The Awakening
                       =============

The mantle of winter's dark and chilly embrace is slowly drawn back
as the rays of the sun probe earlier and longer into the narrow gulley.
As the morning frosts lessen in both severity and frequency the
welcoming sounds of nature's bounty heralds the arrival of spring.

The slowly climbing temperature begins to permeate the depths of a
small hillside cave whose entrance is sealed against the elements
with a jumble of rocks. To one side a weather beaten sign leans
lazily against the sandstone rockface; its support post having rotted
through near the base. The lettering upon the board have long since
succumbed to the winter's onslaught. Only one line is still visable
due to the raised metal from which it was fashioned; in rust caked
letters a single word is readable:  D A N G E R !

The spring warmth eventually reaches a slumbering form; insulated
from winter's cold embrace by a thick layer of moss, straw and
somewhat incongruously a thermal sleeping bag. Eventually the sound
of light breathing is replaced by a steadily louder noises of life
as the drowsy form's metabolic rate begins to climb; triggered by the
rise in temperature and the ever more increasing bird song. The tangled
mass of bedding begins to seeth with movement, slowly rolling around
like a deranged tennis ball.

In the brambles and bushes above a crevice the local avians are
building their nests in which to raise this season's clutch of young.
The crevice decends to the cave below, forming a natural chimney and
air vent. The merry twitter of the bird songs belies the disaster that
is would befall those incautious enough to linger. From below comes the
sound a dry rasping breath quickly followed by light cough; the
twittering halts at this unwarranted intrusion. Silence returns to the
cave for a moment and the bird song continues afresh albeit at a softer
pace; some of those being wary at announcing their presence further to
the undefined interloper. A pair of the more seasoned avians take
flight and settle in the branches of a nearby tree. For although the
bushes below are resplendant with fresh thorny growth that would deter
most predators; there is much danger in remaining within their spikey
embrace now the strange noises have once more commenced. Buried in the
soil that gives life to the burgeoning brambles lie the bones of last
year's casualties; nature having returned the nourishment their corpses
provided to this season's resplendant growth.

The raspy breathing continues afresh; the volume of which is steadily
increasing. The note changes as a deep breath is drawn in quickly and
then exhaled slowly; the sequence repeating twice more. A hare breaks
cover from amongst the bushes, scurrying for shelter within the roots
of one of the nearby trees. The crevice ejects a plume of air tainted
by a slightly musty odour; the fresh dew laden air of spring rushing
in to take it's place. Following a secondary intake, the noise from
below changes to a series of short rapid intakes of breath; curiously
there is no exhalation. For a split second all is quiet; followed by a
mighty explosion of sound and flame. The first blast races around the
cave's interior incinerating any combustable materials instantly; the
exhaust of which then seeks the only exit possible. The previous lush
bushes are reduced to ashes in seconds along with their occupants; the
gout of flame reaching a height of some forty feet at its appogee. As
the towering pilar of flame collapses, heavy coughing can be heard
emanating from the cave; something lived through the inferno ?

More coughing follows only to be followed by a secondary blast; this
one being of a greater magnitude than its predecessor. The pillar of
flame rises above the tree tops some ninety feet above the hillside and
some of the boulders at the cave's entrance are blown outwards and into
the stream that meanders along the gulley's floor. Further doubts as to
the safety of the cave's occupant are dispelled as more of the rocks
are dislodged; evidently being pushed aside from within.

When sufficient rocks have been cleared aside; a smoke blackened
creature looks nervously around until satisfied there are no observers.
Crawling out into the warmth of the morning sun, it conducts a thorough
scan of the surroundings for onlookers. Finally satisfied it pulls
aside another rock revealing a small alcove from which it extracts two
leather and oil cloth bound packages. Advancing to the edge of the
nearby stream it pause; plunges its head into the stream and drinks
heartily of the cool mountain water. With its thirst temporarily sated,
it turns its attention to the package; after carefully undoing the
bindings it lays out the objects upon a convenient rock on the shaded
side of the stream. It selects one of the items and jumps into the
deepest part of the stream with it. Revelling in the cool waters it
proceeds to wash and groom itself; scrubbing away the soot and
accumulated grime from its winter hibernation.

Feeling cleansed and refreshed the creature emerges from the now
slighty sullied waters, shakes itself all over and sits upon a rock.
It draws in a deep breath of the spring air and exhales slowly; small
streams of fire emerging from its nostrils which it carefully directs
all over its body; evaporating any remaining water. Returning to the
rock whence it had left its belongings, it stands upright for the first
time and proceeds to don the items of clothing layed out on the rock.
The final layer of oil cloth is unbound from the remaining package; two
patterned armoured wrist bands and leggings are locked into place. This
is followed by a chain link belt supporting a longsword and on the
right hip a dirk nestling in a black scabbard. Finally the figure pulls
on a pair of armour plated shoes.

The figure lingers in the shade whilst rolling up the oil cloth and
leather covers before placing them in the knapsack and hoisting it over
one shoulder. Satisfied the work is done the figure emerges into the
spring sunlight revealing a stunning red-headed young girl who clearly
has taste for adventure, judging from her somewhat skimpy bikini like
outfit. Her figure would surely win her a quite a few beauty contests
should she ever decide to enter one. However all is not what it seems
for as she turns there is evidently some strange about this nubile
young beauty - she has a tail and a small pair of horns. Further
evidence of her uniqueness is confirmed as she flys off in search of
further adventures.

Mink has returned !

                         *** The End ***

Mink is (c) Ryusuke Mita and maybe others as well.

Author's drivel now follows ....

This originally started out as a three line introduction for Mink
(of Dragon Half) to the Mailing List. After an hours break watching the
TV (no not anime, and investigation into the disappearance of a
Mercedes Benz W154 "Silver Arrow") it mutated and grew into the tale
above.

Yes I know; what a strange link, but then I *am* strange :)

I've been lurking on the ML and decided to throw my version of some
spam into the fray.  Let me know what you think.

Flames are welcomed by Mink - she's fireproof :)

-- Tempest   aka Robin Smith                   Author: "The Tempest Chronicles"
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/2302    Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
"I was committed once, but the fools let me out for good behaviour !"
IRC :  Mink  or  Tempest-    [ but "Mink" most of the time ^_^ ]