Then, she saw it. Waiting absolutely silent only a few feet from her was the unicorn.
The creature was magnificent! It's hide shone gleaming white, making Jon wonder how it kept itself hidden so effectively. To her surprise, it bore little resemblance to a horse. It lacked the size, for one thing, being only about as tall as Jon herself without its horn, and its muzzle was a bit more delicate and short. A flowing mane covered its long neck, almost touching the ground. Twitching behind it was a tail that looked a bit feline, though it had a tuft of fur covering the latter half of it, long and gossamer enough to be called a plume. Dainty cloven hooves tapped the ground without leaving any prints.
Jon stared into the creature's deep, black eyes, totally mesmerized. When it glided forward and pressed its muzzle into her cheek, she automatically reached out and embraced it like a beloved pet, running her fingers through its silky mane and caressing the base of its horn. Immediately, a sense of peace overcame her, making her feel that all was truly right in the world. It no longer mattered that she was lost, that she used to be a boy, that she needed to get home. She belonged here, just a girl and her unicorn. Forever.
With a light laugh, she climbed to her feet and moved to the unicorn's side. Eyeing its back, she judged that it could carry her weight. As if reading her mind, the unicorn sidled up to her and bent down slightly to give her easy access.
Bracing herself against the unicorn's back, Jon bit her lip. Should she?
