Unicorn's Blood

Sylvan walked down the overgrown dirt path in the forest. Stopping to rest, he uncorked his flask and drank his water. It was hot and growing more so as the morning turned into afternoon.

He sat down within the shade of the trees, checking his bow and arrows and seeing that they were still in good condition. Well, they should be; he had tested them a few times since he bought them from George Smith, the Armorer. However, he never used them. He only had one purpose for them.

His boots were another story. There were holes worn in them, with his toes starting to show through. He should have purchased another pair before he started on his quest.

He checked his sack, making sure he had enough food. He was good for a few more days. If he didn't find a town with a marketplace-or at least a house where the owner was willing to sell him some food-he would have to use the arrows to hunt for food. However, he did not want to use them for this purpose. He was on a quest and he needed the arrows for this.

Sylvan reached down into the bottom of his sack. It was still there, safely wrapped up in a cloth-the silver cup. If this got lost-or was stolen-he would not be able to complete the quest.

Sylvan's quest was for unicorn's blood. It could not be from just any unicorn; it must be from a black unicorn. Once he had slain the unicorn, he must pour the blood into the silver cup and drink from the cup.

Sylvan realized that finding a black unicorn would be difficult-they were rare, with only a few seen in the forest. The thought of drinking the blood made him slightly shudder. However, the rewards were great.

Eternal life was what he wanted.

"I love living," Sylvan told a cleric in town a short time ago.

"I do not want to die. I have so many things I want to do. I wish I could live forever."

"Unicorn's blood is the answer," the cleric replied.

"What does unicorn's blood have to do with this?"

"The black unicorn has magical qualities in its blood. When you slay the unicorn, pour the blood into a silver cup and drink it, you will be rewarded with eternal life. However, be careful what you wish for," said the cleric wisely. "Sometimes you get what you want. Yet, it may not be what you wanted."

After speaking to the cleric, Sylvan knew he had to hunt for and slay a black unicorn. Then after drinking the blood, he would be able to live forever. He ran back to his room at the Stoneville Inn and grabbed what money he had.
************************
"I do not have enough money to buy one of these," Sylvan thought to himself as he looked at the silver cups on the shelf at the marketplace. "Even the smallest one is too expensive." Stroking his chin, he stood there thinking. He had already bought his arrows and was now at the marketplace getting food and supplies. "I know what to do."

He turned to the shopkeeper. "Sir, I just remember. I need to get a drinking flask. Do you have any?" He knew where they were in the market. Luckily, he forgot that he would need to get one.

"Of course! I will get you one."

As soon as the shopkeeper had turned his back, Sylvan reached out his hand, grabbed one of the cups and put it in his sack.

"Here you go sir," the shopkeeper returned with a flask. "Are you going to be traveling far?"

"Just going hunting. I may be gone for a few days."

"May I interest you in a new pair of boots? Yours look like they are getting worn."

"Oh no thank you. Mine will do."

Wanting to get out of the market before the shopkeeper noticed the missing cup, Sylvan quickly paid for his supplies and left the shop.
*****************
Now sitting in the shade, Sylvan regretted not buying a new pair of boots. Rubbing his feet, he thought he would be only gone for a couple of days. Still he had seen no signs of the black unicorns. He should have seen at least one by now.

"What am I doing wrong?" Sylvan asked himself, running hsi fingers through his black curly hair.

He sat and thought some more. A slight breeze was moving through the stillness of the day's heat. It was as if the breeze was singing to him.

"Wait a minute," Sylvan said. "Somebody is singing!"

Sylvan listened and certainly heard somebody singing. well, it really wsn't singing. Just a person, sounded like a female, going "La, La, La! La, La La!"

The person was singing the words over and over. Sylvan walked through the trees towwards the sound of the singing. He came upon a stream and, there filling a water bottle, was a beautiful young woman singing, "La, La, La! La, La, La!"

"Oh," she said jumping up, placing her hand over her heart. "I did not know anyone was here!"

"That is okay," Sylvan said. "Do you live near here?"

"Yes." My parents and I live just down the road. Come and have something to eat."

"I will carry these for you," Sylvan said, picking up the water jugs. After the days traveling in the forest, these felt as heavy as boulders. Yet, he wanted to prove that he was a man to this woman.

"My name is Sylvan."

"I am Leelah."

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen. And you?"

"Twenty-one."

"Maybe I should forget about the unicorn quest," Sylvan thought to himself, "and think about a new one. Leelah is beautiful; maybe we can get married."

"So how long have you been traveling in the forest," Leelah interrupted his thoughts.

"Almost three weeks."

"Here we are," said Leelah, when they came up to a small shack. "Come in, my mother is cooking a roast. She always makes extra in case we have visitors."

"Do you get many visitors?"

"We get a few each week. It is just people passing through from one town to the other."

"Why are you living in the forest? There are not other families living nearby, are there?"

"We just want a simple life. We hunt and grow our own produce. We do not like the bustle in the towns. We only go there to sell our produce and buy supplies. Come inside and meet my father."
***********
"So what brings you to this part of the forest," Leelah's father asked.

Sylvan, had just finished his second helping of roast. He leaned back in his chair, satisfied. He had not eaten this good in days.

"I have been looking for a black unicorn. So far I have not seen any sign of them."

"Oh I love unicorns!" Leelah exclaimed delightedly. "They always come up to me as I sing when I am fishing."

"Of course!" Sylvan said to himself. "Unicorns only come up to virgin women. Leelah must be a virgin."

"I would like to see a unicorn," Sylvan said. "Maybe you can show me one."

"That will have to wait until morning," Leelah's mother said. "It is getting dark outside. We have an extra room you can spend the night in."
**********************
The next morning, after a meal of eggs and ham, Leelah and Sylvan set out. She was carrying a fishing pole.

"Unicorns always come to me when I am fishing. I am not sure why, but when my father is with me, they never show up."

"Maybe they are attracted by your beautiful singing. Then maybe, they just like to approach one person. If I want to see them, I better hide in the trees."

"Are you a hunter?" Leelah asked, indicating Sylvan's bow and arrows.

Sylvan had not told Leelah what he had been planning to do. He was not sure if she would be willing to help him if she knew. Yet, once he got the unicorn's blood, he was going to offer some to her. They both could have eternal marriage bliss. He planned to ask her father as soon as they got back.

"I do a little hunting," Sylvan replied, "mostly for food." In a way he was telling the truth. Unicorn's blood can give him the same amount of nourishment as a piece of meat.

They came to the stream and sat down on a boulder. She cast her line into the water and, while waiting for the fish to bite, Leelah started singing, "La, La, La! La, La La!"

"How long does it take for a unicorn to show up?" Sylvan saked after a few minutes.

"Usually after I start singing."

Sylvan stood up. "I am going to go over there and see if I can hunt something for your supper; to pay you and your parents back for your hospitality."

He walked away from the stream and hid behind some trees. He watched, waiting in anticipation.

Within minutes, Sylvan heard a rustling of leaves. Could it be? Yes! It was a unicorn. From the tip of its horn to the bottom of its hooves, it was black.

The unicorn cautiouslly looked around. It slowly approached the singing figure sitting by the stream. Entranced by her voice, it lowered its head into her lap.

Leelah reached out her hand and stroked its neck.

Sylvan slowly fitted an arrow on the bowstring. Making as little noise as possible, he drew back. Being sure that he would not hit Leelah, he let the arrow fly.

"La, La, La! La..."

Leelah's eyes popped open in surprise as the unicorn suddenly jumped up. It ran around wildly for a few seconds, then collasped on the ground.

Too surprised to do anything, she watched as Slyvan came running from the trees. He reached into his sack and pulled out the silver cup. He ran up to the fallen unicorn and filled the cup with he blood running from its wound.

Taking a drink, he offered the cup to Leelah.

"Who do you think you are?" she said, striking him across the cheek. "You tricked me!"

"Don't you see," Sylvan said. "We can be together forever."

"I want nothing to do with you!" Leelah screamed at him. "Leave me alone and never speak to me again!" She stormed off.

Shrugging his shoulders, Sylvan finished drinking the unicorn's blood.
************************

100 Years Later

The old man shuffled down the dirt path in the forest. He would walk a few feet, then he would have to rest. His arthritis would only allow him to go so far.

He had traveled this forest many times and knew where every turn was. It was a good thing, since the slightest stumble would send him falling to the ground. It would be very hard for him to get back up. He came to a clearing where a shack once stood. Leelah, dead for years, never gave him a single thought since he killed the unicorn and drank its blood. While she could have been walking along with him, it was best that she never drank the unicorn's blood.

Sylvan shook his head sadly.

He remembered when he first expressed his wish to have eternal life. The cleric had told him that he had to drink unicorn's blood.

The cleric had said, "Be careful what you wish for. Sometimes you get what you want. Yet, it may not be what you wanted."

How true the cleric's words! Sylvan got the eternal life he wanted. His mind is as alert as ever. He will live forever. However, he body still ages.

Eternal life is not a blessing.

It is a curse!