At sunrise he was ready.
He had his shield and spear.
The pack he wore was heavy.
And his heart was full of fear.
He set off for the forest.
Just once he looked behind.
To see his grizzled father.
His face a fist of lines.
The two of them, they were the last.
A warring race, once great.
The Fwuffkin caused it’s downfall,
And his fathers roiling hate.
So off he went to hunt it.
He must bring back it’s head.
So his father could at last find peace,
In the knowledge it was dead.
Although he’d never seen it,
He’d heard the legends tell,
Of blood red eyes and razor claws,
And a rotten egg like smell.
It would tower high above him,
And fix him with a stare.
Then roar a roar to chill his bones,
And leave him frozen there.
In the forest all about him,
The birds had ceased to sing.
Ahead of him behind a bush,
He heard a whimpering.
He dropped his pack, and raised his spear.
He tightly gripped his shield.
He only wished he had more hands,
And more weapons he could wield.
Finally he saw it,
The Fwuffkin crouching low.
It gazed at him imploringly,
And squeaked a faint ‘Hawow’.
It’s eyes were wide and soft and brown,
It’s furry paws were clasped.
As he started to draw back his spear,
He heard the Fwuffkin gasp.
He felt his spear arm dropping.
He couldn’t make it stay.
The Fwuffkin only gazed at him,
But he couldn’t look away.
His spear and shield fell to the ground.
He stood there undefended.
Waiting for that mighty roar.
He knew his life was ended.
The Fwuffkin lolloped up to him,
And hugged him very tight.
His fear and anger drained away,
And he lost the will to fight.
It told him of its homeland,
Where war was never made.
There was no need for fighting,
Or bitterness or hate.
With the invitation open,
He could go there any time.
But first he asked a favour,
If the Fwuffkin didn’t mind.
His father’s joy had turned to rage,
When he found out that the head,
His son had brought back from the wood,
Was anything but dead.
He clung on to his hatred,
For he thought it made him strong.
But once the Fwuffkin gazed at him,
The warrior was gone.
In his heart he found forgiveness,
For his son and for the beast.
A great weight had been lifted,
And they lived their lives in peace.