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"Corruption Leads Into Creation"

Chapter One

By Juna of SoFurry

Juna

All characters and places are (c) the author

The market place sung with cries of hawkers looking to trade, and craftsman pricing their wares. Every stall presented a chance to sample the finest goods in all of Vyapara. Foods, spices, fabrics, and slaves occupied the trader's alley from dawn to dusk. People traveling to Vyapara came not for profit alone, but those trekking to Vyapara often came for worship. Centuries ago a temple was erected in dedication to the god Shiva. It was at the behest of the king a holy temple be founded in his lands. Only the greatest masons, bricklayers, and builders were hired to create the holy shrine. By the end of a five year construction, the temple towered nearly as tall as the royal palace!

Pilgrims flocked to Vyapara with prayers for the deva. Priests called for the divine lord to answer the cries of his followers, praising the great Shiva in his eternal dance of creation and destruction. However, the years proved unkind to the disciples of in Vyapara. Civil war between warring princes demolished the peace of the kingdom. Dark times clouded the prosperity of a once tranquil land. After the battles ended, the monarchy of Vyapara ceased, and the kingdom transformed into a city-state ran by magistrates. The temple dedicated to Shiva stood tall, but few worshipers flooded into the Shiva's receiving hall. Now, the city focused on business. Traders were much needed, and priests gained little notice.

Major trade routes opened up into Vyapara, producing a new vein of commerce for the ever- changing livelihood of the city. The temple priests welcomed new travelers (and opportunity for new followers), but upon the restablishing of Vyapara, the holy men felt a sinister presence descend upon the city. This sense of dread manifested into reality. The first encounter with the malevolence befell a group of hunters in the Callacula Forest. They were unprepared for the horror lingering in the shadows. A monstrous creature, large and humanoid, rushed the hunters near a set of old temple ruins. The men screamed in fear at the sight of a tall, lean canine with glowing lavender eyes, black fur, curved horns curling under its ears, and its inhuman growl. This thing wanted to be seen. And It hadn't the capacity for modesty. The hunting party described a thick, dark phallus of a savage design jutting from its groin. Only a demon displayed its deviance. But this beast seemed different. Demon? Evil spirit? Regardless, the strength permeating from its aura sent the men fleeing. Once back in Vyapara, the party regaled the danger and told of the draining effect the monster had in their presence. For some reason, the creature silently called to each hunter. One of the older hunters said the beast whispered into his mind asking for his life essence. What vile thing seduces a man's mind, then asks to take his life blood?

In the months to follow, run-ins with the creature turned into attacks. A family lost their daughter coming home from a relative's. The creature snatched the girl from her mother's grip and vanished into the dark recesses of the forest. Sheer terror etched into the visage of the daughter as her mother faded from sight. Everything happened so quickly. The mother became hysteric, calling out for her child. Tears streaked down the mother's cheeks. The father went to his knees in grief, as well. Weak and powerless, the parents mourned their loss. But they stopped after hearing the blood curling screams of their only child. The husband shot to his feet, but his wife tugged at his sleeve. She refused to loose both daughter and spouse. Instead of running into the thicket, the husband grabbed at his wife and sprinted towards Vyapara's border. It was nighttime when they reached the village. Night guards came running at the couple's cries. At first light, a group of well armed soldiers searched the forest prepared to meet the monster head on. Their search ended with the discovery of a tattered and ripped sari belonging to the young maiden now lost to the woods.

Fear found a new home. This wasn't the work of bandits or thieves. A powerful being of unknown origin stalked the Callacula Forest, and the inhabitants of Vyapara were defenseless against it. Priests in the temple of Shiva received disturbing visions of the monster. One priest, Brother Dosta, dreamed of the beast roaming the countryside. His vision showed the time of the civil war, when the last king's two sons fought for control over the throne. The youngest son chose dark magicks and black arts to gain the edge over his older brother. There was no telling what evil he permitted into their kingdom.

Brother Dosta sought the city leader. He conferred with Magistrate Rajan that his dreams detailed the evil rooting itself into the lands. Rajan understood all to well about the darkness claiming their lives. He mentioned his niece as a victim to the monster outside the city gates. No body recovered, only a shredded sari. Without another word, the magistrate agreed to his wise man's visions. It wouldn't take long for the village to seek outside help.

After word spread about the evil brewing in Vyapara, several gifted holy men flooded the busy streets. These new found "saviors" walked into the city with ambition and money guiding their actions. Magistrate Rajan interviewed the masses. So many foreign faces. He knew letting these strangers loose in his city was a risk, but he had to take the chance. Families grieved for their wives and daughters who weren't returning home. Something must be done.

The divine warriors acted brave, but their true intentions slowly came forward. Numerous citizens reported the disorderly conduct of a monk from the east, and a priest from the mountains demanded that a family pay him to stay with them. Outrage! Within six weeks, the villagers of Vyapara refused service to anyone claiming to be "holy" or "religious". The temple of Shiva received an influx of the so-called "redeemers". Those desperate to avoid the mobs threatening to ride them out of the city stayed with the brothers. Maybe now they'd seek to act holy to save their hides. Vyapara struggled to cope with lost of loved ones, and the unabashed behavior of the reckless holy men made that wound fester.

Magistrate Rajan wanted to smite the damn fools for their uncouth-like ways. He turned away further applicants. Rajan summoned Brother Dosta.

"Dosta, I should have known. Allowing these holy men to enter the city was, and I don't blame you, a pathetic idea." The lion closed his eyes rubbing at his muzzle's bridge. "Our city's wealth triggered the perfect chance to play hero. Furs with contemptible ideals swaggered into my city and accosted my people. No more!"

Dosta inhaled a deep breath. He wondered what would happen after the braggarts were chased from town. Would anyone come to their aid?

"Ganesha removes those obstacles put before us. He never sets one down without the intention of helping to withdraw it." For an old monkey, the lion-tailed macaque still had his wits about him. Dosta stroked the long, gray beard cascading down his front. He bowed his head, eyes closed, and prayed silently to Shiva, Ganesha...to any god who'd listen. A paw at his shoulder brought him back from prayer. Rajan sighed at his companion.

"Forgive me, old friend. The gods will help us, yes?" His voice was soft. It carried defeat with his question, as though the end came already.

But the golden eyes of the macaque spoke of a different matter. Dosta braced against his walking cane. The monkey pointed to the sky. "Our gods listen. I will head to the temple. Meditation and prayer require time. Be ready to hear from me in a week. Where faith lies, a great seed will bloom into the greatest of jasmine trees. Have faith Rajan. Have faith."