:: http://www.geocities.com/dragynmistress ::
:: By Jennifer Vromant			   ::
:: jen_vromant@yahoo.com		   ::
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Spoof - Chapter 08

Spoof watched the humans as they approached the top of the pass.  Then what he saw made his heart freeze.  He saw Tala, eager curiousity in her eyes, race to the top of the pass from the opposite side.  He saw the humans start, and he saw that all too familiar greed in their eyes.  He closed his eyes, and tried to will himself away.  He was afraid, more for himself than for Tala.

Then he saw Kynder trotting up the pass, Safyr close behind her.  He saw the general attack Tala, and he saw Kynder defend her sister.  He saw the magic users and an unreasonable fear crept through him and made it impossible to move.  He heard them chant and felt a sudden sense of deja vu.  He saw Kynder fall asleep and he saw the familiar blue sparks spring from the magic users' fingers onto Tala.  He heard her scream.  He saw her fall, and anger washed through him.  The anger turned to rage, and he attacked.

He spread his wings and jumped onto the pass from behind the boulder.  He roared and threw fire.  It hit a white horse and its rider, charring the horse's mane.  He threw his head back and shouted his anger and pain and loss into the sky.  Then he looked at the humans, his eyes filled with hate.

The magic users started chanting and he threw fire at them.  They leaped aside and quickly regrouped, starting the chant fromt he beginning.  He recognized it as the chant they used to freeze him on the spot when his parents were killed.  The knights pulled out a catapult, and Spoof burnt it to a black crisp.  He stared at the magic users as they finished the chant, then watched him with growing horror.  The chant had no affect on him.

He watched with growing amusement as the humans ran into each other, each trying to get away.  Suddenly he heard movement besides him and saw Kynder sit up, a confused look in her eyes.  Then she saw Tala.  She saw her little baby sister lying lifeless on the cold ground.  Spoof watched as her eyes filled with spite and she threw a great flame upon the humans, scattering them even more.

Soon enough, the humans had somewhat organized themselves, and they ran down into the valley, screaming and crying.  Kynder started to follow them, but Spoof blocked her path.  "Not now, Kynder," he said to her, "we can't just leave Safyr here.  Look at him."  

Safyr was sitting next to his dead baby sister, a confused look in his eyes.  He looked at Kynder and asked her, "Why won't Tala get up?  Kynder, she's not moving.  It's not funny anymore."  Spoof saw in his eyes that he knew what had happened, he was in denial.

He looked down towards the valley and swore, "I will repay them.  I'll avenge my mother and my father.  I'll avenge Tala.  I'll avenge every dragon they have killed."