Inspiration

I apologize if I get his speech or personality incorrect.





The pond was unusually high this night. His gaze looked to the heavens, seeing the moon much larger and redder than normal. The sight pleased him. Red was his color...the color of kings.

Here he stood watch over those who slumbered. Mere pawns, but perhaps...a rook, knight, or bishop could emerge from them. They had potential...to become loyal, to serve the crown...to even die for their king.

But who was worthy? Who of these lowly peasants could fill the ranks of the king's loyal militia? Who among them would give their life for the crown?

He walked on, the cooling waters pleasant to his hooves, but he looked for something else. Somewhere fit for a king. As he walked on up the hill, he soon found a great tree. It was the biggest of all in the Forest, and just looking at it's grandeur was inspiring. He peered in. No commoners in here. Nothing but a hollow ambiance. It seemed like a suitable place for a king to rest his weary bones.

He sat and watched from within the shelter of the Oak. It was his castle, the sound echoing into his mind and breaking the silence of the night. He began to drift into a slumber when he heard something...a quiet whisper in his ears.

"A chamber fitting for one of royalty such as yourself. Yes...you claim this old tree as your own, just for this night, but I could give you the entire Forest.", the voice was chilling and raspy. The king turned to see who was talking to him, but saw nothing but darkness.

"Show yourself!", his voice was loud and booming, a commanding authority to those lesser than him.

He turned and was taken aback when the slender creature was standing before him, blocking the entrance to the Oak. "The entire Forest could become your kingdom if you would simply serve me. What do you say, king?", the stoat proposed, a tempting offer only a fool would accept.

The old king was wiser than that to take such an offer at face value, "This Forest belongs to me already. I do not need your services in claiming it.", he spoke.

The stoat chuckled, "Oh my highness, if you are not willing to give yourself to me, then I shall have no choice but to claim you myself!", she spoke and at once pounced on him. The king stumbled back from the force, but then watched in curiosity as the stoat tried to latch onto him with no avail.

"Away from me, you fool! I do not have the patience for these games!", the king spoke and shook his fur wildly, infection flying off and splattering onto the inside of the Oak. He was seemingly unharmed, Iugulare's infection was unable to break his thick skin, and no infection remained on him.

Reconstituting, the stoat stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment, her clouded grey eyes were piercing. "Very few are able to resist my infection as you have. It seems I cannot take control of you. But no matter, if you cannot be claimed by me, then one of my minions will surely kill you.", she spoke, and then immediately vanished, her body liquefying and seeping underneath the roots of the Oak.

Infuriated, the king's voice boomed, "Come back here you coward!", but Iugulare was long gone.

He let out a sigh, and then sat back onto the soft ground underneath the Old Oak. He looked off into the distance, seeing several sleeping deer.

A threat to the crown now arose. He would need to act soon to find knights willing to defend him. But perhaps these 'minions' the dark creature spoke of were the same as her, unable to damage his perfectly formed skin.

For now, he would rest here. The red moon smiled down upon the king this day, an attack averted, a threat now documented.

"The darkness shall not claim checkmate...", he spoke to himself.