Unicorn & the Rainbow Valley

Zoe opens both eyes and sees soft clouds below – the bed is as fluffy as new-fallen snow. Ting! A little bell swings in the morning wind. Zoe sits up and looks through the round window: something is sparkling – a valley in every colour, glowing like a dream. That is where Zoe wants to go.

Zoe opens both eyes and sees soft clouds below – the bed is as fluffy as new-fallen snow. Ting! A little bell swings in the morning wind. Zoe sits up and looks through the round window: something is sparkling – a valley in every colour, glowing like a dream. That is where Zoe wants to go.

Out in the garden everything smells of fresh strawberries. Zoe bites into one and hums: “Ting – that’s how the valley sounds!” Then Zoe hums the little tune again, and again. The song belongs to Zoe now. A butterfly settles on the tip of Zoe’s nose and tickles so much that Zoe splutters.

Out in the garden everything smells of fresh strawberries. Zoe bites into one and hums: “Ting – that’s how the valley sounds!” Then Zoe hums the little tune again, and again. The song belongs to Zoe now. A butterfly settles on the tip of Zoe’s nose and tickles so much that Zoe splutters.

Zoe runs barefoot into the flower meadow – the grass is cool and soft between the toes. Among bright yellow blossoms stands a unicorn with a shimmering mane, pink and gold. It lifts its head, blinks at Zoe and sniffs curiously at Zoe’s hand, as if to ask: “Is it really you?”

Zoe runs barefoot into the flower meadow – the grass is cool and soft between the toes. Among bright yellow blossoms stands a unicorn with a shimmering mane, pink and gold. It lifts its head, blinks at Zoe and sniffs curiously at Zoe’s hand, as if to ask: “Is it really you?”

The unicorn lowers its head slowly and tilts it to one side – a quiet invitation. Zoe waits one heartbeat. Then Zoe grabs the silky mane, pulls up and up, and is sitting on top. The wind rushes through Zoe’s hair, and those fingers hold the shining strands tighter. The valley is waiting.

The unicorn lowers its head slowly and tilts it to one side – a quiet invitation. Zoe waits one heartbeat. Then Zoe grabs the silky mane, pulls up and up, and is sitting on top. The wind rushes through Zoe’s hair, and those fingers hold the shining strands tighter. The valley is waiting.

Over gentle hills of lilac and apricot they trot together. The flowers along the path hum a song – exactly the tune Zoe hummed before! “I know that one!” calls Zoe, humming along, and the unicorn shakes its mane like a happy yes. Beside them the brook babbles in blue, green and glowing gold.

Over gentle hills of lilac and apricot they trot together. The flowers along the path hum a song – exactly the tune Zoe hummed before! “I know that one!” calls Zoe, humming along, and the unicorn shakes its mane like a happy yes. Beside them the brook babbles in blue, green and glowing gold.

Then the unicorn stops. In front of them lies a wide, glittering brook – much wider than before. Round stones in all the rainbow colours peep out of the water. Zoe slides down from the unicorn’s back and looks at the stones. Can Zoe cross without help? A small knot tightens inside.

Then the unicorn stops. In front of them lies a wide, glittering brook – much wider than before. Round stones in all the rainbow colours peep out of the water. Zoe slides down from the unicorn’s back and looks at the stones. Can Zoe cross without help? A small knot tightens inside.

Zoe stretches out one foot and steps on the first stone – wobbly! Arms fly up, the balance comes back, and out puffs a breath through the nose. Second stone, firmer. Third stone, surer. The shoes get wet, but Zoe grins. “Ting!” says the wind, and Zoe jumps to the other bank.

Zoe stretches out one foot and steps on the first stone – wobbly! Arms fly up, the balance comes back, and out puffs a breath through the nose. Second stone, firmer. Third stone, surer. The shoes get wet, but Zoe grins. “Ting!” says the wind, and Zoe jumps to the other bank.

On the other side a quiet clearing opens up. The air smells of the big meadow lake that Zoe once found without anyone else there – the dearest place in the whole world. Zoe sits down in the grass, socks still a little damp, and listens. Somewhere a flower is singing its tune, very softly.

On the other side a quiet clearing opens up. The air smells of the big meadow lake that Zoe once found without anyone else there – the dearest place in the whole world. Zoe sits down in the grass, socks still a little damp, and listens. Somewhere a flower is singing its tune, very softly.

The unicorn steps up beside Zoe and touches the evening sky with the tip of its horn. A rainbow arches in soft curves over the hills – all the way to the end of the valley, where a round window glows. “There it is,” whispers Zoe. The unicorn breathes warm on one cheek: goodnight.

The unicorn steps up beside Zoe and touches the evening sky with the tip of its horn. A rainbow arches in soft curves over the hills – all the way to the end of the valley, where a round window glows. “There it is,” whispers Zoe. The unicorn breathes warm on one cheek: goodnight.

Zoe lies in the cloud bed, toes still a little cool and damp from the brook, and smiles, humming the tune from the valley – so quietly that only Zoe can hear. Outside the rainbow shimmers in the moonlight, and the little bell swings once more, softly: ting.

Zoe lies in the cloud bed, toes still a little cool and damp from the brook, and smiles, humming the tune from the valley – so quietly that only Zoe can hear. Outside the rainbow shimmers in the moonlight, and the little bell swings once more, softly: ting.