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"Different"
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Artist: CatleenEmail: Catleen1@hotmail.com Website: --
Character's Story: Story line by: Catleen Ban It was a warm day in the country of Syllumina. The day was almost perfect with an occasional cool breeze running through the outskirts of the small town, Vegrandis. A wanderer was walking through the forest into the upcoming town. The only sound was leaves crunching under his and his horses' feet, and the occasional chirping of a near by sparrow. The wanderer, who by name is Rogue, stopped when he heard a soft crying. His four winged horse looked at him, equally puzzled. Who would leave a child out in the forest? This thought ran through both of their heads. Rogue led Chow-Lee to the noise at a swift pace. They stopped abruptly in-front of a baby rapped in white silks covering it's face and body. Rogue carefully unwrapped the baby and never thought he would ever see what he did on that day. At first it might have looked like a normal child. But two eyes, one blue, the other purple, and two wings, that of a demon, the other of and angel was not normal. Also, a similar pattern was followed along the child's skin that also had a strong similarity to the pattern on Rogue's armor. He showed the baby to Chow-Lee, who in return, sniff the top of her head. The baby laughed with glee. "It's as if she came from the Heaven, Chow-Lee." Rogue said softly admiring the child. Chow-Lee shook her head up and down, agreeing with him. Rogue looked around to see if the baby belong to anyone. Then turned back to the baby. She was pulling on a piece of his white long hair. "It seams as though this young child was abandoned. It's best that we take her into the next town. Its odd, however, the eyes, and wings on this poor thing. I shall name her Laythie, after the goddess of luck." Rogue said leading Chow-Lee out of the forest. Chow-Lee snorted, apparently offended that she too had wings and was not ashamed of them. *** 16 years later, Laythie was running around in the square of Vegrandis trying to fly something that looked like a kite. Several younger children of the town was watching. Laythie was laughing the whole time, while several other girls her age looked at her in disgust. Laythie felt the wind catch in her wings as she ran around a tall statue that was in the remembrance of an old mayor. "Who does she think she is, showing her wings around here?" Whispered one girl with long scraggly blond hair to a girl with a pointed nose. "She thinks just because that man took her in 16 years ago, that she must think she is better then all of us." The girl with a pointed nose said. The blond haired girl nodded. "And those atrocious wings. She's the devil, I tell." The two girls snicked and watched Laythie hand the kite over too one of the younger children. "Thank you, Miss. Laythie!" Said a little mouse haired boy. "Don't mention it." Laythie said patting the mouse haired boy on the head. Laythie helped him get the kite in the air by running around the square. She smiled. Then a tall dark shadow appeared in behind her. She spun around. "Laythie, I thought I told you not to play around the square with that thing. You could hurt someone." Said a tall man with long white hair. "But you used to swing swords, and protect the innocent, and now you are worrying about me poking the mayor's eye out. Not that I would care." Laythie said defensively to Rogue. Rogue let a long sigh and sat down next to the old statue. Laythie joined him. Some kids look interest from where they where watching the mouse haired boy with the kite. "That was a long time ago. And I still protect the innocent, if you neglected to notice, just like your studies. And you must pay the mayor more respect then that." Rogue said showing some signs of his age. Even though he was still young, Laythie could not help but to notice. "The only reason why the mayor of this town lets you and me stay is because you promised to protect it from thieves and attackers, and occasionally you might tell a good story to some of the kids here." She said crossing her arms. Rogue turned to look at her and laugh. "I wouldn't be here if I had not found you. You don't think I would go into battles while trying to make sure you had enough food to eat, do you?" Rogue's smile slowly faded away when he saw Laythie did not find it amusing. Laythie wrapped her wings around herself. "Rogue, why do I have wings?" She asked watching the children now try and get the kite back into the air. Rogue looked up at the sky. "Laythie, you are a special girl, and I want you to know that. Physical appearances change nothing. Its who you are that matters."Rogue said. Then something loomed in front of them. "Rogue, I have job for you." Said a short stumpy man wearing what looked like a red dress suit."I need you to stop by the main gates tonight for something I have planned." The man said curtly. "For what, mayor?" Rogue asked standing up. He towered over the man and seemed intimidating, without even realising it. He put his hand on a scabbard that hung lazily from his belt. The short man addressed as the mayor eyed it cautiously. "You won't be needing that." He said, his gaze not leaving the scabbard. "I will fill you in with the details later. I need you there in six krounuses. Got that?" Rogue nodded, his hand falling away from the scabbard. "And Rogue, get that horrible thing out of my sight." The mayor said motioning towards Laythie. "HORRIBLE!?" Laythie yelled, jumping up at the sound of her name and the word 'horrible.' "I wouldn't speak you large walking pig!" All of the children, including the two girls who where trying to listen in all stoped what they where doing. The mayor smiled smugly. Laythie had her hands in fists and was ready to wipe the look off the mayor's face. "Laythie!" Rogue exclaimed. Looking between the mayor and Laythie he felt stuck. He was about to say something but the mayor interrupted. "If you can't control that monstrosity you brought in, I'm afraid we will need to through her out!" The mayor said relishing in Laythie's anger. Laythie's hands now flew from her sides and was inches from the mayor's face. With lightning quick speed Rogue caught Laythie's hand before blood could leak out the mayor's nose. "Well," the mayor said haughtily, pushing down Laythie's hand. "I'm sure that explain's enough. If I ever see this girl, anywhere in my sights, you are personally fired, Mr. Rogue Trailblazer." Rogue seemed to still be caught in mid-speech. He saw Laythie trembling. This meant, without a job as the town's personal body guard, he would need to begin his life as a wandering warrior again. And this also meant Laythie could never be sen by the public eye again. "Yes, sir" "This is your last chance, Rogue. Good day to you." And the short stubby mayor waddled away muttering to himself. Rogue walked away without even glancing at Laythie. Laythie had felt the most alone then she ever had in her whole life. *** Laythie stirred in her sleep. She got up out of the cotton blankets and walked out the door into the brisk night air. She walked over to a horse's pen and went inside. Sleep had not come so easily for her that night. A soft 'neigh' was heard in that stall which Laythie was heading to. She open the stall door and saw Chow-Lee. Chow-Lee sprang up from lying on the ground and trotted over to Laythie. Laythie stroked Chow-Lee's head in between her ears. The horse let out a neigh of content. "At least you don't care what I look like." Laythie said to the horse. Chow-Lee look into Laythie's eyes. Tears where welling up in them. "Why do I exist for people to stare at me? It's not like I want to be different." Chow-Lee reassured her by placing her head on her shoulder. Laythie laughed a little at the horse's understanding of her. Then she heard it. A long wail was let out from somewhere in the town. Laythie ran out of the stall so fast and down the dirt road that she total forgot about the mayor's threat. Chow-Lee was left in her stall trying to look out around the door to see where Laythie had ran off to. Several people where coming out of their houses to see what was going on. None to soon did she hear that long painful sound again. She ran to it. No! It came from the one place she had dreaded. The main gates.... When she arrived, before everyone else, the ground was covered in blood. The smell was sickening. Laythie was not looking for the source of the mess, but the murder behind it. The culprit was nowhere to be seen. Laythie then heard a rasping noise coming from in behind a stack of hey. She ran over to look, but wish she never did. Rogue was covered in blood from the top of neck, all the way down to his hands. Laythie could not help but to let out a gasp. He had been stabbed multiple times. In his right hand lay a long knife, and like Rogue, was covered in blood. His gaze wandered over to Laythie. "What-" She tried to say but her voice died away when he held up his left hand to silence her. She felt as though her mouth was as dry as bone. "You.....must.....leave.....now." Rogue said in short breaths. The wound had been placed in his lungs, near his heart. "Rogue.....who done this to you?" Laythie said hoarsely. "He....wanted...you gone....place...set....up." Laythie's vision started to waver. Tears where coming back into her eyes. This is not happening.... she thought. "Leave.....take Chow-Lee....far away. Don't turn.....back." He said, now gasping for air. "No, I can't leave you! This has gone to far, the mayor can't do this!" Laythie exclaimed, now at the brink of shouting. She then saw Rogue's sword out on the ground, also covered in blood. At least he put up a fair fight. The mayor must have caught him off guard. Laythie was now on her knees. "Take.....my armor....and find......him." And at last Rogue Trailblazer closed his eyes, his body went limp. "NO!" She yelled. She heard people all gathering around her. Whispering at what happened. "What is the meaning of this?!" The mayor had made his way over pushing people out of the way. Laythie noticed he had some sign of being a murderer. Even though the mayor tried to cover up his hands, they where stained red, and along with parts of his clothes. He was also cut in numerous place. Laythie felt some satisfaction of Rogue never leaving his sword anywhere. "She did it!" Screamed someone. The girl with the pointed nose. "I saw it all! With that knife. She's a murderer!" Laythie looked around the crowd, now standing up. There was no way to escape this circle of onlookers. "No," said a man with a beard and mustache. "...he killed himself, look he is holding the very weapon!" More mummers arouse from the crowd. The mayor's eyes glistened in the dark. "I thought I said if I ever saw you again, Laythie, that you would need to leave this place. But now there is no one to protect you....seeing as he had murdered himself." the words hung there in the air. Laythie had felt small claws erupt from her fingers. Rage was spreading through her as quickly has the tears from her eyes vanished. "YOU KILLED HIM, MURDERER!" She screamed and swiped at his face, leaving four lines across his cheek. Then she sore into the air, her wings outlined by the moon. She flew over the people's head to Chow-Lee. *** Laythie was now trying to thrust herself through brambles and thickets of bushes while Chow-Lee only followed in behind her. As they continued into the desolate forest the trees grew closer and closer together. Laythie was now struggling to attach some armor plating to one of her knees. "Chow-Lee, why don't you lead for once?" She said while using the horse as support to put on her knee cuffs. Chow-Lee gave what could have been called a laugh but was more of a snort. "If it was for me not trying to hit that stupid mayor that one day, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Laythie said still trying to put on the knee cuffs, but with no luck. They then fell to the ground in a heep. "Stupid armor." She muttered. "It ain't your fault he got stabbed in the back, so stop soundin' so hard done by." Someone said. Laythie whipped her head around in the direction. She found herself looking at Chow-Lee. But horses don't talk! She thought reassuring herself. "What, you just gonna stare at me for the rest of the day? You said that yah wanted to get away from that 'stupid' town as fast as you can." Chow-Lee said with a disdainful grunt. Laythie only stared. "Y-you just-" "Of 'course I did. What did you think? That Rogue just tolled me not to talk to yah 'cause he said you would go around tellin' everyone, and they think you fell on yah head at birth. But now that there is no need for that rule....." Chow-Lee wondered off in mid-speech. "What do you mean I would go telling everyone?!" Laythie said picking up some dropped armor. "He did want more of them people looking at yah funny. Anyways, it wasn't your fault he became killed. I remember him sayin' somethin' before he left about how he should have neva' let the mayor talk to yah that way, and left in some sorta confused state. Yah can never be a warrior/wanderer if yah ain't got yah wits about yah, so stop think it was you." Laythie froze. She still could not believe what she was hearing. "S-sorry." She managed to say. "Now that we are a safe distance away from home, what was it that he wanted yah to do?" Chow-Lee said handing the last of the armor Laythie managed to take with her. "Say s-something? How did you know he said something?" Laythie said taking the red armor plating from Chow-Lee. "He ain't just going ta leave you without nothing to do but just walk around with me." Laythie thought hard for a moment. She didn't want the image to come back of that horrible night. "He said to...... take his armor and you and leave the town to find....." Laythie trailed off. "'him', that's what he said. Could this person tell me why I was put on this world?" Laythie asked now feeling more comfortable talking to the horse. "'Him'.....well, that's a load of information!" Chow-Lee said sarcastically, swinging her tail to hit a fly that landed near one of her wings. "Chow-Lee, if you have wings, why don't you use them?" Laythie asked eyeing the set of wings. "Well, number one, I don't need to. Just cause I have 'em don't mean I need to use 'em. Number two, after flying it's hurts my back, so don't even think of pulling on them." Chow-Lee warned. Laythie was thinking of her own wings, and how she flew out of danger. That was the first time she had ever used them. She had always been to scared otherwise. Then she heard a type of grumbling. She looked down at her stomach. "I'm hungry. I wish I packed some food before we left." Laythie groaned. Her stomach was still growling at her. "Too bad you can't eat grass like me." Chow-Lee said nipping at some fire weed growing up against some trees as they walked. "Yeah, too bad." Laythie mumbled. "Maybe the next town might lend me some food." She suggested. "Won't come cheep. You'll need to work for that food then." Chow-Lee said. Laythie let out another growl but it did not come from her stomach this time. *** And so, our two young heroes set off, making a living by help others and gaining shelter and food at the same time. Some people however where not so kind to Laythie's physical differences and threw her out of their towns. Laythie and Chow-Lee travelled south this whole time. Laythie's new purpose in life was to help people, despite their differences. But the nagging feeling of her true purpose, and for her old friend telling her to find a mysterious person still stayed in the back of her mind. The season soon changed from fall to winter and a blizzard was approaching the weary travellers. "It feels like we have been travelling for ages!" Laythie exclaimed. Her feet penetrated the snow with small 'crunches'. "It's only been a few months. Let's just hope the next town will be more appreciative then that last one." Chow-Lee said. "And let's hope they have grass there instead of snow." Laythie felt a chilling wind go threw her hair. She put her hands to her ears. "So cold......hm? What's that?" She asked pointing to a statue that was getting larger as they walked towards it. Chow-Lee did her best and tried to squint, even though she is a horse. "It looks like....a monument to the gods...." "The gods?" Laythie squeaked. She wasn't sure she wanted to enter in a place that was sure to throw her out again. "I-I don't think I want to go into this town." "Don't be silly girl, the next town, yah was just complainin' about how yah been travellin' so long. Besides, the next town is several miles away." Laythie groaned. People who highly worshipped the gods where bound to think she was the devil. But her feet where killing her, and a storm was approaching. "Fine, but I have a bad feeling about this." *** "Welcome o' weary travellers, please come in before the storm catches up to us." A man with a shaven head said, while pulling them inside the gates. Laythie was utterly surprised. The man ushered them into a town brimming with more men with shaven heads, and women with black hair in buns on their heads. "I never thought this day would come." Muttered the man who was eagerly leading them through. Laythie gave a side-ways glance at Chow-Lee. Chow-Lee was admiring the patches of grass that she saw. On occasion there was some people that gasped at the sight of them, some of them even bowed. Laythie was just going to ask the man why this was, but is seemed he had read her mind. "You are very highly respected, young princess. We have been awaiting your arrival for some time." He said gleefully. "Our fortune tellers have predicted you would come." Laythie felt her question was only answered by more questions she had. She saw more statues of figures looming next to old wooden houses that had arched roofs. "Chow-Lee," Laythie whispered. "What do they mean by they have been awaiting my arrival?" She asked. Chow-Lee stopped looking at the grass she saw and looked at Laythie."These are priests and priests. I remember something faintly of this town when me an' Rogue travelled here when I was only a foal. I can assure you they talked to Rogue more then me, but they said something about a prophecy and a young child fulfillin' it." Laythie was still confused. But before she could ask another question she was pushed inside a large building that resembled an ancient Japanese type castle. "Good luck!" Chow-Lee said at the door. "Horses can't go into buildings, remember?" She said to the confused look on her face. The door abruptly closed in behind her and she found herself in a darkly lit room with incense burning on desks, carpets, or overhanging candle holders. She looked around for anyone living in there. Even the person from the gates was outside. What do they want me to do? She coughed at all the fumes in the air, and walked around one of the tables. "Hello? Is anyone there?" She called. She only found her voice echoing around the room. "Hello?" She walked into another room with the same setup only there was the same statues she saw near the front gates. She decided to bend down and read the small inscription near the feet. Towami God of the life Saviour of the Guanm tribe "Welcome to the hall of the living." Said a calm voice. Laythie looked over to see another man with a shaven head, wearing long blue robes. "It's been so long since we have heard of you." He said. "Who are.....what do you mean heard of me? Do you think you can please give me and my companion a place to sleep?" She blurted. "Ah." said the man nodding. "Ah yes, you must be tired after your travels with Chow-Lee." He said lighting a candle sitting in holder on the ground. She looked to see what he lit it with, but found nothing. "You know who I am?" She asked. "Indeed. This whole village knows who you are." He said. When Laythie looked a little closer she could see he had dark purple eyes, his pupils slits like cat's eyes. "This village is separated in 5 parts. They all worship different gods. As you might have notices the first section, Guaum worships life. Kowsti worships death, Niece - the elements, Ferviet - spirit, and Solice - astronomy. The last god is who we all worship together. That is the god of 'all that is'." Laythie thought about this for a moment. She had remember being taught about this. She knew everyone in Syllumina worship a god, but these where the top five, but she never heard of the sixth. "But what does this have to do with me?" She asked. The man began walking into another room and Laythie followed her. "There is no mistake why you came to us today. It was by choice of the gods that you are here." He said. As they continued into other rooms they became steadily darker. "The other gods have requested to see you." He said pulling back a red velvet curtain to a black room. Laythie was now trembling. She wanted more than anything to leave this place. And now she was being asked by this priest to talk to the gods? "Don't be afraid, the gods have picked a very good guide for you. Now, hurry, you don't want to keep them waiting." The priest pushed her into the dark room. "Hey! Wait! I think you have the wrong person!" Laythie declared before being left alone in the darkness. She moaned and waited for her eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. "Hello? Is anyone there to get me out of here?" She asked. Her voice echoed of off the surrounding walls. She tried to walk onward put bumped into another statue. This one was taller then the other. She tried to read the inscription on the bottom but could hardly make out the words. She only saw the silhouette of someone on a tall steed. Why does all the bad things happen to me? She thought. Just as she began to move on she heard some footsteps. "Welcome, to the temple of Shawlway, secondary temple to the gods, and home keeper to high priest Zeus Thor." A voice said near her. "Hello? Who are you?" She asked holding her hands hoping to find the person who was greetings her. Instead it felt as though she had walked into a fog, cold and damp. She moved out of it while letting out a little gasp. "I have been called by Zeus Thor, to guide Laythie, daughter to life god Tagni." The person said. She could now see the person ripple into view. He was pearly white with a distant look in his eyes. "Rogue!? Your alive!?" Laythie said overjoyed. She tried to hug him around his neck but she fell through. "Ow!" She proclaimed. "Laythie, daughter of Tagni, you must proceed by following me." He said without a hint of noticing her pain. Laythie made to get up and follow him. But if he looks so real, why can't I touch him? Laythie had felt worse then before. She also remembered in her studies about people coming back from the dead to do deeds for the gods. He would not remember her. "Um, where are we going?" She asked. There was no response from the wispy reflection of her dead friend. There was a long silence for a while as they continued. She felt her feet growing tired and her stomach empty. She had now wished more then ever to leave the town. When they finally stoped near a candle on the floor, Rogue turned around to face Laythie. "We are here. The gods will talk to you now." Rogue stepped backwards leaving Laythie alone. She didn't dare follow him. Instead there was a clip-clop noise approaching. Then a sudden beam of light erupt from the candle and three figures appeared in-front of it. Two of them where women, the other a man. "Welcome Laythie, daughter to Tagni, friend to the mystical Chow-Lee, and messenger Rogue Trailblazer." The first women said politely. She had long straight black hair that flowed as if underwater and large almond eyes. "Who-, why am I here?" She asked. The two women whispered quietly for a moment but then the man turned to them, glaring. She then hastily bowed before them remembering who she was talking to. "Get up Laythie! There is no need for that. Don't you know who you are?" The man asked. He was handsome with blue hair and tattoos around his face. "Um....Laythie? But what do you mean daughter to Tagni?" She asked. The other women, with short dazzling golden hair nudged the man. "Well, I suppose you need to be filled in. This is Lokith (he gestured to the women with black hair), goddess of death. And this is Cell, goddess of spirit. I am Tagni god of the living. I assume Ms. Chow-Lee has brought you here?" He asked. Laythie nodded. "Very good. Unfortunately, Laythie, you have had hard time in your life-" "And I'll make em' pay for that!" Lokith interjected. "Well, you sure made a lot of other people pay." Cell said, "Go on Tagni." Tagni began again as though he was never interrupted to begin with. "We had hoped that Chow-Lee and Rogue would have kept you safe so you can learn about people and their feelings, and the other living. We could not teach you this for you needed to know first hand. The two had been subconsciously employed when we had left you on earth." Laythie took a moment for all of this to sink in. She looked at them as if she was in a dream. The she heard the "clip-clop noise again and saw Chow-Lee was hiding in behind the fire. "Chow-Lee!" She exclaimed. The horse reared her head and walked out from in behind the fire. "Y-yes?" She asked nervously. "What is all this?" She asked. "What are they talking about? Why am I here?" Chow-Lee looked desperately at the goddess and god. "Chow-Lee had to lead you here without you knowing, we wanted you to be told by the right people." Cell said reassuring. "Anyways," Tangi began again. "We had hoped you would have got to learn more but since someone got killed-" "An accident, really! Nobody believes me. I'm sure he is wandering somewhere around here anyways....only if Cell would let him live on his own will...." Lokith exclaimed. "I would but that would mean if I did, he could not be seen by normal eye...." Cell said defensively. "As you can see, Chow-Lee could not protect you on her own, so we thought it time for you to come home. Laythie......you are the goddess of 'all that is'." Tangi concluded. Laythie looked at him dumbfounded. "You have got to be kidding." She said. "I am Tangi, your father. Your search in life has ended, Laythie. Are you ready to accept the responsibilities of being a goddess, the most powerful that there is?" He asked. There was a long silence. Even the two goddess who she was now accustom to bickering fell silent. Chow-Lee looked at her hopefully that she would understand. "But.....why.....did you leave me? Why was my friend killed? Couldn't you stop it? There is so much to take in." She said. "I didn't mean to!" Lokith said in a huff. "How many times do I need to say that?" "I have been wondering why for so many years......why I was different..... I expected that all of Syllumina hated me. But I never expect this." "Laythie, you must understand.... I only actually knew about this was when Rogue died. I was shocked as well. But.....you do understand right?" Chow-Lee asked. "I understand." Laythie said. "But....you wanted me to learn how people are, and other living things? To live up to my role as being a goddess? Then, I will complete that task. I have sworn to help people, and now I will swear to be the best goddess there ever was." Laythie said triumphantly, "Thank you, Cell, Lokith and of course Tangi, but I could never leave what I now have a new respect for. I will come visit you all when I am done, but now, I have a job to do, now that I know who I am. Come one Chow-Lee, we have people's live to make better." And with a newfound respect for herself, and the world around her, Laythie set out to make Syllumina a better place for all, and to be the best goddess there ever was. The end.
Comments: The horse had to have an accent, they are so cool!
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