This is a fragment from a story that takes place in an rpg-style universe loosely based on Fushigi Yuugi. None of FY's character's appear here, I merely borrowed the setting and the Universe of the Four Gods. The following exchange is a typical RPG scenario with a slight twist -- a warrior out in the wilderness out to kill ghouls for bounty finds himself making an unusual alliance.
~Kate

But the beast disregarded me, growling menacingly at the wizard who had the audacity to command him. The warlock strengthened his spell with an incantation and commanded, "Do it!"

It halted its approach toward him, glancing at me uneasily, then back at him, baring its teeth and lowing as its resolve against the warlock's control weakened. After another incantation, the sorcer bellowed "Now!"

Unable to resist any longer, the creature raced towards me at full tilt. Before I could draw my sword it rammed into my midsection and knocked the wind out of me. As I bent over double it shouldered me and sped off, away from the ghastly encampment. I stared behind us in bewilderment as the creature galloped across the field toward the paltry shelter of the boulders that surrounded the clearing several meters away. It occurred to me that the ghoul was fleeing from the range of the wizards's control.

Wheezing with exertion, it finally stopped to rest under the shade of a small tree. The creature set me down and looked me over from head to foot. I was nervously aware that it was sizing me up. Quickly it came to its conclusion. My last conscious thought was of surprise that such long spindly fingers could even form a fist as he drove it into my temple.

i opened my eyes slowly, half-expecting to see my innards being feasted on by the creature whose growls could be heard over the din in my head. My headache was as likely to be caused by the stench of the miasma that emanated from it as from the blow I'd sustained. To my surprise I was intact, the ghoul pacing a short distance off with my crossbow in hand. Focusing, I noticed only one arrow had been spent. We were much too far out of range to strike his target, as it had undoubtedly learned when the first shot fell short.

I then realized that the beast before me and I shared a common enemy, and that this one was more intelligent than I'd at first suspected. Its feral groans became more agitated, interspersed with frustrated whimpers as I noticed a plume of smoke rising from the makeshift tent in which I'd found the body. The warlock's puppets must have been making use of the creature's store of food. Unable to but watch, it ceased its pacing and sat back on its haunches. I recognized the posture; it was about to begin howling. Quickly I got up to clamp a hand over its mouth before it gave away our hiding place. I shuddered at the contact with the cold leathery skin, praying that the demon wouldn't bite my hand off. Its eyes were wide as it regarded me with surprise.

"Can you understand me?" I said before giving it time to react.

Nod.

I removed my hand from its mouth, wiping my palm vigorously against my breeches; it was already beginning to burn from the poison the ghoul secreted.

"That's your property, isn't it?" I could already tell by its mournful expression that its territory had been encroached upon.