For as long as I can remember I've always dreamed about becoming a knight. I would train with my makeshift sword and would wear armor made out of the empty barrels we had out back behind the barn. My opponent was the menacing leader of the crows: The Scarecrow, and with other children. The other kids would laugh and make fun of me for my silly dreams; telling me that dreams were for losers and our kind weren't meant to become knights. But Momma and Papa would tell me different; they were my hope, my confidence, and my rock.
One day, a group of knights came through town. Everyone stayed inside. Everyone except for me. The moment I heard about their arrival, I dressed up in my armor and raced to town; completely ignoring my parents. Upon arriving, I see them unloading in front The Galloping Tavern and immediately ran over to them. Unaware the streets that are usually full was barren.
"Hey check out this kid." One of them chuckled. Their eyes all landed on me as I came to a stop. I stood up straight as a pole and saluted them.
"My name is Riley O'Hara and it is my dream to one day to become a knight and to serve my kingdom with honor and pride!" I spoke with my clearest voice. A few of them looked at each other and giggled like children.
"Listen kid" one of the knights spoke up, " becoming a knight is a lot harder then it looks. You must come from long line of knights and by the looks of it, you don't."
"I am fully confident in my strength and my skills to one day becoming knight despite my background." I took off my helmet to look him straight in the eyes. No sooner as I did, tension filled the air. Their eyes became filled with disgust and my instincts started to take over. I held it back and stood my ground. Hand ready to grab my sword. The knight smirked.
"I was right," he began as he stood up, "knighthood doesn't suit you at all." His aroma stunk of devilish intent. I felt like a prey in the eyes of a predator. A target for an archer. A meal for a savage beast. My legs began to shake as he got closer his hand reaching for his sword. Before I even had to time to react, the tip of his sword was touching my throat. I heard the slams of several windows closing around us.
"I think it time for you to stop this silly dream of yours before someone gets hurt. There is a reason why your kind are the lowest of the low. If someone like you were to become a knight then the social network that our country had work so hard for will crumble and when that happens we might have to go to war, again, but this time your species will be annihilated." I felt my heart drop as my blood became cold. A whimper escape my lips as he draw back his sword. I knew what he said was true but if I had been a little smarter back then, I wouldn't have done what I did next.
Before I knew it I drew my wooden sword and with my loudest voice, shouted: "Knight I challenge you to a duel!" He stops in his tracks, "if I win, you are to apologize for everything you just said!" A smile appeared on his face.
" and it I were to win?"
"Then I'll give up my dream on becoming a knight!" I poised ready to fight. He let out a soft laugh as he pointed his sword at me.
"Let's hope you honor that bet cause we all know your kind aren't exactly known for being honest." His group laugh. I felt my anger rise up as i leapt forward for an attack but before I knew it I was flat on my back with his sword sticking out my breastplate. The sword tip just barely touching my chest as my heart pounded loudly. My nose twitching in fear. I didn't even see him move let alone see his sword. My body was on high alert as he pulled his sword out.
"You see, we humans are much more stronger than you'll ever be. A beastmen like you don't belong with our kind. Even if you were human, a battlefield is no place for a woman." I felt the embarrassment taking over my body as well as the heat of anger as he began to walk away. He stop at the foot of the stairs to tavern when he turn around and walk back over.
"I just remembered something," he said in his loudest voice, " you beastmen don't take defeat very well and won't usually back down without being made into an example. Seeing how I defeated this child fair and square, I can't help but feel like this little rabbit still doesn't understand her place."
I look up to see him standing before me, his sword resting on his shoulders with a devilish look in his eyes. My body felt frozen as fear began to replace my anger. His sword began to lift high up into the air and, as if time had slow down, began to make its descend. The knight's lust for blood became visible on his face as his sword got closer to mine. I felt it's cold sharp metal carved a line from above my left eye all the way to the bottom of my right. I fell back as the blood began to drip down over my eye making me see red. I look down to see droplets of blood splatter on the ground. It wasn't until I heard the doors to the tavern open and shut did I finally look up. The group of knights were gone only their horses remain. The towns people have started to form a crowd around me. I can here them gossiping about me but it didn't phase me. I don't remember how I got home or when I went to bed but the next day I awoke with a new dream. This time not only will it benefit for me but to every single beastmen in the world. I will change the society limits place on us. I will make the world see us worthy of their ranks and titles and not just as slaves and lowly farmers. We are beastmen, we are born fighters and the world will soon know it cause I: Riley O'Hara, a member of the Rabbit clan, will make that change.