Through Timeless Eyes
One of the first short's I attempted
** Through Timeless Eyes**
Her kind had been around since man first walked the earth. In the beginning humankind not only accepted, but respected them as well. Soon respect turned to envy, and envy to greed. Thinking about this time in her existence saddened her to no end. For that was when her kind decided that only the virtuous should be allowed to view them. At first, virtue was easy to find, but as time passed this quality became harder and harder to come by. There were others of similar power who hadn't the foresight to mask their existence and soon enough they were all gone, done in by mans need to reign supreme over nature. Even now, her memories of these atrocious deeds were vivid and never failed to send a shiver down her spine. Tossing her mane, as if to shake herself free of the memories, she made her way along her daily route. Only today would be different. Today would forever alter her perception of life.
Passing through the underbrush at the edge of the forest, she hesitated. The meadow, normally unoccupied was filled with strange machines, machines that ate the ground as if it were nothing. Invisible to those that operated these machines, she approached for a closer look. Standing defiantly before the men and their machines was a young man. As she crept ever closer, she could make out bits of the conversation between the humans. What she heard both frightened and amazed her, something that hadn't happened for as long as she could remember. Standing there, the wind blowing through his shoulder length hair, the man seemed pitifully small compared to what he was facing yet she could smell no fear from him. Her curiosity aroused, she felt compelled to approach. Stopping several feet from the man, she listened intently to the words being spoken by the men. "Listen up pal, were here to do a job and that's damn well what were going to do. Now get your ass out of the way or we'll go right on through ya." The man simply squared his shoulders and laughed, further infuriating the man behind the wheel of the huge earth eater. "You still don't get it do you? This forest isn't for you, or anyone else to destroy, it belongs to a much higher authority. One which wont allow you to bulldoze her home," shaking his head he added, "and neither will I." The man in the machine spoke several words that were unfamiliar to her ears and climbed down to confront the young man in his way. "The way I see it, you have two choices boy, you can move, or I can move you." As if to emphasize his point, the larger man shoved him backwards. Regaining his balance, the young man smiled and replied, "My name is David, not boy and your threats mean nothing to me." Seeing that his attempt at intimidation wasn't working the larger man resorted to more violent measures. His right hand shot forth too quickly for the young man, David as he called himself, to avoid. The blow knocking him backwards onto the ground. Bleeding from his face, David slowly got back to his feet, much to her surprise however, he didn't retaliate as she assumed he would, he simply asked if the man was finished. She could smell the rage that threatened to engulf the large man, and for some unknown reason suddenly feared for David's life. Again the man struck David, and again he simply got back to his feet. "This forest is sacred, as its one in only a handful left in the world, cant you understand that?" Shuddering at his words, she wondered if he was correct. Could there really be only a few of her species left upon the world? Had it truly been that long? As these thoughts coursed through her mind, the large man once again knocked David down, this time following him to the ground to inflict more damage. Her heart aching at the sight, she turned her head away, tears welled up in her eyes. For the first time in her long life she experienced an emotion, one which threatened to tear her heart apart on the inside. This one human had shown more virtue than she could recall seeing since before she hid herself from mankind, and now this virtue would be his death. Struggling with a decision that would change her life forever, she waited for the big man to stand and step back to admire his handiwork. As the man turned to his companions, a triumphant smile on his face, she placed herself between him and the injured David. With nostrils flaring, she did what none of her kind had done in ages, she made herself visible to all present. The reaction of the men in the machines was one of utter shock, some ran, some stood frozen in place. Finding her voice took only a moment, a moment in which all her power flowed forth. "None shall harm this one anymore, for his life is now mine to protect!" Shaking with fury, she lowered the point of her magnificent horn and placed it squarely between the big mans shoulders, daring him to move. "Take your machines and leave this place now, for the only thing you shall find here is your death." The big man turned to look over his shoulder, seeing for the first time the creature whose home he threatened to destroy. Stammering like the coward he was, he pleaded for his life. The smell of fear fouled the air and she could stand it no longer. "Go now, lest I change my mind and never forget what it is that guards this domain." Turning her back on the man, she leaned her head down to inspect the fallen David, who was only now struggling to his feet. "My lady, I thank you for what you have sacrificed for me, I only hope that one day I shall be worthy of your intervention." The softness of his words warmed a part of her that had been dead for too long as a solitary tear fell from her eye. Tilting her horn from this man, she wrapped him in her neck, longing for the contact after so long. Suddenly, with a cry of horror, David flung himself past her and for the first time she could smell his fear, but the fear wasn't for himself, it was for her. Whirling around, she found David lying on the ground, the pool of blood slowly spreading from his body. The big man staggered back, bloody knife still in hand. Screaming with unbridled rage, she drove the point of her horn through his chest, tossing his from her horn as if he were made of rags. His body came to rest in a heap as the final breath left his punctured lungs. Carefully turning David with her horn, she found he was still alive, barely. As he turned his gaze upon her he smiled, "I can die happy now, for I die protecting what I loved." Those words spoken, he slumped back onto the grass as his life force began to fade. Crying out in anguish, she summoned all her power. Channeling it through her horn, she placed the glowing tip against his chest and thrust, puncturing his heart. Bolts of white lightning fell around her as her power flowed forth, tearing up the earth wherever they struck. The glow of her magic illuminating the sky, she willed the change to begin. David's body convulsed as the tendrils of power began their work. Soon the glow was too bright for even one such as her to see through. Pulling her horn free of his body, she turned from the painful brightness, shielding her eyes until it began to fade. There, in the grass where David's body once lay, was another unicorn, the change was complete. Unsteady in his new body, David clumsily got to his feet, astonishment showing in his eyes. "You were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for my kind David, and now you are one of us." No more words needed to be spoken, and with a toss of her mane, she and her new mate disappeared from the view of mankind and into the forest.
Gunslinger, 2001