Chapter 5: Jade
Ferrin huddled in the corner of the cavern, his face buried in his knees. Ahead of him was the beast; who now dragged a lifeless corpse towards the mouth of the cave. Ferrin quickly learned what the mystery meat was. The beast explained to him that the old fisherman he had harvested had insulted him once the creature had landed nearby for a drink of water. Afterward, he had attempted to shoot a bow at the creature. In return, the beast had made him into a meal. Ferrin now was hungrier than he had ever been, despite the rotting smell that arose in the air. When he first learned of what he had nearly eaten, he quickly emptied his stomach of all food he had previously digested. It had been two days since then. But again as the stench from the decaying corpse filled the room, Ferrin was feeling ill once more.
He hid his face, not wanting to see the horrors of what was ahead of him. Before he saw it, and that on its own was an image burned into his brain. The man was unrecognizable. You would barely even think of him as human... His limbs were mostly torn off, and his guts had been spilling out of him. The beast made it very clear that he tried his best not to waste food. So most of the man had already been eaten. Ferrin clutched onto his knees as he hears the body being dragged across the stone floor. The beast then simply shoved it towards the edge of the high cliff with his foot, and finally pushed it off. The boy glances up as he hears. Shortly after, the sound of crashing water from the stream at the temples base came in the distance.
The beast turned, looking towards Ferrin. He tiltes his head and showed a pouting expression.
"You haven't been much fun y'know..." He whined with a huff. Ferrin lifted his gaze, glaring at the beast a bit.
"I want to go back..." He muttered defiantly. The creature sighed.
"I already told you no. You're staying. Stop asking me!" He snapped back quickly. It was clear that he was getting irritated with Ferrin. Ferrin looked away, staring elsewhere. He didn't want to look at him anymore. The beast again made a whining sound.
"You've barely even moved! That's boring! We're supposed to play, Jade. But all you do is sit there and cry... I don't even like this form you know. But I stay in it so you won't be scared of me. You'll just cry again I'm sure…" He declared, stomping his foot a bit. Ferrin peeked back towards him. He considered arguing, or even insulting the creature. Ferrin quickly decided against it, remembering when he was nearly strangled to death.
"Because I don't want to stay here. I want to go back... "The boy simply repeated. The beast narrowed his eyes to slits, puffing angrily. His face reddened a bit. It was clear he was unhappy. The creature slowly, and calmly began to waltze towards Ferrin. The boy whimpered in fear, flattening himself to the corner as it came closer. He was terrified of the thing. And already he could tell the beast was angry. The creature crouched beside him, reaching out and grabbing Ferrin by the hair. He tugged, lifting Ferrin to face him. Ferrin squirmed, whining from the stinging feeling.
"Ask again, and I will hurt you. You're making me angry." The beast grumbled sinisterly. Ferrin looked up at him, his heart racing. He trembled, unsure of what to say even. Ferrin couldn't help but remember again when the creature had pinned him down and nearly killed him. The beast tugged tighter on his sandy blonde hair upon hearing no response, the boy'shead pulled along with it. He yelped, his scalp stinging.
"Do you understand me!?" The beast suddenly belted, showing his teeth. Ferrin winced, frantically nodding.
"Y-Yes!" He responded, turning his face away. The beast's horrid breath wafted again around him. He swallowed hard, half anticipating to be hit. But the thing's features quickly relaxed. He released Ferrin's hair, again patting him on the head.
"Good Jade. You don't need the village. All you need is me. Okay?" He said softly, his large amethyst eyes searching over Ferrin's expression. The boy gulped and silently nodded again. A smile creeps over the Beast's expression. He leaned in, wrapping his arms around Ferrin and pulling him into an unwanted embrace. The creature nuzzles his neck and shoulder, wrapping his long tail around Ferrin's bare waist. He then sort of encased Ferrin against the wall with his great wings, pulling him even closer. He chirped softly, placing most of his weight on the boy.
Ferrin frowned, tugging his head away, tense. The beast did this often. Especially when it decided to sleep. Which generally was morning and afternoon on the exception of Ferrin's day of arrival. The beast also seemed to expect Ferrin to sleep at these odd times too. Almost anytime he drifted off at night the creature would wake him, exclaiming how silly it would be to sleep then. Ferrin with all of this found himself exhausted, hungry, in pain, and entirely hopeless. He was beginning to hate the creature more and more each day. Ferrin huffed, struggling to breathe as the beast tightened its grip. He gasped a bit, squirming from under him.
"Um... Beast?" He muttered. The creature pulled away a bit, lifting his head to look at him, waiting.
"I... I haven't eaten anything... " Ferrin said, his tone a bit shaky. Hopefully, the creature would let go of him by this request… The beast frowned.
"I tried to feed you already. You didn't want it." He stated. Ferring gulped and nodded.
"Well... Humans can't eat meat raw. And... We don't beat each other either..." He expressed nervously. The beast listened, tilting his head curiously.
"Why not?"
"We'll fall ill..."
The creature sat back in thought, releasing Ferrin completely now. His wings shake and flutter behind himself, comfortable again in their natural position.
"Like last night you mean?" he finally asked, referring to when Ferrin had thrown up. The boy nodded slowly. The beast nodded back in understanding.
"I will bring you something else then. I'll hunt once it gets dark again. I hate to fly in the day, you see... " He said casually. Suddenly the beast's features brightened up. He began to bounce a bit, a wide smile on his face. He squealed happily.
"Oh, I just remembered!" He beamed as he hops up to his feet. He turned towards his hoard of jewels, quickly beginning to claw out handfuls. Ferrin watched, curious. He wasn't sure at all what the beast was doing. He often would randomly have moments of excitement. The creature was simply put: unpredictable. Ferrin eyed him, unsure of what to expect. Suddenly it seemed the thing had found what he was looking for, cause he had loudly squealed again in excitement. He whipped around, holding a square light green box with gold trim. The beast quickly pranced back towards the boy, setting the box in front of him. It was small and decorated. It was completely made of a type of stone. No.. not any stone… pure polished jade. Was this the object that the beast had decided to rename Ferrin after? The beast smiled.
"See? Like your eyes! Open it!" The beast enthused. Ferrin glanced up at him and then down at the very expensive appearing box. He reached out, unlatching it before flipping it open. Ferrin gazed inside the box. The inside had a small white silk cushion. Wrapped around was a beautiful beaded bracelet with the same stone as the box. The beads seemed to be lined on a silver chain, held in place with the same material. Ferrin glanced back up towards the creature who smiled back innocently at him.
"Do you like it? Try it on!" He exclaimed. Ferrin listened before hesitantly reaching into the small oriental box. He lifted out the cushion. Ferrin then pulled off the bracelet carefully, widening his eyes a bit as he looked over it. Ferrin had never held something so pretty before. Let alone worth so much. Ferrin's most expensive belonging was most likely the dark blue jacket he would wear to the shrine on the sabbath. But that too was worth little compared to this. Worth nothing even. He peeked up towards the beast. Something about touching this felt wrong. Like it was something Ferrin was not meant to have. But still, the creature gave him an urging expression. Ferrin placed it around his wrist, attaching a small clip that held it together.
He looked over it carefully. Something like this... It would look much better on Lavender... A pain suddenly twinged at his chest... Lavender... He wondered how she was taking his disappearance. She probably figured he was dead... He had already guessed what his father had done to cope. Certainly not visit the shrine. Most likely he drowned his sorrows within mead and ale: just as with the disappearance of their mother. But how had Lavender reacted last time she was grieving? Ferrin then had realized. While he had sought peace within in the goddess, his sister had done the opposite. She resented the goddess. Instead, she had pushed nearly everyone but Ferrin away. She relied on him.. And he relied even heavier on her. On her and the goddess. And now he had neither.
Ferrin glanced down at the pendant that still hung around his neck. He clutched onto it, tears filling his eyes. The beast watched him, his expression falling.
"Do you not like it?" He asked with a saddened tone. Ferrin was tugged out of his thoughts, again remembering the bracelet. He sniffed and glances up at the beast.
"Oh.. Uh.. No, it's lovely. Thank you..." He said, his voice faltering. It was not his intention to upset the creature again. He already learned that it's feelings were very fragile. Ferrin pushed back the tears. The beast puffed a bit.
"Then why are you crying?" He asked with a tilt of his head. Ferrin glanced away from him, staring off at the stone wall.
"I just thought of something... I'm fine..." He responded in a mutter, wiping at his eyes with his wrist. The beast however only continues to scorn. He sighed heavily.
"Humans are so strange..." He stated with a shake of his head. Ferrin ignored this, again losing himself in his thoughts. Then he had a sudden realization.
"Ah... Beast?" He questioned again, a bit nervous. The beast turns back towards him.
"You know... I have a name. I don't like it when you call me that." He grumbled. Ferrin frowned to himself. He hadn't even thought of the possibility of the creature having a name. He couldn't fathom who would have named him... Maybe the lady that it had kept referring to.
"I didn't know... Sorry." He muttered. The beat shrugged.
"Well, you never asked either... My name is Teres. You can call me that." He stated. Ferrin nodded. It was not a strange name like he had expected... Though still not one he had heard of before. The beast rocked back and forth playfully.
"Anyways, yes?" He questioned. Ferrin then again remembered.
"Oh.. Um.. How did you collect all these things?" He asked curiously. Ferrin had thought of this before, but he realized there was no way of knowing unless he asked. And he genuinely did want to know... Teres shrugged, his tail swishing in the air.
"Most of it was here already. But I found some other stuff in the temple and brought it back.. And then some things I found near the village." He said.
"I think they were gifts to the Goddess. She told me this temple used to bring people and creatures from all over the world. But when the depths touched the earth, people stopped coming. I think most don't know it's even here anymore. Except for that nice lady. She left some gifts too... " The beast explained. Ferrin frowns again as he listened.
"The Goddess... She speaks to you?" He asked. The beast nodded again casually.
"Well of course. She rebirthed me. I am now one of her children. I am the balance." He explained. Though Teres made this all sound very simple, Ferrin didn't understand any of it. He had never heard of this before. And it had been ages since the Goddess had last been known to speak to anyone.
"The balance? What do you mean?" He asked. Ferrin was desperate to know more. This was his faith after all… Such an evil thing communicating with the Goddess seemed near impossible.
"Of course. I was born in the depths. But instead of worshipping my father, I worshiped the Goddess. I prayed and asked to be born under her instead. So she became my mother. See? That's why I live here in her temple." The beast responds. Ferrin tried to soak up the information he was suddenly just given. A creature from the depths... That didn't surprise him. But Teres serving the goddess? That was hard to believe. Did she not hear the prayers of the villagers? Did she condone the beast's terrorization? Ferrin again glanced towards the pendant around his neck. Did she even care for humans? Ferrin felt a sinking in his stomach. Did she hear his prayers either? His hopes and dreams of escape? Or did she simply dismiss them? Ferrin had wondered this before... But now... He could barely take the thought. Lavender had already figured this. Reiterated it. It terrified Ferrin to think she may have been right. Teres clearly noticed Ferrin's pained expression because just a moment later he started to pat Ferrin's head.
"Did you have another thought?" He asked with a patronizing sort of tone. Ferrin subtly pulled away. He didn't feel like answering. He gazed down at his bare lap, saying nothing. The beast sighed, pulling his hand away. He glanced towards the entrance of the cavern. The sun was sinking lower, and the room was growing dim
"I'll go get you food soon I suppose." He said before bringing himself to his feet. He turned, his wings flapping a bit. Ferrin kept his eyes on him. He was relieved at least, though nervous. Ferrin was unsure what Teres would think to bring him. But at least he was no longer being unnecessarily touched. Besides that... Ferrin could maybe look for a way out while the beast was gone… If such a thing was unsuccessful he could at least get rid of the starving feeling.
Soon enough time had passed. The sun was nearly below the horizon. Only a few rays made their way into the cave. It was dark but still visible. The beast stood at its entrance, squatted in a perch. Ferrin still sat in the corner of the room, watching and waiting. Teres turned to look back at him but the again quickly turned away. His tail swishes and his broad wings fluttered slightly. The beast adjusted himself, clutching tightly on the stony ground.
Suddenly a purple mist began to appear from the air around the creature. It fogged around him. Ferrin watched, his jaw-dropping in shock. The mist glowed dully, swirling around the creature until he was completely covered. Ferrin squinted his eyes, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening beneath the vale of purple, but it was much too thick to see through. The mass of color began to expand, larger and larger; filling up the room almost. Finally, it fell all at once, almost like the sparks of fireworks... Before it could reach the ground however it had evaporated into thin air. Standing in the place of the man with wings was again the beast Ferrin had first seen and gotten to know. Teres puffed his broad feathered chest out, confident in his natural form. He made one last glance at Ferrin. With a goodbye chirp, he leaped from the mouth cave. The creature beat his massive wings, swooping off into the distance.
Ferrin sat shocked. He had never seen such a miraculous thing... It was hard not to be surprised. He glances around. There was no time to linger on it. For the first time, the boy was alone in the cavern. He stood slowly, and carefully. He hadn't explored much more than the corner of the cave. Teres hadn't allowed him to wander towards the edge, nor the other side, and was very strict about the boy stepping too close to his treasures. But now there was no one to stop him. As Ferrin stood, he clutched at his waist. A sharp pain had reminded him of his wound. He leaned, grabbing the wall for support. Ferrin's legs wobbled a bit, standing for the first time in hours.
Beyond that, it was cold... Very cold. And much colder away from the soft feathers and bedding. He longed for something to cover his body... Anything. He knew that the beast had no concept of clothing. He was an animal before a man after all, But Ferrin still had a difficult time adjusting to his and the creature's nudity both. He felt exposed, uncomfortable, and embarrassed... He had even considered asking for clothing of some sort, but Ferrin was unsure of where he or the beast would even find such a thing. He realized he'd either have to find some way to make his own or simply orient himself to constant nudity. He catched his breath, shivering from the cold. Ferrin pushed himself off and away from the wall. He started towards the direction of Teres's collection. He had yet to even explore past this half of the cavern. He hadn't even seen behind the mound of jewels and gold.
Soon enough however he reached the middle of the room. And what he saw... He couldn't have expected it... A doorway. Just behind the pile. There it was, an entryway, very dark and very small. Ferrin already knew he would have to bow his head down simply to walk through it. And he was quite short. But he was determined. Could it be a way out? Would he be able to outrun the beast? Ferrin hastefully started towards it, adrenaline coursing through him.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone