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On Meeting a Unicorn
The Striking of a Bargain
(© 1994, Bonni Elizabeth Hall)

"Well, now that we have seen each other," said the Unicorn, "If you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?"

(Alice Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll)

Personally, I think that's a very good bargain that they struck. Prior to this, Alice had remarked that she had always believed unicorns to be mythical beasts, and the Unicorn had said that he had always thought children to be mythical beasts. Seems like a fair settlement they reached, given their own individual experiences and beliefs.

This also gives rise to some thoughts on the reaction (allegorically speaking) of people in the mundane world have to meeting a unicorn....

The first sort is very common, and the majority, and these are the Mundanes. They look right at a unicorn and fail to recognize it as such. They just don't see the horn, the cloven hooves. Mundanes just assume it's a horse, or maybe a goat. In any event, they only see a natural, common beast, and merely scratch their heads when the beast does things which seem a little odd. To the unicorn, who is rather used to this sort of person, such a reaction is expected. Although it can be frustrating to be seen as other than what you are, it's not all that surprising, really.

Another sort of person looks at the unicorn and sees it and blinks and then dismisses it. Can't possibly be a unicorn, now, can it? Everyone knows there's no such thing. These people are Blinded, but it is by their own choice. Some of the Blinded, in order to protect their self-chosen blindness, will go so far as to declare that the unicorn must be mad, as there is obviously no such thing as a unicorn. This is highly annoying for the unicorn, who knows perfectly well when it is seen and recognized. These people who go to lengths to defame the unicorn for the mere fact of being one... well, those who remain willingling blinded are potentially dangerous. I suspect most unicorns would avoid these people if at all possible.

Of course, there are also the Scoffers, who see a unicorn and promptly demand that the unicorn prove it's really a unicorn, and no matter what evidence is given, the Scoffer comes up with 'facts' to show how this can't possibly be true. Some unicorns might be inclined to play this game for a while, but I imagine that after a while, the unicorn would shrug and wander away. After all, no one, mythical or not, should have to prove their own reality, particularly to the satisfaction of cynics, and particularly when proving one's own reality is an impossible task.

Another sort of person is a Hunter. They see a unicorn and immediately want to possess the beast for reasons of their own. Profit, perhaps, or some sort of cruel morbid curiosity, or simple malice and evil. They don't care how much damage they do to the unicorn population or the unicorn as an individual. The Hunters simply want what they want for their own gratification, and will do their utmost to achieve their wicked ends. These are the people who have led to the endangerment of mystical beasts the world over, and driven them into hiding.

And then there are the Spiritbreakers, those who can't stand the thought of mythical beasts in their world, because the presence of them threatens the carefully formed, neatly maintained "reality" that the Spiritbreakers worked so hard to create. I suspect it's also possible that these Spiritbreakers are jealous, for they are not mystical and the unicorn is, and the thought of something so unique is a reminder of the Spiritbreakers' own failings.

When a Spiritbreaker meets a unicorn, they will immediately try to force the unicorn into becoming something -- anything -- else. They get a cage and put the beast in it. They get a mold and try to force the poor unicorn into it, and any bits that don't fit in their mold get cut off or strangled or bashed into the mold with a hammer. Spiritbreakers are extremely dangerous, for they are led purely by their own fear and jealousy. They don't want to destroy, but only mutilate and mangle and maim, to force conformation of others to suit their own agenda. That may be far worse than the willful destruction of the hunters. To kill the spirit is a dreadful and violent act, motivated by fear and cowardice.

Finally, and probably most unusually, there is the Rare Soul who not only sees a unicorn, but accepts it for what it is. They may well be uncomfortable in its presence, they may certainly find it odd and other-worldly, but they can and do just let it be what it is. Unicorns seek these people out, searching for Rare Souls, perhaps timidly at first, and slowly, cautiously, showing the full depth of their mystical identity. When the unicorn's unique, disconcerting, allegorical essence is met with acceptance, the Rare Soul has gained a friend for life. And a unicorn, while potentially dangerous to be sure, is a very, very good beast to have for your friend.

The next time you encounter something mystical, do consider your own reaction to it. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised if you simply agree to believe in each other.....

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