Against the Flow

by Me

"Ye relay stories?" The booming voice from the darkness startled Baresh a little.

"Aye, I do. Who are ye?"

"Who I am matter's little. I just wish to express my discontent."

Baresh pulled up a stool and sat down. "Dat's what I here for." Baresh looked tired.

"I've noticed this strange growing trend in our great land. It saddens me. I am the oldest of 3 brothers and 2 sisters. When I started my adventuring life, people were nice and helpful. But as my siblings became older and started adventuring, the feelings they had were different." Baresh heard the sound of a tail flicking in the darkness.

"What do ya mean?"

"I remember when I started there were people willing to help. My youngest brother says people laugh at him and steal from him when he asks for help. But that's just one of my problems right now." The silence was deafening. "I've also noticed that people are becoming over-blown. Old friends refuse to speak with me because suddenly they can kill a creature I can not. Friends of mine they are, but what friends are they?"

"Ye are angry about people?"

"Aye, they are becoming selfish. My father taught me that if one believes that they are untouchable, then vulnerable they are."

Baresh was a bit surprised at the wisdom of those words. "Aye true."

"Let it be known now, that this Shadow has defected. Any, all, who believe they are better than someone based on things that don't matter, the arrogant, the evil, the corrupted, all of them, shall be dead before they hit the ground."

"Those are bold words friend."

"Yes they are, but they have to be said. I'm tired of people tormenting others because of stupid reasons. No one deserves to suffer unless they do wrong, and now, even the kindest of people are being unjustly victimized. Justice will be served at the hands of me, if I catch it. But these eyes are strong, as my blade is sharp. I am everywhere now, so you can't escape. Only those who are of sound mind, sound motives, will survive my coming wrath." The shadow stepped into the light. Baresh looked at the prydaen in awe.

"You..."

"Yes me." He ran his finger across his neck where a vicious scar now lay. "This was done by someone who didn't know the difference. Came at me from the back while I was with my mate. That was the last straw."

"I hope you know, the evil line you border."

"Yes I know. But the power must be shown if it's to be respected." He again referred to his scar. "He died before his body hit the ground, but not before his blade struck my mate. She now lay paralized from the attack, as her spinal cord was damaged. He fell, as will many more in the coming future. Nothing will happen unjustly. But if wrong is done, my hand of justice will prevail."

"If'n ye continue on, then I'll have to ban you from this place. I don't like murderers."

"I understand that completely. But I'm not an evil murderer. I kill for what is good. I kill for reputance from what the evil has taken from me. My mate lay paralized, as my throat was cut. Evil took my happiness from me. For that, nothing is ever enough. I will take the lives of the evil, until my body also ceases to work." He wrapped his tail around the chair. "Be safe friend. I'll never see ye again." He again disappeared into the shadows.

Baresh was shocked again. "Murder is wrong. Why one so just would do so I don't understand."

"Evil can only overcome if no one fights it." With that, Baresh heard footsteps that slowly faded into the darkness, exiting the tavern to be with his now crippled mate. "I will take from them, what they took from me. My power, now has purpose." Baresh saw the glint of a blade in the darkness, and before he could blink the blade was against his throat. "That's how fast it happens."

Baresh wasn't too afraid because he know the prydaen wouldn't kill him. "Be careful, my friend. I can still whoop ya with a broom." He chuckled, as the the prydaen.

"I'm not evil. I just want justice. And I will go to all lengths to get it." He sheathed his blade. "Safety to you. It's not coming to me."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you my friend."

"Thanks for the sympathy, but nothing can give back what was lost." He vanished, this time for good.

Baresh could only shake his head. "What's this world coming too..."