E – Escape?

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

When last we met. The 8 folktale seekers were following the unicorn’s trail. Druin had captured it and taken it by wagon to his cave hideaway in the forest.

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

E – Escape?

With a silken rope binding it, the unicorn could not escape. Though powerless to escape, it did have other abilities that it could or could not choose to use. The healing power of its magical horn was one of them. 

Druin was well aware of this. The blood from the wounds that the unicorn had inflicted on him had decreased in flow, but had not stopped. Druin demanded that the unicorn, as his captive, heal the wounds. The unicorn refused.

Both realized that their lives were in each other’s control. Bargaining was futile. Druin could kill the unicorn, but would the horn still have its magic after death? Nothing in his research supported this option. As to the unicorn, should Druin die of his wounds, who would there be to rescue the bound unicorn? It could die from starvation.

It was then that Druin heard a slight noise coming from the front of the cave. Having left the wagon in front of the cave opening might certainly have given away his presence in the cave, but it would have to be moved in order for someone to enter. That movement would be a warning to him, giving him time to escape through a bolthole in the back of the cave. 

But this noise was not of a wagon moving. It was more of a small animal scurrying. Probably nothing to concern him, though, he kept his senses heightened for possible trouble.

Meanwhile, the Teeny-tiny Woman, being very small, managed to get past the wagon and inch her way in far enough to see the scene in front of her. 

She saw the unicorn tied up with a rope around its neck, and its legs hobbled with the same rope. There was also a man opposite the unicorn. He appeared to be lost in thought, but did take a look in her direction when she had entered the cave. The Teeny-tiny Woman was well enough hidden at that time so that she wasn’t noticed. She chose not to make any more steps. 

Pinocchio had also made it beyond the wagon without disturbing it. Pinocchio stationed himself so that he could remain hidden from those inside yet could see the Teeny-tiny Woman. He waited for a signal from her. They had pre-arranged certain signs that would feed each other information, so that Pinocchio could inform the rest of their group of the situation. 

Pinocchio returned to the others with that information. There was one man and the unicorn. The unicorn was bound head and leg. 

Their original plans were altered. Lion would roar its terrifying roar as a distraction to mask the Gruffs moving the wagon. Gretel would walk in slowly, pleading for help, saying that there was a lion after her. With the man, hopefully taken off guard, the lion and the Gruffs would rush in and attempt to take a position between the man and the unicorn. Jack would follow, going to the unicorn, and cut the rope that bound it, setting it free. 

It was hoped that all would happen fast enough before the man could act. Being outnumbered by such a formidable group, it was hoped that the man would give up.

All went pretty much to plan, with the exception that Druin did not give up.

Druin did not doubt that his quest for the unicorn had ended. He knew that the unicorn would never be his. The unicorn, having seen his face, and now recognizing his smell, would never allow itself to be visible again to him.  However, that did not mean he had to submit to the justice of these rescuers. There was always the bolthole, and no one was blocking that. And that was where Druin escaped – out through the bolthole and into the unknown. Whether he survived or not, considering his wound was still open, is not known. The rescuers’ goal had been achieved. The unicorn had been found and freed. There was no need to seek revenge. 

Once out of the cave, the unicorn bowed to each of the eight. “You are all,” it said, “my friends. Yes, even you, Lion. Should you ever need my assistance, you may call on me. I am in your debt.”

So saying, the unicorn disappeared right before their eyes. 

“Well,” said Jack, “We were looking for an adventure, and we certainly found one.”

Gretel said to the lion, “We are grateful for your help in this quest, for without you there would not have been an adventure to be had.”

The lion responded, “It is I who should thank you all. If you recall, when we first met, I said that I do not make friends with other species. You have proven me wrong, for now, I have more friends than I’ve ever had before.”

They parted ways, each going back to their own stories. They wanted to thank the wise man for his counsel, but he, too, had moved on.  

Will we see any of these characters again? Time will tell. My muse says that there are still many letters left in this alphabet. Who knows?