untitled writing
by ~gerbo-fleetfoot
The water babbled, the songs of the birds and chatter or the other creatures filled the air, the lush green meadow swayed softly in the afternoon breeze. The fragrance of wild flowers lingered in the air, a serene peace was felt throughout the mind and body, to ones very soul, A joyous cry was heard through the little wooded area , "I got one!" A large smile was upon his face and his eyes sparkled with child like joy. As he felt a hard tug on the string he had floating in the babbling stream.
Pulling hard on the string the water began to splash, "Yes I caught a fish, I will eat well tonight," the little gnome yelled out. He pulled a great tug on his string and pulled a large fish onto the bank of the stream. Quickly he placed his foot on the fish to hold it in place as he leaned down and wiggled the hook out of its mouth. Grabbing it by hooking his hand under its gill he lifted it up to inspect it.
The the bright sun over head shines off the scales as he turning it clockwise and counter clockwise looking over the fish, which was about eighteen inches in length. To most it was a small to average size fish, but to a gnome of only three and a half foot tall it was a great and proud catch.
Taking the fish back to a small clearing hidden with in a green patch of bushes and low hanging limbs the little gnome began to prepare the fish. Using his knife he scaled and dressed the fish. Hanging the fish from a stick that was propped up by a forked stick that was sticking up from the ground,he began to draw a rune symbol in the air. Soon his hands were bright and engulfed with fire, he moved his hands evenly and steadily over the hanging fish. The fish sizzled and smoked as the gnome used a small bit of magic to cook his meal.
Leaning with his back against a tree the gnome was content and rubbing his belly in delight. "That was a good meal, I haven't ate that well in a while." he thought to himself. As the food settled in his belly the gnome drifted off into a slumber. After a few hours went by he was awakened suddenly by the rustling of bushes and the sounds of footsteps, heavy footsteps and many of them.
Within moments he was on his feet, grabbing his satchel and slinging it over his shoulder as he clutched his staff and began to head deeper into the woods that surrounded the meadow. The gnome hurried through the woods at great speed moving around trees and under brush and branches after a while of running he ducked behind a mighty oak tree and sat down to catch his breath and to observe the surroundings. As he watched and listened he could see no sign that he was followed or even noticed.
Turning from the tree he began to move onward hoping to find a safer place to spend the night. The woods were dark and carried an eerie feeling he had not felt in a few years. Holding his staff tight so as if there was any trouble he would be ready. Soon he began to see glimpses of light in the distance ahead of him and cautiously headed in their direction. Standing about twenty yards from the lights he could see it was a bunch of lanterns hanging from horse drawn wagons and a big campfire. The smell of roasting meat filled his nostrils and just when he was savoring the aroma his train of thought was broken by the angry screams of a deep voice.
Ducking under a bush he hid himself well and could still keep an eye on the camp of wagons and the going ons.
From behind a wagon a large bearded dirty looking man came stomping through holding what seemed to be a small child by the nape of the neck. "Someone get me a cage for this mongrel beast, and hurry you scum!" he yelled at some figures just out of the gnomes sight. Soon some men dressed in rags had a cage opened and placed in front of the large angry man. The large man tossed the child in the cage and slammed it shut. Kneeling down he stared at the child,"Now let us see if you will try to run away now. Remember you going to make lucky person a fine pet and selling you will fill my sacks with gold." Laughing at the child the large man rose to his feet and kicked the cage turning it over. The child began to shake the cage and scream out in tears,"let me go please, I am not a pet I want to go home." the child's words soon turned to tears and sobs.
The gnome seeing all this felt sympathy for the child and anger toward the men of the camp. He waited patiently for the men to leave the cage unattended, and as soon as the cage was left alone the little gnome made his way to the cage.
Sneaking up to the door of the cage he peered in and saw a small girl with slightly pointed ears and black eyes. Stepping back he gasp, and stared in amazement at another foothill gnome. He pressed his finger to his lips and let out a "shhhhhh" as he began to pick at the lock. After a few minutes the lock was open and the little gnome reached in and grab the female by her hand," quickly and quietly now so they don't hear us" he said as he led her out of the cage and toward the forest.
As the pair made their way close to the forest a loud voice cried out, " Our slave has escaped, some fool has set her free and they are headed toward the forest. "Get them you fools."
As the pair quicken their running a whistle is heard and then the female let out a gasp. Falling to the ground the little gnome sees an arrow sticking form her back and soon blood began to puddle around her. Kneeling down he breakes off the arrow so it not hanging out to far. He rolls her on her side, looking in her eyes he can see he slowly slipping away from the mortal coil. Has he held her hand and tried various spells, she slowly slipped away and was forever gone into the next worlds.
Rage and sadness fell over the gnome, images of the day that changed his life filled his head, he stood up and turned around, taking in a deep breathe he made a rune sign upon his staff and quickly charged toward the search party. As one came into sight he pointed his staff and fire began to shoot from it burning the man. The man laid on the ground burning in pain as the gnome began to stabb his staff into the ground and made a few geastures, soon the ground began to shake and a crack ran from his staff straight through their camp. He made another gesture and the crack began to widen, as it widened it began to swallow up the carts and soon the camp was being pulled down into the ground and with it the slave traders. Within minutes all traces of the camp was gone and the ground closed shut and appeared as if nothing had happened.
With this done the gnome ran back to the female as he entered the forest and arrived back where he left her he discovered that her body was gone and all that remained was a black female crow sitting on a branch with the head of the arrow in its beak.
View User's Journal
 |
