My Pet Taur

I was overjoyed with the news come by father in a letter from the north when I was ten. The letter said I was old enough to get my own pet and would have to choose amongst the great pets in the land. Father brought me on his Trojan horse to the druid master, Lychen, to choose.

We rode two days until we came to l’Acadie, where the druid master lives. “Cen, my dear boy, may have one pet from all the great pets I have encountered in my travels” Lychen said with his cold blue eyes. I looked and saw a room full of great creatures.

Tucked away in the corner he saw a sparkle and he knew he must have him. The steed was my age. “Father I want this one” I exclaimed with excitement in my eyes. He stood there sipping water from the fountain.

“His name is Taur” Lichen said as he same over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “He has great power and one day that power when the time is right will become part of you. Here is a special saddle be careful”

I rode along side father on Taur. He was white with big strong legs and a headband encased with purple jewels. Taur jumped around with glee as he told me about where he was from. Taur grew up in the outskirts where the water crosses the path of the Indians. When his home had burned down Lychen rode by and saved him from the flames of death. That’s why he had the headband. With the jewels encased he could perform healing and protect his owner just as Lychen had for him.

Upon arriving home I took Taur around the camp to show my friends. They commented that he was a little off compared to the great hunting pets they had and couldn’t see past the jewels as they made fun of him. “Come Taur it’s getting late, father will worry.”

Mom and I made a special bed of hay for Taur next to my bunk. I sat there all night watching Taur sleep.

When I was thirteen a great storm had come, I had fallen off the roof helping father getting our home ready. I was paralyzed from my waist down. The doctors told me that I would have to wait to see if I got any use of my legs again. They did not. Taur told me that it was time the moon would rise tonight and tomorrow I would be able to walk again. He told me I would be great with hunting and to not be frightened.

The next morning I awoke. I didn’t feel any different until I stood up. Taur was gone. “Taur… Taur … where are you?”

“I am inside little Cen. Do not be frightened. Together with my great legs and your body we have become one as my father did years before. We shall be called Centaur.”