*Greneve’s Revenge (*name pronunciation and explanation at the end of the story)
Greneve* wrote the name “Domyna*” on a page in his green book. The power of that action made him tremble in anticipation. For a crude looking being, his penmanship was precise and even a bit decorative. With a flourish, he added symbols and a tear shaped mark above the name. Then, he chuckled humorously. He slammed the book closed and tucked it in the pocket of his over-cape. He wiped the tip of his pen on the sleeve of his tunic. It left a bloody stain. He licked at a small wound on his sore left hand where blood had congealed and rubbed that against his tunic also. He slipped the pen into the same pocket as the book and pulled his cape around himself lifting the hood to cover his head. He sat as still as he could. So, any being traveling through this section of misty wood might possibly mistake him for a pile of earth. He was practiced at being still and quiet. Only occasionally would his shoulders lift and drop as he sighed.
Greneve stood about 8 hands tall. He was built thickly with a big chest, stout legs and arms. He had a fairly long spine that started at the base of his head and ended in a sturdy tail that hung to his ankles where it curled up just at the tip. His hands seemed small and almost dainty compared to his body. His face was dominated by a huge porous nose that obscured everything else about his face. It took more than a glance to notice that he had deep-set gray eyes that twinkled with humor most of the time. It was just so hard to look past his nose. His mouth was set in a frown and appeared to be lipless. His chin came to a neat little point that was punctuated with a dimple. His large ears were sensitive enough to distinguish each natural sound and he detected someone approaching the place where he sat. Sniffing at the air, Greneve’s frown curled up into a smile, anticipating Domyna’s arrival.
Domyna was Greneve’s opposite. She was thin and nimble with long slender legs and dainty feet that seemed to dance any time she even barely touched earth. Instead of arms she had iridescent wings that fluttered frantically lifting her into the air where she floated in long graceful swoops from branch to limb to rock to earth as she moved through the wood, toward Greneve. She had large wide set eyes that glistened bright silver. They were mesmerizing and over-shadowed her tiny nose and mouth. Where Greneve had a tail, Domyna had a stinger. It was needle sharp and from it oozed a drop of venom that cause irritation if it made contact with skin and excruciating pain that rapidly spread through a body if jabbed.
She was a little nervous wandering around by herself. Only a day ago she had been trapped by Uustag* who kept her in an overturned bucket for most of the day. He had beaten on the sides of the bucket making a jarring noise that hurt her ears and frightened her terribly. He had wondered away and left her trapped for a long time until someone finally picked up the bucket and let her out. She was so tired all she could do was flutter home feeling all vexed and vulnerable.
Landing on a branch, she paused looking around and made a chirping noise that few but Greneve could distinguish between the incessant noises of insects. Spreading open his cape Greneve hummed softly enticing Domyna to come to him. In the palm of one hand he held a boll of cotton. When she landed, she willingly rested the sharp point of her sting in the cotton to protect him from her venom. She stood between his knees only 3 hands tall as she folded her wings, tilted her head and gave him an inquisitive look.
“Why have you called me?” Her voice was surprisingly bold for one so small.
From a pocket he out pulled a metal container that rattled as he opened it. He took a dried berry and carefully placed it in her mouth. He watched her chew the morsel of food and offered her another. He fed her this way until she refused to take another bite.
Hunkering down before him she looked up and more sweetly repeated her question.
“Why have you called me?”
“Perhaps I have missed you?” His deep voice rumbled.
She snorted. “Why?”
He reached into another pocket and pulled out a small drawstring bag made of green leather.
“I need you to take this to Uustag.”
He witnessed her startled look, then opened the bag and heard her gasp as he revealed a scarlet teardrop. He closed the bag and without waiting for her to agree, tied it around her small waist.
“Wait, no, I can’t do this!” She attempted to scramble away from him but he easily held her in place with his hands still around her middle.
“You must, I compel you.” He replied.
She butted him under his chin with her head. He would have bitten his tongue if he hadn’t been ready for this kind of reaction. She was pretty predictable.
“Fine! But I warn you I may just jab him with my sting.”
One corner of his mouth curled up as he turned her around and gingerly removed the damp cotton boll from her stinger. Then with one last moment of eye contact he lifted her into the air, let her go and watched her buzz away. Carefully handling the cotton he placed it in the sun to dry, making it harmless.
Domyna flew in the general direction of where she knew she would find Uustag. The pouch with the gem inside wasn’t heavy enough to affect her flight at all and she made good time. She wanted to get this chore completed swiftly. The less time she spent near Uustag the safer she would feel.
Uustag was sneaky and agile; surprising her, he easily grabbed her stinger and cautiously avoided its sharp tip. Stabbing at a tree he was able to embed her sting into the bark high enough that her feet didn’t touch the ground. Her wings buzzed ineffectually and she kicked at him helplessly.
“How handy of you to visit little bug?” He was taller and wider than Greneve and looked every finger width the brute and bully he was.
Insulted at being called an insect but a little worried too, she let tears trickle down her cheeks before she spoke.
“Don’t scold me. I am innocent. I was sent to give you this pouch. Inside is a treasure.” Her speech became a little demanding at the end as she added. “You should let me go.”
He was elated to have her trapped and harmless. He thought up all kinds of vicious things he would do to her but, the word treasure made him curious.
“What is it?” He asked.
“A reddish gem all bright and sparkly.” She spoke temptingly.
Forgetting to ask who had sent it, he reached for the ties at her waist and unknotted them. He weighed the pouch in his hand for a moment before carefully opening it. The jewel was dazzling and he was mesmerized instantly by the ruby teardrop. The moment he touched it there was a change in his demeanor. As Domyna watched, Uustag began to tremble. He stumbled away from the tree she was stuck to and almost tripped on his tail as he began to leave. She struggled and cried out begging him to come back and take her down. But as he turned to look at her she realized that Uustag looked very demented. She stopped hollering, slumping limply. Uustag rubbed the red gem between his fingers and lost interest in her, he turned and ran away laughing hysterically.
Domyna pressed her feet against the trees trunk, buzzing her wings, frantically trying to get loose but her sting wouldn’t budge. Greneve soon found her and help to pull her free of the tree. He gently lowered her to her feet and nervously watched for signs she might jab him. But she was exhausted and looked at him curiously.
“What did he do to you?” She asked. He pulled a cotton boll from his pocket and placed it on the tip of her stinger.
“Nothing he’ll ever be able to do again.” He smiled.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his tin of berries. He fed her carefully until she was full then pulled out his green book and opened it to the page inscribed with her name. Taking out his pen he jab it into the wound on his left hand and let it fill with blood. He drew a beautiful heart-shaped symbol under her name as she watched. Smiling, he cleaned his pen on his sleeve, closed his book and returned both to his pocket. Domyna licked at the small wound on his hand and this time it healed and disappeared. She took two dancing steps toward him. He lifted her up by her waist and letting her go with a gentle thrust, he watched her fly toward home. Sweeping his cape around himself and pulling up the hood, he followed.
They hadn’t gotten very far when Domyna fluttered back beside him. She was quiet and Greneve simply lumbered on and waited for her to mention what was on her mind.
“I didn’t get to sting anyone.” She placed one foot on his shoulder, with her other foot she pulled back his hood. He reached up and tugged on one of her toes.
“Don’t forget the tree.” He smirked.
Her face got all serious as she contemplated this for a minute and then with a huge grin she proclaimed.
“Yes I did!” She said excitedly. “It was a big tree, and in cahoots with Uustag, I jabbed it deep, didn’t I Greneve?”
“You did indeed Domy! I’m going to tell everyone that it took both of us to pry you loose!”
She swooped from his shoulder to a branch, to a limb, on and on, as they traveled toward home, there was a satisfied smile on Domyna’s little face. Somewhere along the way the cotton boll filled with her venom fell off and was lost.
Greneve looked relieved as he plodded along in her wake stopping only to pick berries and pluck more cotton.
As for Uustag, the further he traveled away from Domyna the saner he became. The gem he carried altered from a scarlet tear drop to an emerald heart. As long as the gem remained green his sanity was secure. He kept it in the green leather pouch tied about his neck. He made a habit of opening the pouch to look at his gem every time he felt even the least bit off.
So, Greneve was able to defend his friend and accomplish his revenge.
Judith A. Sears ©08/20/2018
*Names = pronunciation and anagram origins
Greneve = gren (as in wren) eavy (as in heavy)/Revenge
Domyna = doe mee na/Monday
Uustag = ewe stag/August
The red tear drop gem represents hate, volatility and harm
The green heart shaped gem represents calmness, freshness and tranquility
This story was written on a Monday in August. I was playing with anagrams. I’ll leave it to your imagination to figure out the revenge part. Damn bullies! jas
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