The sound of a horse screaming in distress and pain was not something that Lysithea ever thought that she would have to hear, and it was certainly not something she wanted to wake her from a deep sleep.
She sat bolt upright when the scream sounded and her heart was pounding wildly, eyes wide with fear and confusion. That…hadn’t been a normal sound, she knew that, and in the time it took her brain to catch up with her, to realize that there was only one equine creature in the area that it could have been…
Lysithea rubbed her face and took hold of her blanket, thankful that her food was still safe in her subspace pocket, it would be easier to eat that way if she didn’t…but, no. Obviously, something was wrong and the unicorn needed her now. At least, she hoped that was what was going on, and when she scrambled out of the tent, tripping over her own feet in the darkness, she knew that it was exactly what was going on.
There was a bright shape at the bottom of the hill, with a faint glow coming from the horn on its head. Reaching into her subspace pocket, she pulled out the small flashlight she had bought in case she had to go out in the dark and shined it on the ground as she hurried down to see what had happened.
Obviously it was something bad, animals…hell, nothing made a sound like that unless something was really wrong…cats might but…this wasn’t a cat.
She moved carefully, so as not to take a tumble the same way that the unicorn seemed to have done, and as she drew closer, she began to talk softly, hoping that maybe her voice would calm the creature, if only a little.
The idea of getting stabbed by that horn wasn’t…anything pleasant, that was for sure. “Hey buddy, it’s Lysithea again, I’m going to assume that you fell down, I’m just here to make sure that you’re all right…and…I’m sure you don’t know but I do have healing magic so…if you’re hurt, maybe I can help…”
Lysithea stiffened slightly as the unicorn tried to push itself to its feet, making another loud trumpet as it crumpled to the ground again, clearly unable to put weight on one of its back legs.
Well. Honestly, Lysiteha didn’t know much about horses or horse-like creatures but…a broken leg was one of the things that she knew wasn’t good. “Okay, well, like I said…I have healing magic so…don’t try to get up, okay?” She moved slowly, trying to keep herself in the sight of the unicorn who was already looking stressed and in pain…it wouldn’t do to spook it again by just moving behind it. So she kept up a soft bit of chatter and finally knelt beside the creature, reaching out to let it sniff her hand before she moved to take a look at the leg.
It was swollen, that was for sure and…that couldn’t mean anything good…but…she could do something. She had to. This was her unicorn. On her homeworld…if she couldn’t help someone here…then she had no right to be a senshi at all.
“Easy there. Like I said, I have healing magic, you know that I’m the Senshi of unicorns…and even though I know you don’t care much for me, I already love you so, that’s something, isn’t it?”
Softly, she reached out and lightly stroked along the unicorn’s flank. “There, see? I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help, I would never hurt you…Lysithea Healing Horn.” The energy of her magic shaped itself in her hand and she gently put the tip of the ethereal horn against the swollen leg, watching it as the swelling began to slowly recede. That…was an encouraging sight, and as the magic faded, the unicorn gave a small whicker, and moved as though to try and get up again. “Hey! Hey no, no…let’s just wait. I’ve only used it once, and I want to make sure it gets healed so let’s just you and I sit quietly for a while and I’ll use the next one on you, okay? Can you do that for me? You should rest anyway.”
Staying near the creature’s middle, Lysithea continued to softly stroke its flank, humming ever once in a while, and using her basic magic twice before the sky once again grew light.
This seemed to be enough to rid the unicorn of pain, and as Lysithea moved closer, she drew the brilliant head into her lap and softly stroked up and down the creature’s nose. “You just rest. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere. You need me, and I'm here for you.”
The time continued to pass, and at one point, they both slept, Lysithea still cradling the unicorn’s head in her lap, fingers threaded through the glistening white mane. It was peaceful, at least. If there was anywhere to get a broken leg it would be here,at the bottom of a flower covered hill, surrounded but wonderful smells and sights…it.
Was almost magical.
She got up once to tend to the leg again, using her last bit of her basic magic, happy that nearly all of the swelling was gone now…it…
Hopefully it was working. Hopefully this wouldn’t end badly, and while she wished Varuna was here, it was nice to know that she could deal with something like this on her own in a pinch. Nice to know that she could help the animals who were now populating her homeworld…it…
Was honestly something that made her feel quite proud. If she could help them…wasn’t that just one step closer to helping everyone? Now that they were here…now that they needed her, it…was another lawyer that she had to protect, another group to keep safe, but this…this was a personal thing. Sure, she could accept help, would accept help if she needed it, but Lysiteha was her responsibility. Her domain..this was her safe place. Her thriving safe space.
The thoughts had her in quiet compilation for another few hours as the unicorn continued to sleep. As dusk began to fall and the sky once again began to grow dark, Lysithea pressed a kiss to the unicorn’s nose and pulled away again, standing and stretching. It was hard to be so still for so long but…she had done her best. For all of this, she had done her best.
Walking back to look again at the wounded leg, Lysithe knelt down, murmuring. “Lysithea Healing Horn.” And again, touched the magic to the injury, holding her breath as the last of the swelling seemed to vanish, and the unicorn moved, swinging its head around to look at Lysithea with light pink eyes. Slowly, it whickered and rubbed Lysithea’s cheek with its soft, warm nose, and then moved to stand, pushing itself up.
For a moment, the unicorn seemed hesitant to put any weight on the once injured back leg, but when it did, when no pain came, it took a few steps, then a few running steps, and then ran right up to the top of the hill again, rearing back and kicking its forelegs in the air. It seemed as though it was out of joy this time rather than a display of something threatening, and Lysithea laughed, shaking her head before running up the hill to meet it, grinning brightly. “You’re okay! You’re really okay!”
She ran over to the unicorn, throwing her arms around the white neck, and was pleased to again feel the soft nose nuzzling her cheek, and Lysithea laughed again, pressing kisses all over the long face, feeling utterly joyful. This…was amazing. This felt so…
So right.
There was a sudden strong breeze, and flower petals filled the air as Lysithea hung on to the unicorn’s neck for support, surprised at the fury of the gust.
There was almost a voice on the wind. She could almost hear something sigh, and a soft, ”Finally.”, and then the unicorn’s horn began to glow softly and it whickered and nuzzled Lysithea once again, the tip of its horn touching her forehead just below her tiara. She stood still, worried that she would lose an eye if she moved too quickly or startled the poor thing but, the glow from the horn seemed to get brighter. That…
Drawing in a swift, confused breath, Lysithea took a step back, her eyes on her arm...her arm that now had a lovely glowing pattern snaking from her wrist to her elbow. That. That was new. She. That.
When she glanced down, the opposite leg was also glowing, showing through her stockings this…
Oh. Ganymede had glowed. It meant that she couldn’t be corrupted…if…
Oh.
“You…did you do this?” Lysithea flung her arms around the unicorn again, overwhelmed by the thought that she was safe that if this…was the same thing…she was safe from being taken again. From losing everything again…
“I…I need to go home now, but I’ll be back soon, okay? Stay away from the hill you silly! I…”
Her face was wet with joyful tears and she pressed another bunch of kisses to the unicorn’s face and wiped her own before she picked up her tent, taking care to get it folded before she headed back to camp, turning every few feet to wave at the unicorn.
She needn't have bothered, it was following close behind her, as though unwilling to let her go. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.” When the tent was put back into the plastic bin, and the food emptied out of her subspace pocket, she gave one more look around and drew in a deep breath, feeling lighter than she ever had, lighter than…she could ever remember.
This was…something else, that was for sure, but she was thankful for it. Thankful for all of it.
Giving one last glance towards the unicorn, she pressed the button on her phone and headed back to Destiny City.
