Conquering Casper Mountain

I am shaken awake with a quivering motion under me. An earthquake? No, it’s Joey signaling me. “Hey, Bo. Time to move on. We’re at the Casper Mountain pass so we’ll walk awhile. I don’t want to be spotted in the sky in daylight.” He frowned deeply. “There are those who take pleasure in downing flying creatures with their weapons.”

“But Joey, you told me only I could see that you are a unicorn. It would be so much faster if we could fly.”

“You’re right, Bo. Only you know I’m a Golden Unicorn… except for my fellow Unicorns. They all know and it’s dangerous country, Bo. Plus I have you to guide. We have a mission to pursue and we must continue. Here, have your breakfast.”

“Joey, what am I eating? It looks like soap wrapped in straw. Strange taste, too. Like sawdust.”

“It’s unicorn food, Bo. Best in Lemuria. I’ll look out for some berries or rickstack for you to munch with your morning sip of Unicorn wine.”

“Rickstack? You want me to eat rickstack? By the way, exactly what is rickstack?”

“A nice soft grain. Nutty taste. We can pick it when we see it and carry it until we’re hungry. It lasts forever.”

I groan, but try to be polite. “If you say rickstack for breakfast, Joey, then rickstack it is.”

“Quiet, Bo. Someone’s nearby, may be listening. Use your telepathy.” Joey leads me to the entrance of the pass. Gray granite stands upright, covered with slippery lichen. A crack in the rock, no wider than a stick, splits the stone. There is no room to squeeze a squirrel through, much less a full size Unicorn and me.

“This won’t work, Joey.”

“Of course it will. Stand near the stone and push your hands against the rock. It will squish apart like a marshmallow, and you simply slide right through. When you’ve moved forward, the granite will return to its proper consistency. This path was made by Golden Unicorns. Just keep feeling your way in the stone, and follow the rock under your feet. We’ll stop for lunch at the springs in the depths of Casper Mountain and be back in the forest by tomorrow.”

“Joey, I hear something behind us, do you? Something smallish.”

As the entrance to the pass nearly seals itself, a raven flies in and lands on my forearm. I nearly scream, but Joey covers my mouth with his nose. Then he nuzzles my neck to calm me.

“Who is your mistress?” the bird asks Joey, speaking silently in language that I suddenly understand.

“My mistress is Bo on whose arm you are perched.”

The raven studies me intently, speaks to me silently and listens as I reply. “Yes,” says the Raven. “She is a suitable mistress for a Golden Unicorn. Guard her carefully, though. We may be in danger. I have a loaf of bread, fresh baked at Duwamish Inn this morn. Do you wish to eat it, Bo?”

I grab the loaf and gnaw on it, hoping to assuage my hunger. Then I realize the Raven watches me, and I proffer him half the loaf. He accepts graciously.

“Joey and I must speak alone. Sit here and eat while we walk ahead.” Joey shakes his head in disagreement, but Raven insists. The two magical animals are gone an hour before the rock separates and they re-appear, sour looks on their faces.

“We must take a detour, Bo. There are hunters at the exit into the forest. One of them is Vldditer, a unicorn who has been banished from our race because of deceit and willfulness. Yet as a former Unicorn he knows many of our secrets. Luckily for us, not all of them.”

The Raven nods solemnly. “I will lead you through the upper passage, Unicorn will follow me and you must follow Unicorn. But first show me Enchanteur’s bag.”

I glance at Joey for re-assurance, then expose the bag hanging from my neck.

“Retrieve the set of gossamer wings and attach them to your arms. They will prove necessary as we move vertically or if we run into unexpected guests once we leave Casper Mountain.” The Raven watches me follow his instructions while Joey nods encouragement.

Raven gives us our instructions, and although they seem dangerous they also seem doable. “Casper Mountain is quite dense in its middle regions. As I work my way straight up, I shall have to peck to loosen the rubble of stone and mud. Unicorn, although I know you consider your twisted horn sacred, I must ask you to follow behind me and drill a larger path in order for Bo to fly behind us.”

Without further conversation, this is exactly what we do. Raven pecks vertically, Joey drills behind him, squeezing through smaller spaces than I think possible. As he opens the passage, Joey swirls his lion’s tail and brushes the hole large enough for me to fly through. I look back one time, but can see nothing but rubble and mud. The path disappears once we pass.

After hours of drilling, we all stand together on a narrow ledge and eat our remaining food. The rickstack Joey scrounged is passable food, and seems to fill my stomach. Joey has some Unicorn wine that he shares. The ledge is too small to sit or stand on, so we move above through the darkness without a rest.

When the stone lightens in color and becomes sandy, we break through the Mountain. I feel like squealing in delight, but both Joey and Raven warn me severely. We are on the peak and can see Lemuria and in the distance the Murmuring Woods. A misty fog hides us partially from the hunters at the exit of Casper Mountain.

Raven stares into the depths of the valley. “We will fly from here. Bo, make sure your wings are still fastened tightly. You must fly under your own power.”

We glide off the peak and soar above the green mist. Again the reflection of the jeweled stars shine on Raven’s feathers. That is a fatal mistake.

As we lower ourselves to cruise above the red-leaved trees, a gunshot rings throughout the forest. Several shots follow, and a gold bullet whizzes past my face.

“Down! Go down! Use only silent language. as we must make no noise. I will meet you under the largest tree in the middle of the forest.”

By the time I reach the tree, ( I am unpracticed at flying) I see Joey nosing the Raven, attempting to arouse him. Joey’s tears wet the Raven’s darkening feathers.

“Joey, what has happened?”

“Oh, Bo. It is so sad. Raven was struck by a bullet by Vidditor and the bullet has pierced his heart. We have only a few minutes together to formulate our plans.”

Joey leans close to Raven, trying to keep him warm as they communicated silently. After a few minutes, Joey asks me to pick the largest palm leaves I can find. I wrap Raven’s body in the plants and place him under a rock cairn. We spread blown leaves over Raven to keep him hidden, and sadly plan the next extension of our trip.

Joey earned fresh news from Raven’s last words. “Enchanteur again sends Raven to lead us and he performed his job satisfactorily. If we complete our mission, Raven will be there to congratulate us.”

“Huh?” I don’t understand, but I don’t question Joey. He understands Lemuria and its creatures better than I do.

As evening approaches traveling by flight becomes safer and we whiz through the underbrush without further problem. It is past three a.m. when Joey calls a halt to our travels. “Let’s finish our food and spread my blanket on the ground. Looks like rain, so we’ll cover with your rain poncho. And here, drink a sip or two of the Unicorn Wine.”

“Bo. One more thing before we sleep. Get your dream seeds from your bag. Eat a few and spread the rest under your head. Not only will you sleep soundly and safely, you may have a dream with a message.”

Before my head touches the ground, I am asleep. Joey stays awake until the wee hours of the night, thinking and guarding me. Just before dawn, I dream that Joey and I have a joyous reunion with Raven. I awake with a smile. Joey notices, but askes me no questions. Not even silent ones.

We each nibble on our depleted stores of food and then explore the forest grounds near us. Joey finds seven black mushrooms, as tall as a man, and assures me they are non-poisonous. We eat them quickly and quaff our thirst at a whitewater stream.

“Let’s go,” says Joey as he paws at the ground. “You can ride on my back now. I feel we are safe while we stay on the ground.” Joey trots on an animal path, and then abruptly halts.

“I want to check this tree ahead. I do believe I hear clanging behind that wide trunk. Whatever creature makes that noise?”

A man peeks from behind the tree. He is oddly clothed, covered in sauce pans and frying pans. He does a jig and sings a welcoming ditty. Then he points upwards. The tree is so tall, it’s top is lost above the clouds.

“Land of Fairy Tales through the portal in the clouds. Don’t you know?”

“Yes,” replies Joey stiffly. “We are both aware of the Faraway Tree and it’s lands beyond. I take it we may climb?”

“That’s what I’m all about. To direct all to the tree. Go on up. There’s others already there.”

Joey looks at the tree and then at his hooves. He had to climb. In the Murmuring Woods, Unicorns had little power and horses weren’t allowed to fly.

“Bo. Open your bag again and retrieve the spectacles. They will provide you with the eyesight of a Unicorn, very good in dark places and in brightness, too.”

“Okay, Joey. The spectacles are on. I’m ready.”

“Well, Bo. I’m not ready nor will I ever be. But I must complete my mission. I will follow you.”

I start scrambling up the tree and soon come to a tiny hut tucked into the leaves and branches. I look to the ground and Joey is still eying the tree top in the clouds and muttering. “I don’t mind flying as a Unicorn, but I’m not sure about climbing a tree as a horse. I’m really not sure.”

“Hurry, Joey. It’s time to climb. I’ll wish you luck from up here.”

from Bo

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