Into the Underworld

Lush green grass swayed in the gentle breeze and tickled Malgor’s hooves as he looked across the most beautiful landscape. Blue skies and fluffy clouds drifted overhead. He saw shapes in them — a bunny, a duck, and then the vague outline of a hedgehog, which once again filled his mind with questions. The death of the hedgehogs in his own world had long puzzled him, an unanswered flaw in the design of his creation.

Snow-covered mountains rose in the distance, and a slow-moving river of crystal-blue water wound its way through the land. By the side of the river were figures. They swam and splashed; some lay on the bank enjoying the warm sun. But something was odd. They glowed softly with a pale blue light, and he could see the landscape through them, as though they were not completely solid.

Souls, he realised. These people were dead, and this was the Well of Souls. His lips curled into an awkward smile. This was what he had come for — souls — and it appeared there was an abundance of them. All he had to do now was find a way to claim them.

The air tasted clean and fresh. He could not remember anything like it, only the taste of ash and the smell of rot from his own world. The sound of birds singing the sweetest melodies caressed his ears. He shivered as the gentle wind brushed across his twisted form, making him feel wildly out of place amongst such beauty.

He took a steady step forward. A twig snapped under his hoof, causing the souls by the river to look in his direction. He saw the shock and something else. What was that he saw in their eyes? Fear. He tried to reach out to them with his mind, but he felt a barrier against him. They were blocking him deliberately. This might be more difficult than he had first imagined. For the first time, he used his physical voice.

"It's okay. I mean you no harm." His voice hissed in a menacing way he could not control.

His words did nothing to calm them, and he watched as they all stood, poised, ready to bolt at the smallest alarm. Malgor held his ground and did not move. He held up a clawed hand in a passive gesture, but again he saw that the souls took this as a threat as they began to step backwards.

Malgor waited, considering his next move. "Okay," he said, as he slowly took a step backwards and then slowly dropped to a sitting position. "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to talk."

The souls huddled together for support, finding safety in numbers. They stared at Malgor, unmoving. He reached out again with his mind and felt the barrier between them beginning to drop. Then the waters of the river in front of the souls began to ripple as the surface was broken. The head of a strange creature appeared from below the water.

The creature began to climb out of the river in front of Malgor. Its imposing size and appearance put Malgor on edge and he rose and took a step back. The creature was like the others, glowing blue and translucent. It was the soul of a creature Malgor had never seen. Huge muscular arms, it stood easily nine feet tall. It looked down on Malgor, who himself was imposing. Its body was covered in what looked like fur.

It stopped in front of Malgor and looked him up and down, weighing him up. Malgor raised his hand, an action that was met with a sudden reaction from the creature, who moved his hand from the direction of the river forward towards Malgor. In response, the water from the river moved with his gesture and formed a watery wall between the two of them.

Malgor's fist clenched and he crouched into a ready pose. "I don't want to fight."

"You do not belong here, demon." The creature's voice was gruff and commanding.

"I'm aware of that," Malgor admitted. "I am Malgor, a god of Algarle."

"Malgor takes the shape of a wolf," a soul shouted from behind the creature.

"Yes. A wolf," cried a second.

"You lie." The creature pushed the wall of water closer to Malgor.

His mind wide, Malgor took a step back. Was he in danger? Were the rules different in the underworld? Could gods be harmed? Indecision consumed him. "No. Please. I tell you true. I am Malgor. I was thrown into Mount Hunter by my own brother, Ilbien. I chose a new form for a new life."

"If you are Malgor, tales of the chaos you caused in Algarle have been spoken to us through generations." The great creature did not move or relax. "Either way, we cannot trust you."

"I am here for Hades. Not you."

"There is no Hades here. He hates that name. That is the name Varlun gave him. This tale also we have been told." The creature's muscles eased slightly; something in Malgor's words softened him.

The sun reflected off the wall of water, flickering light in Malgor's face. He squinted. "Yes. Dave. I would talk to Dave."

"What business do you have with Dave?"

Malgor eased and relaxed, loosening his fingers and standing tall. "I have created a new world and the creatures within it. But I cannot create souls. I wish to take whatever souls Dave can give me and give them another chance at life."

The souls looked from one to another as they processed the information. The creature stared at Malgor. Its eyes bored into him, weighing his words. Then, the wall of water disintegrated, sending the water sloshing across the floor and sinking into the earth.

"Okay!"

"Thank you." Malgor's voice was relieved, but he did not approach and kept a safe distance. "What are you anyway? I have never seen a creature like you."

"I am a daunt," said the huge creature. "I come from Algarle like you."

If this creature was from Algarle, Malgor had never come across one before. Maybe it was a new creature. One that had come into existence while he was trapped in Mount Hunter for five hundred years. Maybe this creature was Ilbien's answer to the chaos he had caused in Algarle. He had to admit that Ilbien had made something stunning.

"What is your name, daunt?"

"My name is Kralak, and I will take you to Dave."