❦ The unicorn had learned when lunch was taken in the castle. At the time where the sun was in the highest position, children would flow from the halls with books and papers in hand, all following the same path to the large hall from which their voices echoed out. A place of much conversation and laughter, as she could hear. She’d learned that, if she waits, children will then come from the halls and down to quiet places or the field to relax and play. Then she could watch and let her heart fill with their youthful joy.
It was sometime after that, now. All the witches and wizards had returned to their classrooms and the campus was quiet. To the groundkeeper’s garden she walked, her head low and relaxed and her tail languidly flicking at pesky flies. Then, all at once, she was overcome with great sadness. Overwhelming hurt. Her ears pricked. Against the garden wall among gnarled gourds was a little boy. His knees were drawn in tight to his chest, his head buried down into his arms, with only his bright hair sprouting up. She paused as she watched him, still as can be in his big cloak. Then, decidedly, she stepped up to him and dropped her nose to his head.
She kissed his soft hair, which smelled like cinnamon and earth, and urged his sorrow away.