When Stunted Hands, Earn A Place With Man - By Mere Monstrosity

The ground had become a cold, dark shell, sick and broken. A barren wasteland compared to the green lushness her ancestors spoke of. Tory, however had never known anything else, damp, dark and dying. She found herself somewhere between Heaven and hell, lost. Everyone she loved, passed, nothing but rotting flesh and memories

Memories of her mother.

Abandoned by the few who remained. Caretakers really, holding on to her for the few possessions she inherited. And they stripped her of everything, at least that is what they thought, and then left her for the hidden things.

The rumors of the reunion of spirits, that once encouraged survival, had now become the angst of her existence. The only one concerned of her whereabouts, was a creature created to protect the secret she held the key to.

"I’ll find my way back to you", murmured the skinless shadow. He growled, spewing chunks of spit. She smelled the stench of death as he gurgled his warning. "You’ll hear me outside your door, waiting to devour every last piece of you and nothing will be able to protect you." He ran his claws down the side of the shack, leaving a visual reminder that she was not dreaming.

Tory cried quietly, it was too late to turn back now. She gripped the stone in her vest and closed her eyes. A tear escaped down her cheek, falling to the dirt, as she repeated. "I will not fail, I will not fail." Her palm began to bleed, as she squeezed her pocket tightly, she continued to chant. "I will not fail" She held the secret stone like a seed, waiting to find the soil needed for it to grow, and become. Like a promise or a dream she remembered.

The mist grew thicker as she crested the peak of the caverns. The moon hung low in the clouds, like a droplet of water on the leaves, casting a terrifying shadow on the jagged rocks. Darkness again. She could hear the creatures baying in the distance, feasting on the unsuccessful hiders in the shadows.

She finally reached the section of the cave she had been warned never to enter. She whispered, "I'm so sorry papa." No matter how many times he told her it was only a story, she knew the witches curse was real. "I promised mama I would find him and bring the cocoon to the ridge of despair to collect the golden flower needed to reverse the spell. " she whispered into the air.

She made her way into the night so black, the darkness hummed. The clouds bid her farewell, covering any light offered by the moon. She disappeared into nothingness, another victim of the shallows?

Full of fear, she fumbled for the stone, she had kept safe in her pocket. Striking it on the unforgiving, fractured surface, a spark pierced the veil of despair. She cupped her hands to cradle the flame, igniting a rag she kept from her village. Her eyes looked sharp and steady into the pit. She felt no control of her body as she began to step forward.

She gasped and her eyes widened when she saw it. The golden flecks glowed like fire through the blackened veins of the leaflike shell imprisoning Tackswurld. The perfect creature rarely seen, as her mother described him.

Her mother was right! She quickly pulled the stone from her pocket. Ashes from the burning rag fell onto her hands, burning her skin. As she flinched, from the pain, the stone fell to the ground. When she knelt, she became aware she wasn't alone. There was a scent of sulfur, she squinted into the void. As her vision cleared, she felt a warm breath on her neck.

"Who are YOU?" a voice from behind her hissed.

" Who dares enter my lair uninvited?" He continued. Her curiosity overrode her common sense, she turned to face the voice. "Uhhh.... she stammered, my name is Tory, I am on a quest to find Tackswurld,... . Before she could finish her introduction, the creature took a deep breath and sprayed fire towards the entrance, lighting the entire cave. "

Get out," it bellowed. Smoke and soot covered Tory. Scared but fearfully determined- she stood her ground.

"I will NOT," she exclaimed. "My mother, Talynn, told me of a way to save my world, and not even you can stop me! " She forcefully held up the stone. "I am here to free Tackswurld and end the witches curse and restore my family." She waited for the beast to respond or eat her. But there was nothing, no sound at all. "hello, are you still here, I can't see you." she scoffed. "HELLO?"

She stood in the darkness for a long while, until she noticed a flicker coming from further inside the cave. She jammed the stone into her pocket and mumbled under her breath as she briskly moved towards it, "I will not fail."

There in the back of the cavern was a small room, with a bed, and a fire in the fireplace. On the floor was some fruit and a small pool of fresh water, running from somewhere off of the top of the mountain. Toby was confused, but her thirst and exhaustion over rode any fear or questions. She sat on the bed and called out to the beast, yet to be seen. "Courage does not always roar, sometimes it simply whispers, I will try again tomorrow." She yawned, and fell fast asleep.

It had been another life since her mother had been in the presence of the mighty beast. The bond and promise made between them, was as fresh as the dew that covered the valley. Tory felt more determined as ever.

Her mother visited her in her dreams. She was aware something was lurking near her, but could not open her eyes. "I am afraid mama," she cried in her sleep, she felt closer to her mother's spirit than she had since her mother died protecting Tory, gifting her the stone.

When Tory awoke, she was surrounded with flowers and enough food to feed an entire village. The cave seemed brighter and she could hear the sound of laughter - just out of sight. She got up and followed the sounds. As she turned the corner, the room opened up into what seemed like a banquet hall. There was no one there, but the laughter continued, floating in the air, all around her. She found herself smiling, and not understanding why. She called out, "hello, who's there? I can hear you, where are you?"

Suddenly, without warning, Tory was knocked to the ground. As she turned to get up, she was enveloped by a large shadow. "The things you hide in your heart will eat you alive, little one." the voice mocked. "What is it that you are hiding? Show me. You came looking for me with a hidden secret, now show me." the voice growing more impatient.

As Tory began to reach for the stone in her pocket, the largest dragon she had ever imagined, flew into the room. "NO, don't listen Tory, it is a trick, an illusion, you are dreaming it!" The room went black. Seething in anger the skinless shadow shrieked, causing her to drop the stone and cover her ears. The creature had found her, and in the voice of her mother- said, "you are pathetic child. How did I ever expect such a weak and worthless imp to carry out such an important task? You should have been devoured in the woods, like the rest."

Horrified, Tory leapt across the floor reaching for the stone. "Too late, it's mine, now!" he smirked. The voice of her mother sounded warped and distorted. Over the creatures shoulder she watched as the dragon turned to defend her and take back the stone. Through his scales she could see the fire building inside the massive beast. She hid herself behind a wall of rocks, as the dragon filled the room with his fiery breath. The creature screamed in agony, still using the sound of her mothers voice, the creature called to Tory for help. "Tory, please help me. I was turned into this creature by the witch to keep an eye on the stone. If the dragon gets the stone, I will be unable to return to my former self. Don't you want me restored, Tory!?" he taunted.

As Tory came out of hiding, she made eye contact with the creature- just as the dragon bit him in two. "NO", Tory screamed, running to the collapsed remains of the creature. Lying on the ground by her feet was the stone, but it was now glowing itself. It began to float, it lingered just in front of Tory, and then directly into the claws of the dragon. As the dragon closed his fists around the stone, Tory saw in the haze, the image of her mother

"Mama!" Tory cr ied. "Mama, it's you - but, h h how?"

For a brief moment, that lasted as long as Tory imagined it, her mother sat with her. She caressed her hair and gently kissed her face, and tried her best to explain the unexplainable.

"My dear, sweet, smart, and ever so brave little warrior child." her mother beamed. "The moment the witch discovered the dragon, she wanted his power. She planned to use this magic stone to destroy the dragon. Our ancestor's called on the beast to protect our world from the wickedness spreading. When she knew for certain she could not obtain his power, she created a second stone to control him. I foiled that plan when I was a child and discovered the stone, my innocence unlocked and sealed the bond between the beast and I. Anytime I was in harms way the dragon would save me. The day I disappeared from the village, from you. She had discovered that the two stones together, altered the beast, joining us as one, making him vulnerable to her magic. We had to leave, to save him. I had no idea what lengths she would go to. I know now, that was a mistake." She paused and wiped away a tear falling down Tory's cheek.

I snuck into camp, leaving the stone and visiting your dreams with the hopes you would find me, and of course, you have." Tory looked her mother up and down, then at the dragon. They were connected.

Her mother continued, "We found you running from the creature, lost in the woods, and did our best to help lead you hear, where we, I, could protect you."

Tory asked, with tears in her voice, "will you ever be free to just be my mama?" Her mothers face softened, and she fought back her own tears.

"No, honey. Separating us without the second stone will kill us both. I have learned that the witch has destroyed it, as punishment for going against her." Taylyn hugged Tory tightly. "But you can visit us here, we are safe here." she said.

Tory sat up and pulled away from her mother, "I won't leave you here, I'm staying!" she demanded.

Her mother turned to face her, "I am no longer just me, Tory. I could turn back into the beast at any moment. I have found a safe place for you to go, far away from the grasp of the witch. I can come and go as I please, so we will never truly be apart again. But for your safety and the safety of the dragon and I, you must go. As long as you posses the stone, I will be with you always, the dragon and I, protecting you," her mother smiled, reassuring Tory that everything would be ok.

With that said, the shape of the dragon returned.

Tory was unafraid, she knew the dragon, and the dragon loved her deeply.