Phantomworks: hey everyone! I've started a little contest on this group site. I'm hoping to see the differences between writing styles and experiences.

Alice: and practice your puppyshipping.

Phantomworks: that too. I'm doing one word and definition per chapter, chosen randomly from a dictionary. My friends here have answered the challenge to do the same word with a different pairing.

Alice; this will be exciting.

Phantomworks; I hope. I don't own Yugioh or its characters, only this fanfic.

Screech

V. to utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound. N. a harsh, shrill cry or sound.

A terrible, soul piercing screech filled the air. It was a horrible, ear-bleeding shriek that cast fear into the hearts of even the bravest man. It belonged to the village's own personal tormenter, the Demon of Ice.

When it picked its target, that was the last thing its victim would ever hear besides the crunch of their bones and their own death-filled screams.

That was why, when that shrill sound split the air, Joey felt his insides grow cold. His head shot up, scanning the air before glancing around him. Why did it have to be today that he coaxed his blind sister to come glean the fields with him? Why did it have to be today that the demon attacked?

Why?!

The demon had not come yet, but there were no other targets around. It would be either him or his sister and he knew if worst came to worst, he'd put himself between them without a single thought.

Spying a dark cover of trees, he grabbed his sister's arm, making her drop the basket.

"Ah! Brother!" she let out a startled squeak and started to fumble for it, unable to tell where it landed.

"Leave it!" he commanded, dragging her towards the clump of trees that would be their safe haven. The awful sound filled her ears again as they neared the undergrowth.

Almost there! He thought, but it was all for not.

Just as suddenly as the shriek had come, clawed hands grasped at his sister who let out a terrified cry as she was ripped from his hands.

"No!" he shouted, lunging at the retreating beast, latching onto his sister before it could fly off. The unexpected weight drew it downwards, but the blonde knew that it would shake him off eventually. Tilting his head back, he yelled, "LET MY SISTER GO! TAKE ME INSTEAD!"

"No, Joey!" Serenity protested, hands gripping his arms blindly, but Joey's request was heard. The demon lowered just enough to release the girl without harming her and snatched her brother up, taking to the skies like it should have before.

"BROTHER! NO! LET HIM GO, LET HIM GO!"

Down below, he could see villagers running from their houses to see what the commotion was. He desperately hoped that they'd find Serenity before she got herself lost. Briefly he wondered if they could see him, could realize who the beast was carrying off.

It they did, there might be a chance that he could be saved.

But as they scrambled about and chased Serenity who had taken off in a mad dash (somehow thinking it would save her brother), that hope died and the ground grew further and further away. Now he was clutching at the scaly paws himself to keep from falling to his doom.

As he watched the tiny village recede from view, his only regret was that he had ever heard that deathly screech in the first place.

Alice:… short.

Phantomworks: hey! It's a drabble! Not even a oneshot!

Alice; short.

Phantomworks; I'm getting used to it! Go easy on me! Anyway, please review and tell me what you think!