Challenge Submission A Mother’s Love

[vuroe]

The air was thick with a nauseating stench that clung to every surface, clinging to the man's clothing like an invisible parasite. The smell of burning wood permeated the air, mixed with the odor of rotten meat and a hint of death. The man stood by the border of a forest, watching the flickering flames of a defensive fire die out. The smoke twisted and turned as it rose into the night sky, as if alive with a will of its own. The sounds of the forest were eerie, with the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant, strangled shriek of a creature. The familiar shriek that was a sign of hunting. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if something was poised to strike at any moment.
The man's eyes wandered to the vast, sprawling forest before him. The darkness seemed almost oppressive as the trees were still. With every passing second, the father's unease grew stronger. In one arm, he clutched a bundle of blankets. Concealed in the protective fabric was a sleeping infant. He was acutely aware of the responsibility he bore - the child's life was hung heavy on his shoulders, yet the overwhelming fear he felt in his stomach had his worn out boots planted on the plains of grass. The sound of a muffled coo brought his mind back to reality, breaking the silence. The noise reminded the man of the fragility and innocence the child had. She hadn't been exposed to the world's horrors, yet.

With a quickness, the man turned, in his opposite hand - the burnt out torch, he flicked his wrist, the torch carrying into the forest as if to hurt an invisible force. With a desperate, panicked run, he clutched the infant closer to his chest, his heart pounding in his ears. The sound of powerful wings whirred in the air above him, and a sudden, all-encompassing silence overcame the man as he felt the talons of some unknown creature clamp onto his flesh. All what was needed to make the creature react was the softest noise. Perhaps even his breathing had exposed his position; but the coo from the child urged it to act.
"No!" he cried out, his voice filled with terror, but the sound was abruptly cut off as he was lifted into the sky, the talons digging into his shoulders, even tearing through his shirt. The man dared not turn his head to see the fate of his child, and in a moment of desperation, he dropped the baby from his arms and to the side, his breath catching in his throat.
For a moment, silence reigned, but then the blanket rolled animatedly down a small hill, floating downstream as the man helplessly watched from above. The darkness of the night swallowed up the child's image, and the man was left with nothing but the sound of his own heavy breathing, his heart thumping in his ears, and the knowledge of the immense, irreversible loss he had just suffered.

The air turned somber as the sleeping babe was led farther downstream, into a more swamp-like environment. The damp, pungent scent of rotting vegetation hung heavy in the stale air, as if a mournful spirit hovered above, weeping over the loss of innocence.The swamp was quiet and brooding, like a dark and dangerous forest, with twisted, bare branches stretching out towards the overcast sky. Moss hung from the low branches, like curtains, blocking the view beyond, and the stream wound its way through the landscape, its waters dark and murky.
What was a monstrous creature, had its moments of beauty. Wearing dirty rags as a dress, the sickly grey skin of the woman was damp as the heavy rain pattered onto the water she was currently wading herself through, her bony fingers dipped into the murky water. Her gelid eyes flickered, pupil-less eyes landing on the soaked ball of a blanket. A maternal instinct activated as she heard the sleepy whine as the babe began to awaken; the pattering of the rain creating ripples in the water, and alerting the baby. Reaching out, the woman's spindly fingers curled, grasping the ball, and lifting it carefully. She unfolded the small fold of the blanket, revealing the curious look of the child. Her head tilted as the baby giggled, wriggling to free her arms from the blanket. Stiffly, the woman re-covered the child's face, lifting her head. Wandering to the shallow of the swamp, she stood up from the smoggy waters, and crouched low, hovering over to conceal the blanket from being soaked further from the heavy rain.

The woman unwrapped the sodden blanket to reveal the child's aloof expression. Her dull eyes, void of light, slowly adjusted to the new sight. A rosy giggle bubbled from the infant's throat, her plump fingers grasping onto the creature's wet strands of hair. A warmth spread throughout her chest, an emotion she hadn't felt in years. A crooked smile formed on her dark-stained lips, and she lifted the baby close to her, cradling it like a treasure. "Mine, all mine," She whispered in a rough voice, her scratchy words emerging from long-dormant vocal cords. Her eyes glistened with a mix of joy and confusion, her heart racing as she realized the weight of responsibility that had suddenly been thrust upon her. With every passing moment, her attachment to the child grew, and she realized that she would do whatever it took to protect her newfound offspring. The woman, once a monster, now had a chance at redemption - all thanks to a simple act of tenderness and an unexpected spark of maternal instinct.

The moment was interrupted as a shriek entered the vicinity. Standing and turning, the maternal creature's expression turned grim, and irate as hooked, bloody talons landed on the moist ground of the swamp. The creature across from her resembled a hybrid. Half female, half bird. Well - as much as a feminine appearance as it could take. An outstretched jaw, the pointed chin was bloody, pieces of flesh sticking to the sharp bottom teeth, its gums exposed by the ever-lasting snarl on its face. The powerful wings stretched out, and flapped - creating a small gust of wind towards the woman. It was a threat. And she didn't take lightly to it. Adjusting her steps, her body concealing the unwrapped blanket behind her feet, the woman's facial appearance morphed. Once a beautiful woman, the rippling effect now exposed a decaying, skeletal face of the woman. Her true appearance. A strangled growl escaped her throat, her palms poised, stiff. Her jaw unhooked, a crack breaking the silence as her jaw hung loose. The harpy even stiffened at the horrendous sight, the sharp wings puffing up. Deciding the remaining prey wasn't worth going up against such a grotesque mother, the creature turned, a powerful flap of its wings, and it disappeared from sight.

Slowly lifting her hands to her face, the creature turned. Not wanting to risk frightening the child from such a monstrous sight, she ducked her head low. A quiet coo came from the babe. Peeking through the gaps of her rigid fingers, she saw the curious look from the baby, her hand reaching out needily. With a shaky exhale, the creature unveiled herself, hollow eyes meeting calm ones. To her further surprise, the baby raised her arms with a whine. She wanted to be held.
Cautiously, the creature lifted the baby to her chest, her slack chin resting on top of the baby's head.
Standing, with the babe safely cradled in her tight embrace, a gentle hum rumbled from the creature's throat. A tune she made up in a slum of boredom. Feeling the slow heartbeat of the baby nestled against her, she slowly walked deeper into the swamp's terrain.
She knew little of what laid ahead now - but what she silently vowed to do was protect the infant with her life. This was now her purpose; and a mother's love knows no bounds.