Dark Night

[-Cein-Isles-]

Ch. 1

Cold. It was a simple feeling one could use to describe a multitude of feelings. Cold fear, cold-blooded (both in a literal and figurative sense), Cold heart, cold cold cold… But the one that was the most chilling, the most crushing…was the cold darkness….

Winds whipped around, through the trees, across the waters, over plains and mountains alike. Centaurs, Harpies, Syrins all felt the chill. Even the Naga turned their heads to gaze, confused at this cold wind; this strange wind. The warm nests of the Harpies grew cold, worrying those caring for the unborn eggs. Babies cried, clinging to their mothers, the coldness waking them from a mid day nap. The warm waters dropping in temperature, and the creatures that dwelled there shivered, terrified of the water freezing into a large block of ice. Those who had made residence in inland lakes made their way to the oceans via rivers, for the salty waters was less likely to freeze quickly. And then the storm set in…

Ice, snow, winds gusting about, throwing unlucky sea faring creatures to land, tossing the winged from the skies, into the water or plummeting to the ground bellow. The snake bodied residents of the isles found themselves huddled together to reserve what little heat they had, and hiding in dark caves, which still radiated a bit of heat. The land taurs of hoof and paw huddled in their lands, trying to stay warm. Small fires were built but the rain and snow made it almost impossible to find dry wood, or even to just start a small fire. Everywhere the ice was settling in…The darkness creeping over the land. Fear was easy to smell. The cold darkness had taken control of the land.

Ch. 2

On a small isle, where the Foxtaur were known to live, young girl shivered as the third weekend passed without sunshine. Already babies were dieing, freezing to death. It was predicted that many more would die for the plants were dieing quickly, and the animals along with them. Those who practiced medicine could not collect their herbs and heal the sick. A simple cough had already destroyed one family. Three little children, the mother, and father, all gone. The older members said that the weak dieing was good. More food for the strong.
But this little girl knew it was just fear.

Her white body blended with the snow, frightening her mother more then once when she was unable to locate the girl. Her crystal blue eyes shined in the light, matching the ice that had settled over the stream that once provided the village with water. And for her young age those eyes shone with a wisdom that frightened the other members of their village. She was observant, she could see the fear, smell it even, through the cold. The others always knew when she was watching them for her eyes became a blank stare. The smile she normally held was gone, and her long, silver hair was let down from its normal bun, letting it whip in the wind. And lately she had been watching a lot…

But this young girl was normal, so it seemed, when the sun had been shining. She played, laughing, smiled. But as the cold set in she seemed to shut down to the outside. Her parents noted it, feared it. Her family let her do as she pleased, let her wander as she wished. Some speculated she was some sort of sorceress who had brought this snow upon them. A few wanted her thrown into the waves, to perhaps save themselves. But her parents loved her, protected her, and so she stayed. And the cold darkness continued to control the land.

Ch. 3

In the mountains the cold was far worse then on land. Ice covered every rock. Many eggs, despite the careful tending, were already lost. Several of their top females had been lost to the winds. More then a few thin, sick, or already dead chicks had been thrown from the cliffs. Fear gripped the Harpies just as it had the Foxtaurs. It was madness as they huddled together to stay warm in their deep caves, but the chill was creeping in…and the fear slowly made some turn on others. More then one adult had been killed, locked away, or banished for trying to eat one of the healthy chicks, or remaining eggs. And those still sane enough continued to care for what they were sure would be their only hope…their only future. For the darkness had no end it site. That is they cared for their eggs, their chicks…except one…

Smaller then the others, thin but not weak, a small snowy white Harpy watched the group through red eyes. Her feathers were white; her skin was an albino that kept her from being allowed out on sunny days. This coldness was her haven at the moment, even if she was shunned now. She listened to the whispers and knew their reasons. She was a demon sent to destroy the Harpy clan. She would kill them all with the ice and the snow. She knew this was ridiculous, but the older ones, the adults, they feared this…This death. So she endured. And watched.

Anther egg, another chick, another one gone. She sighed as they heaved the bodies over the cliffs. She watched at meal times as she was thrown scraps, barely enough to live off of. But what could she do? Her parents had been killed in the storm and coming from two dark colored Harpies she had always been looked at funny. But now fear caused irrational thoughts. And now she was not looked at funny, she was loathed. She was feared. She’d fly away of her wings had been any bigger. So for now, she endured the hateful glares and did what she could to survive. And through it all the cold darkness kept its control.  

[-Cein-Isles-]

Ch. 4

And from the top of the highest mountains down to the deep the chill had reached. The Syrin community was calmer about this cold, for the water protected them, but the chill was becoming a worry. Ice sheets began to form, and more then a few had been swept up onto land for going to close to the surface. They moved deeper, to get as far from the ice as possible. But still the cold sank down, chilling them to the bone. And, as the Harpies and Foxtaurs before them, the Syrins fell pray to hatred. But white was not the color of this Syrin. Nor was it a child, or even female. He was young, yes, but an adult. His body was a pale color, the cold making it even worse. His eyes shone white, his tail, a ice blue. Bringer of the ice is what they called him. Bringer of the death of their families, communities, lives.

But he ignored it. Why bother? Why listen to their talk. So, unlike the two girls before him, he left. He swam from his home off the coast of the cattaurs island. He swam until he came upon a small Foxtaur girl, sitting beside the water, having run away one night as she heard her parents’ arguing with the others about her life. Her crystal eyes looked out over the land, watching the water, the show covered beach, the dark sky. And this intrigued the male. He swam forward, and looked out, peering up from the water before he surfaced.

“Hello little one…” He said softly.

She jolted, which he expected, and looked to him, surprised. Obviously the sea creatures were not common to the land taurs. It did not surprise him at all. “W-who…?” her voice was soft, hard to hear over the sound of the waves, beating against his back until he was forced to move up with the current and rest beside her.

“My name, just as yours, is not important. However I can see you are lonely for such a small land taur.” He said. “Sweet child do you have a boat? If you can find one I will take you from this place, and take you to a land where you will be wanted.” He said softly.

In short the little girl was stunned. Taken away? This…sea monster would take her way…to where she would be wanted. Slowly she stood. “I can get a boat…” She said before running off along the shore.

“Bring back some rope if you can as well.” He called after her as he watched her go. He smiled softly. The land taurs were so bad. Fear had been put in his heart at a young age that they would surly kill a Syrin upon site. Yet this small child seem merely surprised that life like hers could live bellow the water. Just as he had been surprised to find that anything would live on the dryness of land. He settled down to wait; a bit saddened that he couldn’t help her, for he was sure she’d have trouble.

However it didn’t take long until he spotted her, using the rope to pull the small boat through the water. When she reached him she was beaming. “I told my papa…and he said to take the boat and hurry, before the others found me.” She said, but she was obviously thrilled. “What now, sea monster?”

He blinked at the term before laughing. “Sea monster? My dear, call me of my type, a Syrin. Just as I shall call you Foxtaur.” He said. “Much less insulting don’t you agree.” He took the rope. “Climb in and I shall take you away from this place. To where, I do not know, for I am an outcast too, you see. We can find a place to be alone, to be wanted. There must be someplace like that in this wasteland,” He smiled as she climbed in and they were off, the small taur and boat being lead along the icy, rough see by the young Syrin. He knew it was dangerous, but he knew that the young girl was in danger, as was he. So he swam as the cold darkness lightened just a little.

Ch. 5

They swam for a long time it seemed, the Syrin now having to battle against the waves, the ice, the cold, to drag the shivering Foxtaur along behind him. Never once did he think of letting her go to dive deep into the warmer waters. Never once…Even as the tide became stronger as they neared another island. In fact the moment to little figures were pointed out to him he changed course and headed straight for it.

As they approached the Foxtaur’s eyes widened. One of the figures held snowy white feathers. A Harpy. She had never seen one of them before, only heard of their kind. And beside the Harpy chick sat a snake bodied Naga. This made her fur bristle. They were supposed to be bad right? Yet they looked no older then herself, and both were shivering worse then her. “Hurry.” She said to her friend.

The moment the boat hit the shore she jumped out and ran to them. “You look cold…and lonely…”She said softly. She held out a hand to each of them. “We…” She motioned to the Syrin who waved from the edge of the water. “Are going someplace where we will be loved.” She said softly. “Would you come with us?”

The Naga raised his head, looking at the girl. He hesitated, never seeing or being around anyone but his own kind. Slowly, however, he took her hand. He was cold, hungry, and alone. If this girl could give him a home again, he would take it. He was an outcast now anyway. What more could he do wrong? “I will come with you.” He said softly, his voice shivering with cold. He looked to his companion, the Harpy chick he had just met.

She looked at the two, debating. “Will there be food?” She asked, obviously thin. She was tired of scraps. She wanted to be able to eat. And it was obvious that if she did not, she might soon die.

The Foxtaur nodded. “We won’t have to fight to survive.” She could tell these two were like her from the coldness in their eyes, the lost hope, the thing bodies. She was lucky to have her parents to care for her. But even then they could not protect her forever. “We will survive.”

The Harpy nodded. “Then I will come as well…” She said as the trio moved to the boat and the Syrin.

“Good day, children. My name, as I have told our little Foxtaur here, is not important. However you may call me by my breed. Syrin.” He said lightly.

“You may call me Foxtaur, like he shall.” The little Foxtaur said softly.

“Then I shall be Naga, as my breed.” Said albino snake, his pale body, and red eyes glowing slightly it seemed.

“I am Harpy.” The albino chick said lightly.

He smiled at each in turn. “Now climb in and hold on. The sea is rough…” He said simply before he watched them settle. And once more they were off, speeding along as best they could through the water. The cold darkness continued to brighten.

Ch. 6

Days pasted it seemed as the ice became thicker, hindering their movements. The Syrin had to disappear down several times an hour to melt the ice that had formed on his wet body. The Harpy used her wings to shield the Naga from the water, for he would freeze over just as the Syrin was, his body being just as slick and smooth. The Foxtaur huddled beside the two, giving warmth to the Naga who needed the body heat to try and keep his at a livable temperature.

But slowly and surly the snow lightened up. The ice thawed a little, and the darkness lifted. And soon they were at an island, small, but big enough for them. They reached it and each fell, exhausted, on the soft sand that had survived the snow. Their breathing was shallow and the Syrin looked concerned. They needed to each. Badly. He dove deep down to where he might find a few fish, big enough for the children.

When he returned he asked the Foxtaur, the only one who was now sitting, to fetch firewood, and then try and start a fire, for the snow was not falling here, even though it continued to be cold. Nodding she ran off to do as he asked, returning once she found proper firewood.

“Here, Syrin.” She said, handing them over.

He smiled and nodded, moving as far from the water as he dare before making a small fire and setting the fish on it. “Foxtaur, watch these. When they are darker, take them off, give one to the Naga, another to the Harpy, and take the last for yourself.” He instructed as he slipped back into the water.

“What about you?” She question.

He had to laugh softly. “I can manage.” He said as he disappeared into the water.

The little Foxtaur nodded and walked back, watching the fish as they cooked.

Soon the three shared their first meal on what would become their home…A place to belong.

Ch. 7

The following chapter is entirely extra, and does not need to be read. It simply tells of after the storm, after they grew up. It is pretty much limited description, just short clipped dialogue.

Years passed and the four outcasts lived on the island. The storm passed, the warm air was a comfort and relief, and life became something wonderful to them. The four who had once been shunned now lived in happiness. Hunger did not exist, fear was never present, hate for one another, never an issue. And the young three grew up, become adults. And then one day…a thought came to them.

“We should return home.” The Foxtaur said. She wanted to know how her family had faired in the weather. And show the village that she was well.

The Naga blinked. “Return?” he questioned. “Are you sure that would be wise? We would merely be shunned again.

“But if they saw we were alive…Then they would realize the storm was not our doing.” She said, the young adult calm and patient.

“You’re the only one who has a home to return to.” The Harpy said, a bit of resentment in her voice.

“Lets just go. Our families, our friends, they will be happy to see us, you’ll see.” She said. “Syrin! Syrin!” She called into the ocean and soon he appeared.

“Yes my child?” He asked, bobbing a bit in the warm water.

“Can you take use home?” She asked.

“Only one at a time, I am afraid. But Harpy may be able to fly herself…” He trailed off.

“I can.” She said a bit shortly. She had always been to the point. Straight and clipped. The most tactical of them all really.

“Then I can take you two.” He nodded to Naga and Foxtaur. “One at a time. Your much bigger now.” He said, shaking his head.

“Ok.” Foxtaur said. “Naga, why don’t you go first.”

He hesitated before nodding. “Aright.” He hugged each one in turn before climbing into the boat. “Take me home please Syrin.” He asked calmly as he was pulled away from his two friends, and spead towards the shores of his home…

Foxtaur sighed, looking at Harpy. “Are you going to leave now?” She asked.

“No, I shall see you off, before I return home.” She said, smiling at the Foxtaur. She held onto the girl a beside her a bit. “It will be sad, without you and Naga around.” She said softly. “Don’t forget me.”

Foxtaur smiled, suddenly kissing the Harpy on the cheek. “I would never forget you.” She said as the boat returned to view. Obviously they were closer to home then they ever knew. Climbing into the boat she waved. “Come visit me! I live with the rest of the Foxtaurs.” She called as she was pulled away from the shore.

“Wait!” Harpy was in the air. “What’s your real name?” She asked, flying above the Foxtaur.

She smiled. “Kala.” She said. “What’s yours?”

“Marin” The Harpy replied. And soon she fell back before shooting up, heading towards the mountains she could see on the horizon.

The little Foxtaur smiled as she settled down to await the return home. “Thank you Syrin.” She said to him, “for everything.”

He smiled back at her. “Your welcome, my child, you are welcome."

THE END