Chapter Text
I had drifted ashore onto some beach. My whole body was dry and shrivelled. I'd've been in a worse state, were I not completely drenched prior. With some difficulty, I managed to get up onto my feet. I staggered, dizzy, but with little other immediate problems.
The sand seared my feet, so I made my way under the shade of some tree. There, I collapsed; I was already exhausted. A sigh left my lips and then, in the corner of my eye, I spotted a trail of hoof prints. They led along the coastline.
I got back onto my feet, but before I could take a step forward, a sudden pain erupted from the back of my head! My last sight, a white steed passing beside me.
I awoke to a scratching sensation, all across my back: I was being dragged against the ground. My head was throbbing and in addition, my neck had a horrible ache.
Tough rope had bound my arms to my sides. From there, the rope extended up beside my neck. Having my head leaned against that for God knows how long was probably the source of my neck pain.
I hadn't the strength to break free. I was so tired. I hadn't the energy to struggle, or shout, or try anything really. All I could do was cry, but I hadn't even the tears to cry. Where mist might mask someone's sorrowful eyes, I'd only friction's smoke.
10 minutes passed, all the while, I wondered where I was, who had caught me and what would happen to me next.
I attempted to get a view of whatever was dragging me. Alas, the stiffness in my neck wouldn't let me.
I bumped my head with the change in terrain. As I was pulled up some small ledge, my head was pulled back. I caught a glance at the thing: it was that same white horse!
They let out a somehow smug-sounding snort. It was almost knowing, like it knew I had recognised them.
I called out to their rider, "Hello?" The soreness in my throat was starting to get to me, "Rider, where are you taking me?"
He'd not even give me the time of day. With the last of my voice, I shouted out a "Hey!". My cry fell on deaf ears, being drowned out by even the rustle of the grass.
In all fairness, it was an unusually loud rustle. A sudden movement from my right accompanied it. I couldn't get a clear look at the thing, not from the fixed position of my head.
I wouldn't need to however, as the originator hopped before me. They were just out of view. A low growl like thunder reverberated forth.
That thing was unlike any I'd seen. From my strained neck, I saw on its back a raised sail, orange and glowing, hot like molten iron. Beneath was a only a blur of blue and green. I froze. Behind me was some deaf horse-rider and before me, some monster intent on elimination.
It'd've been unwise to aggravate whatever that creature was, but what could I do? I rolled my eyes back towards my captor; I cried out, "Help! Help me, please!"
Still, there's no response. My kidnapper was silent. In that moment I felt its breath. The beast had drawn to my leg. Drool spilled over my shin.
I finally kicked at the thing, but it didn't so much as flinch. Unseen jaws clamped onto my foot. My already tender flesh was torn. The pain was immense, but I let out no scream, not because I was brave, mind you, but because I was positively petrified. I thrashed about in the feeling of its teeth ripping past my skin.
Only then, did the horse stop. A blinding light flashed overhead, and a burning shot through my leg. A stinging sensation persisted, but those jaws once locked on my foot? I couldn't feel them.
I was tired. Quite frankly, I still wasn't exactly certain of what was happening, so I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths. "I'm helpless here. It's best to just rest," so were my thoughts.
'There was no choice but to accept this world, even if It was no choice of mine to come here." Amid my reflection, I'm once more wordlessly dragged out into an opening within the woods. Along the smell of fresh grass, comes an almost floral scent. It was... calming. It might've been the first pleasurable thing I'd encountered in this place. It may have been a strange thought to have had while tied up, but it's true.
The dragging stopped. The animosity I'd felt towards the horseman felt like it had drifted away. There was this very exaggerated cutting sound and then, the snapping of rope. My upper body had been slightly elevated. Now, it fell with a thud.
I sat up, for now I'd that freedom and scooted round. Before me was once again that very white horse. I'd only their legs and tail and sight. My eyes drifted upward and I beheld in full, a tail with such a golden colour I hadn't thought possible in a horse. On their right calve, there was a large scar, clean in shape, as though made by something sharp and precise. The flesh was indented. It was a fairly deep scar. Past that, was only a seemingly mundane (albeit extraordinarily beautiful horse).
That was until I laid eyes upon its folded wings. As though recognising my stare, the beast spread them, scattering black feathers and blocking out sunlight. At least, mostly... There had been holes in its wings, through which light still passed. I hadn't time to think about this then, though.
"Surely this was an omen?" I'd thought to myself. I was certain I'd be killed by whatever this monster was. A great dread replaced the once calm air of the field. It was an irrational thought, though: if they wanted me dead, they'd have killed me back on that beach.
This thought may have brought some relief, but it's a little more difficult when comprehending an unearthly being: My captor's steed leapt into the air, leaving in their stead a whirlwind of black plumage. I was left without even the time to process the spectacle. In an instant, they came crashing back down. Clumps of dirt flew out from under those obsidian hooves. I was in awe, face to face, with such an abominable yet beautiful creature. I looked to their eyes, windows to the soul; I must've sought some sort of emotion from them. Except, I saw no eyes. Covering all but the lower jaw was a red, metal visor, with only a thin line of glass for the eyes.
We locked eyes. The pollen and earth fell around us, fear on my behalf and God knows what on theirs. The bastard creature parted its lips and nickered. I'd expected some sort of hostility, but it'd seem I was mislead. Still, I dared not extend a hand to them, whatever they were. We must've been staring at one another for a whole 2 minutes. Only then, did I feel safe enough to fully look the thing up and down.
Only then, did I realise, this horse has no rider. Were it a horse, that is, clearly more than one. All this while, I had been dragged by an untamed beast, for all I knew. Alas, this was disproven the moment I heard a voice. I'd never quicker whipped my head round. A chance at some saviour, I longed for so desperately. And yet, I saw none. The only ones there were myself and the mystery steed.
While my gaze was averted, I felt a prod. Shock ran down my entire spine. "Hey. Hey. Are you deaf or something?" I felt another prod. It felt so sharp against my salted, tender flesh. I winced. "Human, turn around and I won't have to keep poking you."
I followed the voice's instruction with much hesitation, yet still saw was none to utter it. "Good. Now, do me a favour, Human."
My gaze fixed itself back on the monster. I had practically forgotten about them the moment they were out of sight. My heart dropped, remembering my predicament.
Lower still, it would drop, observing the thing's lips, as the voice continued, "State your name and business in this land. Lie and a whelp like you'll be turned to nought but grit under my hooves." It was an undeniable fact: this inhuman, monstrous, being of whatever sort was speaking perfect English, and from a horse's head, no less!
I'd stagger back were my legs not rooted in place. They no longer needed a means to restrain me. My own body would do it for them. "It's... Gus; that's my name. I don't know why I'm here. I don't even know how I-"
"Bullshit!" The creature cried out, slamming both forelegs back into the earth. It was done with such force that I was almost blown aback. "No human can just show up here. I don't know what rite you underwent, but the world border is impenetrable!"
I stared at him blankly, "...World border?"
With a vicious snort, they answered, "Yes, that which seperates the worlds? The border between the physical and digital?"
"No!" I'd reached a breaking point. "I don't know any of this! I don't know where I am; I don't know what day it is; I don't know what you are and I don't know how I got here, okay?!"
The beast's ears perked up. They looked to be pleasantly surprised by my outburst. "Truly?"
Equally shocked was I by their reaction, only capable of muttering weakly, "Yes..."
"If you've no motive to come here, then it must follow that you have no ulterior motive, correct?" Hesitantly, I nodded. Upon my confirmation, their lips curled into what must've been a smirk, an expression very unfamiliar to be seen on a horse.
"Yes?!" Panic overtook me. This was not the direction I thought the situation to turn. I was certain it was my time to die, but alas, I remained alive.
"How enthusiastic!" They laughed to themself. It was a laugh with no trace of horse. It was a human laugh. "Now that you can be trusted, follow me. My cabin is only a little further."
Carelessly, they turned their back to me. This was a prime opportunity to strike at them, and yet the confidence they had to turn their back on me was frightening. I wasn't even perceived as a potential threat to them. I was powerless.
Evidently having little say in the matter, I followed after. I'd thought to ask to ride them, seeing as they were horse-like at least, but I still held some respect for my life at least. The riskiest thing I could do in my ability was to finally ask the beast's name. As it was in my ability, I did, "If I'm to be your guest, or well, your prisoner, may I at least have your name?"
"Sure. Why not? As I am now, you may call me Unimon." I didn't understand what they'd meant. Was this truly their name? Regardless, I lacked the ability to pry and proceeded to walk with them.