Facilier's about sixteen when this takes place. Own nothing; please review.
A young Facilier was walking back to the tree-boat after spending the day alone in the swamp. He needed some time alone to practice his magic and enjoy his own company. He had stayed out far longer than he should have and he knew it. Mama Odie had always warned him about being out in the swamp past dark, about the creatures that came out. When he was younger he had listened to her warning, but he was now at that age when children rebelled against what their parents had told them and at sixteen, Facilier was arrogant enough to think he could handle anything he met in the swamp.
It was dark out and Facilier was having some trouble finding his way back. The trees were mostly covering the sky and the only light came from the fireflies. Well, those, and the eyes of the gators. Most people would be put off, walking so close to such dangerous animals, but Facilier recognized these gators and therefore, wasn't worried. What did worry him though, was when the gators suddenly submerged and the fireflies and spoonbills disappeared. As he neared a small clearing, he heard an unnatural screech and hid behind a tree. He peaked out and froze.
There were five of them, Shadows, they same kind Odie had warned him about. He watched them, his heartbeat quickening and the blood pounding in his ears. He remembered the stories Mama Odie had told him, how the Shadows ate the souls of whatever they could catch, how they were destroyed by the light. His throat tightened as his mind raced. He knew what would happen if they found him. They would kill him, yes, but that wasn't what frightened him. If the stories Odie had told him were true, death wouldn't come swiftly. They would taunt him, torture him, only ending his life when he was desperate with pain and fear. In the end, death would be a release.
He watched the shadows as they talked amoungst themselves, the screeches they sed to communicate peircing him to his very core. He glanced around and recognized the terrain. The boat wasn't far from where he was, but he still needed to slip away without the shadows seeing him. If they did, he'd be forced to fight, which he wasn't sure he could win. Light spells weren't his forte, and as far as shadow fighting goes, his purple colored fire wouldn't cut it. If it was another color he would have had a better chance, but it wasn't. Facilier swallowed and began to back away.
A twig snapped and Facilier froze, fear all but consuming him. The shadow stopped talking and looked around, searching for the source of the noise. Suddenly, a spoonbill flew down into a tree, flapping its wings and catching the attention of the shadows. Taking advantage of the bird's distraction, Facilier turned and fled.
He didn't stop running until he reached the boat. He ran inside and slammed the door behind him, his breath coming in short, labored gasps, heart still pounding from his encounter with the shadows. He looked around the room and didn't see anyone, drawing a chuckle out of his lips. He slumped down onto the floor with his back to the door, rather pleased with how he had snuck in unnoticed. That was until he was hit in the head by a gumbo spoon.
Uh-oh, he's in trouble. By the by, what do you think Facilier was doing alone in the swamp? I'll give you a hint, he was 'enjoying his own company' and he's a teenage boy. ;)