The Purifiers

Chapter 3: To Reason Why (Scene 1)

A fox stays close to the ground, stalking its prey as it moves in closer. Then it leaps out into a sprint. Two rabbits dart off in different directions. Picking a target, the fox turns right and stays with the rabbit. The fox moves into striking range when it suddenly stops, its head turns to the right and deeper into the woods. Arching its back and crouching its legs, the fox's tail whips back and forth while its ears pointed back and pressed against its head. The sound rumbles up from the fox's throat as its lets out a sound like a muffled cough, which turns into a sharp bark as it travels further away. Then the fox turns and runs off in a different direction.

Hobbling through the woods is a dwarf, dragging his twisted and bloodied leg behind him. He carries a dark red sword etched with black runes that he's using like a makeshift cane. As the sword touches down on a rock, the magic within the runes splits the rock in half. The dwarf's sinks down from the motion and he goes tumbling forward until he hits the ground. Bracing one arm against the ground he drags himself over to a tree to lean his back against. He breathes heavily as he rests his head against the trunk. Closing his eyes, the dwarf places his hands on his leg. Wounds start to heal and the leg begins to retake its normal shape.

"There you are," says a voice from the woods. The dwarf's eyes snap open. He lets go of his leg and quickly takes up his rune sword again. "You didn't really think throwing yourself off that cliff would keep me away, did you?"

The dwarf says, "I had hoped that it would buy me time ... time enough to find out what happened to you."

Stepping out of the woods is a dwarf holding a massive two-handed mallet made of black metal and etched with red runes. "What happened to me? Don't talk like you know me."

"Don't you recognize me? After everything we've been through together. You -- "

"Recognize you? All I see is an abomination."

"Abom -- how could you ..."

Before he can finish, the dwarf holding the rune mallet lifts it into the air. "Now die!"

The injured dwarf screams out, "Father no!" He lifts up his rune sword to defend. The mallet slams against the blade, narrowly avoiding smashing in the injured dwarf's head. However, he managed to get his weapon up just in time. Even from his prone position, the dwarf on the ground starts to force the mallet back.

One of the red runes on the mallet lights up; then another and another until all of them are aglow in quick succession. The runes on the opposing sword light then start to light up as well, one after another. Suddenly the rune sword shatters! Shards of metal drive down into the body of the floored dwarf, ripping their way through and out the other side, digging down into the tree and ground behind him.

It called me father. Why? Did it think that would illicit sympathy? Such nonsense. I will purge the land from all those tainted by dark magic to wash the world clean. He turns and walks away without another thought on the matter.