The Unicorn Thief Read Online Free PDF

bow.
    â€œWithout them?” Twig looked desperately at the sleeping unicorns.
    â€œWe have no choice.”
    Twig parted the branches, and Ben ducked out first, before she could. They stood there side by side in the morning mist, bows in hand, ready to aim and shoot. If only they could see their targets.
    Ben’s arm ached with tension. It seemed like ages before he spotted the ghostly white forms gliding through the fog.
    The long, sharp horn of a majestic unicorn glittered in the mist. A pink scar marred its creamy coat—a wound inflicted by Ben. Two more horns appeared, bobbing in the dappled light and cutting through the fog. Three unicorns. They were outnumbered.
    But instead of neighing a threat, the creatures called out softly, curiously. Ben had heard nothing but sounds of hunger, of vicious eagerness, of battle, and of pain from them for so long. “Don’t shoot,” he whispered to Twig. “Not yet.”
    â€œWhat do they want?”
    â€œI’m not sure.”
    Should they try to drive them away from the hollow, or was it time to welcome them as friends? A surge of panic flowed through the already pounding pulse of action. Without Indy, he felt so vulnerable, empty-handed in spite of the weapons in his hands. If they charged and he and Twig didn’t manage to shoot them first… Father. Father, what should I do?
    Twig glanced at him nervously, expectantly. Her thin fingers curled, white with fear, around her bow.
    â€œBreathe deep, Twig. Think calm. No fear. They’ll sense it.”
    Twig nodded slowly. Three pale forms edged closer. Out of the corner of his eye, Ben watched Twig shut hers. Her lips moved a little. Talking to herself. Or to God. Praying. Her hands relaxed, and her eyes opened.
    The unicorns snorted and sniffed. One of them pranced even closer, then circled back away—playfully?
    They nickered at each other, and then they leaped away. A few yards into the trees, one of them paused and looked back.
    â€œHey there, friend.” Ben gave the unicorn a reassuring nod. “It’s good to see you again.”
    ***
    Just moments after Twig and Ben ducked back into the hollow, Wonder and Indy opened their eyes and rose to their feet. They showed no signs of the strange, deep sleep. They sniffed the air curiously and nickered to each other, probably about the other unicorns that had come so close.
    Twig was grateful they were all right and that she and Ben had had a peaceful encounter with the herd. Still, what had caused that odd, deep sleep? What if it happened again? What if one of the more aggressive wild unicorns sensed that they were vulnerable and tried to take them out?
    Twig and Ben tacked up their unicorns and headed out of the hollow, in search of the herd. It seemed that at least a few of them were willing to consider the herders as something other than enemies—or prey. But how would they react to Indy and Wonder, whom Dagger had seen as such a threat?
    Wonder sniffed and nickered to Indy. Indy sniffed too. He neighed softly in agreement.
    â€œWe’re close,” Ben said.
    â€œTo a unicorn?”
    The ferns rustled a few yards away. Wonder lurched forward, but Twig pulled her back. “Whoa, girl,” she said softly. “Not yet. Not like that.”
    Indy voiced his own low warning. Ben gave Twig a nod and motioned for her to back up while he and Indy went forward slowly, steadily. “Follow,” he whispered, “just like this.”
    Wonder followed Indy, though her restraint was much more forced. An anguished cry came from the undergrowth. Ben and Indy stopped, and Twig reined Wonder in beside them. Wonder pinned her ears and peered into the flattened brush. A unicorn lay there with an ugly, enflamed gash on its side.
    Ben looked a little like he was going to be sick. He sounded hoarse as he said, “That’s Bounce. She always had a funny hop to her step.”
    An unsettling mixture of emotions burned