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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:18 pm
As the sun sets slowly over the city of Selena, the buildings cast shadows on the cobblestone walk surrounding the city walls. The grassy plains that come up to meet the stones wave gently in the night breezes.
But, perhaps this peaceful atmosphere is not an indicator of other things.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:25 pm
"Sarah, I think that there is some sort of town or settlement over there," Falco said pointing to the dim outline of buildings somewhere in the distance. " It looks different from the barracks where the portal lies,"
"Earth to Falco, I don't think my eyesight is as good as yours," Sarah said turning to look in the general direction that the zahdl pointed to. All the guardian could make out was probably some slightly darkish outline of something which could have been a large rock for all she could see.
"No Sarah, those are buildings. I'm sure," Falco said grinning at his guardian. Sometimes though none of them would admit it, the two of them liked to compare thier abilities with each other. Falco usually won when it came to such things as sight and senses but Sarah would after that mow the zahdl down with equations and such that left the winged zahdl quite confused.
"Shall we take a closer look?" Falco asked flaring his wings and taking off . " Just a small peak Falco. We do not know whether we would be shot down if we flew to close," replied Sarah cautioning the zahdl. " Perhaps it would be better to walk once we've come closer to it,"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:48 pm
The young zahdl had not gone unnoticed. A sadistic grin spread across the man's face as he watched the small figure in the air. He considered his options for a moment, before taking a few steps away from the wall.
"I think we should provide an appropriate welcome for our young friend, mmm?" He said, pulling his cloak up over his head as he threw a casual glance towards the darkness. His companion chose not to respond, turning their gaze away.
"Hmm, you are quite dull, you do know that?" The man asked condescendingly, bringing his attention to the situation at hand. Now, how should he gain the attention of his new interest? Grinning, he pulled a crystal out of his cloak. After speaking a few harsh words over it, a strange creature resembling a gargoyle, about four feet tall, but bulky. It hovered in the air, waiting for a command.
"Bring them to earth," the man snarled. Nodding once, the monster took flight towards the zahdl.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:02 pm
A sudden speck in the air caught the zahdl's attention. Slowing down the zahdl tried to make out what was that said object. It seemed to be heading their way at any rate and...it looked big...and scary.
"Sarah, there's something coming at us!" Falco said with a hint of fear in his voice though he knew not why. Tilting his wings the zahdl tried to make it back to the plains.
"It looks like a gargoyle," Sarah said (squinting if she had eyes). "They have been known to guard buildings but this is a bit far fetched...,"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:17 pm
The monster, closing in on its prey, grunted happily. A bloodlust rose within it, until a single sharp thought cut across it's mind.
"You are not to cause any physical harm to the target, fool," the man's voice said irritably. Growling in resentment, yet unable to disobey its master's orders, the gargoyle continued towards it's intended goal.
Once it came within fifteen feet of the zahdl, the monster began to circle about him like a vulture. Its sharp eyes caught the presence of a free spirit hovering about the zahdl, which suprised it as much as its small mind allowed it. The man, who was using the crystal to watch the action above from a closer vantage point, mused on how he could use this to his advantage.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:32 pm
Falco had to bank his wings sharply to avoid ramming head on into the creature. H-how did he reached here so suddenly? thought the zahdl as he frantically scanned the skies for a chance to escape; to return once again to the plains and away from this accursed city.
Folding his wings the zahdl then plunged towards the earth at a breakneck speed with Sarah screaming from either the speed of the dive or the monster Falco did not know which.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:42 pm
The creature grunted in suprise as his target took off swiftly, swiveling around to once again bring the zahdl into its field of vision. It prepared to chase, but its master's voice cut into its mind once more.
"The child and the spirit seem to be communicating quite a bit with one another," he chuckled. "I wonder what would happen if the two were separated?"
The monster grunted quizzically. The master was rambling about things it had no intention of trying to understand.
"Imbecile," the man groaned. "You ARE a spirit creature, so retrieve the spirit and bring it to me. That should ground our little friend, if he has any concern for his companion at all."
The monster nodded in affirmation and began to dive through the air after the small figure. It's great bulk added to its speed...
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:54 pm
The creature seemed intent on hunting the two of them. Flaring his wings just as they were about to hit the ground Falco; with renewed determination not to get caught bit his lip as the creature too went into a dive. Sarah, we must not get caught! We musn't! thought the zahdl as he tried to outfly the creature. Call it a hunch but Falco just had a bad feeling about that creature and what would it do should it manage to catch them.
"Falco! It's behind you!" yelled Sarah as the creature flew up from behind. From the guardian's point of view, the creature seemed close enough to reach out and grab the zahdl by his ankles.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:06 pm
The creature had no plans to grab the zahdl, though. It's claws would do too much damage to his unprotected flesh, and the gargoyle knew that the master would punish it harshly later if it disobeyed and damaged the boy before he could carry out his plan. Whatever it was.
Instead it aimed for the spirit surrounding the zahdl. As it got closer, the creature opened it's cavernous mouth with and inhaled, causing a mighty gust. It intended to suck the spirit into it's gaping maw, and, without swallowing, use it's mouth as a sort of cage to hold the spirit until it could be brought to master.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:14 pm
"Falco!" screamed Sarah as the creature loomed in and opened its mouth. Suddenly as if there was an invisible vacum coming from inside the monster's gaping maw Sarah felt herself being slowly but surely dragged away from Falco. "W-what's happening?!" screamed the guardian as she became more and more detached from the zahdl. " Falco! Help!"
Falco too felt the sudden pull of the monster and the horrible feeling as if a part of him was being torn apart. Turning himself around the zahdl tried kicking the monster back; to prevent the being from taking away his guardian. The one person he cherished above others.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:18 pm
The monster snapped it's jaws shut, ending the gale but imprisoning the spirit inside. Satisfied that it had fulfilled its master's orders, it turned about, flying towards the man on the ground, who had come out from the shadows and was beckoning towards it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:28 pm
"No!" shouted Falco as he felt the last bit of his guardian being sucked away.Turning around quicker than he had ever done before it was Faclo who now gave chase to the flying beast.
" Give her back!" yelled the zahdl as he tried flying alongside the creature hitting it occasionally with his fist.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:37 pm
The creature turned it's head around and snorted disdainfully at the small boy in a puff of hot breath. It then raced towards the ground and landed heavily in front of its master, looking up at him dully for praise. The man patted it on the head absentmindedly, the corner of his mouth quirking in slight disgust, before examining the prize his creature had brought.
Acting swiftly, he transferred the spirit from the gargoyle's mouth into a jar for containing such things as ghosts and magic. His sadistic grin shadowed by his hood, he let out a cackle of glee as he shook the bottle.
"I think we've got your little friend's attention now, eh, my lady?" he asked with mock politeness, gaze sweeping to the approaching zahdl. "I do hope you're comfortable, for you may be there for a while."
His companion in the shadows snorted derisively and continued to ignore the proceedings.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:46 pm
That man. He must be the one controlling that monster. thought Falco as he watched the creature land and looking expectantly at its master.Falco also noticed that the man placed something ( was it Sarah? Falco wasn't sure) from the creature's mouth into a jar. Anger mingled with sadness,shock and desperation surged through the zahdl as he flew towards the group.
Landing a few feet in front of the hooded figure Falco glared. " Give Sarah back to me," the zahdl said trying to look and sound bigger than he did.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:53 pm
"Ah, so Sarah is the young lady's name?" the man asked condescendingly. He sneered at the young boy from beneath his hood. "I don't think I'll be giving her back now. Unless, of course, you can do something to change my mind..." he trailed off, eyeing the zahdl meaningfully.
His gaze was broken as the monster, now bored, began to yawn and scratch itself loudly.
"You!" He yelled sharply, gaining its attention. "Be gone!" With the words of dismissal, the monster growled at him, but returned to the crystal which the man had since placed back inside his voluminous cloak. The person in the shadows snickered.
"Silence," he commanded, irritated.
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