Hell Fire

Velpes, and a slight glimpse into my human side

As promised, I started the day early, first sunlight. I payed for the lodging, leaving the money in a sealed envelope on the bar top. After that I went to the stable to untie my sole companion. His was a gorgeous appaloosa stallion named Charles. He had a wonderful, snow white coat with chestnut spotting. His mane and tail were white with brown streaks, and his ears were pure brown. When my hands undid the rope Charles nickered and butted the side of my head with his velvety muzzle. I grinned and giggled a little as he smelled around, hoping I had brought him something.

"Sorry, Chuck, I don't have anything for you at the moment." I pushed his muzzle away from me, petting him once he stopped reaching forward. "Ready for a bit a traveling? I have no clue to where, but we're out of here." I rambled as I let go of the rope and went to retrieve his saddle, I trusted him enough not to go running off without me, "The keeper here better have treated you right." I mumbled, throwing the blanket over him, and then setting the saddle down. Again I took hold of the rope that was attached to the bit in his mouth, I tugged slightly and Charles followed willingly. I led him a short distance to where the rest of my things waited on a cart. It was a light cart with a roll out, a few changes of clothing, and the collection of weapons. I didn't carry much, mostly for Charles's sake, but also because I needed almost nothing.

No, I did not lead a minimalist life, the weapons I have drained my reserves for months and I could eat nearly anything I could find or kill in the forest. I just didn't like spending money on frivolous things, dresses and jewelry, perfumes, things so many other girls go and spend money on. I did like dresses, but I bought ones that people considered old, and wrecked, I fixed them and wore them. They usually turned out nice, and the blood stains usually never showed. You see, I'm not the most handy with a needle, I usually end up stabbing myself a dozen times over.

It didn't take long to tie up the wagon to Charles's saddle, and after I swung myself onto it, we were on our way, heading North. We were in the southern edge of Fayoke. It was a small country, you could make it from one end to the other in a month going quick, with no troubles along the way.

A small country, and it had an entire other side. Like a different world only a few could get into, Etep. I had never been there personally, but I've seen sketches and read the descriptions. It had four sectors: volcanic, filled with blackened ground and, well, volcanos, it is hotter than a dessert and only a few demons lived in the area; frozen, a tundra type area covered in ice and snow, it lacks food but is easy to hide in; Jungles, it's where most of the fauna and flora lives, plenty of food, sunlight, moderate temperatures; and finally, oceanic, it's deep purple oilish water filled with hellish creatures and seemingly no bottom.

The select few that called themselves gifted, they could enter Etep whenever a chance presents itself. Usually it needs to be a special time of the year, like a full moon, or solar eclipse. The most opportune moment in time to go through one of theses openings is a lunar eclipse, when everything on our plain is at a standstill, everything there is charged with energy, basically opening a gateway in specific places of power. Those who are more powerful, actually extremely powerful, can open a gateway at nearly anytime. These people are rare, and can't do it on their own. They either enlist in the help of other weaker people, or stones that get brought from Etep to Fayoke, either a demon brings them over or, if you are lucky enough to find one in the realm, the traveler themself can bring them over.

The reason only the gifted can pass between worlds is because they can survive in Etep. While a demon can live in both areas with little trouble, a human can't. The air in Etep is poisonous, it paralyses your lungs and heart, killing you almost instantly. One born as a gifted, it is like they were made for Etep but in our image. No one is for sure how the first one arose, or how it came to be passed on, not even how they found out about themselves. I, for one, didn't trust them. I believed they were more demon than human, that something about them wasn't right.