepetal turned to the gathering and said, "Please excuse me for a while. Thistledown and I have really had a long day already and I am a bit tired. We will find a quiet place to rest and we will both see you later." The other unicorns glanced at Rosepetal knowingly and drifted away slowly.
Continuing on their path, they passed faeries singing and dancing in a
clearing. The sight was so peaceful it made the Unicorns joyful
and brought a feeling of glee into their hearts. Thistledown's
horn grew brighter still and the two pranced on the path.
Rosepetal gently nuzzled Thistledown and both were content with the
world.
The sweetest smell of
morning dew filled their nostrils as their hooves brushed softly and
silently against the tender grasses. Young birds sang out to their
parents for food from the tree tops and the gentle tinkle from a
nearby stream added to the music of the new dawn. It was as if all of
nature sang of the love Thistledown and Rosepetal shared. "How
wonderful it will be to graze in the Meadow of Magic again, how I have
missed it's beauty," sighed Rosepetal "every moment away seems like an
eternity." "I know, but if we never left we would not appreciate
it as much." Thistledown whispered softly. They both walked slowly across the meadow to a small group of trees. The sun had moved from high overhead and was starting to travel to the western sky. Thistledown quickly walked around the trees and surveyed the surrounding to make sure it was safe. When he returned to Rosepetal he said, "All is well and we may rest now in safety. Our friends will keep watch and warn us if danger approaches." Rosepetal walked slowly into the tree line and found a soft moss covered opening. Slowly laying down she beckoned to Thistledown to come and rest with her. Walking to her slowly he looked deep into her eyes and saw that she was comfortable and wanted to be near. Thistledown looked around and saw that they were secluded. A light breeze was whispering through the trees with a soft rustle of the leaves. A bright sun was filtering though the overhead canopy of protection. Slowly laying down along side of Rosepetal, all the while looking into her eyes, Thistledown moved to her closely. When they were both comfortable Rosepetal closed her eyes and sighed. Thistledown snuggled in closer, closed his eyes and the companions drifted off to the land of magic within their dreams.
Dreaming a restful late afternoon the two Unicorns slept peacefully. As the sun moved further across the brilliant blue sky the darkness of evening was beginning to cast deep shadows across the meadow. The peaceful evening was suddenly shattered by a loud noise. Thistledown awoke suddenly to the sounds. It was the machines again! Quickly rising he woke Rosepetal and together they moved deeper into the trees and brush of their resting place. Peering out into the meadow they saw one machine charging wildly across the meadow. The other unicorns were standing quietly working their magic of blending into the meadow so they could not be seen. Looking closely Rosepetal looks to see what the man and the machine was chasing. Oh ! The fox! The little red fox that greeted her and Thistledown. Rosepetal looked at Thistledown and sees that he has noticed the little red fox too. There was nothing they could do to help the fox but to wish that there was a den close by that she could duck into for safety.
The little red fox darted to the left and ran as hard as she could heading for her den. The man on the machine also quickly steered to the left and speed up closing the gap very quickly. Rosepetal gasped just as the machine hit the poor little fox! "Oh, the fox is hurt!" she exclaimed. The man began to laugh but quickly the laugher died in his throat. The front wheel of the machine dropped into the opening of the foxes den and spun the machine around throwing the man through the air. He landed with a crash, rolling across the meadow, and then lay silent. The Unicorns looked at each other and their thoughts were the same.
Thistledown and Rosepetal both cautiously walked from the tree hideaway into the meadow. Thistledown was alert to see if there were other machines. Looking at the machine that had crashed he saw it laying there, silent now and smoking. The terrible noise had stopped. The man was lying still and quiet with just a groan coming from his lips ever once in a while. It was a weak sound but one of pain. Moving quickly the Unicorns saw the little fox laying ever so still. Rosepetal looked at the fox and saw her legs were at an odd angle and must be broken. There was a glazed look in her open eyes and it did not seem as if she was breathing. The little red fox was badly hurt. Rosepetal lowered her head and using her golden horn she tried to gently move the lady fox. Oh what a sad groan from the hurt little lady fox.
Rosepetal started to cry. Using her horn once again tried gently to make the fox more comfortable. Just as she touched the fox her golden horn started to glow brightly. The golden light of her horn seemed to flow into the little fox. The little fox looked up at Rosepetal. Slowly her eyes cleared, she stopped moaning and shook slightly. Quickly standing the little foxes legs were no longer bent and broken. Her belly did not hurt. She was well and not hurt at all! Rosepetal saw the magic that had happened and was surprised. She did not know her horn could do magic like that. The happiness in her eyes was matched by the happiness in the little red fox, who scampered away. A short distance away the little red fox stopped and turned to look at Rosepetal. Thank you was written in the way the fox looked. Turning slowly the little red fox trotted away glancing back every so often in thank you to the beautiful Rosepetal.
While Rosepetal attended to the little red fox Thistledown went to the man. He too was hurt very badly. Thistledown saw what happened when Rosepetal attended to the fox so he touched the man with his horn too wondering if the he had the same magic. And just as it happened with the little red fox it happened with the man. Thistledown's horn started to glow brightly. The golden light again seemed to enter into the man just as it had the fox. The man's moans stopped and he sat up slowly. Rubbing his legs and his arms he was in wonder that nothing was hurting. Looking up he saw Thistledown towering over him and fear suddenly shown on his eyes. Thistledown lowered his head with his horn pointed back at the man. Very quickly the man jumped to his feet and started to run away in fear. Thistledown snorted once but did not chase after the man at all. The man stopped running and turned to look back at the Unicorns. He again touched himself in many places and you could see the wonder on his face that he was not hurt. He finally realized that the warm feeling he had earlier was the healing magic from Thistledown's golden horn. As the realization came to him the fear disappeared from his eyes and was replaced with admiration. Raising his hand slowly be began to wave a friendly wave and smiled.
Thistledown and Rosepetal stood watching the man run away and then turn to wave once again. Both Unicorns looked at each other and then in the mysterious ways of Unicorns they slowly blended into the meadow and could not be seen by the stranger. The man was watching as the Unicorns disappeared before his very eyes. Bewildered by them being there to help him, then disappearing, he rubbed his eyes and looked all about as though searching for the Unicorns. Seeing nothing the man turned and walked off across the meadow. All the unicorns watched him closely. Every few minutes he would stop walking, turn and look at his demolished machine, scratch his head and then turn to walk on. The mystery of what had happened would be a wild tale to tell when he got back home and he was sure no one would believe his story. So he vowed to keep it a secret. With that resolve he continued his walk home. Following silently and unseen behind, was a little red fox.
As the man and the little red fox walked off across the meadow Thistledown and Rosepetal slowly walked back to the solitude of the stand of trees. Both thought of what had just happened and realized for their magic was very important and could be very valuable.
Feeling a bit frisky Thistledown brushes against Rosepetal as they walk to their resting place. Rosepetal looks at Thistledown and blinks her long lashed brown eyes at him. Thistledown nuzzles against Rosepetal and they prance off to their seclusion. When they are safely secluded both Unicorns settle into a amorous and loving evening.
The sun slowly sinks into the land and the sky darkens. Long shadows of black creep across the meadow from the west. The evening air cools and the Unicorns snuggle closer to share their body heat. Silence washes over the secluded resting place. Rosepetal slowly closes her eyes and her breathing becomes slow and rhythmic. Thistledown fights sleep to listen to her breathing and to make sure they are safe. Slowly sleep steals him away and both the Unicorns rest quietly.
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