From his hiding spot behind the bins, Flame saw different Scythemen shouting to each other. Footsteps were everywhere, allowing an icy chill to reach into body and clutch on to his heart. Without warning, another group of Scythemen yelled over the fences. Through the darkness, the young cub could make out fox tails hanging from everything; their belts, their carts, the horses’ bridles. Suddenly, there was a flash of steel and cries of terror and rage ran out across the fields. Flame closed his eyes and covered his ears to shut it all out. He lay there, waiting for it to all be over. 

When he opened his eyes, there was a silence. Bodies were motionless as they lay dead. After gathering food, Flame raced up to the hayloft to alert his siblings. They were being hunted. So it was that later that day, they left the creaky building and escaped to Hangman’s Forest where they would have refuge. After they had dug a small hole, they settled down a little. They collected as many dry twigs as possible and lit a small fire. Outside, an icy wind crept in from the nearby moors. Inside, Amber and Obar roasted meat, carrots and onions over the flames. Later, as they lay there, cosy and no longer hungry, they read a letter Prickly had given them from their mother. Ember read it aloud quietly. She had told them that their father had died in this forest, not by the Scythemen, but by people far more terrible: hunters. They would have to be careful. Just as they were about to sleep, they heard a thunderous bang. Rough hands reached in and grabbed the scruff of their necks, before lifting them up. They were taking to a place full of horrifying weapons – the hunting ground.

Dawn had not yet broken when Flame woke up with a start. There was the scrunching of leaves just outside their den. Suddenly, a ball of spikes and leaves fell in and Prickly came slowly out of it. He had a message for the cubs from their mother: the scythemen were coming, and the trees where they had lived had been chopped down, their dens filled in. And worse, they had dogs on their trails, as well as an all-new evil. As a result of this, they had to move on, and quickly. Flame immediately woke his siblings, who packed their bags and followed Prickly out of the burrow, before bounding out over the muddy ground to Farmer’s fields. Rain soaked them to the bone as a sudden shower struck, causing them to shiver and shake. With their camouflage now gone, they had to rely on their speed and wits. As Obar glanced behind himself he noticed four sets of paws, and knew they had to be careful; now it would be easy for the scythemen to track them down. They knew they’d be safer when they reached their destination – the evil from the opposite side of the forest weren’t welcome there. Then, at last, they saw the fences of Farmer’s fields. 

As night fell, the cubs noticed a rickety old barn near the farmhouse. They leapt through a hole in the large barn doors and dodged sleeping cows, until they reached an ancient ladder leading to the hayloft. They climbed to the top and wobbled along the loose floorboards, before huddling together in some hay that looked as if it had been there for eternity. They listened to the boom of thunder nearby, and the rats squeaking fearfully, frantically searching for a way out. The barn creaked as the wind shoved it and the rain pelted down upon it, as sharp as shark’s teeth. Flame crept out, hoping to get food. Outside, there was a large bin piled high with rotten fruit, veg and meat. Inside, the cub’s stomachs rumbled. With enough to eat enough to eat for him and his siblings, the young cub was about to head back when he heard mutterings close by, and approaching footsteps coming ever closer. Lightning flashed, revealing a silhouette walking slowly towards him… 

 Many people throughout history have wondered about the Sun and where it came from. Little do they know; the Sun and stars are really thousands of a legendary Sun unicorn, each of which living for several thousand years. Very few have been located by the unicornologists that study them, because, once they’ve finally died, their friends have a habit of dropping corpses into the ocean so they cannot be found. Not many people look at Sun unicorns, as they stand at risk of being blinded. The Sun unicorn is often hunted by the Common dragon, so it has evolved to have defences. The adults have wings made of pure fire, and their silver bodies can give off an unbearable glow, bright enough to blind a swimming Water Pegasus. Not only that, but their weightless, feathery bodies provide heat, sending it down to Earth and warming the plants, allowing them to grow. They have a golden mane, which makes the ‘Sun’ look yellow along with their radiant hooves, known to be undeniably pretty and mesmerising. Sun unicorns are incredibly small creatures, yet easy to spot together against clouds, where they sleep and live. However, they must live on low-lying clouds near undiscovered mountains where their food source is. 

Sun unicorns are picky creatures, and will only eat the finest food. This particular species has adapted so that if they don’t get the same foods, they run at risk of turning pink and being eaten by dragons. Their diet includes: golden apples, fruit from the deserted garden of Eden and wine made from firefly juice. However, as a result of their fussiness, they are eating all the food they have; they have been recently suspected of growing larger as well. At night, though, they are seen darting across the sky like they do at day – these mythical beasts rarely sleep – playing games such as tag. They are sometimes hiding in their moon palace, hiding and seeking. 

What are fast? A cheetah chasing it’s prey, a red racing car tearing along the track, light entering the atmosphere.

What are slow? A slug sliding past the garden path, a lizard looking for a meal, a lorry gradually running out of fuel.

What are high? Clouds cruising along the sky, a hungry peregrine falcon plummeting down towards a pigeon, a nebular showing off its wonderous rainbow colours.

What are low? A swing slowing to a stop, a plane gliding towards the runway.

What are large? An enormous elephant, a wide, green oak tree, a massive mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens.

What are small? A prickly porcupine, a small seed, a minute microorganism.

I have never driven a ship

but I have captained a kayak in the Welsh Harp.

I have never designed a building

but I have modelled a volcano from clay.

I have never touched a seahorse

but I have held a starfish.

I have never climbed a mountain

but I have been on a hike in the hilly Chilterns.

I have never seen Saturn

but I have seen a long conga of satellites dance over Earth.

I have never stroked a lion

but I have stroked my cat Magnus.

I have never seen a Joey

but I have seen fox cubs living in my back garden.