Cassta'sepear

The eternal cycle of time. (©SunBlind)

The winter had been long and harsh, with the wind coming of the sea as deep and biting as any of the elders could remember. Even as the herd huddled together in the shelter of the woods, the cold would work its way into their bones and make them shiver against each other.

And the snows fell, it would seem it would never end. It was up to the knees of the foals at best, and at worst, even the tallest of adults could barely plow their way through some of the drifts. Food was getting scarce, and Spring seemed unable or unwilling to try to ward off this dominant Winter.

Or, perhaps Spring simply did not want to do it alone. Perhaps she was waiting for the arrival of another.

Heralding his presence was the sweetest warm wind the unicorns of the island could ever remember breathing deep into their lungs. Even the elders could not recall having ever scented such welcomed warmth. The foals whinnied with joy as they could at last gallop across the sandy beaches without slipping on ice or getting trapped in mountains of snow. Even the eldest of the herd could not help kicking up their heels as the sun warmed their aged backs.

That was the day he came to the Island. The rest of the herd had yet to notice him, for he was small and slight, and they were busy enjoying their freedom from the cold grip of winter. Where his hooves touched the ground, small flowers came forth, pushing their way through the wet earth to greet the sun. His name was Pasnana'yuli, or Spring's Wonder, and it was for he the seasons had waited.

At last, one of the fillies, as she raced through the wet scented forest, found this spring coloured stallion watching the playful games of the others. She didn't understand why he did not join them in their fun. So, as any young foal would, she invited him to play.

At first it seemed that he wished to refuse, as if he didn't know if he belonged here. But yes, his journey had been long and it would be nice to stop for a while, even if it wouldn't be forever. And so he took the filly up on her offer and raced her back through the trees to the beach where the others were playing. So many of his kind, in such a safe secluded place. Yes, he would stay here a while.

If anyone suspected his connection to the change in season, none spoke their thoughts aloud.

The unicorns of the island enjoyed a long and glorious spring. The flowers smelled sweeter, the birds sang brighter and the breezes were warmer than in any spring anyone could remember. Well, there was this one elder mare who remembered one better, but she was known to spin tales of fantastic extremes, so everyone just assumed that this was another of her stories.

As spring continued, some remarked that summer was late in coming. They longed for the scent of the warm grasses drying in the sun. The sound of grasshoppers during the day, and of crickets at night. The summer flowers had yet to bloom, and the spring flowers were beginning to look tired, having to share their colours for longer than they could.

And Pasnana'yuli was beginning to feel restless. He had thought he'd wanted to stay here, to settle down and give up his wandering ways. But his feet would not stay still. And then came the mare that settled the matter. Her name was Alishana'yonsilit, Summer's Exhuberance. The small stallion had met this mare before, and found her to be too much for the quiet creature that he was. She was full of energy and life, and never stopped a moment to rest. It was time for Spring to leave.

Summer arrived. She tore through the herd with a whinny of joy. Wings, hooves, horn and tail reaching for the sunlight sky. The foals chased her, racing along the burning sands of the beach, leaping into the water when their hooves got too hot. Jumping, leaping, bucking, dancing, soon all the unicorns were joined in fun and play, even the elder mare, who had to admit she's never seen a warmer, sunnier summer than this one.

Wherever Alishana'yonsilit went, laughter followed. To all hours of the night the unicorns gathered and sang in the warm midsummer air. Crickets chirped in time to the unicorns' melodies, and the ocean breezes cooled the heat of the midday's sun. The trees had never been greener, the skies never bluer, than when the energetic mare visited then unicorns of the island.

If anyone suspected her connection to the change in season, none spoke their thoughts aloud.

And then, without a word or final giggle, Alishana'yonsilit disappeared. The air was still but for the buzz of some insects in the dried out grasses. The unicorns looked at each other, wondering what came of her, and shivered as the first cold winds blew through the woods. The scent of pine was sharp and clean, and the leaves glittered gold in the sunlight.

Nathena'zanelin, Autumn's Reminiscence had come, and none had noticed. The quiet, graceful mare moved quietly through the trees. And where she stepped the bushes glowed in brilliant reds and oranges. She slipped amongst the herd, and was accepted by the others. The foals came to her for her patience and guidance. The adults for the calm serenity she projected on those around her. And the elders nibbled grasses and listened to the winds tell their tales of the passing of Summer and the birth of Autumn.

Long graceful wings swept upwards, touching the golden leaves of birch, the red leaves of maple, the orange leaves of oak. The unicorns now woke to crisp, crystal clear mornings, the smell of fallen leaves filled their nostrils. The foals danced and played amongst the leaves, chasing those that fell, and kicking up those already on the ground till it seemed the world was filled with burning colours and flaming trees.

If anyone suspected her connection to the change in season, none spoke their thoughts aloud.

The mare remained some time with the herd, till the morning frost crystalized the fallen leaves, encasing their golden splendours in diamond reflections. Nathena'zanelin sensed the coming of another, whose hooves thundered through the earth and could not be denied. She was never one to resist his coming, instead she enjoyed his presence, finding how his snows upon her leaves were most beautiful as they sparkled in the morning's sun. Sometimes she'd remain a bit when he arrived, sometimes she'd vanish without a trace. As it was this time, Winter had come to cover Autumn with his snows.

The herd was surprised one morning to waken to a world of snowcovered white. And in the center of icy wonder was a powerful stallion named Joaniena'dinieltoh or Winter's Grandeur. The wind stormed through his mane as snow rushed upon the unicorns of the island.

The unicorns were ready for the return of winter. They longed to gallop through the drifts, kicking up waves of white with their heels. To dance the dance of the swirling snowflakes as they made their crazed, twisting descent to the ground. Snowballs were thrown in all directions, and even the eldest of the herd could be seen rolling in the snow.

Joaniena'dinieltoh had returned to this island, he had been here once before. Before the small Pasnana'yuli had slipped between his legs to bring the growing green. Before the wild Alishana'yonsilit came with her flowers and birds, her sun and heat. Before serene Nathena'zanelin kissed gold into the skies. But he came after them as well. To cover their doings with his blankets of snow and freezing ice. He was there at the beginning, he was there at the end.

If anyone suspected his connection to the change in season, none spoke their thoughts aloud.

The oceans alone he could not still, the pine trees alone peeked green through white. But otherwise he ruled.....At least until the seasons passed and changed. Till Spring returned and Winter melted. It had always been that way.

And the unicorns of the island welcomed them all.

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• Text © SunBlind
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