A Fair Maidan's Kiss

The summer in Auster is much milder than normal… not that the young Jericho would know that since this is his very first summer. The heat does not agree with his darker coat so the boy often stays near the waterfall of the pack land, dunking his small form in the cool waters as necessary to battle the overwhelming warmth that clings to him. Yet, today, the youth is not near the waterfall or even his pack’s land because, today, he is hunting down a dragon. Small paws lightly press into the leaf littered forest floor as the boy attempts to be stealthy, his young mind transforming the landscape around him into a grand battlefield.

Innumerable eyes that belong to strange, unseen foes glisten in the dark, fathomless depths of the swirling fog because each step the boy takes is watched by the evil agents of the horrible Duke. The castle that lays close to Ethne lands obviously houses Princesses and this mean old Duke has stolen the very prettiest one that there is and, even worse, has a dragon guarding her. Jericho is duty bound to retrieve the woman that is hidden in here and return her to the safety of her home.

Jericho’s trusty sword is held aloft in his maw as he slides gracefully through the strange woods, a bird’s warbling song suddenly becoming the battle cry of his enemy. The boy swings around, brandishing his stick-sword high, growling threateningly at the first opponent that appears. A rabbit hops through the underbrush, rustling bushes and leaves and forcing the boy to ward off a huge, burly knight. Jericho growls as he swings his sword around wildly, deflecting the enemy’s crazy blows and pressuring the bad guy away. Finally, he claims victory, sending the brawny guard running with his tail between his legs.

Tail wags triumphantly as he trots onward, searching for the place the big ol’ dragon his hidden the beautiful Princess. A twist in his narrow path brings an unknown, bright blue glow into sight and the boy cautiously moves toward it. Suddenly, an opening appears and there, on a tall rock stands the heavenly vision of the most glorious Princess that has ever live. Jericho’s mouth drops open as he stares in awe at his Princess, youthful eyes blinking in wide-eyed astonishment and... love.

His make-believe sword drops from his hold as he moves forward a step, willing this vision to be real and not one of his made-up stories. But, as she turns her head toward him and he suddenly knows that he could never imagine someone so pretty. Twisting vines litter the floor and, as he moves forward, one of the boy’s paws happens upon its thorny embrace, pricking the pad and driving him backward as he lets out a small, startled yelp. White eyes flick from vine, to sword, to Princess and his painful paw is immediately forgotten.

Spreading his stance wide, the pup puffs out his chest and calls, “Ho there! Beautiful Princess! It is I, Sir Jericho, here to rescue you from the foul dragon’s clutches! Be brave my darling and I will free you shortly!” They were words that the boy has picked up in some books that he had squirreled away about Knights and this kind of stuff so they must be important. Reaching down, he seizes his stick sword and lifts it high, shouting out a warrior’s cry as he lunges toward the large snarl of roots and thorny vines at the base of his sweetheart’s rock, furiously smacking at them with his stick and sending broken pieces of shrubby every-which-way.

After several puppy-growled filled moments, the brush lays decimated at his paws. Panting, the boy steps back and bends his knees, plunging his stick into the ground as he bows his head and says, “Fair Princess. I have vanquished the beast and am here to set you free. I am, your humble servant.” There he waits, on bended knees for the unknown Princess to descend from her tower and allow him the honor of escorting her home… or something.



WC: 683
Total WC: 683 / 1500


"Jericho Agatsuma-Kedieo"