Deep within the forest of the spirit world, there existed a meek village of fey creatures. The creatures within were among the weakest residents of the dense woods, and if not for a select few powerful spirits and spells, they would have been driven to extinction long ago. Among the types of creatures inhabiting the village was a small earth spirit race known in many stories for their small stature and their distinct cone hats.
A group of these creatures were now gathered before a mountain ravine. This location was crucial to them. It was the main source of fresh water the villagers drank. It flowed from within the intricate cave system within the mountain and was filtered naturally by the minerals within. The cave system itself was also very significant. It was used to gather resources that were instrumental in sustaining the village or provided trade options for other necessities.
This was the main reason that there was now a gathering here today. A concerned few had made the others aware of strange changes happening within the cave system and it was quickly becoming clear that something had to change.
The small creatures were extremely fragile. They were thankfully, however, very gifted in searching within the stone for valuable gems and resources. The more gifted of them, such as their elder even being able to move within the stone as if it were water. It was thanks to this gift that they made their living working as miners. Doing their best to navigate the cave system near their village to gather useful materials to sustain their fey companions.
However, recent disturbances have begun to strain them and their ability to gather materials. The insect spirits within the maze like cave had begun to behave strangely. Moving more tactically, with a strange and sudden coordination. They'd begun skillfully picking off any of their brethren that was unable to hide within the stone quickly enough. Some even falling prey due to the creatures waiting in ambush for them to exit the stone, as many of their kind couldn't yet move long distances within the cave walls.
Ahead of the small crowd stood a lone girl. She held up a sign that stood as tall as her. wearing a pink cone shaped hat with a small red heart pin decorating the right side, a lighter pink outlining the heart and making it more pronounced. She was dressed in a plain white shirt and pink skirt and around her neck she wore a yellow ascot. It was clear at a glance that she wasn't one of the members of the miner teams, as she was the only one not wearing the proper attire or carrying a pick-axe.
She did her best to stand on the tips of her toes to allow all her brethren to see the image on her sign. It depicted the outline of a small humanoid creature wearing a cone hat. He was currently mining for stone and there was a red circle with a line crossing the image, making it clear that the sign wished for a stop to all mining. As she tried her best to stand tall, one of her kin approached with concern written all over his face.
"Young miss, please understand. We need to mine to keep the village going. the more we delay, The less resources we will have available for trade when the merchants come! If we fall any further behind, we may not make it thru the year!"
POV: [Young Miss]
As my brethren raised their concerns, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. For the last several months, many of our brothers and sisters have fallen pray to the violent attacks by the insect spirits in the caves. Under normal times, we had been able to keep the risks down by hiding in the stone for some time while the creatures quickly lost interest and moved on. However, they had started to move and behave differently. Rather than spreading out thru-out the cave, they begun to gather near the entrances we used to access the caves. Lying in ambush and often times attacking in groups.
Before, if they began to overpopulate the caves, my father had been able to enter and cull their numbers. However, the last few times he tried to enter and bring their population down, they would all but disappear. Aside from an occasional lone straggler, he could find no gathering of the creatures! It'd gotten to the point that he had to travel with the mining teams to help keep them safe, but even that proved ineffective. The creatures were coordinated, and if a group veered too far from father, they would come and kill them all. Quickly disappearing once more.
Out of desperation, father left the village in search of some help. A gathering of other strong fey that could help protect the different mining teams to lighten the load. It was a long shot and he was likely to return empty handed, but it was their best chance. So digging in my heels, I addressed my kin with as much courage and authority as I could muster.
"You must wait for fathers return! I've been placed in charge of you all in the time he's gone and he should be returning any day now! We gnomes can't hope to fight those things off and Gnomaterial is worth our extinction!"
As I said this, I made it a point to raise my fist up high. Signaling my resolve to keep my people safe in these trying times. Unfortunately, as I looked at everyone that had gathered, I noticed that I did very little to quell their concerns and I couldn't help but wish for father to hurry back.
Just then, a sudden sound of grinding stone erupted just behind me. The sudden loud impact sending everyone gathered into a state of panic as I turned quickly to the stone wall. It was like a powerful force was suddenly shredding the thick stone wall of the cave system at the ravines wall. This was the absolute worse case scenario. Our village had been built at the cave river away from the entrances to avoid the possibility of the cave monsters picking them off in the night. If something managed to crawl its way out, it could mean a direct path to their village that avoided all their safeguards! So swallowing back the terror gripping at my chest, I turned to my brethren and shouted with as much force and power as I could muster. Though I doubted it came off as much more than a frightened whimper.
"G-Gather everyone to the village! Secure your homes and help the elderly and children find shelter! Contact Lei Lei if he's back from patrol and any other Diamonds nearby!"
As everyone else woke from their startled states, they quickly took action and rushed to their loved ones to help keep them safe. Some stragglers noticing that I'd stood firm, facing the cave wall. My trembling hands now gripping my sign as if it would somehow offer me some protection.
"Young Miss! We must hurry! There's no telling how soon the wall will give!"
The sudden shout startled me, and I tried my best not to show the absolute terror that was likely painted all over my face. Desperately trying not to look back, I made my best attempt at sounding confident as I addressed them.
"You go ahead! I'll stall them if need be. Once you are all hidden, I'll run to safety too!"
The silence that followed was deafening. It felt like an eternity before the trembling voice of my kin addressed me again, more softly this time.
"Young miss, a-are you sure? I can stay and assist-"
"No!" I quickly shouted back. Still too scared to look back as I felt tears begin to form.
"You must help your family first! I'll be right behind you!"
A foolish lie, I figured. I knew that more than likely, what ever was currently tearing apart the cave wall could do the same to me with little effort. I was essentially powerless and I knew it. However, I had to fulfill my duty as the de facto leader while father was away. With that conviction in mind, I steeled myself and finished addressing the lone Gnome still standing behind me.
"Go, now. I can't focus on running if I have to worry about you too!"I could hear chocked attempts at a retort, but before long, the sound of boots running into the distance could be heard. Allowing me the comfort that I may yet save some of my people.
Quickly steeling my resolve, my grip on the sign tightened further, as I steeled myself for what were likely my final moments. However, before I could gather my wits, a horrifying sound resounded in the cave. It was like a swarm of beasts of rage had all woken from a deep slumber. The sound was so haunting that I could only pray it wouldn't haunt my dreams should I make it out alive. Following the sound of screeching horrors, the sound of grinding stone only sped up. As if what had made the sound had redoubled its efforts. Soon, however, the grinding stopped abruptly.
The screeching continued for several more seconds before a new sound was heard. A loud series of bangs that seemed to last an eternity followed by a tremble as the stone wall shook violently. Something seemed to have been slammed into it. By this point, my nerves were winding tighter than I'd ever imagined possible, as the screeching and massive impacts continued for several minutes before a final larger force struck at the wall, followed by a eerie silence. I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Were the creatures unable to break thru? I could only hope that was the case. There were no more impacts. No grinding of stone nor the screeching monsters. I prayed that whatever it was was finally over... but it felt more like I was in the eye of a storm. A calm before the true horrors to come.
Then it started. I couldn't see, but I somehow knew what it was. The disgusting squelching sound of flesh and gore. It was striking the stone with so much force it could be heard even thru the thick wall. It lasted a mere minute or two before a loud explosion blasted apart the cave wall. The scattered debris narrowly missing my fragile form. I was at a loss for words as all the strength left my legs, making me collapse weakly to my knees.
It wasn't long before a stench wafted out of the cave and reached my nose and I was overcome by a fit of gags as I tried my best to hold back my last meal. The burning in my throat was all I needed to know I was losing that fight. It was a foul stench unlike nothing I've ever experienced before. Like a stale combination of blood and animal waste.
Swallowing back the contents of my stomach, I gazed into the cave with teary eyes at a lone figure. It was walking thru the smoke with steady, controlled steps. There was no sense of urgency in those steps. Like taking a stroll in a garden. I was frozen in place as I watched them. Too stunned to move as the smoked cleared and I got a better look at them.
It was a man- or rather, a young man that stood much taller than any of my kin. He had messy brown hair and burning amber eyes that emitted an oppressive light. Around him was a dangerous purple and black aura that radiated with a darkness that sent shivers down my spine. His clothes were greatly damaged and he was wrapped in old bandages. His limbs were shackled. Broken chains still clung to them as if he had just broken out of confinement. His body was covered in a mixture of a sickly green substance and fresh blood and he held a horrifying staff that seemed to be made of the bones and feathers or another creature. A large bird like skull attached at the staffs head as he held it lazily in his right hand. His Amber eyes were piercing. As if he was gazing thru me and seeing nothing but a vermin to be squashed. His lips parting as a cold voice of indifference made its way to my ears.
"Would you hurry up and die already...?"
'Huh? Me? Die? I never did anything!?' My mind was in a fog. All I could think about was how I could make it out of here. Desperately, I turned my head slowly toward the village. Wondering if I could trust my tiny legs to carry me away to safety. Just then, however, terror truly took hold. Behind me was a grotenque creature. A leathery worm like creature with sharp blades for claws. It was covered in blood and slowly standing up tall. A grizzly toothy smile on its face with horrifying vertical red slits for eyes.
'No! Did it come from the village?! Is that the villagers blood? How did it get here!'
My mind was in chaos. The tears in my eyes now flowing out of my control as I imagined that thing having somehow snuck into the village and killing my kin. Just then, a bright red glow came from ahead of me where the boy stood. I turned my attention back to him and noticed that he was emitting the bright light. I wondered if he was about to unleash some devastating spell.
'Ah...At least it looks like I'll die quickly...' I thought sorrowfully as I closed my eyes and waited for the end...