Shorts Stories by CrimsonDevil

The Hell Beast

         A/N:  This story concept is really out there, piecing together plots to make short works is what I've been doing to pass the time.  Hope you enjoy!

              Life for mortals was simple when they lived in secluded villages, wooden homes of logs and straw, animals tended to as well as fields, the little village hidden away within a dark forest of giant redwood trees. The air cool with fog from the early morning, a young village girl living with her parents and siblings, often ventured out to the forest to forage for mushrooms and berries. Cooking with odd ingredients that were strange to the others but tasted so good, times like these, superstitions, and the sword ruled, so anything different was seen as bad.

There was a legend of a beast hidden deep in the forest, it was seen as bad to venture deep into it but no one had truly seen this creature and Mika wasn't going to be deterred that easily. She had some skill to survive on her own but as far as other predators in the area of their village, they saw none, as if something kept them away. On her way out one early morning, she was stopped by a guard who patrolled the gates leading out, normally they didn't stop her but this one had an interest.

"Morning Mika, I see you're still going out there every day. Aren't you afraid to be on your own?" She was a tiny thing wearing a reddish-brown cloak, hair-like auburn, and eyes glowing like amber,

"Sir Vex, good morning, I was just heading out to forage. There's not much to be afraid of when there isn't any danger out there, it's peaceful and full of wonder." He wore a black tunic with armor plates at his shoulders, hair black as night and slicked back with deep blue eyes,

"Maybe I should join you? See for myself, the rest of the village has you pegged as a witch but an innocent young lady like yourself couldn't possibly be. Well, I'll let you carry on then..." he stepped aside, watching as she walked towards the forest with a prideful stride.   The forest was filled with the sounds of animals living freely and undisturbed, peace between all the critters, stag and deer grazing in the meadows, and birds singing high in the trees. The rivers that flowed were short this time of the year, easy to cross and catch fish for her family, they worried for her safety as well but encouraged her to follow what she loved to do.

A herd of deer was often seen in the meadow she passed, spending hours just watching them, and sometimes, fawns would come up to her just to be curious. They were watched over by a Stag who was so prideful, he seemed to have a smug look along with his reddish coat, the same as her own cloak. She even went so far as to name him Alastor, a name that spoke presence and pride, he'd go about stomping his hoof to chase her about but she seemed to play tag with him by running around the trees.

"Okay, okay you win... I'll leave, for now, you big grump!" The Stag bellowed and stomped his hoof again before turning to walk away with his tail flagged, Mika giggled and returned to her trip up the mountain. There was a small cave up above, mushrooms of all kinds grew, next to it were berry bushes that she used to bake pies with as well as tending to them to keep them growing. Leaving early morning, Mika would arrive about two hours later at the cliffside, where she could enter the cave and setting up her lantern to see the many shrooms of all kinds. She'd begin her forage, true she went out almost every day but only made the trip to the cliff three times a week, it made the young girl who looked so small, so much stronger than others gave her credit for but at times, being lonely weighed heavy on her.

The danger wasn't something she had ever experienced, so when the sound of growling was heard, she gasped to slowly turn and face the cave entrance. There, a big cat stood eyeing her with hunger, fear entered her as she stood to back away, the end of the cave wasn't far and she was trapped.  The mountain lion had traveled far to find food, the forest area around their village held many animals to hunt as there were no predators to reduce the population and the humans barely hunted as opposed to raising their own livestock. Mika found herself at the end of the cave with a giant cat closing in on her, growling and hunched over ready to pounce. The girl was breathing heavily, eyes watered with tears as she begged for help, but knew there was no one, the cat lunged and she jumped to the side landing hard against the wall. A crack was heard, stone breaking and before she knew it, Mika was falling through the stone wall to roll down a chute while screaming and crying out in pain.