The small, wiry-looking woman watched with feigned disinterest as the soldiers rushed into the town, brandishing rifles of varying lengths and calibers. They rushed past her door with a sense of disinterest, some occasionally kicking the small bowl she put by the door for Nobbles, the stray dog that often kept her company. He had been abandoned as a pup and somehow formed an unbreakable relationship with this wiry-looking woman who was an enigma in herself.
No one knew how she came here. No family, no friends, no distant contacts or visitors. She just seemed so...alone and weird. Children were warned to keep their distance and the last girl that had offered her an apple out of the kindness of her child-like heart got the whooping of her life from her parents.
But no one knew that her kindness paid off in a wonderful way - the wiry woman had averted a number of accidents that would have ultimately claimed the girl's life. Everyone attributed it to mere luck.
Except the girl of course. She knew.
And the old woman knew that she knew.
And she knew the proposed outcome that was looming as the soldiers rushed into the town, firing bullets at everything on legs. She stood up with an agility beyong her age and went to the door.
To intervene or not to intervene? The town never welcomed her or made her feel welcome.
They had been cold to her right from the start. At least they let her buy groceries, she mused. Particularly the pot-bellied butcher who had been bringing her fresh cuts of meat every three days, albeit secretly. And the girl who had given her an apple- she had never seen a human soul so pure! Fresh for feeding too -but she had given up on that aspect of her persona. Now she was out to redeem whatever wrongs she could before she faced the Horrible Master who had made her what she was.
She closed her eyes and exhlaled. Immediately two hoofed beings appeared , both standing like men on their hind legs. She smiled and nodded.
One of the beings opened his mouth to protest, but one look at her eyes silenced it. They both bowed in obedience to her wishes and exited through the wall.
Satisfied, she took a piece of dry fish and sat on her bed. Leaning against the wall, she began to eat.
Outside, mayhem ensued. It lasted for 15 minutes and then...silence. The two beings reappeared. She beamed with delight, and nodded again. They disappeared. Now she had enough meat for the year. The butcher could rest and not risk being ostracized for the next few months. She clapped her hand and a dead body of one of the soldiers appeared.
Time to cook.
