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Shy flickering of the flames coming from a small campfire, cast a faint light over six frightened faces, gathered around. One woman, two girls and three boys. They were Tomens, the tribe of halfling fishermen. The woman was their tutor. She was taking care of them today, while trying to teach them some fishing skills. She was good with kids, and even better in catching fish. But now, as they found themselves in this predicament, she doubted her ability to keep them safe.
They were heading back from the river bank, after a day of fishing practice, when someone attacked their village. They found themselves cut off from their homes. Their only option was to try and escape. And they were fortunate for doing it immediately, because many had no chance even to try. Horrific death cries, coming out of the village, told them they made the right decision.
They were running for more than five hours. Until they couldn’t anymore. Until, they stumbled upon the cave, in which they decided to seek rest. Sundown was upon them, and they were all at the end of their strengths. The cave was stretching fifty paces inside the round, rocky hill. It curved into an “S“ shape, ending in a small cavern, some twenty feet wide. The woman sat them in a semicircle, as she begin building a fire in between them.
Possible pursuers could spot the smallest of sparks in the dead of the night. And they'd had no trouble in sneaking up to them. Catching them in their sleep. There was no escape from this cave, if that was to happen. But just one glance over the tired and scared faces of these starved children, was more than enough reason for her to build one. Besides, they caught some fish earlier. It would be a shame to let them go to waste.
“Miss Irbina, who attacked us?” one of the boys asked.
“I don't know, Linnan.” The woman whispered.
“Did we deserve it?” Linnan continued.
“Deserved it? Why wo...” Irbina's voice trembled “Of course not. Why would you even think that?”
“Well I don't know, miss. Why would anyone attack us for no reason?” Linnan asked again.
Irbina had no answer for that.
“Who could've attacked us?” the second boy asked.
“I think they were the Sumens.” the third boy said.
“How could you know that, Merrin?!” one of the girls yelled.
“I heard our warriors shouting,” he replied.
“You must've heard wrong!” the girl said “They were not Sumens!”
“Why not?” Merrin asked her.“Is it because you met that Sumen boy last summer?”
“You know I have some relatives there.” the girl angrily snorted.
“And what great relatives they are, Arybin.” Merrin teased her “They could’ve at least warned you.”
“These weren't Sumens!” the girl screamed, lunging at Merrin.
“Arybin! Merrin! Stop it, this instance!” Irbina stepped between them “This is not a time for such behavior.”
“Yes, miss.” Arybin bowed her head.
“Of course, miss.” Merrin's voice gave away shame.
“Now, sit.” Irbina said calmly “The fish is done.”
She carefully handed them the pouches made out of palm leaves, taking the last for herself. She sat beside them, and gently unwrapped one side, letting the hot steam to escape. Then she did the same with the opposite end. Pleased to notice the kids are doing the same, following her example, she broke off the tail piece. The meat separated from the tiny bones with ease. It was perfect. It melted in her mouth. If the situation in which they found themselves was only a tad better, perhaps she could even enjoy this fish. But with every next bite, she could only wonder, will she ever have the opportunity to enjoy anything, anymore.
CHAPTER 2
The sky above the Amn'oaz flared in bright, white light. It seemed it was day again. Which was impossible, since it was still the middle of the night. It shone for a few seconds, before it faded into darkness.
The phenomenon was observed by some fifty odd halflings. As soon as the light faded, so did their interest in it. They were now more eager to find a place to sleep, except Vindal Coramin, Sumen soldier, on whom befell the duty of guarding his village. He kept looking, because, beside the bright light, he also noticed something else. A large, irregular shape, which simply appeared after the light phenomenon vanished.
He could clearly discern its contours, covering the clearly visible stars, with its dark surface. Vindal stared at the object for over two minutes now, when he suddenly noticed something else. It was moving. Coming closer. Becoming bigger. Heading towards them.
“Alert! Alert!” Vindal yelled.
“Alert!” he shouted once more, sliding down the flimsy tower.
“What is going on?!” The Chieftain rushed from his hut, still half asleep “Are we under attack?”
“N-no.” Vindal said breathing heavily, as he met him in the middle of the dusty square.
More and more people joined them with every passing second.
“What then?” the chieftain scowled, displeased his sleep was interrupted.
“That.” Vindal pointed upwards.
Hundreds of heads turned in the direction the soldier pointed out. At first they couldn’t spot a thing, but then the movement of the shape became apparent, revealing the enormous object in the sky above them.
“What is that?” Chieftain asked.
“I have no idea.” Vindal answered “It appeared shortly after the strange flash of light.
“Am I imagining, or is that thing coming straight for us?” Chieftain asked.
Vindal had no chance to answer. Because in that exact moment, the object changed its appearance.
“Look!” someone screamed “It is on fire!”
Everyone raised their heads again. And indeed, the object was now surrounded by an enormous fireball.
“It is the sun!” another screeching voice came from the masses “The sun is falling on our heads!”
The cacophony of screams erupted over the village.
“Run!” several women cried “Save yourselves!”
The confusion which ensued only halted their movement. In an attempt to flee from the square, they scattered in every possible direction, blocking one another. No one managed to move for more than a couple of paces. And even if they could, a thousand steps would not get them to safety.
The flames engulfing the object were now all but extinct, revealing the forcefully torn piece of a much larger structure, resembling some unusual city. If Sumens had an opportunity to closely observe this object, they’d see a maze of ways, passages, tunnels, ducts and tubes, interconnecting numerous tall floors. They’d notice several wide rooms, containing weird looking devices. As well as tens of dismembered, unusual looking bodies laying around said machines.
They were out of time. The object crashed down in a deafening roar. The violent impact shook, Amn’oaz, demolishing their entire village. The surrounding area disintegrated and turned to dust in a massive explosion, sending the debris all over the jungle in a ten mile radius. On the spot that previously occupied the village, was nothing but a giant crater.
CHAPTER 3
When Vindal opened his eyes, he found it hard to comprehend how was he still alive. Even more so because he was sure he died. The gargantuan chunk that fell on their heads surely killed him. All of them. He remembered the gruesome, brief pain, before everything switched off. But now, that the similar pain has returned, he realized he must’ve been alive.
Vindal groaned, barely managing to lift his head. Anything more was an impossible task. He was forced to stay down. He couldn’t move his arms and legs. And it was perhaps for the best. Once he managed to take a glance upon them, he realized they are utterly deformed, broken and disfigured with many scars.
Vindal looked around, realizing he was in some strange looking, underground space. Parts of the walls were clearly made of soil and rocks, but through the rest, protruded the patches of some slick, metallic plates. Left of him appeared to be a tunnel of some sorts. But he could not see where it was leading, for it veered out of his sight.
And then Vindal realized he was not alone. To the right of him, stood a motionless form. It was wearing torn, leather clothes, which was once alike to his. But the shape he saw looked nothing like Sumen halfling. Its black, rough skin, heavily cracked in places, resembled the bark of the tree. The rot was spreading all the way from the neck, and over the shoulders and arms of this creature. Out of those narrow and seemingly deep cracks, oozed a thick, white liquid, pumping gently in an apparent rhythm of the heartbeat.
The thing was staring at him. Vindal shivered at the sight of those piercing, red eyes. He had to look away. But as he did, he caught a glimpse of some recognizable facial features. Those of his chieftain. Vindal wished to ask for the explanation of this nightmare. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he was gagged with some strange looking pipe, the chieftain plunged inside.
Vindal tried to spit it out. But it was too tight of a fit. And then it got worse. For then the chieftain began pouring that same white liquid that was dripping out of him. There was nothing Vindal could do, but to swallow. And when the chieftain emptied the vessel, half a gallon of that ooze was in his stomach. It was tasteless and without a smell, but still he could not shake the feeling he drank something vile. A few seconds later, he found out what, when he felt rumbling coming from inside.
The gurgles stopped soon enough. But they were replaced by a new sensation. He felt bloated. Not just in his stomach, but in his entire body. The liquid had found its way everywhere. And then it began to change him. Vindal could feel his every organ moving and shifting and reshaping. And every one of them hurt like nothing before. By the time the liquid started reshaping his bones, muscles and skin, Vindal was completely blinded by pain. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to give in. Soon enough, he fainted.
CHAPTER 4
When he regained his senses, Vindal was surprised to find out he was now in the middle of the jungle. And although he had no idea how, he was marching in a steady pace, following a group of his former Sumen friends. But they weren’t that anymore. What exactly did they become, he did not know. Not that it even mattered. Vindal felt great. Surely better than ever before. The white liquid coursing through his body, gave him entirely new life.
“Wh..ere?” Vindal asked the nearest of his companions.
Somehow that was the only word he was allowed to say.
“Tom…en vi…llag…e.” his companion answered in a similarly troubling manner.
Vindal just nodded, continuing his journey in silence. The journey that wasn’t going to last for much longer, for he already could see the shapes of the fishermen’s village. They must’ve been marching for half a day. But how was that even possible? How did he do that, when he was unconscious? And why were they here?
His surprise was even greater, when he realized his own body was giving him the answer to that particular question. At first his nose, as it caught the scent of a child, hastily fleeing from the village. And then his stomach, informing him it approves of this prey.
Vindal promptly turned after him, leaving the village behind. He could hear the bloodbath had already begun. But he did not care. He had his target in sight. He allowed it to run away from there, as he followed from a distance. He hoped it would go far. Because he wanted it only for himself.
CHAPTER 5
Vindal followed the group of children, led by the woman, for about half a day now. He was patient, although struggling not to charge straight at them. He badly wanted to taste their warm blood. To revel in their sweet flesh. But he managed to fight against it, hoping he would be rewarded for it.
And he was. He knew that, as soon as he saw the group entering the cave. He kept watching and waiting. He noticed they lit the fire. He knew they ate. A tiny bit of smoke and a faint smell of fish, traveled to his keen nostrils. Not so long ago, that was his favourite meal. But now, that seemed like a long forgotten past.
Sometimes later, the female appeared at the entrance. She just stood there, motionless, for a few long minutes, staring over the horizon. And then her legs gave in. She fell to the ground. Her head sank. Her shoulders begin shaking. She was crying.
Vindal couldn’t care less. Only thing he saw was an opportunity. On top of that, he just couldn’t wait any more. The hunger became unbearable. He ably slid down the tree, bolting straight towards the cave. Straight towards the woman. He managed to approach unnoticed. She felt something’s there, when they were just a few paces apart. And when she lifted her head, to check out the faint breeze, she came to realize it belonged to the trail of a dagger, slicing her neck. Last thing she saw before drifting away were horrifying, red eyes looking at her.
Vindal was careful not to make any sound. But he needn’t to worry. The kids were fast asleep. He approached the closest child, sniffed him, before plunging a dagger straight into his heart. He repeated the same act with the rest of them, hastily turning towards one of the boys. It was the one that invited him on this hunt. His scent was unmistakable.
Vindal picked him up, plunging his teeth into his soft flesh. And then again. And again. He continued to devour him like a wild animal, until some fifteen minutes later, he was completely full. He allowed the body to fall from his arms, as he sighed in elation. But then he noticed something unusual. His body was excreting the white liquid. A probable reaction to his plentiful meal. He felt some strange sensation coming from inside. Sensation he had to obey.
Vindal jumped towards the entrance. Towards the body of that woman. He grabbed her by her wrist, hastily pulling her inside. He searched her bag, pulling out the piece of a rope and the jug made from two hollowed, connected coconuts. He moved with haste. As if something was forcing him to do this.
He hastily tied the woman’s legs and hands, sat beside her, and started collecting the white liquid into the coconut vessel. And when he was done, more than twenty minutes had passed. The jug was full to the brim. He poured a few drops over the wound on her neck, and sat back, knowing he will now have to wait.
He waited for an hour, staring at the body of the Tomen woman. Waiting for any kind of reaction. And it came, in the form of a slight leg twitch. A minute later, the woman opened her eyes.
CHAPTER 6
Irbina gasped loudly, as she glanced around. Last thing she remembered were the narrow, red eyes staring at her, while she was drifting away into darkness. Only now, she was alive again. Or perhaps, this was something else. But she recognized this place. It was the cave in which she and the children took shelter. The children! She tried to get up, wanting to check up on them, but realized she was tied.
“The children…” Irbina whispered, as her eyes wandered towards their small bodies.
And then she saw those red eyes again. They were hovering some five feet to the right of her. And then she saw the creature those eyes belonged to. The creature lunged towards her, grabbing her by the neck. Vindal forced the jug into her now opened mouth. She wasn’t resisting. It seemed she accepted her fate. And that helped Vindal. For just a few minutes later, the vessel was empty. He tossed it aside, returning to his previous spot, prepared for another long wait.
He had to wait for a full five hours, before he could once again notice the movements. Vindal jumped, almost jubilant, rushing to untie her. Irbina jerked as she looked around. Her eyes met with the stranger’s. They were deeply red and beautiful. She inspected his pleasant face and his enticing figure. And then her eyes veered towards the few small bodies.
Without any hesitation she lunged at one of them. She sunk her teeth into the girl’s leg, voraciously biting a large chunk. The meat was perfect. It melted in her mouth. If she had known the situation in which they’d found themselves this morning would lead to this bliss, she’d do everything in her power so this could happen much earlier. Irbina bit another piece. And then another. She simply could not stop. This was magnificent. With every next bite, she could only wonder, will she ever have the opportunity to enjoy anything as amazing as this.
THE END
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