The yearlings marched past Icarus and dropped the rare red flowers. The mares threw themselves on the flora with great gusto, devouring all but one they saved for Ramah. When the matriarch took a bite and voiced her approval, Icarus turned and observed the yearlings.
“Where did you get these flowers?” he asked.
Ulysees was careful to avoid the stallion’s gaze lest his expression give him away. “It’s hard to explain, really. The deer trail curves a lot.”
“Oh, it does, does it?”
“Yes,” said Téo. “You’d have to see it to understand.”
“Why did it take you so long? Did you go the same way you went last time?” Icarus’ voice was filled with suspicion.
Ulysees felt the stallion’s eyes burn into him. His stomach fluttered, but he forced the muscles of his face to relax. “No. It took us a long time to find them. We couldn’t quite remember where they were, but once we did, we picked several bunches and came right back.”
Icarus stared at Ulysees, his eyes penetrating, reading.
Ulysees’ heart pounded.
Their gaze locked for what seemed forever until the stallion finally turned away, seemingly satisfied.
Taking several steps away, Ulysees heaved a sigh of relief and rejoined the herd for the night.
The next day, Icarus ordered the two yearlings to the opposite side of the forest.
“Do you think he’s onto us?” whispered Téo.
“I don’t know, but he’s sure trying to keep us away from Darius. He knows all too well he’s real.” Ulysees watched the stallion from the corner of his eye.
“Ah, he’ll let down his guard sooner or later, and then we’ll go back,” said Téo.
“Unless we outsmart him first and set out on the new trail, then double back to the turquoise lake.”
Téo broke into a smile. “Not a bad idea. Let’s do it.”
Saying their farewells to the herd, they set out in the direction Icarus had relegated. At first, the new land seemed much the same as on the trail that led to Darius’ home, but after they had traveled for a time, Ulysees suddenly froze, his ears pricked forward.
“Do you hear that?” he asked Téo.
Téo stopped, his ears flicking.
A strange bleating sound echoed in the distance.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know,” said Ulysees.
Breaking into the shadow-walk, they crept forward until they spied a young buck through the leaves, struggling against an invisible foe.
“What the …” said Ulysees.
They took a few more cautious steps until they were within sight, then camouflaged. Ulysees’ heart quickened at what he saw. “His leg’s caught in some sort of rope,” he whispered.
The deer bleated again, yanking at the cord. He leapt forward, the rope cutting through his hide to the flesh below.
Ulysees’ blood pulsed through his veins. “This is the work of humans. Let’s get out of here!”
Catching the wind, they flew back through the forest, their manes tangled and their sides bathed in foam, to where the herd awaited their return. The sun hovered near the horizon, and the shadows had grown long.
“What's wrong?” Sarah asked.
“Humans!” said Ulysees, his breath ragged as his drumming hooves slowed to a halt. “In the woods.”
“Humans?” whinnied another mare.
The word traveled at breakneck speed. Mares gathered their foals to their side while the others flew into a protective cluster around them.
“Where’s Icarus?” asked Ulysees.
“I’m here.” The Great Stallion’s voice resonated from where he stood, a silhouette in the distance. “What happened?”
“I found a trap.” Ulysees’ chest heaved as he forced out the terrifying words. “They’re capturing animals by the leg with cords. We must get away soon, or they’ll find us!”
The unicorns threw their heads back, their frantic neighs piercing the air.
“It’s just like in the time of Ishmael. It’ll be the death of our species!” cried a stallion.
“There’s no escaping them!” whinnied a mare, her thin voice rising to a frenzied pitch.
“What’ll we do?” asked Sarah. “The little ones are too young to travel great distances.”
Ulysees swung about. “Mother, we have no choice. We have to leave now. There’s very little time.”
“But we can’t,” cried the other mare. “What about the night creatures? It’s nearly dark, and we won’t be able to protect our babies.”
“We’ll just have to take our chances,” said Ulysees.
Icarus moved through the herd until he stood face to face with Ulysees. “What kind of animal did you say they captured?”
“A deer,” said Ulysees, still out of breath.
Icarus shot a look of amusement at Ramah.
The aged mare’s voice chortled with sarcasm. “A deer? Is that all? Humans have been hunting deer since the beginning of time. You’re worried about a deer?” Her rumbling laugh ended with a cough. “Ulysees, you’re young and have a lot to learn. I doubt the humans even know we’re here. Sarah’s right. It’ll be too hard for the foals to flee – and too dangerous at night. Do we really want to risk losing one of our babies?” She snorted as she eyed the yearling.
“Let’s wait until morning,” said Icarus. “Then at least there’ll be light to travel by.”
“But …” Ulysees spun about, searching for someone, anyone, who would side with him. His pleading eyes met with blank stares. It was obvious no one was going anywhere.
The unicorns settled for the night, huddled close together in their hidden spot among the trees, nervous hooves thumping the ground as they slept.
The night stretched long and taut for Ulysees. He started at every sound, every bird hoot, and every rustle of leaves. His dreams were fraught with visions of distorted human faces and monstrous horses with gigantic hooves. Then, slightly before dawn, a flurry of wings and the abrupt twitters of birds forced his eyes open. His head shot up to catch sight of a deer bolting. Its tail flickered and its ears twitched as it fled through the woods.
Something wasn’t right.
A beast called … was it a bird … or a jackal? His hide rippling, he searched the darkness.
“There they are!” a voice cried.
Three dark creatures sprang from the woods, like apes, only more ominous. A hideous face flashed before Ulysees. Terror seized him as he recognized the visage he’d seen through the leaves near the praying tree.
“Humans mounted on horses! Fly!” he shouted.
The unicorns scattered in every direction, their screams filling the air. Young foals tore after their dams, eyes wide with terror.
Ulysees leapt and broke into a gallop. He ran without thought. A dark creature cut his path. His nostrils flared at the human’s odour. Rearing up, Ulysees battered his enemy’s chest with his hooves. The human threw his hands to his face to block the blows. Ulysees let out a loud whinny and bit the creature’s arm. Screaming in pain, the human dropped to the ground, his mount fleeing.
Ulysees flung about in time to witness another human leap onto Téo’s back. Emitting a fierce battle cry, Ulysees lunged, but before he could reach his friend, Téo thrust out his hind legs with such force, the human was catapulted through the air, landing with a loud thud.
“Where’s the other one?” shouted Ulysees. “I saw three.”
“I don’t know,” yelled Téo.
A blood curdling scream filled the air.
The hairs of Ulysees’ neck rose.
“Alannah?” he called.
Icarus’ savage neigh rose above the din – the command to follow. The terrified unicorns stampeded after him. Their hooves thundered as they ran through the still dark forest, manes flying, eyes wild with fright. They fled blindly, their breath ragged and coats drenched with sweat. They galloped, crazed, until dawn crept in, and the thin rays of the sun licked the dew-covered grass. With the promise of day, Icarus slowed the herd to a halt. Their muscles trembled, and their breath steamed in the cool morning air as they puffed and snorted.
Trotting from one unicorn to the other, Icarus counted their numbers, his gait agitated as he scanned. Ulysees followed his gaze, his legs still trembling. Someone was missing.
“Alannah!” Lilia called. “She’s gone!”
The unicorns burst into cries of terror.
“It was one of the humans. They captured her,” whinnied a mare.
“We’ll never find her again,” neighed another.
Ulysees’ heart pounded. It couldn’t be Alannah. She had to be here. Darting in and out through the herd, he searched for her.
“Alannah! Where are you?” he called several times, his frantic words echoing in the chill morning air, so desperate to hear the sound of the musical voice that would reassure him. She didn’t answer. He circled the herd again, calling, searching without finding, until he finally shook his head in agony. What a fool he’d been. All those times when they had been so close, he had never realized how much she meant to him. If only he had looked for her when she screamed instead of fleeing with the others. Throwing up his hind legs, he thrashed about in anguish, and then stopped, trembling.
He had to think.
His breath heaving, he forced himself to calm down while he formed a plan in his mind. When he was certain of his ideas, he approached Icarus. “There’s a canyon. No one can see it until they’re almost there. We found it on one of our treks. Let’s take the herd there to hide.”
Icarus eyed Ulysees with his usual suspicion. “Show me.”
Taking Icarus’ place at the head of the herd, he broke into a trot. The mares and stallions fell in step behind him. They arrived at the canyon a short while later, disheveled and uprooted. As promised, it was well-concealed. Inside, there were plenty of grasses for the herd to feed on and a small brook. The sun had risen higher, chasing away the night shadows and the horror of the intruders.
When Ulysees saw the mares and foals settled, he turned once again to Icarus, his mind made up. “I’m going back for Alannah, and I’m taking Téo with me.”
The stallion frowned, his fierce eyes meeting Ulysees’. He took a swift breath as if to say something, and then stopped. Glancing at the herd one more time, he nodded. “Alright, then, but be careful.”