C – Catch Me If You Can

If you are just starting to read this story, you might first want to go back to the beginning of it – A – The Adventure Begins. https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4967

When last we met, the lion led his folktale troupe in search of the unicorn, only to find out the unicorn had been forcefully taken away. With some discussion, they agree to follow its trail and rescue the unicorn if possible. 

(Part 3 of 5 of The Unicorn and the Lion)

C – Catch Me If You Can

There have always been unicorn seekers. Those who wish to benefit from the powers of their magical horns. Those who just want to own one. Those who are just jealous that the unicorns exist because they are different, and wish to eliminate them all.

Druin was such a person. He wanted it all. Not only did he want to own one, but he also wanted to own the only one. 

It took a while for him to track down this unicorn. It was, for all intents and purposes, the last one. Unicorns have a way of hiding themselves in plain sight. But Druin was determined. 

It’s easy to find people who have seen a unicorn, for they always want to brag about it, though not that many believe them. Druin followed each supposed sighting. It took him to different parts of the world. Very few of these sightings were at the same location. The (said) unicorn was never in the same place twice. That was until recently, when all sightings came from the same section of forest he was in. 

Druin moved quietly, finding numerous places where he could conceal himself. Moving from one to the other, waiting and waiting; his patience bore fruit. 

He was hiding that day in a very secluded section of the forest. It was silent. There was no wind, so his scent would not be noticed by other creatures, when all of a sudden, she appeared. She was majestic. Her flowing golden mane, pure white muscular body, and the ever-present golden spiraled horn, stood out. 

Druin would have to be quick, for if his evil intent was sensed, or he spooked the unicorn away, he would never find it again. 

Druin had practiced this part for most of his lifetime. The rope, being made of silk and purchased from a fair young kind maiden and made into a lasso, was set. One end of this silken rope had already been secured to a large tree. All that was needed was to get the noose on the other end of the rope around the unicorn’s neck.

He waited until the unicorn put its head down to eat something from the ground. At that moment, Druin hurled the rope just over where the unicorn was. The unicorn, sensing something flying through the air in his direction, quickly brought his head up to see what it was, as the noose at the end of Druin’s rope came down. 

It was too late for the unicorn, as it realized what was happening. It tried to run away, but it was caught. It would not give up without a fight. 

And struggle they did. Druin, trying to clutch the unicorn’s mane, only to end up with handfuls of golden hair. The unicorn, kicking and biting, trying to get free, and leaving Druin with numerous cuts and bruises. 

As time went on, fatigue was taking its toll on both of them, but which would succumb first? The unicorn was at a distinct disadvantage; it did have a noose that was tightening around its neck with each move it made, and breathing was more difficult.

At last, the unicorn gave up from exhaustion. It collapsed in a heap, still barely breathing, and lost consciousness. 

All that was needed was to drag the unicorn away. Druin secured the unicorn to a wagon that he had procured, managed to get the unicorn aboard, and took it to his cave hideaway, within the very same forest. 

Victory was his; he had captured the unicorn. No one would catch him now.

To be Continued in  –  D – Discovered