Sylvester Windrunner awoke with a start, his pinkish sweat sliding through the wrinkles on his dark olive face. What an odd dream. A demon, of all things for me to imagine. Sylvester thought. He gazed around the room, a glistening cave filled with crystals. On one wall, a thin sheet of crystal covered a window to the outside where a trickle of sunlight found its way through, casting odd shadows around the room, and the making the luminescent water to glisten, the crest of its gentle waves shimmering sweetly, the magic in the water gleaming. A stack of neatly folded, colorful masks lays gently on a stone shelf carved into the corner. His eyes settled on one of them. He recognized the ornate green on gray swirling markings on the fabric as the crest of his old friend and mentor, the famed Kio of Thunder Jolt. Typical of a warrior to rent a pearl sleeping cave after a battle, the water works miracles on wounds. Slowly, Sylvester heaved himself up onto his hooves. He winced in pain as the skin on his face wrinkled, almost cracking from dehydration. Swiftly, he dipped his face back under the pearly colored water, and the painful folds of skin healed almost instantly back to a smooth sheen.
Yawning, Sylvester walked sluggishly to the mouth of the cave, to a small stone desk. His head hanging low, he muttered to a rusty-colored hippo behind the desk
“Sylvester Windrunner checking out”.
Looking up, Sylvester recognized the hippo and his ears perked up in excitement.
“Well look who actually decided to wake up. It's 10 am, Silvy! We have training at noon, sleepyhead.” said the russet hippo, clearly unimpressed.
“Oh. sorry to keep you waiting flame. I had to stay up to study my formations” Sylvester replied disappointment in his smooth, oaky tone.
“It's ok, I should probably study more too. Here, catch!”
Lurching up on his hind legs, Flame grabbed a neatly folded green and black mask between his dextrous toes and chucked it in Sylvester's direction. Sylvester skillfully caught the mask between his toes and pulled it over his head. Flame grabbed another mask, this one golden brown, and put it on. The masks represented their loyalty to the Silver King and showed the guard that they meant no harm to the city of stone or the community within the canyon walls.The pair exited the cave into the bustling market square.
Sunny river square stood where five stretches of canyon converged, entrances to the five districts of the heavily guarded city of Vaphis. Market vendors stood behind their stalls selling items by the bushel. Shops made of caves blocked off with beautifully carved wood doors held streams of masked hippos out for their morning shopping. A giant stone watch tower floated far above over the market, a maze of transparent pale blue magic hexicomb connecting to the canyon walls, holding the tower high in the air, and covering the square from attack.
Sylvester and Flame loped up to one of the many stalls, behind which a muscular pitch black pygmy hippo in a charcoal-stained faded blue mask dutifully polished a bright silver chest plate engraved with a beautiful deep blue carving.
Sylvester gasped “Is that…”
“Yes, a royal chest plate.” responded the vendor, with a harsh edge in his tone.
Before Sylvester could utter another word, he was shoved into a bow by Flame. A hissing laugh rang out from the silenced square followed by the heavily accented voice of a snake
“The king a kindly asked to be treated like everyone else. Please, rise.”
Slowly, the hippos in the square rose to their feet, to see the tall, handsome blue hippo, King Billy Silver Mask. Next to him stood a large female anaconda, Smoke-Eyes of Great Pod, the king's closest advisor.
Sylvester watched as Billy walked towards the market stall. Billy’s eyes were a shade of glittering emerald, like the crystals that jutted out of the canyon walls. “I believe you know what I'm here for Coal.” Billy said his voice soft and crisp. Coal place the chest plate in a basket held in Smoke Eyes tail, and smiled, handing Sylvester his newly cleaned plate male mask. Billy handed 20 small hoofprint-shaped brass coins to Coal.
Coal paused for a long moment “ your breastplate only cost 15 clefts, Billy.”.
“I am aware. I am covering this young bull” Billy paused, “Sylvester isn't it?”
Sylvester stared in shock “yes my… my name is Sylvester” “Then I will cover Sylvester's mask as well”. “As you wish” said coal, gathering the coins into a box behind his stall.
Sylvester was speechless. The Silver King, his idol, had just paid for his mask.
“Wow. he is kind for a king isn't he, good looking too,” whispered Flame.
Sylvester flashed his friend a look. “I was just kidding!” said Flame, hitting Sylvester's side with his shoulder. Flames tone changed to a more serious one, as he said “We should get to the armory though. Get ready for practice, and the like.”. The two continued on through the vast canyons towards the training grounds.
Points: 165
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