Snippet #1065016

The scene was quiet, early morning in a village to small to have a name. A vast, seemingly endless forest bordered the waters edge, a natural barrier against those that would seek to harm the peaceful community. After a weeks worth of threats, the clouds had finally dropped their payload last night, the river's clay banks struggled to contain the muddy brown water. Still, young sea tribe frolicked at the waters edge, diving below the surface and catching small crustacean which futilely attempted to hide in the rocky crags at the bottoms of the rushing water. Several adult sea tribesmen toiled in the minuscule fields and farms, though certainly Sea Tribe were new to the idea of farming and little produce grew well in the dense clay soil of their home.

In the midst of the stilted tents which made up the town, a character distinctly out of place. An old Sercian hobbled down the steps, leaning heavily on a cane. His lone wing at stark contrast to the crippled stump on the other side. He smiled kindly as he watched the children play in the water, thinking to his days of racing his fellows through the air, catching lightning bugs in the starry night sky. The mortal races weren't so different, he had decided, there would be peace, one day.

The grizzled Sercian turned his eyes skyward, drinking in the sunlight. Wishing he could swoop into the air and taste its rays up close one last time. It was beautiful here, and to perceive the scene would be to assume death was not so near at hand. The scattering of a large flock of birds would have been the first indication, followed by the dead silence of the entire forest. By the time the old Sercian was alerted by a harsh, frozen wind which surged through stilts, it was far too late.

Le'Shaa was the first to come roaring out of the dense foliage, a wicked grin on his face and a terrifying bellow emanating from his lips. Behind him, a mass of blades, claws, wings and magic. Every last beast yearning for fresh blood, and their commander's approval. Those nearest the forest were killed before there could be any chance of reaction. Some attempted to flee, only to be dive bombed and torn apart by Sercian's whom had thrown their lot in with the merciless Cronac warlord.

The enormous Cronac left the village to his troops, his wicked yellow eyes locked on the one winged Sercian. The brave elder made no attempt to flee, he knew better. The iron clamp of Le'Shaa's hand easily encompassed his entire neck and lifted the flightless Sercian into the air. The wooden cane fell to the ground beneath his dangling talons as the Cronac brought him close enough to his maw to feel the heat of his putrid breath.

"Where?" Le'Shaa snarled. Aside from the cries of anguish and the crackling of flames which filled the air around them, there was nothing but silence. "You'd do well to tell me what I want to know, Hector. I'd hate to have to claim your other wing."

"I'll tell you nothing, lizard." The Sercian responded, he made eye contact only for a moment. A mistake he lamented as soon as it occurred. To stare into the eyes of Le'Shaa was to look at the countless souls of the dead the Clan of Quetzalcoatl had left behind, unburied and unhonored. Beneath the scaled hand which suspended him, a lump formed in the throat of the Sercian. As if in cahoots with the reptile, the flames of the nearest huts flared angrily as the grip tightened.

"Here." With his free hand, Le'Shaa gestured to the river bank. From his cloudy peripherals, Hector could just make out the small form of a child.

"No. Don't." Hector said quickly, his eyes tearing up at the corners.

Taking the small sea tribe child by the arm, Le'Shaa laughed, causing an icy chill to run down Hector's spine. "What I do or do not do, Hector. Is dependent entirely on you, old friend." The reptile smiled at the helpless Sercian hanging loosely from his clawed hand, viscous saliva drooling from the corners of his daggered mouth.. "Now. Where?" He demanded again.

"I..." Hector trailed off as his green eyes strained to get a good look at the child next to him.

"Wrong." Le'Shaa's thick tail darted out, the cruel blade on the end burying itself in the innocent's chest. A nearly inaudible squeak pipped from the child's mouth before it slumped lifelessly against the muscular appendage. With another lightning fast flick he launched the boy's body like a rag doll into the growing flames of what used to be the village. The frightened cries of the other children filled the air.

Tears which threatened earlier now streamed from the corners of the eyes Hector had tightly clamped shut in an attempt to drive the image from his mind. "I can't tell you." He pleaded, his tear fogged eyes cracking to search for the poor child's soul in the eyes of his reptilian captor.

The toothy line of Le'Shaa's smile burst into a full grin, strings of the saliva stretching from roof of mouth to long tongue "Bring the next one."