#20
An account of Eishona’s Feather Tale; as re-told and transcribed by Spido, a friend to Eishona.
Spido’s hand is full of loops and curlicues. Staining the page are mug rings - presumably kafka by the brown colours. Small grease stains denote spots where crumbs of food sat a while.
So I was raised in the Barrens - right? I lived with my Brother Weylo. I wasn’t asking questions yet - I did as I was told, as was required of me to help us survive. He’d leave for a few days here and there. I’d always have enough supplies to feed, water and care for myself.
Defenses were simple; a ring of stakes outside the cave we lived out of. He kept the sun dried carcass of a Witchwing harpy strung up on poles as a warning to others - namely harpies. They came for our food mostly, and to be pests! We had our weapons - himself a spear, myself a simple bow. We each carried useful knives and axes for closer work. (authors note: Eishona me showed me your axe - you look like you could brain a person with this thing, never mind the blade looking dull as shit.)
So he left. He went for supplies somewhere - he never really said where. I found out later it was the Crossroads. The first few days were fine - I didn’t need to hunt, our stores were a quarter full, and there was meat drying in the sun on racks outside. I would hunt soon.
They came in the night usually - too cowardly to attack in the daylight. They stuck to their foul groves in daytime. I was asleep; confident of our defenses. I had a small torch in the cave for light, otherwise it was dark. The night air was hot and dry - this was in the middle of summer. Even the night beasts were too hot to move.
It started with rustling, the drag of feathers against the ground. Then came the whispers, the occasional twitter. I could hear them messing the racks of meats we were drying. One clattered to the ground, announcing their presence fully. I was awake by now, listening in fear - Would they come in the cave? Did they know I was alone? Weylo told me sometimes they stole people away. He never explained what it was they did. I always assumed it was to eat them - if you ever saw the teeth on a harpy, you’d see why I’d thought that. (Author’s note: Eishona knows why they steal people now. She is so upset, you should see your face girl!) My bow wasn’t very effective in close range, all I had was my little axe. So I was sitting there, with just a little torch and a small axe, terrified of the creatures rummaging through our hard earned food. I ran out, hollering and swinging - and right in to one of them. I was lucky that I was able to subdue her - just a whack to the face. The second nailed me in the belly - from my ribs to the belly. Angered, I attacked her. Harpies, despite looking frail, are powerful - she kicked and spit, screeched and tried to bite. But I prevailed. The third ran, forcing me to grab my bow and track her down before she reached the grove and brought more of her ilk down.
She was already screeching, trying to rouse her kin. I put an arrow in her back, and caught up with her. The fight was furious - her taloned feet slashing, her shrill voice carrying through the night before I finally brained her. (Author’s note: Damn girl!) I was out there in the Barrens; bleeding, exhausted and terrified, with the body of one of the first .. non animal beings I’d ever brought down. I was saddened, and horrified, and a bit relieved. I.. I took her wings and feet, and slung them up with my brother’s scare. The others.. well. They made ok jerky, nothing I’d suggest for a meal unless you need it. (Author’s note: Eishy, what the fuck? It should also be noted she showed me her scar - girl was lucky her guts didn’t get spilled on the ground, ugh.)
Spido’s hand is full of loops and curlicues. Staining the page are mug rings - presumably kafka by the brown colours. Small grease stains denote spots where crumbs of food sat a while.
So I was raised in the Barrens - right? I lived with my Brother Weylo. I wasn’t asking questions yet - I did as I was told, as was required of me to help us survive. He’d leave for a few days here and there. I’d always have enough supplies to feed, water and care for myself.
Defenses were simple; a ring of stakes outside the cave we lived out of. He kept the sun dried carcass of a Witchwing harpy strung up on poles as a warning to others - namely harpies. They came for our food mostly, and to be pests! We had our weapons - himself a spear, myself a simple bow. We each carried useful knives and axes for closer work. (authors note: Eishona me showed me your axe - you look like you could brain a person with this thing, never mind the blade looking dull as shit.)
So he left. He went for supplies somewhere - he never really said where. I found out later it was the Crossroads. The first few days were fine - I didn’t need to hunt, our stores were a quarter full, and there was meat drying in the sun on racks outside. I would hunt soon.
They came in the night usually - too cowardly to attack in the daylight. They stuck to their foul groves in daytime. I was asleep; confident of our defenses. I had a small torch in the cave for light, otherwise it was dark. The night air was hot and dry - this was in the middle of summer. Even the night beasts were too hot to move.
It started with rustling, the drag of feathers against the ground. Then came the whispers, the occasional twitter. I could hear them messing the racks of meats we were drying. One clattered to the ground, announcing their presence fully. I was awake by now, listening in fear - Would they come in the cave? Did they know I was alone? Weylo told me sometimes they stole people away. He never explained what it was they did. I always assumed it was to eat them - if you ever saw the teeth on a harpy, you’d see why I’d thought that. (Author’s note: Eishona knows why they steal people now. She is so upset, you should see your face girl!) My bow wasn’t very effective in close range, all I had was my little axe. So I was sitting there, with just a little torch and a small axe, terrified of the creatures rummaging through our hard earned food. I ran out, hollering and swinging - and right in to one of them. I was lucky that I was able to subdue her - just a whack to the face. The second nailed me in the belly - from my ribs to the belly. Angered, I attacked her. Harpies, despite looking frail, are powerful - she kicked and spit, screeched and tried to bite. But I prevailed. The third ran, forcing me to grab my bow and track her down before she reached the grove and brought more of her ilk down.
She was already screeching, trying to rouse her kin. I put an arrow in her back, and caught up with her. The fight was furious - her taloned feet slashing, her shrill voice carrying through the night before I finally brained her. (Author’s note: Damn girl!) I was out there in the Barrens; bleeding, exhausted and terrified, with the body of one of the first .. non animal beings I’d ever brought down. I was saddened, and horrified, and a bit relieved. I.. I took her wings and feet, and slung them up with my brother’s scare. The others.. well. They made ok jerky, nothing I’d suggest for a meal unless you need it. (Author’s note: Eishy, what the fuck? It should also be noted she showed me her scar - girl was lucky her guts didn’t get spilled on the ground, ugh.)
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