Short Story
This Empire of Ruin
The Lunar Forest lay dormant in the outer valleys. Nestled in the low-lying marshes, the forest’s pale leaves shone like a jewel in the darkness of the surrounding shrubbery that stretched for miles in either direction. From the skies looking down one was reminded of the moon suspended in the night sky, hence its name. And it was from the skies the beast had spotted the child – alone - disappearing amongst the white trunks that appeared to swallow it whole. The beast banked left and pitched her snout towards the earth, her thin membranous wings completely silent and angled against the wind to slow its descent. Her scales were as black as the night sky and just as smooth. To spot her would be an impossible task not there was anyone or anything who was looking. But it was best to remain cautious. The beast landed gently on the soft ground, on her hind legs and swiftly lowered her slender body so that she stood on all four slender limbs. Against the stark white of the forest her ink-black figure resembled a shadow in the light. Her eyes, black as the rest of her took in her surroundings. The child had not walked far. It sat in a small clearing, entertained by a fallen tree branch that it swung wildly before throwing it away seemingly bored of it. It giggled and picked up another branch. Soundlessly, she inched towards the small creature. She didn’t wish to startle it. She hadn’t seen anyone from above, but the forest was dense enough to conceal anyone who wished to remain hidden. Deftly, she inched ever closer until her snout hung inches from the child’s head. Perhaps the child felt a presence or by sheer luck it turned and saw the beast that stared back at it. Its wide eyes lay transfixed for several moments. And then, unfazed, it turned back to the new stick and began swinging it with as much passion as before. The beast was startled and then surprise gave way to a deep sadness. The innocence, she thought. Before she proceeded, she placed her jaws gently on the child’s soft vest it wore over its woollen undershirt and began to pull. They must understand what has happened here. The child wailed, not out of fear but rather frustration that it was being interrupted, and then soon enough the vest lay crumpled on the ground next to them. The beast’s jaws were not particularly large but they wrapped around the tiny figure of the child securely enough. She retracted her fangs so only her soft black gums held the child at its waist. Now, the child began to cry. But it didn’t matter. As silently as she arrived, the beast launched towards the sky, too quiet to be heard, too quick to be stopped. As the cries of the child were swallowed by the wind, the dragon disappeared into the starless night.
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