Post by Oliver on Nov 21, 2007 6:20:21 GMT -5
Definition Of A Demon
“Are you a demon?”
The girl was small in stature, staring up at the creature in an innocent manner. She was young , curious, and human. There were no claws, no spikes, no horns, no animalistic ears upon her petite body as she stood examining her discovery. It was different from her and just about anything she had ever seen and as she stared up at it she basked in a widespread shadow.
No.
Standing seven feet high at the shoulder, the dog-like creature spoke without opening it’s jaws. The reply was clear in the child’s mind but no sound reached her two small ears that were hidden behind her wispy golden-brown hair. The voice was male, deep, and held a hint of sophistication. It seemed to be mixed with caution and slight weariness as well.
“You look like one.”
The prejudice of the time had not yet caught of up with her young mind. She knew what she had been told but did not understand it completely. Though she knew if he looked like a demon she was supposed to be scared, she did not feel an ounce of fear and spoke bluntly as children often do.
How so?
The voice was in her head but not her ears again. This time it had a curious yet sad ring to it.
“You’re different...”
Her hazel optics were aimed up at an angle, moving along the outline of the creature.
“You’re not normal.”
Dog-like he stood with his head high and his tails lowered in relaxed positions. Neatly placed upon his back was a row of brown spikes, pointed at the tips and slightly curved. They looked like boney thorns protruding from his spine, starting at the top of his skull and ending at the base of his twin tails. Red hued eyes gazed down at the small child, their look gentle despite the ominous color. The creatures muzzle was slashed with a pair of blue streaks running horizontally. Another pair could be found on either side of his face, below the eyes just a tad, their shapes curved like a crescent moon. His hind leg had a trinity of blue spots on the thigh. Each mark contrasted with the light grey fur that covered most of his body, except for the underbelly which was a darker shade. A splash of gold stood out from his left front leg, the result of a bracelet-like structure that was merely a long sliver of gold twisted twice around the toned limb.
Aren’t I?
Now there was pitty blending with the sadness in his voice.
“You look like a dog, but normal dogs don’t have two tails. Normal dog’s don’t have red eyes, or markings like yours, or spikes on their back.”
Are you sure?
“Positive.”
* * *
Are you a demon?
Demon.
The word disgusted Gen, therefor he told the child “no”. It was a repulsive classification in his opinion, a description that did not fit him in the least. It was true, however, that the large seven foot tall dog-like creature with blue markings and twin tails was in fact, a demon, and once he had payed no mind to the name. That was a long time ago. Now the term had been degraded, mutilated. It was associated with monsters of destruction, fearsome uncivilized beings who preyed upon humans.
Gen’s size was intimidating, yes, and his growl had the capability of rattling near by objects, but he was not what was now considered a “demon”. He did not fancy destruction, nor did he go out of his way to frighten humans who crossed his path. His large appetite called for animals: rabbits, squirrels, deer, sick livestock. Human was never on the menu.
He did his best to explain this to the child, but in the end it simply came down to:
“So you’re... a good demon.”
Gen let out a heavy sigh. He wanted to correct her again, insist that he was not a demon at all. He decided against it.
Yes, I am good.
* * *
The child, who’s name Gen soon learned was Lan, was easily convinced that the strange creature she had stumbled upon in the woods was not the fearsome being of the stories she had heard from the town elders. Their storied made her shiver, but Gen seemed nothing like the story demons. She had thought this from the moment she’d met him. He had not growled, glared or attacked her. He had stared at her with a gaze that was half curiosity and half sorrow. His size and appearance had been intimidating butt they didn’t really match how he acted, so she was unafraid.
She told him these things on her visits to the woods. She came to see him often, at least every other day, bringing treats for him if she could sneak it away. The townspeople would not be happy if they discovered Gen and would be even less happy when they learned Lan had been sneaking off to see him. She knew she was risking getting into big trouble, but she liked wondering off into the woods to visit with Gen and talk to him.
She told Gen about the fishing town she lived in with her parents. She talked about the community, their lives, her school and anything else that popped into her head as she sat brushing a tiny hand against his brilliant fur. She explained to Gen that she wished he could come to the town instead of stay hidden in the forest with it’s many caves and rock formations, but she realized after her first time seeing the dog demon that it wouldn’t be wise for them to know.
“I wanted to tell them,” she told Gen after a week of visiting him. “I still do, but when I went home I saw that they wouldn’t be happy about it. They wouldn’t believe you, or me, that you’re good...”
What Happened? Gen asked quietly, his red eyes turning to gaze at her fondly.
“At dinner I asked what would happen if I demon showed up in town, and I asked what would happen if it was a good demon...”
You did not like their answer.
It was not a question. It was a statement. Lan shook her head, looking down a bit before leaning into his soft warm side and putting her arms around him the best she could in an attempt to hug him. His frame was far too large for it, but she tried anyway and soon a gentle nudge from his head was their to reassure her.
“If you’re a good demon, why would they being demon hunters to get rid of you? You’re not scary and you’re not mean...”
He let out a heaving sigh upon hearing her refer to him as a “demon” again. He still didn’t like it, but he let her go.
I can be scary when I want to be.
“Then you never want to be, because you’ve never been scary.”
I have not needed to be scary.
“When do you need to be scary?” He head tilted slightly.
Mostly, when I am threatened.
“Oh. You haven’t been threatened here.” She watched him nod his oversized cranium, “I hope you never have to be scary, Gen.”
The demon dog’s head rubbed against her cheek carefully.
I hope the same, He told her quietly.
* * *
In a month’s time the two grew closer. Gen hid himself from the nearby town, wondering it’s perimeter like a watch dog, yet he always returned to one crucial spot to meet with Lan. Both looked forward to their meetings. The girl leaned against the demon’s side and chattered about what she’d learned between visits and anything on her mind at that time. She asked a number of questions which he in turn answered to the best of his ability. He shared knowledge with her, put her fears to rest and simply listened to her. He was an exceptionally good listener.
“People ave been talking about demons a lot lately,” Lan told Gen one say, seeming a bit uneasy.
What have they been saying?
She looked up at him. A wisp of golden -brown hair fell into her eyes and when she brushed it back behind her ear, Gen could see the watery shimmer over her hazel hues. He lowered his head and pushed it towards her in a gesture of comfort. Her arms went around his strong neck as far as she could get them, and she pressed her face against him.
“You won’t let them find you, right?” Her question was muffled by his fur.
They should not be able to find me here, he assured her. I can easily keep myself out of view.
This was true. Though he was large, he could surprisingly hide himself well.
“People have been saying that demons have started to hurt people in towns that aren’t very far away. Everyone in town is afraid demons will come here too. They won’t listen if I say the demons could be good, and that what they heard might not be true. They just get mad. Bad things will happen if demons do come...”
There is a chance that demons that come may not be good, Gen told her quietly.
“Hunters will be called to town no matter what. It won’t matter if the demons are story-demons or good ones, no one will care. If the hunters come, they’ll come into the woods too and then they might find you!”
They will not find me. Gen’s low voice was serious yet reassuring.
“Promise?”
Yes.
Lan moved her small head back some, revealing her wet cheeks which the dog demon licked gently. Her lips curved at the corners slightly, forming a bit of a smile.
I will watch over your town.
He stared down at her with his gentle red gaze, watching as it took a moment for her to think over what he had said. Soon the look in her hazel eyes calmed and she appeared to relax a little.
“If you keep the other demons away,” she chimed hopefully, “the hunters won’t have to come!”
Gen nodded his head, watching as her fear seemed to dissipate. When Lan returned later, the giant dog began to do as he said. He didn’t plan on letting anything enter the village that shouldn’t.
* * *
For the next couple of days the creature lurked through the forest, keeping himself alert. The scent of other demons traveled on the warm breeze, but he was able to determine they were not close enough yet to be any trouble. He guarded the town as he had promised. His sharp eyes missed nothing as they darted from one direction to the next, his keen ears picking up every sound within the area. His senses were key to his self-proclaimed task, and upon the day of Lan’s next visit, they became essential to her survival.
The wind blew towards Gen from the village, soon bringing the sweet scent of the child to Gen’s awaiting form. He knew she was on her way. Pumping his muscular legs, he made his way to the spot he knew she would come to and lowered himself to the ground, relaxing as he waited. As time began to slip away, however, Gen began to notice the scent of the demons he’s been making sure did not come close to the village. It had changed now, alerting him that they were on the move and coming closer.
Gen rose to his feet immediately, giving his body a rough shake to rid his fur of dirt and leaves before starting to pad towards the scent. He was thinking of how Lan would simply wait for him when she came to the spot, when a noise caught his attention. A high pitched cry from a human girl rang out through the trees, reverberating in the floppy grey ears at either side of Gen’s head. The cry was fearful and familiar, bringing a loud rumbling growl echoing in his throat.
The cry was not from where Gen had thought Lan had been. She was further into the woods; much further from the town then normal. Gen found it hard to believe she’d gotten lost and wondered to far, but he had little time to think about it. He sprang forward in the direction of Lan’s cry, weaving around trees and bounding over fallen logs and large rocks. His body shook with the growls he emitted.
It was not long before Gen spotted them. A group of eight demons stood clustered together, each odd in it’s own way. For the most part their structure was of a human base though they had various assortments of oddities about them. Many bore horns, a few adorned a pair of unique wings protruding from their backside, some were covered in fur and others flesh, and some had animal-like features such as ears or tails. The group centered around one thing: a small human child cowering upon the ground with golden-brown hair and a bruised face.
Lan was shaking. Her eyes were closed tightly which did not stop the flow of tears falling down her cheeks. Gen knew she was frightened and the demon’s could see as well, seeming to feed off her terror. Red optics narrowed in anger and thunder sounded in his throat, making the earth around him quake. A demon dealt Lan a blow and Gen was upon him before their was time to blink. Massive jaws snapped and tore into the offenders skin, a crimson color soon staining the giant dogs muzzle as a surprised screech of pain filled the air. The other seven demons stood dumbfounded for a moment before scrambling to help their comrade, forgetting about the child.
Lan was dizzy from the blows she’d been given and sick with fear. These were story-demons. These were the fearsome creatures that made her shiver at the mention of them. The beings that drifted through the town gossip and stirred up the members of her community. They were frightening and mean, nothing like her good demon Gen. Pushing herself up a bit, Lan stumbled off to hide behind a formation of rocks, curling herself into a ball and quivering violently.
Gen did not care to know the reason for the attack on Lan. It mattered little to him if the demons were taking out anger on her for some wrong doing. The demons could have been angry from a demon hunter attack or simply were treated in an ill manner by humans in the past and decided to take out every last human, starting with the child they stumbled upon in the woods. It did not matter. Gen was furious that they had ganged up on Lan, a small innocent human child who had no way of defending herself and had done nothing to provoke their actions. Wildly he fought them, shaking the ground with his ferocious growls and snapping his powerful jaws in their direction. He was outnumbered but the disadvantage did not phase him. He was livid, and they would regret their actions.
After several minutes, five of the eight demons had fallen and three stood badly injured. They stood around Gen, one on either side and one to the front. The first to his left stood in a tense position, his shoulder bleeding badly from a horrible close encounter with the creature fangs. It had only been a nip, not even a full blow but it has still hit him pretty bad. He had long disheveled brown hair with back horns peeking out, reaching a few inches in length. Lethal arm spikes grew from the top of the demon’s wrist, curving away from his hand and leaving him with a built in weapon. A deep red stain was already upon it from a clash with Gen’s underbelly which now matched the blade in color. The other two demons looked much the same with arms spikes and horns, however the one to Gen’s right had a pair of now mangled, gore infested wings, and the other maintained fox-like features.
They darted for Gen, now wanting to avenge their fallen friends and Gen met them head on His underbelly was sliced and leaking a warm red liquid and he wore a punctured hole on his back thigh, just under the trinity of blue spots. The puncture wound stung slightly, the result of what Gen thought was a type of poison secreted from one of the demon’s spiked blades. Despite the injuries, Gen unleashed his fury upon them once more, until they too fell.
Limping upon his hind leg, Gen slowly made is way to Lan, finding her still curled tightly behind the rock formation. Her body was shaking hard, making it obvious she was crying. Her eyes looked at him slightly, studying the still angry expression upon his dog-like face. His red eyes had taken on a fierce, hard look, their color devilish. They were narrowed at first in a glare that soon began to fade. Every inch of his body looked lethal and deadly for a moment before he forced onto himself a more gentle disposition, wishing to calm Lan.
He limped to her, lowering to the ground once he was there. Without hesitation she uncurled her body and threw herself at him. Her arms clung to his side and she burried her head into him, crying hard into his fur. The creature curled his body around her protectively.
Are you alright?
He had forced the anger from his voice, making sure it only showed a gentle concern for her. His head nuzzled hers gently, carful not to press hard against the black and purple coloration on the side of her face. He licked at her arm a bit, trying to comfort her.
“G-Gen..” She gasped, pressing herself tighter against him.
He curled his body tighter around her, moving his twin tails close to her as a sort of security blanket. His leg stung worse at it’s injured spot and he felt it spreading, along with an unreasonable sense of weakness, but for the time being he focused on Lan. It took her a few moments to stop crying.
“Y-You were scary G-Gen,” She stuttered, trying to keep her voice from sounding panicky and unstable.
I know... He told her softly, pressing his muzzle against her cheek.
“A-Are you alright?”
I’m fine, Lan.
Her grip tightened around him more as she hid her face. He continued to console her until she fell into a light exhausted sleep, her head resting against his side. Gen sighed, his leg twitching from the pain running through it. No doubt it was poison. The weariness coming over him was probably part of it’s effects as well, though he hoped that would be the only extent of it. Quietly, he nuzzled his face against Lan and closed his eyes.
It was quite awhile later that Lan opened her hazel eyes again. Her face felt tender and swore but it felt good against the soft feel of Gen’s fur. She closed her eyes again for just a moment, resting a bit more before she realized something was amiss. Something was missing. As she fell asleep she recalled hearing the heavy pounding of a drum in her ear. Gen’s thundering heart had lulled her into a comfortable sleep. She listened hard for it now but their was only the sound of the surrounding woods. The silence made her shiver with a panicky feeling, a knot forming in her throat which she choked upon as she tried to speak.
“G-Gen?”
There was no answer.
“G-Gen!”
She tried again louder but he did not stir. Quickly she pushed upon his side with her petite hands, trying to wake him but before long she gave up. He remained motionless and quiet. Fresh tears reformed and spilled down Lan’s face and she soon found herself crying loudly with her face pressed against Gen’s side again.
She knew eventually the people from the village would come looking for her. When she didn’t return home they would search the woods to find her. She wasn’t planning on budging. They would find her curled up next to Gen, crying into his side, calling for him to wake up in vain. She knew they would look upon the scene with an eye unlike her own. She would be curled next to a demon, a despicable creature that destroyed lives and home, preying on humans and haunting the thoughts of innocent townsfolk. That was their universal picture of all demons and that was not Gen in the least. He’s been anything but a demon. He had been her friend..
“Are you a demon?”
The girl was small in stature, staring up at the creature in an innocent manner. She was young , curious, and human. There were no claws, no spikes, no horns, no animalistic ears upon her petite body as she stood examining her discovery. It was different from her and just about anything she had ever seen and as she stared up at it she basked in a widespread shadow.
No.
Standing seven feet high at the shoulder, the dog-like creature spoke without opening it’s jaws. The reply was clear in the child’s mind but no sound reached her two small ears that were hidden behind her wispy golden-brown hair. The voice was male, deep, and held a hint of sophistication. It seemed to be mixed with caution and slight weariness as well.
“You look like one.”
The prejudice of the time had not yet caught of up with her young mind. She knew what she had been told but did not understand it completely. Though she knew if he looked like a demon she was supposed to be scared, she did not feel an ounce of fear and spoke bluntly as children often do.
How so?
The voice was in her head but not her ears again. This time it had a curious yet sad ring to it.
“You’re different...”
Her hazel optics were aimed up at an angle, moving along the outline of the creature.
“You’re not normal.”
Dog-like he stood with his head high and his tails lowered in relaxed positions. Neatly placed upon his back was a row of brown spikes, pointed at the tips and slightly curved. They looked like boney thorns protruding from his spine, starting at the top of his skull and ending at the base of his twin tails. Red hued eyes gazed down at the small child, their look gentle despite the ominous color. The creatures muzzle was slashed with a pair of blue streaks running horizontally. Another pair could be found on either side of his face, below the eyes just a tad, their shapes curved like a crescent moon. His hind leg had a trinity of blue spots on the thigh. Each mark contrasted with the light grey fur that covered most of his body, except for the underbelly which was a darker shade. A splash of gold stood out from his left front leg, the result of a bracelet-like structure that was merely a long sliver of gold twisted twice around the toned limb.
Aren’t I?
Now there was pitty blending with the sadness in his voice.
“You look like a dog, but normal dogs don’t have two tails. Normal dog’s don’t have red eyes, or markings like yours, or spikes on their back.”
Are you sure?
“Positive.”
* * *
Are you a demon?
Demon.
The word disgusted Gen, therefor he told the child “no”. It was a repulsive classification in his opinion, a description that did not fit him in the least. It was true, however, that the large seven foot tall dog-like creature with blue markings and twin tails was in fact, a demon, and once he had payed no mind to the name. That was a long time ago. Now the term had been degraded, mutilated. It was associated with monsters of destruction, fearsome uncivilized beings who preyed upon humans.
Gen’s size was intimidating, yes, and his growl had the capability of rattling near by objects, but he was not what was now considered a “demon”. He did not fancy destruction, nor did he go out of his way to frighten humans who crossed his path. His large appetite called for animals: rabbits, squirrels, deer, sick livestock. Human was never on the menu.
He did his best to explain this to the child, but in the end it simply came down to:
“So you’re... a good demon.”
Gen let out a heavy sigh. He wanted to correct her again, insist that he was not a demon at all. He decided against it.
Yes, I am good.
* * *
The child, who’s name Gen soon learned was Lan, was easily convinced that the strange creature she had stumbled upon in the woods was not the fearsome being of the stories she had heard from the town elders. Their storied made her shiver, but Gen seemed nothing like the story demons. She had thought this from the moment she’d met him. He had not growled, glared or attacked her. He had stared at her with a gaze that was half curiosity and half sorrow. His size and appearance had been intimidating butt they didn’t really match how he acted, so she was unafraid.
She told him these things on her visits to the woods. She came to see him often, at least every other day, bringing treats for him if she could sneak it away. The townspeople would not be happy if they discovered Gen and would be even less happy when they learned Lan had been sneaking off to see him. She knew she was risking getting into big trouble, but she liked wondering off into the woods to visit with Gen and talk to him.
She told Gen about the fishing town she lived in with her parents. She talked about the community, their lives, her school and anything else that popped into her head as she sat brushing a tiny hand against his brilliant fur. She explained to Gen that she wished he could come to the town instead of stay hidden in the forest with it’s many caves and rock formations, but she realized after her first time seeing the dog demon that it wouldn’t be wise for them to know.
“I wanted to tell them,” she told Gen after a week of visiting him. “I still do, but when I went home I saw that they wouldn’t be happy about it. They wouldn’t believe you, or me, that you’re good...”
What Happened? Gen asked quietly, his red eyes turning to gaze at her fondly.
“At dinner I asked what would happen if I demon showed up in town, and I asked what would happen if it was a good demon...”
You did not like their answer.
It was not a question. It was a statement. Lan shook her head, looking down a bit before leaning into his soft warm side and putting her arms around him the best she could in an attempt to hug him. His frame was far too large for it, but she tried anyway and soon a gentle nudge from his head was their to reassure her.
“If you’re a good demon, why would they being demon hunters to get rid of you? You’re not scary and you’re not mean...”
He let out a heaving sigh upon hearing her refer to him as a “demon” again. He still didn’t like it, but he let her go.
I can be scary when I want to be.
“Then you never want to be, because you’ve never been scary.”
I have not needed to be scary.
“When do you need to be scary?” He head tilted slightly.
Mostly, when I am threatened.
“Oh. You haven’t been threatened here.” She watched him nod his oversized cranium, “I hope you never have to be scary, Gen.”
The demon dog’s head rubbed against her cheek carefully.
I hope the same, He told her quietly.
* * *
In a month’s time the two grew closer. Gen hid himself from the nearby town, wondering it’s perimeter like a watch dog, yet he always returned to one crucial spot to meet with Lan. Both looked forward to their meetings. The girl leaned against the demon’s side and chattered about what she’d learned between visits and anything on her mind at that time. She asked a number of questions which he in turn answered to the best of his ability. He shared knowledge with her, put her fears to rest and simply listened to her. He was an exceptionally good listener.
“People ave been talking about demons a lot lately,” Lan told Gen one say, seeming a bit uneasy.
What have they been saying?
She looked up at him. A wisp of golden -brown hair fell into her eyes and when she brushed it back behind her ear, Gen could see the watery shimmer over her hazel hues. He lowered his head and pushed it towards her in a gesture of comfort. Her arms went around his strong neck as far as she could get them, and she pressed her face against him.
“You won’t let them find you, right?” Her question was muffled by his fur.
They should not be able to find me here, he assured her. I can easily keep myself out of view.
This was true. Though he was large, he could surprisingly hide himself well.
“People have been saying that demons have started to hurt people in towns that aren’t very far away. Everyone in town is afraid demons will come here too. They won’t listen if I say the demons could be good, and that what they heard might not be true. They just get mad. Bad things will happen if demons do come...”
There is a chance that demons that come may not be good, Gen told her quietly.
“Hunters will be called to town no matter what. It won’t matter if the demons are story-demons or good ones, no one will care. If the hunters come, they’ll come into the woods too and then they might find you!”
They will not find me. Gen’s low voice was serious yet reassuring.
“Promise?”
Yes.
Lan moved her small head back some, revealing her wet cheeks which the dog demon licked gently. Her lips curved at the corners slightly, forming a bit of a smile.
I will watch over your town.
He stared down at her with his gentle red gaze, watching as it took a moment for her to think over what he had said. Soon the look in her hazel eyes calmed and she appeared to relax a little.
“If you keep the other demons away,” she chimed hopefully, “the hunters won’t have to come!”
Gen nodded his head, watching as her fear seemed to dissipate. When Lan returned later, the giant dog began to do as he said. He didn’t plan on letting anything enter the village that shouldn’t.
* * *
For the next couple of days the creature lurked through the forest, keeping himself alert. The scent of other demons traveled on the warm breeze, but he was able to determine they were not close enough yet to be any trouble. He guarded the town as he had promised. His sharp eyes missed nothing as they darted from one direction to the next, his keen ears picking up every sound within the area. His senses were key to his self-proclaimed task, and upon the day of Lan’s next visit, they became essential to her survival.
The wind blew towards Gen from the village, soon bringing the sweet scent of the child to Gen’s awaiting form. He knew she was on her way. Pumping his muscular legs, he made his way to the spot he knew she would come to and lowered himself to the ground, relaxing as he waited. As time began to slip away, however, Gen began to notice the scent of the demons he’s been making sure did not come close to the village. It had changed now, alerting him that they were on the move and coming closer.
Gen rose to his feet immediately, giving his body a rough shake to rid his fur of dirt and leaves before starting to pad towards the scent. He was thinking of how Lan would simply wait for him when she came to the spot, when a noise caught his attention. A high pitched cry from a human girl rang out through the trees, reverberating in the floppy grey ears at either side of Gen’s head. The cry was fearful and familiar, bringing a loud rumbling growl echoing in his throat.
The cry was not from where Gen had thought Lan had been. She was further into the woods; much further from the town then normal. Gen found it hard to believe she’d gotten lost and wondered to far, but he had little time to think about it. He sprang forward in the direction of Lan’s cry, weaving around trees and bounding over fallen logs and large rocks. His body shook with the growls he emitted.
It was not long before Gen spotted them. A group of eight demons stood clustered together, each odd in it’s own way. For the most part their structure was of a human base though they had various assortments of oddities about them. Many bore horns, a few adorned a pair of unique wings protruding from their backside, some were covered in fur and others flesh, and some had animal-like features such as ears or tails. The group centered around one thing: a small human child cowering upon the ground with golden-brown hair and a bruised face.
Lan was shaking. Her eyes were closed tightly which did not stop the flow of tears falling down her cheeks. Gen knew she was frightened and the demon’s could see as well, seeming to feed off her terror. Red optics narrowed in anger and thunder sounded in his throat, making the earth around him quake. A demon dealt Lan a blow and Gen was upon him before their was time to blink. Massive jaws snapped and tore into the offenders skin, a crimson color soon staining the giant dogs muzzle as a surprised screech of pain filled the air. The other seven demons stood dumbfounded for a moment before scrambling to help their comrade, forgetting about the child.
Lan was dizzy from the blows she’d been given and sick with fear. These were story-demons. These were the fearsome creatures that made her shiver at the mention of them. The beings that drifted through the town gossip and stirred up the members of her community. They were frightening and mean, nothing like her good demon Gen. Pushing herself up a bit, Lan stumbled off to hide behind a formation of rocks, curling herself into a ball and quivering violently.
Gen did not care to know the reason for the attack on Lan. It mattered little to him if the demons were taking out anger on her for some wrong doing. The demons could have been angry from a demon hunter attack or simply were treated in an ill manner by humans in the past and decided to take out every last human, starting with the child they stumbled upon in the woods. It did not matter. Gen was furious that they had ganged up on Lan, a small innocent human child who had no way of defending herself and had done nothing to provoke their actions. Wildly he fought them, shaking the ground with his ferocious growls and snapping his powerful jaws in their direction. He was outnumbered but the disadvantage did not phase him. He was livid, and they would regret their actions.
After several minutes, five of the eight demons had fallen and three stood badly injured. They stood around Gen, one on either side and one to the front. The first to his left stood in a tense position, his shoulder bleeding badly from a horrible close encounter with the creature fangs. It had only been a nip, not even a full blow but it has still hit him pretty bad. He had long disheveled brown hair with back horns peeking out, reaching a few inches in length. Lethal arm spikes grew from the top of the demon’s wrist, curving away from his hand and leaving him with a built in weapon. A deep red stain was already upon it from a clash with Gen’s underbelly which now matched the blade in color. The other two demons looked much the same with arms spikes and horns, however the one to Gen’s right had a pair of now mangled, gore infested wings, and the other maintained fox-like features.
They darted for Gen, now wanting to avenge their fallen friends and Gen met them head on His underbelly was sliced and leaking a warm red liquid and he wore a punctured hole on his back thigh, just under the trinity of blue spots. The puncture wound stung slightly, the result of what Gen thought was a type of poison secreted from one of the demon’s spiked blades. Despite the injuries, Gen unleashed his fury upon them once more, until they too fell.
Limping upon his hind leg, Gen slowly made is way to Lan, finding her still curled tightly behind the rock formation. Her body was shaking hard, making it obvious she was crying. Her eyes looked at him slightly, studying the still angry expression upon his dog-like face. His red eyes had taken on a fierce, hard look, their color devilish. They were narrowed at first in a glare that soon began to fade. Every inch of his body looked lethal and deadly for a moment before he forced onto himself a more gentle disposition, wishing to calm Lan.
He limped to her, lowering to the ground once he was there. Without hesitation she uncurled her body and threw herself at him. Her arms clung to his side and she burried her head into him, crying hard into his fur. The creature curled his body around her protectively.
Are you alright?
He had forced the anger from his voice, making sure it only showed a gentle concern for her. His head nuzzled hers gently, carful not to press hard against the black and purple coloration on the side of her face. He licked at her arm a bit, trying to comfort her.
“G-Gen..” She gasped, pressing herself tighter against him.
He curled his body tighter around her, moving his twin tails close to her as a sort of security blanket. His leg stung worse at it’s injured spot and he felt it spreading, along with an unreasonable sense of weakness, but for the time being he focused on Lan. It took her a few moments to stop crying.
“Y-You were scary G-Gen,” She stuttered, trying to keep her voice from sounding panicky and unstable.
I know... He told her softly, pressing his muzzle against her cheek.
“A-Are you alright?”
I’m fine, Lan.
Her grip tightened around him more as she hid her face. He continued to console her until she fell into a light exhausted sleep, her head resting against his side. Gen sighed, his leg twitching from the pain running through it. No doubt it was poison. The weariness coming over him was probably part of it’s effects as well, though he hoped that would be the only extent of it. Quietly, he nuzzled his face against Lan and closed his eyes.
It was quite awhile later that Lan opened her hazel eyes again. Her face felt tender and swore but it felt good against the soft feel of Gen’s fur. She closed her eyes again for just a moment, resting a bit more before she realized something was amiss. Something was missing. As she fell asleep she recalled hearing the heavy pounding of a drum in her ear. Gen’s thundering heart had lulled her into a comfortable sleep. She listened hard for it now but their was only the sound of the surrounding woods. The silence made her shiver with a panicky feeling, a knot forming in her throat which she choked upon as she tried to speak.
“G-Gen?”
There was no answer.
“G-Gen!”
She tried again louder but he did not stir. Quickly she pushed upon his side with her petite hands, trying to wake him but before long she gave up. He remained motionless and quiet. Fresh tears reformed and spilled down Lan’s face and she soon found herself crying loudly with her face pressed against Gen’s side again.
She knew eventually the people from the village would come looking for her. When she didn’t return home they would search the woods to find her. She wasn’t planning on budging. They would find her curled up next to Gen, crying into his side, calling for him to wake up in vain. She knew they would look upon the scene with an eye unlike her own. She would be curled next to a demon, a despicable creature that destroyed lives and home, preying on humans and haunting the thoughts of innocent townsfolk. That was their universal picture of all demons and that was not Gen in the least. He’s been anything but a demon. He had been her friend..