44)
“GRUGK.. Now. Who shall I eat first?”” The creature spoke in a deep but quiet growl. Alex’s first instinct was to try and fight the creature, but Allura cautioned him not to, the best she could. “GRUGK .. You should listen to your friend, worm. You can not hope to best me, it would only hasten your death.”
“What are you?” Alex asked, trying to assess the situation as dispassionately as he could, remembering Onyx’s wise words. How he wished that Onyx was there with him. He knew that the creature was correct; there was no way that he could fight it for that would surely cause Allura’s death. There was still a hope, however slim, that, by remaining calm, the two of them could still walk out alive. “What do you want?”
“GRUGK Isn’t it obvious?” The creature taunted. “Your life….and there’s nothing you can do to change my mind!” Towering over seven foot tall, the creature made Allura seem like a rag doll, helpless in its grasp. But although the creature was indeed fierce and tall, it seemed emaciated and tired, as if it lacked the energy to really back up its threats. Its hair was grey and limp, its face haggard and old. There was something that didn’t feel right about the overall situation. If the creature really was that powerful then it should have been able to kill the both of them in a heartbeat. Why was it waiting so long?
“I’m not going to change your mind,” Alex said, being very careful to keep the fear from invading his voice. “I can see there’s very little chance of me doing that.” The Creature snarled in agreement. “I do wonder why you spend your time hiding underneath a bridge though. If you are that powerful, I mean…” Alex knew that he was treading on very dangerous ground and he could see Allura mouth the words, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The creature looked a little bemused by Alex’s question.
“GRUGK Do you doubt that I could snap this maidens neck with just a flick of my wrist?” The creature bellowed. Again, there was menace to the voice but no strength or conviction behind it, and things were becoming clearer to Alex now.
“Tell me how such a mighty Grugrk is reduced to such a state as you’re in now.” Alex enquired..
“GRUGK Why should I be wasting time telling you anything when I could be feasting on your flesh, and drinking your blood for my supper?” The creature snarled.
“Had you been in such a mind,” Alex explained, “You would have done so before now.” It sounded like Alex knew exactly what he was saying but inside he was deeply frightened. “Now, put my friend down and tell me what has happened.”
“GRUGK And why should I put her down? What will stop both her and you running away as fast as your legs can carry you?”
“I give you my word!” Alex said.
“Paige!” Allura protested.
“I can make you powerful again, Grugrk.” Alex spoke in a low conspiratorial voice. “You will become feared once more.”
“GRUGK How do you know I am not feared now, Paige?” The Grugrk snarled, using Alex’s surname as a weapon of power.
“Were you feared then you would not need to hide from us.” Alex explained. “You would have killed both of us in a couple of seconds.” The Grugrk let Allura go after pondering this.
Alex could see the determination behind Allura’s eyes, he knew that she wanted to slay the Grugrk but Alex shook his head perceptibly to stop her from making such a mistake. She scowled at him briefly before walking behind him. Alex knew that she was ready to strike if anything became untoward. He just hoped that it wouldn’t come to that. “So tell me what happened.” He asked the Grugrk.
45)
“Grugrk I was, as you correctly assumed, fierce.” The creature explained. He still blocked the other end of the bridge, so there was no chance of escape the Grugrk could jump vast distances –Alex had seen that with his own eyes. “This bridge and the stream that it crosses were mine. I built this bridge.” Pride tinged the Grugrk’s voice which surprised Alex. “I carved the stones and dragged them here.”
“Why did you build the bridge?” Alex asked, slightly confused.
“To have somewhere to feed, surely you understand that?” The Grugrk could tell that neither Alex nor Allura understood so he explained further. “Think about it, bridges have to be crossed. And I have to eat. I live underneath the bridge in a hole dug into the bank of the river; the hole is overshadowed by the bridge so it is difficult to see. People used my bridge daily and when I was hungry I used to feed on the unwary.” Alex couldn’t help but see the ingenuity of the plan. He smiled. “I became feared, and as you correctly pointed out, I became more fearsome and more powerful. Animal sacrifices were left to me to protect travellers and I became like a king!
“I wanted for nothing, I ate who I chose and being a simple village community there were none to challenge me.” The Grugrk boasted. “If a foolhardy hero did try to face me I would use the villages fear against him to grow in size and squash him. It was a life!”
“So what happened?” Asked Allura. Alex could tell that she too was becoming intrigued by the Grugrk's story.
“I picked on the wrong boy.” The Grugrk replied; a hint of shame and regret tinged his voice. “This was a young boy, much like any other, except he carried an old moth-eaten teddy-bear.” The Grugrk hung his head in shame, as if it was painful reliving such memories. “Back then I was fearsome, much taller than I am now. Feeding on fear as well as flesh I gorged myself. Somehow this boy found out about me and set a trap to snare me. That was but the first indignity that he lay on my person.” The Grugrk snarled.
“What was the boys name?” Asked Allura.
“The boy would sing to himself.” The Grugrk replied, crouching down, as if to relieve an ache or a pain in his back. “Or talk to the bear that he always carried. He called himself Billy.” The Grugrk shook his head. “I should’ve killed him when I had the chance, ripped that boys head clean off his shoulders.” Alex flinched at that description.
“So what stopped you?” He asked.
“Once he had caught me in his snares he was no longer frightened of me. I can only have power over those that are fearful.” Alex nodded thoughtfully, he was starting to understand. “To make matters worse he taunted me, he knew that I was hiding under the bridge and would bring his friends along to play games.” Alex suppressed a smile, but Allura was still none-the-wiser to where the tale was leading. “The ultimate disgrace, though, was the curse that his father laid on me. Without ever having to face me he bested me, took all my power away, and left me to the miserable fate that you see before you now.”
“Yes, I think I’m beginning to understand now.” Alex rubbed his chin decisively. “The boy’s father wrote about this wood, didn’t he? He created a world where magic and joy ruled and cuddly creatures romped around looking for honey, and adventure. There wasn’t any room for Grugrk’s anymore, but children from miles around would drag their parents and their grandparents to this magical wood in the hope that they could catch sight of that teddy bear, and play games with floating sticks on your bridge.”
“Yes… yes… yes.” The Grugrk moaned, and Alex almost felt sorry for him. Allura was more perplexed than ever though.
“What if I told you that I would redress the balance again, in your favour, eh?” Alex said, conspiratorially. The Grugrk looked up in surprise.
46)
“What do you mean?” The Grugrk asked. “How can you do such a thing?”
“I’m a Creator as well.” Alex replied. The Grugrk started in alarm, as if he had been stung.
“You?” He remarked.
“Yes, me.” Alex felt the power deep within, the words resonated through his entire being. “I could write you back into the story again, make you the most fearsome Grugrk in all of existence. No one would dare set traps for you again, all would be terrified of you; as you rightly deserve.”
“To be feared again. Aye, that would be worth sparing you both for.” The Grugrk said. “You have yourself a deal there, Creator.” The Grugrk mused for a couple of seconds. “From the look of you there is nothing but stringy flesh anyway, but your strength lies deep within. I am glad that I spared you; you probably would have given me indigestion anyways.”
“There is one condition, though, Grugrk.” Alex said. “There is to be no eating of children any longer.” The Grugrk looked puzzled and then became enraged.
“WHAT?!” He shouted, rearing up to his full height again.
“NO CHILDREN!” Alex shouted back, the strength behind his voice shocking even Allura. “This is the one binding clause to our agreement. Don’t forget that I can do you a greater disservice than ever that boy’s father did. I can unwrite you completely, should I choose to do so.”
“And what would stop me from breaking your bones now, young strapling?” The Grugrk sneered, taking a step towards them.
“You no longer have the power over either of us.” Alex remarked, taking a step towards the Grugrk. Allura watched on, ready to pounce should she need to. “We no longer fear you; rather we pity you for the miserable creature you have become.”
The Grugrk took a step back, and then another, wilting under Alex’s gaze. “Alright.” He protested. “No more children. No more children.” Alex took a step back, pleased at what he had achieved.
“Good.” He said, “Remember, I will know if you go back on your word. Should you do so, I will make you into the laughing stock of all the Woods.”
“No; you have my word, Creator.” The Grugrk replied, humbled by Alex’s will. “No more children. But go now, before I am disgraced even more.” The Grugrk took a step to one side and allowed Alex and Allura to pass, neither looked at him until they were far enough over the other side of the bank. What they saw shocked them for the Grugrk was now but one tenth of its size from when they first spoke to it.
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