The Unicorn Quest

Taking a deep breath, she began a new tale. "Once upon a real time, there were two girls, sister. The little one followed the elder like night follows day, and they were as different from each other as sun and moon, but like the sun and moon, neither would be the same without the other...

She might not have been the tallest or the bravest, but she was a good listener-- she had to be, if she wanted to learn important things. From experience, Claire knew that the biggest bits of news were often told in the quietest of voices.

And finally, she told one more story.

Claire automatically took the slate blue cloak. She thought that when she tied it around her shoulders she would feel silly, as though she were playing dress up, but as the cloth settled comfortably around her, she suddenly felt the weight of what she was doing. For the first, she realized what was happening: she was going on a quest.

And so the queen strode into the night, Seeking, Waiting, Watching, Arrow drawn tight, Then--- Sharp brilliance of moon, Scorching glory of sun, Furious splendor of stars, The unicorn stepped onto the plains.

It didn't surprise her that in this world where art was magic, color was also it's own alphabet.

We need to go back" Claire repeated, but her words were less commanding than before. She drew in a deep breath as she looked at the moonlit walls. Slipping the pencil from behind her ear, she gripped it tightly, torn between an intence desire to draw what she was seeing, and the fear of being lost in a strange other world.