The Final Blessing

After  the Gods created Man, they gave him Woman to be his friend and  companion as he journeyed through life. To woman they gave a chest  containing blessings for her descendants. Woman was told never to open  the chest, lest these precious gifts escape. Curiosity finally led Woman  to open the chest and the divine blessings were lost--all but one.

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Elpis  shook his silver mane as the darkness surrounded him. How long had it  been since he had been last called? As the first born of those who  guarded the final blessing of the gods he was only summoned when there  seemed to be nothing left but defeat and despair. There were other  guardians in the mortal realms; they were the ones who should be  answering the normal calls. He stepped onto the ancient path and felt  the ground pull at his hooves and the air grow heavy with the despair  calling to him. When the darkness cleared, he found himself standing on a  beach. He tossed his head and a golden glow from his horn surrounded  him, pushing back the chill that hung like the touch of death. The  stench of rotting bodies mixed with the salt spray of the ocean,  creating a palpable fog. Red tinged water swirled around his hooves as  he carefully followed the call that brought him here.

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He  stepped around a large outcropping of rocks and saw a man sleeping next  to a small fire. He stepped closer and lay down beside the man. The  ornateness of the man's armor and sword, which lay under his right hand,  indicated he was a person of some importance in this place and time.  Elpis studied the rugged face for a moment, noting the streaks where  tears had flowed during the man's dreams.

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He  bowed his head, and gently, as to not wake him, touched the man's  forehead with his horn. With practiced ease he entered the man's  thoughts and began drawing the despair from his soul.