Kingsmen

Berry Good

Ignis Scientia Appreciation Society Writing Prompt Week 2 - "While spending some time looking at the stars one night, Ignis has an unexpected guest join him."

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Sitting on the edge of the campground, his long legs dangling over the side of the charmed rock, Ignis looked out at the night sky, the glittering stars reflected in his glasses. He loved the night, the stars in particular made him feel at peace with everything, as if putting all of his problems in perspective compared to the size of the universe. Breathing in the cool night air was blissful after being slowly baked alive in the desert heat, trapped in a car with three other men. 'I should probably get to bed,' he thought 'It wouldn't do to wake up late.'

Just as he put a hand down to push himself up, a rustling in a patch of bushes nearby made him freeze despite knowing nothing evil could cross the wards into the Haven. Straining his eyes into the dark, there was a moment of stillness before another rustle and the sound of a small twig snapping. Something was moving in there. Moving slowly, he pulled himself into a crouch and continued observing the bush. Another movement and this time a flash of moonlight on something reflective. Was that a weapon? Who could possibly be trying to attack them? His tactician's mind told him the middle of nowhere was the best place to set an ambush, wait until they were all asleep and then strike. They could do a lot of damage. Nothing was proven though, until investigated thoroughly, and it was no use to wake up the others in case it was nothing.

Summoning a polearm into his hand silently, he sat back down on the edge before sliding noiselessly to the ground below. He was an accomplished fighter and whatever was hiding in a bush surely could not be too much trouble. He crept forward, body low to the ground and the tip of his weapon aimed at the plants, eyes searching for more signs of movement. There, between two of the bushes nearest to him, a flash of brown, lighter than the foliage around it. Yet another movement, bigger this time, more obvious, closer and louder. Ignis gripped the shaft of his lance tighter, prepared for whatever was about to come out of that foliage. He froze, still and silent, and as he watched a small creature emerged, it's protruding yellow eyes turned up to the sky, seemingly oblivious of the weapon levelled almost at its head.

A tonberry? Ignis swallowed. He had faced these tiny death-dealing creatures before and they certainly did rank among the ones that could cause him trouble. Yet, this one was close to him, close enough to stab if it turned towards him with murderous intent, and it was smaller than he remembered. Was this a juvenile? Did daemons have young? It shuffled backwards out of the cover, further towards him on oversized feet, eyes still on the stars above and it's chunky tail pointing towards him. Not looking where it was going, the little green-skinned creature caught its foot on a dead twig and overbalanced, falling backwards with a dull thud and dropping the tiny silver weapon it had been holding. It made no sound, but its panic was obvious when Ignis' lance was suddenly taking up the majority of its field of vision. It floundered helplessly on the ground, waving its limbs like an upturned turtle, reaching for its weapon desperately.

The sight of such a small creature so pathetically flailing around on the ground washed all anger and fear out of Ignis. His arms relaxed and he straightened his stance, a small grin tugging at one side of his lips. Looking down, he watched as the tonberry finally managed to roll over in the most undignified manner and retrieved his weapon, scrambling to its feet and brandishing the small metal object towards Ignis in what it obviously hoped was an intimidating gesture. Seeing what it was holding for the first time, Ignis lost all measure of composure and chuckled to himself before saying:

"Are you really going to try and kill me, with a spoon?"

The tonberry waved it about a little, being anything but menacing and Ignis pulled back his lance, leaning on it instead for support. The creature looked dejected letting its hand fall to its side and it's head droop slightly.