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| The Creation of a Legend - 1 |
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| Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00 |
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The Sun was setting down behind the hills which guarded the village. The boy, as he was glancing at the guard on top of the hill to the west, he could see the lessening light of the Sun engulfing that man in such a way he almost thought the guard to be a ghost. The boy shivered at the thought of seeing his friend as a specter. But that feeling past in a fraction of a second because the guard moved and the sunrays stopped shinning down on him in that particular way that made him look like a being from another world. „Keenath!” shouted his mother from the doorway of their hut. „What are you doing there, at the outskirts? It’s getting late. Come in for supper.” „I’m coming, mother.” Looking one more time at the guard on top of the hill he turned and headed slowly for the house. Memories of the adventures he had with his friend the guard, popped out in his mind. Keenath was 12 years old when he and Draine, his friend went to the yearly-fair in the neighboring village. There he saw tings which seemed like wonders for him at that age. Even now after 2 years that have past since then, he still remembers those things with the perception of a child that confuses reality with wonder. Reaching the hut he dismissed his thoughts and stepped in. Their home was a humble one. Made of dried clay and twigs it possessed a small amount of furniture: in one room there were hand made table and stools, a small oven to cook bread and game and in the other room there were three improvised mattresses made out of swamp twigs and in the corner a fire place to warm up the family on the cold winter days. „What’s to eat?” asked the husband. Like she didn’t even hear, the woman filled the small table with enough nourishment to satisfy a hungry family of three. The two adults rushed into an ordinary dialog enlisting what they did the whole day. Keenath, bored of this kind of talk begun to eat. Looking down into his bowl he remembered one of his weird dreams. He started to study it and tried to find a meaning to what he have dreamt. He saw himself as a young, but sturdy and tall man with a strong body. He wore on the outside of his left palm a strange symbol depicting a silver-grey-furred wolf inside a golden ring. More disturbing and unknown was the purpose of the items he carried with him: a wooden staff in his left hand, a worn piece of paper in his right hand and a beautiful crafted sword attached to his back. The last thing he could remember of his dream was that he was walking up a sloop to reach the summit of a great mountain. On top of the mountain he could see how Light and Dark were battling. He then knew that those were the final hours of millions of years of war between the two forces. That was the final, deciding conflict for all creation. A powerful blow came from outside the hut and violently made the boy to come into his senses. Quickly, Keenath and his father went into the yard. As he run out he looked to the right to see Draine crushed into a wooden bench that was sitting in their yard. The boy rushed to the side of his friend to lend aid, but the guard had almost all of his bones broken from the fall. It appeared that he was thrown from atop of the hill where he guarded all the way here. The distance was relative big. Extremely frightened the boy started shaking and didn’t know what to do to help his friend, something else than to stare at his pal’s face. With blood pouring out of his mouth Draine pointed to Keenath and his father the hill. By the time he raised his right hand to show in the direction of the hill screams came from all over the village. The people already saw the top of the hill. There, on the peak stood a mighty human-like beast. Because the night sat down the features of that strange animal couldn’t be observed but his stature was beckoning in contrast with the moonlight. It unleashed a mighty howl so fierce that shook the heart of any man in the whole region. The beast seemed to be semi-bipedal as it started running down the hill in a strange manner: it used it’s legs but also it’s hands to support the massive body. Every one started screaming and running to reach the relative protection of their homes. Keenath’s father took a hold of his boy and literally dragged him into the hut fastening the lock on the door. The boy’s mother began to cry frighten by the screams of agony coming from outside. Keenath was in a state of shock provoked by the death of his friend. He wasn’t paying attention to any scream or sound of claws that rendered the flesh of innocent people. They couldn’t see the outside. They couldn’t see the massacre of their fellow villagers. After a few minutes the beast reached their hut and began pounding the door with great strength. Only then the boy came into his senses and a feeling of fright took over his whole body. He couldn’t move or do anything but to stare at the more and more weakened door. The woman was shocked and continuously cried in the corner of the room. With the back to the wall, the boy stood in his bed, frightened for his life. As the door loosed ready to break any second, the father took up in his right hand his rusty sword and shouted in the old tongue of the dacians: “By the name of Zalmoxes! I shall not give away my family to man or beast!” Than the door broke into pieces and the beast stepped in. It was covered in black, thick fur and had pointy fangs and sharp, long claws. Its massive body emanated a strange and strong smell that could hardly be beard more than 20-30 seconds. The man rushed to the animal plunging the blade into its chest. The beast let loose an agonizing howl and grabbed the man from both of his shoulders cutting into his flesh with the claws and biting his neck. The fangs went deep into the man’s throat leaving a big hole where once there was meat and skin. The man dropped almost dead to the ground with blood flowing out of his wound in great amounts. When the beast saw the boy its eyes had a glimpse of happiness like he found what he was looking for. It slowly moved towards the boy. Smelled him like he wanted to make sure he is the right one and raised its hand with the claws opened preparing for a powerful blow that was guaranteed to send the child in the after life. The boy began to loose sight of anything from the strong odor emanated by the monster and lost its consciousness... |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 08 November 2009 17:16 |
