Her hooves hit the pavement as she sprinted towards the concrete structure. The handle of the morning star dug into her back with every jolt. Rain spattered across her face; cold air pumped into her lungs, faster and faster until her fingers reached the solid concrete pillar, pulling herself behind it, under the monstrous, broken man-made rock.

She crouched low behind the pillar and peered around the column, staring intently at her path. Rain pounded the pavement, trickling past her, pooling in the cracks and dips of the asphalt and concrete and flooding what little green weeds were growing inside them. The concrete was cold, rough, and wet, and the smell of dust and rain filled her nostrils.

Minutes passed, and she remained crouched low, one hand on the pillar and the other gripping the handle of the morning star on her back. Her heartbeat slowed with every second passing, and finally, she sat, leaning against the concrete, closing her eyes briefly.

When she opened them, she saw a glow in the far corner of the structure emitting a smoke that drifted up, trapped on the ceiling. Her body tensed again, and she loosened the morning star from her back. Gripping it tightly, she shuffled slowly, eyes wide and hair raised. Each step she took towards the light, she felt the cold leave her and the heat grow stronger. Water ran down her mane, dripped from her tail, and puddled by her hooves. She crouched behind a broken piece of concrete and peered over to the source of the light.

Sitting propped up against a concrete slab was a man, black as coal and feathers sticking out from his frizzled black hair. Smoke wafted from his nostrils with every exhale; his feet were sprawled out and kicked to the side, arms limply hanging. A fire was lit in front of him, made from loose wood.

She jolted, but then she took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the morning star and waited. Listening for sounds of movement, she forcefully relaxed her shoulders and arms. Her lips moved silently, forming numerous, unheard words. Silently, she watched the man as he breathed.

Fire cracked. His raspy breaths bounced off of the concrete enclosure. She still made no movements.

“I know…you’re there!” he called out suddenly, and she jerked her head back, crouching behind the pillar.

“It’s awfully…hard to be quiet when…you’ve got hooves for feet…my unicorn friend,” he said. She peered back at him. His eyes were closed.

“You know…I am not going…to hurt you by now…I’m sure…I’m in no…state,” he breathed, “Please warm yourself…the rain is cold…today.” She swung her morning star in her hand and approached him with eyes burning and nostrils flaring. Her hooves clacked against the pavement as she shifted towards him, putting the fire between her and him. Her back arched as she breathed steadily, holding her weapon ready. The old man did not move, just breathed, staring at her with his golden eyes.

She loosened the tension in her shoulders and set down her morning star beside her as she sat, ears prickling up for any strange noises around her.

“Isn’t that better?” he coughed, smiling at her with blackened teeth, “I am curious, though, as to why I’m not dead by now…It’s unusual to find a unicorn out by herself, you know…And in such a silent state.”

She pulled herself up and scowled, “And I find it unusual that a man would be walking in our territory so freely. Do you not fear us?”

“Hahaha…Not at this time…I’m afraid I’m approaching the end of my life.” He shifted himself, turning his head and opened his eyes to look at her.

“You’re lucky that I am the one who found you and not someone else,” she replied.

“I suppose I am.” He watched her, and she watched him. Minutes passed.

“Ah, it has been a long time since I have met with a unicorn…Can you tell me?…What clan is it you belong?”

“The Bloodfury clan. I am Heartless, daughter of Bloodthirsty and daughter of Terror of the Bloodfury clan.”

“Ah. Bellona…” he started.

“My name is Heartless,” she snarled.

“Of course, of course, Heartless…You’ve already had your naming…of course, the Bloodfury clan. I am definitely surprised then, that I am not yet dead…what brings you here?”

“None of your business, old man,” she snapped, grabbing her morning star and pounding it once against the pavement with a loud thud. Silence continued for a few minutes after her outburst as the old man thought to himself.

“Well. I suppose I will keep…questions to myself then…But do you mind…if I speak?” She growled a bit, but she set her morning star down again and released her tension.

“My mother told me a story once,” he said, “She told me the story of the world.

“A long time ago, there was an orb, buried deep beneath the earth. It rested there for…thousands and thousands of years until one day, a group of humans…with a large metal drill bore into the earth, right above the orb until the drill cracked the orb…Out of the crack spouted a magic older than old.” Heartless’ ears perked up.

“The magic leaked into everything. Water. Food…animals…plants. All kinds of things. And…people began to change.”

“Now, the changes made were extraordinary…People grew wings…and horns…and tails and hooves and feathers and scales…and had unknown conditions and powers.” He coughed and hacked and at this point, he moved his right arm up to his face to cover his mouth. Out into his hand, he spouted what looked like oozing black tar.

“Haa…” he sighed, “And people misunderstood each other. Each went his own way…which is why unicorns banded together in their clans and…became violent towards others. You see, there was a rumor that unicorn horns had a magical power…able to maintain youth and beauty.” Heartless jerked her head back and snorted.

“It was not true, but alas…so it became that unicorn people were prized.”

“So, they killed them? Did they?” Heartless snarled, “What brazen fools.” The old man smiled.

“Yes. Fools. They all died in their endeavors…unicorn clans are surely very fierce indeed.”

“What are you, then?” she asked.

“Haha…one of the oldest creatures alive…I am one of the phoenixes. Surely…the last one left. We were also…hunted.”

“I’ve never seen a phoenix before,” Heartless replied twitching her ears, “Surely, they have all died out.”

“Yes…except for me. I was…kept locked away for a very long time…Seren. My name is Seren…My mother’s name was Aderyn. She was very careful to teach me…how to evade those who wished to take…my heart…”

“Why would anyone want the heart of an old man?”

“Have you not heard of the phoenix heart?…It is said that the heart…of a phoenix will bring rebirth to those who eat it.”

Heartless snorted. The old man smiled.

“But now, I wonder…what the point was of evading the fairies all these years…”

“Fairies?”

“Yes, you know…the fairies are the ones who most…want what is valuable. Drug addicted thieves…You know the legend of the phoenix?” Heartless made no response.

The old man went on, “The phoenix is said to rise from the ashes of its death…To be reborn as a new phoenix even though…the old has died. Even with my…old age, I have never seen any phoenix rebirth. I quite…expect that I will be spending my last hours here with you.”

Heartless turned her eyes away from his, to stare at the concrete wall to her left from where she entered.

“If you would allow me one request, Heartless,” he said, suddenly moving his body to sit as upright as possible. Heartless turned her eyes towards him.

“If you would…Please stay until I am gone…I do not wish to be alone.” He coughed again, hacking up the thick black tar.

“Do you know how old I am?” he said, “I have been here since…the war decimated the world…I have seen all of the atrocities and mutations from…the magic. My mother…she told me of the way the world was. Have you…perchance, seen the concrete-less forest?” She jumped a little.

“What do you know of the concrete-less forest?” she asked, leaning forward.

“Ah…I have been there. It is so…far away from here now.”

“Which way? Which way is it?” The old man raised his eyebrows.

“Do you seek it?” Heartless pulled herself and flared her nostrils.

“What I seek is my own business, old man.”

“Isn’t it a little…late for pride? Surely, you have been…cast out by your clan.” She gnashed her teeth at him.

“I have not been cast out! I am not dishonored.”

“Yet you are here alone and have not killed me.” Heartless whinnied and rattled her head. Silence pursued the moment of tension.

“I left my clan. I have no interest in bloodshed,” she said finally.

“So, you seek a place where…no one is against you.” The old man closed his eyes.

“There is a bridge that leads you to the place you seek. Past the hovels of the dragon tribe of Circle…To the alleyway where no one goes…Evading the will o’ the wisps…from there…You should find your way. If you can find the dragon tribe of Circle…Though that would be a feat for a unicorn.”

“That’s the way to the concrete-less jungle? Find the dragon tribe of Circle, past an alleyway, over a bridge?” The old man opened his eyes.

“Yes. That is the best way.” Heartless reared her head angrily.

“Dragons. Of all things. Those sneaky bastards. How would I ever find a dragon tribe? You know what they are? Cowards, the lot of them. Running around, won’t even stand to fight for their own.”

“Dragons are a quiet bunch, but they are…the weakest, I think…of the creatures that came about.”

“Weak cowards,” Heartless reasserted, folding her arms in her chest.

“Dragons have their own issues…they are unable to stand extreme cold or heat…And their health is often poor from the…fire in their bellies.”

“What about fairies?” she asked.

“Fairies…” the old man said, “Fairies have wings that grow, painfully, on their backs…so they invent all kinds of…concoctions to deal with the pain…thieving drug addicts.” Heartless cocked her head and snorted.

“Pathetic,” she said, “Pain is reward for the strong. To deny pain is to deny growth. Feckless.”

“Hum…I see you have many battle scars…for one so young.” Her eyes grew wide, and she thumped her chest.

“I am Heartless. I fear no battle. I slay without remorse.”

“Yet you have no…interest in bloodshed?”

“Pointless bloodshed. If you come against me, I have no remorse,” she spoke, rearing her head again. The old man hacked and coughed, spewing black tar onto his chest, neglecting to hold up his hand to cover his mouth. Heartless jumped to her feet.

“Ah…One thing, Heartless,” he coughed, “If I do happen to be reborn…please…bring me to..to..” His body shook and smoke poured out of his ears, nose, and mouth, clouding up the enclosure.

“Bring me to…Peter’s…Square. Peter’s Square…” He coughed again, slumping down against the wall. Heartless reached out her hand when she noticed a flame licking at the bottom of his feet that steadily grew bigger and bigger, swallowing up the whole bottom part of his body. She looked at the old man’s face as he smiled at her. Then the flames swallowed him whole.

The smoke was so thick, she grabbed her morning star and ducked out of the enclosure back out into the rain. Looking into the sky, the smoke could be seen in all directions from anyone within a large radius of the structure. She quickly tied the morning star on her back and glanced around. She took a couple of leaping steps when she heard a sharp cry.

She stumbled a bit on her feet and perked up her ears. A loud crying sound was echoing from inside the enclosure. Eyes wide and ears twitching, she turned around to where the smoke had been pouring. The smoke seemed to be tapering off and strong crying emanated from where she had just been.

Carefully, she slid her hooves over to the entrance again, peering into the smoke. Where the old man had been was a pile of smoking ashes, as he had been engulfed and consumed at once. The fire he had made had been completely put out. Her eyes fell on a bit of gleaming white within the dark pile of ash.

Sliding her feet towards the crying sound, she crouched low over the ashes. The crying sound was loud and muffled, and the ashes moved up and down with each new cry. She reached out her hand and brushed away the ashes from the white spot, revealing a belly button. Eyes widening, she hurriedly brushed off the infant, blowing the ashes from his eyes and nose. His fists waved wildly and his feet kicked out at her, and she watched with amazement.

His skin was hot to the touch and glowing white like snow in the sun. Her hand could hold his head perfectly, and he was shorter than a loaf of bread. Her ears twitched, and she looked behind her.

She stood up, glancing at the baby and towards her exit. The crying resounded in her ears; she stepped towards her exit but heard a noise coming from behind her. She glanced back behind her and heard a ruffling sound. Mumbles came from behind the wall. Eyes widening, she glanced from the wall to the baby and back to the wall. She started to leave again, but a clacking noise turned her head.

“Ah. How unusual. A unicorn about to run.” She snorted and loosened her morning star.

“Who’s running?” she snarled as a feathered head appeared behind one of the concrete slabs. His beak snapped at her as his furry cat-like feet slinked around to her side. Another one appeared on the other side of her. She eyed them with their cat feet and beaks and feathered heads. Both carried a long metal pole.

“You must be gryphons,” she said and spat on the ground, “Rotten scavengers.”

“Oh, ho ho ho. Scavengers. That’s a new one, right, Asad?”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re definitely original, horn wench.” She stomped her foot at the comment and slammed the empty part of her weapon against the concrete wall behind her.

“Shut up, filth,” she cried out.

“Relax, relax,” cautioned the gryphon, “We don’t really care about you. We’re here for that thing.” He pointed to the glowing white baby still squirming in the ashes.

“So, unless you want your pretty little head to roll, I suggest you stay out of our way,” said the gryphon called Asad.

“Now, now, don’t be too harsh,” said the other, smiling in Heartless’ direction, “We’ll just take the little guy and leave now.” Lowering his weapon, he reached his arm out for the child.

Her eyes widened as they darted back and forth between the two gryphons. Asad moved closer to her as the other one’s fingers slowly wrapped around the arm of the child.

“Ragh!” she screamed as she swung her morning star at Asad’s head. He reacted by slamming his pole against her back, ducking her attack. She gasped as the metal hit her and spun around, kicking out at him with her left leg. The other one ran towards her as she swung her weapon and made contact with his leg. He screamed. She removed her weapon with a sickening squelch and aimed at Asad’s head again. The nails made contact with his face; blood spurted out his useless left eye.

The other hit her leg with his pole, causing her to wince and step backwards. Asad was on the ground, clutching the side of his face. The other one limped towards her.

“Horn wench!” he cried as he swung at her. She blocked his swing with her morning star and kicked him in the stomach. As he fell, she swung her morning star into his face, removing it quickly and using it to whack Asad again in the head. Nostrils flaring, she lifted her leg and crushed the other one’s head under her hoof. He stopped squirming.

Asad lay on the ground, whimpering, blood running down his face. Heartless breathed in and out, touching the dark bruise on her side.

Crouching low towards his face, she snorted, “My name is Heartless. I fear no battle. I slay without remorse.” She stood up and kicked in his face. He made no more sounds. She poked around their bodies for a bit and pulled out a couple of purses attached to their belts; she tied them to her own.

The baby cried and coughed, drawing her attention to him. She limped over to him and crouched low. He coughed up ash and waved his hand at her face. Upon meeting her eyes, he stopped crying, whimpered a little bit, and reached up. She turned away. He cried. She looked back at him. He reached for her.

Sighing, she took her pack off her back. Sifting through it, she pulled out her spare shirt and picked up the baby, wrapping him tightly. Her hands turned red at the touch of his skin. Clasping him close to her chest, she limped towards her exit.

The sky was still raining but not as torrentially. She stomped her hooves a few times each. Securing her morning star to her back, she tied the child around her front and ran towards the east.

“Now…where did you want me to bring you? Peter’s Square?” she muttered, rain wetting her clothes again. He pressed up against her skin, turning everything hot. Rain sizzled when it hit him. He crooned at her and tried to tug at her hair.

She stopped suddenly, glancing around. A large concrete lot lay in front of her with buildings to her left and right. The building on the right had a large board with scribblings across it. She stomped her feet, left and then right, glancing around. Then she dashed over to the left building.

She inserted herself into a gaping hole in the front, near the collapsed entrance. Her hooves tapped against the shatters of the tiled floor. Her breath let out ghost after ghost in the coldness left by the rain. She glanced around the inside, walking along the sides of the walls.

Through a set of doors, she found a staircase and carefully picked her hooves up, moving quietly.