The unicorns didn't know why humans hate them, they simply knew that to be seen was to die. Juniper's whole life she had been told the cautionary tales every young unicorn knew; how they lost many foals every year when they received their horns and consequently, their magic. You see, unicorn magic is wild and powerful, and in the hooves of a young unicorn, it didn't tend to be used wisely. Many a foal got their horn and immediately set off to explore the human world with no care for subtlety, and thus were quickly found, captured, and never seen again.

   Juniper had received her horn a mere 2 hours ago, and was anxious to go out and explore. She wasn't really listening to her mother, who was explaining the dangers for the thousandth time. She knew the stories by heart, and besides, she had a plan.

   "As soon as I cross the border, I'll shift to a form that doesn't have a horn, that way I can explore freely!" Juniper shifted her weight from foot to foot as she thought, going over her plan one last time. "When I'm ready to come home, I'll just shift back! No one will ever know I'm a unicorn, and I'll go down in history as the unicorn who survived an encounter with humans." Excited at the idea, she didn't even acknowledge her mother's tearful goodbye as she walked away, lost in thought. Soon, that walk turned into a canter, and quickly thereafter, a gallop.

   As she broke through the magic shield at the border, her horn shone bright with magic. She guided that magic to her form, attempting to shift into something, anything, that didn't have a horn. Sparks flew around her and she hoped nobody was nearby to notice. All around her, the world dimmed. The trees no longer seemed to shine like emeralds, nor did the flowers shimmer like the sun hitting the morning dew. Everything seemed cold and lifeless. Shocked, she fell to the ground as her form grew smaller. Hands and feet slowly replaced hooves, her snout shrank down to a small button nose, and her tail disappeared completely. Getting clumsily to her feet- how was she meant to walk with only two- she looked around the clearing she found herself in. There was a small pond a short distance away, and she made her stumbling way over to try and see what happened.

   "Oh no," Juniper whispered as she stared at her reflection. Bright blue eyes stared back, bright blue human eyes. Hearing the sound of twigs snapping, she whirled around, the strange sensation of cloth brushing against skin distracting her momentarily. "Who goes there?" She cried out, terrified. "Did someone see me shift?" A small child, no older than six, crawled out of the bushes.

   "Hi," the child said shyly, "I'm Jenny. What's your name?"

   "Juniper," relaxing, Juniper let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "What are you doing out here Jenny? Do your parents know you're out here alone?"

   "No. They're out looking for the new unicorn children. Did you see the sparks? They were so pretty!" Jenny's eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke.

   Juniper felt the blood drain out of her face. "Your parents are unicorn hunters?" She whispered, backing away while she desperately looked around for an escape route. "No, no, no, what am I going to do?" She thought, "I can barely walk on two legs, let alone run!"

   "My mommy runs an orphanage. My daddy helps her sometimes. What are unicorn hunters?" Jenny tilted her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face.

   "Then why are they looking for unicorns?" Juniper cried out, "Aren't they going to kill all the unicorns they find?"

   Jenny giggled, "They aren't looking for unicorns, they're looking for unicorn children. Why would anybody want to kill unicorns? I've never seen one, but the kids at the orphanage say they're beautiful. That's why I was hiding in the bushes, I wanted to see one. But I fell asleep, and then you were here!" Jenny drooped as she remembered that she hadn't found any unicorns.

   "But then what are unicorn children? Why are your parents looking for them? What's going on, I don't understand!" Juniper cried.

"I don't know. C'mon, let's go ask my mom!" Jenny grabbed Juniper's hand and pulled her through the forest. Juniper stumbled as she was pulled off balance. Tripping over her feet at first, she followed Jenny through the trees. Running felt awkward at first, but she slowly got the hang of it. In fact, she began to enjoy the sensation.

   Several minutes later, they broke through the forest into a large clearing. White tents were scattered throughout, and humans of all ages were milling about. Juniper froze in fear as Jenny ran forward. "They're going to kill me," the thought looped through her head, panic overriding sense. "Even if I run, they'll find me and kill me! There's too many of them!"

   "Mommy, mommy!" Jenny excitedly called out, running toward one of the tents in the center. "I found a girl! Her name is Juniper and she's really pretty!" A woman rushed out of the tent, and dropped to her knees, clutching the girl to her.

   "Oh Jenny, where have you been?" The woman said, "I've been worried sick! Your father is out looking for you." She reluctantly pulled away, holding Jenny at arms length to look her in the eyes. "You know you were supposed to stay here with the other children while we were out searching." The stern set of her face caused Jenny little pause, she was so excited.

   "I was looking for unicorns! I didn't find any, but I found a girl! What are unicorn children?"

   Jenny's mom looked over at Juniper, still standing on the edge, and her face softened. Standing up, she brushed off her knees and walked over to the visibly frightened child. "Hi, I'm Rosemary. You must be Juniper. I'm sorry we didn't welcome you when you arrived. You must have crossed over later than the others."

   "I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing makes sense. Other children? Welcomed me?" Juniper started crying. "Why is this lady being kind to me?"

   "Don't fret, young one. You'll have a home with us, along with the other new unicorn children." Rosemary reached out to comfort Juniper, but drew back when she felt the girl stiffen.

   "And what exactly are unicorn children?" Juniper warily stepped back, not sure she trusted this woman's kindness.

   "You don't know? No, of course you don't, coming here with Jenny. Every year, when the unicorn foals receive their horns, quite a few of them cross to the human world to explore." Rosemary paused, looking Juniper over. "The most adventurous change their forms into humans, and these are who we call unicorn children. You are a unicorn child."

   "But why does it matter? I was just going to explore for a few hours and then go home." Juniper was confused, but she wasn't frightened anymore. 

   "Oh sweetheart, you can't go back. When you shifted, you gave up your horn forever. You don't have magic anymore." Rosemary reached forward and pulled Juniper into a tight embrace as the girl burst into tears. 

"But, I didn't even say goodbye to my mom. And now I never get to see her again?"

   "C'mon let's get you inside" Rosemary said and led Juniper towards the tents. As they went, Juniper determined that one day, she would make it back.