I'm in love.

It is an amazing feeling especially when the other half returns it. Knowing that my beloved is waiting for me to come back home, just makes the hunt go faster, and those hunts are not easy so if they finish quickly that is always a bonus. They can even take up to three months, sometimes. Fairytale creatures are tricky to find and horrible to catch or kill. So it isn't a surprise that there aren't many hunters around. Although sometimes I wish I could quit, but then who would take over my title of one of the best hunters?

As I sighed wishing that there was something else I could do for living my best mate mumbled, “We've been tracking this thing for ages. I hope it will show up soon.”

I nodded. “Yeah well, can't do much about it, ey? Just keep on looking.”

My friend - Morgan - rolled his eyes exaggeratingly at me chucking, “Sure, sure, but I bet you're even more impatient than me, Darren.”

I gave him a sheepish smile “Sure I mean I don't marry every time I return.”

I was actually about to marry my beloved Natalie but as fate would have it I was assigned a job, so we had to move the ceremony to after I'm back - whenever that would be. Its been a month since then, and I still can't believe how collected and understanding she was when I was leaving. No arguments, no tantrums just a usual smile.

Once again Morgan broke my trail of thoughts “I hope you'll be happy, man. You sure deserve it. But are you sure she is the one? I mean…” he trailed off.

I knew what he was going to say so I sighted “Yeah I'm sure. Now relax and focus on that beast in front of us."

Morgan looked around and sure enough, he noticed those slightly glowing hoof prints in front of us.

“Finally” he exhaled and we galloped, following the tracks. The forest was getting denser and denser. The horses we were on started to struggle to get through. However, soon enough a black beast appeared snarling and glaring at us.

A unicorn.

In many legends, they are a picture of beauty but that is far from the truth. The best looked like a famished horse with a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and eyes which were almost popping out of the skull. They were bloodshot and full of hatred and hunger. Unicorns rarely feed, only once in every hundred years. When they are full they are those white glorious creatures people love to worship, but once hunger strikes they become demons. Living nightmares and they need to feed on humans, a lot of humans.

Morgan and I got off our horses getting ready for a fight. Meanwhile, the hellish monster paced around, long skinny legs looked like sticks from the distance. As Morgan nodded at me I moved closer unsheathing my sword. It was no ordinary blade, it was infused with onyx stone. The light reflected off it was dark and menacing. Contrary to popular beliefs onyx was one of the most efficient weapons against any kind of beast. Silver was useful however, it was more like a piece of torturing equipment. If compared to human anatomy silver would be fire and onyx poison or acid. The death would not only be faster but less painful too. I hated those creatures but torturing them felt wrong either way. However, with onyx, you need to strike the heart of the beast while silver will burn their whole body very slowly.

The monster looked at me for a while and then charged with a full force. The - now - curvy horn aimed straight at me. As he was close enough I readied my sword and the horn hit it with a powerful blow which normally would push people away but I angled my blade so that the horn would slide off to the side and the creature followed suit due to the momentum he gained from the charge. Meanwhile, Morgan threw a silver rope around its neck, and smoke started to appear from the skin of the monster. It yelped in pain and tried to run off or shake off the glistening rope. I saw the pain of that beast in those bloodstained eyes. So while it was distracted I jumped on its back and drove my black blade into it, straight through the heart. The beast yelled. That was the worst part of killing those monsters. Dying screeches of those beasts are almost human-like. Unicorn fell, and I got off it wiping my sword off the black goo which was the poor creature's blood.

Morgan sighed, “Shame it was hungry, his coat and horn are worth almost nothing now.”

I nodded looking down at it. Then taking my dagger out I began to skin it none the less.

Soon enough we left leaving a dead piece of meat for the animals to feed on. After which I could finally relax.

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Writer's note: If you enjoy my writing consider supporting me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Zorion

For now, there is only one tier for $2 a month. This tier will be attached to tapas stories so if you like what I write here you might like to check it out. You will get some extra things there, such as:

- Some early access, there, of some chapters for Dragoness along with any new stories which will be found on tapas.

- Exclusive pictures that I drew of the characters from both stories (I will still post some here but not all).

- Along with that, you will get access to any of my (sfw) short stories.

- And last but not least you will get access to all extra chapters of the stories The Exile and Dragoness - which will include background chapters.

And here you have the picture of the demonic unicorn! :D It took forever but was worth it!