The sun's beams broke through the water's thin surface, awakening the creatures below. Peophins awoke, crying out with glee as the herd began it's travels under water. Koi swam from their homes in the reefs, flashing their bright and colorful scales against the rays of sunlight. The ocean was once again filled with life, no longer was it the dark and musty blackness it once was at night.

But far beyond the reefs, past the gleaming coral and glassy stones, was a cave well hiden by waving seaweed. If one ever was to find that cave, they'd discover it was an opening to an undiscovered area of the ocean. After leaving the cave, you'd be shocked to notice that you were swimming under a gigantic rock that seemed to be an island, but it was too sharp, high, and dangerous to live on. So, everyone saw it as a large rock that was just a piece of the underwater land that had risen from the sea. But they were wrong.

The rock isn't solid, it's hollow. On the inside, rests a beautiful city. Even more majestic than Atlantis itself. The city is made of crystal coral, and it gives off a beautiful glow, which is unseen from the mouth of the cave. Strange creatures swim about the coral city, they're not peophins, even though they seem to be very horse-like. But they're also not maraquan unis, for they don't live in that city, and they never have. No, these, are Kwayheairians, the undiscovered unis living in their beautiful city of Kwayheairnas.

Born Alone

My eyes flew open. I lifted my delecate cream-white head and looked around me. But before I got a good look, water splashed into my face. I sputtered and spat, backing up as the salty water burned my soft sea blue eyes. Once I had backed a few steps, I opened my eyes once again, and gazed about my surroundings. I was on a beach, sitting on the soft sands of an unknown world. My head had a horrible ache, and my thin little legs were weak beneath me. My eyes began to flood with tears as I flashed looks up and down the beach, suddenly becoming extremly dizzy. With a sharp gasp, I toppled over, out cold as if some one had kicked me in my temple...

I woke once again, this time, my eyes fluttered open. I sat up, not remembering what had happened before. My head still ached heartlessly, and I felt sick to my stomach. I looked towards the sea. An image flashed in my mind. I didn't know what it was about, nor did I remember it happening. I shook the image from my mind and stood, legs trembling with weakness beneath me. I stumbled a few steps, then collasped. I panted, annoyed with my weakness, and tried again. I managed a few more steps than before, but once again found myself falling to my knees and into the soft sands of the beach. My sea blue eyes once again flooded with tears of fear, and I tried yet again. I finally was on my way, stumbling over the sand every now and then, my dainty black hooves leaving their tracks in the sand behind.

The Stranger

Tears fell off my sliky white cheecks as I moved along the beach, making little dark brown dots on the sand. I didn't know where I was, I didn't know where my mother or father were, and worst of all, I couldn't remember anything from the moment I woke up on the beach. Everything else, a meer mystery. Then, I found myself standing under a shadow. I looked up, and let myself draw in a sharp gasp, for infront of me, stood a beautiful creature.

It was very horse-like, with beautiful silver hooves and a lovely flowing mane and tail. The body of the creature was covered in strange golden scales, and it's mane and tail were made of seaweed. The horn which sprouted from it's head was long, thin, and swirled in it's golden glory. The entire creature seemed to glow in the sunlight, and I collasped, deep in shock from it's greatness.

"Hello, little one," the voice seemed to be filled with the chimes of several bells, and was spoken with a strange, but beautiful accent. "What are you doing on this beach?"

"I was-I mean," I stuttered. What would one say to a creature of such greatness? "I'm looking for my family."

"Your family?" Was the creature's response. It gave me a look of pity. "My child, it does seem as if you have none."

"None?" I repeated, beginning to breathe heavily. If not, where had I come from? What was my purpose?

"Child, do you have a name?" The creature asked.

"N-no, I don't."

"Hmm, one cannot go without having something to be called by, so I shall name you," it concluded. "From now on, you will go by, Shaytaelia." I blinked, and looked towards the ocean.

"Shaytaelia? That sounds familiar, the accent and way you said it. What do-" I stopped, for the creature had disappeared, leaving me alone once again.

Captured

'From now on, you will go by, Shaytaelia.' What does it mean? I thought as I walked in silence in the tall grass of a valley. I had left the beach a few hours or so back, wandering farther and farther away from it's sweet ocean smells and soft brown sands. Everything is so confusing! And what do the images I keep seeing mean? I shook my head, snorting softly in my anger. Suddenly, I found myself walking out of the grass and onto a strange path without anything growing on it, as if it had been cut by something as a pathway to a special place. I moved slowly into the middle of the path, sniffing at it curiously. I was too busy to notice the soft sounds of hoofbeats coming closer and closer. Before I knew it, I heard a strange, deep voice.

"Oy! What's this?"

I turned around quickly, only to have a rope tied about my head. I looked with my sea blue eyes eyes into the hard eyes of a man, who tied me to the saddle of his gigantic stallion uni. I didn't move until I was yanked off my feet and forced to move behind the two beasts, completely unaware of where I was being led off to.

New Home

The stall door slammed behind me as I was kicked into the itchy hay of the stables. Sitting up, I spat some hay out of my mouth and looked behind me, sighing at the sight of the lone door. I still heard the voices of the cruel man, but there was also a different voice this time.

"So, is the auction still being held tonight? I just caught a small filly. No more than five monthes of age."

"Hmm, so is that your way of saying you'd like to auction it off?" The other voice asked.

"Yes," came the voice of my captor. "I do. Even though she is a scrawny, small little fellow, I'm sure some little girl will want to buy her. Either that, or she can be yours to do whatever you please."

The conversation ended, and I found myself once again alone.

The Auction

"Come here you!"

I whinnied and kicked as the cold hands of the man who had captured me grabbed me by my rope and pulled me with no mercy out of my stall. I was pulled into a corral where I was tied to a fence post, inbetween two other unis. One was a tall and beautiful split mare, with a lovely flowing mane and a gleaming golden horn. The other was a handsome black stallion with a scar running along his chest, but his eyes were kindly and gentle.

I tried not to make eye contact, but the stallion soon noticed my sea blue eyes were fixed on his chest. He smiled.

"Like my battle scar, young one?" He asked, his voice was soft and powerful. I looked up, startled he had seen me.

"Uh, yes, Sir. I suppose," I said quickly, and rather quietly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare at it," I quickly added.

"'Tis okay, young one. Tell old Rashna, what be your name?" He replied with a warm grin.

"Shaytaelia," I replied, pronouncing it just as the mysterious creature had before. "Shay, if you don't mind, Sir."

"Rashna, if you don't mind, m-lady."

I smiled. This stallion was very friendly, and I felt safer around him. Though his horn was broken in the middle, his hooves were chipped, and the scar along his chest was quite large, he was very handsome.

"I used to be a stallion in the wars of these lands," Rashna went on after he watched me look him over. "I've seen a great many battles, and have also lost many friends. But I still love the scent of war, and enjoy the victory cries of our warriors."

I couldn't say anything. He was...so honorable. And now he was about to be auctioned off...whatever that was. The humans had been chattering about it all night. Then, the man walked over, untied me and pushed me into the corral. He spooked me, so I ran into the middle, only to be followed by several people's 'aw's. I snorted, flattening may ears warningly at the people.

The auctioner began his job, and many people began to bid on me. I was finally sold to a girl at the age of 13. She was tall, slim, and a sandy blonde. She had soft grey eyes, and a gentle touch. I was loaded into her trailer and brought to her house, only to find myself back in a stall. By the time the lights in the barn had gone out, it was night, and I fell asleep easily, tired from my strange day.

Ways of the Tame

I was awakened the next day by the girl's gentle voice. I soon learned her name was Gracie, and I also learned she wanted me to learn the ways of a 'tame' horse. I battled with her while she struggled to get the haulter over my head, hopping and kicking out, but never aiming for Gracie. But she won the battle, and even though I followed her around in the pasture on my rope, I still hopped and kicked, wondering how to get the annoying haulter off my white head.

She would take me from my stall every day, and continue the same haulter and lead rope 'game' until I was tired of kicking and hopping, then she'd bring me in for lunch. After I had slept for an hour, out I'd go again with the annoying hautler about my head, until I couldn't kick or hop anymore.

{~*~}

A few years pasted, and I had grown into a beautiful white mare, fully trained for riding. My left ear was hooked by a golden ear ring, a symbol of Gracie's ownership of me. Gracie and I would always go on early morning rides, cantering through the valleys of her homeland and jumping a few logs here and there. I had never thought a two legged could be so kindly and fun until I had met Gracie, and now, we were best friends.

Part Being Re-done

I'll Never Forget You

I arrived at Gracie's farm as the sun began to rise from it's bed, turning the sky a lovely pink. I had not changed back into by uni form, but had remained a Kwayheairian throughout the night, since the sun had not dried my scales. I saw Gracie, more beautiful than ever, sitting on her vine covered swing. She stared down mornfully at her shoes, sighing every so often. I nickered softly, and she looked up as she recognized my call. But then, her soft grey eyes filled with fear as she saw the creature that stood six feet away from her. I repeated my greeting, hoping she'd know it was me some how.

Then, the fear left as her eyes fell opon the ear ring that hooked my left ear. That was our symbol, the one she had given me the day I allowed her to ride me.

"Shay," she whispered, moving slowly towards me. I nickered again, whistling with joy. She had remembered me! I smiled as she threw herself around my scaley neck, crying softly. I rested my seagreen head on her shoulders closing my eyes, storing the moment away in my thoughts. Time seemed to slow as we were bonded once again. But then, it seemed to go all so fast as I once again sensed something calling my name, drawing me towards it.

I pulled away softly, and looked Gracie in the eye. Her gentle gaze was dulled by tears, and she looked at me as if I had just killed her father. I nickered and stepped backwards, trying to give her the message that I didn't want to, but had to leave. To my amazement, she seemed to grasp it. She wiped away her tears, and smiled.

"Good-bye, Shay," she whispered softly. The reached for the beautiful ruby beaded bracelet around her wrist, and removed it with care. "Please, take this." I watched in shock as she moved it gently over my fin and onto the top of my tail. She backed away and smiled.

"Just don't ever forget me."

Last Words

Those were Gracie's last words. The last that I had ever heard. I'll never forget the tears I shed that night. She had given me a true treasure, something that will mean more to me than all the gold in the sea. Her mother's bracelet.

Gracie's mother had died when she was only a small child, and that braclet was the only memory Gracie had ever really had of her. She gave it to me, and I'll never allow anything to happen to it.

But now, I am off on my journey. Who knows what may lay ahead? I will face it all, remembering Gracie's love. I will never forget you Gracie...I swear it.