Unicorn Lost

Presents

Q	uicksilver galloped towards the black forest at a speed most donkeys only dreamed of.

The Ogre was not going to be happy when he learned that the dragon revealed himself early, and he did not want to be blamed when the hammer fell. Astride his whithers, Blackfoot did his best to look like he belonged on the wild, bouncy back of a very angry donkey. At least the burro was not braying to boot.

They reached the edge of the forest and Quicksilver paused. He was breathing somewhat heavier than usual, but not panting by any means. Blackfoot slumped down on his neck, doing his best not to fall off in the sudden stillness.

"Reach into my saddlebag, Blackfoot. You'll find a small wooden coffer." The ferret obeyed, pulling out the box with the unusual skunk carved on top. "Good! You know how to solve a Markstanleian puzzle?"

He nodded, still too out of breath to speak.

"This is such a puzzle; and the treasure will fall out of the bottom, only if it has a reasonable range for free fall. It should be clear to you why I can't do this," Quicksilver emphasized his point by stamping both front hooves.

Blackfoot, his breath almost back to normal, held the box to the side, over a thick patch of mossy ferns, and pressed the various triggers to open the secret compartment under the box. The bottom fell open and out tumbled a green bracelet, much like the one Quicksilver had stolen from the top, two nights before.

"Thank you," Quicksilver said as Blackfoot put the box away. He delicately stepped into the bracelet and nuzzled it on to his ankle, where it suddenly matched the dimensions of his foreleg perfectly. A hot, painful stinging accompanied the bracelet for a moment before the donkey turned his thoughts back to the trail. Almost before Blackfoot noticed, they were on their way again. The poor ferret almost fell backwards off his unusual mount, ducking just in time to dodge the low branches that marked the eave of the forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~{ Meanwhile }~~~~~~~~~~~

A few miles away, Pence noticed his mistress's magic faltered for just a moment, and the strange purple bracelet which seemed to free her from the spell of the silver cuff winked green. He blinked, and by time he looked back, her spell was again at full strength and the bracelet was inert once more.

-page oo45-
written by ToraKiyoshi.

Copyright and Credit:
  · Florence from "Freefall" © Mark Stanley.
  · Magic Gardener © Hortmage.
  · Jeanette © Jeanette Isabelle.
  · Kathy from "Carry On" © Kathy Garrison.
  · Kamida © Guest #1.
  · ToraKiyoshi - Writer.
  · Tiger_T. - Writer.
  · White Pony from "Cross Time Cafe" © S.Kidwell.
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