cascade | kotlc

2. Silveny, the First Female Alicorn

--- June POV ---

The enclosure was finished a while later. June had spent two hours riding on the alicorn, and she was happy, really happy. They'd flown across Havenfield and over the beach and sea. Metal fences couldn't stop a flying horse. The view was spectacular. June wished she could do this more often.

When the enclosure finished and Grady called her to guide the alicorn in, the alicorn could tell she was going to leave. When they landed she stared at her with sad, watery eyes, and June couldn't help but stay with her a little longer. She projected an array of images into her mind. June was mounting her, soaring into the horizon. It was a beautiful seascape, but June had to say goodbye.

The alicorn tried a different approach. She sent her a flurry of images of her alone in the enclosure, sad and lacking a friend. June smiled at her, rubbing her fur. "I'll be back, I promise," she said. The alicorn seemed to understand, and she wrapped her wings around her. Its beautiful white wings were soft and cozy, like a warm blanket, and June could feel herself relaxing into her wings, almost drifting to sleep.

Sophie came down a bit later.

"Don't you think it's wrong that she doesn't have a name?" June asked her. "Such a magnificent creature deserves a title."

Sophie nodded. I wish I knew what to call you. Do you have a name, pretty girl?

She didn't actually expect an answer, but a thought pricked her mind anyways. It felt strangely warm and soft, and when she concentrated, it twisted and flipped into a word.

"Silveny?" Sophie whispered.

The alicorn nickered.

"Her name is Silveny?" June asked. "Nice to meet you, Silveny."

She nickered again.

"I think her name's Silveny," Sophie breathed.

"You can talk to her using words?" June said, her eyes widening. "That's amazing."

Sophie blushed. "She usually transmits words that I've transmitted to her already, and sometimes she does images, you've experienced that. But I think this time she spoke Alicorn-ese to me, and my Polyglot abilities translated it or something."

June stared at her. "You're telling me you can translate Alicornese."

Sophie tried for a smile.

"That's amazing," June said again.

Silveny sent them a picture of the glorious sunset. Indeed, the sun had almost slipped beneath the skyline. It would be spectacular.

June smiled. "Sure, girl." She climbed atop Silveny and Sophie squatted down, leaning her head against Silveny's wing, which curled around her protectively.

They waited, and the golden sun sank beneath the waves.

When they left, the alicorn transmitted one last word. Friend.

-

June was leisurely finishing breakfast in bed when she felt the panic. It was pure panic, stronger and scarier than she'd ever felt before. It was definitely Silveny.

She leapt out of bed and spilled her butterblasts, but she didn't care. She dived out of her open window and let the wind catch her, propelling her towards Silveny's enclosure, where three dark-hooded figures were dragging her away. Sophie was there with Sandor. Her sister was shaking and her eyes were clouded with black fog. She was going to inflict.

June almost tackled her as Sandor yanked her back. She stumbled, and the mist coating her eyes vanished. "Who goes there?" Sandor demanded.

"I don't answer to you, Goblin," the taller figure called in a dry, snooty voice. June groaned. She knew who that was.