Spirit Animal Ficlets

Horrible Horrors 1

Conor had a thing called a horror. It was like this demon creature that was bonded to the soul of a person and each was unique. Nobody could tell he had a Horror because it lived inside of him. He touched his heart gently as his horror, named Noir, sent a feeling through his chest. It was a question, wanting to know if the flutter of nerves was an okay or a no-no. He sent a feeling back that he was okay.

Conor was going to have his summoning ceremony today. He wouldn't summon a spirit animals and could keep his secret. The former shepherd focused on doing Devin's coat buttons. He hooked each slowly and carefully as to make sure it didn't end up lopsided. Devin complained the entire time but Conor did his job as a good servant and listened.

"Shouldn't have too. Let me handle him."

Conor did his best to ignore the voice in his head. Noir lingered in his mind, pressing behind his eyes and leaving a sour taste in his mouth. He was best behave most days though Noir had opinions on a lot of things.

Conor completed his task with enough to get in his own outfit for the occasion, albeit his was far less impressive to Devin's ornate jacket.

The ceremony was held at the square. Normally it was for the market and bustled of people but the wooden stag and everything was fancified for the nectar ceremony.

Noir sent another warning in Conor's mind.

"Something off here, something to change."

Conor didn't ponder the meeting as he took his seat next to a girl with blond hair. Two greencloaks stood on the stage, one was familiar that often held the ceremonies; the other was a northern Niloan with the hint of a spirit animal tattoo on his arm. His greencloak was clasped with two silver buttons engraved with animal teeth. Green Knights, a separate branch of Greencloaks who hunted down sleepers.

Conor felt Noir repel from the sight. The horrors was never fond of them being as they killed off Sleepers, a horror keeping their dead human alive still. A few had visited Trunswick Manor before once when a sleeper had attacked a town several miles south of Trunswick and fled before the Green Knights could arrive.

The ceremony began, the greencloak saying her usual speech and called up Devin. A common Euran practice where the most important children went first. Conor watched with baited breath as Devin took a sip and closed his eyes. His family always summoned spirit animals, his eyes cutting to the Earl who's lynx was out and watching, yet nothing happened. If it didn't happen now, it never would. Devin looked around for his spirit animal but nothing drew near or stood out. Conor made a mental note not to bother Devin for a good while after this.

"If he tries, I'll kill him."

Conor felt a flash of No shot threw his mind at the horror. Noir knew the risks of getting caught. They'd be sent to the howling house or possibly killed if caught. People with horrors were considered the lowest of low. Worst than dirt because of the fact they were bonded to a monster through their souls.

The girl went next but summoned nothing. Conor stood as his name was called and prepared himself for nothing. He wouldn't give himself or Noir away at all, go back to their old life, and act like this never happened.

"No. You can't ever go back to that. Not after today."

Conor didn't know what that meant until it happened. The woman gave him the nectar and Conor took a sip. It tasted sweet and delicious. He knew that would be his only sip of the amber colored fluid. Then the tingle begun.

At first he had thought it was Noir but this wasn't his usual feeling of preparing an exit. It sent shivers down his spine and rocked the ground beneath his feet.

There was a bright light, out came the wolf. Conor had seen wolves before but this one was bigger with gray fur and cobalt eyes.

Cobalt eyes?

Conor felt Noir surface as well. This feeling was familiar as his skin stretched and morphed over his bones. He knew why the horror was surfacing. The Knight had approached.

"No, don't get cl-" his world ended.

Noir tore free as his face expanded in wide flaps of flesh. Conor couldn't see anymore but he could hear.

Everybody screamed as the paler, shadow of Conor fell from the shadows of his human's face. Noir snarled at the Green Knight "Stay Away From Us! Don't Even Think About Harming Him!"

The man held up his hands as a form of peace. Noir eyed the blade at his hip then looked at him "Whatever you want, we aren't accepting!" He spat. He would keep this human alive. He swore to himself he wouldn't mess up, not again.

The Knight took a step back "You are a horror," he said.

"Way to point out the obvious."

"But your boy summoned a spirit animal."

Noir looked at the wolf. He didn't trust it either but at least it wasn't intent on killing horrors. The wolf stood close to his boy. Conor had curled his grasping hands into the wolf's fur and lowered himself to his knees. A safely precaution to avoid falling over they had practiced.

People were still fearful, watching Noir and Conor with horror. Ironic. Noir looked at the man "What's that got to do with anything?" He hissed.

The man lowered his hands "I know it's impossible for humans with Horrors to summon spirit animals but that animal isn't normal," he stated "That's Briggan The Wolf."

Noir felt Conor send a wave of confusion to him. The horror was equally confused but didn't say anything. Conor could handle whatever this man was talking about better than he could.

Noir stepped back and vanished into the darkness beyond Conor's face. The flaps closed and Conor gasped for air and blinked his eyes. The Knight approached "Your name is Conor correct?" He asks politely.

Conor dug his fingers into his wolf's fur "Yes, what's going on?" He inquired.

"Much, I will explain on our way to Greenhaven. Under my protection no harm shall be fall you, your horror, or you animal."

Conor freed himself from Briggan and took the green knight's hand to help him stand again. The man raised his hand to air "Let news spread over Eura and Erdas that the great wolf Briggan has returned in our hour of need!" He called.