A mother, coming home late from work. She had picked up a child, with kind words and gratitude to the owner of a home that was not her own. They began to walk through the city streets, the night air sending a prickle of chill down their backs, a telltale sign of early autumn. The watching shadows had been waiting for this moment.

They sowed unease in their prey, showing flashes of movement, and remaining still when eyes were turned upon them. Soon, they thought. Soon they would have them. But first, they wished to savor the hunt. The prey scampers now, the mother holding her child close and rushing him along. A poorly chosen turn leads them into a dead end, and the shadows finally show themselves, roiling into a shape to let themselves be known.

A sudden crunch of concrete and rush of air, a blur of crimson and a flash of golden eyes, and there was now a dragon standing before them. The shadows howled at him as energy crackled along his paws, and he brought them together with a thunderous clap. "You want them? You'll have to go through me." He parted his paws with a cascade of color, and then the beast burst forth.

* * * * *

so this is a gift for my hubby,  Lethias, who is very much the hero type. He's mentioned to me a number of times how his character possesses not-often-depicted powers inspired by his favorite GBC game, Magi-Nation, and while the beast depicted is not a creature from the game, it has been something i've been working on for a while, and i think it's one of my better pieces.

Happy new year everyone!

Art (C) to me
Lethias (C) to himself

Edit: f5 for better resolution