blight

A small ship approached the APEC home world. It's occupant grinned from behind long stringy green hair. She ran a sensor scan, quickly finding the structure she was looking for. The ship turned, plunging through the atmosphere towards the APEC fortress. The ship hovered a mile from the imposing fortress before setting down. The canopy opened with a hiss and a figure climbed down to stand next to the ship. She brushed her hair from her face, standing slightly bent, and looked up. The fortress could be seen just over the tops of the trees.

She grinned, moonlight glinting off two pairs of interlocking fangs. Several twisted, deformed vines rose from her back, snapping at the air. "I know your here," she hissed, "I'm coming for you." She chuckled, stepping into the dark forest, heading towards the APEC fortress.

*****
Inside the APEC fortress, Fields of Heather sat bolt upright in bed, gasping and grasping her throat. Kai13 sat up. "What's wrong?" he asked, putting an arm around Heather's trembling shoulders.

"A dream, but it was so real," she said. Heather wrapped her arms around Kai 13.

"A nightmare. You want me to get you something, a drink?" asked Kai 13.

"NO, I'm all right." They laid back down, Heather curled up against Kai 13. Heather tried not to think about the dream, but an image rose up, of a shadowy figure chasing her. It's last words echoed through her mind.

"I'm coming for you."

The sun rose, spreading it's warm light over the APEC fortress. A massive garden filled most of the space between the battlements and the fortress itself. A shaft of light cut through the trees of the garden, hitting Jade. Jade lifted one eyelid, snorting. She would have gone back to sleep if her stomach hadn't chosen that moment to growl. Jade reluctantly stood up, groaning. For a dog the size of a Clydesdale, she was very quite walking through the garden towards the fortress. Jade headed for the windows that lead to the rooms of the APEC ladies. Jade stood under one window in particular. She reared up, putting her feet on the thick wall, sticking her nose just inside the window. Jade took a deep breath.

HOOOOOWWWWWWWLLLLLLLL

Inside the room came a scream of terror then copious amounts of cursing. Jade stood their waiting. Dgre threw the curtains aside, glaring at Jade. "YOU @#$ *&^@#$ mutt! You trying to give me a heartattack??" screamed Dgre smacking Jade on the nose with her pillow.

Jade grabbed the pillow from Dgre's hands and ran about the courtyard, playing with her new toy. Dgre turned from glaring at the beast and opened her door. "HEATHER, she did it again. That mutt of yours scarred another year off my life," hollered Dgre.

Heather peeked out her door, her room right next to Dgre, pushing her hair out of her eyes. Heather grinned, "She only does it cause she loves you Dgre."

"I'd hate to see what she did to those she hates," grouched Dgre.

*****
Heather entered the massive main hall, having feed Jade, and reclaimed what was left of Dgre's pillow. The hall was buzzing with activity. Some of the ladies of APEC were already eating breakfast, others oversaw the delivery of food to the massive mahogany table by the Kai clones, still others stood about talking and laughing. Heather smiled, waving at VisionAri and FrogSlash, standing off to the side. Suddenly Heather felt a chill slither up her back. She looked back through the open door. She saw nothing out of the ordinary in the warm summer sunlight. Heather couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching her.

*****
A figure peered over the battlements, watching Fields of Heather looking back outside as if she felt her eyes on her. The figure chuckled softly. "I seeeee youuu." she hissed softly and chuckled again, "But you can't see me."

She dropped down from the wall, heading into the forest, away from the fortress."You can't see me, not yet. But soon, very, very soon you will." She giggled madly, disappearing into the dark forest.

*****
Kali raced through the open gates, jumped from her winded horse, and ran into the main hall. She ran over to EveningStar, gasping out what she had found.

"I was on patrol near the ruins. There is something strange happening there. All the plants are dead. My horse all most threw me, she wouldn't go near that place," gasped out Kali.

"This is strange," said ES, "VisionAri, you, Heather and Ging go check it out. But don't stay long, I want you back in an hour."

Heather and Ging sat astride Jade. The forest was eerily silent as they made their way towards the old ruins. The ruins had been there long before APEC had chosen this place to build their home. It had probably been a beautiful castle at one time, but now it was slowly falling down, weathered by time and the elements. Suddenly Jade reared up, almost dropping Heather and Ging to the ground. Ging screamed, clinging to Heather as she yanked hard on Jade's collar. "Jade, what's wrong?" hollered Heather as Jade stopped fighting her. Jade stood there, refusing to move forward.