Chapter Text
The life of a construct isn't easy. Having to avoid bigger constructs all day and hiding at night just to survive. Scavenging around for items just to end up getting caught from the noise and having to hide somewhere until it passes through.
This was the life of Harken, A yellow sand-made construct with beautiful angelic wings on her face, back, and lower back. She was about a tad bit young, maybe about 23-24? Her father sent her out to grab some things for supper, she always listened to her father, even if she was sometimes scared to wander out into the fabled dark lands, filled with bigger constructs that are taller than the mountains of fablehaven.
Harken never really liked going out, fearful that someday she would be caught and killed just for her material goods, but she had to, she always wanted to make her father proud. Harken was currently scavenging for tiny little bugs scattered across the ground; she and her father could use these tiny bugs for many things, like food, material for them, or just decoration of their cozy home.
She paid close attention to the sounds and details of what was happening around her, her wings twitched, having very good hearing, her species of construct were small and agile, having to blend in with the sand just to survive. It also came with enhanced hearing capabilities, which she used to her advantage. She could hear the smallest things from miles away, it was annoying at times but without it she wouldn't really be here.
A twig snapped, Harken perked her head up from what she was doing, a worrisome look on her face. That was too close for comfort for her, maybe she should head back home. Looking inside the hand-made basket her father gifted her, it seemed it had enough of the bugs she was collecting, so she got up and wandered back to the den.
Though something was following her, stalking her…She could sense it, which made her panic a little, though she didn’t show it just in case it was small.
Harken sped up a bit, wanting to hurry home, it was getting late and no construct wants to be out at night, fearing the night terror that wanders around when night falls, snatching everything that moves, Even the biggest of constructs go into hiding, some in the waterfalls of fablehaven, some in the mountains.
Another twig snapped, she snapped her head toward the source of the noise, freaking out a bit, a small chime came from her. Her eye opened a bit, green glowing in the dusk. She only ever opened her eye when she felt like she was in danger.
Looking around she spotted a tiny dog-like animal, which calmed her nerves a bit. But it didn’t help ease her, animals make noise. This one spotted her and it might make a noise. She stared the animal down, it made a small bark sound.
Lifting up her hand she shushed the creature quietly, not wanting to cause anything to come her way. She started off walking again, picking up the pace. The sun was almost down and if she didn’t hurry she would be stuck out for the rest of the night. And every construct knows how life-threatening that is.
Suddenly her foot got caught in some weed, she tripped and fell, a loud harp noise came from her, suddenly putting her hand toward where her mouth WOULD be. Shit, that was too loud for her liking. She looked around hurriedly, the basket was tipped over off of her, it was closed so nothing came out, she needed to hurry and untrap her foot from the weeds that were sticking up from the ground.
Grabbing a small knife she made using stone, she quickly went to cut the thick weeds. It wasn't so easy when she was in a panic to get home. The sun was fully down by now, meaning it was night. That’s when the bad creatures come out.
Her wings fluffed up in rising fear, if she didn’t hurry she would surely be caught and killed by the c-
…
—
A noise…
…..
..
Something is watching her.
..
In full state panic she tugged on the thick weeds, her eye fully opening, scared out of her mind, the weeds snapped finally, quickly getting up and grabbing the basket before dashing off to where she knew her home was.
If she was quick enough she could get quickly go inside, close the door, and be safe. Though now that thing that she felt was watching her was quickly gaining up on her, maybe if she flew? No, that would attract too many things.
Would this be her end? Would she die without telling her father goodbye? She couldn't let that happen. Maybe if she fought back- hell that would attract a lot of noise to her but, if it saved her life then she would take that risk.
Quickly turning around, she got into a defensive pose, having her guard up- she listened for any noise around her. While she was running she could hear bushes rustle next to her, meaning it’s still here. But where is it..?
Looking around, her wings fluffed out to make herself seem bigger, her eye opened as wide as it could, small cracks formed on her face. Smaller constructs would have run in fear for how she looked, maybe constructs her size would be a tad bit frightened, but they’d still try to get her. Bigger constructs wouldn't care at all, only wanting you for your material to make them bigger.
Suddenly something jumped on her, it felt bigger than her- she was suddenly pinned to the ground below her, the fall making her eye close. The being had her hands above her head, Harken struggled, trying to at least get some type of advantage- loud harp noises came from her as her wings flapped out of control.
Something wrapped around her throat, a hand? It didn’t matter, she needed to get back home. To see her father again, she opened her eye, having a hard time seeing for a second before realizing what this thing was.
It was another construct, bigger in size. Being purple and having sharped curved horns on its head, it’s big pink eye stared at her green eye. It looked like this construct was the polar opposite of Harken. Yet it had a mouth, which showed it being a wide grin.
The purple construct stared directly into Harken’s eye. A sudden swirl coming into its eye. It seemed like it was trying to hypnotize Harken- She noticed and quickly closed her eye. Still struggling against its grip. The bigger construct simply made a type of growling noise.
“ Open your eye and accept your fate, you know you can’t resist my gaze..” It spoke, actually spoke. Harken was a bit confuzzled- she never knew other constructs that could speak her language.
Though that may have caught her, as she did in fact open her eye- just for her to get caught in its hypnotizing gaze. Maybe this was the end of harken. She didn’t even get to see her father. Hell maybe he thinks she traveled a bit far, he must be worried sick for her.. And now she's going to die at the hands of another construct.
The bigger construct was pleased, finally having harken caught in his eye. Now it didn’t have to worry about her struggling.
As the construct was about to snap Harken's neck, a sudden loud thud came from behind the purple construct. It snapped its head to look at what it was.
—
It was the creature of the night. What every construct feared, it had heard the commotion and came to take what was there.
The purple construct froze, forgetting it was night. It got up off of Harken and quickly ran, the hypnotization Harken was in was quickly snapped in an instant once he got far. She got up, holding her head.
W-wait…how isn't she dead yet..? Where did the-
She looked straight into the creature's eyes. Her life flashed before her, It was that thing.
She quickly got up and dashed home, forgetting the basket, forgetting everything. She just needed to make it back home before it snatched her up and killed her. She wanted to be in her fathers arms again.
Seeing a bright light in the distance, she had hope. Quickly running as fast as she could, her wings flapping behind her so she could be quicker. She dashed under the rock, closing it behind her.
A loud banging noise was heard from the other side of the rock, a groan followed, before stomping could be heard going away from the rock. She was alive and safe. She survived.
–
Another yellow construct rushed up the stairs. Harken quickly turning her head.
..
“ Harken, dear is that you..? “ He had a deep old sounding voice, from many years of living.
Harken was relieved to see her father again, quickly running up to hug him, tears fell from her eye.
“ I’m sorry father, I couldn't get the things you asked for. It was night and I was almost killed and-.” She quickly spoke, before being shushed by her father.
Harken’s father hugged her back tightly, fearing for the safety of his daughter, she was the only thing he had left. Her mother sadly passed because of another construct, and that same thing was about to happen to her if she didn’t make it home in time.
“ It’s alright my dear, at least you are safe. “ He said, reassuring her everything would be fine.
He took her down to safety, staying away from the door after what just happened. He wanted to make sure she was alright, sitting her on a chair and checking on her.
She had a bruise around her neck, and her eye looked a bit purple. But she was relatively fine. She was safe with him.
“ I could go out tomorrow and venture out for more things father if that’s what you would l-” Harken said before being cut off
“ No, I will go out tomorrow. I want you to be safe. Stay here. “ He said, fearing for his daughter's safety.
Harken only sighed, and nodded, getting up and going to her place of rest. This day was one she would never forget.
Tucking herself under the thick blankets, she soon succumbed to tiredness, her wings folding around her in a protective manner. That purple construct and the creature of the night was all she dreamt about….
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