October 16, 2004: I know. The chaplet thing sucks. I'm sorry, but it's the only way to get this chapter done and let not let y'all die of cliffhangerness (which is, by the way, the twenty-seventh highest killer of Jamaicadian men over seventy-two). So. I love you all! hopeful look Oh, and how did everyone like "Teacher of the Year" last night? Dude, it was awesome.
In the actual Star City, there is a downtown market area. It's got this yellow awning and stretches around this 6-story building in the downtown area. Nawab's is an actual restaurant down there, though I've never been there- I had to make up all the decorations and stuff. And there is a bridge that you have to cross to get to downtown Star City. And there is an actual library that sits on a hill that overlooks a park (Elmwood Park, to be precise) that rich, snobsters rent to have Coming Out parties for their respective brats.
Congrats to Ghostly Hamburger, who correctly identified a "chaplet" as a string of beads! Also a garland and some stuff.... mumbles Here's your cookie, GH: --O-- No, those aren't tentacles- that's the yummy smell coming off of it. Be proud, girl! Anywho, this chaplet has to do with the thing that Danny saw in the alley.
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Danny in Star CityChapter 8.2: Beastie Attack
The creature, easily ten feet tall, dragged itself out of the cramped alleyway, stretching its misshapen body like a cat. It had a powerful, four-legged body, much like one of a bull or an ox. Muscles rippled under the sleek black fur and diamond-hard hooves stomped the ground impatiently. A human torso sprouted where the neck and head of the creature should have been. One hand was clenched, the thumb absently running over silver knuckles; the other held a spear, sharpened to a deadly point and held with an almost cocky recklessness. Its face was that of a bull's, a large ring pierced between the nostrils and a pair of short, stubby ears poking up from the ungroomed mane. Its storm-colored eyes were truly startling, for their appearance was nothing less than human.
"Minotaur," Danny heard Eliza whisper in awe. The creature blinked at them and they all stood there, slightly dumbfounded at the unexpected developments.
The attack was sudden, though not entirely unexpected; uttering not so much as a battle cry, the minotaur launched itself at Danny with a speed associated with creatures far smaller than itself. The halfa dodged, but wasn't able to completely avoid the blow.
Danny slammed into the brick wall. It took a few seconds for gravity to kick in, and he slid down into a heap on the cold cement. There was a sharp crack as his left ulna snapped under the force of his weight and the fall. He was dimly aware of the beast stalking towards him as intense pain jetted from his arm.
Do something, do something! he yelled at himself, but his body didn't seem to want to cooperate. His mind had gone fuzzy and the pain was getting more severe by the moment; he was pretty sure that the white stub poking out of his lower arm was bone. There was little else he could do but watch as the creature flexed its free hand and reached towards the halfa.
"Hey, big boy! That's right, I'm talking to you, mino-freak!"
The minotaur turned, puzzled at being addressed so fearlessly by such a small creature. The creature in question had a fiery mass of hair and was glaring defiantly with gray eyes.
"Eliza, don't-" Danny tried to say, but the girl wouldn't be deterred.
"Why don't you come over here and pick on someone your own size?" she demanded, quickly measuring the distance between herself and the far end of the alley in her mind. Coming to the decision that she could probably run for it, she started edging down the dark passageway. She was about to dash off when she realized that her brother wasn't there.
"Todd," she whispered urgently, spotting the nine-year-old cowered against the wall. The minotaur followed her gaze and snorted, turning its attention to the little boy. Eliza started running for her brother when the beast flicked its spear towards her in an almost offhanded manner. She jerked before it pierced her skin, but in turn, that caused the back of her shirt to be pinned by the blade.
Shaking now, Todd began to creep along the wall, but a massive hand blocked his process. The creature picked him up and brought him to eye level, displaying a large amount of sharp teeth in its smile.
"I-I-I'm not afraid of you," the boy stuttered. A loud grunt, which was interpreted to be a "yeah, right" laugh, escaped from the minotaur's mouth. It lowered its head towards its prey-
"Todd!" Eliza screamed. The beast inhaled a pale, smoky mist coming out of Todd's mouth. The boy had stopped struggling altogether and color was slowly being bleached out of his skin and clothes.
Out of nowhere, a black-and-white blur launched itself feet first at the beast's back. Shuddering a bit under the impact, the creature looked up, momentarily distracted from its prey. Danny was hovering a few meters about his head, breathing heavily.
"You...." he raised up his good arm, "leave him.... alone!"
Though only half as powerful as his usual ones, Danny's ectoplasmic blast hurt the minotaur. Roaring defiance at its returned enemy, the beast tossed Todd to the ground. Eliza struggled, trying to free herself to get to her brother's side as Danny gathered strength for a second blast.
The opportunity never came. The beast suddenly cocked its head and flared its ears, as though listening to something. Danny thought that the could just make out a chime in high soprano when the minotaur snorted in consent. It pawed at the ground with one hoof and looked the halfa in the eye, making a silent promise to continue the fight; then it galloped off, fading from sight with each step.