Short Story

[Wintersong]

A short story for Creative Writing I did. Already been told should do a second part or a mini-series, not quite sure if I will or not.

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Conflict of Spirit

Crystallian violet eyes gazed down at the silent village below, standing almost invisible on the ledge. Clouds above covered the dark night sky, breaking once in a while to allow moonlight through, bathing the land below in midnight glow. Briefly then could the figure be seen, showing a lean creature that was ghoustly white and tips of its three tails showing silver. Ears twtiched to the occasinal sound from the rustling of cherry blossom and pine trees, a light breeze beginning to blow.

The village it gazed at was old and isolated within the valley that was nestled in the middle of the high mountains. Few hundred people lived there and had few visitors. But they thrived from the rich soil of the land, using water irrigated from the river running through the middle of the village. This river was connected to several small waterfalls much of which came from melted ice at the higher peaks of the mountains. Watching over them was the long known kitsune, it’s protector and peacekeeper. Stories were passed down over the last several generations of how this mysterious three tailed fox once faced a great fight against a menacing creature who had controlled the villagers, a former guardian turned cruel from the power it had once had. Since then it stood as the new guardian, watching over the quiet little village year after year, keeping any troublesome spirits or humans away and to prevent problems occuring if she could.

Yet on this night the three tailed kitsune was restless, sensing something was a miss. This feeling had not come for several decades nor was it forgotten. Sakura, so the spirit was named after the trees which were so abundant in the valley, could tell a great disturbance lied at the valley shrine. Locked away was a much darker spirit, one to have once have terrorized the village before it had at last been locked away. Now it was stirring, ready to be free again.

Sakura silently walked to the shrine, making an arc around the houses and shop to follow a stair way that led to a winding path before coming to a cavern. Deep inside was smaller version of a gateway arch, rising about halfway towards the ceiling with an ancient inscription warning of what lied there. Behind it lied a polished box made of mahogany. Different patterns were carved into the sides and on top along the borders while a carving of a cobra shaped serpent lied in the middle. Beautiful as it seemed Sakura could feel the dark aura radiating from it.

She felt keeping it there would bring trouble later yet out of respect of the villagers it was kept in the shirne to be closely watched. This still frustrated the kitsune spirit a great deal. Now just as she had feared the snake was again stronger, ready to break free. Sakura’s violet eyes narrowed as the wooden box shook a bit then more violently. For a brief moment the kitsune stood there in wonder and guilt. She wa shalf the size of a full grown horse and could do many great things, even punish those of wicked intentions. Yet she couldn’t kill. It sickened her to kill a living being and even another spirit, no matter how cruel or twisted.

This one little mistake she knew she would regret. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the shaking stopped, now sitting still as it had a few moments ago. One stepwas all Sakura took before it happened…Loud crunching of wood made the kitsune freeze, eyes widening in horror as a dark eerie glow showed through the cracks.

With a loud snap the box was broken at last, a black mist hovering above the rock it had rested upon, soon taking shape. Sakura, fearing the serpent’s return, snarled and made an attempt to attack the swirling black mist, tails, neck, and ankles glowing with blue-white fire. Blood red eyes glared with anger and malice at the futile attack, a misty black tail whipping out to send it’s opponent clear across the cavern and into a wall. Sakura let out a surprised yip, hitting the wall with a sickening thud before falling to the floor.

Just as dawn was coming, the sun just beginning to come above the peaks, did she finally come around. Sakura looked around, blinking her eyes to find the box and archway in splinters on the floor and no signs of the released evil spirit. Realizing this the kitsune stood shakily on her paws, an shaking her head of the dizziness that came, rushed to the outside. It was peaceful, the village not yet stirring. But it also meant they had no idea of the danger that was now out. A long peace would be broken again to meet dark days of fear and all because she had failed to stop his return. Sakura would once again have to face her once friend and former guardian, a battle which could end with one being dead.