PROLOGUE
“What are you doing there, young madin?” Asked a gleaming white stallion with a crystal horn forming from the base of its head in a tight spiral. Arianna raised her head from the backside of the old, grey rock, to see who had approached her. She flicked her eyes open & shut then open then shut to see if she was still asleep. When she realized she wasn't asleep she squealed in fright. The Stallion reared up in shock from the sudden squeal, once he landed with a thud He looked Arianna in the eyes, “Oh...Young madin” He stumbled still from shock “Oh dear what’s the matter?” Arianna stopped squealing & looked the white horse in the eyes with astonishment. “Are...Are You a Unicorn?” She studded both fear & astonishment in her eyes. The stallion looked oddly at Arianna for a minute then finally answered her question, “Ah, Yes I am oh dear, young madin. Why? Didn’t you know?” The Unicorn looked at her curiosity in his eyes. “Are you new?” The unicorn asked curious. “Where am I?” Arianna asked looking around at the forest surrounding that she was in. “Ah…So you are new!” Exclaimed the Unicorn. Arianna had slowly shuffled away from the Unicorn since he had 1st arrived. It was very shocking for her to be seeing a real life Unicorn & she was shocked & scared. Arianna looked at the Unicorn still wanting her question answered. “Oh, sorry” Exclaimed the Unicorn sorrowfully, “The Enchanted Forest” “The what?” Arianna sputtered in shock. “The Enchanted Forest” Repeated the Unicorn. Arianna stared at the Unicorn blankly as if not knowing what to say next. Arianna had wrote a story about Unicorns & Pixies & other magical creatures, living in a land called ‘the enchanted forest’ She had then wished that ‘the enchanted forest’ was real & one day she would be able to visit it. But, that was a story; Arianna thought to herself, but how was she here then?
CHAPTER ONE
Arianna lay on her stomach on her bed, pencil in hand and text book in front. She smiled to her self as she read then turned pages of the text book kicking her legs up and down. Arianna had been working on a story, and now after so many months she had finally completed it. She couldn’t hide her happiness at the fact as she read her completed story. Arianna’s story was called The Enchanted forest. This story was about magic, mythical creatures all living in a hidden land called the enchanted forest. She was very pleased at her imagination, “if only it was real” Ari thought to herself. The enchanted forest was a beautiful place, full of mythical creatures, delicate nature and of course magic, a land which Ari wished to visit. Arianna loved unicorns; her room was full of posters, toys and even clothing of them. The main character of the story was a unicorn foal called Blaze, a beautiful white stallion with a crystal spiraled horn. The land may be beautiful, but every place has its enemies… “Knock, Knock” At Ari’s door stood Elizabeth, Arianna’s mother. “Hey Mum!” Said Ari still smiling. “Look!” She held up her text book, which was now on the last page of the story. ”Finished are you?” Eliza asked, “I certainly am!” Ari smiled proudly. “Well how about you go jump into bed, and I’ll read your story in the morn’in?” Eliza gestured to Ari’s pillows, “in ya get,” Ari frowned but obeyed. “Well good night sweetie, see you in the morn’in” Eliza kissed Ari on her forehead and switched the light off. “Love you mum,” Eliza smiled and left the room.
That night Arianna found it hard to sleep. She couldn’t stop thinking about her story. “I wish the enchanted forest was real,” Ari wished into the darkness, “and I wish I could visit it.” She sighed, grabbed her small white unicorn plush she named Blaze, and closed her eyes. In no time at all Arianna was fast asleep. Not knowing that something very distressing was going to happen that night.
***
Arianna tossed and turned in her sleep. A cold sweat trickled down the side of her head, as she kicked and squirmed under her sheets. “No,” Ari mumbled still asleep, “Bla……” she whacked her lamp off her side table with her fist clenched; it fell with a shattering crash. “NOOOOOOOOOO!” Arianna screamed, her sheets were now in a crumpled pile on the floor. “Varsha Vrona VROO!” Arianna screamed and sobbed. Eliza ran into Arianna’s room and immediately relaxed when she saw Ari was asleep. “VASHA VONRA VROO!” Arianna screamed even more loudly. Eliza gently but tightly grabbed Arianna’s arms and held them tight.
Arianna was in a darkened forest, tall trees surrounded the clearing she was in. Fires were all around her completely surrounding her in a circle. She was screaming in agony and cried in loss, from her position in the centre of the circle. A silver spear was pierced through her right shoulder; blood dripped down onto a white stallion which she sat huddled over. The white stallion was a unicorn; its crystal horn was chipped from battle. Its pure white colour was stained from blood. In one swift move Arianna removed a burning coal spear which was wedged into the unicorn’s side and chucked it far over the fire circle. Creatures many of them all the same walked through the fiery wall. They had two arms and two legs both with deadly looking talons at the end of each. Sharp pointed wings and horns and a devil tail. They had greasy chiseled hair with the most evil looking stare. Each held a Bowen arrow with a sack full of arrows over their back. Ari looked at them teary eyed, as they looked back with evil grins. They pointed their Bowen arrows towards Ari and the unicorn, and then they let the strings go as the arrows flew right on target…
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO” Arianna screamed, she woke with a start. Tears were streaming down her face; Eliza still held her arms tightly. “Settle, settle” Elizabeth hushed. Arianna looked at her mum confused, “you were just having a nightmare sweetie.” Arianna seemed to relax, but looked her mother in the eyes, “But… it seemed so real.” Eliza pulled a distressed kind of face, but quickly hid it. “I’m sure it was nothing” Eliza assured her, “so how about you try getting some rest, remember we are going to the horse show in the morn’in bright and early.” Eliza kissed Ari on the forehead, “Good night sweetie” then she left back for her own bed.
Arianna couldn’t sleep after that, though as hard as she tried it wasn’t possible, she just couldn’t get the horrific image of the creatures, the fire circle or her and the unicorn bleeding to death out of her head.
CHAPTER TWO
Eventually Arianna got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror and a sleepless face looked back at her. Her luminous blue eyes were half closed and purple sleepless lines lay baggy underneath. She changed into her riding pants and a top, brushed her long brunette hair and slowly wandered down stairs.
“Happy birthday to YOU, Happy birthday to YOU, Happy birthday dear Arianna, Happy birthday to YOU!” Arianna smiled as her mother sung. She had totally forgotten it was her own birthday. A multicolored ice cream cake sat on their wooden kitchen table, all thirteen blue candles glowed dull in the morning sun. The candle flames danced in the sweet morning breeze as Arianna took her seat next to her mum in front of the cake. She took a deep breath, then let it go and blew out all the thirteen candles at once. “Whoa!” Eliza said amazed, “Now make a wish sweetie.” Arianna looked at the distinguished candles, a thoughtful expression across her face. Beside her, her mother made a worried face. “I wish I could visit the Enchanted Forest,” Arianna whispered ever so slightly. Eliza worried face turned to distressed. “Ok Ari lets go get these horses, we don’t want to be late, we’ll eat the cake later,” Elizabeth said breaking the short silence. “Would you like your presents later then?” Arianna got up from her seat and gave her mum a kiss, “Later is fine.” They both chatted as they made their way down to the paddock where their horses were.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, while Arianna and Eliza rode on horse back. The usually crowded horse show ground was seemly empty, worried faces looked skywards. “You think it’s cancelled?” asked Arianna with a hint of disappointment in her voice. Eliza looked at the show ground; the ring’s grass looked wet from morning dew. Stadium seats were empty, while the horse barn looked quite full. Stray people with their horses galloped quickly towards the barn. “I’m not sure,” she looked skywards a raindrop fell in her eye, “Lets go to the barn.” Arianna and Eliza cantered along on their horses to the reddish barn. Arianna rode a stunning pure white horse, while her mother rode a bay. As they neared the barn an argument meet their ears; “You can’t just CANCELL our ONCE a year show!” Yelled Jimmy parkers, a well know Rifter’s over competitive champion. Eliza jumped off her horse as they reached the barn, Ari followed and they both lead their horses inside the barn. “Yes I can! Expecially when there is a severe storm heading our way!” replied the show operator Fred west. “How severe?” Interrupted Elizabeth, trying to take the men’s attention off the argument. Fred looked around at Ari and Eliza and smiled a toothless smile. “Hey Miss Elizabeth and lil Ari, didn’t see you two there,” he tipped his brown soft leathered cowboy hat in welcoming. Jimmy looked at them and rolled his eyes, “Look a little rain can’t ruin the day, so let’s get the sh…” He was interrupted by a loud rumble of thunder, “You were saying?” Grinned old Fred after the thunder stopped. Eliza snuck a look out side, “I take that very severe” she pulled a strained face. “People I’m sorry to say but the show is OFFICIALLY off,” Said Fred solemnly facing all the people within the barn, “Don’t worry there is always next year!”
While Elizabeth stayed inside the barn to talk to Fred, Ari trotted out side on her horse Blazingstar. Blaze was a spectacular sight. In the rain a magnificent white glow seemed to surround his pure white body like a protective force field, his eyes glittered like distant stars and even in the center of his head it seemed to glow. He looked… magical. “Oh Blaze…” Ari sighed to her stallion, “I’m so glad you’re my horse,” Blaze nodded his head up and down as if to say: I’m glad too. “If only you were really a unicorn… just like in my story…” Her horse gave a smug smile. “What are you smiling about?” Ari laughed at her horse. Nothing… said a cocky voice in her head. Arianna looked at her horse but tossed the thought off. As if.
To be continued
