Ember waved at a unicorn crossing the forest path.
It looked away and trotted faster. Ember's tail drooped.
He rolled the pinecone into the bushes.
A cold wind blew. Ember curled into a tight ball against a pine tree, his scales rattling softly.
Ember called out, 'Hello?' but the forest just echoed back.
He called again, louder, but the echoes just repeated. Then— a sniffle from behind a fern.
Ember pushed aside the fern. A tiny unicorn stood there, shivering.
Ember stepped closer and exhaled a warm golden glow. The unicorn's eyes widened, and she leaned into the light.
The unicorn nuzzled Ember's snout. Ember's glow pulsed softly.
They walked side by side down the path.
Ember's tail swished happily behind them.
They walked toward the cottage, two friends at last.