Purpose
Hey guys, I've been on the site for a while, but have never really contributed anything. This is my first attempt at an original story (or any creative writing at all), so let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or anything I can improve on.
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"Well now what?" Atlas said aloud to himself
With the sand stinging is hazel eyes, his jeans torn at the left knee, and a red unbuttoned shirt whipping around his thin frame, he had no where else to go. His abused legs threatened to give way under the weight of one more feather. He had not had a decent meal in over a week, and it was begining to take its toll.
The Fall of the Republic left him with no home or goal in a cut throat world of killers and bandits. So he wondered around for what felt like years, never staying in one place more than one night, trying to get back to his parent's home on the east coast.
Atlas was a fairly plain gryphon, not much to stand out from the crowd other than his height and an odd white tuft at the tip of his lion tail, a trait only exclusive to, and prized by, his family. His body was a bit lanky and awkward. Standing at 6'6" to the head and another 4" to the tip of his large wings, currently pulled tight to his body, out of the wind. His body covered in soft, fine, caramel colored feathers save his hands which were golded scaled talons tipped with sharp black claws, and feet which were lion paws in simalarly colored fur.
So this was it. Weeks of travel and struggle led him here: standing on the beach looking at the scorched frame of what used to be a lovely two story home where an old couple lived. A house where the husband would pull out the chair for his wife at dinner as he had for fourty six years. A house where they would dance to her favorite song that he hated and accidentally knock over those flowers he bought her because it was Tuesday. The same house where Atlas's hopes resided and now were reduced to ashes.
He walked over to what was previously a back porch, now a collection of black driftwood. He stepped up through the doorframe into the ruins of a once spotless kitchen. He slowly ran a finger along the wall as he walked by, leaving a trail bhind him. He even allowed himself a small chuckle at the bitter irony that the oven seemed to be the only part of the house that escaped damage.
That chuckle soon turned into tears as Atlas droppped to his knees, crying deeply into his hands. He tried at first to stop himself for fear of attracting attention of less than friendly passerbys, but soon, he gave himself over to the tears sobbing loudly as his last hope was taken from him.
He looked in between fingers where his tears were falling. There he saw it, the blackened picture frame, knocked to the ground and broken. He picked the picture up from the shattered glass; A photo of a large white gryphon on the beach smiling and looking at his little brown child on his shoulder, eyes shut and mouth open in a squeal of joy. The mother sitting in the back smiling as she watches from the porch.
"Ack! Stop you little pest!"
He snapped out of his thoughts and dried his eyes hastily and shoved the picture in his pocket as he ran over to the door. Outside he spied a female magpie running across the beach in a jagged zig-zag staring at the ground and cursing under her breath. As she ran closer Atlas saw that she was chasing down a small white crab who was shuffling just out of her reach through a maze of tiny dunes and driftwood, panicked and erratic. When, finally, he dove into a tiny haven in the sand. The predator then dove in behind him, sliding a few feet forward until she was shoulder deep in a hole.
She groped around for a minute until she relented and pulled her hand out of the burrow and brushed off a few clumps.
"That's the third one today," she said to herself exasperated. "What are you doing! You can't let the big ones like that get away."
Obviously unaware of his presence, Atlas cautiously approached her, struggling to find his voice. "Er...hmm...hello there," he finally managed to squeak out. She then sprang to her feet and spun around into a combative stance, drawing a short knife out of her belt.
"Wher'd you come from!?" she barked out.
Atlas threw up his hands, caught off gaurd by the sudden authority in her voice. Her small frame was just above 5 foot and couldn't weigh more than 120 lbs. She wore a pair of blue jean capris, a red crop top with a green jacket, and combat boots, all of which belied her apparently agressive personality.
"I...I uh...I am not looking for any trouble," he replied somewhat sheepishly
"What do you want, then?"
"It just looked like you needed help." he said honestly.
"Yeah, right. You're just a good samaritan that just wants to help damsel in distress." she said rolling her eyes. "Look, you aren't the first guy to see me as an easy target. Just give me one time to turn around and you clock me on my head and take my gear. I'm not an idiot, and I can take care of myself just fine. So whatever you're selling, I'm not buying it."
"No. That isn't it at all. I saw you chasing that crab. I can help you catch it." He said quickly.
Her stomach growled louldly "That thing is long gone."
"It was just in that little hole right behind you wasn't it?" he replied slowly and softly while lowering his arms.
Not sensing any immediate threat, she lowered her knife, but refused to sheath it. And, despite her better judgement, she engaged him, "Yeah, but it is way too deep even for you string bean. How do you propose we get it?"
"Just let me show you." He said and looked around for a second until he spotted a white bucked washed up on the shore. He retrieved it, filled it with green sea water and proceeded to pour it into the openning of the burrow.
As he did so, a number of crabs started crawling out of the sand around the two birds. The magpie gasped and dove to the ground to try to catch them before any escaped.
After she collected four of them and put them in a leather pouch on her belt, she stood up, and kicked herself for losing control of herself like that. This complete stranger could have stabbed her in the back as soon as she stopped paying attention...but he didn't.
"So...uh...thanks...." she said a little flustered as she tried to regain control of the situation.
"I told you I just wanted to help." he said still defensive.
"Well," she said reaching into the pouch, "I appreciate it, but don't think I trust you now." She then tossed him one of the crabs and clasped the pouch closed again. She then began to walk away.
"Wait! Where are you going?" he called after her as he struggled to get the crab off his finger.
"I don't see where that concerns you." she said not even looking back
"Just wait, I want to come with you." He pleaded, tossing the crab to the side.
"I don't know you. I don't need to know you. I can take care of myself just fine, thank you." she chittered over her shoulder
The gryphon took off after her. He caught up and placed a hand on her shoulder. Before he could think, she grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and re-drew the knife with the other hand and pressed it lightly against his neck; not enough to draw blood, but just scare him.
"First, you should never lay hands on a lady." Atlas swallowed hard. Second, I told you, I don't need another person to take care of."
He grimaced at the pain in his shoulder and stammered out, "I'm sorry, about touching you, but maybe I can help you."
She laughed again. Who did this guy think he was. She just got him in joint lock before he even knew what happened and he thinks he has something over her.
She felt the crabs shift on her belt.
Well, maybe he could help, but she still didn't trust him. She still had to find out what he knew besides just get a few crabs. "What can you do that I can't? From the looks of it, you can't even take care of yourself." She then released him and jestured at his clothes, "Just look at yourself." She stood with her arms crossed, waiting on a response.
"I can get you as many crabs as you want," he said hopefully.
"Is that all?" she quipped raising an eyebrow.
"I know the area. I grew up here and can take lead you anywhere you need to go."
"And why should I trust you?"
He looked at the ground, a little intimidated. "I just helped you out didn't I?"
"A few crabs is not exactly an ubreakable vow."
"What if I give you this back?" He said and pulled a knife out of his back pocket."
Her eyes went wide and she felt blood rush to her cheeks as she felt for the loop on the side of her belt. Sure enough, one was empty. How did he...the crabs! He must have gotten it when she was scrambling for the crabs! How could she have made a mistake like that! How is this guy making her so careless.
Atlas was looked exceptionally proud of himself. He took a little pride in the face of the bird that was just knocked down a few pegs.
The girl contemplated it a bit then sighed, looking a bit reluctant, "I suppose you didn't kill me when you had the chance, and with my own knife nonetheless. I suppose you could come if you can pull your own wieght."
Atlas perked his ears and looked up.
"Just don't make me regret it," she added sharply, making him immediately flattened them back down and look to his feet.
"Well, what are you waiting on? Don't just stand there, come on. You're the one that knows where we are going."
He looked up to see her already walking away and then jogged next to her side.
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Even after a full hour of walking in silence, Molly was still struggling to comprehend what just happened. Had she really just agreed to follow a complete stranger whom she knows next to nothing about to a place that may not even exist.
Meanwhile, Atlas was preoccupied looking this mysterious stranger over a bit more closely. He noticed now that she was more prepared than he originally thought. Around her wide hips was strapped an old looking belt with patched leather pouches all the way around, each about 4" deep. Out of three of them jutted the handles of a few small knives. Two were plain, polished wooden shafts with a few scrapes but pretty well kept.
The other was far more sophisticated. It had a polished bone handle, carved with a red, pencil thin lines into an intricate veined. Unfortunately, from his vantage point Atlas could not make out what it was. He then leaned in to get a closer look.
"Like what you see?" the mysterious bird prodded.
He stopped behind her as he could feel the blood rushing to his face. "Uh...no! I mean...It's not that...I just wasn't..." he stammered.
The mysterious bird chuckled softly under her breath and cracked a little smirk. "Calm down, I'm just messing with you." No matter how many time she did it, messing with nervous guys always made her laugh. But as much as she hated it, she was going to be with this guy for a while, so she thought it best to not make him too flustered(even if it was fun). "Look, we're going to be walking together for a quite a bit, so how about we not make this any more awkward any more awkward than it needs to be. Do you have a name?"
"Yeah, it's Atlas. What about you?" he asked jogging back next to her.
"Good to meet you Atlas, I'm Molly. See, that wasn't so bad now was it?"
He looked at her for a second, taken slightly aback by the previously aggressive avian's suddenly affable demeanor. "How do you mean?"
"Getting along with this guy is going to be harder than I thought." She said to herself. "He's got the personality of a baked potato.!"
Despiter herself, however, she kept on a pleasant face. "What can you do? What are you like? That sort of thing."
Atlas replied a bit uneasy. "Well, I used to work at a park, so I know a lot about plants and animals and that sort of thing. I'm pretty agreeable, but don't talk much. What about you?"
"I'm not exactly a people person, but I'm easy enough to get along with." she said pleasantly.
Atlas obviously bought it and returned a polite smile saying, "that's good to hear."
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That is the first installment
This is just a start to see if people would be interested in reading more. Please comment and give as much constructive feedback as you can. Thanks a lot and hope you enjoyed.