The Unicorn and the Dragon

[Angeltears]

In a world were magic still existed there is a large forest. This forest was so large that in amongst it there were great open areas bordered on all sides by trees. This forest was also known to be the home of many magical creatures one of which was a heard of unicorns. Sola was one of these unicorns but she was different from her sisters and brothers. She had been chosen as the guardian of her herd, to spend half her time with her herd apart of them and half her time alone and apart from them. In times when she was alone she had a small cottage within the borders of the forest which she used to live in when she wore two feet instead of her normal four hooves as being guardian demanded.

You see every unicorn could change form, it was a way to hide in plain sight from those that had no magical senses. But as a guardian Sola spent half her time in this form. In her other form she had the appearance of the species called humans who at seeing her would assume she was the same as them. As a unicorn she was pure white with crystal blue eyes but in her other form she had skin of pink, her hair was the same as well as her eyes. But no matter form she wore she could not hide from those with magical sight because they would recognise her for what she was for they would see a small spiral horn raising from the middle of her forehead.

It was one of the days Sola spent alone when she saw something streak through the sky over the forest. She was in the small garden of the cottage and she heard something that made her look up, there is was. As she watched it fly over she felt it’s pain, it was lowering until it hit the trees. Whatever creature it was Sola knew it was hurt and needed help, so without a thought she turned into her normal unicorn form and ran to see if she could help this poor creature.

When she finally found it, she stopped and stared. A dragon, she thought to herself as she gazed at the creature before her. Sola knew only three things about dragons one they were highly magical like unicorns, two they could change their form like she could and three that they could be dangerous. Standing there she stamped her hoof slightly weary to approach but its pain was pulling at her. Finally she slowly started to approach it wanting to aid.

((Closed for JadeKnight))

 

[JadeKnight]

Dragons were among the many magical creatures living within the world, but their numbers were dwindling. Unlike their smaller counterparts, dragons needed large areas of space in which to live and hunt. They had lived before humans, and were still living now. Dragons and humans had been able to stay apart, but that changed as humans grew and expanded.

Zion was an ancient red dragon who had taken up residence in a large mountain range in a large cave along the northern border of the forest Sola was protector of. Further north of the mountain range was a human city that he had watched grow bigger for nearly two hundred of his one thousand years. He had managed to remain somewhat on friendly terms with the city up till twenty years before. He wasn't certain what set it off, but many of the humans in the city turned their hatred towards him.

The urge to hunt for fresh game hit him on that day. He knew there was a very large herd of cattle at a farm several miles from the city, his usual hunting ground. The humans there did not mind him taking a few cows every now and then, since he only hunted two times a year. It was also on his way to the hunting ground that he was ambushed. He did not notice the camouflaged ballistic launcher until the large arrow ripped through his right shoulder. The large missile punched through just above the bone, protruding out the other side.

He roared with pain before veering away from the ambush towards deeper into the forest. As he glided through the air, he reached back and bit the large shaft in two. The weight lighted just enough to get him further into the forest, landing in the middle of a clearing. He reached back once more, grasping the remaining chunk in his jaws. With a swift jerk, he pulled the last of the arrow out, ripping through more muscle. He roared with pain as the wooden chunk fell to the ground, green blood pouring from the wound.

 

[Angeltears]

Looking at the dragon before her she had never seen one so close before. Then to her horror she watched him reach back and rip the object from his wing and his roar hurt her ears as much as the pain he felt physically hurt her. She neighed in pain without realising it and took a step back hesitantly. No he was in pain and she needed to help him.

Urging herself forward she stopped a little distance from him. "You shouldn't have done that," she told him as she looked at the rip in his wing. She didn't get to close but her horn glowed as she let her magic brush over his wing determining how much damage had been done. "I am a healer and can help your wing, if you will let me?"

Changing her form into her human form her horn shrinking but still glowing in the middle of her forehead. Turning her head she looked at the dragons face and smiled slightly, "My name is Sola, I am guardian of this forest and I am a healer and can help you."

 

[JadeKnight]

His claws dug into the ground at the pain. He knew that the wound would prevent him from flying for awhile, but he was just going to have to bear it. After all, it wasn't the first time he had such a bad wound.

He lifted his heard and turned int the direction of the voice from the unicorn. He tilted his head slightly as bright yellow eyes studied the unicorn looking at him. It didn't surprise him to see the unicorn, as he had seen several during his flights over the first. It was the first time one had ever approached him though. He was silent as he felt the touch of magic against his wound and along his wing.

He shifted to sit up on his hidquarters, his head towering above the now transformed unicorn. His voice came out in a low rumble as he replied to her.

"Is that so little one? My name is Zion...And what would be required of your services?"

 

[Angeltears]

Taking a step back again her unicorn tail still visible flicked behind her nervously as he moved. Looking up at him she shook her head. "Nothing I protect all in this forest unless it threatens the forest. You do not wish to harm anything with in this forest do you Zion?" she asked him, before turning her attention to the ground.

Moving over to the arrow he had removed from the wing she hesitantly touched it and then shivered. "Human made, stupid humans," she shook her head and moved back to Zion and his wing. "It has cause quite a bit of damage to your wing and you didn't help by ripping it out the way you did," she told him as she stepped up to him. This time she didn't keep her distance. Reaching up to his wing she ran a hand over it, blood coating her hand.

"It is going to take a while to heal, even with my ability," her eyes unfocused as her magic flowed through her hands to his wing. "You are going to have to stay off the wing, if you wish you can stay with me at my cottage while you heal?" Then her eyes flicked to him. "Want to tell me why the humans did this?"

 

[JadeKnight]

The dragon looked down at her with interest as she answered him. He could tell she was somewhat scared of him. He watched her walk over towards the arrow before answering her.

"No, I have no reason to bring harm to the forest. I have no grievences here."

He watched her as she moved back to him, turning his head to watch her. He stayed silent as she reached up towards his wound, studying her. He closed his eyes for a moment as he felt the soothing touch of magic flow into him. He gave a little snort as she asked him about the incident.

"Humans are a very young race and can be violent at times. I have had a somewhat peaceful coexistence with a human city north of the mountains called Krograth. Recently a small group of them have decided they do not like me, but I know not why. I have had a few skirmishes with them, this ambush being only the lately."

As she finished her spell, lowered himself down onto his stomach. It would be at least a day or so before he would be able to shape-shift, but he also couldn't fly either. He nodded for a moment.

"I will accept your offer. Lead on to your cottage."

 

[Angeltears]

Closing her eyes she listened as he spoke, her magic soothed and coxed the wound to start to heal. When she had done what she could for the wound at the moment she opened her eyes and let out a sigh. As she had used her magic on him she had felt the magic with in him brush against her. Taking a few steps back she shook her silver hair and smiled at him. "It isn't far," she told him. Turning she changed back into her true form and glancing back at him once she started off towards her cabin.

As she lead him she spoke of her experience with humans, "I have very little to do with humans, unless they ventured into the forest. Sometimes I would guide those that got lost back to the edge of the forest either in human form or my true form. Depending on who it was that was lost. I have also cared for others creatures that have been harmed by humans, when they came seeking safety in the forest."

Finally she exited the forest into another small clearing, this one had a small cottage in it and garden full of flowers surrounding it. "The forest provides what those with in it needs," she said with a smile as she looked at her home away from the herd. She wondered what the inside would look like now, he had noticed that the door was bigger. Big enough for a dragon, she thought with a smile. "Welcome to me home," she told the dragon changing back to her human form and started up the path to her home.

"It might look small on the outside, but you will be surprised when you look inside," then with a silvery laugh she told him, "I know I will be."

 

[JadeKnight]

It had been awhile since he had felt the magic of another creature touch his, and it felt rather nice to him. The healing she did was just enough to close the wound up, but that was it. The muscles beneath would take longer, but that didn't bother him. He wasn't in a hurry for much at this point of time.

He watched her change back into true form and look back at him. He gave a slight nod, shifting to all fours. He watched his surroundings as he followed after her, listening to her speak. He had visited the forest before, but it had been several years.

He stopped at the edge of the garden, tilting his head for a moment. He hadn't been expecting a cottage, and not one with a dragon-sized door at that. He snorted for a moment before moving up the path after her.

"I am a little familiar with dimensional magic, but I only wish to have some fresh meat. The arrow interrupted my hunting."

 

[Angeltears]

Reaching the cottage door as he mentioned meat she looked back at him with a knowing smile. "I have no meat in the cottage but if you wait a little bit I think something will turn up," she told him. Last time she had cared for someone with the liking for meat, a couple of older rabbits had hoped into her clearing. It was there time to die and the forest had led them there, to feed her guest.

Pushing open the door her little cottage looked the same except everything was bigger, there was more open space to allow for Zion. In one of the corner there was a pile of large pillows and sheets of material that she usually slept in. To another side there was a small fountain that she had always assumed to run from a underground stream. Herbs and flowers hung from the roof but she was a little disappointed to notice that she wouldn't be able to reach them now as the roof was higher than it had been before. "Silly house," she frowned at the herbs and shook her head. In the centre of the room there was a fire pit with a pot of water above it. The fire was not lit, she would light it later if need be. In the roof above the fire was an opening wider than in any ordinary cottage's chimney.

"Welcome to my home," she told him. "I found this place when I was chosen as guardian and told I had to live apart from my brothers and sisters in this form. Since that day I walk the forest during the day and come back to this cottage at night."

 

[JadeKnight]

He gave a little snort-chuckle at her comment about food. He looked back at the forest for a moment and then to her with a little grin.

"Then I better be seeing a herd of deer coming through here because that's about what's it will take to fill my hunger."

He followed her into the cottage, turning his head left and right to take in the entire place. He shook his head for a moment when he saw the pile of pillows and sheets piled in the corner. They were way too soft for him in his current state, his bulk would end up just flattening it all.

"If I am going to lay down, there better be a pile of gold and trinkets hidden away in a corner. It's not bad other wise. A little over decorated for my tastes."

He made his water to the fountain and dunked his head into the water. He drank deeply for a few moments before lifting his head up, water dripping down his scales.

"Not bad. So I believe that means you have this place to yourself most of the time then?"

 

[Angeltears]

She smiled at his comments about the decorations and then thought about the pile of gold and trinkets he would need. Thinking about this as he drank from the fountain she moved over to her bedding and wondered why it had not supplied what he needed. Maybe later when it was night the building would change further.

“Most of the time,” she said dropping herself onto one of the oversized pillows. "The only others that stay are those that are wounded, like you. But usually they stay for a night or so before going on their way.” Nobody stays she added to herself, and thought back a sigh. ow was not the time to give into the loneliness that she sometimes felt. There was a guest that needed to be looked after, and she would not let him see her sad. Sadness didn’t help with healing, well not this type of healing.

As she wondered what she was going to do about him she heard the sound of movement coming towards the cottage. Raising she looked out one of the windows of the cottage and she saw deer skirting the clearing and then before bolting into it. "I believe food has arrived,” she said with a shiver. Only eating grass and flowers, Sola didn’t like the idea of eating meat. But as a healer she understood the need for other creatures. That was the way nature was.

“It looks like something has scared them into the clearing, they don’t look ready to return any time soon. Are you able to catch them with your injury?” She asked moving away from the window. She wasn’t able to watch them anymore.* "If not I will be able to help," she told him, even if she didn't like the idea of it.

 

[JadeKnight]

He looked towards the windows as he picked up the sound of animals, as well as smelling them. He inhaled deeply of the scent as it found it's way through the cracks in the cottage. He chuckled for a moment as he turned from the fountain, moving towards the door.

"Yes, I can smell the fear of the hunted. It's rather sweet at times."

He paused for a moment in opening the door, looking back at her. He shook his head for a moment at her offer of assistance.

"No, I have no need of help. It's a pity I can't fly, since it quite enjoyable to snatch and grab my prey. I can give chase on the ground just as well."

He licked his lips for a moment before moving outside towards the scared herd. He studied the deer as they milled about, looking as if they were focused on something else. He crouched down on all fours before rushing in with a roar. Though his massive bulk looked like it would have slowed him down, his powerful muscles more than made up for it. Within half an hour he had taken down half the herd, and settled down to eat those he had dragged into a pile.

 

[Angeltears]

Watching him leave she hid the shiver at the way he licked his lips and was glad he didn’t need her help.**A morbid curiosity came over her and she moved to the window to look out at the deer and the dragon watching them.**When he roared and rushed at them she watched the way his body moved and watched the way his muscles propel him forward, a perfect predator. *

She felt the fear of the deer and soon it became too much for her to stand so she moved away from the window.***Collecting some herbs from a chest that she had in a corner, it had been a present from a dwarf that she had helped.**Adding the herbs to the water above the fire pit, she lit the fire.**So that she could make a drink that would help with the healing of Zion’s wing. *

The pain of the deaths of the deer, stabbed at her but she focused her mind on what she was doing.**Adding a touch of her own magic as the water slowly started to boil, she collected some more herbs and added them.**Watching the water change color to a deep green, she knew it was ready.**Pouring the liquid into clay containers and setting them to the side to cool.* *

Wondering how Zion was it he would be satisfied with what the forest had supplied.**There was no more pain pricking at her body, so she guessed that the killing part was over.**Yet Sola couldn’t bring herself to look out the window to check on him, so she turned her attention to eating.***Finding a bowl of green leafy vegetables that grew in her garden, she settled herself on one of the pillows and ate.

 

[JadeKnight]

After eating his fill of deer meat, Zion laid down at the edge of the field. He watched the remainder of the herd milling around further away from him, keeping their distance. His eyes closed a few minutes later, going into a light slumber. His sides moved up and down slowly as he slumbered, the sun shining down on his red scales.

When he had woke up from his nap an hour later, he noticed the herd had wandered off. He gave a little smirk for a moment before turning his attention towards the cottage. Something about Sola mentioning being alone in the cottage rose to his mind for a moment. He had been by himself for half his life as well, and something was urging him to find a mate. He shook the thought aside for the time being and made his way to the cottage.

He pushed his way inside, looking around for the unicorn.

"That will hold me for a little while. Since I don't plan on doing very much for awhile, I probably won't go hunting for a few more days."

 

[Angeltears]

After she had finished eating she had finally worked up the courage and went to the door, looking out she saw Zion laying by the field and smiled. He seemed content and Sola guessed asleep, "Ahhh to sleep in the sun and grass." Smiling she let him be tempted to go join him, instead she headed back inside, letting the door close behind her.

As she had turned around to retrieve her bowl she almost laughed as she saw her pile of pillows and sheets had moved a distance from the corner. Now between her bed and the wall was a pile of gold pieces and if she wasn't mistaken jewels. "I hope you didn't take them from someone who is going to be angry there gone," she said to the house. She had worked out a while ago that the cottage didn't just create the things with in it but seemed to borrow things from other places.

Running her hand through the gold she shook her head and smiled. Then she heard Zion come in, turning she raised her eyebrow at him and tilted her head towards the pile. Moving away from the beds, which she found amusing that the cottage had put them next to each others. "Now that we have both eaten and you have rested, I want you to drink some of this and then I will have another look at your wing," Retrieving one of the containers she poured it into a large bowl for him, "This will help with the healing," she told him.

 

[JadeKnight]

He paused for a moment when he noticed the pile of gold near the wall. He didn't say anything as he turned his attention towards Sola as she spoke.

"Are you sure it's not poisonous?"

He looked at her blankly for a few seconds before grinning a little.

"I'm kidding. I know enough of your kind that you are gentle."

He moved towards the bowl she had poured and sniffed at it for a moment. He took a few laps of the liquid, testing the taste. He growled lightly for a moment.

"Not exactly the best I've ever had, but then medicine wasn't never tasty."

He settled his bulk down on the stone floor so she would be able to tend to his wound. HE closed his eyes as he continued to drink the liquid, finishing it off in a few moments.

 

[Angeltears]

Sola paused a look of shock on her face, how could he believe that she would poison him. When he told her he was joking, she shook her head and laughed softly.

Watching as he lapped at it, she waited to see what he thought and smiled when he growled. Moving around him she goes to his wing. "The reason medicine doesn't taste nice is so that people don't drink or eat it all the time and make themselves sick on it."

Placing her hands on his wing on either side of where he had been hit, she closed her eyes. Letting her magic spread over the wing. She focused on the knitting of muscle and skin, she could already feel the magic she had given him in the medicine, as it moved through his system her magic blended with it making it stronger and faster acting.

Working her magic on the wound on both the inside and outside of his body. She slowly run her hands over the wound, caressing it. "Now that you have taken the medicine it will help, even when I am not touching you. One thing is that with your own magic it might feel a little strange having mine working on you all the time."

Her own magic threaded with his magic not interrupting it just working were it was needed. Opening her eyes she stepped back and ended up on her butt, having her legs feel wobbly. "I guess it's a little different healing a dragon, it takes more out of me," I say with a smile.

 

[JadeKnight]

He closed his eyes as he felt her working her magic towards healing him.It gave him chills at the blending of magic, feeling like ice and heat were rushing through his whole body. It was something her had not experienced in quite along time. It had been a very long time since anyone helped heal his wounds, especially the beautiful creature he was with.

He opened his eyes as he felt her hands come off of him. He chuckled as he looked back at her to see her on her butt.

"Yes, it does feel interesting. I have not been so well taken care of in a very long time. I might even been fully healed up by tomorrow."

He took a deep breathe for a moment before yawning.

"However it seems my magic has been going into overdrive in healing, so I need to get a little more rest. Please forgive me for retiring so soon."

He bowed his head to her before moving to the pile of gold, curling up. He looked at her for one last time before closing his eyes and going to sleep.

 

[Angeltears]

Her smile grew as he chuckled at her.**Lifting herself off the ground she swayed a little but managed to keep her legs under her.**Bushing herself off she watched him yawn and couldn’t help but yawn herself, covering her mouth.* *

“There is nothing to forgive,” she told him.**“I think I will rest myself as well soon,” she told him as she watched him move to the pile of gold.**Smiling still as he looked at her she waited until his eyes were closed, before letting her smile drop and a look of sadness slip into its place.* *

Walking outside she headed down to the end of her garden to the trees that surrounded the clearing.**Once she reached the trees forced herself to concentrate and listened to any disturbances with in the forest, there was word spread of a dragon in the forest which made her smile.**Nothing else was out of order and she reined her magic back in.**It was only then that she let the sadness caused by Zion’s words show.* *

He was right if the healing worked as it should and the way she had felt his body heal, she knew he would be healed very soon and then he would more likely leave.*“Dragon’s are meant for the sky,” she whispered to the forest, “And Unicorns for the forest and fields and I am meant to be alone.”**She let herself this feeling of sadness to take her for a few moments, it wasn’t good to store this kind of feeling within the body or spirit. *

After a few moments she pulled herself back together, feeling even more tired than before.**Heading back into the cottage, she headed to her pillows next to Zion’s sleeping form.**Looking over him once more she lay herself down and gave herself to sleep.

 

[JadeKnight]

He woke up shortly before dawn, as he usually did. He yawned for a moment and shook his head to wake himself up. He sat up on the gold pile, looking over at Sola's sleeping form for a few moments. He carefully and quietly made his way outside, stretching out for a few moments before sitting back on his haunches.

As he watched the sun begin to rise, he slowly began to work at his shoulder muscles. They were intact once more, but they were sore. He flapped his wings slowly, feeling some slight discomfort at the tenderness. Once the sun was up past the horizon, he glanced back at the door of the cottage.

"So what should I do now?"

He mussed aloud for a moment before giving a little grin. A shiver ran through his body as he began to shift into human form. He could have fully became human, but he left so that his wings were still out, just small enough to have a three foot wingspan. He folded his wings against his back as he ran a hand through his short black hair for a moment.

He pushed the door open quickly, chuckling softly when he saw she was still asleep. He took a few sips from the fountain before sitting on the edge, watching her with his still yellow dragon eyes.

 

[Angeltears]

As Sola slept she dreamed of running through her forest, her body changing as she went sometimes running on two feet and sometimes on her four hooves, but never stopping.**In the waking world her tail twitched and flicked slightly as she dreamed unaware of Zion waking up. *

Back in her dream a shadow flew over the forest and looking up she caught the glint of red scales in sunlight.**Sola smiled and called to the shadow but it kept flying onward and out of sight.**Leaving her and the forest behind.* *

Sola shot up with a start her eyes quickly turning to the pile of gold.**Zion wasn’t there, “Zion!” she called, quickly she looked around the cottage and was startled to find a man sitting on the side of the fountain.**“Who …….. “ she started to ask, when her mind caught up to what her eyes were seeing. *

“Zion” she said looking onto eyes she recognized.*Getting up from her pillow nest she made her way towards him, looking him up and down.**“You are feeling better?” she asked as she stopped beside him so that she could see his wings tucked in behind him.*

 

[JadeKnight]

He chuckled softly as Sola hunted frantically for him for a few seconds. He figured something like that might happen. He just remained quiet until she came to her senses fully. He gave a smile as she walked over to him.

"Yes, I'm feeling much better. My shoulder is mended, but still sore. The soreness should go away in a day or so."

He took one of her hands into his for a moment, holding it gently.

"I want to thank you for helping me like you did. It has been a long time since anyone did something like that for me. I know it's what you do, but thank you."

He let her hand go after another moment, stectching his arms above his head. He hissed for a moment at the soreness, lowering his arms once more.

 

[Angeltears]

When he took her hand she met his eyes and smiled. "There is no need, I am glad that I could help," she told him. Looking down at her hand in his, even in his human form he seemed bigger than her, her hand looking small in his.

Looking at his wings as he stretches his arms above his head. She winced when he hissed, shaking her head she poked a finger at his leg. "Turn around, so I can have a look," she waiting for him to turn before looking at his shoulder and wing. "You have to take it easy, I am magical healer but not a miracle healer. If it isn't healed properly and you damage it, it might take longer to heal," she told him running her hands over his back.

"There still is some tenderness here that you need to watch out for, no straining it okay," she told him letting her magic spread over the skin. Removing her hands she moved to a group of low hanging herbs that she could actually reach and plucked a few leaves from a stem. "Chew on this, I know it's not meat, but it will help with the soft spots"

Then she grabbed herself some roots and started chewing on it herself. This was her breakfast, at the same time she passed him she collected herself a ladle of water. Sipping from it she looked at him to make sure he was chewing.

"So now that it is mostly better is there anything you would like to do?" she asked him.

 

[JadeKnight]

He closed his eyes for a few moments as he felt her hands running over his back and wing. He took a deep breathe at the tingling sensation of the mixture of their magic as she continued her application of healing. He opened his eyes as she finished, looking over at her.

"I wasn't planning on doing anything that straining just yet."

He took the herb from her, looking it over for a few moments. He lifted it to his nose, inhaling the smell of it. He took a bite of it, chewing it slowly. The taste was a little bitter to him, but he kept chewing it. After a few moments he had the herb finished.

"No, I really didn't have anything in mind to do."

He drank down some water, washing the bitter taste from his tongue. He licked his lips for a moment before speaking.

"Though in a few days, I'm probably going to go to town to see what those humans have against me."

 

[Angeltears]

Surprised when he said that he was going to the town, she leaned against the fountain and shook her head. "Do you think that is wise?" she asked him. She knew it was silly he was a dragon and could look after himself, but he had already been hurt by the humans from the town.

"If you must go, then you must wait until you are fully healed. No pain when you move or when you change," she told him sternly. She would not let him leave the forest until she was sure that he was able to change and would have nothing impairing the change.

"If there is nothing you want to do, you're welcome to join me as I walk part of the forest," she offers as she collects a few things from shelves and slides them into a woven bag, which she slips over her head and shoulder. Heading out side she walked through her garden, collecting seeds and flowers and other bits and pieces also putting them into her bag.

Turning she looked to see if Zion would be joining her for her walk.