
"Were" is the line? Page 1
Sorry, I made a bollocks of the last upload, uploading it again.
Amber eyes gazed out over the barren borderlands, the late rays of light spreading a strange flush of colours through his iris'. A gentle, dry breeze ruffled a few strands of snowy hair that ungracefully poked out from a burnished copper helmet.
Hefting his nicked halberd over his shoulders, Olar the Border Watchman checked once more along the broad walkway, keeping an eye out for his relief. With a sigh he turned back to the ramparts, rubbing at his chest the thick tunic that was several sizes too large for him shifted warmly against his skin.
“Well..... Its better than nothing....” He thought idly too himself. “Given its not exactly the best thing to wear beneath a full suit of armour....” As if reminded by this, he rubbed at the iron armour he was clad in. It was nothing like the close fitting armour so many of his fellow guardsmen wore. He preferred to be protected, not to look like he'd developed a wash rack defined stomach over night. His face wrinkled in disgust. A man could look like he'd never eaten anything besides lard his whole life, but as soon as he donned a “body enhancing” cuirass the various bumps and mounds that covered the stomach, not to mention the two monstrously carved pectorals, suddenly gave them a body they could only wish for.
Olar shifted uncomfortably. No.... He preferred protection over vanity.
He heard it again.... a hesitant scrabbling sound. A clawed hand would venture out into the halflight when the guard walked off, then retreat as he came closer again. He couldn't help but smile to himself. Coughing into a fist he took on a more serious posture, halberd at his side as he seemingly called out to no one “You know.... theres no one else here.... you can come out.....”
It seemed that that was all the encouragement the creature needed. A odd collection of rags and fur stumbled from the darkness clutching a soiled newspaper in its small grubby claws.
“Newssss from the 'Equality and Rights for all things that slobber or reek'” It waved the dirtied paper with a gusto that seemed to derive from something other than its ultimate calling to be a delivery boy. Twin golden orbs stared up at him, its large sharp fangs curved into what appeared to be a grin of innocence, but to Olar it felt like a kitten grinning at a mouse. Reaching down he carefully took the newspaper from the little Bledorn, making sure he didn't catch himself on the creatures scalpel like index finger. He had always felt a small amount of pity for the little fellow. The Bledorn had attached himself to the human guardsmen quite quickly. To the tiny creatures mind it seemed like he was the only friendly connection he had. The small, blood infused candies did, however, sweeten the deal a little. Of course.... The Bledorn would never even think to ask why the young guardsman carried around such a morbid treat.
He growled to himself as he saw the title.
“Local sheeps killed by ravaging beast?
Are the Wheres responsible?”
Scrunching the offending paper in his fist he threw it down in disgust. Apart from the terrible grammer there was something that bothered him about the article. “Were” attacks were getting steadily worse and worse. They were happening before the moon was full, occurred more frequently during the full moon, then steadily lessened as the moon began to wax again.
True.... this was a similar pattern to all the “Weres” of the city, but they weren't idiotic enough to draw this much attention to themselves. At least every Were made sure they knew a farmer that was generous enough or rich enough to give a few missing chickens, cows or dragon turkeys a little slip of the mind. A coop left open here, a gate left open there or a volcano accidently turned off (farmers say they use up too much energy anyway) wouldn't be seen as something amiss. It happened quite a lot according to polls. But enough of that. If this was going to turn into another public epidemic he at least wanted to find out if the rumours had some minor amount of truth to them.
With a curt nod and a friendly pat to the Bledorns head he was about to set off when he felt a small, resistant tug at his leg hairs. Looking down he found himself staring into the creatures golden eyes once more.
“Did Haplessssss do good?”
With a friendly nod and a beaming smile, the guard nodded to him.
“Yes! Hapless did very well!” Bending down he patted Hapless softly.
He didn't look impressed. Grimacing a little he looked back up at the man looming over him.
“But not well enough to get himssss a treatssssss?”
The small creature pressed its bat like nose to Olar's pocket, snuffling against it, seeking out a certain scent.
He groaned inwardly. He didn't need this now. Shoving a hand into his seemingly bottomless pocket he drew out an overloaded packet of the crimson sweets. He rummaged around, trying to hook one of the disc shaped treats between his meaty digits. But, as he heard a whine from below he realised that the Bledorns huge, now dinner plate sized golden eyes had never seen such a bounty of candies before, a small line of drool was dripping from the corner of its mouth.
Ah...... He'd never shown the bledorn the full pack before. The packet itself was nearly half the size of its body. Kneeling down in front of the creature he looked directly into its eyes.
“Now then.... Hapless? ….. You've been very good to me.... Very good. You deserve a lot more than sweets and a friend like me.....” He gently patted between the creatures ears. “Thats why I'm about to say this.... please don't be offended....” He hid the packet, just to make sure he had the creatures attention, its ears perked up and faced him. Good....
“You've got to lay low for a while, avoid me as much as possible. Don't come near me for a while.... Things are going to go wrong very very quickly, and I don't want you to be hurt..... alright?”
The ears of the tiny bat like creature drooped a little and, just at that moment, the last few rays of light caught its eyes. It was probably the only time he'd seen a bloodthirsty creature look so innocent.
“Doesssss...... Big friend Olar not want Haplesssss around no more? Because Haplesssss can do better!” Just as the creature was about to hug his leg he draped the treats in front of its nose, drawing all its attention away from him.
“Now now..... as I said.... You've done more than enough for me.... and as such.... I think you deserve these as a reward.....” He deftly wiggled the overloaded sachet in front of the Bledorns nose. Those huge, golden orbs followed every movement the packet made. The small creature nearly doubled over when he caught the treats. With a huge grin and a few on-the-spot jumps he looked back up at the man, who chuckled and nodded for him to head off. As he scuttled off over the boarded walkway he looked once more over his shoulder and... for the first time ever he thought he saw an emotion in the creatures eyes that he'd never see... Every fibre in his small being emanated an aura of worry for the guardsman.
“I'll be fine..... don't worry”
“At least.... I think I will......” he thought to himself as the unconvinced creature scuttled off.
Amber eyes gazed out over the barren borderlands, the late rays of light spreading a strange flush of colours through his iris'. A gentle, dry breeze ruffled a few strands of snowy hair that ungracefully poked out from a burnished copper helmet.
Hefting his nicked halberd over his shoulders, Olar the Border Watchman checked once more along the broad walkway, keeping an eye out for his relief. With a sigh he turned back to the ramparts, rubbing at his chest the thick tunic that was several sizes too large for him shifted warmly against his skin.
“Well..... Its better than nothing....” He thought idly too himself. “Given its not exactly the best thing to wear beneath a full suit of armour....” As if reminded by this, he rubbed at the iron armour he was clad in. It was nothing like the close fitting armour so many of his fellow guardsmen wore. He preferred to be protected, not to look like he'd developed a wash rack defined stomach over night. His face wrinkled in disgust. A man could look like he'd never eaten anything besides lard his whole life, but as soon as he donned a “body enhancing” cuirass the various bumps and mounds that covered the stomach, not to mention the two monstrously carved pectorals, suddenly gave them a body they could only wish for.
Olar shifted uncomfortably. No.... He preferred protection over vanity.
He heard it again.... a hesitant scrabbling sound. A clawed hand would venture out into the halflight when the guard walked off, then retreat as he came closer again. He couldn't help but smile to himself. Coughing into a fist he took on a more serious posture, halberd at his side as he seemingly called out to no one “You know.... theres no one else here.... you can come out.....”
It seemed that that was all the encouragement the creature needed. A odd collection of rags and fur stumbled from the darkness clutching a soiled newspaper in its small grubby claws.
“Newssss from the 'Equality and Rights for all things that slobber or reek'” It waved the dirtied paper with a gusto that seemed to derive from something other than its ultimate calling to be a delivery boy. Twin golden orbs stared up at him, its large sharp fangs curved into what appeared to be a grin of innocence, but to Olar it felt like a kitten grinning at a mouse. Reaching down he carefully took the newspaper from the little Bledorn, making sure he didn't catch himself on the creatures scalpel like index finger. He had always felt a small amount of pity for the little fellow. The Bledorn had attached himself to the human guardsmen quite quickly. To the tiny creatures mind it seemed like he was the only friendly connection he had. The small, blood infused candies did, however, sweeten the deal a little. Of course.... The Bledorn would never even think to ask why the young guardsman carried around such a morbid treat.
He growled to himself as he saw the title.
“Local sheeps killed by ravaging beast?
Are the Wheres responsible?”
Scrunching the offending paper in his fist he threw it down in disgust. Apart from the terrible grammer there was something that bothered him about the article. “Were” attacks were getting steadily worse and worse. They were happening before the moon was full, occurred more frequently during the full moon, then steadily lessened as the moon began to wax again.
True.... this was a similar pattern to all the “Weres” of the city, but they weren't idiotic enough to draw this much attention to themselves. At least every Were made sure they knew a farmer that was generous enough or rich enough to give a few missing chickens, cows or dragon turkeys a little slip of the mind. A coop left open here, a gate left open there or a volcano accidently turned off (farmers say they use up too much energy anyway) wouldn't be seen as something amiss. It happened quite a lot according to polls. But enough of that. If this was going to turn into another public epidemic he at least wanted to find out if the rumours had some minor amount of truth to them.
With a curt nod and a friendly pat to the Bledorns head he was about to set off when he felt a small, resistant tug at his leg hairs. Looking down he found himself staring into the creatures golden eyes once more.
“Did Haplessssss do good?”
With a friendly nod and a beaming smile, the guard nodded to him.
“Yes! Hapless did very well!” Bending down he patted Hapless softly.
He didn't look impressed. Grimacing a little he looked back up at the man looming over him.
“But not well enough to get himssss a treatssssss?”
The small creature pressed its bat like nose to Olar's pocket, snuffling against it, seeking out a certain scent.
He groaned inwardly. He didn't need this now. Shoving a hand into his seemingly bottomless pocket he drew out an overloaded packet of the crimson sweets. He rummaged around, trying to hook one of the disc shaped treats between his meaty digits. But, as he heard a whine from below he realised that the Bledorns huge, now dinner plate sized golden eyes had never seen such a bounty of candies before, a small line of drool was dripping from the corner of its mouth.
Ah...... He'd never shown the bledorn the full pack before. The packet itself was nearly half the size of its body. Kneeling down in front of the creature he looked directly into its eyes.
“Now then.... Hapless? ….. You've been very good to me.... Very good. You deserve a lot more than sweets and a friend like me.....” He gently patted between the creatures ears. “Thats why I'm about to say this.... please don't be offended....” He hid the packet, just to make sure he had the creatures attention, its ears perked up and faced him. Good....
“You've got to lay low for a while, avoid me as much as possible. Don't come near me for a while.... Things are going to go wrong very very quickly, and I don't want you to be hurt..... alright?”
The ears of the tiny bat like creature drooped a little and, just at that moment, the last few rays of light caught its eyes. It was probably the only time he'd seen a bloodthirsty creature look so innocent.
“Doesssss...... Big friend Olar not want Haplesssss around no more? Because Haplesssss can do better!” Just as the creature was about to hug his leg he draped the treats in front of its nose, drawing all its attention away from him.
“Now now..... as I said.... You've done more than enough for me.... and as such.... I think you deserve these as a reward.....” He deftly wiggled the overloaded sachet in front of the Bledorns nose. Those huge, golden orbs followed every movement the packet made. The small creature nearly doubled over when he caught the treats. With a huge grin and a few on-the-spot jumps he looked back up at the man, who chuckled and nodded for him to head off. As he scuttled off over the boarded walkway he looked once more over his shoulder and... for the first time ever he thought he saw an emotion in the creatures eyes that he'd never see... Every fibre in his small being emanated an aura of worry for the guardsman.
“I'll be fine..... don't worry”
“At least.... I think I will......” he thought to himself as the unconvinced creature scuttled off.
Category Story / All
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File Size 87.1 kB
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