The Keeper

By: Phiririn Posted on: July 30, 2009


The Keeper said, "Rejoice, my dears

Your nightly sustenance appears"


Alariel was Aa'len bred

His fame in husbandry had spread


He'd tended beasts, both plain and rare

But left his home in deep despair


His Tsol'aa family had waned

No kin nor craft for him remained


Across vast Sapience he'd gone

Then traveled north to fair Hashan


And now he earns a salary

To keep its grand menagerie


Just now he fed the Babaji

Not one plump sheep, but fully three


The beast's three heads espied their prey

Fierce jaws did snap, red blood did spray


Three maws of ape and dog and snake

Did of that grisly meal partake


Then with its locust limbs it preened

The gore from its three mouths it cleaned


Alariel the Keeper, then

Moved onward to the Bandore's pen


Its keen black eyes in scaly brow

Looked on as it was brought a cow


Its long green snout assessed the scent

It's dragon's head abruptly bent


And bit the bovine form clean through

Then in the air, each half it threw


And opening its scaly throat

It gobbled them, it's craw to bloat


Then next, to feed the Setontot

A cart of vegetables was brought


It towered over seven feet

Though vicious, it would eat no meat


It scanned the cart with large red eyes

The brown-furred bulk approached its prize


And with one three-inch, bloodstained claw

It hooked a mass into its maw


Its double rows of molars ground

They made a horrid grating sound


And soon the cart of greens was gone

Alariel then traveled on


To where the Phase Hound was contained

And in its cage a boar was chained


The Phase Hound perked it's silvered ears

Large amber eyes, through which it peers


Affixed upon its heavy prey

Hypnotic fur of silver gray


Did glimmer with the Hound's attack

The eye could not it's motion track


It wrapped it's long near-human hands

Their strength of grip like metal bands


Around the boar's substantial neck

Which snapped. It's body slapped the deck


The Hound beside the boar then sat

And stuffed itself on meat and fat


Alariel was then content

His charges fed, he was quite spent


He bid goodnight to fair Hashan

And dreamless, slept until the dawn