4. Rukh

The chilly night air carries the musky scent of my prey on the breeze – a fair-sized draek that should satiate nicely. I stalk through the moonlit forest, leaves and twigs silent under my centuries-practiced steps. The trees part ahead in a misty glade, shafts of silver moonlight illuminating a towering beast at its center. It bows its regal head, antlers lowered as it grazes, oblivious to the predator approaching for the kill.

Crouched low, I creep forward with lethal grace, every sense trained on my prize. Saliva pools in my mouth as I envision the satisfaction of the hunt fulfilled. Just a few more silent steps and I will be upon it.

But then it hits me. A subtle pulse of magic shimmering through the glade.

I freeze, attuning my senses. Movement lurks at the far edge of the clearing. A human woman, I realize, watching me intently. What catches my eye is the flash of fiery hair half-hidden behind a mossy stump. A little witch with the audacity to interrupt my hunt?

I should rip her apart where she cowers, but better to let her make the first move and fail. Toying with her could prove an entertaining sport.

I turn back to my prey, its earthy musk flooding my senses. The promise of its warm lifeblood is tantalizingly close.

I circle wide, approaching downwind, my passage undetected. Crouched low, I glide between moon-cast shadows. My prey remains focused on grazing, unaware of the silent predator nearing.

Let it live its final moments in peace. Soon its life shall sustain me.

Once in position, I apply paralytic oil to each claw, readying my deadly dose. I flex my talons eagerly, then creep forward with precision.

At the critical moment, I leap, sailing through chilled air to land atop the beasts back. My claws pierce deep, seeking its veins as I deliver the venom. It bucks wildly, but my grip holds firm. The paralysis takes swift effect. I bare my fangs in victory as the beast collapses beneath me.

But before claiming my prize, the witch remains to be addressed. I turn to her with a menacing glare.

“Vile creature! she cries out. Why are you here?

“Oh, sweet little field mouse. I must tell you, incurring my wrath would not be wise. I laugh, turning back to my prey. She should not be foolish enough to question a demon.

A subtle shift in atmospheric density comes next. She’s casting.

After centuries of slumber, I welcome the chance to stretch my legs. To play with my food…

I zip behind her, peering over her shoulder. She doesnt even notice my sudden movement. Atrocious evocation, I chide, lazily tracing a sigil and finishing her spell, a flaming circle burning around her feet. She yelps and tries in vain to stamp it out before I extinguish it with a casual snap. Come on, now. You are going to get yourself killed casting like that.

She throws another blast of energy my way, which I lazily sidestep. I smirk as she glares at me petulantly.

Well, that was nearly a proper conjuring, I taunt, slowly clapping my hands. “Where did you even learn that? Let me show you, start in form one–”

“I don’t want to learn the tricks of a demon! Go back to wherever you came from and leave us be!” She thrusts her glowing palms toward me, shooting a sizzling bolt of mystical flame. With a yawn and a stretch I dodge, feeling the white hot flame sizzle past me.

I speak only truths, witch, I taunt as I nimbly evade another of her mystical attacks. You wield stolen magic against its rightful masters.

I serve for goodness! she shouts in defiance, assaulting me with wild bolts of fire.

Yet you hide from your own kind, knowing the truth in their fears.

She tries the spell again, putting emphasis on the wrong syllable.

Clumsy, I chide, grinning wickedly as her little spell fizzles out. Frustrated, she gestures, mystical bindings racing toward me, and I only barely need to step out of the way. Poorly aimed, I cluck, wagging a scolding claw.

Her lips peel back in a snarl as I easily avoid every attempt to harm me. I’m quite familiar with humans, but something about this one’s fiery spirit in the face of something that should terrify her intrigues me. She really is quite beautiful for a human, and if she wasn’t focused on wanting me dead, I might even take the time to be captivated.

She continues attacking, her vigor never fading though she must be growing tired. Each near-miss, each failed ensnarement fuels her anger, and her anger clouds her focus. You can’t run from me forever! the witch proclaims, readying another volley.

On the contrary, I reply calmly. I know your limitations all too well.

With a feral roar, she launches her most powerful assault yet. But her rage has made her predictable.

I weave and dodge her attacks, moving faster than her weak human eyes can track. But she is quicker than expected, anticipating my motions. A blast grazes my arm.

I hiss as the flesh sizzles. Pain stokes my fury. Enough evasion. It is time to crush this insect.

I lunge straight for her, claws outstretched. But where I anticipated fragile human flesh, my hands smash against an invisible barrier, her energy shield shattering on contact.

I leap back, snarling. “Impressive. But we both know you only delay the inevitable. Surrender now, and I will make your punishment quick, but annoy me further and I will take my time.”

She steels her nerves, glaring at me with stubborn defiance. I will see you destroyed, vile creature! She begins chanting an incantation, her hands tracing arcane symbols that glow with power.

A last desperate gamble.

Amused by her fruitless defiance, I watch her cast. She sweeps her arms in mystical gestures, continuing her arcane assault, and I shake my head in disapproval. “You’re going to burn yourself to a crisp if you keep going at this rate.”

Searing ribbons of light crisscross the glade toward me. I roll and twist past them, the beams scorching the earth where I stood moments before. Then her spells fizzle out entirely and she collapses to her knees, whimpering and cradling her seared flesh. The pungent odor of burnt skin wafts in the air.

She has exceeded her limits. Now the true lesson begins...

I stride casually through the lingering haze and crouch before my cringing prey, clucking my tongue. Reckless, foolish little field mouse. Now what have we learned about meddling with forces beyond our control?

The witch glares at me defiantly through pained tears. With lightning speed, I grip her chin, tilting her head up to meet my fiery gaze. I asked you a question, little one. I expect an answer.

I… I wont stop fighting you, she grounds out between gritted teeth.

She gestures sharply, an arcane ring of fire blazing up around me.

I slam against the mystical barrier in a shower of sparks, stunned that this dainty creature has temporarily bested me. Perhaps she’s both beauty and brains.