Parfington
09-26-2015, 04:49 AM
Two praying mantes were holding the reins of their respective horses, their eyes
scanning the wasteland with grim impatience for any kind of landmark or sign of life.
"I think we should make camp soon." said the mantis with a feathered cap.
"Just another league, we may as well make use of these horses while we have them." Responded the swarthy mantis.
"Why do you say that?" queried Feathercap.
"We will have to eat them soon." said Swarthy.
"Eat them, but why?" asked Feathercap, softly clawing at the mane of his horse.
"Because we will need to eat. Why do you ask so many damned questions?" Swarthy looked again across the desolation, blinded by the glare of the sun.
"What are we doing out in this hell?"
"I've told you, Feathercap. We're travelling through to find my home. My father has
died and left me his fortune."
"Yes, but why am I here, Swarthy?"
"Because I asked you to come with me. It's quite simple."
"No, why did you ask me to come along?"
"Patience, Feathercap. All will become clear soon enough."
The boiling sun roasted them as they turned towards their destination that morning,
nothing visible but this wrathful glowing god blistering their brows.
"I don't know if I can go any further without food, Swarthy. I guess we will have to
take the horses."
"Take them? you mean slaughter them."
Swarthy leapt from his steed and glanced at it a moment, its dull eyes gazing back
into his, listless and without thought. He drew his blade and brought it down on the
beast's neck, killing it instantly. Feathercap's horse noted this event with fear
charged eyes, but dared not to bolt, for hunger and thirst.
"Well, that was easy." Swarthy chuckled, stepping through mud created by the seeping lifeblood. Feathercap, still queasy from a life being taken in his proximity, stuttered a reply.
"I suppose mine is next."
Days later, the mantes flew along in short bursts, covering large tracts, but burning
precious energy rapidly.
"I can't go much further, Swarthy."
"You must, the stars tell me that we are only about 6 leagues away from my home. I am hungry too. The last of the horse meat is rancid and inedible. It will only serve to attract vultures now."
Feathercap grimaced and held back his fear of death.
Halfway through the last leg of their journey, the sun set upon their wings.
"We can't make it like this, Swarthy. We're so close, but the land seems to stretch on forever, we will die soon."
Swarthy, hearing this, smiled to himself.
"I suppose it is time for me to tell you why I invited you to my home with me,
Feathercap. You see, food is so very expensive. You owned two horses already, and were so kind to come along with me, greatly assisting my sojourn. However, I am afraid the time has come for your usefulness to become apparent."
"What are you saying?" Feathercap shuddered, as he saw the blade glinting in the starlight.
"I'm hungry, Feathercap."
scanning the wasteland with grim impatience for any kind of landmark or sign of life.
"I think we should make camp soon." said the mantis with a feathered cap.
"Just another league, we may as well make use of these horses while we have them." Responded the swarthy mantis.
"Why do you say that?" queried Feathercap.
"We will have to eat them soon." said Swarthy.
"Eat them, but why?" asked Feathercap, softly clawing at the mane of his horse.
"Because we will need to eat. Why do you ask so many damned questions?" Swarthy looked again across the desolation, blinded by the glare of the sun.
"What are we doing out in this hell?"
"I've told you, Feathercap. We're travelling through to find my home. My father has
died and left me his fortune."
"Yes, but why am I here, Swarthy?"
"Because I asked you to come with me. It's quite simple."
"No, why did you ask me to come along?"
"Patience, Feathercap. All will become clear soon enough."
The boiling sun roasted them as they turned towards their destination that morning,
nothing visible but this wrathful glowing god blistering their brows.
"I don't know if I can go any further without food, Swarthy. I guess we will have to
take the horses."
"Take them? you mean slaughter them."
Swarthy leapt from his steed and glanced at it a moment, its dull eyes gazing back
into his, listless and without thought. He drew his blade and brought it down on the
beast's neck, killing it instantly. Feathercap's horse noted this event with fear
charged eyes, but dared not to bolt, for hunger and thirst.
"Well, that was easy." Swarthy chuckled, stepping through mud created by the seeping lifeblood. Feathercap, still queasy from a life being taken in his proximity, stuttered a reply.
"I suppose mine is next."
Days later, the mantes flew along in short bursts, covering large tracts, but burning
precious energy rapidly.
"I can't go much further, Swarthy."
"You must, the stars tell me that we are only about 6 leagues away from my home. I am hungry too. The last of the horse meat is rancid and inedible. It will only serve to attract vultures now."
Feathercap grimaced and held back his fear of death.
Halfway through the last leg of their journey, the sun set upon their wings.
"We can't make it like this, Swarthy. We're so close, but the land seems to stretch on forever, we will die soon."
Swarthy, hearing this, smiled to himself.
"I suppose it is time for me to tell you why I invited you to my home with me,
Feathercap. You see, food is so very expensive. You owned two horses already, and were so kind to come along with me, greatly assisting my sojourn. However, I am afraid the time has come for your usefulness to become apparent."
"What are you saying?" Feathercap shuddered, as he saw the blade glinting in the starlight.
"I'm hungry, Feathercap."