He came to me first in a dream – more so it was a nightmare. I was alone in a jungle far from home and any place I have ever physically been too. There was no doubt in my mind it was his doing. Bringing me to a place I had never been too nor did I ever would step foot in. The land itself was leaking wild magic – letting it seep through my flesh and into my bones ans further into my very soul. I felt the thrumming of magic inside my mind and I knew I was safe but also in great danger. How could one thing but both? It was simply magic was wild and unpredictable. It did what it willed with you no matter how hard you tried to push it ay bay it came with so much force it could knock you down. The plants were exotic and more then likely never to be discovered by man. Each petals shined like stars within the darkness of the forest that not even the moonlight could breach the leaves and branches, however; the flowers themselves with their luminescent glow provided the little light I needed to see through the pitch black night.

I was content as my body adsorbed the wild magic that flowed freely from these lands, but soon enough I felt something watching my back. It was a feeling we all get when we became the focus of a predator. That we became the prey of something much more powerful then ourselves. A shiver ran down my spine leaving me to feel cold and not a coldness a blanket could cure. No this feeling was something deep and primal. As if my very essences shivered with fear. I glanced around and saw nothing, but the jungle before. It was consumed by darkness from the night, but as I focused my optics I realized that something out their held shape. I could only see the outline of the monstrous creature that lurked away. It was large the size of a bear, with muscles that rippled underneath a dark pelt. It took me a few seconds to notice that the pelt was like night carved out into flesh and fur. Its pelts was flowing like a dark curtain. Shades of black and grays intermingling as one and never settling on just one appearance. White graced its cranium and body like stardust in the sky. Horns curved on its head like starlight in the pitch black. As it walked – no stalked behind the trees growing ever closer pit holes released smoke. The holes burned with an internal fire reflecting against its colors as well as its eyes. There was no iris, no pupil to be present within does fiery depths. Just flames curved for eyes.

Instinctively I took a step back as fear coarse through my veins like the venom of a snake. It took hold of all my organs, coating it with fear that I knew was not misplaced. I was vulnerable to this monster, with no weapon at hand and not even armor to shield my flesh. I was at its mercy. My breathing turned frantic as panic overcame me. I could only watch as the creature neared until it stopped only a few meters away. Its head bigger then my own and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Said mouth curled into a toothy grin revealing that the side of its cheeks were shredded and displaying more fangs within its jowls. A half spade tail flickered this way and that leaving trails of smoke in its wake. It took held pit holes. The paws were not canine like the creature seemed to appear to be but more reptilian in nature. Each digit was long as if it could grip me in his paws.

“You fear me.” A voice slithered inside my head. It was deep and thick with the hint of the darkest growl ever to be heard by humans. Its voice alone caused goosebumps to run down my arms and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck to stand erect. It was not a question it asked, not just a fact.

“Should I not fear darkness and fire come to life” Like its own words mines were not a question. I knew what I saw that stood before me unmoving as if it was a statue and if I turned my head it would disappear. But I would not turn my gazes away from it. I knew better. I heard stories about the wild magic that gave darkness and fire a form and that form was before me.

“Yes and no.” It's voice was again filled my head slithering against my skull.

“That's not reassuring.” I whispered so soft I barely heard myself but I knew the creature did. Anything you muttered in the dark it would hear.

“I am not here to reassure you little one.” it snarled as sparks of flames licked outside each pit hole through its body. “I am here to aid you till I see you no longer worthy of such attention.”

I couldn't even reply to it. Questions I had so many questions to ask it, but it was not possibly because as soon as I opened my mouth so did the creature. The back of the beast's throat burned brightly as fire began to lick at its mouth. I could only stand in horror as it lounged towards me. Its mouth aiming for my throat. Finally I found my voice and did the only thing I could think of. So I screamed. I screamed bloody murdered.

Art&CHaracter (c)ME