Mairia
By: Matt Ulmen

She wishes they would just go away. "Humans" have such a terrible way of
getting rid of things first then asking about them later. Mairia is what
"normal" people would call a freak, she has a fur covered body, dragon like
wings and bat ears. she lives out is a wooded area in a small hut like
structure where the very few friends  she has come to visit her. Lately
though things have been getting bad. She has fallen in love with a young
man who she has been friends with for quite some time and the locals are
not happy about it at all. She dosent want to move again for fear of what
will happen to him should she leave.the young man, whos name is jack, often
comes to visit her during the evening when they can walk around and be with
nature without fear of scaring locals who maybe in the woods during the
day. iften times they will see mutual friends and talk to spy on campers as
they tell stories around the fire or listen in on couples sharing
intimacies at night under the stars. She loves him and know that he returns
her love, she just wishes that the world would allow them to be free.
"Mairia?"She looks around and sees Jade, one of her oldest friends."Hello
Jade..sorry about not noticing you. Ive been preoccupied lately." Jade
nodded "It's about Jack isn't it dear?" Mairia nodded. Jade sighed "well
you know what the locals think about you." "yes I do and I dont see as how
I can live like this much longer . How long can a person keep on living
without a life of their own?" Jade gave a sympathetic smile. "Look dear, I
came by tonight because the locals are going to come up here tonight. The
things I've heard people say suggest that if you stay the outcome won't be
good for you." Mairia sighed "so you're telling me to go off and hide?"
Jade shook her head sadly" no, I'm telling you that if you want to be
around tommorow, you'd best leave the area tonight." Mairia started crying
softly as Jade comforted her. "I know its not fair...but just try and stay
alive child. you'll have your day in the sun to someday." Mairia sniffed
and looked at Jade"unfortunately I think that time is tonight." Outside
Mairia's cabin the hostils had already begun to gather. Jade and maria
looked at them as tourests look at wild animals. They knew what they were
capable of, but never couldn't believe what it had come to. Mairia's heart
was gladened when she saw JAck and out of instinct ran to him. "MAIRIA!"
Jade cried but the locas had got her. Jack tried to keep them off her but
the pulled them both away up into the hills leaving Mairia's few friends
behind to grieve about her eventual end.
The next day Jade asked one of the townsfolk what they did to Mairia and
Jack. "we left them up by the mountain in a cave a few miles from no
where." When she asked why they hadn't killed them the man smiled and said
"lady no one kills for love anymore...if they have that then let them
live...just not around here." The man winked and walked away.