Stepping from the meadow, you come to a little grove of holly trees. Though the air is warm in the meadow, the branches have tiny clusters of bright red berries sprouting from various twigs and stems. Parting the limbs and being quite careful not to get anywhere near the waxy leaves, you walk into the middle of the grove. You gasp slightly as a cold breeze blows past you, and you notice that it is much colder here than outside the grove. Looking around, you are faced with a wide clearing covered in frost-tipped grass and tiny white flowers. The holly trees at the opposite end of the grove begin to rustle and shake, and a pink nose emerges from the boughs. You move back a step as the nose is followed by a pretty black and white painted unicorn with a long, flowing mane and tail that seem to be liquid embers.
*Sella li, irithin.* she says, her voice sounding a bit like wind chimes, as the voice of a unicorn is inclined to do.
*My name,* she continues, *is Tas'shexlin, if you do not already know.*
She smiles at you, and you tenatively smile back.
*Well, traveler, I'm sorry to make our greeting so short, but now I must go. I'm going to visit my mate, Rishla. He lives so very far away and I miss him so much. If you're lucky, you may see me later.*`
She winks at you and laughs, a bell-like sound. Then she turns and jumps into a swirling portal of blue and green. Before it closes, you can see her galloping away into the strange mist. As the portal fades away and disappears, you notice for the first time a scrap of paper attached to one of the holly trees.
You turn from the now-empty clearing and walk back to Primrose Meadow.
