Fictitious 52 #11

Quite some time ago, I made a forum RPG called Myagends. It was set in a universe where mythological creatures weren't mythological. In this world there were 4 types of people. Normal people, obviously. Myara, who could imitate the abilities of nearby creatures. Hunters, who were each born with knowledge of how to hunt and utilize 2 types of creatures. And Myagends, each linked for life to one creature born at the same time as they were. They take on the life span and some of the traits of their partners and can communicate with them even if other humans can't.

This is the story of one of those people.

Hidden in the upper level of their small, isolated, mountain home, Pel and Av cling to each other, watching their parents confront the strangers in their front yard. Their family didn't often get visitors, and when they did, they were usually the same few familiar faces or, occasionally, a lost traveler or two. These people aren't familiar, and they certainly look like they've come here intentionally, though the brothers don't know why.

Avander rests his head on top of Pelanostus' brown hair, looking through the window as Pel's parents confront the men. He's not generally one to worry, that's usually what Pel does. He finds the games for them to play and adventures for them to have, Pel takes care of the caution and the planning. But his parents had never taken him aside as they had earlier that day. Talked to him as they had earlier that day. Told him to watch out for his brother, protect him, that they would need each other. So now, he was uncharacteristically worried. So tense that he was barely able to lower his head to look out over Pel's.

For his part, Pel is no more calm than his brother. He hugs himself tightly to the Amphithere's feathered body as he also watched the events unfolding in the front of their home. Av's parents were not the only one to give their son a talk that day. Pel's mother and father had also pulled him aside to have a serious talk. They told him that the two would have to support each other. One would have to be strong where the other was weak. He would need to guide his brother. Av has some strength, in the future Pel would gain his own strength from their bond, and they would both become even stronger as the years, the centuries they could potentially live, went by. But Avander is impulsive where Pel is cautious. He would have to control his brothers temper at some times, and direct it at others. Pelanostus didn't understand why his parents had chosen to give this talk to him when they did, until the men came. Av is worried, but Pel isn't. Pel is outright terrified. Their parents knew this would not be a friendly meeting, and they were not sure they would come out of it the victors. There is no other reason he can think of for that conversation.

The men draw their weapons, and they are wicked. Large instruments made of steel and bone and leather. Bone and leather, no doubt, from the bodies of dragons and other creatures they had slaughtered for no other reason than to collect these trophies and, maybe, simple hatred. A fate they surely hoped to visit upon Av's mother and father.

---

Merina and Senton Noire drop the amicable pretense when the weapons come out. Six hunters out to end their family. There's a chance they can win on their own, but it's unlikely.

“Look, we don't want to hurt you folks, we just want the beasties that we know you've got here,” the women in front says. She seems to be the leader in her dragon scale armor, wielding her massive dragon tooth sword, wearing wing leather boots. She's a disgusting sight.

“We don't know what you're talking about,” Merina insists.

“Not what that village down there says.”

“The two of us are outsiders. They find us strange and mysterious, they don't trust us. So they make up rumors about us. It's really as simple as that.”

The big one with no visible weapons smiles a slimy smirk. “Hur,” he laughs. “Might fool less experienced Hunters, but we been at this for a good long while.”

“Yeah, we can smell dragon in the air.”

“From the static, I'd say Amphithere.”

The leader nods. “Yep, and Amphithere's a pretty rare kind of dragon. Valuable parts. Useful ones too. And that stance says a lot about how much you do and don't know. Looking for a fight?”

“No, but you seem to be,” Merina sneers.

The group laughs before the leader points her sword at the couple. “Yeah,” is her simple reply, and her people charge.

---

Pel had never seen his parents fight before. It was... a thing of beauty. As the hunters charge his mother and father do as well. The difference, however is that, as his the distance closes, his parents seem to step up onto the air itself before propelling themselves over the heads of their attackers, landing behind their ranks. The time it takes for the assailants to realize what has happened is plenty enough for Senton and Merina to start laying into them.

The Hunters may be skilled in combating Dragons, buy they had obviously never dealt with anyone bonded to them. Their superior numbers don't count for much with his parents watching each others' backs and taking to the sky any time they are surrounded.

But then something goes wrong. One of the Hunters manages to catch Senton's leg with some sort of whip. However, instead of using this opportunity to keep him grounded, the Hunter jerks his wrist, wrenching the whip from his leg. Senton lets out a pained yell.

“Manticore poison.”

Senton falls to the ground and in an instant Merina is at his side. The hunters approach, however before they are upon them a deafening shriek rips through the sky and a bolt of lightning strikes in front of them. Most of the hunters dodge it, two, however, do not. Overhead two feathered serpents circle.

Av moves as close to the window as he can when his parents appear on the scene. With as well as Merina and Senton were doing before they appeared, the Hunters now stood no chance. That, at least, is what the boys thought before Av's parents gave a lurch, and a scream, and came plummeting to the ground so hard the ground shook.

Pel manages to act an instant before Av, wrapping one arm around his body and another around his mouth. He uses all the strength he has in him to keep his brother from shooting out of the window and getting himself killed along with their parents. The tears stream from both of their eyes.

---

Merina, on her knees, holds her gasping husband in her arms, looking at their fallen family members, also barely clinging to life, on the ground in front of them. There were more of them. They'd been hiding, waiting for the dragons to appear. Her head slowly moves side to side, she mouths the word “no” over and over. And then the sword pierces her chest from behind.

“Don't you worry, sweety. You're not getting left out,” the leader says, pulling her sword back.

---

The hunters have no interest in looting the house. The only loot they want is going to come from the bodies of Av's mother and father, which they drag away with them. The brothers hide in their attic for hours after they're gone. Their world has changed forever, for the worst. They are terrified. They are heartbroken. And they are furious.

Pel and Av. Pelanostus Noire and Avander. The two of them will live for centuries. And because of this day they will spend many of them as an absolute scourge upon any and all Hunters that walk the planet.