Red Moon

Hell's Fire

There once was a great kingdom, it was graced with love and peace, there was no war nor famine. The people where happy and lived in harmony with the land. The secret to the Kingdoms greatness was it's rulers, a beautiful queen and a charming king. They balanced each other out and kept peace with other kingdoms. They never wanted war and they never wanted money. Everything was right, everyone was happy. Everyone but one young man. The man was greedy, he wanted to be wealthy and powerful, he felt that their kingdom could be so much more, and he even had a plan to do it. One that would ensure the end of the kind hearted kingdom. So when the man felt as he had enough of the 'laziness' of his rulers, he went to the castle. He told the King and Queen of his wishes and ideals, and they were horrified. They told the man he was crazy and should never think of such things every again. Angered the man lashed out at his rulers, he cursed and made them a promise. 

He promised that he would bring the kingdom to greatness, and that he would see the two fall at his feet. The king called for his guards and had them chase the man out of the kingdom and into the dark forest, where he shall stay for the rest of his life. The soldiers chased him, threatening to catch and hang him. Citizens threw rocks and food at the man in anger and pity. The chased him until night fall, it was then they let him be in the forest. Bitter and weak the man found shelter in a large hallow oak. He paid no mind to the fact that it was clearly someone's home, for he hoped the owner would show him kindness and let him stay. He waited in the oak, he waited all night and all of the day after but no one showed up. Tired he rested his head, falling into a deep sleep. When he woke he found that he was outside in a clearing, and to his horror the only thing that had found him was a large black lion. The lion was monstrous, standing as tall as most of the trees in the forest.  

"Why are you in my forest?" The lion spoke but his mouth did not move. 

"I was banished." 

"Why?" 

"They believed my ideals where too extreme, not like our kingdom and such." 

"What was your idea?" 

"I wanted our Kingdom to be great, we are all so strong but yet we lay in wait. We lift no finger when war threatens. We waste our power and our talent and I am sick of it. I wanted to call upon the spirits and ask them to aid the kingdom. Give us the drive to push forward and take what is ours." The lion smiled and laughed at the man. "You think I'm mad too." 

"No. I like you. I think the same of your kingdom, you see I am one of your ancestors and I can help you. All you have to do is promise the blood and the bodies." 

"The bodies for what?" The lion sat down and let out a low growl. With it's growl other creatures came forward, surrounding the man in a circle. 

"For us to live in!" The animals spoke in one voice that was so loud the ground shook and the trees trembled. The man stood and faced the black creature, staring him right in the eyes. 

"I promise." The lion cackled as his eyes glowed. The man looked up in horror as the sky turned black and the moon turned blood red. In listened in horror as screams of terror and pain came from the kingdom. The lion had dispersed and so had most of the other animals. All that remained was a wolf, a coyote, an elk, a elephant and a black dog. They all stared at him unwavering and stoic. And when the man went to speak he was instantly silenced by the wolf.

"You, one of greed and sorrow. Pain and wrath. You will fall and die, parish to the deepest depths of  hell. You have committed an act so evil it has cursed your soul. It is black and empty, you will be forever alone. No one will ever love you. Your name will now be Shrapnel."

"Why, why do you curse me?" The wolf did not answer, he only walked away. The other animals did not speak, they only headed to the village, leaving the man all alone in the forest. With his new name Shrapnel. He waited and listened to the screams as they died out and the night became silent. He knew the village was at peace, at least he thought so. That was until the sun began to rise and a voice rang loud over the morning birds.