The Donkey's Mask

The donkey pen slowly came into view. As my footsteps brought me closer, the brays echoing from inside grew sharper and more distinct.

"By the way, Dulri wasn't one of the donkeys raised here from the start, right?"

"Huh? How'd you know that? Did I ever mention it to you kids?"

"Haha... I just have good instincts."

"Instincts? Not sure what you mean, but you're right. About two months ago, he just naturally blended into the monastery's donkey herd one day."

As expected...

"At first, I figured he was a runaway from somewhere else— he listened well to people and got along with the other penned donkeys. But I checked around the nearby farms and places that might raise donkeys, and no one knew anything."

He glanced around the pen, pausing to listen to the brays, then continued slowly.

"Probably lost his parents in the wild, wandered around, stumbled upon the monastery, saw a herd just like him, and instinctively joined them."

We reached the front of the pen just then. The breeder set down the feed bag next to the trough and turned to me.

"Good job bringing it. Here."

I handed over the small bag I was carrying, and with practiced hands, he ripped it open—rrrip—and poured the feed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into the trough. The savory, crumbly scent of hay mixed with grains wafted through the air. As if catching the smell, donkeys inside snorted and crowded toward the gate.

"If you're letting the donkeys out to graze anyway... why feed them this separately?"

"This is a supplement—hay and grains mixed. Wild donkeys survive in harsh places like dry grasslands or desert edges, eating not just grass but low shrubs, tree bark, roots—whatever for nutrition. But penned ones won't bother with that stuff... so we supplement like this."

After dumping the last bag into the trough, the breeder opened the gate. The donkeys rushed out like they'd been waiting, swarming the trough.

Meanwhile... lagging behind the herd as it emerged from the pen, one young donkey fixed its gaze not on the trough, but on the breeder.

Dulri approached the breeder amiably. Then, spotting me beside him, it shot me a sharp glare. Just as quickly, it acted like nothing happened and rubbed against the breeder's arm.

'...'

I was speechless. It hadn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shown this side to Isaac.

"Come on, you too—go eat. I added extra carrots today; it'll be tasty."

Unable to resist the breeder's urging, Dulri finally turned and trudged slowly to the trough.

"..."

Even while eating, it shot me wary glances several times. A clear, fierce warning: don't you dare take what's mine.

'Whoa... that's intimidating.'

Confirming the faint horn-like shape glinting on its head, my hypothesis solidified.

"Mister."

"Yeah?"

"You're not married, are you?"

"Well... no."

Probably... and not just that.

"Um... Mister. Then, maybe..."

"Yeah?"

Suddenly realizing I might be prying into something painful, I swallowed my question and shook my head.

"...N-no, never mind."

"What? What's up?"

For some reason, he seemed pitiful. I patted his back lightly.

"...Life gets busy; it happens."

"Wh-what?! What the hell?!"

"Nothing."

"Sure about that?"

I stayed quiet. After eating, the donkeys scattered to the fields. The breeder told me not to cause trouble and went off on his errands. I approached Dulri, now idly grazing in the field.

Well... I could tell just from the looks, but...

"You... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have unique tastes."

I didn't know the mechanics, but communication with Dulri was possible.

"Nothing."

The donkey narrowed its eyes suspiciously at me.

"Hmm..."

I took a breath, then cut straight to it without beating around the bush.

"You're actually a unicorn, aren't you? A female one."

Dulri froze, pupils shaking wildly. No need for the window—I could tell exactly how it felt.

Moments later, as if steeling itself... Dulri approached cautiously and sat before me. Ears pinned back in tension, eyes darting sharply, body trembling slightly.

What? Direct talk was possible too?

Soon... a voice came from Dulri.

"...How... how did you know I'm a unicorn?"

It was a young girl's voice.

"I saw the horn on your head."

"You saw my horn!?"

Dulri panicked, tucking ears and tail tightly.

"Don't worry. I just have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ability to see through that—your disguise hasn't broken."

"...I-I see..."

Calming her trembling body, she asked carefully.

"What are you going to do with me now?"

"Nothing."

"Then?"

"Just... want to ask a few things."

"Ask?"

I took a breath, then asked as gently as possible.

"Why is a unicorn here, and where are you from?"

Dulri closed her eyes thoughtfully, then spoke cautiously.

"Where I lived... was an ancient forest, with huge trees blocking the sky, always bathed in soft light... very, very old."

"An ancient forest?"

"Yeah... I lived there with the adults and the elf big sisters and brothers who visited sometimes."

She paused, gaze dropping to the ground. Then, in a weak voice:

"But I got curious about the world outside... snuck out without telling the adults... just for a bit. Then an arrow flew... it hurt, but more than that, I got so sleepy after."

Poachers...

"When I woke, I was in a small iron cage humans made... they were taking me somewhere. Dad came looking late and tried to save me... but he got caught too... hehe... all my fault... the adults warned me not to leave the barrier... waaah..."

Her voice shook, then burst into sobs, overwhelmed.

I patted her slowly. After a few strokes, she steadied her heaving breaths and calmed.

Soon, catching her breath, she continued.

"We... got dragged somewhere... then one rainy day, Dad went berserk, smashed my cage, got me out... told me to run first."

"What about Dad?"

"He said he'd hold them off so they couldn't chase... I'd just be in the way, so run and hide anywhere. He'd come find me."

I got the picture. She hadn't come here by choice.

"Then... while running... I caught Dad's scent... saw a human with a similar smell... with animals like this, so I disguised as one and hid here... thinking I'd be safe... sob... sorry for lying... waaah... just... sorry... please don't kick me out..."

She thought I was here to expose her and boot her out.

"No... I'm not kicking you out."

"...Really?"

"Yeah."

She lifted her tear-streaked face. Childlike anxiety and hope flickered in her big eyes.

"Don't you want to go home?"

"...I do."

Her voice was earnest, laced with fear.

"Want me to help you get back?"

Dulri's eyes widened. For a moment, resolve and something else crossed her face.

"No."

"Why?"

"...I'll wait here. If I wait here... Dad will come find me."