Aon-adharcaich
Another previous short story written for a college assignment (though I ultimately went with something else).
Fiona strides through her home of the Scottish Highland's Caledonian Forest, the epitome of beauty and grace. Four slender legs ending in cloven hooves step upon the fresh spring grass, wet with dew. Her gracile pure white form is decorated with a flowing mane running down the top of her neck, like that of a snowstorm, and a long leonine tail, the latter half tipped with hair like her mane. Striking blue eyes, between which sprouts a foot and a half-long horn, spot a slow moving stream at which to drink from.
Having drunk her fill, a chill suddenly ran up Fiona's spine. She laid her ears back in a combination of anger and worry, trotting west. After pacing through the forest for a short while, she looked down at the top of a hill to see another unicorn in a clearing, a pure black male with an arrow in his shoulder and collapsed in a small pool of blood. Fiona let out a gasp of horror as she galloped down to him, eyes wide with worry.
"Oh, by Monoceros' beard," she cried out in her Glasgow Scottish accent. "Excuse me?! Are you alright?!"
"What does it look like, bonnie? I've been shot with a bloody arrow!" said the black unicorn sardonically as he looked up at Fiona. His eyes were as orange as the setting sun. His body was a great deal more robust than Fiona's, who was trying not to stare.
"I'm going to try and get it out," said Fiona, bracing her legs and biting onto the shaft. "Dish migh' hur' a bi'." she said.
"Alright," said the black unicorn. "Go ahead on three. One... two-" he said interrupted by a sharp pain as Fiona swiftly pulled the arrow out.
"What happened to three, you daft lass!?" cried the black unicorn.
"Sorry," said Fiona. "I was nervous, that's all. What's your name? Why were you shot?"
"First off, my name is Donnchadh. Second, the arrow was given to me by a huntsman, after my hide and horn. Now, thanks for the help, lass, but I'd best be off to give that bastard a piece of my mind." he said, starting to rise to his hooves, only to collapse with a whinny of pain.
"Oh, no you don't," said Fiona sternly. "You're hurt." Fiona touched the tip of her horn to Donnchadh's wound, a slight glow flowing from the horn into it. "How's that?"
"Much better, thanks." said Donnchadh, flexing his shoulder slightly.
"That should get rid of the pain and help it heal faster. You're not to leave my sight until it's fully healed. Can you walk?"
"Who do you think you are, my mum?" asked Donnchadh indignantly as he slowly rose to his hooves, this time managing to stay on them. "And yes, I can walk now. Thanks, uh... Didn't get the name?"
"You're welcome. And my name is Fiona," said the mare with a charming smile. "Now come on. Follow me."
The two unicorns made their way east, walking through the forest with Fiona leading the way, the only sounds being of the wind, birds, and insects. After travelling a mile or two, they came to a large wall of stone, divided in two by a narrow canyon.
"Come on," said Fiona. "Through here." she said as they entered the canyon, walking another quarter mile until at last they exited into a huge cove, teeming with all manner of fresh plants, a clear flowing river on one side, and many other animals such as red deer, rabbits, and wild boar sharing the paradise housed within the mountain's walls. Fiona noticed drool coming from Donnchadh's mouth.
"This is home sweet home for me. I take it you're hungry after Monoceros-knows-how-long of being half-dead?" she said.
"Bloody starving." he said hungrily. "Help yourself. There's plenty to go-" said Fiona, interrupted by a sudden gust of wind. Donnchadh was just gone. She looked ahead to see him gorging himself on grass, berries, and fruit. Fiona smiled, happy to see her new acquaintance happy.
"So what's your story?" said Donnchadh. The moon had risen, shedding its silver light into the cove as darkness took over the Highlands. Fiona and Donnchadh were keeping shelter from the cold night air in a small cave in the wall, the two of them nearly touching each other..
"What?" asked Fiona.
"I mean, unicorns are naturally rather social. I was always a rebel, a lone wolf, so to speak. Don't think I ever belonged in a herd. You can see what luck that did me," said Donnchadh, gesturing to his hurt shoulder. "But what about you?" he asked. Fiona's ears laid back and her tail flicked like an agitated cat's, her eyes now full of sorrow. Donnchadh's own ears laid back as he noticed the increasingly sad look on Fiona's face.
"Did I say something wrong? Sorry if I did." he said.
"No, it's fine," said Fiona. "I'll tell you.
"About two years ago, I had a family: A brave and kind mate, and two beautiful foals. We were so happy together. Life was perfect with them all. But one winter's day, when the snow was just starting to fall... humans with hounds discovered us, seeking to sell our hides and horns for a high price. I told my mate to run away with our children, but he refused, telling me to run while he held them off. The humans shot him dead before he could reach them. Frantic, I hid my children, hoping to draw the humans away myself, but their hounds caught wind of my foals instead. By the time I got there, it was too late," By the end of her tale, Fiona's eyes were flooded with tears, her voice coming in gasping sobs. "My family died because I couldn't protect them," said Fiona. "And I've lived here, in self-exile, ever since." "Is that why you rushed over to save me?" asked Donnchadh. "Because you couldn't bear to see it happen again?"
"Yes," said Fiona. A short silence followed, the only sounds being the night wind, chirping crickets, and Fiona's sobs. "Oh, for Monoceros' sake, this is so embarrassing, a stranger seeing me like this." Her crying suddenly stopped when she felt a weight cross over her neck.
"Don't," said Donnchadh, his neck crossed over Fiona's. "You saved my life. That's gotta count for something, right?"
"Thank you." said Fiona, returning the gesture by crossing her neck with Donnchadh's.
When morning came, Fiona was the first to rise. Remembering their bonding session last night, she looked down at Donnchadh's still sleeping form. Something stirred inside her heart just then. Why does he remind me so much of him?, she thought. Perhaps it was his rugged masculine features, or his heartfelt and understanding personality. Maybe something else entirely. Nevertheless, she poked him a few times to wake him.
"Morning, lass." said Donnchadh groggily.
"Morning, Donnchadh." said Fiona, growing silent as she looked at him, a dreamy expression growing on her face.
"You alright there, lass?" he said.
"Oh, aye," said Fiona, snapping out of her trance and blushing, the redness of her cheeks seeming especially bright against her white fur. "Let's go get some breakfast." She said quickly as she rose to her hooves, hoping to change the subject before any more embarrassment could occur.
As Donnchadh followed Fiona to the river and grazing grounds, he too found his heart playing games with him. Maybe it was her awe-inspiring beauty, the fact that her story had deeply touched his heart, or simply because she had saved his life and decided to nurse him back to health. Now it was Donnchad's turn to go into a dreamy state, looking away when Fiona turned toward his direction. Fiona hoped he didn't notice her smile.
The routine went on for about a month or so, all the while the two got to know each other, telling of their own respective adventures while on their own and lives before. And all the while, neither of them had noticed that Donnchadh was fully healed within the span of a week. One evening, Fiona took Donnchadh to go climbing the slopes of a small mountain.
"Come on, Donnchadh," said Fiona cheerfully. "We're almost at the top."
"Wait up, Fiona," said Donnchadh, nearly out of breath. "I haven't climbed a mountain in quite some time now."
At last, they reached the summit, a wide open grassy plateau with a single oak tree in the center. The entire thing faced the west, which given the time of day led to a sight dominated by the golden orange hue of the sun's setting.
"By Monoceros," said Donnchadh in awe. "It's beautiful."
"Indeed, it is," agreed Fiona. She looked at her front hooves as she nervously stamped them. "Look, Donnchadh, there's something I've been wanting to tell you-"
"Funny," said Donnchadh. "Me too. But you first."
"No, I think you should go first."
"Alright then, let's just go together." decided Donnchadh. After a moment's pause...
"I love you." they both said in unison. The both of them stared at each other in surprise, then smiled and nuzzled.
"This is where my mate asked me to be with him, all those years ago," said Fiona, tears welling up in her eyes. "And now, it's my turn: Donnchadh, will you be my mate, for now and forever?"
"Yes, Fiona." said Donnchadh, himself tearing up. The two looked across the horizon. The sky was now dark, filled with the shining lights of stars and the pale face of the full moon. The two unicorns then made their way underneath the tree, truly laying with each other for the first time as a means of solidifying their partnerhood for life