An Odd Encounter

Walking through the green, serene forest was one of the common pastimes for the silly fox girl Lillian. She should know: She LOVED playing tricks on unsuspecting travelers, hikers and regular folks camping because why not? She’s a hyper goofball who likes to wrecks people’s lives with playful havoc. However, today was a blue moon to unwind from her hyperactive ways and letting the songbirds’ chant sooth her ears and mind in a land of calming bliss.

Lillian wore a pink long blouse with a one-sided neck cut and blue and pink shoes; a backpack was slung on her arm with the basic outdoor necessities. The girl continued on strolling, and decided to play.
She scuttled around the grass, bushes, and trees, sniffing petunias and wildflowers while chasing little animals. After playing around, Lilian continuing her walk.

This forest was unfamiliar for the armored figure. He was armed with a sword and shield and a woven bag of supplies slung on his shoulder. A golem. What kind of creature was doing in a forest like this? Was it sent here? Or was it summoned by a distant spiritual source? A very strange mystery, indeed. Either way, he was here. The golem Derrigad Ferrobot continued walking. It had no hands; instead they were replaced with a savage looking blade on his right hand and a set of flails in his left. The golem didn't look rather friendly. It gave off a dark aura, scaring way the animals and birds. Derrigad felt bored being this forest. He decided to look for a place to take refuge for the day and get everything figured out. After walking for another hour, the golem stumbled upon an old house….

The fox girl Lillian silently whined to herself with all this walking. She needed a rest. And it was slowly heading towards dusk. Lillian picked up the pace and continued on the path. Out into the short distance, a small hill emerged out of the blue. On top of the hill was an old, but refurbished house made of wood and stone. Lillian smiled a bit, hoping if anyone lived there. She knocked on the door, but no one answered. She knocked again. No reply. Lillian turned the knob and surprisingly found it to be unlocked. The door creaked wide-opened. The fox girl stepped inside. It was dark and cold; a stale damp odor hit her nose. She squeaked, “Hello? Is someone here?” No answer.  So Lillian grabbed the flashlight out of her backpack. She looked around the abandoned house closely in every nook and cranny. An old fireplace idled in the corner; ash and old burnt wood sprawled around it. The kitchen was very dusty and covered with cobwebs; the pans were unused for many years. Old, dusty furniture decorated the dirty living room.

Lillian felt nervous and a little scared. Footsteps hit her ears and made the girl gasp. “Who’s there?" Then another sound came from the front door shutting. Lillian cursed and quickly ran to the door. Thankfully it was unlocked. She opened the door to see a strange being standing 7 feet away from the steps. Lillian was looking at an armored person with a long sword and flail that replaced the usual arms. He was definitely not human. A strange, enigmatic aura emitted from his very being. Lillian stared with wonder.

Derrigad Ferrobot examined the strange-looking girl. She was definitely not like the other humans he encountered before in the past. She had fox ears and a tail and was adorned in bright pink colors. He let his guard down to the girl and greeted, "What brings a girl in this part in the woods?"

Lillian was startled by the hollow ghostly voice coming from the armored being. He didn't seem threatening, so she lightened her face and answered in return. "Oh, I'm just taking a hike far away from civilization. What are you doing in these woods? You don't seem to be from around...nor anywhere else I might add."

The golem replied solemnly, "I am not from your mortal world. I am from another, far beyond this one. I have come here for reasons I know not, but will soon find out." 

Lillian studied the figure. "Interesting. What are you? You don't seem... human."

A laugh erupted, "I am not a human, indeed. I am simply a golem. A living construct that is created by magic.--"

Lillian beamed in wonder. "Magic? Did you say magic? OOOHHH! Show me, show me!"

The golem chuckled. Its hollow eyes glowed mystically, and muttered a spell in a unknown language. On the ground space between, small twinkling lights manifested a fire. Burning as if was just lit after the fire spark and wood ran its course. Lillian was impressed and even more so at it was getting dark out and the temperature dropping. She sat down by the fire, removing her backpack for some water and snacks. She asked, "What else can you do?" Derrigad's eyes glowed again, and small quantities of meat and fruits manifested to her feet.

Lillian relaxed and ate her dinner in peace by the warm fire, while the golem stood next to her, keeping watch of anything going bumping in the woods. After completing her dinner, Lillian invited Ferrobot to sit next to her for some leisure. Immediately the pair began talking about their lives and understanding each other better. The mood was genuine and sweet; they realized that they enjoyed one another's company.

Their conversation was interrupted by rustling from the nearby bushes, causing the fox girl and golem to sprang up for any coming danger. A growl resonated from the bush. Then, out came a strange-looking wolf. It had red glowing eyes and a peculiar blue aura glowing of its body. Derrigad was shocked. How did a demon in the guise of a wolf followed him to this dimension? No matter; whoever was watching over him from afar who wanted him dead or not complete whatever quest he was charged with, was greatly mistaken because their wolf assassin was going to die!

"Stay behind me, Lillian!" called the golem. The fox girl wasted no time in jumping behind a wooden log. The golem sprinted towards the demon with a battle cry to distract it. The demon was not simpleminded; it hopped off its four legs and landed on Derrigad, but was knocked back by his flail arm. The demonic canine got back on its paws and roared in anger. It ran toward the combative golem with its claws protruded for the kill. 

Lillian looked on in distress, but at the same time, hopeful that her new friend would prevail on this fight. The wolf demon was powerful, she must admit. But the golem definitely seemed to have the upper hand.

Violent sounds of tooth and claw clashing with sword and chain. Derrigad had no wounds to heal. The only evidence of "wounds" were superficial scratches and teeth marks all over his impenetrable armor. The fight was a violent rhythm of jumps, leaps, kicks, and parries. The golem swinging his flail limb to knock the wolf. The demon itself was a sorry state. With every blow, the wolf demon became battered and bloody and was becoming progressively weak from fatigue. It couldn't muster much strength to run any longer. It was done. Derrigad delivered the final blow to the wolf. It ran towards the wolf with his hand blade, and with a gut-wrenching sound, the wolf demon let out a howl of death as a blood fountain sprayed from its belly.

But it was not over. Derrigad knew that this was not the demon's true form. Most shape-shifting demons had the real appearance of an ethereal creature-like spirit. The ghost morphed from the wolf corpse all bloody and tattered. The golem chanted in the same unknown language, and the ghost demon fazed out of existence.  

Lillian shouted in excitement and triumph. She ran up her armored friend, had a few laughs and walked towards the house for a good night's rest.