Random Writing Exercises

The Ballad of End-Days

Sunlight gently filters through the sylvan leaves of ancient oaks deep in the forest of Aurorealis. The forest is bright, but gravely silent. The flitting fae and cawing birds who populate the ancient trees are missing, as are the gnomes and animals of the meadow. The stags are not grazing nobly, nor are the phoenixes preening in the high branches. The area is deserted.
A faint music blows in upon the soft breeze. It is a song of grief, sung in the lilting tones of the elven forest folk. The music grows clearer. It floats through the forest, seemingly coming from a large glade surrounded by willowy aspens and fair meadows of wildflowers. The voices of other creatures could be heard mixing and blending with the ballad of the elves. The song resounds among the leaves and trunks of the intertwined trees. The forest itself seemed to respond to the mysterious song.
The glade was filled with singing creatures. In the center of the ring was the most noble and ancient of them all: the Elder Unicorn. The once brilliantly white creature was graying rapidly. His luster and his life to away with equal speed. Elves and fae tended to the elder, making his last moments easier. The grieving unicorns stamped and whinnied for their leader. The ballad of end-days grew to a keening pitch as the unicorn gave his last bellow.
The chord echoed through the respectfully silent forest. A bright glow poked from the tip of the unicorn's horn, radiating down until it encompassed his entire body. Light pierced the glade as the unicorn's spirit left its earthly body. It gave a great bellowing whinny, and the whole forest broke into cheers. The spirit was a blaze of glory and light. It cantered once, twice, thrice around the glade, then galloped off through the twisting trees. The forest sang with joyful sorrow for the departure of their dear friend.