Creatures Caves

This story is based on the 1937 short story, "The Devil and Daniel Webster".

It had been extremely cold in the Norn Terrarium for the past couple of days ever since the Terrarium climate control panel had broken and as a result, many of the plants and animals that lived there had become extinct; no Grazers galloped playfully through the fields, no birdsong filled the atmosphere and the pond was completely devoid of stickletrouts.

The majority of the Norns who had once lived here had all left many years ago via the warp. Unfortunately for two Norns named Meesta and Tig, the Hand had intentions of keeping a pair of Norns to help repopulate the terrarium.

Tig was a 2 year-old Bengal Norn. He used to be a friendly, compassionate Norn, but grew bitter and bad-tempered since the rest of his family had left in the warp whereas he had to stay behind. He hated the Hand, and even more the Norn whom he had been paired with: Meesta.

Meesta was a female Hardman Norn. She was a lot friendlier than most Hardman Norns, but disliked Tig?s tendencies. She never spoke with him, and spent most of her time hanging around outside the Jungle Terrarium, ready to attack any unsuspecting Grendel.

There was one day, however, that would change Meesta?s life forever. Hungry, she went up the elevator into the treehouse, which was Tig?s main place of inhabitance. Upon seeing that Tig was asleep, she decided to sneak on over and steal a piece of cheese that Tig had kept on the shelf. As she crept forward, her foot hit a loose plank in the floor, and she fell forward into the shelf, causing it to collapse right in front of her. Tig awoke immediately.

?What on Albia are you doing in my treehouse?? shouted Tig. ?There?s no food left anywhere else, Tig. Can?t you just spare a piece of cheese?? answered Meesta. ?Ha! I don?t care if you starve to death, at least then the Hand will let me leave this dump!? screamed Tig.

Meesta burst into tears, went down the elevator and hid behind a portal. Why was Tig so cruel to her? ?I wish there was enough food for me, and I had the perfect mate? cried Meesta, tears rolling down her cheeks.

As Meesta sat there, crying, she suddenly saw the portal open up, and the most peculiar creature stepped out: his body was mostly covered in a long, dark purple robe, his hands were green and scaly, and his head was concealed by a large hood. ?What?s wrong my dear?? grumbled the mysterious stranger. ?Who the heck are you? What do you want?? gasped Meesta. ?Me? Why, I?m Sheeban, a Shee sorcerer. Pleased to make your acquaintance dear.? Meesta stared at Sheeban long and hard. Was he really a Shee sorcerer? ?Well, Sheeban, there?s no food left in the Norn Terrarium, and my mate-to-be hates me, and well, I?d be better off dead!? ?Aww, don?t be so hard on yourself, my dear. I?m sure I can help you with something.? Sheeban thought for a second, and then had an idea. ?I know this handsome male Fallow Norn named Doran, I think you and him have a lot in common!? ?Oh, I?d love to meet him!? shrieked Meesta. ?Of course! However, there is one condition: I need a sample of your hair.? Said Sheeban. ?My hair? Why?? ?Just so I have something to remember you by!? answered Sheeban.

Meesta cut a piece of her hair and handed it to Sheeban, who then bound to a piece of paper. Suddenly a male Fallow Norn arrived through the warp. ?Hi, what?s your name?? Said the Fallow Norn ?I?m Meesta!? blushed Meesta. It was love at first sight.

?Now dear, you?re very hungry aren?t you? Here, take this Cornucopia, it will produce enough food to last you a lifetime!? said Sheeban. ?Oh thank you Sheeban, you truly are a great friend!? replied Meesta. Sheeban said goodbye to Meesta, and went back through the warp. Meesta was unaware to of the deadly deal she had just made.

Time passed, and Meesta and Doran?s family grew. Tig, however, grew jealous of the family. He still lived in the treehouse by himself, and thought of all the times he had been cruel to Meesta. If only he had been better to her?

One day while Meesta was expectant with her fifth child, she noticed a strange figure arrive through the warp. As it approached, she suddenly realised it was Sheeban. ?Hello my dear, enjoying life I see?? Sheeban mumbled. ?Yes I am thanks?! replied Meesta. ?Have you said your farewells yet?? said Sheeban. ?What? Why?? asked a puzzled Meesta. ?Don?t you remember, you gave me a piece of your hair and I bound it with a contract stating that once you have five children, you belong to me?? growled Sheeban. ?What? No! You can?t do this!? ?Yes I can! You shall have until you lay your fifth egg to say goodbye to everyone, and then you shall come with me, back to the Banshee Ark.? ?What? Banshee?? shrieked Meesta as Sheeban pulled back his hood, revealing his grotesque, scaly head. ?Goodbye, dear?. Grumbled Sheeban, entering the portal.

Meesta ran back to her family in tears. How could she have been so stupid? When she told Doran, he only laughed at her and told her how stupid she was. What would she do now?

Meesta went up the elevator and entered the treehouse where she met Tig. ?What is it Meesta?? asked Tig. ?Oh Tig, I sold myself to a Banshee sorcerer! When I give birth to my fifth child he?s coming to take me away to the Banshee Ark! ?I?m so sorry Meesta! Its all my fault, I?ll get you out of this mess.? shouted Tig.

Suddenly Meesta crouched down and laid an egg, which was shortly followed by Sheeban returning to collect her. ?Come on, Norn!? sneered Sheeban. ?Over my dead body!? shouted Tig. ?Who?s this then? One mate not good enough for you?? laughed Sheeban. ?Shut up you wizened old prune! Tig has a bigger heart than that self-centred Fallow Norn you hooked me up with!? screamed Meesta. ?Okay, if that?s the case, I?ll get rid of him!? roared Sheeban, teleporting Doran to himself and then slapping the Norn to death. ?You murdered him!? screamed Meesta. ?So what? Now, come with me!? said Sheeban. ?Hang on Sheeban, I have a deal. If I promise to be Meesta?s true love until I die, will you spare her?? asked Tig. ?Arr! Well, you will have to prove it!? roared Sheeban. "Gather all of your children; they will bare witness to the event!"

Meesta gathered her children in a circle around her and Tig and then kissed him and then hugged tightly. It drove Sheeban insane. ?I don?t believe this! You little beasts will be sorry you messed with me!? blazed Sheeban at the top of his voice. Suddenly, a huge blue light flashed and he vanished without a trace.

Meesta and Tig adopted Doran?s children later into their family, and they went on to produce many generations of children. Unfortunately, nobody ever managed to fix the climate control system, but the family of Norns still had Meesta?s Cornucopia to feed them for the rest of their lives.

The End