Prologue

                                    

                                          
A breeze swept through the tall pine and oak trees that populated the mountains side, rustling their needles and causing some leaves to swirl downwards. Autumn was arriving, the colors revealing themselves slowly. Golds and oranges melting the green of summer away. Some of the birch trees sprinkled within the forest were almost fully yellow, their leaves resting around the white trunks. The huntsman took a deep breath, soaking in the colors as the sun set over the pinnacle of the mountain range. He had been waiting hours for his target, he knew they would come. But as time seemed to trudge on the doubts surfaced, what if he put out the wrong bait? What if he needed something more... pure?
  Some mule deer had passed through, sniffing at the bait and startling off when it moved and began making sound's again. But that wasn't the huntsman's prey, he was after something far more exotic and valuable. He had heard rumors that there were herds of them in this area, that they chased the seasons and migrated depending on the time of year. 
  The Tavern owner said there were sightings up in the valley here, around this time of year was when they started their return.
He calculated carefully in his mind. The tavern owner, Mark Redge, had no reason to lie to this hunter. Mr. Redge had assumed the hunter was a simple traveler, no harm in exposing some very interesting information.
  The huntsman set up his rifle hours ago, laying so still his back had begun to ache. He had covered his tracks and even wore the musk of the mud, the dirt smeared across is dark tan features. His brilliant blue eyes looked out into the center of the small clearing he hand picked out, his bait sat in the middle. She was perfect. 
  Pale skin, young and innocent. She had platinum blonde hair so pale it was a silvery white color. Her voice was delicate yet strong, a talent in song making he hadn't heard in a long time. She sat with her knees against her chest at the center of the clearing, her deep purple eyes shimmering with tears as she fidgeted with rope bound hands. She sang with purpose, pausing to take breaths and short breaks. He found that her voice attracted the unicorns like blood in the water for sharks. The unicorns couldn't resist such an appealing maiden as his bait. The huntsman smirked at his little girl, he had come to posses her a couple years ago from a slaver. He had been reassured that her purity was intact as that was crucial for his line of work. She had come from a foreign land, hence her purple eyes and pale hair. There was nobody like her here, that was for damn sure.
  The slaver had driven a hard bargain due to the nature of the slave but she had been worth it, he'd slain two other unicorns within the past year and harvested their horns. Two didn't seem like much, but when it came to the elusive mythical creature it was something special. Especially in the same year! The slave was his good luck charm, there was no way he would sully her and rid himself of his good fortune. The huntsman breathed out as the wind shifted, the girl shivered as tears streaked down her cheeks. Her voice bore a tinge of hoarseness from singing her sweet melodies nonstop, her voice faltering a few times.
  Good, her misery will attract them all the more. He thought, keeping his eye on his sights. 
As the moon began to rise overhead with the nightfall, the sounds of chimes filled the space. It was a gentle tinkling sound, peaceful and full of warmth. The hunter tensed his shoulders, staring at the tree line as a silvery white muzzle poked itself out from the forest, followed by a breathtakingly beautiful equine body. The unicorn shimmered in the moonlight, tossing its milky mane, seeming to emanate its own pure light. The girl stared entranced, her purple eyes wide as she was struck with the familiar awe, forgetting her song as she had done the past two times when the unicorns revealed themselves. The hunter took aim, patiently waiting for the ethereal creature to approach his bait. Impatience would cost him his prize.
  Her face suddenly contorted into panic, pain in her eyes as the innocent creature drew ever closer. The girl wanted to scream and thrash, scare the unicorn away from its doomed fate, but she knew the huntsmen would beat her to the brink of death. Starve her if she so much as made a peep out of line. He had done so the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.
Her body was wracked with silent anxiety as the tears flooded out from her eyes, her ratty locks falling into her face as her body shook with guilt. She couldn't bear to watch something so pure be slaughtered, like the very few things that she considered good in her life just ending from a bullet to the heart. It couldn't end that simply for such a magnificent beast. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself for the warm spray of silver blood. The blood that had coated her hair, gotten underneath her fingernails. The blood that no matter how hard she scrubbed, remained embedded in her skin. But it didn't come. She cracked open an eye to see the unicorn staring directly at the huntsman who lay in waiting several feet away, another bigger unicorn standing over the huntsman menacingly. He was a muscular stallion, his milky white horn curved up into a wicked point. 
  "No! Run away! He's going to kill you!" The girl couldn't stop herself before the words tumbled out from her mouth. The peace of the forest was suddenly engulfed in shrieks and screams, the hunter yelled as he raised a knife from his side to slash the unicorn; silver blood splashing onto the ground as the stallion let out a shrill cry. The stallion's muscles rippled as he reared and struck with his cloven hooves into the hunters skull. The unicorn let out a battle call, striking repeatedly until the hunter stopped twitching, crimson blood spattered across the unicorns white coat. 
The other unicorn across from the girl nickered, turning its blue-eyed gaze back to her. She shivered in horror, flinching away as the beast came ever closer. 
  "Please, please... I'm begging you. I didn't want to help him. Please let me live! I'll leave and never come back!" She sobbed pitifully, her thin arms covering her face in fear. 
  Oh, Dear One. You must think us monsters, we were only trying to save you and preserve ourselves.
The girl looked up sharply, looking around to see who had spoken. "D-did you speak in my m-mind?" She stuttered, wiping her wet face. The unicorn shook its silvery mane, her pink muzzle twitching in amusement.
  We have come to your aid, Dear One. With the killings of our other two companions, we were aware of a little slave girl who needed help. The mare nuzzled the girls face, her warm breath smelling of flowers and lazy summer days. As the unicorns presence softened the horror of the huntsman's death, she felt a deep sense of trust. A feeling she had not felt in so long, it was almost unfamiliar.
  I am Nakima, that is Syrion. The mare nodded to her blood soaked compatriot, the stallions eyes darting away sheepishly. 
  "Why would you save me?" The girl asked, letting her legs relax from her chest. The deaths she had witnessed resurfaced, her frail body shaking once more.
  Your song, your innocence. You are undeserving of the fate that would have befallen you with the hunter. Nakima paused as the girl lowered her eyes in shame. Do not fret, Dear One, you are a part of ours now. 
  Syrion walked over, lowering his horn to touch the ropes that wrapped her wrists. With a flash of orange light, the rope fell in tatters, releasing the little girl. Nakima breathed on the girl, peace once again calming the girls dark feelings of loneliness.
  "They called me Lyrin... I have nowhere to go." She mumbled, pulling at her brown dress. 
Come child, you will find safety with us. No need to worry anymore.
  The unicorns lead Lyrin away. Far from the man who bought her, far from the meadow that had promised a much different fate. She walked into the forest, fueled by hope as she embraced the pearly white beings beside her.