The Gift

           Daniel wasn’t sure what to expect when he got home from school.  His parents had said in the morning that they had a surprise.  That statement alone worried him.  He knew his parents views on the law allowing any licensed hunter to catch any magical being and sell them.  No one spoke out against how they were treated.  “Wild animals don’t sell,” his father constantly told him whenever he brought up the topic.  Daniel knew they had been planning to get him something.  And his seventeenth birthday seemed like the best opportunity.

            He hesitated outside the door, one hand on the brass doorknob that felt too cold.  His backpack dragged on his shoulder, forcing him to shove the door open and drop it on the floor.  “Come in!” His mother called from the living room.  She was dressed for visitors, dark hair pulled up in a tight bun with a black blouse and a white skirt with red heels.  Her eyelashes had been darkened by mascara and she was beaming at him.  His father stood nearby in a suit, a small smile on his lips.  “How was school?”

            Daniel pulled out a chair from the table and sat, rolling his eyes.  “Mrs. Keve tried to get the class to sing.  Sam brought red velvet cupcakes.”  The thought of his best friend lightened his mood a little.  Although Sam would never admit it for fear of being teased, he was a pretty good baker.  “We have a pretty big math test on Friday but Wes said he’d help me out if he could come over here on Thursday.”

            “That would be fine.” He could practically see his mother resisting the urge to start bouncing.  This can’t be good. She was only excited over really important and big things.  He watched her as she walked over to the window to look outside.  “They’re here!” She nearly tripped rushing to get to the door.  Daniel warily followed, his father trailing behind.  He didn’t get a chance to look out a window.  His mother was already opening the door.  “Go around through the side gate!” She called to someone he couldn’t see.  The clank of metal clanging made him jump.  Hoofbeats and whispers reached him.  By the time he got out the door and into the driveway, the gate leading to their large backyard was shut.  A truck and a trailer was parked on the street, the door to the trailer closed. 

            His heart started racing.  They got me something. Daniel briefly wondered if he could beg the men to take whatever it was back.  Another thought occurred to him; someone could treat it worse than he would if they did agree.  None of his friends had any “pets”, as people often referred to them because it was more politically correct than calling them a slave, but he’d heard that some owners had issues.  The animal went wild or escaped.  There were occasions where someone didn’t pay much attention to the seller and they ended up getting something that was too injured to be of any use at all alive. 

            Numbly, he followed his mother across the front lawn to the backyard.  She looked like a child about to get a new toy.  That just scared him even more.  Daniel almost ran back to the house, not wanting to know what they’d bought but at the same time he had to know. 

            Four men all in identical jeans and shirts were there, two holding reins and the other two holding a long chain.  The creature standing there stunned him.  It looked like a horse, except more finely built and a grace he desperately wanted to see in motion.  It was completely white, mane and tail wavy and tangled and looking to be in need of a trim but he couldn’t help thinking it added to the wildness of it.  Wild animals don’t sell.  The words echoed in his mind and he looked to the animal’s eyes.  They were large, dark and focused on the ground.  A four foot long horn spiraled out between those eyes which looked up at him.  Daniel was fairly sure he stopped breathing.  If someone asked him to describe those eyes he would’ve had to come up with a new word.  Something meaning scared, broken, confused and somehow hopeful at the same time.  Taking in the full picture he made the quick assessment the animal was female.  It was then he noticed that she was standing on three legs, right foreleg raised for some reason, and that there was blood on her flank.

            Daniel didn’t listen to the conversation between his parents and the men, only being jerked out of his trance by the chain jangling as it was pressed into his hand.  He dropped it, just to see what she would do.  The unicorn didn’t move, her ears just flicked back at the noise.  He almost wished she would run.

 

 

 

            Cera didn’t remember the drive or being lead out to a grassy backyard.  All her thoughts were on the Gates.  Those stupid Gates. She knew it would be impossible to find them.  Impossible to escape.  Rivian was a completely different world, only accessible by the portals scattered around the world.  The sound of the links of the chain rattling brought her back to the present.  She hadn’t paid much attention to the fact that she’d been bought but her mind twisted to start wondering about her new owner.  A flash of panic sent her heart racing and adrenaline racing through her veins, making her look up.

            A couple stood nearby, talking to the men who’d brought her there.  She couldn’t make out what they were saying.  The woman was talking too fast.  A boy no older than eighteen was in front of her, shaggy dark brown hair falling into blue eyes framed by black lashes.  He was slightly hunched over, looking like he didn’t want to be there.  Then his attention was on her and she froze, taking no notice to the fact that no one was holding her.  The reins and chain were dragging on the ground from her lowered head.  The boy took a step toward her and she hobbled back, looking around for a place to go to.  She’d bolt as soon as the men were gone.  The couple suddenly left, the men following. 

            Cera took off for the makeshift stable about three yards away.  The area was large, larger than any other space an owner had given her.  For a moment she forgot about her leg until she instinctively put weight on it to gallop and it gave out, sending her tumbling to the ground like a colt.  Pain stopped her from getting up immediately.  The boy was running toward her and she froze again, turning her head away, tensing for the blow.  It never came. 

 

 

            Daniel wasn’t sure what happened.  One minute the unicorn was motionless, then she was running and then she was on the ground.  Out of habit, he ran to her.  The terror that flashed in her eyes made him stop and realize he was doing everything wrong.  Inhaling slowly he crouched down and started rambling in a soft voice, “I’m sorry you’re here.  They thought you would be a good present.  I don’t agree with their thinking.  They’re all for the…” Even though he didn’t think she could understand him, he was reluctant to mention the law.  “I won’t hurt you.  I’ll make sure they won’t to.”  He slowly reached out a hand, brushing his palm against her shoulder.  The skin there shuddered at his touch and he drew back.  “I want to get that off you.” He looked to the bridle.  It seemed wrong to have such a thing on something magical.  It didn’t belong on her. 

            It startled him when she did look his way again.  Her eyes were narrowed, as if she was glaring at him.  It would’ve been funny if there wasn’t still fear in her eyes.  Daniel did his best not to touch her as he unbuckled all the straps and slowly slid it off her.  She moved away almost immediately after it was off.  Arching her neck, she touched her horn to his shoulder briefly.  “Thank you.”  A gentle voice appeared in his mind and he stared at her.  Everyone made out these beings to be just like sheep, unintelligent and unemotional.

            “Y-you’re welcome.”  Daniel hated that his voice shook.  She stood, shaking the grass from her coat.  She looked confused, as if not believing herself that she’d spoken to him.  When she shakily trotted away to hide behind a tree, he whispered to himself, “Oh my God, she can talk.”