The Legacy

by Suzanne de Montigny

  “May I inquire as to what?” asked Polaris.

  “Well ... come, and see for yourself.” Saul turned and led them away.

  Azaria was quick to fall in line behind the two adults. Curious to meet this most odd dinosaur, he wondered if it were sick or maybe had three legs instead of four. He had heard of a unicorn born with only three legs once.

  They followed the old chief further into the forest where the tall dinosaurs seemed to reach the sky as they munched leaves. The old chief sought out a particularly lofty female and called her. She lowered her head to Saul’s level. Her kind eyes drew Azaria in as he listened to her musical voice.

  “Hello, Saul. What brings the most graceful unicorns to us today?”

  “Maresa, this is Polaris. He wanted us to meet his son Azaria and his friend Gaelan,” Saul said, a smile curving his lips.

  Maresa let out a tinkling laugh. “You are most welcome here, little ones.”

  “Thank you,” both colts answered at once.

  Saul’s brow furrowed. “Maresa, I wonder if we could speak to your son, Darius.”

  Maresa hesitated, and then swung her head back and called him. Hearing his mother, Darius trundled over and stopped short, digging his heels into the earth. His eyes were wide with fright and his breath came in short gasps. He turned to run, halted, and gawked once more at the unicorns as though they were the strangest creatures he had ever seen. Then he trotted to the chief, and stood before him, his breath puffing. Azaria stifled a giggle.

  “It’s okay, Darius. They’re just unicorns. They live in the next valley,” Saul said.

  The little dinosaur stood as though baffled, staring them up and down. “So it’s happening? The world’s going to change now?” He gulped.

  Azaria frowned at his mysterious words.

  “What do you mean, Darius?” asked Polaris.

  The small dinosaur’s eyes grew distant. “I keep dreaming that the world is different,” he said.

  Maresa spoke up. “He gets this look in his eyes, and then he’s gone. We can’t talk to him because he doesn’t hear us. And when he comes to, he tells these strange tales.”

  “What sort of tales?” asked Polaris.

  “Tell him, Darius.” Maresa nudged him with her giant muzzle.

  The little dinosaur sat on his haunches. “Well, there’ll be a cloud over everything and most of the plants will disappear,” he said. “A lot of animals will die too. But there’ll be new ones to replace them, creatures that walk on two legs like the Rexus. And one of them, the Ishmael, will be very dangerous.”

  Polaris locked eyes with Saul, but not a word passed between them.

  “And how will we know when all of this will begin?” asked Polaris.

  “I don’t know when ... just soon.”

  “Alright, thank you, Darius. You may leave now. Maresa, it’s been a pleasure.” He nodded his head, dismissing her.

  The two leaders eyed each other once more, and as though on cue, moved away to speak in private. Darius trundled toward the lake as though nothing unusual had happened.

  “I wonder if he’s a seer,” whispered Azaria.

  “What’s a seer?” asked Gaelan.

  “I heard the mares talking about them once. They have visions of things before they happen,” said Azaria.

  “Maybe he just has dreams or something,” suggested Gaelan. “I know I have some really weird ones sometimes. Like last week, I dreamed that my mom had grown elephant’s feet.”

  Azaria let out a loud chuckle. Then, seeing Darius in the distance, he said, “Wanna follow Darius to the lake?”

  The young dinosaur stood watching them on the shore, hopeful.

  “Sure.”

  The two colts broke into a canter. Darius splashed his cumbersome body into the lake, the unicorns close behind. They chased him through the cool water, but were soon breathing hard.

  “He might be a dinosaur, but he’s a pretty fast swimmer,” said Azaria.

  “Hey, where did he go?” Gaelan looked around.

  “I don’t know. He was just here.”

  Darius bobbed up behind Gaelan. “Boo!” he shouted,

  Gaelan jumped.

  The unicorns paddled as hard as they could to escape, but it was no use.

  “He’s too fast for us,” said Azaria, slowing his pace. He turned and let Darius catch up, the three creatures standing in a watery circle, panting like dogs.

  “You guys are fun,” said Darius, between breaths. “I’m glad we’ll be able to play all the time soon.”

  “Well ... actually ... we’re going home,” said Gaelan.

  “Yeah, but later,” insisted the little dinosaur.

  The two colts shared a puzzled look. Azaria wanted to explain they lived far away, but before he could utter the words, he caught sight of his sire in the distance. “Look, my father’s leaving!”

  The two leaders had strolled toward the entrance to the valley, and were bowing to one another. Azaria and Gaelan hurried to join them, careful to imitate Polaris’ gestures. The sun lay low in the sky and strange night sounds crept their way into the landscape.

  “Thank you, Saul. It has been a fine day and we will now be on our way,” said Polaris.

  “It has indeed.” Saul gave a warm smile to the colts. “I look forward to seeing all of you one day soon.”

  “As we do,” replied Polaris.

  Saul turned to leave, his huge feet thumping as he returned to the valley.

  As the distance grew between the unicorns and Saul, Azaria asked, “So, how did we do? Were we serious enough?”

  “You were, but we better hurry before the sun sets completely,” warned Polaris. “We don’t want to be anyone’s supper.”

  Fear gripped Azaria. “I thought you said we had no enemies.”

  “That’s during the day. At night, it’s a whole different story. We can’t see too well in the dark. We’re safer in the herd,” he explained.

  Azaria quickened his pace. As the night sounds swelled louder and louder, his hair stood on end. But soon, the weird and wonderful noises of the dinosaur’s valley faded in the distance, and the familiar sounds of their own territory drifted in once again. Azaria was relieved to find the herd huddled together for the night under the banyan tree. Seeking out Aurora, he cuddled against her, excited to tell her of all that he had seen that day, and especially of his strange new friend, Darius.

  “He thinks everything will change, Mother. Do you think maybe he was a seer?”

  Aurora nuzzled her colt. “I think he’s a very young dinosaur having nightmares. I wouldn’t worry about it. He’ll soon forget it, and everything will still be the same. You’ll see,” she said as Azaria’s eyelids drooped, heavy with sleep. But Azaria wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Three

  The Meeting

  “Quick! It’s going to start!” Jemmi cried.

  Azaria pranced, pawing the air with his hooves. For days, he had watched unicorn messengers travel to and fro to the various parts of the valley, announcing the gathering. He had waited far too long for this. His heart leaping, he watched the unicorns march together in their respective herds to the spot in the middle of the valley where the river ran shallowest. There, they were met by Mohala, the eldest of all the unicorns.

  “She frightens me,” whispered Cassi.

  “Me too,” said Jemmi, cringing at the aged unicorn’s fierce expression.

  “Shhh. We better listen,” said Azaria, noting her pale blue eyes roving over the herd as though searching out anyone who dared show disrespect.

  “Hail unicorns,” Mohala’s raspy, ancient voice rumbled, demanding their attention. “Great leaders: Solomon, Zeus, and Polaris, we have assembled here today as one great herd to hear the Great Stallion’s words.”

  The three herds pointed their horns toward the matriarch in respect while Polaris stepped forward into the center of the group.

  “Unicorns, I have seen and heard something that may involve us all – something t
hat may change our lives forever.” He paused, as though heavy in thought, and then continued, “Azaria, Gaelan, and I recently traveled to the dinosaur’s valley where we met Saul, their eminent leader. He introduced us to a most unusual young dinosaur named Darius, who told us some very troubling tales.”

  Azaria heard a soft murmur of interest sweep over the herd.

  “He speaks of a new world, one that is remarkably different from the one we inhabit today. He talks of change, of a great cloud, of many animals dying, of disappearing plants, and most disturbing of all, of a new creature that walks on two legs like the Rexus, the fiercest of whom is known as the Ishmael.”

  The unicorns mumbled, their voices anxious.

  “More monster dinosaurs?” whinnied one of the mares.

  “We’ll have to move!” shouted a male.

  “But this is our home!” cried another mare.

  “Silence!” Mohala bellowed in her authoritative voice.

  The neighs and whinnies died away. Azaria and Gaelan exchanged frightened glances.

  Polaris continued. “We have strong reason to believe that this young dinosaur is a seer, and has had visions of the future.”

  “I was right,” whispered Azaria to Gaelan.

  “Therefore, I suggest we all keep watch for any of these changes, and especially for the Ishmael. Should you see any signs of the things discussed, report it to your leader immediately. But most importantly, stay close to one another, for if any of you is harmed, you will need someone close by to cure you.”

  “Cure us? What does he mean?” Azaria said to Gaelan.

  “I don’t know.”

  The herd exchanged nervous words until Mohala silenced them once again with her loud, raspy voice.

  “The Great Stallion has spoken. You will now join me in vowing our allegiance to our leader.” She paused a moment, and then began the chant they all knew so well. “We will fulfill his wishes.”

  The unicorns recited in unison. “We will fulfill his wishes. We will fulfill his wishes. We will fulfill his wishes.”

  After the words faded away, Mohala addressed them once again. “And now, many full moons have passed since our herds last came together. I suggest that we all take the time to enjoy one another’s company.” Her aged face nearly cracked when she smiled, announcing. “Let us begin the revelry!”

  “Wahoo!” cried Azaria, galloping toward his friends. Springing into action, the four foals bolted to the river’s edge. Gaelan pounced into the water, dousing his buddies with cold water.

  “I’m going to get you for that,” shouted Azaria.

  He galloped quick as lightening toward Gaelan, only to be smacked in the face with icy water. Cassi and Jemmi laughed so hard, tears streamed from their eyes. They leapt in too, and soon they all ran and splattered each other along the river.

  The arrival of loud, thudding hooves made them turn.

  “Hey, it’s Zackary and Nathaniel,” shouted Azaria at the arrival of his two cousins. “Hi you guys!”

  The two newcomers passed them by as they plowed right through the river, soaking the other foals.

  “Why you ...” shouted Gaelan, his long legs shortening the distance between them fast. Nathaniel and Zackary’s loud whinnies pierced the air. Gaelan whizzed past them, spraying them with his back hooves.

  The young unicorns frolicked, shoving each other under the water, giggling, and stumbling. Soon their sides were heaving and they stopped, their breathless laughter mixing with gasps for air.

  “I have a good idea,” said Nathaniel, still puffing.

  “What?” the fillies both asked at once.

  “Let’s go spy on the grownups.” His brows wiggled with mischief.

  “I don’t know –” Azaria began.

  “Yeah!” cried the others, their eyes filled with glee.

  They crept toward the adult unicorns, careful to make a long arc around Mohala. Hiding themselves behind some bushes close to the mares, they eavesdropped.

  “Cassi and Jemmi are so fast. They’re such tom colts,” bragged their dam.

  The two fillies shared a smile.

  Dorianna, Nathaniel’s dam spoke up, “Well, you should see how quick Nathaniel can gallop. He’s definitely the fastest of the colts in our herd.”

  Nathaniel cleared his throat a little and wagged his head from side to side.

  “Well, my Zackary is a close second,” claimed his dam.

  Zackary shot Nathaniel a smirk.

  “Well, Gaelan can beat any other colt if he had the chance,” bragged Elissa. “You’ve all seen his long legs. He’s made for speed.”

  Azaria frowned. “Hey, how come no one’s saying anything nice about me? I’m gonna go listen to the males.”

  He crept away on the soft, silent grass to where the stallions had gathered, the foals following close on his heels, and listened.

  “You know, I once ate some crabgrass and I was sick for days,” said an elderly male.

  “I tried an apple once,” added a chubby stallion, “and it was mighty delicious, but the gas afterwards? Phew! What a smell!”

  The foals stifled their laughter.

  “I wonder what the new plants will do to us all, eh?” someone said.

  “I don’t know, but it can’t be as bad as Clarence when he ate that apple!”

  The males rolled back, hee-hawing and guffawing.

  After the laughter died, Orpheus, the ancient unicorn, renowned for his storytelling, spoke. “Well, I once journeyed to the dinosaurs’ valley myself, and what I saw, was enough to make anyone’s hair stand on end.”

  The young foals came out of hiding and gathered around him, knowing it would be an exquisite tale.

  Orpheus began. “It was a night much like this one, when the full moon rides across the night sky. I knew it would be dangerous traveling on my own and was aware of the strange night beasts that attack tender unicorns when they’re alone, but I was young and thought myself invincible.”

  “I made it to the valley with little effort other than my own strength and agility, and was met by the Great Chief himself. We spoke of many things, and I soon grew very comfortable as the grass there was mighty sweet, and I was enjoying a small feast. But the chief noted the shadows were growing long, and gave me fair warning. He said, ‘Be careful, Orpheus. There have been strange things seen at night, and eerie sounds heard. You should leave now before the dark.’’

  “My heart racing, I immediately rose, but the sun fell faster than I expected. I couldn’t turn back because I knew the little mare wanted me home, so I kept going. As I walked, I was relieved the sounds were just the normal night noises one hears on a summer’s eve, and soon lost all worry. But when I came to an escarpment, I heard a voice. Soft at first, it grew louder and louder. It was like the moaning of a mare in great pain. I stopped dead, my heart pounding in my chest, and nearly turned to flee. But then I thought, “It’s just another unicorn, and by the sounds of it, she needs my help.”

  Azaria sat up and moved his head forward to listen more intently.

  “It was a terrible cry – the sound of gurgling and rasping as though someone was badly injured. I called out to see where she was, but there was no answer, just the agonized moaning, so I continued to search until suddenly, to my horror, I saw her. She was floating off the ground and, like a shadow, I could see right through her. She was ...” his voice dropped to a whisper, “a unicorn ghost!”

  His audience gasped.

  “My first impulse was to gallop away as fast as my hooves could carry me, but instead, I overcame my fear and faced her. After all, a unicorn could certainly handle a mere spirit.”

  Orpheus paused to catch his breath.

  “She wasn’t the terrifying spectre I always imagined a ghost to be. Her eyes were sad, and if anything, she looked ill. I asked her what happened and she replied between groans, ‘I came to the dinosaurs’ valley many years ago, but became lost searching for the right trail that would take me home. And then I slipped and
tumbled down an embankment, breaking my back from the fall. There was no one close by to help me, and so I died, and now I am cursed to haunt this place until the end of time.’ And then she faded from my sight.”

  “My fur standing on end, I galloped home as quickly as possible hoping to forget it ever happened. For days, I couldn’t sleep, and for moons afterward, I jumped at the slightest night sound. After a few years, I forgot about her, my life returning to normal, but sometimes … late at night … I think I can still hear her cries of pain and her anguished words as I drift off to sleep.”

  The unicorns sighed at the close of his tale.

  Jemmi and Cassi crept closer to Azaria. “Did you hear any strange sounds when you were in the dinosaurs’ valley?” asked Cassi.

  “No, of course not,” Azaria said.

  “Yes, we did,” interrupted Gaelan, his eyes bulging. “A sort of a whooshing sound.”

  Azaria glanced at Gaelan, confused, and then turned to the fillies, popping out his eyes too. “Yeah, and a creaking and groaning noise too.”

  “Come to think of it, didn’t we see something sort of white?” asked Gaelan.

  “Yes, I think so. And it kind of waved in the wind,” said Azaria, making his voice sound as scary as he could.

  The fillies backed away slowly, their eyes wide as cabbages.

  “I think it was trying to speak.” Gaelan said, the corners of his mouth twitching with a hint of smile.

  The sudden sound of voices in the distance broke the spell.

  “Hey, they’re singing,” cried Jemmi. “Let’s go join them.”

  “Yeah,” said Cassi, turning to leave.

  The foals mumbled with excitement as they settled in for the singsong with the other unicorns.

  Dorianna, Nathaniel’s dam, neighed in her high-pitched voice. Other mares whinnying, joined her. The males added sneezes and rumbles to the rhythm. Together, they sneezed, rumbled, whinnied, and neighed, their unicorn voices carrying into the night. Other animals joined in too, the wolves and jackals howling along, while the birds squawked their part to the song.