HOME | DD

Description
Dark Protector
By: Ryan P. Bailey

Prolog

Limoges, France, 1542, Young Kira Loisel runs for life in the cool autumn night, the firers of battle glitter behind her. She quickly glances left and right, looking for escape, escape from the invaders, escape from the Spaniards. To her left was the Mount Du Lay River, to her right, the Drake forest loomed in the darkness, black upon black. There were strange stories about the Drake Forest, of dragons and demons and other unholy creatures, it was worldly known, and worldly feared, and perhaps, Kira thought hopefully, a way of escape, she checked behind her, a squad of footmen pursued, she redoubled her speed and bee lined for the trees.

Once swallowed be the darkness, Kira crouched in the underbrush; she could hear the Spaniards milling about just out side the trees, murmuring in their native tongue, good, Kira thought, they've heard of the legends too, but then again, so had she, but there was no time to think about old stories used to scare small children. There was a sound of hooves approaching, followed by a yell, one of the soldiers responded, the newcomer was not satisfied with the soldiers response, judging from his reply. After venting his wrath on the soldier, the newcomer gave a shout, and the Spaniards began to trudge cautiously towards where she was hiding. Kira turned to move deeper into the forest, when a hand fell on her shoulder.

There was a moment of tension, Kira close to screaming, the soldier, in disbelief at how close to a promotion (he was due for one), the soldier gave a shout to his companions, Kira wriggle like an eel, and let a fist fly. Her fist connected with something soft, the soldier let out a grunt and his grip loosen, but it was enough. Kira bolted through the trees, running blindly over logs, ducking under branches, trying to evade the footmen, their voices were behind her to her left all around her. She was finally stopped by a tree that had stuck one of its roots up rudely in front of her. As one would expect, Kira tripped over said root. She was barely up when they were upon her. Kira struggled and fought them, but these were tall sturdy soldiers, and she was a girl of eleven. The man on the horse rode up to them, he called to his men and they all laughed. He dismounted and strode casually towards her, a looked of triumph dominated his features, he kneeled down and forced her to look at him by holding her chin, he spoke in her language, "such a pretty young thing," he said in a sadistic tone, "maybe you could be useful to me and my men as…entertainment," he gave a malicious smiles and stood up releasing her head as she did so, he called to his men and they began to drag her away. Kira screamed, the men laughed, she struggled, they yanked, finally, however, help did come.

It came first as a distant roar, the men stopped and looked around whispering nervously, the leader(the one on the horse) urged them forward, and they continued, there was a second roar, closer, wildlife fled in all directions, their leader yell at them, but by now they were like spooked horses. Suddenly a shadow past over them, one of them pointed to the sky and called out, "el Diablo, es el Diablo!" Kira craned her head up and saw it: A serpentine shape, silver talons, and glowing red eyes. The creature soared above them it great wings blotted out the moon, and loosed a roar the shook the earth, the Spaniards scattered, abandoning Kira for their own safety, it didn't work. The creature dove at a man, coming down on him like a hawk on a mouse, wasting no time it leaped upon another group, its talons shredding them to meat slabs. Some of the Spaniards regained them selves, unslinging their crossbows, firing a volley at the creature, who growled as it snapped opened a wing, blocking the projectiles, then spat purple fire. The foot soldiers jumped out of the way to avoid the torrent, but some were caught, they screamed horribly as the fire stuck to them and burned fiercely, the rest fled into the night, only to be cut down by the creature's tail. Soon there were none left, and the creatures gaze switch to Kira who sat terrified, hugged her knees to her and closed her eyes, she felt talons curling around her.

Description
Dark Protector
By: Ryan P. Bailey

Prolog

Limoges, France, 1542, Young Kira Loisel runs for life in the cool autumn night, the firers of battle glitter behind her. She quickly glances left and right, looking for escape, escape from the invaders, escape from the Spaniards. To her left was the Mount Du Lay River, to her right, the Drake forest loomed in the darkness, black upon black. There were strange stories about the Drake Forest, of dragons and demons and other unholy creatures, it was worldly known, and worldly feared, and perhaps, Kira thought hopefully, a way of escape, she checked behind her, a squad of footmen pursued, she redoubled her speed and bee lined for the trees.

Once swallowed be the darkness, Kira crouched in the underbrush; she could hear the Spaniards milling about just out side the trees, murmuring in their native tongue, good, Kira thought, they've heard of the legends too, but then again, so had she, but there was no time to think about old stories used to scare small children. There was a sound of hooves approaching, followed by a yell, one of the soldiers responded, the newcomer was not satisfied with the soldiers response, judging from his reply. After venting his wrath on the soldier, the newcomer gave a shout, and the Spaniards began to trudge cautiously towards where she was hiding. Kira turned to move deeper into the forest, when a hand fell on her shoulder.

There was a moment of tension, Kira close to screaming, the soldier, in disbelief at how close to a promotion (he was due for one), the soldier gave a shout to his companions, Kira wriggle like an eel, and let a fist fly. Her fist connected with something soft, the soldier let out a grunt and his grip loosen, but it was enough. Kira bolted through the trees, running blindly over logs, ducking under branches, trying to evade the footmen, their voices were behind her to her left all around her. She was finally stopped by a tree that had stuck one of its roots up rudely in front of her. As one would expect, Kira tripped over said root. She was barely up when they were upon her. Kira struggled and fought them, but these were tall sturdy soldiers, and she was a girl of eleven. The man on the horse rode up to them, he called to his men and they all laughed. He dismounted and strode casually towards her, a looked of triumph dominated his features, he kneeled down and forced her to look at him by holding her chin, he spoke in her language, "such a pretty young thing," he said in a sadistic tone, "maybe you could be useful to me and my men as…entertainment," he gave a malicious smiles and stood up releasing her head as she did so, he called to his men and they began to drag her away. Kira screamed, the men laughed, she struggled, they yanked, finally, however, help did come.

It came first as a distant roar, the men stopped and looked around whispering nervously, the leader(the one on the horse) urged them forward, and they continued, there was a second roar, closer, wildlife fled in all directions, their leader yell at them, but by now they were like spooked horses. Suddenly a shadow past over them, one of them pointed to the sky and called out, "el Diablo, es el Diablo!" Kira craned her head up and saw it: A serpentine shape, silver talons, and glowing red eyes. The creature soared above them it great wings blotted out the moon, and loosed a roar the shook the earth, the Spaniards scattered, abandoning Kira for their own safety, it didn't work. The creature dove at a man, coming down on him like a hawk on a mouse, wasting no time it leaped upon another group, its talons shredding them to meat slabs. Some of the Spaniards regained them selves, unslinging their crossbows, firing a volley at the creature, who growled as it snapped opened a wing, blocking the projectiles, then spat purple fire. The foot soldiers jumped out of the way to avoid the torrent, but some were caught, they screamed horribly as the fire stuck to them and burned fiercely, the rest fled into the night, only to be cut down by the creature's tail. Soon there were none left, and the creatures gaze switch to Kira who sat terrified, hugged her knees to her and closed her eyes, she felt talons curling around her.