As a very young girl, her father had once told Sioni stories about an enchanted unicorn that supposedly lived in the woods bordering her village. The blood of that unicorn was said to be so powerful it could cure any disease, even restore life to the dead.

“Oh, husband, must you fill our daughter’s head with such fluff? You know those stories aren’t true.”

“Papa, papa, I don’t care. Keep telling me…”

And so he did. Stories about princesses saved by the unicorn, attempts by the less sundry to kill the unicorn, always thwarted, of course, because this wondrous animal was said to have some kind of magical, mystical protection that kept it safe.

The unicorn stood now in the clearing, flicking its tail in a friendly manner. Its eyes were filled with an intelligent light. Sioni found herself drawn to it. Half-afraid, but mostly excited. Before she knew what was happening, the unicorn was kneeling gracefully at her feet.

Sioni somehow understood what this meant. She quickly climbed on top of the unicorn.