by K. Dzr
* * * * *
Tahir lounged in the grass eating apricots while Oraden grazed nearby. He was still in awe of his new home. Above, twinkling lights danced to the sounds of the rippling stream.
“Do you think Kodah will give us any more trouble?” Tahir asked.
“He’s always looking for trouble. But it’s easy to stay away from him because he never leaves the meadow. That’s one reason I get away from here as much as I can. Tomorrow we’ll go to the lake. It’s through those woods over there,” Oraden glanced at the nearby woods that would lead them on another day of adventure.
“What is there to do at the lake?”
“Play, what else?”
“When you were fighting, your horn and eyes were glowing. Why didn’t Kodah’s?”
“I guess I just do it out of habit. It’s just used to scare off predators or if I want to talk to fairies. It’s not really needed for other unicorns. I’d bet Kodah probably doesn’t even know how to use his powers.”
“Well, Kodah looked pretty scared.” Tahir laughed, not really sure if he did or didn’t.
“Yeah, he looked almost as scared as you did when I blew out your fire last night.”
“What?—that was you?”
Oraden couldn’t control his laughter. “You should’ve seen your face!”
Tahir threw his apricot at the unicorn. Oraden was laughing too hard to even try to dodge it and juice splattered in his mane.
“You dirty jackal! I thought it was a ghost.”
Oraden rolled on the ground laughing. Tahir watched him and giggled at the sight.
“I’m gonna get you back for that, you wait and see,” Tahir threatened.
Oraden was still giggling when he curled up next to Tahir to go to sleep.
Morning came much too quickly for Tahir. He looked around to see the meadow alive with activity. Oraden was already up and talking to his mother. Ramah was no where to be seen, neither was Kodah and the other unicorns. Tahir felt relieved, he didn’t want to start the day with another confrontation.
“Tahir, my mother wants to talk to you,” Oraden called out to him.
“Good morning, Tahir.”
“Good morning, Ma’am; I mean Diamond.”
“Tahir, I need to talk to you. Ramah and I had a little discussion about you last night. We feel we should establish a few rules since you will be staying with us for a while.”
“What kind of rules?”
“First, if you’ve noticed, there are no other humans in Elysi. You are the first to live among us. We would like to keep it that way. You are not to tell any other human about us, or how to find this place. Once humans know about us, they will come and corrupt this magical environment. I ask this only for our protection. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I don’t know how to get here myself, so I couldn’t tell anyone else how to.”
“But you are free to come and go as you please. You will soon learn how to find Elysi on your own.”
“I promise not to tell anyone. Besides, I don’t know any humans anymore.” he lowered his eyes to the ground as sadness washed over him as soon as the words left his mouth.
Diamond continued, not wanting Tahir to dwell on his past.
“There is one other thing. We are very aware that you are different from us, in many ways. Let’s use the hyena as an example. “He is an animal much like myself, yet, he is different. He is a meat-eating predator. Now, we do not hate the hyena because he eats meat. A hyena is but a hyena. He would not survive without meat, just as we would not survive without fruit and grasses. It doesn’t make him bad or evil; it is his nature. Humans eat meat as well. It doesn’t make humans bad, either. The point is, when you choose to eat meat, please go outside of Elysi to hunt. Out there you will not be under the protection of the meadow, but it is no more dangerous than any other place. We don’t need to know or see what you are eating. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you not to eat any of the creatures within the meadow, right?”
“Oh, I’d never do that. I really don’t have to eat meat. I like fruit, but I don’t think I like leaves or grass.”
Diamond smiled at the child. “You don’t have to. We are not asking that you change who and what you are. We only ask that you be mindful of the company you are now with. Eat what you must to survive. Just don’t do it here.”
“I understand.”
“These are two simple rules, but they are very important to us. In return, as I have mentioned, you may stay here as long as you like and have the full protection of Elysi.”
Tahir nodded.
“Alright, alright, can we go now Mother?”
“Yes Oraden, I am finished. You may go now.”
“Come on Tahir, I’ll race you!” Oraden galloped away without waiting for an answer.
“Have fun and stay out of trouble,” she called. After her conversation with Ramah last night, Diamond had mixed emotions about Oraden’s new friend. This could very well be a big mistake. One that could put all of Elysi in danger. She prayed to the fairies that she wasn’t wrong about him.