The villagers stared in disbelief. Those mountain bandits who could still move were fleeing as best they could, while those who couldn't lay still in the dust. After months of fear, the valley-dwellers dared hope for a peaceful night's rest. This time, as the sun descended in the sky, the raiders had not made off with food and livestock. This time, they had been turned back.

No one spoke, but all looked nervously upon the tall cloaked figure who stood between them and the fleeing bandits. Clearly, their savior was not human, at least not like any human they had seen. The figure stood at least three dachons tall, towering over even the largest of the villagers. He had wielded an unknown weapon that flashed in the evening sun as he whirled among the raiders, bringing a number of them down before their companions ran in panic.

Many of the village elders stole nervous glances at each other, unsure of this new creature's intentions. Had he saved them from the bandits, only to plunder in their stead?

No one noticed the boy who had stepped away from the group toward the lone figure, not until the child stood only a few dachons away from him. A woman gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth, but made no motion toward the boy. A palpable tension hung over the crowd as the figure turned around to face the young diplomat.

"You made 'em go 'way," the boy offered, somewhat unsure of himself, but overwhelmed with curiosity. The figure nodded under the hood of his cloak, but made no reply. The child took another step forward, tilting his head from side to side, trying to see into the dark hooded space where the figure's face must have been. He tried again.

"Can you talk?" The boy had no understanding of how impertinent his innocent question was. Again, the creature made no reply, but instead lifted his arms toward his hood. When his hands emerged from the folds of the cloak, the setting sun reflected off of metal-clad hands. The hood was slowly drawn back, revealing the face of their rescuer.

He truly was not human. A greenish metal covered an enlarged, animal-like snout. Large fan-like ears flanked a head of long hair, which seemed to be the only part of him that wasn't covered in a dull, reflective green, much like a plow blade that had been forged before smelting out the impurities in the metal. He opened his eyes, revealing inhuman milky white pupils.

He was a monster.

A terrified squeal erupted from the child, as he scrambled away from the frightening visage before him. The boy collapsed into the arms of his father, whimpering in fear. The villagers gathered behind them, some staring in horror, while some of the more courageous among them stepped forward, steeling themselves to drive the monster away.

"I can speak," the monster spoke in a gentle baritone. It raised a dull, green hand, gesturing toward the villagers as if he expected something from them. The boy's father answered in the most intimidating stance he could muster.

"You speak, then you can understand. Leave us, demon! I'll not let you have my boy!"

"I- ..." The creature stammered, but quickly fell silent. Its eyes closed, its head hung down. Clawed hands reached to bring the hood up once more, hiding the horrible visage. Silently, the creature turned its back to the village, walking toward the sunset.