PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

        Xaine crashed through the forest, ignoring both his surroundings, and reason. He had never felt such rage before. It boiled within him, threatening to overflow. As he raced through the forest, he came across a predator. It was a Finor, named after the Fior river. It was a large, powerful mountain lion, that only resides around the Fior River within the forest. It growled at him. In his haste to leave the village, Xaine only just now realized he had forgot both his bow, and his hunting knife. Still, for some reason, he was not afraid. He stood his ground as the large cat lunged at him, with tooth and claw. With reflexes that weren't his own, he ducked, grabbing the cat by it's underbelly, and threw it. The cat landed on it's feet with a large thud and turned around to attack again.

 

      Eye to eye, human and predator stared at each other. Then the lion turned around, and darted into the forest, lost in shadow. Xaine stood ready for a few moments, and when he finally determined it was gone, he relaxed his muscles. Only now did he look at his surroundings. He realized he was in the same clearing where he had been attacked. He walked over to where he had fought the demon. A large, six foot diameter crater bruised the clearing. There was a hole in the center of the crater, where the sword had been. Xaine remembered the feeling of the sword as it had went through his body into the ground. The blood that surrounded the hole had been absorbed by the water-hungry dirt, giving it a black, unnatural look. He closed his eyes, and listened to the forest. He had spent almost his entire life hunting within this forest, but somehow, it seemed different and unfamiliar to him.

 

      What disturbed him the most, was the silence that pervaded throughout the forest. Besides the distant roar of the Fior river, there was naught but silence. Xaine could feel it now, the hostility in the air, the impending danger his senses gave him. He could smell the corpses of the animals throughout the forest. A sweet, sickening smell of death hung in the air. The demon had not been kind to the forest. He heard it now, rushing towards him, a blood-lust ancient in it's power. When Xaine opened his eyes, standing before him, was the demon he had fought. This demon had almost killed him, and caused grief to his family and friends.

 

      Once more Xaine felt his anger boil. His calm replaced by hatred. Standing before him was a creature that would kill indefinitely unless stopped. It hissed at him, walking slowly towards him. Xaine put his hand up, and simply stated, "stop". The creature halted. It glared at him from underneath its cowl, waiting for whatever it was he would say next. Xaine put his hand down. "What, are you?" Xaine's question was blunt and commanding. It was more than he had anticipated, but it worked. The creature hissed at him once more, this time reaching up, and removing it's cowl. What should have been a human face, was not. A twisted, ugly and tortured creature stood before him. It's skin was green, it had no hair, eyes were hollow, it's nose half decayed. It's mouth was a hole in it's face, lined with countless rows of cruel, sharp fangs. It's tongue slid between a gap in it's teeth. It was long, black and barbed. How this creature even managed to speak was beyond Xaine.

 

       "I am a demon known as Guual. I have lived for over a thousand years, feeding on the souls of animals and mankind. He clamped his mouth shut in a loud snap, and continued, "I am what your kind would call a vampire." Xaine just stared at the creature before him, disgusted. His words were as foul as his appearance. Xaine walked towards Guual. Guual snapped his rows of teeth at him. "Fool. You have come here to kill me. You didn't even bring any weapons. You think you can overpower me? I am over a thousand years old! No mere mortal can stand against me!" And with that, Guual threw a pale hand at him. His hand was human looking, except, in place for fingernails, it had claws. Xaine caught Guual's hand in his own, smiling when one of the claws stabbed through his hand. "Impossible!" The demon threw a kick at him. Xaine caught this kick with his other hand. Xaine then moved in close to Guual, and put a knee in his gut. Guual bent over low, holding it's stomach. Then Xaine yelled and threw a side kick at Guual's hideous head, causing it to fly across the clearing before tumbling in the dirt.

 

       "You know, Guual, you did this to me." Xaine walked towards the creature, ignoring the blood dripping from his hand. "If you had finished me off when you had the chance, I wouldn't be here right now." Guual was standing now, rage contorting it's face further. "You are a fool if you think you can best me. So you gained some quick reflexes and a little strength. That won't help you win this fight." Guual slammed his fist in the ground, causing the ground to explode and erupt. The crash from the attack caused several trees to fall, and sounded like thunder. Guual then howled out in what seemed to Xaine to be both anger and agony. Xaine watched in horror as Guual's clothing started to rip and tear, as Guual's form got bigger and bigger. His chest was the first to be exposed. It was green and muscular, and soon after the fabric had finished falling, long, curled spikes stabbed out from it's skin, where it's ribs were. The fabric also tore from its legs and arms in a similar fashion, with spikes curling from it's knees and elbows. His bald head grew two, curled ram horns from it's forehead, and spikes lined his cheekbones, three on each side. Last, two, long powerful bat wings erupted from it's back, completing it's figure.

 

      Guual stood over ten feet tall. Guual laughed menacingly. "You see now human? You never had a chance in the begin with!" It's voice grew deeper with it's size, making Guual's voice sound like trees being torn from their roots. Xaine stood motionless with despair. How can I fight something like that? Guual roared and charged at Xaine, hurling one of it's spiked hands at him. The blow caught Xaine in his chest, and sent him flying into the forest, breaking several trees before embedding into a boulder. The forest rocked with frustration as the demon smashed through the forest, causing several trees to fall. Xaine coughed up blood as the demon ran towards him. Xaine managed to pull his body from the rock. Several of his bones were broken, but not his spirit. Guual had just rushed up to him when Xaine threw a punch at the demon. Guual made no move to stop his attack, and Xaine broke his hand on Guual's chest.

 

       The demon laughed and grabbed Xaine's head with a large hand, picking him off the ground like one would grab a flower. "You should have stayed within that cursed nest of humans. Now that you have forced me to transform, I will have to consume everyone in the village to sate my hunger!" Xaine felt his consciousness slipping. His anger and hatred had been replaced by fear and regret. He had only made the situation worse, and now his village was in danger. He had fought, and he had lost. He was broken, and he felt he would never be whole again. "Put him down." A deep, familiar voice commanded through the forest. Guual turned, and Xaine looked to see Arixae standing in the clearing. His red hair flowed, his dark clothing rustling in the wind. In his hand, was a long, red blade. "A demon hunter? Here?" Guual dropped Xaine now. His body limp and broken, Xaine landed like a heap of used clothing. He laid on his back, staring into the heavens. "I knew I would find you here, Guual." The demon laughed. Whether you found me or not doesn't matter! I am far more powerful than most demons. You don't stand a chance!" Arixae smiled. "Guual, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are only listed as a D-rated demon in the hunter's book, even in this form. I have defeated opponents far more powerful than you." And with that Arixae walked towards the demon. "You dare taunt me!?" Guual threw a powerful fist at Arixae, which he brushed aside with his left hand. With his right, he cut off the arm faster than Guual could react. Guual howled with pain as he held the stump.

 

         Xaine then noticed Arixae was mumbling something. He was speaking so fast, he couldn't make out any of the words. Then, out of thin air, a vortex appeared behind Guual. "No!" Guual was frantic, and started to make an escape with his wings. Arixae jumped above the demon, and kicked Guual, sending him spiraling down into the vortex. The vortex disappeared, and the forest returned to it's stillness. Xaine saw Arixae move into his field of vision now. He had a furious look upon his face, and Xaine knew why. Xaine started, "I came-" Arixae waved an arm, to silence him. "Not another word. You shouldn't have come out here. It's obvious that you had acquired some form of power from the demon, you wouldn't have been able to move if that wasn't the case." Xaine closed his eyes in defeat. "However, just because you can move when your body was broken doesn't mean you can take on a demon! You could have died, and what would that have gained you?" Arixae's voice only seemed to get angrier. Xaine took his opportunity to talk. "I had him outclassed in his regular form. It's only when he became that monster that I was losing." Xaine winced as Arixae scolded him again. "You think this is a game? You get a little power and you think you're invincible? Of course you bested Guual in his 'regular form'. That's because a true demon's human form suppresses all of his powers so he can walk among humans. You were using the extent of your powers, and Guual was suppressing all of his own. You need to think more before you act." Xaine protested. "But I was trying to protect the village from Guual!" Arixae scoffed at him. "You can't protect anyone if you're dead." He got lost in thought for a moment, as he looked up at the night sky. "Well, let's get you back to the village. You'll need a couple days to recover your broken bones, even with a demon's healing speed."

 

        With that, Arixae sheathed his sword, and picked Xaine's limp body from the dirt. They traveled in silence, which was only broken when the wind blew. Xaine was on Arixae's back, which made it easy for him to look around. He stared at the night sky, the stars burning in their desire to shine. Xaine could hear the distant sound of the village springing to life. They have probably just noticed I was missing. He thought to himself, welcoming the silence. Or maybe they heard the fight. Xaine processed the possibilities within his mind as they broke from the forest. I never did get that boar. Maybe we can buy some food instead of clothing. This thought was bitter to him, as he remembered Gordon's proposal. He felt hot tears stream down his face. Arixae turned his head at Xaine's silent agony, but didn't say anything. As they entered the village, Xaine heard the insects burst to life within the lifeless forest.