“It’s a rabbit.”
“It’s a hare. Look at those ears. They are definitely longer than a rabbit’s.”
“It’s entire body is longer than a rabbit’s. That’s a terrible comparison” A thick Cupressaceae tree hid the boys from the gray creature picking the top most leaves above them; the creature’s tail swung up and down casually.
“We could eat for a year if we caught it.” The boy turned his head towards the other, raising a hand that rippled with heat. “You run in the sun and distract it with your fiery hair and I’ll come around the other way.”
Self-conscious, the other brushed the locks across his forehead but nodded,
“We need a new strategy other than ‘Ruber be a distraction’. I’ve got abilities too you know.”
“And what are you going to do as a Blessed? Blind it with holy light?”
Ruber rolled his eyes and placed his hand on the other boy’s shoulder,
“Sometimes you can be a real asinus, Lukas.”
“I know.”
As casually as he could muster, Ruber slid his hand down the shoulder and against Lukas’ bare arm. Their skin touched. Only for a second, but a second was all Ruber needed. He started preparing a spell in his head.
“Ready?” He asked. Lukas grinned and Ruber couldn’t help the grin growing on his face too. Only a true friend could manage that in him. Their heads nodded together once, twice and then they ran out from either end of the tree. Ruber sprinted into the sun, flicking the long locks out of his eyes as they tumbled forward. In the sun it gleamed like a fiery torch and his pale skin only accentuated it. The creature noticed immediately and swung it’s body around towards him,
“Look at it’s head! I told you it’s a hare!” he shouted over at Lukas. He could sense the other somewhere nearby but not exactly. That is, until a scream echoed above them and Lukas came flying out of a tree with a sword in both hands. Poised. Deadly. It was something he never left without. And as adept as both boy’s knew he was at using it, only Lukas wasn’t aware how useless it would be at that point. The hare simply bounced back, turning around completely so it’s tail was facing the falling boy. They all at that moment realized what was about to happen. Lukas tried to curl his body into a ball in mid-air, the hare pushed it’s weight forward and lifted it’s hind legs. Ruber held out both hands, eyes closed. Chanting. In the next moment, as the hare’s legs shot back towards Lukas, an amber flash of an invisible shield blinded Lukas and sent the hare tumbling into a tree. The falling boy managed to get his feet down and roll as soon as he landed, staggering to a stop while his eyes remained squeezed shut. The hare had leaves falling around it, and rather than attack, it shook its head and bounded off into the forest.
“Well that was close.” Ruber breathed, walking up to Lukas who had sat down on the grass.
“Good thing you’ve got fast reflexes or you would be chanting a healing spell instead.” The sun lit up Lukas’ blonde hair, making it almost white.
“Why didn’t you fry the thing like you were going to?”
Lukas shrugged,
“Impulse? Fun?”
“To get covered in the blood of your foes.”
“That’s a Dissectum Societas creed. You know I don’t follow that.” his face darkened. It was Ruber’s turn to shrug. He knew that wasn’t true. In the same way he knew Lukas was going to get kicked in the chest and break three ribs, both his arms, fracture his skull and come close to dying of internal bleeding. He knew that Lukas was as much of the Dissectum Societas as his father the Mage Grandis was. And would always be. Especially now as a dark cloud approached from the North of the clear, bright sky. It approached with the scent of Jasmine.
Now, as much as this little short is all airy-fairy light hearted and fun, as I intended it to be, the actual story is far darker and these kinds of scenes just help lighten the mood. Or I’m going to be a depressed writer for the next couple of months.
Nope it’s just going to be depressing.
Let me know what you think of the story! Anything that stood out for you?
A-Scribe To Describe 