The Collector

The Collector
The morning was cold, a chilling wind roared over the mountains where the explorer sat with her Phanto. A fire roared in the small cave, which was the only light for miles. The sound of the wind whipping through the cave, came out as a howl. Keeping both of them awake

"This is not what I expected this place to be like," Rook said as he shivered beside his trainer.

Payne sighed and pulled her knees up "I know, I'm sorry I got you into this buddy.'

He didn't reply, there were no needs for words between these two. They had been together for years and Rook would never go anywhere without her, nor she him.

Before long, silence took them over. Payne looked up from the floor and narrowed her eyes "Tell me you see that..." she said nudging Rook.

Outside, the wind had calmed, in the distance, coming toward them, a lite lantern. It swayed as if boncing from side to side. Rook looked up at her a bit confused but never-the-less they waited. As it came closer, Payne squinted to see the carrier, but could not. She stood, as did Rook walking from the cave a few steps to welcome this new guest, expecting to see another explorer like herself. But she was shocked to see a pale white Unus holding a glowing lantern in it's mouth.

Rook didn't like this...it didn't make sence. What was such a rare creature doing in this region? The Unus stopped and pawed at the ground, the looked toward the north where the higher mountains were, then turned and began to walk in said direction.

Payne didn't hestitate, she quickly dosed their fire, grabbed their gear and motioned for Rook to follow. They kept a steady pace behind the Unus, but before long fog had crept over them. A shrieking scream could be heard from somewhere above them, a hoot here a cry there. Payne was beginning to regret this.

Soon dirt became grass, and before she knew it she could see branches. How had they came to be in a forest?? A cold shiver ran down her back. Rook kept a steady hold on her to make sure they were seperated.

Then came the roar, a bone chilling sound that made both Payne and Rook stop and gasp. It was close, to close for comfort. Rook looked as if he was scared, which worried Payne, he was afraid of nothing! Crunching sounds came from all around them. The sound of heavy breathing seemed to pound their ears. The night of the lantern the Unus carried had vanished, and the moon was shrouded by fog.

Oh how she wished they had stayed in that cave. The sounds were coming closer, closer. And soon two large red eyes formed in the mist. A low growl emitted from the beasts throat, what exactly was this? Payne swallowed hard, fear causing sweat to form upon her brow, running down her face as she stood there..to frightened to move.

Rook seemed to be glued in his spot, but as she turned to check on him, she saw it was not that he was afraid, but that he had turned to stone!

She felt hot breath upon her neck. She turned her head slowly, the creature stood not an inch away. How had it moved so fast without her hearing? Staring into it's eyes she began to fall, screaming as she did. When she opened her eyes, she was in a garden. A beautiful garden of stone and roses. The beast slept in the center. She tried to move, but could not. Then she realized she to was stone. She had become apart of this beasts collection.

Thousands of stone explorers stood around her. Though she could not turn her neck, she could see that this had been happening for centuries. She remembered the story, an old fable her father told her late at night when she couldn't sleep.

The beast would send out his minion, a beautiful creature that sought no harm, it's glowing harth would be a beacon to lonely explores in the cold. It will lure you into it's lair, freeze you with it's eyes and take you be his garden of magic.

But she'd never believed it. It was a tall tale right? She wished now she was back home with Rook ..ROOK...where was he? Was he with her? She scanned the statues but could not see him. That's when she saw the blue phanto floating beside the beast, laughing and zooming around happily as if he had not a care in the world.

Hundreds of pets began to emerge from the beast's mouth, happily laughing and playing. She realized then that none of the statues were pets, only humans. "ROOK" she screamed in her head, she tried to move, willed her body to tear free from this terror, but she could not.

But the phanto soon looked her way, she saw then his glowing red eyes, a look of evil had formed upon his face as he came toward her. A cackling laugh emitting from his throat as he flew up and threw her stone body to the ground. She felt herself fall, an endless blackness took her over. And as she hit the ground two glowing red eyes watched as she shattered to pieces.