Lighting stripped some leaves off a bush, chewed, then sighed. He had led the small new herd across miles of forest, but they had yet to find a suitable home.
He didn't like the forest. It reminded him too much of the dark, musty stable. Finally, after a week and a half, the horses found a meadow.
"Real grass!" Cloudy whinnied happily, rushing forward.
The rest of the herd followed her. Lightning quickly explored the area, and found a large area of fresh, sweet grass, with a small river off to the side.
"We should stay here." Barley said, sidling up to Lightning.
Lightning nodded his head eagerly. The spot was perfect.
But would it be their new home?
. . .
Zuri awoke groggily and thrust her muzzle into the air. Sighing, she had almost believed that she was back home, in her herd, and nearly expected the other unicorns to lift their heads around her.
But she was alone.
The pond in front of her gleamed innocently in the early morning sunlight. Zuri looked at it in disgust. It had nearly killed her. How could it be so beautiful?
Zuri sighed. She got up, and her tired hooves screamed in protest. She ignored them. Slowly, she started forward. One aching hoof after the other, she walked into the forest. Zuri glanced back, mentally mapping the location of the wretched pond. She knew, somehow, that she would have to go back.
This forest was... different from the one where she had first encountered the pond. The trees here were variations of redwood and oak, with small blackberry, honeysuckle, and blueberry bushes. The ones before where birch and spruce, with ferns and flowers everywhere.
How could the foliage change so quickly?
After an hour or so, Zuri began to lose hope. This is a lost cause. There is no "Darkness." Sage was old. He must have been talking nonsense. I just have to accept that the unicorns have finally lost to the pegasi. There is no saving my-
Hooves pattered near Zuri. She stopped walked and pricked her ears in interest. What was that? Slowly, Zuri walked toward the sound. She gasped.
A dark shape trotted forward. Zuri felt a thrill of excitement that shuddered down her spine. This was it. The Darkness was here! She had found it! The Darkness that would save her herd!
YOU ARE READING
A Hero of Darkness
Fantasy"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 darken...
