A tale or some sort

[Vigil StarGazer]

Of beast and men

 

So there was this time when the Dark Mysterious Figure was called on being the substitute teacher for a small grade 1-2 joint class. While taking care of three year old was not certainly beyond the awesome skills of the man himself, the Figure was short on geld and therefore must take whatever opportunities that was available.

 

The job was simple enough: teach the children simple arithmetic, spelling, supervise them in their play session, read them a bedtime story and then tuck them to sleep until the school buss arrives at 3:30pm. While the children were in awe with a dark cloaked replacement for their usual normally dressed female caretaker, the morning was without incident. Well maybe the dark mysterious one lied about a bit about how the children would not be near him at first, and how they are afraid of the man that speaks under the darkness of his hidden face, or the fact that by afternoon they had all tug the dark one’s robes and tried to peek underneath to see if he’s wearing anything inside. However that story was meant for another tale in another time.

 

Now after lunch was the usual highlight for the children. It was story time and as children they all loved to hear stories from the teacher before they go to sleep on the carpet floor. Now they all wait in anticipation to see what story this strange substitute would tell. There beside the teacher’s chair was a rack of storybooks that often their normal teacher would pick and read to them. Their favorite story was "Not Another Fairy Tale".

 

They were mildly disappointed when the Dark Mysterious Figure grabbed none, but instead he gathered the children around. "Come closer," said the anonymous voice behind the shadowy hood. The voice was still icy but was calmer and gentler.

"After the story I will ask you a question and whoever gets it right gets a candy!" The Dark one flashed a rare smile. Reluctantly the children obeyed, and so the dark mysterious figure began.

 

 

 

"Once upon a time there was men and beast. It is a very simple idea that men hunts beast for food and vice versa. Sometimes the beast wins, and sometimes the man wins. It is always assumed that only the stronger would always kill the weaker and feast on its corpse.

 

Now there was this man who killed a beast. Even though he was hungry, there was a lot of meat for one man to have. A lot must have gotten through the mind of this man at the moment. Even though he was strong he must sleep, and when he sleeps he will be weak and be attacked by either from another beast, or other men who want his hard-earned meat. There were a many men or beast that was faced with the same situation, but this one have an idea.

 

The first man that came was hungry because he was not so lucky in the hunt. The beast he came across was stronger then he was, but when he saw this man that had just finish hunting and have some meat. To his surprise the man offered the meat to him and he was happy. Free meat! Soon more game and they all have the meat. They are no longer hungry. They praise this great man and call him 'hunter'.

 

Now as the hunter fell asleep the others pondered what to do. They could leave, but that would mean they will have to hunt their own meat. Quite frankly most of them are not that strong and would have trouble killing any beast. The beast would not come to attack with so many men around. They would forever be known as ‘sentry’. Day after day the hunter kills more beasts and shared the meat, often taking the tastiest meat and toss out the scrap for the rest.

 

Between here and there the hunter has an urging, and that was when he saw women. Now all men lust for women but when the hunter stands out none would contest his wishes. Often the most neglected part of the story was a woman’s view point, but if it was up to the women she would have picked the hunter over the sentry. The hunter provides the best meat for her, and it also follows that that the child of a hunter would always be a hunter, just like any hunter would choose the most beautiful woman. Any mother would want their child to be a hunter; such is the nature of things.

 

Speaking on the nature of things, it goes that there was always someone stronger then you. In this case there came a beast so strong that even the hunter cannot defeat. The beast attacks and the hunter would surely be dead if he was alone; instead many sentries died but not the hunter.

 

Winter came, and many beasts were gone and meat was so scarce that even the hunter was hungry. The hunter and even some of the stronger sentries chase away the weaker ones. Those weak sentries, by this time, has lost all the skills and strength for hunting and died in the cold."

 

 

 

"Now children," the Dark Mysterious Figure said to those children that are still awake. "There was always a moral to the story. The Hare and the tortorise taught us not to be lazy; Pinocchio taught us not to lie, Now tell me what this one is."

"Life *&()&)*B sucks," shouted the angry Falcon2001k. His half-brother Gyrfalcon only smiled.

"Zzzz," snored little chubby Wyvern, already bored to death by the tale. He stretched his tiny claws and took a whack at Falcon2001k who disturbed his precious sleep. A bit of a struggle soon followed.

"It's good to be a hunter," the always sharp and alert Gwaihir replied, and a few followed her with nods and agreement.

The slow but deep Ozymandias spoke up last , "hunters or sentry, we all fight the beast."

"So who’s right?" They all raised their little voice as they shifted their eyes toward the bag of candy in the figure's skeletal hand.

 

 

The Dark Mysterious Figure only smiled, stood up, and place the bag of candy on the now empty chair.

Edited March 23, 2006 by Vigil StarGazer

[Peredhil]

It's good to see you writing again, however rusty you may be.