The Felarya Fairy Book

Fairy Tales: whimsical stories of varying kinds depicting lighthearted and sometimes dismal but always fantastic events from mankind's creativity. Stories of heroes, monsters, magic, lessons, and warnings. Sometimes of the journey from A to B and sometimes ABCDEFG. Tests and trails, kindness and hate. Tales of good and evil fighting through the idealized fantasies of men. Stories to inspire those that hear them.

I present some Felarya Fairy Tales, FFT for short. Some of them are adaptations of well known fairy tales you might recognize, some you may not. Some of them are even completely original, not something easy to do by any means. All of them however are meant in fun, lighthearted tales to lift the spirits. Or some not, for they might have a lesson to be learned. Nevertheless these are meant to stay true to the feel of a real fairy tale and I hope they come across as such.

(Ctrl + F) then search for their two digit number: 00

The Felarya Fairy Book

01 The Neko Giantess

02 The Pied Dridder

03 Murisskin

04 The Glass Hive

05 The Grateful Predators

06 The Gingerbread Golem

07 Kitsune Kaji (Fox Fire)

08 The Valiant Little Hunter

09 The Succubus and her Taskmaster

01 The Neko Giantess

Once upon a time there was a young neko girl named Claire. She lived with her mother and father in a village in Felarya until she came of age. There was a strong and cruel family of nekos in this village that all feared and upon reaching maturity this family threatened Claire’s mother and father into marring her to their eldest son. To keep her from forced marriage Claire’s parents sent her off into the jungle to seek her fortune, sending with her only a large cake and a bag of salt. Taking the cake and salt Claire left her parents and went into the jungle to find her fortune.

After traveling for some time in the jungle Claire stumbled upon the trail of a slug girl, slipping into it and becoming stuck fast. She struggled to escape the slime but was helpless, tiring out and awaiting something to come and devour her. The slug girl who left the slime trail soon returned and found Claire stuck in her slime. Claire remembered the bag of salt she had and waited for the slug girl to pick her up. Once in the air Claire threatened the slug girl with the salt. Terrified the slug girl released Claire and gave her two lumps of hardened slime. After leaving the slug girl Claire carved the lumps of slime into boots that would stick to any surface.

Continuing on her journey Claire came to a raging river. The only way to cross was a fallen tree that was broken halfway up. Putting on her slime boots Claire walked up the tree and out over the river, walking carefully across the fallen wood to the other side. Halfway across the river the tree broke, sending Claire plunging into the river below. A mermaid was waiting below the log with her mouth open and Claire fell into the moist cavern instead of the river. Inside the mermaid’s mouth part of the cake slipped out on the mermaid’s tongue. Wanting to know what wonderful thing she was tasting the mermaid spat Claire out onto her hand and asked her why she tasted so much better than other nekos. Claire told the mermaid of the cake and promised to give it to the mermaid in exchange for freedom. The mermaid agreed and took the cake, releasing Claire and giving her one of her scales as further appreciation. Claire took the scale and continued.

While traversing the jungle Claire was found by a hungry fairy who desired to consume her. The fairy’s shrinking magic was useless against Claire because of the mermaid scale she carried and the fairy became angry. She grew to a hundred and twenty feet tall and scooped Claire off the ground. Finding herself tossed in the fairy’s mouth Claire emptied the bag of salt into the fairy’s throat, causing the fairy to spit her out in disgust. The fairy threatened to crush Claire beneath her foot unless she could become taller than her. Claire put on her slime boots and began walking up the fairy’s body, the boots sticking to the smooth skin as they did with the tree’s wood. She continued climbing until she reached the fairy’s head, thus becoming taller than the fairy. Impressed with Claire and the boots she offered to grant Claire one wish in exchange for the boots. Knowing this to be a once in a lifetime chance Claire wished to live without fear of being eaten. The fairy shrank down and took the boots, casting a spell on Claire that made her grow one hundred and ten feet tall.

Thanks to the fairy’s magic Claire had grown into a giantess, all the dangers she had ever feared now on equal terms as her. She set off immediately towards home to find her mother and father. Upon reaching her village she searched for her parents, finding them held captive by the powerful family. Claire captured the cruel neko family and devoured them, the taste of their fear mingling with the sweet taste of revenge in her mouth. She enjoyed feeling them struggle in her belly as her parents struggled in their captivity. After her meal Claire became the guardian of the village, loved for removing the powerful cruel family and respected for her immense size. Under her care the village and her parents lived happily ever after.

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02 The Pied Dridder

Once upon a time there was a village of dridders deep in the Dridder Forest. Now this village was set in a very haunted section of the forest, a place where many spirits gathered. These ghosts would descend upon the dridders of the village and devour their souls if they had their way; however, a large colony of spiders lived about the village and spun their webs across the trees. The webs of these spiders formed a barrier around the village, the ghosts unable to pass through as they became stuck in the tangled silk. It was these spiders and their webs that kept the dridders protected from the ghosts, and without them they would surely die.

It so happened that nearby in the forest there lived a hive of tonorians, their population usually kept in check by the mysterious black creatures of the tunnel networks. For whatever reason the tonorians had begun to grow in numbers so that they began seeking food farther away than normal, far enough even to reach the dridder’s village. Soon the dridders found themselves amidst an overpopulation of tonorians, the armored centipedes invading their village from all sides. They climbed from the earth and down from the trees, wandering inside houses and into food supplies.

Soon the dridder’s learned to keep their food out of reach of the tonorians and they thought their troubles over. Without access to the food the tonorians turned back to the forest, climbing the trees to find their prey. Unused to such adversaries the spiders surrounding the village were preyed upon without contest, the tonorians hunting them down and devouring them at every opportunity. With the spiders in peril the dridder’s despaired, for without their silky webs there would be nothing stopping the ghosts from descending upon them.

One of the villagers had been traveling beyond the village and knew of a dridder with amazing powers. She was said to be able to control bugs of all kinds with her voice and the music of her flute instrument. With no other options the villagers immediately elected one of their members to travel outside into the forest to find this dridder and beg her to come to their aid, certainly her powers were their only hope of salvation. Hopefully she would be found and brought back to their village before the tonorians destroyed too much of the spider population so that it would recover.

The dridder sent into the forest was a small girl, brown with many colors on her abdomen. Afraid of the forest she spent a great deal of care to escape notice of all creatures big and small. Thankfully not a single ghost set upon her as she left, perhaps her childlike innocence warding off the evil. It was a dangerous trip to be sure, the dangers of the forest extending beyond the ghosts to giant wolves and other giant predators.

Soon the small dridder came upon a chilotaur. She was fiery and rash, crimson hair and deep red carapace setting a stark contrast to the rest of her surroundings. The dridder dared to ask her of the mysterious being she sought and the chilotaur amazingly humored the young dridder such. She told of meeting the mysterious dridder further ahead, taking the time to warn of the abrasive attitude she would be faced with. It was almost as if the chilotaur had met the mysterious dridder before. Heeding the chilotuar’s words and thanking her the young dridder left and continued on.

After traveling for over a day the young dridder finally came upon signs of the pipe toting dridder. She had stopped to rest and had noticed a small group of spiders acting in an unusal manner. They appeared to be traveling together towards the same location. Curious she got up and followed them. The spiders walked all the way to a large clearing where many more had already gathered. Stepping out of the trees the young dridder found another dridder at least a hundred and twenty feet tall standing on a fallen log with the spiders around her. Her carapace was a deep red and her skin pink, her hair a bright red color. She was dressed in pied clothing and in her hand was a small golden pipe.

Timid at first the young dridder approached the piper and got her attention, begging her to listen to the plight of her village. The piper agreed to listen and instructed the young one to sit and tell her story. After hearing the situation and danger the piper agreed to help her village, though the help would not be free. She demanded a selection of elves for her service which the young dridder promised she would receive. Together the two dridders left immediately, time of the essence for the safely of the village.

It took another day to reach the village and by the time they had arrived the situation was dire. The spider population was already heavily impacted by the still rampaging tonorians. Immediately the pied dridder pulled out her pipe and began playing a tune, the playful music drifting through the entire village. The villagers watched in amazement as the tonorians all began converging on the dridder’s location, their antennae bobbing to the sound of the melody. The piper turned and left the village, the tonorians all following after her. They came out of houses and trees, from under rocks and inside baskets; all of them following the piper out into the forest.

The piper led the tonorians to a nearby ravine, the above ground entrance to a massive ant nest. Her song led the tonorians to the edge of the ravine and one by one they threw themselves into it where the ants tore them to pieces. With the threat eliminated the pied dridder returned to the village to collect payment. The villagers were reluctant to give up such prized treats as elves and the amount was quite large, but as much as they hated to part with them it was what was agreed upon. They handed over a dozen elves which the pied dridder devoured ravenously, slurping and sloshing them in her mouth and swallowing them in pairs. The young dridder was amazed by the amount she was able to eat and wondered in the elves inside her belly even had room to lift their arms. Upon finishing the piper left the village to continue on her way telling the villagers she would be in the area again in a years’ time.

It was in such a way that a year passed, the population of spiders increasing and the webs that protected the village once again at full strength. The villagers lived without fear of the forest and its dangers, the tonorian incident all but forgotten. Unfortunately at the end of the years’ time the population of tonorians again reached critical mass and they returned to find food in the village. Once more were the food stores of the dridder’s ravaged and once more did the tonorians turn to the trees for food. The spiders around the village were somewhat prepared for the attack this time and managed to fight back the tonorians for a time, though even with the help of the dridders there were too many.

Facing the same peril as before the dridders sent the young girl out again, being this time a year older and stronger. The young dridder traveled for two days, searching the forest for the dridder piper. Her search was fruitless, not a note of song nor an unusual spider to be found. Any other predators she ran into that didn’t try to kill her had not seen the pied dridder anywhere.

The young dridder sat down on the third day to rest and was about to give up hope when she heard faint music in the air. She recognized the song of the piper and hurried to find its source, coming out into a clearing where she found the pied dridder sitting on a stone with spiders all about her. The piper saw her coming and knew what it must mean, getting up from her stone and meeting the young one halfway. After hearing that the same peril faced the village she set out immediately to once again save the village but warning her price would be greater this time.

After traveling for one full day they came to find the village in worse condition then the year before, the population of spiders cut in half and the tonorians running rampant. The villagers were relieved to see the piper again and begged them to help her. The piper agreed and taking out her pipe began playing her song, the tonorians once again following her out of the village. Once again she led them to the ravine and sent them over the edge to the ants below, the insects tearing the tonorians to pieces sparing not a single one.

Now the villagers were suspicious of the piper, her promise to return in a year falling in sync with the return of the tonorians. They thought she was the one to bring the tonorians to their village as a plan to get their elves as payment. It was for this reason they would not give her any elves when she came back. The piper did return to the village to receive payment, and this time she demanded such an outrageous amount of elves that the villagers would not have given them to her even if they hadn’t already planned to refuse her. Furious at their refusal the piper vowed to receive her payment and left the village steaming with anger. The village was safe however and to safeguard their elves they set a guard by their storage pit should the piper return to steal from them.

Late that night when the light was dimmest and the villagers were asleep the piper returned to the edge of the village. Setting her pipe to her mouth she began playing, this time a different song then before. It was a dreary tune that floated through the night air above the roofs of the village and drifted on the wind into the trees. The spiders in the trees woke to the sound of her song and were entranced by it. One by one they left their webs and crawled down to the ground, gathering about the piper as she played. She turned and began walking into the forest, the spiders following after her. Soon they disappeared into the night, the song of the piper drifting away on the wind.

The villagers awoke the next morning and found no elves to be stolen from their stores. Thinking they had gotten the best of the piper they began congratulating each other for their wit. Their celebration was cut short however when the young dridder that was sent to find the piper noticed the disappearance of the spiders. Panicked the villagers looked high and low but could not find a single spider in the trees. The webs were already in terrible condition and without the spiders the ghosts would be free to enter their village. They despaired at their folly, the piper’s ultimate revenge far outweighing the price of their elves.

Just as the villagers were accepting their mistake did a ghostly mermaid appear at the edge of the village. Testing the webs she found herself to pass through without being caught up in the spider’s threads and soon many more ghosts did the same. Before the villagers could turn and flee a horde of specters flooded through the tattered webs and descended upon them, the screams of dridder and spirit alike being heard from far away in the forest.

No one knows what truly happened in the village that day, the few survivors mere shells of what they were before and unable to converse normally. Those who heard of the village wondered what had happened to the spiders of the village and where they had gone. The piper herself was never seen again, though there are those that claim to have seen a dridder of her description. These questions have yet to be answered and the tale of the Pied Dridder is told to children of many races to warn of the cost of going back on one’s promises.

It is said that the Pied Dridder still roams the Dridder Forest to this day, though none have actually seen the oddly dressed dridder. Some believe that if one goes out in the forest late at night and listens carefully they can hear the song of the dridder’s pipe drifting through the still air. A song played to entrance all who hear it and lead them to some unknown location where the dridder sits awaiting with mysterious goals.

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03 Murisskin

Once upon a time there was a man who came to Deeper Felarya through a very unlikely circumstance. As many humans that went before him his fate was found in the belly of a giantess. It was the middle of the night where he found himself inside the belly of a dridder and he came to his end in the acids of her stomach. His body used as sustenance for the giantess his soul found its way to the afterlife.

Imagine his surprise when he found himself in a vast landscape of fire and stone, dozens of other souls like him all lined up to face their eternal judgment. One by one they walked through a small cave and came out at the feet of a giantess. A huge succumbs with violet hair and silky pink skin, her toe alone larger than the biggest man. She plucked the souls off the ground and popped them in her mouth, a satisfied look on her face as she consumed them.

Soon it was the man’s turn and as he approached the demon’s foot he found himself lifted into the air. Below him her cavernous mouth was opened wide, saliva flowing over her tongue and down into her yawning throat. As he was lowered closer to her maw he raged and cursed, despairing in the fact he would be eaten again in such a manner. Was he doomed to travel the universe to be devoured by giantesses?

To his surprise he stopped descending, the abyss below him closing with a snap. The succubus spoke to him, the awestruck man watching her mouth open and close before him, her voice booming in his ears. She asked him where he had died and if the world was called Felarya. After hearing that it was she opened her palm and let the man stand in it, her expression one of interest. The demoness struck a deal with the man: she would spare him from the pit of her stomach and would send him to Felarya if he will summon her there and free her from hell. The desperate man staring at the massive teeth of the giantess accepted the deal immediately and promised anything she asked of him.

Smiling the succumbs put the man between her breasts and stroked his body with her finger. She pressed him into her cleavage and moaned loudly, crimson energy flowing from her enormous bust into his body. Loud screams erupted from his lungs as the power filled him with burning pain. The demoness explained that his was now a medium for her in the mortal plane until she was summoned.

In interest of keeping him alive she gave him a satchel from which an endless supply of miaxi honey would flow. She then pulled him from her breasts and placed him on her stomach, the cries of the dammed loud beneath his feet. With an unfriendly smile the giantess cupped her hands over the man, powerful magic swirling around him and transporting across dimensions.

The man fell across the planes of the universe, the last words of the succumbs whispering in his ear. Her name sent chills down his spine and he wondered if she had not sent him to die after all. The colors of the void swirled around him as he tumbled between realities, and after what seemed an eternity he was swept into brilliant light.
Sunlight filled the man’s vision as he found himself touching ground. All around him were trees unimaginably huge, their trunks and branches boggling the mind. The colors of flowers and greens of plants made the scene beautiful to behold, but where he was he had no idea. If this was Felarya he would soon find out. The man checked his body; he had indeed been given a second chance at life. For more than a simple spirit, but wrapped in flesh again. He checked the satchel and found it filled with a golden vicious liquid. Tasting it he found it heavenly, like no sweet he had ever eaten.

Excited for his new life the man decided to strike out north, the best direction of any. The beauty around him was captivating and he had all he needed to survive in the form of the honey. How he was to summon the demoness he had no idea, and he worried slightly over his task. Besides she had no power of him here and he wondered if he should even try to summon her.

So the man began his journey north, traversing the jungle as carefully as he could. He knew very little of this world save for the fact giantesses existed but he had no idea how or where they were to be found. The animal wildlife was dangerous as well, forcing him to be extra careful lest he alert the predators to his location.

Soon the man came upon a small village of nekos, their catlike appearance catching him off guard. He was quite tired and wished to stay the night, though the nekos distrusted humans. Thankfully he remembered the honey in his satchel and was amazed to find how much the nekos loved it. He offered them as much as they wanted and found the satchel to indeed be limitless. In exchange the nekos allowed him to stay as long as he wanted.

The next day the man did leave the nekos, continuing north in hopes of finding the people he had lost before his death. He traveled through the jungle briskly, avoiding dark places wherever he saw them. He knew of the existence of dridders and prayed he would not run into one. It was by now that he had forgotten about his pact with the succumbs entirely.

The man took a stop for rest by a shallow pool and took a drink and some honey to rejuvenate himself. Not long after he rested was he set upon by a fairy, she frequented this pool as her hunting ground and swallowed weary travels like him. She grew to a hundred and ten feet tall and trapped the man beneath her foot.

Despite his best efforts the man was unable to fight back against the weight of the fairy’s foot, he was lucky she did not shift her weight and crush him. Eventually she did release him and picked him off the ground. Once he was in front of her face she smiled and told him how great he would taste and asked him to struggle fiercely in her belly.
The man was not willing to die in the stomach of a giantess a second time and offered anything in exchange for his life. He showed the fairy his satchel of honey and told it was all he had. The fairy was amazed and overjoyed at the sight of the honey and took the satchel from him.

She placed the man on the ground and began pouring the satchel into her mouth, the honey flowing without end into her drooling mouth. She ate and ate until she could eat no more, collapsing to the ground with a contented sigh. Within minutes she was fast asleep, her loud snores creating a small wind through the trees.

The man retrieved his satchel from the sleeping fairy’s massive hand and ran as quickly as he could. The honey in his satchel appeared to buy him shelter as well as his life. He slung the bag over his shoulder and continued north through the jungle with a new confidence.

In such a manner the man traveled in comfort, staying the night in villages and camps while paying the residents in golden honey. The giantesses of the jungle were easily bought over by the honey as well, his safety in this dangerous world almost secured entirely by the magic satchel he carried.

The man had forgotten his pact with the demoness and was living his life in blissful ignorance. The succumbs foresaw this forgetfulness however and placed a curse on the man for when he left his deal behind him. The longer he went without summoning her the more the power she had left within him would alter his appearance.
Time passed and the man continued traveling north through villages and forests, all the while thinking himself free of danger. Imagine his surprise when he found his hair and nails growing uncontrollably. No matter what he did or how much he trimmed his hair and nails grew longer and longer.

The more unkept the man became the more honey he would have to pay the people he stayed with to stay in his village. His appearance was becoming monstrous and those he met compared him to the rat-like species called Muris that lived in the jungle. It was for this reason that he became known as Murisskin, a title that followed him wherever he went.

Now eventually Murisskin traveled far enough north so that he passed into the deep jungle. Here he came to a small village beneath the shadow of a gigantic miaxi hive. He wished to stay the night here and rest his tired body but found the village in crisis. The head of the village explained to Murisskin that the Miaxi refused to protect them any longer unless they could give them a large tribute of nectar and pollen. Something they were unable to do.

Taking pity on the village Murisskin gave them honey from his satchel, so much that they were able to pay the miaxi twice over. With the village protected once again the head of the village was overjoyed. He took Murisskin to his house and promised him one of his three daughters in marriage.

Upon entering the house the eldest of the three daughters screamed and ran from the sight of him. The second daughter was disgusted with his appearance and said he was a muris trying to pass itself off as a man. It was the youngest of the three daughters that offered herself to fulfill her father’s promise. Murisskin gave her half a copper ring and promised to return.

It was now that Murisskin realized that his curse was due to the pact he had made with the succumbs and his only choice was to summon her to this world so he could be free. He knew of mystics in one of the neko tribes he had passed through on the way here and sought them out, traveling with great haste to their village.

Upon finding the village of nekos Murisskin offered a massive amount of miaxi honey to the four mystics should they help him with the summoning. They agreed and took Murisskin to a large forest clearing and instructed him in the ritual. They would take care of the magic and all he would have to do is call the demon by name or title.
The nekos drew the circles in the dirt and set up incense and torches, chanting to weave the spell of summoning. The name of the demoness was still at the tip of memory and was crucial to the spell. Murisskin stepped forward into the circle and called out for the succumbs: the Goddess of Mystery.

A portal appeared in the midst of the circle and the succubi arose from the pit in fire and brimstone, her perfect beauty even more captivating in the light of the mortal world. She stood tall and spread her batlike wings, towering over the five mortals like a man over insects. The portal closed beneath her feet and she cried out in victory.
Immediately the succumbs set upon the four nekos, the lust of power in her eyes enough to melt a man’s soul. The first two disappeared beneath her foot as she ground them into the dirt like bugs, her foot twisting over their broken bodies as she laughed in ecstasy. The other two were plucked from beside her feet and devoured. She played with them in her mouth, tossing them to and fro with her tongue before swallowing them both in one gulp. A sadistic smile on her lips as they slid down her throat into the depths of her belly.

The nekos gone the succumbs turned her attention on Murisskin, the fear she instilled in the small being feeding her very soul. She knocked him over with her toes and smiled down at him, a pleased look on her face. She chastised him for taking so long but did not deny that he had succeeded in his task. As a reward for his diligence she removed her curse, restoring him to his human form.

Now human once again Murisskin was overjoyed, feeling himself all over to prove he was indeed transformed. His joy was short lived as he looked up at the towering giantess who stared down at the insect by her feet. Full of dread he asked if he would suffer the same fate as the nekos.

To his great surprise the succumbs told him she would let him go, the service he preformed for her worth at least his puny soul. She even let him keep the satchel, the envoy it seeded in others enough to give her goosebumps. So Murisskin was sent on his way into the jungle, lest the demoness change her mind and send him to satisfy her body in the pit of her stomach.

Murisskin traveled with great haste back to the village beneath the miaxi hive, the beautiful daughter awaiting his return. On the way he stopped by an elven settlement and dressed himself in beautiful clothing, paying of course with the honey from his satchel.

Upon reaching the human village his arrival was met with turned heads and whispered murmurings. Never before had such a well dressed man come to their village. Even greater was the surprise when Murisskin announced his wish to marry one of the village head’s daughters.

The two eldest sisters went to put on their best clothing, eager to win his affections. The youngest daughter sat in the corner dressed in black, a deep sadness in her eyes as she was promised to the hideous muris creature. She would never be able to marry a man as rich as he.

Muriskin went to the youngest daughter and revealed his half of the copper ring, proving that he was the muris creature from before. The daughter’s despair was replaced with joy and she leapt into his arms. Upon seeing this the elder two daughters were filled with rage and hopelessness, their disgust in him before not allowing them the chance for his hand.

The eldest daughter went out and impaled herself on the discarded sting of a miaxi, unwilling to live in a world where her youngest sister won such a man. The second eldest also sought to kill herself, leaving into the jungle to offer herself as a meal to the giant purple naga that lived in the area.

Murisskin and the youngest daughter were married, the village happy to have such a rich man in their midst. It was now that Murisskin revealed his true name to be Grant, a name he had not gone by for a very long time. He and the youngest daughter lived in happiness after this, the village enjoying prosperity with his presence.

you know, there are other things than "once upon a time"

A nice little series. I can just imagine young Felaryans listening to these as a bedtime story, or gathered round the fire in the evening.

04 The Glass Hive

Once upon a time in the jungles of Felarya there stood a massive Miaxi hive. It stood hundreds of feet in the air, the tallest hive known to the jungle. No attacker big or small dared to siege the hive, its legions of powerful warriors and impenetrable walls able to withstand any assault. It was a unique hive as well, for it was not golden like most miaxi constructions. No, this hive was built from light blue crystals. Thousands of huge gemstones glued together by the miaxi and formed into a mountain of glittering gemstone. This made the walls of the hive semitransparent as well, like smoky glass you could just barely see through. Dark forms moved about inside the hive, a warning to all would be assailants of the size of the defending force. Miaxi soldiers constantly patrolled the outer wall, their shadows like specters against the crystal wall.

Oh course this crystal wall was more than just defense against attackers; it also made the hive a jewel of the jungle. The gemstone glittered in the sunlight like a thousand suns, the reflections of light seen from miles away. In fact the hive was so beautiful to behold that people and predators alike came from all over just to catch a glimpse of its majesty. Even this unrivaled beauty was in itself a weapon: for any being foolish enough to fly over the hive during the day would be blinded by the brilliant crystals.
Like most things this heavily protected this hive contained treasure, golden wealth of incredible value. Being the bee people Miaxi fill their hives with honey, gold ooze that stuck to anything it touched and tasted sweeter than anything. There are those that would sacrifice their lives to get just a taste of the rich and savory goo. The honey in this particular hive however was even more valuable: the queen of this hive was said to be trained in the use of magic and enchant her honey. There are those that say her honey can cure any illness and heal any wound, the miaxi themselves neither confirming nor denying such claims.

Naturally such valuable honey would be even more sought after and if it were not for the hive’s defenses the Miaxi would long have been killed or enslaved. Even with such a powerful fortress there are those that would not rest until the magical honey was theirs. Knowing this the queen made a trail for those seeking her honey: anyone to climb the hive without flying would be granted as much of the magical honey as they could carry. This test of strength and agility gave those vying for the honey a chance to obtain it without a suicidal attack on the hive. With the trail in place the miaxi enjoyed their lives without fear, for none foolish enough to still attack stood a chance against their defenses.

Climbing the hive was no easy feat, for many challenges opposed those daring souls who attempted. First there was the hive itself: the smooth crystals give no place to grip and their slick surfaces were like sheets of ice. Even those with claws or tools to grasp their treacherous surfaces still faces their reflective properties, the light of both sun and moon brilliantly reflected to blind anyone that looked at them. Even still there were the elements, for climbing the crystal walls left one exposed to the power of nature itself. So high up the winds blew fast and strong, pushing and pulling those brave souls on the hive. The weak or careless have only to slip once to find themselves thrown off the hive and down to their deaths. The sun also opposed them, its powerful heat mercilessly beating down on the side of the hive and its sweltering heat roasting any living thing on it. Even those gifted with ice magic found themselves wilting under its might. Clouds were no better: for while they blocked the sun they often meant rain, the downpours of the jungle turning the crystal surface into a slick ramp of death.

If the opposition of the elements was not enough, there were creatures both big and small to bring misfortune on the brave challengers. Up so high and exposed not only opened one up to the elements, but made one an easy meal to any beast or bird of the air. Small beetles not a foot across were well known to hover about the hive, landing occasionally to search for meals. Battling the elements a climber would have little defense against these insects, their size alone proving dangerous. To make matters worse they also swarmed easily, should one be alerted a whole host would soon follow behind. The miaxi did their best to keep the airspace around the hive clear, but despite their efforts the occasional harpy could be found patrolling the hive in search of an easy meal.

Due to such deadly opposition it came as no surprise that few attempted the dangerous climb, without heavy preparation even the most seasoned and powerful climber would certainly die. In fact not one challenger had ever made it to the top, perpetuating the mystery of the honey. Most made it halfway before succumbing to the dangers, the unlucky not even a quarter of the way. There were those skilled and powerful that made it more than half, but even they eventually were slain in one manner or another. Challengers still attempted the climb however, there are always those driven enough by greed or wanderlust to attempt such an undertaking.

Over the years a small village sprung up below the hive, the miaxi allowing them to stay as they feared nothing. All manner of humanoid beings lived in this village and even the occasional predator passed though. Most were would be challengers that gave up or were too afraid to attempt, staying near the hive to live as they had travelled so far from their own homes. Others were spectators, unable to climb themselves but too curious about the honey to leave. Others still were traders that came to sell their wares, such a mythical hive was quite the attraction to all manner of potential buyers.

The days passed by and challenges came and went, the village growing and the hive thriving. Some challengers were smart enough to give up close to the ground and were able to escape with their lives, their failure eased by the villagers who reminded that no one had ever succeeded. The lucky were saved from their deaths by fate or their own skill, landing in the trees on or the ground heavily wounded but alive. They were taken care of by the villagers and most gave up hope of climbing to the top. The unlucky climbers met often cruel and untimely fates, the bodies of those not eaten outright littering the ground about the base of the hive. The bones and corpses were left by the miaxi to warn all those would be attackers of the fate of those foolish enough to even attempt assault on their home.

Now it was one particularly mild day that an elvin knight came to the hive. The elf was tall and fair, dressed in golden armor that glittered like the very hive itself. He rode on the back of a large yellow lizard, its powerful muscles and stick scales shined in the light of the sun as brightly as the gold of its rider. The look on his face was one of confidence, a fearless aura surrounding him as he looked up at the crystal hive. Many of the villagers tried to persuade him not to climb; it would be a shame to lose such a handsome and rich elf. The elf would have none of it, and spurring his mount began his climb.

The lizard made great progress up the hive, its claws allowing it to grasp the crystal fairly easily. Soon they were halfway up the hive and it seemed he would make it. It was then he was set upon by the beetles from all sides, the size of his mount alerting them to his presence. He battled them off with magic but it was clear he would soon be overwhelmed. Turning about he descended the hill where he safely made it back to solid ground.

Now most would have given up after their defeat by the beetles, but this elf would not be so easily swayed. The next day he climbed once again, making it halfway in half the time as before. The beetles came upon him again but this time he was ready. With a burst of magic and a battle cry both rider and mount broke through the ranks of the insects and continued up the hive.

He was nearing the top and victory was within his grasp. The villagers were cheering him on and thought he would most certainly make it. It was at this time that a harpy swooped in from the jungle and spotted him. She dove in and before the elf could even react had caught him in her talons. The lizard bit at her foot and she released; both elf and lizard falling to their deaths below.

After the tragic death of the elf there was a length of time that none attempted to climb the hive, for if the elf could not do it who was it that could. Eventually a new climber did appear, one that no one expected. A young human boy, joyous and full of life, came to the village to seek the magical honey. He was dressed in simple clothing and wearing a large cloak, having journeyed far to find the crystal hive. He had also managed to obtain the claws of a large cat and taking straps fastened them to his hands and feet.

The villagers warned the boy and laughed at his folly, simply having claws would not save him from his fate should he climb. But like the elf before him the boy would hear none of it, vowing to climb to the top of the hive and claim the magical honey for himself. A small crowd gathered to watch him, some already mourning his death. Ignoring the crowd the spirited boy began his climb, the claws on his hands and feet allowing him to scale the crystals like a lizard.

The hot evening sun beat down on the boy, his cloak causing him to suffer blistering heat. He toiled upwards nonetheless, the frequent winds cooling him enough to save his life. With the claws piercing the crystal he had no fear of being blown off, but it was still difficult to battle the gales. As the sun sank so did his strength, and soon he could barely lift his claws to climb the hive.

His movements had caught the attention of one of the beetles and it swooped down to inspect a potential meal. A second one soon followed and a third after that. The boy knew that he was in grave danger but was without weapon or spell to protect him. Thinking quickly he threw his cloak about himself and shrouded him from view. The beetles flew over him without seeing him, scattered back into the sky after failing to find a meal.

The youth continued his climb, his hands and feet becoming bruised and cut from the hard crystals. His sharp claws allowed him to climb yes, but they also dug into his skin and let his blood flow out onto the crystal. He continued upward despite his injuries, night now beginning to fall. The blood loss soon overcame him however and he was forced to stop and rest.

Cool night air washed over the boy, the starry sky dimly lighting him as he lay on the side of the hive. He was so exhausted that he fell to sleep, the combination of the climb and his wounds proving too much. The claws were dug in deep and his blood had dried, and combined he was in no danger of falling. He slept peacefully, his still form a dark spot on the massive crystal structure.

Now it so happened that a harpy was flying over the hive that night, her daylight hunting having given her no meals. She spotted the boy on the side of the hive and thought him an easy target, his still moving legs signaling he was indeed alive. She licked her lips and swooped down, catching the boy up in her right foot.

The boy had heard her approach and pulled a knife from his cloak. When he felt her talons around his body he dug the knife into her flesh. Screaming in pain the harpy flew upwards, flying in wild circles above the hive. Looking down the boy saw a hole in the top of the hive and thought to fall inside it. Using the knife he began hacking at one of the harpy’s talons, cutting her toe clean off. He fell down into the hole in the top of the crystal hive while the harpy flew off into the night bleeding and wailing.

It was accepted to the youth that he would die from his fall, perhaps shattered on the side of the hive. This was not his fate however, as he did fall into the hole and found himself landing in something gooey. Opening his eyes he found himself in a large pool of golden honey, the cool sticky goo embracing his entire body. He began eating it as fast as he could, savoring and delighting in the taste and texture. To his great surprise he felt his wounds closing and his strength returning, the magic of the honey was true after all.

Restored and renewed the boy climbed from the pit of sweet honey and onto the wax floor, his heart soaring with his accomplishment and discovery. His joy was cut short however when he found himself confronted with the Miaxi queen, a towering bee woman over fifty feet tall. He became weak at the knees, not knowing what course of action to take.

The queen leaned down over him and demanded to know where he came from and how he had entered her chambers, for if he had been flown up she would devour him on the spot. He told her his story of how he climbed the hive, presenting the talon of the harpy as proof of his story. She had no choice but to believe him, for she had heard the screams. He had not climbed the hive completely under his own power but his defeat of the harpy was not to be ignored. She granted him victory over the challenge and offered him all the honey he would carry. As the first one to ever climb her hive she also offered him one request, one she would grant to the best of her power.
Now the boy had found the stories of the honeys magic to be true and asked of the queen of the limits of its power. She replied that the honey would heal any wound, even those of the dead. The boy took his request, and the queen finding it admirable granted it without question.

As the morning sun rose over the hive the villagers looked up to see if the youth had lived through the night, and not seeing him on its side assumed he had perished. How great was their surprise when he appeared riding on the back of a miaxi, descending to the ground covered in golden honey.

Hundreds of miaxi followed behind him, each carrying a large glob of the magical honey. They scattered about the base of the hive, depositing their honey on the bones and corpses of the fallen climbers. The honey brought those it touched back from the dead, life filling the bodies and restoring them fully.

It was a day of celebration for the village, not only had the young man conquered the crystal hive but had also saved all those that had failed before him. He became the hero of the village, honored and respected by all who met him. With the rumors of the honey confirmed the hive and village were even more popular than ever before, a new flood of visitors flooding each new day. This newfound attention even changed the heart of the queen, and for all the days to come she offered her honey to the hurt and dying to cure their ailments.

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05 The Grateful Predators

Once upon a time there was a family of humans living in the jungles of Felarya. The mother and father were graced with three fine looking sons, all of whom they were quite proud. Sadly the dangers of the forest kept them from finding enough food for themselves, much less their three children, and so it was decided the three youth set out and find their fortune. The father and mother gave each of their sons a small bag of food and a blessing, sending them out into the jungle with warning of the dangers they might face. So the three boys set out, traveling together into the jungle as to watch out for each other.

Now the youngest of the three brothers was named Atuf, a fine looking boy whose looks but his brother’s to shame. He had the most splendid figure, trim as well as tempered. His hair was fine and bright, like the morning sun. He had sparkling blue eyes that were always filled with kindness, the kind that one would always be happy to see. His skin was smooth and his complexion rosy, like flowers and creamy milk. Because he was so beautiful Atuf’s brothers were quite jealous, for they thought with his looks would bring him more fortune than they.

One day the three young men were stitting beneath a large overhang; they had just outrun a chilotaur and were quite shaken up. It just so happened that while chasing them the giantess had mentioned the beauty of Atuf, the youth being so charming she might spare his life. Now in safety they fancied to rest, all three of them lying down. Now with Atuf asleep the eldest brother pulled aside the middle brother and conversed so Atuf could not hear. He proposed that if they did harm to Atuf that he would not be found so beautiful, therefore getting him less fortune in the world. The second brother agreed and they both hatched a plot to not only harm Atuf, but torture him as well.

There while Atuf was sleeping the two wicked brothers stole his bag of food and devoured it completely, not even leaving crumbs fit for a tomthumb. Now when Atuf awoke, hungry from his flight and rest, he found not a scrap left in his bag. He turned to his brothers to find where it had gone and they replied that he had eaten it in his sleep in a display of his gluttony. His older brothers refused him any of their food, telling him it was his fault should he starve, a just reward for his sin.

Atuf was loss to how he ate all his food, much less in his sleep, but he said nothing. He fasted the entire day as they traveled and the entire night after that, his hunger ever increasing with each hour. By the next morning the poor boy was starving and he begged his brothers for some of their food. The cruel creatures laughed, repeating the words they had said before. Atuf pleaded and the brothers made an offer: they would give him some food should he let them break one of his legs and put out one of his eyes. The starving Atuf had no choice, and after losing one eye and leg he was given some food. It was little more than a couple mouthfuls and he ate it greedily.

Still starving Atuf asked for more, the morsel they had given him being so small. They laughed at him and told him it was proof of his gluttony, he would get no more from them. The poor boy was forced to endure his hunger for the rest of the day, the travels through the jungle difficult. He feared should a predator come he would stand no chance of escaping her belly. That night he could stand his starvation no longer. He allowed his other eye to be put out and his other leg broken in exchange for more food. He ate what was given to him but was so hungry that he wept. His cruel brothers, having successfully disfigured Atuf, left him weeping on the ground for the jungle to take care of.

With no eyes to close it was too difficult for Atuf to sleep, the sounds all around him filling him with fear. It would only be a matter of time before something came and plucked him up to devour, his last moments spent writhing in some giantess’s belly. He began to crawl along the jungle floor without knowing where he was going, eventually tiring out so that he collapsed. The sun was high in the sky now, warming his weak and broken body as he lay beneath a large tree.

It so happened that two harpies roosting in the tree above Atuf, and luckily they had not seen the tiny human on the ground below them. They were conversing over things they had seen in the world that were of note, strange and powerful things they had seen or heard of. It just so happened that there was a large pond of sorts nearby, rumored to be so filled with life that it would restore anyone who dipped into it. The two harpies agreed to set out and find it to see if it were true, of course not before arguing at great length about it.

Hearing of this pool filled Atuf with newfound hope, for if the rumor was true he might be whole once more. He crawled in the direction the harpies had gone and soon found himself at the edge of water. Immediately he dipped his legs in and to his great joy felt them grow strong again, perhaps stronger than before they were broken. He next took the water and splashed his face, washing his empty eyes with the healing water. His eyesight returned and he rejoiced, thanking fate for leading him to this wondrous pool. He took a flask and filled it with the healing water, continuing on his journey in the best of spirits.

Atuf had not traveled far before he heard the cries of someone in pain. He ran to the sound and when he parted the bushes saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen sitting on the ground. It was when he saw her large delicate wings that he stopped in his tracks. She was gently stroking her left wing, for it was torn badly, her pained crying hurting Atuf’s heart. He approached the fairy and offered his help, pouring some of the healing water on her injury. At once her wing was healed and she grew to full size, her boulder sized toes tearing the earth apart inches from Atuf as she enjoyed her healed wing. To repay him for his kindness the fairy offered to help him in time of need, all he should do is call for her and she would come.

After parting ways with the fairy Atuf continued for quite a ways, eventually finding himself in a shadowy area of the jungle. He tripped over a ledge and fell into a thick and sticky web high above the ground. Now the owner of the web was a huge dridder, so large even her fingers were as long as he was. She came over to where he hung limping, one of her legs cracked and disfigured. As he was plucked from the web to be swallowed Atuf offered to heal her leg, showing her the magical water. The dridder believed him and lifted him above her leg, the frightened youth pouring some of the water out of his flask. As with his own legs the dridder was soon healed, the carapace growing together as if it had never been broken. Overjoyed the dridder let him go with her thanks, offering her service in his time of need.

Now having escaped death Atuf was more careful in his journey, not every predator would be so kind to him. He came out of the shadowy area of the jungle and into more open trees, the bright sky above pleasant to look at with its playful clouds. He was not out of danger yet however, as before he could even prepare himself he was rammed by a fleeing miaxi. She pushed herself off the ground and the flattened human. Getting up himself Atuf could see one of her antennae was torn in half and there was a deep wound along her abdomen. Taking pity on her plight Atuf calmed her down and offered her the last of his healing water. She accepted and using what he had left Atuf restored her antennae and side, the miaxi becoming quite giddy with her fortune. For his kindness she offered to return in kind should he need her, all he should do is call. She then flew off into the jungle, leaving Atuf alone once again.

It was several days of travel before Atuf came upon anything of note, but finally he came to a settlement in the jungle. Living in safety in this world was not a task easily accomplished, but the fortification he saw in front of him was proof it was not as impossible as it might seem. It was a huge village cut into the stumps of the massive trees, walls of wood and stone sealing it away from the outside. Perhaps they would allow him to live here. He set off to the fort preparing to find its leader and make his case.
Fate had not finished with Atuf, for it happened that his two brothers had found this fort as well and were living in the service of its magistrate. They heard of the newcomer and upon seeing their brother, alive and healed became afraid that he would want revenge on them for their wicked deeds. They warned the magistrate that Atuf was a evil mage come to steal his beautiful daughter and take over the fort and cast him out.

No sooner had Atuf entered the court of the fort did all eyes turn to the handsome youth. The daughter of the magistrate was taken by him on sight, swooning at his beauty and lost in admiration. She gave him glances to show her infatuation and Atuf returned them in kind. Seeing this the wicked brothers became jealous as well as afraid, plotting to be rid of Atuf for certain this time. They suggested to the magistrate that the boy be given three tasks, and should he fail even one he would be put to death. The magistrate agreed to this proposal and went to Atuf. He told him of the three tasks and the penalty should he fail. The first task was for the youth to build a fort stronger and more defensible than the one they stood in, and he was to do this by nightfall the next day. Hearing this Atuf was heartbroken, there was no way he would be able to complete such a task. His two wicked brothers were delighted, for the next night their younger sibling would surely be put to death.

Atuf wandered the meadows outside the fort, despairing in his certain doom. He wondered how he might escape death; cursing the moment he had found this fort and found such misfortune. As he walked through a bed of flowers he was surprised to see a miaxi hovering about. Hearing his sadness the miaxi investigated, recognizing him and revealing herself to be the miaxi he had helped. He told her his trouble and she promised that by the next day there would be a fort stronger than he could imagine. She implored him to take heart and leave it to her.

The rest of the day and through the night the people of the fort wondered how the young boy would complete such a task. All except the daughter of the magistrate, for she spent the night weeping into her pillow at the fate of the boy. Much was her delight when morning came. Outside in the meadows was a stout structure made of a hard golden substance, a hard shell that could take even heavy blows from a falling boulder. It shone like a shield of stone and made the fort of the magistrate pale in comparison. This fort was of course the work of the miaxi and her sisters, who had built a small hive over the night out of their special wax.

The magistrate was amazed and his daughter was filled with happiness. Atuf’s older brothers however had nothing more then degust and hatred at his success and continued to declare him an evil mage. The magistrate was vexed that the youth had completed the task and that he would escape, he turned to the brothers for the second task. It was decided that Atuf collect all the fallen fruit of the nearby jungle in a single night, else he be put to death. The daughter was terrified but Atuf was much less worried this time.

Atuf wandered into the jungle that night, wondering how he would perform this task. If he could not perform it he saw no chance of escape either, for if he ran the magistrate would send men to find and kill him. He was just beginning to despair when he was approached by a giant dridder. She saw he was the youth who healed her leg and wished to repay his kindness. Atuf told her of his plight and she assured him that by morning the task would be completed, he should not worry about it at all. Atuf did as she said and slept well.

The next day Atuf woke to find a ball of fruit bigger than the largest boulder he had ever seen resting next to the fort. All the night before the dridder had went about with a large wad of webbing picking up the fruit with it until she had collected every fallen piece. The magistrate could not hide his amazement, but at the same time he became very angry. Only his beautiful daughter rejoiced over his success. The magistrate turned to the brothers for the third task, for no matter how impossible it would be he must do it in one day and night or be put to death. It was decided that Atuf collect all the fairies in the forest and collect them in the meadow, it was certain he would die trying. Hearing this the magistrate’s daughter burst into tears and he ordered her locked away.

Atuf wandered into the meadow again and sat on a stump, wondering how he would complete this task. Even he realized the danger; it was a death sentence in itself. Suddenly he felt something on his shoulder and turned to see a fairy playing on his arm. She was none other than the fairy whose wings he healed and she implored of him why he was so saddened. He told her of his task and she said it was no trouble, she would undertake this task and come to him before daybreak. Atuf was gladdened by this as he felt his life safe, his only regret as he fell asleep being he would not see the beautiful face of the magistrate’s daughter again.

Atuf awoke at dawn with the fairy dancing on his chest, her happiness transferring to the youth as he heard she had collected the fairies of the jungle. She told Atuf that all he must do is go tell the magistrate and his court to go into the nearby meadow and then come meet her in the jungle. He did as she instructed, and once the magistrate and his court were in the meadow he returned to the jungle.

There the fairy came to him and led him deeper into the trees, a small swarm of fairies coming froth and flocking about Atuf in playful dance. He was very nervous being around so many fairies at once, for at any moment one could wish to eat him and he would be helpless. He then turned back for the meadow, the swarm of fairies increasing with every step until there were hundreds flocking about him.

The two wicked brothers stamped with rage as they saw Atuf retuning, they had failed in their plotting. The magistrate however was filled with fear, never before had he seen so many fairies in once place. He cried out for Atuf to stop, his fear mounting as the swarm of fairies got closer and closer. The fairy on Atuf’s shoulder told him to keep going and on he did.

As the fairies got closer the magistrate called out again offering Atuf a position of power in the fort if he would only drive the fairies back into the jungle. The youth pretended not to hear him and the fairy told him to continue on. Hundreds of fairies swarmed Atuf as he got closer to the magistrate and his court. They giggled and twirled about, their innocence failing to mask their intentions. Atuf soon made it to where the magistrate stood and the fairies fell upon the crowd, shrinking and devouring the magistrate and his entire court as well, the two wicked brothers meeting the same fate. Immediately after their feast the fairies disappeared into the jungle again, all the people in the meadow squirming in their bellies as they giggled.

With the magistrate and his court dead Atuf went back to the fort at as loss. To his great joy the daughter had been released and desired to wed him, and with the court gone made Atuf the new magistrate. Atuf made a wise magistrate and the settlement enjoyed safety and prosperity while he governed over it, him and his wife living happily ever after until the day they died.

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You've certainly got the style right; I felt almost as though I were reading stories from my childhood. Nice work!

I'm glad you enjoy them. And thank you for such praise, I hope I can live up to it!

06 The Gingerbread Golem

Once upon a time there lived an old couple deep in the jungles of Felarya. Their house was nestled between huge boulders in a nook in a cliff face where little bothered them. They were well known as master builders in the difficult and almost forgotten art of golem artistry, the process of building and giving life to elemental constructs. Long ago their craft had been in high demand but as of late not many came to enlist their services.

The old couple were discontent with their lives, for though they had made a safe life for themselves in the jungle and were quite well off they had no children. They wanted nothing more than a child to take their home and legacy. Despite trying over the years no children had come, and they had given up hope. They had even stopped producing golems to help them in their everyday lives, their depression affecting them so heavily.

Now it happened one day that they were inspired to take up their craft a final time and build one last golem. This was to be a special golem, and the building material was most unorthodox. The couple had decided to build a golem from gingerbread, something that had never been done before. They set about immediately gathering the ingredients and mixing the dough and soon had cauldrons of sweet brown clay.

The couple began molding the golem in their house, a small golem no bigger than a human child. They wanted this golem to be the child they never had, even if it was just a mindless servant. Carefully they formed the small plump body and the sturdy legs, the soft dough obeying their hands without resistance. They did the arms next, each ending with a small mitten hand. Lastly they formed the head, a round plump head with a smiling face and a small cap. The golem was then decorated with clothes and facial features with a large stick in its left hand for a sword.

It was time to give the golem life and the couple began to second guess the choice of materials. However the yearning for a child was too great and they went ahead with the ritual. Magic twisted through the air and filled the house, the swirling power permeating the golem and making it glow. The couple stood back and waited, wondering if it had worked. It seemed like the ritual had failed but after several moments the golem stirred and they rejoiced, they had created a gingerbread child.

The golem opened its eyes and looked around, taking in its surroundings. It soon found the old couple and immediately smiled, it was clear this golem was different then most others. Quick as a blink the golem jumped up and began running around the house, knocking things over and making a ruckus. The old couple tried to calm it down and catch it but it was far too quick. It continued to run and chanted a taunting rhyme that went like so:

Run run run as fast as you're able,
Catching the Gingerbread Golem tis no more than a fable!

Finishing the taunt the golem child leapt over the heads of the old couple and bolted out the front door. Off into the jungle it went, skipping and clicking its heels as it went. The old couple was shocked and distraught; it seemed that fate had refused them even a child built by their own hands. They watched the golem child run off and wept bitterly.

Now the Gingerbread Golem was having a wonderful time, he didn't care one bit about his creators. The world was his to explore and he had decided to go out and make it his own. He danced through the jungle singing and jumping, dodging logs and bushes and generally having the best of times. He was as carefree as could be and without the slightest bit of fear in his heart.

All the ruckus was sure to attract attention in the jungle and sure enough it did. A giant naga overheard the Gingerbread Golem prancing through the jungle and hunted him down, her intent to put whatever stupid creature it was inside her belly. She burst through the foliage and was surprised to see the golem child, who of course immediately ran into her tail.

"What be you?" asked the naga. "And where be you going in such a hurry?"

The golem bounced and skipped around in a circle. "I be the Gingerbread Golem and I be going to see the world!"

The naga smiled and dove for him. "No you aint, hold still so I can eat ya!"

Of course the golem was far too quick and dodged the naga easily, bouncing off to the side and replied in a sing song voice. "I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man, and I can run away from you I can!"

With a cry of anger the naga dove again, the little golem right in her sights. With a spin and a leap the Gingerbread Golem dove out of the way and the naga face planted in the dirt. He giggled and danced as she pushed herself back up, her face quite red. With a skip the golem took off into the jungle with the naga in hot pursuit, singing his little song once again.

Run or slide as fast as you're able,
Catching the Gingerbread Golem tis no more than a fable!

It wasn't difficult for the golem child to outrun the naga, his small size and agility allowed him to dodge and weave through tight gaps and small openings. The thick foliage also made it difficult to see his movements throughout the jungle and no other predators even noticed his presence. After he felt safe again the Gingerbread Golem relaxed and began skipping again, pleased with himself over his daring feat.

Skipping is a very fun thing to do, and no creature knew more about fun then a fairy. It just so happened that a fairy was relaxing on a large flower when the Gingerbread Golem ran past and almost knocked her from her perch. Confused and curious she took off after him, growing to over a hundred feet tall and stomping in front of the unaware golem. He ran into her foot and fell onto his backside.

"What be you?" asked the fairy, "And where be you off to that's so fun?"

The golem shook himself and got to his feet, and regaining his composure smiled up at the fairy. "I be the Gingerbread Golem and I be off to see the world!"

The fairy bent over and grabbed for the golem child. "No you aint! I'm going to eat you silly!"

The Gingerbread Golem dodged her hand and danced around the fairy's feet, an act that greatly annoyed her. "I've run away from a big fat naga, a little old woman, and a little old man. And I can run away from you I can!"

The fairy stamped her feet with anger and her cute face became quite red with anger. The golem boy dashed off into the jungle and the fairy stamped after him, her footfalls shaking the ground. Just like with the naga the Gingerbread Golem used his agility to go through tight places, but unlike the naga the fairy shrank and flew after him.

This development did not worry the golem child one bit and he continued dodging through the jungle. Looking over his shoulder to make sure the fairy was behind him he went into a small cave and came out the other side. The fairy followed after him but did not duck when she came out, her pretty wings becoming caught in a large spider web. Giggling the golem child left her there and danced off into the jungle, once again singing his rhyme:

Run slide fly as fast as you're able,
Catching the Gingerbread Golem tis no more than a fable!

Having outmaneuvered not one but two giantess predators the golem child was as confidant as ever. He danced around as he went through the jungle, bouncing over logs and plants in glee. The world truly was his, and he would explore every inch of it. Nothing could stop him it seemed; he was too fast and too clever. Bounding over a log he came skidding to a halt, he had found something that could stop him.

The Gingerbread Golem stood at the bank of a huge river, its other bank almost too far away to see. The water was deep and the current strong, there was no way he could swim it. Besides even if he could he was made of gingerbread and water would make him so soft we would break apart. He looked up and down the riverbank but so no way to cross.

Out of the jungle walked a beautiful pantaur, her sleek form and shining coat intoxicating to look at. She stood over one hundred and ten feet tall and looked down at the strange form on the bank with curiosity and hunger. Through she did not know what he was she had seen his agility and knew even she would be unable to catch him. But she had something the other two didn't: her wit. She walked up to the little figure with a disarming mannerism.

"What be you?" she asked, "And where be you going?"

The golem child turned to face the pantaur, and despite having his back to the river was confidant in his abilities. "I be the Gingerbread Golem and I be going to see the world!" Then with sadness in his voice: "Though this river be too wide for me to cross."

The pantaur smiled in a friendly way before replying. "If you want to be across the river I will carry you."

"You just want to eat me!" the Gingerbread Golem said hopping about. "I've run away from a slow stupid fairy, a big fat naga, and a little old man. And I can run away from you I can!"

The pantuar walked into the river and sank down into the water so it was up to her waist, the quickly flowing water washing over her sleek body and pressing her fur against her sides. She leaned over and lowered her back to the bank.

"I will let you sit on my back where you will be safe. I must use my arms for swimming and will be unable to grab you."

Thinking it over the Gingerbread Golem decided it would be safe. This giantess seemed honest enough and he could always outwit her if she tried anything. He hobbled over to the bank and jumped onto the pantuar's back, climbing up to the middle and holding onto her fur.

"Go go go! Take me to the other side of the river!" he said.

The pantaur began swimming out across the river, the current not bothering her at her massive size. The golem child was nervous at first, fearing that the pantuar would take advantage of his vulnerability. She however made no moves and quietly swam across the river. Confidant in his safety the golem child sat back and relaxed on her fur.

About one third of the way across the river the pantaur began sinking lower into the water and the Gingerbread Golem began getting worried. She would easily be able to drop him in the water and drown him.

"What is going on?" he asked.

The pantuar spoke over her shoulder. "The water is deep and the current strong. Climb up onto my neck so you will be safe."

The golem child did as she said and climbed up onto her neck, holding on fast to her fur as she sank up to her shoulders. Now safe again he once again relaxed and began staring up into the sky. In a time they had made it two thirds of the way across the river and the pantaur began sinking again. The golem child became concerned and he inquired a second time.

"What is going on?" he asked.

"I am having trouble swimming" the pantaur answered. "Climb up onto my head so that you will be safe."

The Gingerbread Golem climbed up onto the pantaur's head as requested and settled in her hair. She slowly sank up to her neck but as promised he was safe. He sat back and continued looking into the sky; soon he would be on the other side of the river.

The pantaur had other plans of course, and now that she had him right where she wanted it was time to strike. Throwing back her head she tossed the golem boy into her mouth where he tumbled backwards over her drooling tongue and went leg first into her throat.

"Help help!" the Gingerbread Golem cried. "She's eating me and I'm already half gone!"

The huge tongue of the pantaur continued its work dragging the golem child into her throat and she pressed him down. Soon only his hand was sticking out and she ignored his cries of distress. She swallowed and stroked her neck.

"Oh dear!" came a small voice inside her throat. "Now I'm all gone!"

The pantaur swallowed again and licked her lips. The odd little creature had been extremely tasty and she could already feel him moving about in her belly. She quickly swam to the far bank and pulled herself out of the river, her hand rubbing her stomach. With a sigh she sat down on the grass and began sunning herself, a smile on her lips as she said:

The clever thing thought he could use me as a boat,
But in the end all he got was a trip down my throat.

07 Kitsune Kaji

Once upon a time in the jungles of Felarya there lived a clan of Kitsune, a small village tucked away in a grove of thick trees. The clan lived in relative safety because of their species, for kitsune are rare and generally avoided by other races. Their very nature stirs unrest in the hearts of others, the fox people: masters of magic and the art of deceit. Truly the reputation of their race grants some manner of protection, regardless of the individual kitsune. When traveling through the world one can never be too sure just what manner of magic a kitsune is skilled in, not to mention their unparalleled agility making them nigh impossible to catch.

Regardless of how mysterious a kitsune may be there are things that can be learned about them by their appearance, if you can get them to sit still enough to look. The first is their personality, something that might help one judge the reactions of the kitsune. Their bodies are covered in markings that symbolize their personality, the exact meaning should one know the language invaluable in coming up with a strategy in dealing with them.
The second is how powerful they are, an important piece of information should capturing it be in your plans. Each kitsune is born with a certain number of tails, any number between one and eight. The more tails a kitsune has the more powerful it will be, and it becomes increasingly more dangerous to fight. Woe to the being who meets the legendary Nine Tailed Fox, kitsune so powerful they have nine tails. When up against one of these creatures of legend it is best to flee and hope to survive.

It is said that a kitsune is able to gain tails by earning them in meditation and battle, their immersion in magic giving them enough power to grow another. This is the only way for a kitsune to increase their power to eight tails, should they manage it. Gaining tails is rare and can take a lifetime to earn even one, the reason why nine tailed kitsune are legends. Upon attaining nine tails a kitsune is considered a god, so powerful none can touch them. However, they are so rare that most consider them to be legends alone, not truly existing at all.

The dream of nine tails is forever the dream of most young kitsune, something to be believed in and give purpose to their lives. Such is the dream of the kitsune Hisoka, a five tailed fox from the small village in the grove. Her golden hair and tails shone like honey in contrast to her pale skin, her features adorable and kind. She specialized in illusion magic, being able to make others see that which is not real and change her appearance at will. Her powers go as far as to allow her to duplicate herself up to five times, an illusion for each of her tails, and make them act independently of each other.
However the young Hisoka was shunned in her clan for two reasons. Firstly she annoyed everyone with her dream of growing nine tails long after the age in which one accepted it as impossible, her training causing problems and her constant talking driving others mad. Secondly her eyes were two different colors. Her left eye was purple and her right blue, a trait that gave her an unsettling appearance even to her own kind.

It was one day after Hisoka was especially annoying that the leader of her clan took it to rid the village of her for good. There was a powerful creature of magic rumored to live north from the village that had never been seen by anyone, or at least no one has lived to tell what it looked like. If the girl was truly wanting to become nine tailed so badly let her fight the creature, and if she died such would be her fate.

Hisoka was overjoyed at such a prospect, perhaps if she killed the creature she would grow more tails for her achievement. Taking only what food she needed for three days she set out north to find the creature in hopes of slaying it, her clan both saddened and delighted to see her go. Despite her constant destruction and annoyance she truly was a pretty young thing and pleasant to be around. As a parting gift Hisoka was given a small bag of fairy dust which she took and with it went into the jungle.

Now one of Hisoka’s many talents in magic was her ability to turn herself into a fox, a transformation not many kitsune are able to perform. As she agilely jumped from branch to branch she quickly shape shifted into animal form. Her smooth pink skin disappeared under a coat of golden fur as her hair swept down over her body. Her arms and legs bent down as her body became delicate and slender. The only things that did not change were her eyes, which still shined with mischief, and her flowing tails that still waved in the air behind her.

In this form traveling became much faster, her quick sleek body gliding between the trees like a wisp of smoke. No predator could have even seen her movements, much less catch her if they were hungry. She was a ghost on the wind, speeding on weightless feet in the dark shadows of the jungle. Certainly the legendary beast was somewhere ahead, for she had traveled a long way already.

Little did the young fox know, but she was very close indeed to the beast. For despite the beliefs of her clan it did exist, however it was not this beast that she met. Out of the jungle came bounding a kensha beast, the huge animal rearing up over Hisoka preparing to tear her to pieces. The small fox stood unafraid, this was hardly a challenge for the likes or her.

Quick as light the fox dove to the right as the claws came down, only the earth feeling their sharp swipes. The beast growled and turned to the side, its eyes darting about to find its prey again. There it was, standing on a large rock. The kensha swiped again, its paw coming in for a direct hit, the poor fox not even moving to dodge the blow.

How surprised was the animal when its paw went right through the fox, the image shimmering as if not even there. It barked in surprise, this was an illusion. The fox didn’t even have a smell. There was a giggle to its left and it turned its head. There was a second fox on a tree branch, its mouth in a curled smile. Another laugh, this time from the right, a third fox sat on the dirt licking its paw. The kensha was confused and dazed, this had never happened before in its life. Two more foxes came from behind it and circled around one on each side to add to the confusion, a fifth and final fox appearing out of a large bush to the left.

The kensha suddenly found something to clear its mind, for one of the foxes different than the others. Coming up on the right near the fox licking its paws, that fox had a scent. Howling with glee the beast dove for the pair of foxes, this clever little thing wouldn’t trick it out of its meal that easily.

Hisoka knew her trick had been seen through and the hungry animal would not be fooled by simple copies, it was time to step up the game. Quickly she dove out of the way and with a whip of her tails brought the five copies in a circle around her. The six foxes began running around in a circle over and under each other in a whirlwind of fur, now even with smell the kensha beast was completely unable to tell which the real fox was.

Annoyed and still hungry the animal dove forward into the middle of the foxes claws swinging wildly. The six foxes scattered like leaves in the wind, four of them disappearing instantly like smoke. Now only two remained, one with a frightened look on its face. Sensing the real one the kensha lunged after the two remaining foxes which both took off into the jungle.

Hisoka dashed through the undergrowth leading her copy and the kensha on a wild chase. She was agile indeed are hard to catch, but a beast so large would tire her eventually. Up ahead she saw a cliff, a small one overlooking a large lake. Focusing she ran faster, a plan in her mind to get the kensha beast off her trail.

The kensha saw the two foxes stop up ahead, now it had the little thing where it wanted. It snarled and lunged, its jaws wide. Suddenly the two foxes dove to either side and disappeared into the brush. The beast tried to stop but it was going too fast, with a howl of rage it tumbled over the cliff and down into the water far below where it landed with a splash.

Hisoka returned to the cliff and returned to human form, swishing her tails in delight as she watched the kensha swimming for shore below. Such a silly beast to try and catch her, nothing could catch a master of illusions such as herself. She was busy celebrating her victory when the ground beneath her suddenly shook.

Up from the lake rose a huge wingless serpent. It was a regal dragon with shining scales and a flowing mane, huge claws on four short legs and large eyes filled with wisdom. Hisoka immediately shrouded herself in an illusion as it burst from the water, hopefully it did not see her. The dragon had seen her and turned to her hiding place, a gust of wind shattering her illusion and exposing her.

Hisoka was in panic, nothing had ever destroyed her tricks so easily. She franticly made illusions but one after another they were swept away as the dragon approached. She turned to run but tripped and fell, a cry of pain escaping her as her shin hit stone. As a last ditch effort she duplicated herself five times and sent her illusions crawling in every direction as she herself tried to pull herself to the trees.

The dragon lowered its head to the cliff, the serpent easily two hundred feet long. It’s hot breath blow over her and her illusions melted away like ice. Hisoka turned around and looked in horror as the dragon looked down on her, this was surely her end. Surprisingly the dragon did not eat her but instead spoke, a deep voice of great age booming from within it. Hisoka sat frozen in fear and wonder as its voice washed over her.

<i>“Fox child, I know why you have come. Your dream is admirable and you worthy of it. Listen now while I tell you how to achieve what you seek. To fulfill your destiny you must gain four tails, and you must earn each through the mastery of an element. Go first north to the tree of beginnings and learn the power of the earth from one of the trees, then go east to the sea and learn of water from one of its masters. Next you must go west to the meeting of land and sky and learn of wind from a guardian, and lastly go south and learn the secrets of fire from a power like that of which you seek. Spread the dust in your bag over your crown and touch with that of your enemy and steal their power. Go now fox child and fulfill your destiny.”</i>

With that the dragon turned and dove back into the water, leaving Hisoka alone on the cliff in wonder. She knew this creature was one of great power, much more then she could hope to achieve. Could its words be true? Would she earn her tails through the mastery of the elements? There was no turning back now, she was going to follow the words of the dragon and go north. Perhaps this tree would give her more answers.

Hisoka transformed into her fox form and sped northward, the bag of fairy dust at her side. If what the dragon said was true she would be able to learn magic from using it on this tree. She had never heard of a tree using magic so perhaps it had meant a dryad of some kind. Soon the young fox caught sight of a tree on the horizon, a tree so massive that it seemed to fill the sky. It was almost beyond comprehension but was defiantly the tree mentioned. Somewhere near here was the magic user she must find.

Stopping in the middle of a large clearing Hisoka returned to human form, it would take great effort to find this magic user if they were a dryad. She walked over to a large stone in front of a thick tree and sat down, her eyes opened for signs of movement.
Suddenly the foliage around her sprung to life, huge thick vines springing up and twisting through the air to tangle her. Hisoka jumped up and dodged out of the way, the vines barely missing her. Looking up she saw the face of a dryad looking down at her with a hungering look. This must be the one she was sent to find.

The assault of roots continued and Hisoka nimbly dodged the swiping tendrils, her goal was to reach the face of the dryad. Seeing an opening she dove between two grasping vines and landed on the bark of the trunk, swiftly clambering her way up the dryad to the human skin. Immediately the dryad began slapping at her with her hands but was unable to catch the quick kitsune.

Hisoka was soon at her chest and mounted the dryad’s breasts. Using the firm mounds as a launching pad she leapt up onto the dryad’s face and climbed around the mouth as a huge tongue swept out over the lips to catch her. With one hand in her bag Hisoka made it to the forehead of the dryad using her hair as rope.

Taking her hand from the pouch Hisoka scattered fairy dust over herself and the dryad, pressing her face against the huge forehead in hopes that her life was not ending in vain. A sharp pain caused them both to cry out as the dryad threw her head back, Hisoka falling down to the ground far below. Amazingly large vines spread from the trees and caught the fox girl as she fell, softening her landing so she was safe.

Hisoka writhed in pain for several moments before recovering enough to sit up. It took her several moments to realize what she had done. She lifted her hands and watched as the vines moved with her motions, her heart filled with joy at her newfound power. Something else was different as well, for flowing out of her backside were six tails instead of five.

Overjoyed with this development Hisoka decided to travel east as quickly as possible, surely she would master water just as quickly. Jumping into her fox form she dashed off into the jungle, the dryad still recovering behind her. Travel was much faster now; with power of plants Hisoka could create walkways of greenery wherever she pleased.

Hisoka made it to the ocean in half the time it took to reach the tree, the massive body of water something she had never seen before. Such beauty and power in the rolling waves, the warm sand of the beach something here toes enjoyed greatly. She was here for a purpose however, and she immediately set out to find the magic user.

Walking down the beach Hisoka found herself relatively safe from enemies, the only living things around were birds and large plated animals that seemed uninterested in her. What kind of creature was this magic user? Perhaps a mermaid of some kind? She spotted a large collection of mossy rocks ahead and headed towards it. Seemed like the place a mermaid would be on the beach.

Climbing over the rocks Hisoka peered down into the tide pool below. There was indeed a mermaid in the water, although one her size. The mermaid was hunkered down and appeared to be hiding from something. Hisoka quickly descended the rocks and landed next to the mermaid, transforming into human form as she alighted on her feet.

This startled the mermaid who lashed out in panic, Hisoka easily dodging her swing. She explained to the mermaid her quest and the mermaid replied she could use no magic, although she was hiding from something that could. Before the mermaid could even explain there was a loud clattering against the rocks and the mermaid dove behind Hisoka.

Up over the stones came a giant clawed beast colored red as blood with huge pincers snapping at the air. The giant enemy crab rushed the two small humanoids, easily ten times their size. Jets of water burst from its back and lashed out like whips, the impact of one deadly to something as small as a human.

Hisoka realized that this must be the magic user, and she must reach its head to gain mastery of water magic. Quickly she jumped up a pile of nearby rocks distracting the crab from the mermaid. The crab followed her as it clacked and spat, the water tendrils still thrashing about. It wouldn’t be easy to defeat.

Using her illusion magic Hisoka split in two; both her and her clone running onto the beach with the crab in pursuit. She dove into the jungle while her clone continued running along the sand with the crab chasing it, she had a plan. Once the crab was close enough to the jungle she brought her clone towards her, the crab following in a fury.

Once her clone was at the edge of the jungle Hisoka dispelled it, the crab coming to a halt in confusion. Suddenly huge thick vines shot out from the jungle and wrapped around the crab, its violent struggles no match for the twisting plants. Soon it was immobilized and Hisoka leapt out of the trees and onto its head between the eyes, pulling out a handful of fairy dust and scattering it over herself. She pressed her head agiasnt the hard shell and was immedialy thrown off by a blast of water.

Hisoka used the vines to catch herself as she fell but was still quite shaken by the blast. The searing pain returned to her body as a seventh tail grew from her backside. Leaping up with joy she danced about, she had only two more tails to go until her dream came true. The crab was less excited, sitting on the beach on its back with steam pouring out of its joints.

Thinking herself clever Hisoka leapt up onto the crab, but imagine her surprise when she landed on the clouds of steam instead! She marveled at this ability, she was indeed walking on air, or at least the water in the air. Waving her hands she moved the steam away from the crab and was soon a hundred feet in the air. She looked up at the clouds and decided to go up to them.

Up and up she went, with the constant movements of her arms tiring her but well worth it. In no time Hisoka was inside the clouds, and with great joy found herself able to walk upon them. Her next destination was far in the west; perhaps she could ride a cloud there. Separating a large chunk of cloud she found herself carried away by the wind to the west, a method of travel she had never dreamed of.

Hisoka traveled hundreds of miles faster then she imagined possible, the clouds carrying her over land and water high in the sky. The wind was the only thing slowing her down, as unable to move the clouds herself she required the wind to push her. Sadly the wind was not always blowing west and she had to stop and wait for it to travel in the direction she wanted.

Nonetheless the young kitsune soon found herself floating over huge open plains, light green grass blowing in the winds far below. The clouds had become quite dark and rain and thunder could be heard up ahead. Somewhere down there was the magic user the dragon had mentioned. Excited to find them Hisoka began lowering her cloud down to the ground.

This proved to be a mistake as the strong winds immediately caught her and sent her swirling out of control. The driving rain soaked her and the lightning flashed around her cloud, threatening to strike her at any moment. Luckily it never did, but the loud thunder was enough to fill her with terror.

Down and down she went, tossed this way and that by the relentless winds. Up ahead she saw a large cave and aimed her cloud for it, hoping desperately to be blown inside. To her great relief she was blown into the cave, although once inside she regretted it. The dark dry cave was home to a giant sphinx, an angry looking one that Hisoka ran right into.
The sphinx turned to the kitsune as she bounced off her flank, the cloud dissipating with the impact. Angrily the sphinx told Hisoka she would devour her alive and pounced for her tiny prey. Catching the kitsune was not going to be easy and Hisoka used her agility to dodge backwards and towards the cave entrance.

With the driving rain at her back Hisoka used her magic to collect the falling water into streams and sent the tendrils of water at the sphinx just like the crab had before. The sphinx laughed and clapped her wings, a powerful gust of wind scattering the water about the cave. This was the magic user she was meant to find, and the seven tailed fox would not be defeated now.

Hisoka jumped to the left bringing her seven tails around in a whirling flurry, the sight confusing the sphinx temporarily. Now with her magic she brought another torrent of water in on the sphinx, forcing her to clap her wings again. Hisoka meanwhile dove between the sphinx’s legs and created two clones of herself, sending each one to a opposite end of the cave.

Now even more confused the sphinx roared in anger and began slashing with her claws at the two illusions, all the while Hisoka climbed her fur up to her head. Using her wings again the sphinx blew one of the illusions against the wall, the copy shattering in puff of smoke.

The sphinx turned her attention to the second illusion; sure that it was the real one. Hisoka had by this time reached the head of the sphinx and was preparing her hand with fairy dust. As the sphinx leapt forward Hisoka swung over onto her face, scattering the dust and pressing her face against the warm fur.

Hisoka was thrown off as the sphinx roared in pain, throwing itself backwards onto the ground. Luckily a strong gust of wind blew from the back of the cave and caught up Hisoka, setting her gently on the stone floor. She lay there in burning pain for several moments, an eighth tail growing between the other seven.

Hisoka jumped up and ran from the cave, the joy of her newfound tail coming second to escaping the thrashing sphinx. Once outside she admired her eight tails, now only one away from becoming the mythical nine tailed fox. The raging wind outside now obeyed her command, now only fire left for her to master.

Supposedly the fire user was in a mountain to the south. Hisoka remembered seeing a large range of mountains while she was riding on the clouds; certainly that was where she was meant to go. Using her magic she pulled a cloud down from the raging sky and climbed aboard it, moving the wind beneath her to push her up into the air.

Hisoka felt more powerful than ever before, eight tails on her back proving that her magical talent was undeniable. Only one more challenge remained, soon she would have the power of the gods. She sped southward with vigor and determination, focused on taking the final leg of her quest in record time. With the wind at her back she sat atop her cloud, looking down at the land below with contempt. Who now could challenge her?

Soon the mountains came into range and Hisoka spotted a large cave near the top of the largest, fire and smoke pouring out of its summit. The fire user would surely be inside. She sped down onto the mountain undaunted. Like those she had already fought this magical being would be just as easy if not more so.

Hopping off the cloud Hisoka walked into the cave with her head held high, her muscles tense and eyes alert for anything that would attack from the shadows. Deeper and deeper into the cave she went, the tunnel getting the further she went.

As she went deeper Hisoka became to have doubts, what was this creature living so deep in the ground? She knew she could win a fight against this thing, whatever it was. It was probably some imp or lizard. The tunnel was starting to change too, there was light up ahead and it was getting warmer. She brought her eight tails in close and forged ahead.

Hisoka soon found herself in a huge open cave, pits of bubbling magma all around. Pools of water gathered around steaming vents and filled the air with humidity. There across a stone bridge over the magma was a human shaped figure. This was the magic user. She leapt forward and shouted out her challenge, hoping that whoever they were could understand her.

The figure sat motionless, Hisoka barely being able to make them out through the steam. Getting impatient she called out again, threatening to attack if they did not answer. The figure of course did not answer nor even move, and this make Hisoka angry. She ran forward and dove through the steam, bringing her hand to her pouch in order to scatter fairy dust over them.

How much was her surprise when the figure suddenly stood up and whirled around, knocking her easily on her back on the hot stone floor. She got up fuming but froze in awe when the steam was blown away. Standing in front of her was a kitsune like her, nine tails flowing from behind his back. He told her that beating him would not grant her ninth tail, for she required something special in order to obtain it.

Hisoka bowed and begged to be told what she must do to earn it, telling of her exploits so far. The other kitsune replied that it would be very painful, for she must first learn fire magic. He would teach her how but she must take the pain without making a sound.
Hisoka agreed and kneeled before him. The nine tailed kitsune spread his tails wide like a fan, orbs of blue fire appearing on the tip of each. He spun around in a circle, the fire floating out and encircling Hisoka. She watched in fear and wonder as the fire came closer to her, now almost touching.

Suddenly the nine tailed kitsune stopped his dance and the fire smashed into Hisoka, burrowing into her body and vanishing inside her. The pain was so intense she wanted to scream, but tempering herself she stayed silent.

Fiery power surged through her and she stood to her feet eyes ablaze. Jets of magma jumped beside her and flames swirled between her tails. This was mastery of fire magic; she had done it at last! She turned to look at her tails and was devastated to see only eight. Turning to the nine tailed kitsune and he told her she must master one final thing before she could earn her final tail: fox fire.

He instructed her to sit down and close her eyes, meditating on her inner spirit. To use fox fire she must focus all her power into her tails, forming the orbs of fire on their tips. Hisoka did as she was instructed and focused all her will on her tails. Her tails lifted into the air and began swaying back and forth. As she focused an orb of blue fire appeared on the end of one. She opened her eyes in excitement to look, but as she looked the fire disappeared.

She was instructed to try again and she did, closing her eyes and focusing once again on her tails. Once again her tails began swaying in the air, and once again the orb of blue fire appeared. Slowly as she focused another orb appeared, her meditation bringing her to think upon her journey and powers. As she continued to think on these things more orbs appeared, one by one until there were eight.

Hisoka did not see these orbs of fire, but she could feel them. She wondered why there were only eight; perhaps she needed to find something particular, meditating she thought of the other nine tailed kitsune. Why he was hidden away here. She already had such great power, was there something dangerous about having nine tails?

She heard his voice, asking her how much she desired the power and she responded more than anything. He told her to focus all her power on her forehead, bring all her desire and magic to bear. Hisoka did as she was told, her face getting hotter and hotter. A ninth orb appeared above her head, floating there without anything to support it. As she meditated the other eight orbs formed together, a tail of blue flame floating at her back.

A surge of power overwhelmed her and she lashed out as pain shot up her spine into her brain. Violent winds whipped up around her catching flames up and spinning them around. Hisoka slowly got to her feet; she needed to escape this place. She turned to run but was overcome with pain, falling to her knees. The tail of blue fire solidified and there was an explosion of energy as a sphere of fire and wind filled the cave.

When the turmoil had ended Hisoka found herself on her knees in a dark and cold place. The wind had solidified the magma and the light of its fire was gone. She turned her head in the darkness and saw nine blue orbs of light next to her. As the nine tailed kitsune approached she saw that she too had nine tails, all of them wrapped around her and flowing onto the stone ground.

He helped Hisoka to her feet and told her that she had achieved her goal, asking her what she planned to do next. Certainly she was powerful, but what would she do with it now that she had it. Hisoka had to admit she didn’t really know. At first she had wanted to get revenge on her clan for sending her away, but they didn’t even believe she could gain more tails.

The amount of power certainly was great, but not quite as much as Hisoka had imagined. Perhaps nine tailed kitsune were just like everyone else, just a bit stronger. She decided that she wanted to learn more about her powers, revenge seemed trivial to her now. Her clanmates wouldn’t miss her and had no chance of understanding her situation. Having nine tails was a responsibility; she would train and hone her powers until she had complete control over them.

That day on the mountain a nine tailed kitsune emerged from the largest cave. She was not the same fox that had gone in: passionate and hungry for power. She was instead a calm and thoughtful fox, one who wished to find a purpose in life higher than a search for skill in magic.

Hisoka swore that day to travel the world and learn all there was to know about herself and her magic, honing herself until she deserved what she had found. She understood that the way she gained her tails was wrong; she must earn them again through practice and patience.

So ended the quest of the five tailed kitsune; now exalted as the legendary Nine Tailed Fox. From that day forth this legend flew about Felarya on the clouds, descending to earth to learn all the ways of magic. The clan that had sent her away did see her again, their way of life never to be the same after seeing all her glory. She did not come to them with vengeance but with love, teaching them all of the wonders of magic.

No one would have guessed it all started with a young fox girl with five tails longing to see a legend, not even she herself imagined she would become it.

08 The Valliant Little Skinner

Once upon a time there was a small dridder living in a hut on the edge of the forest. He was not a large dridder, being only thirty feet in height. He was colored with very blue carapace and thick magenta hair. He made his living as a skinner, beings from all around the forest brought him their trophies and kills for him to skin and prepare. Right now he was working on cleaning out the body of a small tonorion and it was over his bench. Just then a small caravan of humans passed by loaded with miaxi honey.

This sounded good to the skinner and he walked out and stopped the caravan. “See I would like to buy your wears. Here I have a pelt of an umbra, weigh me out some honey even if it comes to it all.”

The humans were well armed and thought he had come to steal their honey, but seeing such a rare pelt they accepted his trade. They weighed out a fair sum of honey and went on their way grumbling, even with the pelt they had wanted to sell all the honey at once.

“May this honey be blessed and give me strength’ said the little skinner.

He took the small container of honey inside and was going to eat it when he remembered the tonorion. It would be best if he finished it first. So he set the honey downon the windowsill and went back to work cleaning the inside of the insect. However while he was at work a small group of seven tomthumbs appeared on the windowsill and began eating it, sure he had not noticed them.
The skinner heard a small sound and turned around, taking immediate notice of the tomthumbs. He walked over to the honey and frowned, they had been so greedy they had all become stuck. “Why who invited you? I will punish you for trying to steal my lunch!”

Scooping his fingers into the honey the skinner pulled all seven tomthumbs out in a glob of honey. He plopped the honey into his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp, all seven of the bug sized people disappearing down his neck with screams of terror. Suddenly realizing what he had done he became quite proud.

“Well aren’t I someone?” he told himself. “Such a dridder am I that I can eat seven at once! The whole forest shall hear of this.”

So the little skinner took a small belt made of kensha beast leather and embroidered it with the words Seven in one Gulp and wrapped it around his waist where his spider and human halves met. The thought of others knowing of this made his heart jump like a little neko tail.

So the skinner set out into the forest with his belt, for he thought his small hut was not fitting for one with such talent. He searched about for something to take with him but found nothing but a piece of dried grey fruit. So he put it in his pouch and continued on his way. After a small time he found a bird stuck in a bush and put it in his pouch as well, perhaps a snack for later.

So the skinner took to the road, walking through the forest without a worry in the world. The road took him up a large hill where the tops of the trees were very close. There sitting on a large stone was a giant naga, a very rough looking one with a thick beard. The skinner walked up to him.
“Why good day friend! Are you sitting here enjoying the view of the forest? I am on my way to prove myself; would you like to come with me?”

The naga glared down at him, he was offended that such a small creature would approach him and greet him, much less a dridder. “You miserable dridder, I will kill you!”

“Oh you don’t say?” the skinner asked, “Well look here at what kind of dridder I am!”

He showed his belt proudly and smiled wide, the engraving reading in bright letters Seven in one Gulp. Seeing this the naga gained some respect for him as he thought it was seven humans he had swallowed. He thought to put him to a test and picked up a large rock at least the size of the dridder’s face. Placing it in his palm he squeezed it until it shattered into hundreds of pieces.

“You see that rock little dridder? If you are truly the one you belt says do the same as I did!”
The little skinner snorted, “Is that all?”

He was a quick thinker and remembered the fruit he had found before. He pulled it out of his pocket and crushed it in his hand, the dry flesh crumbling like foam. It fell to the ground in twice as many pieces as the naga’s stone. The naga was surprised but sensed trickery, so he took another stone and threw it into the air. It went so high that it took a full minute to fall down again.

“There! Do that if you are able bug!”

“A high toss” the skinner said, “But it came back down to the ground. I will toss a stone that will not fall back.” He took the bird and tossed it into the air, the bird disappearing into the sky and never returned. “How do you like that friend?”

The naga was very confused and was getting upset. He led the dridder to a huge boulder and pointed at it. Though he himself was over a hundred feet tall the boulder was even bigger, so heavy in fact it was difficult to imagine it being moved at all.

“You may be able to throw a stone” the naga said, “But can you push a proper one? If you have the strength help me push this boulder over to the edge of the woods.”

“Of course” the skinner replied, “You take the back as it is easiest. I will take the more difficult position of pulling it. Besides, if you were in front you might crush your tail.”

The naga took up his position behind the rock and began pushing, putting all his weight into it as it began slowly rolling, and as he could not see in front of the rock thought the rock heavier then he originally predicted. This was of course because the skinner was walking calmly in front whistling a song, almost as if to show pushing such a rock was something a human could do.

The naga after going a short way had to stop; such a heavy load was too much for him. He called out to the dridder. “Listen, I must stop to rest.”

By this time the skinner had prepared a silk rope and had fastened to the rock, now acting as if he was pulling the rock and had been the whole time. “See here, you are such a large fellow and you cannot pull a rock?”

So the two travelers walked together for a ways through the forest until they came to a small tree, and although it was a bit taller than the naga but still quite small. The naga took hold of the top and brought it down to the skinner, inviting him to grab some of the fruit. He handed the treetop to the dridder and of course he was too weak to keep it down. The poor skinner was tossed up and over the tree where he landed on the ground unharmed, mostly thanks to his webbing.

“What is this?” asked the naga, “Too weak to hold even a twig?”

The skinner snorted, “That was no lack of strength. It was merely a display of how I am not only powerful, but agile as well. Jump it yourself if you can!”

Not to be outdone the naga coiled himself and sprang upward, not even making it halfway before falling into the branches. He landed on the ground with a thud, now quite angry indeed.
“If you are such a powerful fellow” the naga said, “Why don’t you come with me to our cave and spend the night?”

The little skinner agreed and followed him. When they had made it to the cave they found several other giant nagas sitting there by a fire. They each had a roast animal and were eating from it. The little skinner thought to himself that this was much roomier then his own home.

The naga then showed him his room, and as the sleeping mat was much too large for him he slept in a corner. However he sensed treachery, as all nagas are, and set a dummy of webbing in the bed. Now as predicted the naga returned that night and with a huge club smashed the webbing to pieces, not seeing the real dridder in the darkness. He then left with a smile, thinking he had rid the world of another dridder.

The next morning the nagas left happily into the forest, talking amongst themselves of how stupid dridders were, and had they not proven it in the past besides? They began traveling to their hunting grounds when the skinner appeared and greeted them warmly. Scared he would kill them all on the spot they fled howling into the forest, their tails twitching as they vanished.

Now the skinner continued on his way, following his upturned nose. He soon reached a large patch of warm grass and lay down for a nap, not realizing it was the gateway to a village of dridders. While he was sleeping several of them came out and read his belt Seven in one Gulp.

“Oh my!” they said to each other, “Such a powerful and dangerous predator! He must be powerful indeed to be sleeping in the open.”

So they went and reported him to their leader, thinking that if a tribal war should break out having a powerful warrior as he would be a thing in their favor. The leader was pleased with this advice, and sent powerful warriors to offer him a position in their ranks as soon as he woke. They waited patiently by the skinner until he woke and gave him their offer.

“This is exactly why I came” the skinner said, imagining the luxury. “I am ready to join your leader’s elite.” And so he was given fine armaments and a special place to live in the village.
Now the other warriors felt cheated, and wished to be rid of the little skinner once and for all. “What will we do?” they asked each other; “For if we fight him seven of us will fall with each blow, none of us can’t fight such a warrior whose strikes have such power!”

The leader of the tribe was angry he might lose all his warriors due to one, and he wished he had never seen the skinner. He wanted to be rid of him, but dared not dismiss or attack him. If he did he was afraid the skinner would kill him and his warriors, setting himself as leader of the tribe.

He thought for a long time and puzzled before finding an answer. He sent a message to the little skinner, informing him that two huge nagas lived in the area. They were causing great damage to the forest and many other tribes with robbery, murder, pillage, and arson. Not one could approach the pair without being in terrible danger. If he could go slay the two nagas he would give the skinner second in command of the village, and besides that his daughter in marriage. Furthermore, a dozen of his warriors for backup.

“That is something for a dridder like you” thought the little skinner, “It is not every day one is offered command over a tribe and a beautiful girl in marriage.” He agreed to the proposal on the condition the other warriors did not interfere. For one of his power need not fear two nagas.

Now the group set forth until they came to the edge of the forest where the nagas lived and the skinner instructed the others to wait for him there. He told them that he would take care of the nagas and signal them. Then he jumped into the forest and looked high and low, finding the two nagas sleeping under a tree.

Now though they were several times bigger than the little skinner he had a plan. He filled a small web sack with stones and climbed into the tree above the nagas, and one in the middle of the tree he got his stones ready. One by one he dropped them onto one of the naga’s chests. For a long time nothing happened but eventually the naga woke up.

“Why are you hitting me?” he asked his companion giving a shove.

“You are dreaming” said the other one as she pushed him back, “I was not hitting you.”

They fell asleep again and he skinner threw a stone at the second one instead.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked the second, “Why are you pelting me with stones?”

“I am going no such thing” the first one said.

They fought for a while, but because they were so sleepy they made peace. Soon they had both closed their eyes and gone to sleep, the skinner beginning his trickery again. He chose the largest stone from the web sack and threw it down on the first naga with all his strength, nailing him on the top of the head.

The first naga arose with a roar, “This has gone on long enough!”

He pushed his companion against the tree and she returned in kind, the two fighting each other with blows and bites. Soon they became so angry that they began wrapping each other in their coils, squeezing as they were blinded by rage. It was not long before they had crushed each other to death, and they both fell down in a tangled heap never to move again.

The little skinner jumped down and sighed. “It was lucky” he said, “That they were so easily rivaled. Certainly I would have not stood a chance in a fight.”

Leaving the nagas there he went back to the group of warriors and led them to the site. They were in awe at the sight and wondered how the skinner could have done such a feat, how had he not been injured? The scene before them was violent and the ground itself seemed torn asunder.

“It was no problem for someone like me” the little skinner said, “They both came at me at once so I tied them in a knot until they had strangled themselves in their own coils. I am quite fine; they did not even make a dent in my carapace.”

They returned to the village and the skinner requested his reward from the leader. Of course he was reluctant to give it to him and wracked his brain on a way to rid himself of the little skinner at least. He demanded one more deed be done. In the nearby forest there was a lost abyssal tonorian, one that caused much terror to all that beheld it. If he could kill the beast he would receive his reward.

“I am less afraid of such a beast then I am two nagas” he said in reply; “I swallowed seven in one gulp, such is my thing.”

The little skinner traveled into the woods where the tonorian was, following the trail of destruction until he found its den. He had taken only an axe and a rope of fine webbing with him, killing it would be easy. Once again he left the warriors behind and entered the den alone.

The tonorian soon appeared, towering over him and hissing as it clacked its mandibles. It was a nightmarish beast and terrible to behold, but nonetheless the skinner had a plan. As the beast rushed him he stood in front of a dirt wall, dodging to the side as the creature drove its sharp carapace into the loose earth.

“Aha! Now I have you beast!” he cried.

He jumped on top of the struggling insect and ran up to its head, driving the axe with such force that it split the carapace of the animal’s head. The blow instantly killed the beast, the long body of the tonorian writhing one last time before falling still.

Once again the little skinner led the other warriors to the scene and amazed them with his deed. They went back to the leader taking its head as a prize. Of course the leader still did not want to keep his end of the bargain and demanded one last task be completed. Before the wedding he must go out and kill a vortex tiger, for such things were too dangerous to keep alive.

“Of course” the skinner said, “Such an easy task you require of me.”

Now the skinner still did not take the warriors into the forest with him, and they were quite happy to stay put. They had seen what a vortex tiger could do and feared running to the beast would be their death. Who could beat a creature that would suck up anything around it? The little skinner could.

Now he had taken several spears with him and coated them in deadly venom, so much that combined a full grown naga would die ten times over. The little skinner went to a large clearing where he found the tiger asleep, the perfect opportunity for him. Silently he crept around the clearing, placing the spears in trees facing inward towards the sleeping animal.

With his trap set the skinner jumped out into the clearing shouting loudly, hoping the tiger would panic upon awaking. Sure enough it did, leaping to its feet and wildly searching for the intruder. Seeing the dridder holding a spear it activated its ability, its fur turning from soft hairs to a deadly black void in the forest.

The little skinner leapt behind the trees again, watching as a whirlwind ravaged the forest. Everything from the ground to the treetops was being sucked in, and of course the wind lifted the spears from their perches as well. Once the dridder had disappeared however the tiger returned to normal, the spears still flying towards it. In the blink of an eye the tiger was skewered; enough venom to kill a hundred killing it in an instant.

Now returning to the village with the carcass of the tiger the little skinner was greeted with cheers. He was not only married to the daughter of the leader, but his ability in combat made him the leader of the tribe. For no one could deny him now, his deeds were so great that even the fiercest warriors bowed to his leadership.

It was some time later, while the skinner was living in luxury as head of the tribe, that late at night the little skinner had a dream. In this dream he was cleaning an animal and spoke out of his sleep. “Bring me the knife so I may take off its pelt, and if you do not do it within the moment I shall beat your back!”

So it was from this that the girl divined where her husband was from: he was not a great warrior, but instead a mere skinner of animals. She went to her father and asked him to help rid her of the skinner so he may be leader once again and she would be free of him.

Her father comforted her saying, “Tonight leave your room open. I will send warriors still loyal to me to you in the night, and when he is asleep they will kill him.”

The girl was satisfied with this, the thought of finally being free again quite the happy one. However, one of the servants of the father, who had taken a liking to the new leader, head of this plot and revealed it to the skinner.

“I’ll put a stop to that” said the little skinner.

That evening when the village was asleep the warriors crept into the skinner’s home in the moonlight. They waited for the signal from his wife that he was asleep, but of course he was only pretending to be. When he heard their approach he cried out in a clear voice as if sleep talking.
“Bring me the knife so I may take off its pelt, and if you do not do it within the moment I shall beat your back! For I have swallowed seven in one gulp, killed two giant nagas, slain a abyssal tonorian, and killed a vortex tiger! I am afraid of those few standing outside my room?”

Upon hearing this from the little skinner the warriors standing outside lost their nerves, and dropping their weapons fled into the forest, running as if the guardians were after them. Thus the little skinner was leader of the tribe, and he remained the leader as long as he lived.