Tag: unicorn

Welcome to Paradise

Chris Hall20 Comments
The image shows a beautiful garden with illuminated trees and brightly coloured flowers

The heavy door clanged shut behind her. Sinead wheeled around, drawing the Sword of Elshain for protection. The weapon glowed only dimly: no threat was apparent.

Sinead advanced through a lofty hallway, which opened into a still larger, circular atrium. Double doors swung open at the far side and a warm, fragrant breeze wafted in. Sinead hastened forward, filling her lungs with the scents of fruits and flowers, and tasting the honey-dewed air.

She stepped out into patchwork of verdant greenery, laid out in manicured magnificence. Was this really the place where Mother Earth was being held?

‘We’ve been waiting for you.’

A woman, neither young nor old, dressed in flowing emerald robes emerged from a blossom-filled orange grove. Moonsprite was at her side, whinnying gently. Sinead dropped her sword and ran towards them, burying her face in Moonsprite’s mane.

In that moment, their reunion was all that seemed important.

Image credit: ‘Alley Of Roses’ by Leonid Afremov on Deviant Art

Previous episodes of Sinead’s Final Quest an epic tale, unfolding in tiny 150 word increments.

Sinead Alone

Chris Hall29 Comments

a photo of an empty beach

Sinead relaxed at last, curled up in her cloak in the warm cave to which Eileran had brought them. Moonsprite stood dozing peacefully, her beautiful white mane carefully combed out by another of the Sisters. Eileran had brought food and the two Sisters had withdrawn, urging them to rest.

After so many weeks of uncertainty, everything was falling into place, just as had been foretold in the Prophesy Book. There were only two final challenges to face, and they were now amongst friends. Moonsprite whinnied softly in her sleep as Sinead slipped into peaceful slumber.

Sinead awoke with a start. The Crystal was pulsating. She freed it from her jerkin as she leapt to her feet. Its light flooded the cave. Moonsprite had gone. Sinead hurried to the cave mouth and looked out. The pale pre-dawn light revealed nothing but an empty beach and dark waves lapping on the shore.

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The Sisterhood’s Welcome

Chris Hall21 Comments

figures in a dark landscape

Sinead felt the muscles in Moonsprite’s neck tense as she buried her fingers in her unicorn’s silvery mane. Her right hand was already clenched around the hilt of her sword. As the circle of torch-bearers closed in around them, Sinead felt the Crystal pulsate inside her jerkin.

A tall stately figure emerged from the circle, dark hair flowing to her waist. The woman stepped forward. Her eyes met Sinead’s, gazing into them steadily. Then she nodded and bowed her head.

The woman turned to the members of the circle, holding her torch aloft. ‘It is she!’ Her clear voice announced. Her eyes flashed in the torchlight.

Turning to Sinead, she spoke more softly. ‘I am Eileran. The Sisterhood welcomes you.’ She held out her hand. ‘Come, you must rest. When the sun rises again, we must summon the Dwarf of the Deep Mines. Without his skills all will be lost.’

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Torches in the Darkness

Chris Hall36 Comments

Two torches shining in the darkness with water in the backgrond

Moonsprite took off at a gallop, her silver hooves beating out the passage of time. The late afternoon shadows were lengthening more quickly than Sinead would have ever anticipated. Her unicorn sped on into the sunset’s orange glare. They were aware of nothing but the dazzling sunset and the need to complete their journey before the day ended.

Sinead tasted the tang of salt in the air and felt the freshening breeze on her face. Moonsprite’s pace was slower, her progress hampered by the deepening sand under her pounding hooves. Flecks of foam appeared her flanks as she desperately pressed on.

The flaming sky turned purple as the last lip of the sun disappeared below the horizon in a final orange flare. Moonsprite’s steps faltered in the soft sand and Sinead slid from her back.

Torches borne by shadowy figures flared around them, moving ever closer in the velvet darkness.

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The Race to the End of the World

Chris Hall27 Comments

Black and grey image of tree trunks

Sinead opened her eyes. Charred tree stumps and scorched earth were all that remained of the beautiful forest. The centaur had gone, the forest creatures, too. Safe, she hoped. Had the Crystal of Nor caused that? But why?

She knew that the Crystal was an agent of protection. A relic from before the time of the Oppressors. It had fallen to her to carry it with her; not to question its purpose.

Sinead reached into Moonsprite’s saddle bag from where it still glowed. She held it aloft. It brightened, pulsating like a heartbeat, pointing a finger of light on the path ahead.

The bridge arched upwards, climbing more steeply than before. The distance remaining, impossible to tell. The sun, now a great orange globe, was beginning its descent. Moonsprite shook her silvery mane and stamped her hooves. It would be a race against time to reach the end before sunset.

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The Crystal Awakes

Chris Hall35 Comments

sinead's final quest - the light from the crysal of nor on lunasonline

‘Come rest awhile, my lady.’ The handsome creature bowed his head, softly pawing the ground with a bronzed hoof. ‘Come for an hour, a day, a year. Taste our fruits, bathe in our streams.’ He ran his tongue over his lips. ‘Lie on a soft bed of leaves and listen to the music of the forest.’

The centaur advanced to the edge of the bridge and gazed down at Sinead with long-lashed amber eyes. ‘Walk with me,’ he whispered. His eyes fell on Moonsprite. ‘Come, pretty creature.’ His words dripped like honey.

Arching her neck, Moonsprite snorted loudly. A searing shaft of light rose like a spear from her saddlebag. Sinead wheeled around and flung it open.

The Crystal of Nor burned with diamond intensity. Sinead leapt away from it, burying her face in Moonsprite’s mane. The centaur let out a deafening roar as the forest was engulfed in darkness.

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Crossing the Bridge

Chris Hall25 Comments

a picture of a foggy pathway

Sinead wrapped her arms around Moonsprite’s neck, resting her cheek on her unicorn’s silver mane. Moonsprite cantered swiftly through thick shrouds of morning mist. Beneath her hooves was the shimmering Bridge to the End of the World, suspended in a ghostly void.

Images tugged and twisted in Sinead’s mind as Moonsprite pressed onward. Ghostly faces formed from the fog. She cowered beneath a vision of Last of the Oppressors. It reached for her and she tried to scream, but no sound came. Its huge arm swiped at her. Moonsprite veered, breaking into a gallop, sparks flying from her hooves. The monster Sinead had once destroyed melted into the mist.

The day wore on. Beams of sunlight pooled around them. Green tendrils sprouted along their path, flowers bloomed and sweet perfume filled the air. A lush woodland paradise unfurled beside the bridge; temptation beyond the imagination. Moonsprite slowed to a walk.

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The Bridge to the End of the World

Chris Hall16 Comments

Sinead's Final Quest - the bridge to the end of the world

Sinead shivered in the pre-dawn blackness. Moonsprite stamped her hooves on the cold stone of the castle battlements. They waited, as Tarron had commanded.

As the lip of the sun appeared on the horizon, Tarron raised his staff. Out of the darkness, a golden pathway shimmered into view. The eyes of the elderly elf fixed unwaveringly on the pathway as he spoke. ‘The Bridge to the Edge of the World appears only on this, the longest day of the year. You must travel swiftly. Do not look over the edge. Do not stop for anything.’

Tarron whispered in Moonsprite’s ear and the silver unicorn lowered her neck. She whinnied gently, encouraging her mistress to mount.

‘Go now,’ Tarron commanded. ‘Remember, you have only until nightfall.’

Moonsprite sprang onto the Bridge and set off at a canter. Sinead glanced over her shoulder. Tarron stood, staff raised, a ghostly Hound beside him.

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The End of the Beginning

Chris Hall20 Comments

empty corridors seen from above

‘The Chalice!’ the words echoed inside Sinead’s head. She’d dropped it when she’d retrieved her sword. The Hound stirred as she leapt to her feet and scurried along the passageway. Tarron, the elderly elf, stood in the archway where she and the Hound had first entered the Great Maze. He smiled. The Chalice of Earthly Liberation was in his hand and Moonsprite, her unicorn, stood beside him.

‘The Hound…’ Sinead began. Tarron shook his head, pulling her urgently through the archway. She turned and looked back. There was just an empty room. The Hound, the monster and the maze were gone.

‘Grieve not, Sinead, it was the Hound’s destiny.’ Moonsprite edged forward and nuzzled Sinead’s neck.

Tarron placed the Chalice into Moonsprite’s saddle bag. ‘Hurry now, I will lead you to the Bridge to the Edge of the World. You must cross while you still can, then gather the Sisterhood.’

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Unto Slumber

Chris Hall21 Comments

pic shows a young woman asleep

Tarron laid a hand on Moonsprite’s neck. ‘She will come with me.’

Sinead began to protest, but the elderly elf spoke: ‘The challenge is for you alone. Fear not, she will be safe.’ Tarron whispered in Moonsprite’s ear and the unicorn whinnied softly.

‘The Hound will accompany you.’ Tarron removed the great beast’s leach. The Hound stood up and shook himself.

‘The Prophesy Book!’ Sinead reached for Moonsprite’s saddlebag.

‘It will be of no help to you in the Great Maze,’ said Tarron. ‘Now go.’

The Hound at her side, Sinead stepped through the archway. The chamber lit up before them. People were feasting, there was music and laughter. Someone led her to a table and gave her meat and bread; people nodded and smiled. The Hound was given food too. Sinead ate with relish but the Hound didn’t touch his bowl. As she slipped into unconsciousness, she realised why.

Image credit: Byzantium by Michael C Hays on Deviant Art

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