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                         Contract                          
                    -by Ebony Gryphon-                     
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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
Birds chirped amongst the leaves of the Elkhelm forest, the gently late summer breeze slightly rustling the branches and swaying their current occupents as they sang. Below, the other forest creatures milled, rummaging and burying, eating and being eaten, going about their day. Squirrels and rabbits darted across the path as an elderly deer ambled down the road. Numerous scars criss-crossed over his flank and barrel, speaking of battles past. Over his once proud frame, fur and skin had begun to sag, the youth of yesteryear a fading memory, and the muscle of those days going with it. From his once proud head, a single antler protruded, the end of which had broken off. Over one eye, a white film covered his iris, the other eye regarding the pony walking next to him.
Humming softly as she walked, her mane a light green, her fur tan, the mare’s eyes wandered over the overhanging branches as birds, chimpmunks, and squirrels raced and jumped across the tree limbs, occasionally stopping to look down and scold the two travelers in their respective tongues. Ceasing her tune, the mare stuck her tongue out at the animals, then yelped as an acorn was chucked and hit her square in the nose. Rubbing the spot with a hoof, the mare scrunched her muzzle. Lowering her foreleg again, one brow raised, the pony calmly walked to the trunk, whirled around, and with a resounding thud as it connected, lashed out against the tree’s side. Overhead the branches jerked and shuddered, the birds in it taking flight as their neighbors hung on for dear life.
Giving a nod of satisfaction, the mare walked back to her companion, who looked at the pony a moment, moving a sprig of wheat from one end of his mouth to the other before saying “Didn’t your mother ever teach you its not nice to tease the animals?”
Giggling, the pony shrugged as the tree’s occupants regained their footing, many of the almost deposed creatures shaking their little fists and chittering in fury, but all fell silent as the mare looked once more over her shoulder, a slight frown in place and a cocked eyebrow. As the tree dwellers made a hasty retreat, the stag sighed, and shaking his head, continued his trek, the mare resuming her cheerful tune as she followed. In between the trees, eyes followed the two as they walked, and shadow sillohuettes moved amongst the trees.
Easy prey.
My little pony, My little pony  
Ahh ahh ahh ahhh...  
My little pony  
Friendship never meant that much to me  
My little pony  
But you're all here and now I can see  
Stormy weather; Lots to share  
A musical bond; With love and care  
Teaching laughter; It's an easy feat,  
And magic makes it all complete!  
You have my little ponies  
How'd I ever make so many true friends?
The elder stag rolled onto his side with a groan, and spat out a couple of recently loosened teeth. Glaring up balefully with his one good eye at the two young bucks standing over him, bodies covered in faux-leather armor, the chain mail underneath glinting slightly. Snorting derisively, the slightly smaller one pulled his head from the stags satchel, and shook his head.
“The old fart ain’t got nothing. Boss said we could have the mare once he was done, but shit…”
Rolling his eyes, the deers companion nodded.
“Ain’t never much left once he’s done, and the bruises always make me wanna stick a bag over their heads before the party starts.”
Looking down at the elder, the opposing deer sneered “Shit! No bits, nothing worth selling, and all we get is beating up this piece of shit and the bosses sloppy seconds.”
Walking forward, the stag began digging a hoof into the prostrated deers side, teeth bared as he growled “Come on, you useless wad. Maybe if you give us something, we bring back your little pony alive.”
“And just who the fuck are you?”
Looking up, the stag saw his companion had turned around, and was glaring. Pulling his hoof from the deers side, and ignoring the groans of the recently beaten old fellow turned and regarded the sight walking down the road. A lone human ambled down the road, a bottle of wine in hand. While humans weren’t necessarily rare, the sight of them off the ocean of away from the vast continent they occupied was. Twigs and debris crunched under his heavy black leather boots, his blue denim jeans somewhat faded and dirty. Over a equally faded button down shirt he wore a weathered duster, the back of which was tattered slightly. Walking up to the three deers, the human raised the wine bottle to his lips, and after a sip, said “Hey, you guys are blocking the road.”
Both standing stags stared at the human a moment, then at each other. Smirking, the smaller walked forward.
“That so?”
Nodding, the human took another sip. Walking right to the man as he lowered his bottle, his antlers coming up to his chin, the stag glared up at his newest quarry, and scoffed.
“And what are you going to do about it bitch?”
Brows slightly raised, the human pursed his lips, nodding a couple of times. Suddenly, his arm blurred as it arced it, the bottle shattering against the right side of the stags head. Jerking to the direction the blow had sent him, the stag take a couple of unsteady side steps before collapsing. Stepping over the unconscious form, the human let the bottles neck slide from his grip before sliding his hand into his pockets. Pulling out a pair of gloves, he slid them on, saying pleasantly “I do so hate to scratch up my hands in these situations.”
Hands now protected, the human folded them behind his back, and smiled.
“And what about you, my good sir?”
Snorting, the stag turned around.
“You know what? This shit’s out of my pay grade.”
Pausing, the stag looked once more over his shoulder.
“Hey merc. You ever need work, come look for at the Rose inn in Yggdrasil. The pays pretty good.”
And with that, the warrior deer left. Shrugging, the human knelt down next to the now unconscious deer, and began going through his gear. Struggling to his feet, eyes wide, the elder deer stammered “A merc? As in mercenary?”
Pausing in his rustling, the human shrugged, then went back to work.
“I prefer the term freelancer…” finding a depressingly light money pouch, the human pocketed it, then began to rise. Rising himself, hissing in pain, the stag limped over to his bag.
“But you’re a sell sword, right? You hire yourself as a killer?”
“Sometimes…”
Leaning his head down and pressing his hoof over his bags, the stag tore through the cloth, then taking a cloth bag from the hidden spot, tossed it to the human, who caught it deftly, and opened it. Looking up from the bag, he said “Are these…”
The stag nodded.
“Aerthenian sapphires. Six of ‘em, more then enough for any grifter. About a mile up the road, in an old keep. About fourty of ‘em.”
Nodding, the human picked out a couple of the smaller jewels, then tossed the bag back.
“This is more then enough. Keep the rest.”
As he walked past the stag, the deer said “Bring her back… my little one… and kill those foals real good…”
Cracking his knuckles, the human nodded, and continued to his current job.
Author's Note
My contribution to the Lunaverse. Comments and critiques are more then welcome^^ Also apologies for such a short chapter. The word count will definitely pick up.
Later^^