Story Two:
Stone Cold Love
Start date: 27/12/2022
Finish date: 12/01/2023
Word Count: 3,732
*
Shadows descended over rock and stone of the ruins. The temperature cooled as the heat source faded off in the distance. Now was the time for twilight and all it's creatures to come alive.
The cracking began at the fingers. Easier to start in the smaller, frail sections. A tail swung free, the rock chipping and falling to the floor. Wings and arms burst outwards leaving a crumbling mess around the now free moving statue.
The creature looked out towards the horizon. Sunlight fading as day finally turned into night.
Another night alone.
The breeze coming from behind her brought a sweet scent along for the ride.
He was here! She spun around, eyes locking on the container placed nearby. Another package!
A jump and flap of her wings brought her down on her prey. Whatever the hell that was in her package. Her claws ripped open the lid to see what was in store for her tonight.
...Two containers?
She put the large container, the most important container down on the ground next to her so she could study the other. She raised it above eye level, observing the food item through it's see through container.
She brought it down to her chest and opened it's lid.
Hmm... cake... why?
The lid was securely slammed back on. She grabbed her other container with her foot, stuck he hand back in the container for the note and flew off to the nearest fire pit.
When she lighted down she realised this one was a little low on supplies. It'll get her through tonight's dinner but she'd do well to restock. If not tonight, then soon.
It was nice having a quick meal sometimes. The human often half cooked or fully cooked her morsels, so a little re-heating was all that was needed. While she waited for her meal to heat, she took the note and put it away with the rest.
Why the cake though? Why only sometimes?
Both containers were now empty as the night had continued on. She should have at least gone out for supplies. But the fire was nice. She sat with a container cradled in her bosom. Inhaling any lingering scent he left on it.
Humans were forbidden from coming to her castle, the home of her colony. What was left of it anyway.
For decades she had received gifts from this trespasser. Food, clothing, notes. The notes were a waste, she couldn't read. Each package always near where she roosted. She never roosted in the same spot each night, so each time he came with a package, he searched for her.
She should be grateful. He came in daylight. He came at her most vulnerable and all he did was leave gifts, most of the time.
She gripped the container tighter. When was the last time she was held this tight? Was she ever? Has she been alone so long she's forgotten the feeling of being held?
She got hot. Not from the fire. From rage. She had enough of silence. She rose from her crouched position, spread out her wings and shrieked. Louder than she ever had for many years. Tonight she would not remain in solitude. Tonight she would let herself be known.
She doused the fire, flew back up to her roosting spot to shove the empty containers back in the package and flew off towards the house. She had never been there, there was no reason to be there. But she knew the way.
When it was within sight there were no flicker of lights. No sign of activity. Desolate.
She landed herself on a thick branch. It gave her direct view of what she assumed was the entrance. There was a door, at least.
She shrieked as to announce herself and waited for a response. Humans were day creatures. He may be asleep, he may need time.
She shrieked again. There was a commotion inside. He was awake now. She waited crouched on the branch.
A light appeared by the doorway. It was strange to her. No flame but nevertheless it produced light. A figure came through the door with another light that shone directly in her eyes. She covered her eyes with her wing and as she did she heard the scream of a man and fumbling. She saw through her wing that the light was no longer on her.
She opened her wing again and threw the package towards the man. It got as far as the steps of the house, it's lid burst from it's bounds.
Hearing the tumbling of something being thrown the human had a moment to collect himself. A little embarrassed for being so scared when he didn't even understand what he saw that he knocked himself into the door frame and fell to the ground, letting go of his torch. He lunged back for his torch and pointed it at the stairs leading up to the porch.
Wait a minute. He thought. That's the esky I left with... His torch followed where the esky was thrown from, up the tree until it found, ...the statue?
Before he could get a good look, the creature spread it's massive bat-like wings and sprung forward, landing on the railing on the porch. He didn't point his torch at it, he saw it well enough from the porch light.
It leered down at him with green demon eyes. It's pupils were slits and it hissed, revealing sharp top and bottom canines. A clawed hand wrapped around the support beam and clawed toes gripped onto the railing.
"Do you leave the gifts?" It said. His stare changed from one of fear to confusion.
"Y-yes?" It's face softened. No more teeth.
A leg stepped down from the rail. Compared to a human, she looked to be on her tip toes. Except humans didn't have clawed feet similar to a dog or a cat. Nor did a cat or dog have dew claws like thumbs! As she stepped away from the rail a tail dragged behind her. Her eyes squinted as she looked towards the light.
She raised a hand with a tentative shake. She got brave and did a quick few taps on the light's covering. It was as if she'd never seen a light before.
Satisfied with her investigation, she turned back to the man on the ground. He looked her up and down. She was exactly the statue he had been fawning over his whole life. He wasn't expecting her hair to be as red as it was, though. Like fire. And her skin, not white like Caucasian white. White, or more so grey, like cement and stone. But more vibrant than when she was stone.
So it was apparent that all the years he had fed and clothed her, he wasn't expecting her to actually be alive. She looked down at him, finally putting a face to the actions. He was an older human. How old, she could not tell. Humans were strange and never lived long. His chest rose and fell with haste. It was a little fun to be looked upon with fear.
She gestured her hand towards the esky. "Why the cake?"
He looked at the esky. "It's m-... my birthday." He looked back into her eyes and saw her pupils dilate. It made her look softer, kinder. She walked through the door and entered his house.
