#sci fi fantasy

This is a repost because Tumblr buried the old one.

+++ Characters are from a short story I wrote (in elementary school) 11 years ago - holy shit, I’ve never felt so old. It’s basically a standard hero’s journey fantasy odyssey thing, not well written at all because elementary school, but I really liked one of the characters from that story, Ekron, who was basically the Gandalf of the group and I wanted to do something with him again. +++

Promptby@givethispromptatry

“I can’t believe you gave away our only bargaining chip to talk to some old, dead crone for five minutes.”

“Wow, you really are an idiot, huh?”

“That’s enough, Gareth.”

Ekron’s tone was cold. The young elf’s insistence on chastising Aeden was gnawing at his patience. Boy’s squabbles were only natural and under other circumstances he probably wouldn’t have minded it. But in their current predicament such distractions could be fatal, morale-wise and literally.

He turned to the farm boy.

“In our current position the letter wouldn’t have helped us much against one of the Imperator’s patrols. It’s much more useful and more importantly save in Sheri’s hands. She already had some interesting ideas as to what to do with the seal and the signature. And through some favors called in and some favors granted, I was able to haggle out this.”

He reached into the bag and pulled out the thing.

It was dark grey almost black and a strange translucent glaze over the surface. It was smooth as glass to the touch, but warm and had the shape of an oversized egg, just large enough to rest comfortably in Ekron’s hand.

Marcilla spoke up.

“What is it?” she asked eying the thing with a glistening in her eyes that only children could have when they see something clearly magical.

“I don’t know.”, he replied. “But I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.”

“You don’t know?” Gareth jumped up from the tree stump he had sat down on. “You traded our most valuable possession with a hag for something you don’t even know will help us? Are you insane, human?”

Ekron turned back to him with a smile.

“I am not insane, don’t worry. And I know that this will help us in one way or another. You should’t make impolite assumptions about Sheri either. Not all hags eat children and plot the destruction of whoever may cross their way. The two of us have worked together in the past and I guarantee you that, while not trustworthy, she is quite honorable, so I have no doubt she will keep her side of the bargain if only to collect on the favor I promised.”

“You are insane. Making such a deal with a hag.”

“Consider it a sign of my investment in your wellbeing.”

“Hmph” With that the elf child turned around and began wandering back into the woods. Ekron wasn’t terribly worried. The boy was clever enough not to go to far and even so most larger animals usually gave Sheri’s hut a wide berth.

He stowed the egg-shaped thing in his bag and turned to the farmer’s children.

“Go tell the others to make camp here for the night. Sheri will be moving on from here soon and we can use her protective magic for cover over the night.”

“Why will she be moving on? Does she leave the hut here?”, Marcilla asked.

As if to illustrate the point at this moment the wood of the hut began to creak and rattle as the four toad legs became visible underneath the lifting bottom of the house.

Some other nearby children began crying and the the elder ones rushed to hush them. Soon all the children starred silently fascinated at the small abode as it shook some loam crumbs loose from its backside, tensed its hind legs and with a loud “Vruuup” launched itself across the clearing and into the forest beyond. In the distance the impacts grew slowly quieter as the children unpacked their blankets and lit a fire from the dried undergrowth that litter the forest floor.

Gareth returned after sundown when they where roasting the rabbit and the couple of fat mice Aeden, Ilene and some of the younger boys had caught on the other side of the small stream they had crossed earlier.

After a short prayer Ekron was busy dividing the food into portions for the younger children. In the end everyone except for him and Gareth ended up with a piece of meat and the elf, who said that he had already eaten, only nibbled at his piece of bread.

After dinner most of the children fell asleep immediately, the few that stayed up a while longer were also far to tired for a goodnight story and even Gareth settled into the trance without any further pacing around, so Ekron settled himself into a comfortable position at the foot of a beech tree from where he had a good view over their little encampment.

He pulled out the grey thing from his bag and turned it in his hands. The warmth made it feels almost alive.

Carefully he held it up against his ear and listened.

There almost drowned out by the gushing of his blood in his ears…

Ba-dum… Ba-dum… Ba-dum… Ba-dum…

A smile crept over his face and he was glad the children were asleep because this smile was not warm and understanding.

It was cold and full of fangs.