The Sparrow

[sidmmvv 203]

[Music]

 

 

The morning had seemed like any other to the flora and fauna around the being. The morning dew having coated the creature of stone as it sat upon the base of a great tree. He was unmoving, not even stirring in the slightest to breathe. The birds had nestled upon the unmoving construct, the start of a nest on his shoulder slowly taking shape. They sung happily as they built their nest on, what they thought was, a simple statue.

 

Iomhar, he had called himself, yet it didn't feel like his true name. The name he once carried was always on the edge of his thoughts but he could not speak it, the memory blurred. He had taken his place upon the base of the tree to seek a form of happiness to fill the void within. He could remember the times he had sat within the forest to think in life, listening to the sounds of nature about him. Iomhar sat still as the birds had started to take perch upon him, a faint feeling in his being that he could recall as, just something simple, happiness. As miniscule as it was, he enjoyed it.

 

But then the birds began to stir at another sound.

 

Down the shaded path the faint sound of foot steps upon the gravel grew closer and closer. Iomhar saw the mali’lari figure halt just in front of the base, ear perking at the sound of birds so low to the forest floor. She turned to the base of the elder tree, finally, her head tilting to one side and blonde hair shifting along with it as she spotted Iomhar silhouetted by the shade of the great tree. He settled his visorless stone gaze upon the woman with a shift of his massive head, the sound of stone against stone resonating from the movement.

 

“Oh crap…” The mali’lari said simply, “... Iomhar…”

 

Iomhar pondered how she even knew his name, he could not recall the woman no matter how hard he tried. Once she had spoke the birds had fluttered off, a sigh resonating from within his armor as they had left him.

 

“How do you… Know my name?” the being of stone inquired as he had finally spoke, watching the elfess drift her hand to the axe that hung upon her waist.

 

“We killed you… at the end of the bridge…” she spoke with a tone of worry, taking a step back.

 

Iomhar felt a hint of shock at her words, still peering at her with his gaze of nothing as he spoke out in a more hurt tone than anything.

 

“Why... “

 

“You tried to attack our people.” As the blonde ‘aheral had spoke just behind her on the path a frail ‘ame woman had come from the manor just up the road upon the mountain, a thin staff within her grasp as she stopped to peer at Iomhar as well, her brown eyes staring him down.

 

Iomhar’s gaze had settled upon the frail woman behind the ‘aheral Sirame, a feeling filling his being… something of happiness almost but it felt wrong to him. This sudden joy he had felt was twisted to him, yet as he found himself stepping down from the base of the tree, the feeling of wrong and right began to fade. He shifted his mighty poleaxe into both of his hands, watching the ‘aheral woman step in front of the ‘ame and drawing her axe. With his last bit of right being still about him he paced forward to stop a foot away from her and looking down at her at his height of eight staggering feet.

 

“Move… you are not within my orders... “

 

The ‘aheral had simply shook her head as the frail ‘ame woman had hid behind her… as frail as a simple sparrow and as small in comparison. The Sirame elfess was not ready when Iomhar’s mind had slipped finally, swinging his massive polearm in a sweep and colliding the hammer head with her shoulder, she flew to the side with a sickening crunch in her arm. A shrill scream escaped the lips of the high elven woman as she tumbled on the forest floor.

 

The stone being, who could care less for the woman he had flung aside as if she meant nothing, now brimmed with a twisted joy as he looked to the frail ‘ame.

 

“How dare you.” The ‘ame woman had snapped at him, pacing back a few steps and her thin staff starting to grow in her hands as her eyes flared a shade of green.

 

Iomhar took a large lumbering step forward and thrust the spear head of his poleaxe forth, the ‘ame woman stepping aside to avoid the strike aiming for her gut. She was too slow it seemed, stepping aside but not without the spear head tearing through the cloth and flesh on her side, grazing it deep enough for her to fall upon the gravel.

 

That was all it took…

 

Iomhar watched the blood from the frail little sparrow fill the grooves of the path. The ‘aheral woman shouting something, yet he could not hear her, the sound muffled. He took another step forth as the ‘ame sparrow tried to crawl away, being halted by a spear head driving through her thigh and all the way to the earth below. The ‘ame let out an inhuman scream as she smashed her head against the gravel out of pain. Her scream proceeded, echoing in the forest as she called for no one.

 

He could recall the feeling of the ‘aheral's axe against his back, deciding to fall forward onto one knee to crush the little sparrows spine. The screams ceased.

 

The forest fell deathly silent, not even the birds dared to voice their songs in the canopy above. He took in the sounds of gurgling from the wood elven woman's throat as blood poured from it, a sense of joy overwhelming him… even as the high elven woman began to chip his helm of stone with her axe. He simply stood and made quick work of her, knocking her aside once more and throwing the limp body of the ‘ame at her. His mind had finally slipped, recalling nothing more of the event.

Iomhar came to upon the base of another great oak, gaze shifting down to his bloodied weapon. He saw the crimson liquid drip from his armor to the wood below, a sense of forlorn flooding him as he recalled the slaughter. The birds did not nestle upon him this time, but a sparrow peered to him from a branch on a small tree across from him. His being feeling nothing but pain as he simply looked back to the sparrow, falling completely still once more.

 

Spoiler

Many thanks to LadyRebecca, ZipZapMan, and ImmaHorseRidda for the help!

 

[Kaelan 1918]

Khiara laid on the couch of the Aureon Manor motionless. Her breathing light as the sweat and dirt mixture dried on her skin as the evening breeze rolled into the manor through the balcony.

 

In a fit of rage, she had tried to do all she could for woman she considered to be the closest thing she had to a mother and pushed herself to the brink of death. But her efforts proved fruitless and she was paying the price for it...

 

She would be laying there for several months, unaware that her blessed axe had been taken...

[LadyRebecca 1050]

Arahaelth munches happily on an apple while perched on a branch high in an elder tree after such dreadful acts had transpired.

[LaviniaTheRider 60]

Lavinia also lies in a coma after having both arms crushed and falling into shock after her dead sister is thrown on top of her.

[Guest]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.