Kingdom of Shadows

Chapter 3

~Chapter 3~

Adrielle's haggard footsteps dragged in the dust and dry grass of the under-used path behind Daemon, her head hanging slightly. She stubbed the toe of her boot abruptly against a gnarled root and cursed sharply, her soft features darkened in a vicious scowl. Ansia shrank back, her face shocked at such foul language from her owner. She spotted Knofos up ahead, and promptly raced up to him, yapping continuously. The dreyan was twice her size at least, and he looked at her as if she was something of the highest annoyance, his vermillion eyes narrowed at her insignificant size and disproportionately loud barking. He snorted and turned his head away from her, looking as if he was considering her for a snack. The snowy fox twitched her ridiculously long tail, and ran underneath him, standing below his chest and looking up at him mischievously, as if daring him silently to bite her.

The harassed beast growled menacingly, a harsh, ripping noise tearing through his grated teeth. When this didn't frighten her off, he nipped at her tail, causing her to squeal loudly and bite at his fur, yipping indignantly. Guessing that she wouldn't leave him alone, he decided he may as well have some fun with her, and the two canines continued their fight, but Knofos knew better than to actually bite her. Daemon had warned him against it the previous evening, and he didn't wish to disobey his friend.

Daemon looked back at the animals, raising an eyebrow as the larger of the two lay down and allowed Ansia to clamber onto him, clamping her short teeth on his ear and pulling with all her might, earning a warning growl.

"Oh, how sweet!" Adrielle cooed upon seeing them, clasping her hands together in delight with a dreamy smile lighting up her face.

"Dreyan eat othrin in the wild," he remarked casually, continuing along the path at a steady pace with a disinterested expression.

She blinked, hesitating a moment to watch the white othrin attacking the mighty wolf, and then ran haphazardly after him, jumping over several large tree roots to do so. She clattered to a stop in front of him, holding up a finger as she caught her breath.

"You... you don't think he'll... eat Ansia... do you?" she panted, hands on her knees.

Daemon shrugged his shoulders, walking on once more with the worried princess tagging along beside him, taking three strides in every one of his.

"He probably would if he wanted to." He said simply, holding an arm out to stop her and kneeling at the base of the large plant that blocked their path. He reached into the brush and pulled out a twig, then held it before the plant and snapped it.

A small, fanged and clawed creature jumped out and grabbed hold of the twig, it's sharp little teeth turning it to sawdust in less then a second and then growling at Daemon, taking swipes at him with its pointed fingers. He tossed it back into the plant and delved into his pocket and pulled out a small glass orb, swirling and sparkling with green and blue sparks and mist. He dropped the sphere before the plant, and backed up, pushing Adrielle back a pace.

As expected, the tiny thing raced out and set upon the imaginary intruder. The glass broke, and the creature and its plant burst into flames faster than Adrielle could even think to ask what it was.

"But, then again, if he did want to, he wouldn't." Daemon continued, stepping over the charred black embers in the dirt and carrying on with the hike. Her mouth agape, she followed him, hastily picking up her skirts as she crossed the ash.

"What do you mean?" she asked, looking up at him intently. "And, what was that back there?"

"It was a pixie. They're small, but they're incredibly territorial, and they can kill an elf in minutes," He replied with a slightly disinterested grimace, "and what I mean, is I had a talk with him, and he assured me he wouldn't eat your pet."