Unicorn Lost

Presents

K	athy lowered her head, and shook it.

"Thanks...we needed that," she told Pence, then turned a wary eye up at the forbidding hulk of the black and twisted castle. "Hmmph," she snorted. "Why do I expect there to be a sign that says 'For Sale: See Sauron For Details.'"

"Who?" came a chorus of little voices.

"Oh...never mind," sighed the unicorn. She gave her mane another toss. "Let's just get this over with. I feel like we've been at this quest for months now."

"That's how time passed where I came from," Florence said, as she sorted through the contents of Pence's sack. She carefully set aside a cage now nearly filled with a very contented-looking blue gecko, which was burping softly and humming a lazy tune. "Well...I'm glad someone is happy to be here!" she murmured.

Kamida had walked off a short distance, and now stood with her arms folded, gazing up at the castle with one eye narrowed in concentration. She made no effort to share her thoughts with the others.

Meanwhile, Jeanette had picked up a rock and was using its pumice-like surface to hone an edge onto her father's sword.

Look for the secret way in.

She paused and looked around to see who had whispered to her, but she was quite alone. Shrugging, she went back to her sharpening. Her father had taught her the proper way to put an edge on a sword, and as she followed his directions to the letter, the stone made hissing sounds as it raked along the length of metal.

Look...for...the...secret...way...in.

Now Jeanette stopped with a nervous, quizzical look on her face, feeling all the fur on her arms stand on end. Someone had spoken to her--was it the sword? Or... She looked at the rock. It was an unremarkable rock, pitted and dark grey, but as she stared at it, she thought she could feel a faint throbbing sensation in her paw. Tentatively, she raised it to her ear.

The northwest, a tiny voice, almost like the whisper of a thought, murmured to her. There is an old service gate in the base of the castle. It has not been used for many years. The passages there lead up to the kitchens.

Jeanette resisted the urge to hurl the rock away in horror. "Guy-y-y-ys!" she squealed instead, her voice rising as she stumbled to her feet. "Guy-y-y-ys! I...I think I've found the way in!"

-page oo60-
written by Kathy Garrison

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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