Prompt #454 Outcast ~ naughty_bangles ~ Outcast ~ Original

[naughty-bangles.livejournal.com]

Title: Outcast
Rating: PG
Word Count: 938
Prompt #454 Outcast


All in all, it sounded like a joke. Quite an elaborate one, with the yellow thing on the wall that had to be put on weeks before, and that little creature that had to be some kind of advanced automat. It was a ridiculously complicated joke orchestrated by someone she knew, or she was going insane. Because there was no way it was real. Little pink fairies didn't exist, for a start, and even if they did, what were the odds they speak perfect English? Shouldn't they speak some gracious fairy language, or maybe Quenya? And why would a fairy portal ooze yellow slime that looked like puke? All of this considering the little creature was a fairy, which it might not be. No, of course it wasn't a fairy, because it wasn't real at all.

"Am I going mad?", Stefanie asked eventually, still holding the broom tightly. The simple fact she was talking to her hallucination was an answer on its own.

The creature shrugged. "I don't know, I'm not a shrink", it said, before crouching and jumping down the box. Considering its height, it was an impressive jump, which propulsed it t least a meter away from its observation point. It fell back on its feet in the middle of the floor, and began walking toward the stairs. "Do you have cheese crackers?", it asked before dropping on all fours and half-jumping, half-running its way upstairs.

Stefanie had turned to follow the creature's path, but didn't move beyond, too stunned to react before the fairy reach the top of the stairs.

"So, you're coming?", it asked, sitting on the thresold of the actual house. It rose her from her stupor, and she finally let the broom go against the wall. She was indeed coming, if only to find out what was going on.




The little creature, whose name, Stefanie had discovered, was Athcas, was sitting on the side of a plate, savoring the cheese crackers on it. It had broken them in pieces small enough to manage with its tiny hands, and was now taking crunching mouthfuls between sentences.

"That's when Psozotec came back with a spear in the shoulder. Nasty business, and messy with that. Put blood all over the place. " It took another bite and chewed it thouroughly. "He managed to stop the dripping on your side, but some of it ended up on the wall. Pixie's blood is a thing of nightmare for the housekeepers. Takes spells to get it off anything."

Now I know what it is, at least, Stefanie thought. Not that it's really helpful. Except if that little thing can perform the right spells.

She was sitting as well, but on a chair next to the kitchen table. After they had gone up the stairs, Athcas had run toward the kitchen, as if it knew exactly where it was. From what Stefanie had gathered through the stories the creature had told, it knew indeed, because it wasn't the first time it came to this side of the portal. It seemed that her crackers had really been disappearing from her cupboard those last months.

Athcas finished another cracker, and resumed its story: "And so, here I am, hunting the Dahran. They are all kind of outcasts in Pioga, those Dahrani, but this one seems to be even weirder than the others."

"And what is that... Dahran... supposed to look like?", Stefanie asked.

Athcas shrugged. "Who knows? They are shape-shifters. I've never seen one in its true form, but Irlar told me one of her friend saw one a couple of years ago. It looked like a splash of red jelly. Maybe that's why they never use their true form: they don't really have one to begin with."

Shape-shifters. It was getting better and better. That Dahran could be anywhere. Anything. Stefanie threw a narrow glance at the creature sitting on the plate. "How do I know you aren't the Dahran?", she asked. It was futile, she knew. The answer Athcas would give her wouldn't be of any use to her.

"You don't", the creature replied. "But if I was the Dahran, I would have gone for a shape from this dimension. Edisani's used to your world, he would know how to lay low. Have you seen a cat in your basement recently? Or maybe a rat?"

Stefanie shook her head. "Nothing like that, but with the ventilation system, who knows?"

"Yeah, that's why there should have been a Guardian at that portal. We have no lead whatsoever now."

"We?" Was Stefanie to expect more little creatures to come through her wall? Probably not, since she allegedly closed the portal with her home-made wall scrubber. But maybe there were other portals in town. Or maybe other creatures like Athcas were currently hidding in her closets upstairs.

"Come on", Athcas replied, adressing her a toothy grin. "I don't have any back-up on this side, and I can't call for more right now. You have to help me find another portal, at least. To make up for the one you closed."

Stefanie hadn't expected something like this. Her, getting involved in some supernatural hunt through town. It was getting weirder and weirder. Athcas was still looking at her, hope in its eyes.

"How do you know I'm not the Dahran?", she finally asked, more to gain time than out of curiosity.

"Too big. Dahrani are limited by their height and weight. Don't ask me why, I don't know. So, what do you say?"

Stefanie sighed. "I'm not entirely convinced it's not an elaborate joke, but what the hell? Let's go on an adventure!"