A Hero of Darkness

Prologue

"The pegasi are attacking!" A unicorn shrieked.

Zuri looked up from her grazing. A dark cloud was heading toward the herd of unicorns. As it flew closer, Zuri realized in fear that it was the pegasi.

There was a loud, ear piercing screech as the first pegasus and unicorn locked in battle. Zuri reared up in panic. She saw a flash of feathers as a young male pegasus smashed into her. He bit her soft flank, drawing blood. Zuri squealed with the sudden pain and rammed her horn into the area near his neck. He crashed to the ground, blood blossoming from his neck, leaking onto the bright green grass.

Zuri took a deep, shuddering breath, and stared at the motionless body. What have I done?

She raised her head and looked across the field, now covered in writhing, screaming, battling unicorns and pegasi.

No. I mustn't think of that. I have to protect my home. My herd.

Zuri threw herself desperately into another battle.The grass was slick with blood. Screeching was everywhere, hurting Zuri's ears.

The battles went on and on. Zuri's pelt was more red than the normal pearly, glowing white.

The unicorn's efforts were not enough. They were forced to take shelter in the forest. "We will not forget this!" Ciaran, the leader, cried as they fled.

Zuri ran into the forest after her herd. She paused for a moment, to catch her breath, when she heard sharp, shallow breathing. Someone was dying. Slowly.

Zuri cautiously made her way through the forest to find Sage, the elder stargazer. He was slowly bleeding to death through a deep wound on his side. Zuri gasped in horror and ran to him.

"Save- you must- save us-" He murmured, coughing up large amounts of blood.

Zuri was beginning to hate the color red.

"Shh, Sage. It will be alright. Just rest. I will find the herd."

"NO!" He hissed with a surprising amount of force for someone so close to death. "Listen. I don't have much time. Just-just like the herd-"

More blood crashed onto the grass.

"Sage-"

"You-you will be drawn to the darkness. Save the herd. Save the herd-"

Sage's flank rose once, then fell for the last time. His eyes lost life, but remained staring at Zuri with a certainty that she didn't feel.

But as she looked up into the darkening sky, Zuri knew she must find the darkness and save her herd.