Well, shit. I’ve been discovered. I wake up to the sound of a screaming child, who is running across the field with his mother in tow.
“Look, mommy, a horsey!” the child yells. “Can I pet it?”
Not if you keep screaming like that, you little shit.
“Sure, honey. Let’s go see if she’s friendly,” the adult agrees, because apparently it’s perfectly acceptable for human parents to allow their small children to pet strange animals.
My ears flick apprehensively, and I prepare to run away, but a familiar, sweet scent makes me pause. I would recognize that smell anywhere: Fresh apples. I prick my ears forward curiously, and my body trembles with a low, deep, involuntary nicker. Wait, what? I am an alicorn princess; I do not nicker—I had no idea that I can sound such a greeting. The humans wrongly take my nickering as permission to come closer. I pin my ears at them, but those apples smell so enticing that my ears prick forward again, indicating my curiosity. Damn it, I’m so hungry. It’s been so long since the last time I ate. I take one tentative step toward the humans, then another, then another, until I am close enough to reach out for the delicious red slices that lie in the small human’s outstretched palm. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary pain to this innocent child, so I take extra care to avoid biting his small fingers as I gingerly take the treats and begin to munch on them. The child giggles, presumably because my velvety muzzle tickles his palm.
“Horsey,” he declares happily, reaching up to stroke my face. I lower my head further so that he can pet my ears. Ohhhh yes, that’s the spot. If I were a dog, my hind leg would be shaking in pleasure right now. I gum his hand with my soft lips, then I nuzzle his stomach.
Suddenly, a slightly older child, a female, runs in my direction, screaming my name. I shy back, squealing. How does this small human know who I am? She is running toward me at top speed, so I turn and gallop away. My wings propel my body upward, and I soar for miles until night falls. I’m terrified. Why the hay is everyone so obsessed with me? Maybe I’ll figure it out tomorrow.