S.Y. 318.2
(May 30, 2003)
A Rise to Power
By Sardel
From Sardel's Journal
Alyssa walked home with a content smile on her face. The mushrooms
in the woods had been plentiful. Alyssa often enjoyed these forays
into the Spiritwood. It gave her time alone and allowed her to imagine
a life grander than that which she possesed.
Glancing past the treetops, Alyssa found to her dismay that the sun
was already setting. She had not meant to tarry the entire day in the
woods. The true reason for her worry lay in the rumors that floated
through the farming community of Skara Brae. Whispers of dark deeds
occuring at night; Missing pets to be found days later, drained of
their blood. Wolves, attacking farmers as if possesed by demons.
Alyssa quietly chided herself. Such nonsense was for children. She
was not scared of such tales. Alyssa did quicken her pace however.
As she moved through the woods, Alyssa noticed that all had gone still.
Not a single bird or cricket chirped. Alyssa quickly looked around,
hiked up her skirts and ran as fast as she could. She cared not for
any who saw her act in such an unladylike fashion.
The quicker Alyssa ran, the deeper the feeling grew within her that
something was not right. The tree branches beat unmercifully at her
face as she shouldered her way through the brush. Up ahead she could
see the edge of the forest and the glow from the campfire outside of
her home. With thoughts of that glowing fire burning in her mind, Alyssa
rushed forward with every ounce of her strength.
Alyssa's shoulder suddenly went numb as if touched by a frigid frost.
Reflexively she turned to see what appeared to be a shadow float back
into the woods. So determined was Alyssa to peer into the gloom that
she failed to notice a low sitting branch which efficently clipped
her in the head. Alyssa fell hard to the ground, hitting her forehead
on a stone. Her vision swam as blood seeped down her face.
Alyssa felt a presence behind her and she scrambled in terror to face
the darkness. Sitting on a branch was a raven who seemed to be examining
her. Oddly, Alyssa no longer felt a chill. She quickly laughed, more
to calm herself than out of any sense of humor. Alyssa checked her
forehead and found the cut to not be serious at all.
She quickly gathered up her mushrooms and strode confidently to her
house. Free of the forest, she felt foolish. What had possesed her
to run through the woods at night. Alyssa was sure to be chastised
by her mother for her carelessness.
The attack came without warning. Silently a shadow slipped behind
Alyssa and cut her throat. She toppled to the ground, gurgling blood.
Rough hands flipped her over. Darkness swam in her vision as her life
left her body. All she could make out were two brightly glowing dots
of an intense red. As her own life faded, Alyssa couldn't help but
notice how similar those eyes were to those of the raven.
The Shadow watched as Alyssa died, absorbing every moment. When at
last her life was gone, the shadow began a chant in gutteral tones.
Streching forth it's hand the shadow absorbed Alyssa's essence, increasing
it's own power.
In the morning, Alyssa's body was found. The farming community wept at the loss of one of their own. They wept also out of fear, knowing that a terrible darkness had come to Skara Brae.