So this is my entry for the short story comp. for the buried city lithograph. 300 word limit, my story has 305. I hope you guys are ok with me submitting writing as art here, this is my first post to this group so i apologize if it's in a wrong section or something. [i]She stared into the distance, the explosion she heard wasn't far off, they must be getting closer. The red wind blasted against her tanned skin, her blonde hair blowing violently in the direction of their transport, which had been shot down moments before. Her father, who had just been crushed by a building that had collapsed, was severely injured and needed medical attention. She had to get her father out of the old building's wreckage before they came or they wouldn't survive the encounter with them. Them. The Fallen. A new species to arise, The Fallen are violent and aggressive humanoid beasts with an unending blood lust. But she saw a distant light, and from nowhere, a guardian appeared. The warlock, majestic and proud, emerged from a space drop with what appeared to be a halo upon his head cast from the small mars sun, and stood ready for battle. He glanced at the girl and her father, a brief moment of eye contact, and he strode off towards The Fallen, needing no words to be said. She heard shooting, and the screams of The Fallen. A deep yet shrill cry of "space magic!" came from the guardian, followed by the most glorious fire erupting from his hands. The guardian was a master of combat, and displayed it in the most extravagant ways. He would vaporize the lesser of the fallen, and seem to take care of the commander as if it was a small animal. She recognized this warlock as Oni, the chief warlock and most powerful being known, and a myth to those under the traveler. She knew the battle was going to be won, and that she and her father were safe from those brutes of terror. Though she hadn't the slightest idea that her destiny was just beginning to reveal itself.[/i] I would have loved to make it darker and add more humor to it, but that 300 word limit kind of ruined my plans for how much detail i wanted to add. i made it slightly choppy on purpose, so it could give it more of a fast-paced, anxious mood. I also tried to make a few references to old bungie games (Myth, Oni, Halo) but had a hard time trying to figure out how to implement marathon. So, any chance any of you will vote for me if i make it into the top seven? haha. i hope to start a drawing of a warlock next, hopefully we'll see how that turns out. Edit: Nope! I have definitely lost my touch with pencil drawings. No warlock from me for a while.