"Assumptions could be made for those who have proclivity towards war. But on the cusp of one's final breath when death comes to even the score there's nary a soul that doesn't repent for the time they lent sending innocent souls prematurely to the great unknown"

Waiting may come naturally to some to those who live in the now disavowed Not caring if the Gods of fate will allow them to live yet another day But, unfortunately not all the Chaco felt the same way Most scared of their own shadows when cast in their way by the light of day So this wait their princess insisted they were enlisted to without a say weighed heavily on their psyches

Every day the Chaco stepped out they would hear the Draco shout out loud about how they will soon be disemboweled and tortured to death by their own hands
Despite the threats, they set their minds to scale uphill and fulfill Lilly's wishes to find a rare oleander flower that had the power of permanent sleep kept high in the mountain peaks
So they did scour the rocky face interlaced in rope scoping every stone to own the one that shown the right white petals that could comatose the stoutest of man to disinterest the Draco's simple minds of unkind acts towards Chaco kind
After days of searching, they spied birthing from a high cliff just a small grip sitting on a precarious face tucked far away in a crevice
Rams who seek them for dinner couldn't figure the rocks configure so their find was quite advantageous indeed
Even the five hundred foot drop wouldn't stop our mountain top explorers So they slung a rope to elope with the bouquet and swung away Holding a precarious grip they were able to rip the flowers from their stone tower and once in pocket they locked their belay and were lowered away to safety

Months had past and their food stores wouldn't last much past another 2 weeks
Lilly took a seat near the magical mirror her father was cast into the last time she saw him alive before his dive back into a distant timeline several years ago She remembered father's phrase of how a King must lay down his life to stop the strife of his peoples' life Yes it meant the ultimate sacrifice but it also showed unselfish love above his own to condone him being thrown
She now knew what she must do to stop this onslaught that brought strife to the Chaco's lives Despite her dislike of the diety type She wrote a note to the Kurupi stating that the Chaco state wished to remunerate him for his help with the Draco whelps and tied it to a pigeon which she promptly positioned towards the jungle and released

That night while all the Chacos sat and chat about possible combat with the Draco The Kurupi showed quite embolden with the thought that Lilly might tie the knot now that they are fraught with danger from his secret onslaught

Kurupi: Greetings Gran Chaco kind I hear you are maligned by the Draco and are in need of an assist with their kind

Lilly: "It is I that asked you for an assist to remove the Draco from our midst."

Kurupi: "That would take a powerful spell." "One that would drain my life force as well." "That is something more than just gold can cajole." "I would need something retrieved to fit my needs before I would concede to this impede."

Lilly: "What is it you seek to meet your needs?"

Kurupi: "Why you, of course, to take my hand as my wife for the rest of your life."

Lillie's eyes then got double-sized Her lip is bit quietly in thought A feeling of distraught has been brought This offer to tie the knot is something she doesn't want but, then she is caught gazing lovingly at her people All the Chaco mold young and old looking up to her for console She then remembers what her father had taught and didn't want his sacrifice to be all for nought

Lilly: "If you can prevent the Draco impede on the Chaco Make them recede and allot our freedom Then I would concede to your decree and be your wife."

The Chacos all cringe at the Kurupi's infringe but worry more of what's in store for Lilly to bore this load all on her own It isn't fair to be forced to marry such an ugly creature with such nasty beastly features of course

Kurupi: "I will immediately proceed my Queen and prevent any further impede to suit your needs."

The Kurupi then raises his hands, chants an incant, this manifestation creates a gate for him to escape Then in a blink quick as a wink he was gone

Minutes later you could hear the Draco screaming as if something unseen had been attacking their hijacking The Chaco all ran out to see giant plant roots shoot out of the ground in which they were formally bound and become wound round the Draco breed quietly completely unseen No matter how fast they fled each one was picked like grapes from a vine and pulled into the jungle divide to be retrieved surrounded by leaves
The mighty Khret wasn't having it he jumped on his dragon and bravely flew into the sky to safety Once airborne, he sounded his conch horn to warn the Draco forlorn to follow suit Pretty soon the skies were full of dragon might ready to pulverize the one that attempted to assassinate the Draco state
Khret spies the jungle coming to life and derives the Kurupi must be the one that's attempting their undone
He directs the dragon flight to light the trees on fire
Strafe after fiery strafe made the jungle unsafe all the wildlife fled from all the uncontrolled fires quickly spread reaching higher and higher
The dragon's breath brought death this night on ancient beings never intended to leave the jungle scene Magical fairies and sprites alike that hid betwixt the leaves unseen for eons out of sight came to their undone when they danced with the Draco son who gladly smighted them with delight

The Kurupi was pissed at their fiery kiss and dug deep in his magical keep to defeat the dragon fleet
He conscribed his trees to come to life to help him through this strife Their roots grew to legs and given attributes of man and they did understand the jungles survive through this genocide was theirs to decide Bravely they fought though fraught with burns their branches unfurled and wound round the dragons' snouts snatching them out of midair thus, preventing their fiery breath from causing further death One after one were plucked out of the night sky strangulated until they die

After the final dragon breathed his last the entire cast of trees all went back to sleep to heal from the ordeal Charred embers still glow bright in the twilight as they show the final consequences of war that are in store for those who mistakenly store hate within their heart

The Kurupi appeared early that dawn in a ray of light to Princess Lilly "My liege your wishes are completed." "But I have spent at great expense all my magical enchant." "So I will be back in three days' time to revive and marry you my bride."

That dawn the Draco are gone all the brawn that was brought is in distraught Remnants of artillery lay in disarray Tents that housed families are casualties of last nights calamity They are torn beyond repair all one could really do is just stare
A scare hit Lilly's heart as she started a thought "Where are all women and children from this war they fought?" "Surely they aren't all nought!"
Lilly seeded teams of Chacos and pleaded "Please find the Draco survivors amidst the fires." "Leave no stone unturned I'm concerned for the ones that may be burned." Hour after hour ticked away late into that days' eve They all came back without a one It seems the Draco are now all gone...

Lilly: "No!!" "What kind of sick mind kills innocent lives." Tears now fill her eyes
Lilly was aghast this wasn't what she asked "I will go myself to find any trace Gods please give me grace this place did not just turn into a mass grave." On into night, Lilly sets her sights for any sign of life as she gazes neath blazing torchlight Sheer fright fills our Lilly white as all she finds are dead bodies lay astrune all suffocated to their final doom

Then, way out of sight on this dark night, she hears a low moan thrown from a brush covered in dust She digs through the debris and can't believe what she sees
Khret with broken body almost gone wrapped so tightly in thorns she could barely see his form
Lilly cries "Please don't die!" But, he is too far gone and knocking on death's door With his last breath he did say "....The Kurupi....betrayed... he persuaded...us...to invade...I...am...sorry...please pray....ahh..."
Then with that, the mighty Khret gasped his last

Lilly was pissed beyond belief she did think "All this grief but what was Kurupi's motif?" "Surely, I am not the only reason why to be so sly?"

She rushed back home neath their shielded dome to ready what arms they own and devise a surprise to defend their own
Lilly knew she needed to see Taurine So they unlocked the vault expecting an assault from a diety so pissed her assist in this tryst would surely be dismissed but Lilly did insist
She needed insight no matter how slight to help fight against the Kurupi's might

Once the keeps door was unmoored they saw a beast in replete taken a seat but not complete at least in her head it would seem The time she had done in confines declined her mind so her sanity was absently resigned But nevermind this Kurupi was due back in two days so they couldn't delay

Lilly then did relay: "Beast, I will release thee from your confines of dark if you will impart your father's fell if by any avail."

Taurine: "So, my father has finally come to get the one after all this time and social divide." "To fulfill the favor from my enslaver." "I will soon see you waiter to his needs knelt at his feet."

Lilly: "What is this favor you speak you are being quite bleak?"

Taurine: "So, you don't know your father never told of the favor for my labor?" "Hahahahaha!" "Such a foolish girl but, you are still very new to this world."

"My father made a deal that can never be appealed a favor for my discounted labor." "When he called it in Marco refused to loose you to a deal he didn't savor and said I am not a fair trade for the magic I made I was only good for labor."

"You see a diety such as he doesn't see human life as precious as ye." "Honestly, you would be a novelty nothing but a commodity to be used wantonly as he deems it to be."

"This disgrace took place shortly after Marco was graced by your birth For what it's worth I did love your father although he wouldn't bother to even ponder a second look to a diety as ugly as me."

Lilly: "My father treated you just you must see this as true Though you do ill to kill an others mother I pity you beast You sit internally in a hell of your own make Forsake your evil ways and engage this new day without delay on the path of right become one with the light Don't take my word for its worth Rebirth from within acknowledge your father's sins towards my kin You know in your heart Marco was right to fight your fathers might The time is now to disallow any vow Kurupi has you kowtow to him To follow him joined in sin you will never win


Just then an internal flame came from within Taurine The shame and hate she felt began to melt away replaced this day by a need to reconcile for the vile deeds her and her father did impede on the Chaco seed

Taurine: "I concede that we did bring strife into the Gran Chaco's life." "You would still have a town not burnt down and your mother would still exist." "One who's assist in her daughter's life and as Marco's wife I'm sure is greatly missed."

"Can you forgive my sins on your kin?" "I was wrong to let my hatred become so strong." "When Marco's last moments in this time unfolded I noted his selfless love thereof I have never seen it's exist midst human breed." "He indeed is an admirable man one I can stand behind to do what is right this time."

Lilly: "What's done is done." "A song cannot be unsung." "What we do now in present time is what will define our align with the divine." "So you will help defeat the whelp you call father without bother or falter from your offer?"

Taurine: "Yes, set in stone I partially own the strife in your life and want to make it right." "Kurupi was only a father by blood had has no love for me or his other children." "He would sell us all as slaves if only to maybe get paid."

Lilly: "Then what do we need to do to keep Kurupi away from the Chaco seat?"

Taurine: "My magic is of his derive so anything I contrive he would quickly revive from." "But there are more ancient spells that might quell his compel." "Although, I do not know of his defeat for a powerful diety is he."

Taurine turns to her library of spells she then takes a book from a nook almost hidden from sight one might surmise this was contrived that way to protect its contents from prying eyes

Taurine: "This book is even older than the maker of the Southern lands in which we stand." "It has an ancient spell of a gargoyle protect that will project a magical spell It should give father hell or at least quell his make enough for you to take a blade to fade his life."

"Please beware he is heir to the Gods to be at odds with his make might be a mistake."
"I do not know the full extent of his intents." "There are no guarantees or reprieve from a diety as powerful as he In all of recorded time his kind have never known defeat at least be beat by humankind." "Lest I remind how unkind he will be if you fail."

Lilly: "I fear not death but to sit idle while beset by his crude intents this I cannot relent."

Taurine: "Such a brave girl indeed you are a tribute to the human breed." Taurine opens the book and turns to dwell on an ancient protect spell "The words clearly state you will need to make a statue to enchant and supplant the spell." "But I know Chaco skill I'm sure you will instill a lifelike render for your defender."

Taurine then did something quite unseen She handed Lilly her magic spear "Here take this if you have an opportune time while he is declined in strength make every effort to push this into his heart." 'It has the ability to cut through any protection enchant he can plant." "When he forged this for me I doubt he ever did foresee it might be the key to his demise."

Lilly: "Thank you, It will be returned as soon as my business with Kurupi is adjourned."



So the Chaco set to chisel a dismal looking beast with sharpened teeth replete with wings the like a bat might have They gave it a seat at the side of the throne to lie in wait for Kurupi's attempt to take their Princess away

Lilly opened the centuries old book took from the nook and looked at the text quite perplexed It seemed to be scribed in an ancient form but the terms were worded to fit as if a song drawn from the divine It was like music to the ears which was probably why this book was so revered

~Ancient spirits of protect we call on you to collect the might from Tupã's hands to bestow this chiseled sculpt the power to confront any foe no matter how powerful Embold to hold its master's life intact ever ready to react to any attack or strife as long as it's mold stays intact Defend them to the very end~

Just then a mystic glow flowed from Lilly's hands lands on the gargoyle's beak and seeds within its chiseled hone the glow did briefly show outside of its hull but then extinguished shortly after the enchant was spent

Lilly: "It's done, now we wait for Kurupi to take the bait." "But just in case I want you to brace for the worst Kurupi might attempt a curse so I want you to bake cakes and incorporate the oleander flowers in its make." "If anything goes wrong its strong push to permanent sleep should keep an out to our devout Chaco mass that can't last from whatever it is that Kurupi's casts."

At next mornings first light the blight they have come to know as Kurupi showed from a beam of light right on time to collect his prize

Kurupi: "Good morning my bride are you ready to come to my abide at my side?" "Though the Draco drained me greatly my rest has straitly put my powers back on track after the attack."

Lilly: "Speaking of that attack I headed back after your Draco thwack to render aid to those who forbade to fight against your might It seems you left not a one of their undone to include all the innocent women and children too." "Do you deny this to be true?"

Kurupi: "No my Queen but you must see...."

Lilly: "See that I asked you to make them recede their need to impede." "Not take innocent lives!" "Your treat of the Draco seed speaks volumes about your breed." "I was initially in disbelief so I went amidst your trees to see for myself the scope of your assist with the tryst." "I came upon Khret about to breathe his last but before he was done he sung about the betray you sent his way."

"So... I have to say the lies and violence you portray disgusts me to my core nevermore will I allow such a war to come to our door." "I judge you not by your outer shell but by the ne'er-do-well you are from within full of sin." "So NO!" "I will not be your bride after all your lies!"

Kurupi: "You dare say no to me!" "I suggest you take back your speech and your marital breach before your people endure my wrath for no man hath withstood the power procured from a diety such as me."

Lilly: "I refuse to be bound to one of such maligned ways!" "Nay, not until my final hour your power will not get your dower I will not cower!"

The Kurupi didn't have the will to kill Lilly but he had to be strict he couldn't let this conflict inflict shame or aim any blame on his name The Chacos knew too much about his corruption they needed to go away including the entire time dome they called home A good sweep under the rug is what he felt needed to be done

But first, he compelled to cast an almost everlasting spell onto Lilly to quell her hate and take his hand in place A love spell that couldn't be easily undone by anyone unless one were to overcome the cast by outlasting temptation amassed before them The Kurupi's greed could never conceive of unconditional love for this dove It seemed of unbelieve something no one could achieve

He flew into the air and Lilly dared to eye the spear hidden quite near but he was too high almost out of reach to breach his siege So she prepared for whatever vengeance he was about to seek though this was not the time to be meek His hand held high back behind his head became the seat of a ball of light the love spell of his insight

It was thrown at Lilly then a groan came from her guardian of stone To her surprise it quickly sprung to life and dove in front of Kurupi's shunt taking the brunt

It took the magical impact but immediately was shoved back into Lilly from the flack The two were thwacked against a wall then the magical ball exploded like a loaded shell projecting a fire from the gates of hell

Once the smoke cleared all the Chacos jeered in disbelief at what they were seeing Lilly had been magically conjoined with the gargoyle's loins So now Kurupi's lovely bride was stuck inside the Chacos stone gargoyle derive after their magical collide

Kurupi was agast after his cast at what amassed before him not on his last day would he take such an ugly mistake as a bride to be at his side His pride would not abide this type of disgrace

Kurupi: "Hahaha!" "It seems your trick has backfired a bit." "Since you are attempting my undone I will give none to regret from the circumstances you have now yourself won

The Kurupi flies just outside the Chacos dome that they have called home since their castles first stone was honed several years ago He spies the time field shield and feels it must have been yielded by his Taurine "Well if she is so keen to convene spells for their scene she can stay while I make their vile kind go away."

He draws on all the energy from the ether to reap the power needed to send them to fade away into a limbo state never to be seen by the unclean This spells sort could only be broken by one true of heart But such a harsh start to be locked away for an eternity without a say

© Peter Gunn