Day 24 Unicorn
For hundreds of years the legends of unicorns persisted mankind and with it promises of fortune and fame if you were to capture one.
The horn is said to be magical and if grinded into a powder could be used in various magical potions including rumoured to hold the secret of immortality. Their blood is said to heal those who are even an inch away from death if drank but you'd be cursed for all time. Their skin used as coats that repelled even dragon's fire. Their meat were so nutritious that if given to growing children they'd grow up the strongest in the land. Their bones cold be used to make holy weapons. And so on and so forth.
But those who captured a unicorn grow exceptionally wealthy from how much they could sell it off to the highest bidder. However hunting a unicorn was strictly taboo and those who were caught were swiftly punished and were rumored to be denied into heaven. Not to mention the act of hunting itself was extremely difficult. Unicorns were magical and clever beings only showing themselves to those truly good at heart such as children and young maidens so one of the most popular methods of capturing a unicorn was to use a young maiden as bait to attract the beasts out so they could pounce.
....Well in your case you didn't exactly mean to lure anyone out. Really you didn't.
All you wanted was to just go out and get some wild herbs and food since it would save you money in the long run and you couldn't always afford it. You were in the middle of gathering up some peaches from a wild grove of peach trees when you first heard the loud voice calling out.
"Help! Someone help me!"
That sounded like a woman's voice. But who could be out here? Was someone else also gathering food or hunting? Deciding to investigate in case someone was hurt, you followed the loud voice through the brush until you reached a treeline and found something that you would never forget.
Hanging from a tree was a woman. Bright Green eyes widened as she saw you suddenly step out of nowhere as she swayed from side to side. Long Sakura pink and lime green hair hung from her head in long braids and that was pretty unusual but that wasn't the thing that made you stare at her. It was the fact that a pretty pure white crystal looking spiral was protruding from her forehead as she hung there holding down a homemade skirt covering long white pony legs and a long white tail with a tuft of pink hair at the end.
"Hey you there!," she called out to you with tears in her eyes. "Can you help me down?!"
You just stared at her. Blinking and blinking again before shaking your head hard hoping to clear your imagination up before looking back up and staring at the white horse like ears twitching on her head. Holy cow!!
IT WAS A UNICORN!!
...Uh. Sorta. A..centaur?? No. No. They had a full horse lower body not just horse hind legs. A unicorn..pan?? A unicorn Faun?? You had no idea what you were looking at just continued to stare at her until she screamed again snapping you out of it.
"Hey! Can't you hear me!?"
You jumped. "Ah! R-Right! I-..W-Who are you?"
"Does it matter right now!? My ankle really hurts! Please get me down!"
"Oh. ..Ok."
You looked farther up and finally noticed the rope wrapped tightly around her ankle.. Hoof?? It looked like some kind of snare trap someone set up as It slung over a branch. You followed it with your eyes until you spotted the other end wrapped tightly around a wooden stake struck deep in the ground. If you pulled it out she'd be free right? Looking back to her briefly you walked your way to the steak in the ground. Wrapping your hands around the steak you braced your feet against the ground and PULLED. The thing felt stuck. Firmly placed deep in the ground and hard to get out. You pulled and pulled. Until something gave. You shouted out a noise as it suddenly shot out loose. Clumps of dirt flying everywhere as you landed backwards with a thud. A loud squeal was given as the unicorn girl came crashing to the ground with a loud thump.
Oh crap-
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" You quickly sat up to stare at the groaning woman. "Are you alright?! You're not hurt are you?!"
With a groan she sat up shaking her head before smiling at you. "I'm way better now that I'm not hanging from a tree anymore! Thank you!"
You sat there and watched as she stood up dusting herself off and reaching down to get the rope off her leg. Slowly you stood up too. "Who are you?"
She beamed at you. "I'm Mitsuri! You got here just in time before any hunters could find me! Thanks for that! I should've listened to Obanai's directions better."
"Uh. Right...Well if you're alright then I guess I'd better head back home," you spoke unsure of what to do now gesturing towards the way you came. Honestly you still weren't sure if this was real or not.
She looked at you suddenly. "Wait! What's your name?"
"Uh. It's Y/n."
"Well Y/n since you helped me I'm gonna give you a blessing of good luck!"
You held up your hands. "Oh. You don't have to do that."
"I insist! A selfless soul is always rewarded!" Before you could say anything an amanous glow lit up her horn for a few seconds making you stare before it left and she smiled brightly. "There! When you get home you should have lots of luck now!"
"Oh.. Thank you?"
You had left the mysterious girl as soon as you could and retreated back home. You didn't still know if you had just imagined the entire thing but you were shocked when you had gotten home and found a rather large sum of money buried under the front porch.