3 A Little Different

Throughout the years, it's become a bit of a tradition for the clan head to give a final parting gift to their successor. The gifts could range from a simple book on agriculture to a suit of armor made from the hide of an almost indestructible beast. With that being said, this was highly unexpected. The oddity in question was a plump yellow and red fruit with fuzz all around it. "Where did he get this?" I ask myself. Since this was a question that I would never get answers to, I picked it up and noticed something else. Under the strange fruit were two books and a letter. Deciding to read them later, I closed the boxed and carried it out of the vault. I couldn't find my leg brace, so I had to drag myself up the long winding stairs out of the pitch black corridor. I cursed as my bum leg ached and throbbed the entire time. After what felt like an millennium, I found myself back in the village square. I looked at the utter destruction before me and decided to get to work. Grabbing a shovel from one of the dilapidated houses, I started to dig. I dug until I was sure it could hold the thirty corpses I planned to fill it with. This ordeal made me a bit peckish, so I decided to sample the mystery fruit. It tasted absolutely delicious! Juice ran down my chin as I devoured the strange delicacy with ravenous abandon. It wasn't long before the tangy sweet fruit was reduced to a reddish brown seed. I rolled it around in my palm for a second before slipping it into my pocket. As soon as I stood up, my body was racked by an almost primal wave of energy. It tore through my body like a rabid beast. My bones and organs were broken down one by one. I wanted to scream out in pain, but that idea collapsed just as soon as lungs did. Now the energy I could've wasted on a blood curdling cry was spent on trying to breathe. When that didn't work, I resigned myself to my faith. "I'm on my way mom." With those last words, I closed my eyes as my heart stopped.

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I walked through the swamp at night confused on how I got there. The brownish green water coming up to my knees. Every low hanging trees seemingly reaching toward me, while invisible creatures made their presence known. Whispering voices kept talking to me, yet I didn't understand what they were saying. For what felt like hours I walked ever step more difficult than the last. Just as I was about to give up, I felt something touch my shoulder. Turning around I saw my brother, or what was left of him. His features could only be described as grotesque. His skin was severely burnt and blistered. His hair now in dark black patches. His left eye seemed to be pulsating, while the other was no where to be found. When he smiled a large chunk slid from his cheek and started to hang from his neck. "Hi big bro" He started while waving a skeletal hand at me. "How's it hanging?" He reached toward me, making me step back and bump into something. Craning my neck, I held back a scream as I saw a girl with no skin on her face at all. It looked as though it was peeled of leaving only muscle and sinew. Wrapping her arms around me she laughingly said, "Oooh baby, do you still want that orgy?" My face was a wash of shock and horror as I realized who it was. "Delphine?" I ask quizzically. Then with great strength she turn me around and kissed me. The putrid smell and feel of disgusting skin left me gagging after she finally let go. Trying to separate from them, I slipped on something falling into the murky water. I sat up and I found myself back at the village. The surrounded by the rest of the clan. There bodies and faces absolutely terrifying. With outstretched hands they slowly marched toward me chanting, "It should've been you why wasn't it you?" I scooted back as far as I called before looking to the right and seeing a cloaked figure staring at me. With a withered hand raised, it pointed at me and rasped, "Death" I woke up drenched in and quickly looked around with labored breathes. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it was just a dream, then got irritated as I remembered it bit by bit. The swamp I could understand. The zombies I could cope with. The creepy figure I could push to the back of my mind, but why did she have to kiss me! I felt queasy as the image rushed to the forefront of my mind, so I ran to the window threw up. I almost threw up again when I saw small black worm like creatures writhing in the puke. Backing away slowly, I looked at my surroundings and frown with confusion.

"Why the hell am I in my room?"

" I brought you here after I found you in that hole." a feminine voice answered as the door slowly opened. Edavi!? I was shocked at the sight of her. Her ripped clothes revealed the cuts and bruises on her skin. Her neck had a rather obvious hand print on it, her left eye was swollen shut, and dried blood covered her plump lips. Fortunately all of this would heal and be but a memory. Unfortunately the jagged scar that ran horizontally across her face wouldn't. While she wasn't a top beauty, she was still considered to be cute. Her plump lips, mischievous eyes, and wild kinky hair were featured in many of my dreams. She had her pick of the litter when it came to prospective husbands, now she would be lucky if anyone would look at her with disgust plastered on their face. I guess I was staring too long because she turned away from me, but not before I saw the tear run down her face. After a moment of awkward silence, She cleared her throat and said "I'm...uh... liking the new look." I quirked A brow at this statement, and walked to the full-length mirror I kept in the corner of the room. To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. The first thing I noticed was my height, I was at least six inches taller. My hair now reached my shoulders. My eye color was a shade lighter, while my facial features were more defined. Speaking of defined, my body was terrific. It seemed as though I gained thirty pounds of muscle over night. That wasn't this best part. I could walk! I didn't have that blasted limp or the pain that came with it, for the first time in my life I was walking like any other demonic being. I did a little jig before stopping in my tracks. Where were the letters? I turned toward Edavine to ask this exact question, yet before I even opened my mouth she pointed toward the dresser. I followed her finger and saw the box laying there. I hurried over to it and opened it, relieved to see the contents were untouched. I picked up a letter and opened it. Like the box, the letter was written in this strange yet familiar language.

Little Silver

If your reading this, that means you took your place as patriarch and healed your body. How I wish that I could be there for, but as I look at your small sleeping form I realize I cannot. Please know that not being in your life was one of the hardest things I could ever do. I also want to apologize for crippling your body. I understand if your angry at this, but please believe me when I say it was for your own good. You have powerful enemies that would want to kill you just because I'm your mother. This was the only way me and your father could think of. To make up for this, I left you a present under the third floor board by your closet. Use it well and fight on.

Love and Blessings

Mom

The tears I tried hard not to shed fell rain during a storm. I quickly folded the paper and slipped it into my pocket. I didn't even know what she looked like so why was I crying? As I thought about it, I realized something I missed. Pulling out the letter I read it again and grew angry. She crippled me! My own mother was the reason I received years of torment, and all in the name of protecting me? That was by far the most ironic thing I ever heard. With a laugh, I walked toward my bed and punched a hole into the the floor board she told me to look under. Whatever she left had better be good. What I found was blue leather armor which consisted of a fitted black long sleeve hauberk, a breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves. I quickly put on the armor and was disappointed when I found it didn't fit me. I reached to take it off and accidentally wiped my blood on it. That's when it started to shrink and change until it molded itself to my form. This was insane. She actually gave me Monarch armor. This could heal itself and grow to keep up with my body. Looking toward the a curious Edavine, I smiled and said "Let's get this mayhem started shall we."