And since I'm digging up old stories that I love, I thought I'd include my other favorite of the time, Kelvin's Crystal. I'm very proud of this one, and it kills me to just leave it as it is without tinkering with it any more. Again, this story originally appeared years ago under my previous pen name, Zakiyah.
Kelvin's Crystal
The light of the four moons trickled through the leaves of the forest, now and then finding a way through to shine down on a lone figure in bright armor and shining shield, trudging though the darkness in a dispirited sort of way. It was unusual to see anyone traversing such a dismal and dangerous place. It was even more unusual to see this particular figure walking alone, without five fiercer friends or even a cowardly unicorn to accompany him.
Eric bravely strode down the torn path left by many giant wolf feet and claws. He encountered the evil, black, jagged, forbidding castle (many would have hesitated at this point, but not Eric the Cavalier!). He strolled in and faced the evil Wizard Kelek-
At this point, Eric's little fantasy always broke down. It always ended up with him exiting at high velocity, screaming most of the way- then getting devoured greedily and needlessly graphically by hungry wolves.
He sighed. "So what do I do when I get there? Maybe I can look for the weapons?" he thought aloud, though there was nobody to hear him. "I've always wanted to try out that bow…"
A small ferret bounded fearlessly along beside him, occasionally nipping at his ankles, though the other critters (a dun hare, a little chipmunk, a chattering squirrel) were too skittish to approach him very closely. A gray sparrow, fluttering overhead, chirped impatiently. As he'd done all night, Eric continued talking to them as if they understood (that being the only thing keeping him from going mad with loneliness).
"Oh, all right," he conceded. "Maybe I should try to find the others first-you think that's a better idea?"
The bird sang a little trill.
"OK. I'll look for the others first. Then we'll all go together-but what's the good of that if we don't have the weapons? I hate this. I wish Hank were here. He'd think of something clever, like sending you guys in first. What do you think of that? Ya wanna go scout out a castle for me?"
The squirrel, dark of pelt with bright beady eyes, flashed daringly from one swaying, unsteady perch to another in the branches above him. It chattered at him from a low tree branch, as if to tell him he was out of his skull.
"I'll take that as a big fat no…" he trailed off. He missed having someone who would give him a snippy comeback. "That's funny," he said out loud, "I didn't think I'd miss Diana so much. I mean, she's always snapping at me, but y'know? I miss it. She was kinda funny. I hope she's ok. I hope they're all OK." His stomach growled. "Man. I wish Presto were here, too. I don't care what he brought out of his hat, I'm so hungry I'd even eat duct tape! Maybe I can find some berries or something."
He trudged along miserably, wishing he'd never left the others (whatever fix they were in, at least he wouldn't be alone!), wishing he knew he was going the right way, wishing that Dungeonmaster would appear again to guide him further. He would have taken back the previous day in an instant, had it been possible.
It was cold. It was wet. But the worst thing about the rain was Eric's constant, ceaseless complaining.
"I'm tired! C'mon, Hank, can't we take a break? We've been slogging along for hours, and there's no sign of the little creep."
Hank had answered this complaint a dozen times over, and did not to deign to answer it again.
"I'm starving!" was Eric's next theme.
None of them had eaten since the previous evening, and now they were all reminded of that fact. Stomachs began growling and tempers began fraying. Bobby, walking behind Eric, mimed clubbing the obnoxious Cavalier over the head, and Sheila let out a giggle.
"What?" Eric whirled with exasperation to face the two. "You know somethin' I don't?"
"No, Eric, but if you don't shut yer big yap about food, I'm gonna make you eat this club!" retorted Bobby.
"Tall talk there, Shorty!" Eric replied, and Bobby lost his grin.
"Leave him alone, Eric," Sheila snapped. "Let's just keep moving, OK?"
I'm not going anywhere until I get something to eat. Presto, can't you pull something edible out of that stupid hat?"
Presto rolled his eyes. "If it will get you be quiet, I'll try anything." He pulled off his sodden hat and wrung it out. "Abra-ca...aw, I can't think of a dumb rhyme, just give me something to make Eric shut up!"
The wrinkled hat glowed, and spit out a roll of duct tape. There was laughter all around.
"Very funny, Presto," Eric growled, and everyone laughed harder. If there was one thing Eric hated, it was being laughed at. "All right, you creeps! I'm outa here! You can go slogging through this crud looking for the Mighty Munchkin of Many Riddles if you want, but I'm going to find a place with some food! And a fire! And a ROOF!" he shouted. And he turned and began slogging off through the mud.
"Eric, where are you going?" called Diana.
"I don't care! Anwyhere's better'n here!" He didn't bother turning around, making for a field dotted with soggy sheep, obviously reasoning the sheep farm- or perhaps a town- must be nearby.
The rest of the gang, their own nerves stretched to the breaking point, were very tempted to let him go without even a hint of protest. After a brief and significant pause, in which Eric's anger soared- were they seriously going to just let him lose himself for good?- Hank ran to catch up to him.
"Look...here's what we have left over from Presto's last magic show. Why don't you get us all some food- we'll wait for you by those trees."
We all need a break from you, was what Eric read in Hank's eyes. Eric took the few coins wordlessly and stomped away.