Guess what time it is?!

If you guessed Story Time, you guessed correctly! I have two stories for you today. The first one is here. The second is following. (I'm sorry for all of the made up names of things... I wrote this three years ago, okay? It's one of the very few short stories I've actually finished) Anyway, enjoy!

Shåylin

by Hannah Duke

April 29, 2008

All her life Shåylin had run with the unicorns, their cool silver-black manes flowing across their grey-brown backs as the wind sang with joy. The peace of the Twilight Stars as they were crushed underhoof and foot flowed in eddies and currents across the dusky fields. The joy of the Lelldornia trees quivered in the earth when Shåylin opened her mouth in song.

But now no longer. Shåylin was going away. The wind whispered it in the grass and the unicorns stood mournfully in the blue-dusky fields. The Twilight Stars and the Lelldornia trees sighed it to the melancholic skies. Shåylin was going away. She had reached womanhood and could no longer roam with the unicorns. It was time to marry and Shåylin was mournful.

Låylin, Shåylin's mother, had consulted Faldus for a suitable match. Faldus, the wise one, decreed that Shåylin would marry at the next full moon at the appointed place for such things, seven eagle flights away. Låylin and Shåylin prepared Shåylin's gown from Frâmblin leaves and Doxitia gems. Chaldünå, the chief unicorn, gave Shåylin the three silver hairs from his tail; one purple Lelldornia flower, worth more than the whole village; and six exquisite Twilight Stars to make a bridal tiara.

Shåylin departed the next day, her eternal Fråmblin gown clinging to her slender frame and a small pack on her back containing the precious unicorn-silver tiara set with Twilight Stars, and the Lelldornia flower, and some Tômlay fruits for her journey. No one saw her go and she wished for no good byes. At the edge of the Tômlay groves, Chaldünå waited. She lowered her head in a silent goodbye to Shåylin. And so Shåylin left Tômlay village, with only a unicorn's blessing.

Some time passed and night fell. Shåylin climbed a Yômto tree and settled against the trunk on a broad branch. She fell asleep there with no fear and no expectations for the morning. The sun rose and the birds chatter woke Shåylin. She climbed down and drank from the stream, then turned calmly to the figure that had materialized from under the trees.

"I am Kester." The tall boy said reluctantly, as if the words did not want to come.

I am Shåylin, signed Shåylin to the youth, and I am traveling to Dôrîthnia. Kester's dark eyes followed her hands and he nodded once.

I am going that way. Let us travel together. Shåylin nodded at this and they started along the path. Shåylin did not ask questions and neither did Kester, Each was content with silence.

Each day they travelled farther and each night they climbed their separate trees. Though they did not speak much, their hands signaled rapidly about their surroundings, life and assorted other subjects. Shåylin soon learned to pay close attention to the slight flickers of emotion that crossed Kester's dark face as his fingers flicked back and forth. Kester learned to do the same and both began to depend upon each other. Each of them began to dread the day they would arrive at Dôrîthnia, the spirit tree and their journey would end.

The moon waxed toward brilliance and finally the two travelers arrived at the great tree. A circle of Lelldornia tree's kept vigil at it's roots and Turlia flowers created a carpet of blue. Two men and a woman stood waiting at Dôrîthnia.

Shåylin looked at the man who was not the wise one and shuddered. He looked proud and arrogant. Shåylin suddenly knew she did not want to marry anyone but Kester. Kester likewise saw the women was self-satisfied and self-important and suddenly learned that he loved Shåylin. They turned to each other and saw the truth in the other's eyes. Shåylin placed her tiara on her glossy black hair and then, clasping hands, they walked forward resolutely.

The wise one nodded slowly, and then turned into Faldus and smiled down on them.

"You have learned to live happily with each other even when you believed your hearts would break because you left your heart home. Your heart home now resides with each other and will forever more. Dôrîthnia recognizes your marriage. Return now to your people."

With those words, Shåylin and Kester transformed into unicorns and galloped away to Chaldünå's herd. And among the Althnians, the tale is still told of the two unicorns, one with the Lelldornia flower in her mane and the other with the jet black horn, who some say, still run through the Twilight fields together.