Erasure of No Such Thing As Unicorns

[chasingtides]

Title: Erasure of sgrio's No Such Thing As Unicorns

Um, supernatural horses?

The one in leather's studying No, son.

Tall one perks up.

you're alone on a long, muddy stretch of country road.

The land is low and wet
prickling thistles low scrubs sucking pools of water shifting mists more brown than white.

a tree, and tall yellow grass rustling between more grey than yellow

moon-washed

something moving in the water

you're imagining things.

No neck or body,

just

a
huge
black
head

watches you with intent.

this
is
moon-madness

the body is heaving up out of the water

soft sounds in the wet sod

a beautiful creature, long and gracefully proportioned warm breath, silky nose

It has chosen you. It's flanks are strong and smooth.

a blacksmith, horseshoes, a bridle

still
patiently

Waits.

you can control this

and the two of you stand for a moment

the horse moves under you
the horse ignores you completely
coarse and slimy
matted and rough
you can feel it's ribs

You
savagely
kick and yell and fight

you don't dare jump.


you didn't notice when you began to get wet
brackish and smelly

you had been such a fool

knuckles white
they disappear
clammy water
one
last
prayer-


a happy ending?
hear about your brother
your brave brother


your brother
shouts and dives
the murky water
deep
you're holding your breath
nothing but skeletons for company

a strong arm suddenly wraps around you
forcing out that last breath of air

away
up
and you rip a hank of hair from the horse's mane

unclench your fingers

surface
gasp
half-drowned

choking and coughing and full of water

spin in the mud and then you're off,

There's nothing but water-weeds in your hands.

never ride another horse

Tall One looks up

Leather Jacket nods slowly.

You forgot something, he says.

Sometimes
Njogel turns human

hunters

a fine gift

Yeah, Leather Jacket says. Yeah.

See you tonight.