Page 168 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Donna had grown up in a herd of unicorns that lived in the southeast of the Dark Enchanted Forest.
But Donna was not a unicorn.
Brownie had always assumed Donna was something more than the usual knowing animal like the other talking squirrels and badgers and birds of the Dark Enchanted Forest. Those animals did not have magic, while Donna was the opposite.
The family structure of the herd was ambiguous to Brownie, since there was no feeling ofmotherorsisterorwife. Donna’s mother, whom she had few memories of, was aunicorn.
But Donna was not.
After her mother was gone, there was onlythe herd. Including Donna, though she had a strange hesitancy and frustration that clouded her perception of the head stallion and the head mare. At this time, though, Donna wasn’t trying to explain everything; Donna was just letting it all out in a torrent of anger and fear andmemory.
Brownie pieced things together while she continued to pet her mare slowly.
The southern unicorn herd were the protectors of the Moondew Meadow that held a magical pond. Brownie knew the name already and could fill in the blanks. This pond was enchanted, and any creature who drank from its waters would becomeknowing. The unicorns used it to enhance their magical powers, and some unlocked specialized skills when they leveled up that made them even more powerful.
The herds would roam between the Drendil border and Lake Loria, all the way east to Kith Bog. But no matter where the forest took them, every unicorn would always return to their meadow. Donna always knew where the wildflower fields and enchanted pond waters lay. All throughout the memory, Brownie never felt a sense of belonging except for when Donna felt the pull of the enchanted waters guarded by the herd of unicorns.
The herd had a few troubles, like the dire wolves who came down to the meadow to try their luck. Or that one frog prince who kept trying to get the young mares to kiss him. Or, Brownie thought, the loneliness. Still, Donna was able to grow up with others who could understand her.
And the herd wasstrong; the herd wasone.
Untilheleveled up.
The unicorn that had attacked Donna.
In her memories, he’d tormented her first. Angry that she was with a part of the herd and using every opportunity to make her feel that unwelcome. After he became stronger, he pushed her further and further from the safety of the herd, refusing her access to the enchanted pond and it’s replenishing magic.
Brownie suddenly knew his name as clear as she knew her own: Bodum Brightcharge. A stallion whose level up granted him immense power and agility.
Not enough to catch Donna, who had unlocked her own fast travel skill, but he didn’t need to catch her right away.
He just needed to catch her when her ability was on cooldown.
Brownie kept petting her horse through the memory. She even managed not to cry.
And Brownie realized why Donna, her magical and wonderful and funny mare, was addicted to enchanted carrots.
CHAPTER 103
Fast Travel It Is
Rufus
I found Bronwynn in the stables with Donna, and immediately felt the air had cleared between the two.
Whatever level attributes Bronwynn had that let her hide from my skills didn’t matter. When I saw the soft smile that graced my bard’s face as she talked to her horse, I knew.
“Are we ready to head out?” I asked, standing under the overhang and dripping water everywhere. No sense taking off my cloak if I needed to go out and get the wagon ready.
Bronwynn exchanged looks with Donna and nodded firmly. “Yes. Let’s get this over with.”
Donna neighed.
“Really?” Bronwynn asked, surprised. Then she chuckled. “I’ve been saying that a lot today. Thank you.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Donna said she will fast travel us to the Hollow!” My bard smiled. She set about saddling the mare and preparing to get her strapped into the wagon. “It will save us the day’s travel. I bet we could get there by noon if nothing, uh,excitinghappens.”
