My nose detects
Intruders in this forest
Of mine…
I jump down from
The platform
On which I perch
To watch my territory.
I land like a cat,
Well, my species,
Though now very near
Extinction,
Is very catlike…
I close my eyes
And breathe in deeply
Through my nose.
There! The stink
Of decaying flesh.
Hmmm…
Someone is dead…
Or else they are
Of the undead
Variety…
I follow my nose
Towards the source
Of the smell…
My name,
If you must know,
Is Nitokros,
And yes, I am half-demon,
But not half-human.
The other half is Elf,
But the demon
Was a demon
Of the dead—
But, yet, not like
Other demons.
He was kind and gentle.
That is why
It is said my
Species is nearly
Extinct.
I have found
The source
Of the smell.
But I don't see
It right away.
My hand reaches
Toward my sword,
The Tchaimega,
In preparation for defense.
I needn't
Wait long.
Is it a demon?
I do not know,
But it is massive
And rotting.
It is well armed—
But what kind of blade
Is that?
I have not
Seen the likes
Of such a weapon
Before…
My hand grips
The hilt
Of my sword.
I see him
Prepare
To swing the blade.
I wait.
Now! I unsheathe
The Tchaimega
And block it.
The impact rings
Throughout the forest.
So much for silence.
I leap nimbly
Backwards,
Away from this beast.
I sheath my sword.
I race away
And climb into the trees.
Who was that?
I do not know,
And perhaps never
Will…