|
Moments passed as the animals stared at the male balefully. If only he had struck one of them, or displayed the hateful symptoms of cowardice and callousness that the others had done… he would have been shredded into unrecognizable bits by now. But this one had not… whether by cunning, or innateness, he stood there – albeit trembling, and with good reason – without harming anyone. Just the pool it was, and that call was something beyond them.
Then, amidst the circle, there was a stirring as they felt her presence. The crowd parted and she emerged. Their champion and beloved mistress, who walked amongst them with absolute ease and treated them as her equals. They relished her scent and caresses, their eyes following her with blind idolatry. And she knew they wanted her decision. Fast.
She sauntered forward, her grayish hair streaming against her back and icy blue eyes raking across the soldier’s face. Yes, this was a soldier… it was not that long ago that she had encountered his kind. But those that she had run into had worn hard expressions and cruel smiles. This one showed little of that. Interesting… very interesting.
Raising her gnarled hands, she pointed her right forefinger at him. The sound of her raspy voice grated on even her friends of the forest.
“What brings you into my forest?” The snarling that accompanied her pronouncement echoed throughout the woods.
[ 07-12-2006, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]
|