The Tail of Stray

I do not know my name.

Once, a long time ago, I was a brave and true knight of my land. I defended the crown I served bravely in many battles. I fought for justice and in the defense of the weak. I lived by the code of the christian knight. I did all these things without pride.

One evening, after hunting for game all day without luck, I happened on a little pond, surrounded on three sides by mighty trees. Birds sang in the trees and small animals did drink at the waters edge.

I sat upon the rocks at the break of the trees to rest and watch the sunset.

Suddenly, from within the trees, there arose a howl, the likes I have never heard before or since. Staggering through the oncoming darkness, was the ugliest and most mishapen creature I had ever beheld. It was an old woman, older than any Id seen before. She was obviously in pain and struggled to the waters edge, where she fell.

As I rose to go to her assistance, she raised her head and pointed a crooked finger in my direction.

"YOU!", she cried.

"I?", I asked.

"Yes you! You who hath stolen my talisman so that ye may go forth and dispatch the demon dragon! You who do this for the sake of a young maiden instead of for the honor or in the defence of the weak! You who hath slain me for your own blind desires! You!"

"No poor woman, not I. I am....."

Before i could speak more, she mumbled words that sounded as if they came from the bowels of hell itself. I looked around as if I might find some escape, when i spied a knight standing in the trees close by. I could not make out the color or design of his emblems, but the moonlight shone on his face. He looked at me with awe and horror.

I suddenly felt something. My armour and clothing were beginning to enlarge. I looked toward the old woman, but she had collapsed. I realized then that it was not my clothing that was growing, but that i was shrinking. Soon i fell into my clothes and became