Track 07 - He Who Scares Crows

"I'll be very quick. Just a quick snatch and grab."

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Artist: Bull of Heaven

Song: A Ghost Prehistoric, Pt. 1

Up north in the farms the sky was so much brighter at night. Midnight had passed and the witching hour was within sight. Stars lit through and combined with the moon it provided enough hollow light to illuminate the ground.

A demonic scarecrow lay against a gigantic vine which rose out of the farmland. Going up it curled into a circle, a watchtower amongst the rolling farmlands. The scarecrow’s back sat upright against the vine's bend. A few metres high up, it gave him almost full sight of the many acres the farm occupied. He was resting, a large black witch's hat covering his sackcloth head.

The farm's denizens, a family led by a witch named Amelia, a farmer named Ronan and their daughter Pomona all knew him as Zardy.

Zardy loved the late spring and summer. It allowed him to sleep outside and watch over the farm. Whenever everything was covered in snow he had no choice but to dwell in his shed, accompanied by the warmth of a fireplace.

At his side, hanging off the vine but held in place by smaller ones was a hoe, the edge sharpened just enough for stabbing. If it wasn't for the weapon shining in the moonlight he would a black silhouette over the foreboding landscape.

A strand of wheat emerged from under the hat, held by the scarecrow's mouth. It occasionally blew in the early summer night breeze.

But despite no ears present on the scarecrow and sight obscured by a hat he had a perfect grasp on the whole farm up to the perimeter.

So much so that he immediately detected the unfortunate crunching of grass, all the way on the outskirts of farm. It could have just been an animal but he knew better. He knew the steps a coyote would take, knew the sound a rabbit would make and he knew when it was neither of them.

He tipped his hat up, the black witch’s hat revealing two large glowing yellow eyes. He glanced in the direction but saw nothing. After all, his eyes were only slightly better than normal. The intruder was too far away.

Zardy sitting on a vinestalk rendered in Blender. [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/5347fd06-56ca-4d36-8584-e8dd38de8e12/dgeaum5-f83be31d-a09c-4c8d-9b0d-4393422e93cd.png/v1/fill/w_1192,h_670,q_70,strp/he_who_scares_crows_by_odaocer_dgeaum5-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NzIwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNTM0N2ZkMDYtNTZjYS00ZDM2LTg1ODQtZThkZDM4ZGU4ZTEyXC9kZ2VhdW01LWY4M2JlMzFkLWEwOWMtNGM4ZC05YjBkLTQzOTM0MjJlOTNjZC5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.zsAhVBnR4goROFY5gLRhdMRza7a9hIP8LTmH-O0PqT8]

Link: https://www.deviantart.com/odaocer/art/He-Who-Scares-Crows-991479677

"Let's see who has come out to play." He said with excitement. He wanted to savour it, thinking of all the ways he could play with the intruder before eventually finding out why he trespassed.

For him, whenever something intruded onto his property it became his, at least, if it intruded. Even when Pomona brought friends over he would always spook them in some way. Whether he pretended to be fake, shot peas at them or got his goons to harass them he always had a laugh.

And especially because he was the only one up at this hour he could do whatever he pleased, so long as he proved this intruder's intentions were wrong.

He got up and faced the direction of the intruder. Still a long ways off, Zardy waited. From up there he could manipulate the farm in any way he wanted, controlling an unknown amount of vines beneath the surface. Finally he saw in the distance a humanoid figure with a huge head scampering around, stealthily moving in and out of the corn fields.

The figure moved like nonchalant, practically skipping along slowly, not a care in the world. It appeared to be dark-coloured, the corn stalks concealing it well.

Zardy decided to screw with it, still unsure what it was supposed to be doing. He recalled someone breaking into the farm months ago on some dare. He scared those morons well.

Zardy ordered his vines around, creating walls where there weren't, made vines appear to move but stop when seen, had branches tap the person on its shoulder and vanish. He made the person loop around a circle a few times. But despite the repetition and attempts at scaring, the person showed little physical interest. It didn't even display anger or frustration at the circles it was going in. It was as if they just didn't care.

He instantly knew then the being was likely not human or anthro. They would have reacted more.

It was then that Zardy sought to have a closer look. Unseen through the ground a vine moved. It was extra careful to avoid stems and roots as it waded through. It eventually reached the edge of the farm, and popped out of the ground at the same place Tabi and Agoti had stood weeks ago. It reached into the shed, pulling out some binoculars and dragged it into the dirt. Returning to Zardy he brushed off the dirt and looked at the intruder.

The appearance only left him more perplexed.

The intruder was humanoid but that only applied to its body. Entirely black, most people would have just seen a floating head with how well it blended in the night. Zardy could tell though, yet another perk of his not being human or anthro. It had a pudgy shape to the body which appeared to make it squish as it sauntered around.

But, its most defining feature was the large lemon-shaped head which sat upon narrow shoulders. Zardy wasn't sure if it was a giant lemon but he could tell for certain it was its actual head. Two oversized eyes on its face, pink with giant black pupils in each. Other than eyes it had a huge mouth which contorted into a smile. Its smile was larger than the teeth it had, distorting upwards far past its eyes. There was no room for a nose on its face, eyes and mouth taking more than enough space. Its teeth were a similar pink-hue like its eyes.

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With just a cursory look at the monster’s appearance, Zardy could tell what it was. It was a demon. Not the same type as himself, but one that came from the same place he did.

That would also explain why it was so unfazed by Zardy's tricks. Like Zardy, the creature didn't have a capacity for fear.

It was then that Zardy figured he needed to know what exactly a demon was doing on his land. For all he knew it could have been a messenger demon. He had the vines direct the creature in a straight path himself atop the vine.

The creature entered the clearing, eyes focusing on the evil scarecrow. There was a glint in its eyes. Not one of dominance, but a friendly one. It seemed as if the demon recognized Zardy as its equal.

The field had healed since Tabi's flamethrower exploded though the marks were still present. Both Zardy and Pomona had gotten an earful from Ronan and Amelia about it. Said ash marks still littered parts of the ground.

Zardy stared down at the lemon demon, awaiting it to speak.

"Hey, man." It spoke in a distorted tone, almost screechy like it was losing his voice. There were notes of harmony underneath, almost singing as it spoke. It waved to Zardy.

"Hey, yourself. This is my land. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, lol. I didn't know this was someone's domain. I'm looking for someone. Little girl. Rabbit-girl. She lives around here."

Zardy knew it would be like Pompom to somehow get in contact with another demon but he still didn't trust it. Something was off.

"I'll be very quick. Just a quick snatch and grab." It said gleefully.

There it was. Zardy played his words carefully. He had already made up his mind that this being would become fertilizer. He just wanted to know more first. He also remained undecided if he should wake Amelia. That depended on how much he felt this demon needed to suffer.

"I know her. She's one of my slaves. What do you want with her?" Zardy said. He sat off the vine, legs kicking off as he watched. Unseen he had ordered some of goons to standby, just in case the demon pulled anything.

"Oh? Sorry, lol. I didn't know she was yours. It's just that I have been asked to take her, do what I want, y'know."

"And that is?"

"Do I have to spell it out? I am hungry." He winked.

"I mean, what has she done? She is been quite useful to me."

"Oh, well I don't want to step on any toes. But she needs to be punished. I'll be very quick if you want to revive her. Just a few bites."

It took a bit of willpower for Zardy not to just kill the creature where he stood. "What has she done?"

"You don't know? She's your slave, isn't she?" It was now that the lemon-headed demon got suspicious.

Zardy stood up, showing authority. "I spend my days watching these fields, making sure they are fed with the lives I harvest. By blood and flesh all permeates these stalks. The internal affairs of hell do not concern me." He commanded.

The demon just shrugged, snickering at Zardy's routine. "She pissed off some big demons. Exactly what, I don't know. I'm like you though, I didn't ask why."

"Which demon specifically? I still know a few in hell."

"The family! Lmao you gotta know them."

"I see. Well, as she is under my command I shall deal with her." Yeah, Amelia's gonna need to hear this, he decided.

"Oh?" The lemon's eyes widened in excitement. "What are you going to do? Can I have a piece? What about skewers, there's a lot of wood-" The demon trailed off, listing various ways of preparing rabbits for meals.

Zardy was starting to lose patience, the nonchalant way the lemon spoke about Pomona really bothered him. He wondered if he sounded like that to outsiders.

"Wha, hold on." The demon paused, as he finished counting the ways. "Lol, c'mon. How can I be sure you're actually going to deliver punishment?" He spoke innocently enough.

Zardy has decided he had enough. "Did they just send you?"

"Yessir!"

"Very well, I shall allow you the punishment. But I must watch, ensure you actually deliver it."

"Lol, don't worry. I can be as graphic as you want bro."

"Allow me to fetch her."

"Cool. I'll be here." He took a seat on the dirt.

"One other thing. Do they know you're on it?"

"What do you mean lol? Course they do. I came from there."

"Then I will report that the deed is done."

"Sure. 'f that's how you do things."

Zardy left, moving vines to ensure the demon was trapped. He made sure to get some of his guards to silently watch it in case it pulled anything. It didn't, thinking that the vines around the clearing were to prevent his target from escaping.

Zardy had no intention of waking or even acknowledging Pomona. He instead went straight to Amelia and Ronan. With a light rapping on the glass they awoke. They were a little annoyed at the wakeup but turned straight to fury as Zardy explained the situation.

Suffice to say, and sparing the gruesome details the lemon-coloured demon was swiftly dealt with, now permanently resting in the ground...what was left of it, a few piece of lemon and juice scattered around the enclosure.

Its soul had returned to hell, Zardy noting he'd need to pull some favours to make sure it stayed there.

Looking over the patch of dirt where the demon had once stood Zardy spoke. "What are you going to do about Pomona?"

"I don't know." Ronan said first. "But I do know that Family's gonna pay. No one touches my daughter and lives."

"I agree." Amelia said.

The situation wasn't over at the farm however, as Amelia and Zardy both detected a car speed into the farm's parking lot, hitting one of the fences.

"?" Zardy mused.

"I'll deal with it." Amelia said and teleported away. Zardy kept looked to Ronan who looked pissed. He had shocked him, Zardy didn't know Pompom's dad could be that ruthless.

At the parking lot Amelia spotted a black pickup truck crashed into the fence. It wasn't damaged too badly but the car and fence would need minor repairs. Someone stumbled out of it, too small to drive. They landed on the ground, face first. Amelia first noticed they were shaking. But as the dust cleared Amelia saw who it was.

"Static?" She asked, confused.

"M-ms. Carrot! I need to warn Pompom! I-is she here?" Static said, distraught.

"She is. Why?"

"It's Displo! Ican'treachhimhewanredmetotellpompomtheywere-"

"Slow down."

Casting a spell, Amelia warped Zardy and Ronan to her position.

"Where'spompomyouguysgotta-"

"Slow down child." Zardy spat. "We know. She's okay."

"R-really?"

"Now tell us what happened." Amelia said.

Static nodded.

Elsewhere, Pompom stirred, as did Mackie with her. She got up, rubbing her eyes. Her dad's snoring has stopped, clueing into something different. Getting up she walked to her parent's bedroom finding them gone. Surprised, she went to the window and saw seeing Zardy's stalk had vanished.Something was wrong. Mackie barked, realizing too something was up. She got dressed quickly and noticed the lights in the parking lot. Teleporting there, she and Mackie arrived in a flash of light.

In the confusion she saw her parents, Zardy, Static and a crashed car.

"Pompom! You're okay!" Static shouted and ran to her, giving her a hug. She hugged back, mostly as a surprised action.

"Static! Uh, good evening. Mom, what's going on?"

"Hold on." Zardy said, stepping forward. He looked into the distance where the road was. "There's someone else coming."

"What kind?"

"I'm not sure."

They watched as 3 black vans pulled up to the parking lot, driving fast and reckless. They all pulled into the parking lot violently, not parking in any specific part. They blocked the exit.

Amelia got ready for a fight, as did Zardy but one of the drivers shouted not to shoot.

They watched as several armed soldiers stepped out, not drawing their guns. Amelia recognized it instantly, even more so when the leader stepped out.

A tall man in a suit. His face obscured by a helmet he wore, only blackness seen behind the helmet's grates. Introductions weren't entirely necessary, Amelia and Pompom recognized it from Earthquake. He was one of three that led The Greater Good. Sterling.

"Do not be alarmed. We are not here on capturing business."

The guards lowered their guns, though looked around as if expecting something awry.

"We are here to help. It is our understanding that you are all in danger."

"Little late, buzz." Zardy croaked.

Sterling cleared his throat.

"Really? Well no matter. There is something grave we need to discuss. If you would." Sterling held out a hand.

Further confused by the sudden show of force, Pompom coughed.

The next chapter will be called Insert Coins to Continue.