Ok, so this was an assignment in Brit Lit, to write a short story that has sort of a moral to it I guess. Anyway, I'm rather fond of it and I wish it had to be a long story, as I could've gotten much more put into it, but yeah...so this is my very first short story and I hope you like it!

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In the land of Agladia, lived hundreds of demons, all possessing dark hair, dragon wings, and speared tails. They were rather friendly with each other, but to someone that was an outcast, they were hostile, believing that everyone should look and be exactly like them.

In a small stone house, at the very outskirts of a village in Agladia, lived a young boy by the name of Detrius. Years ago his mother and father had been slain by a monstrous dragon that had attacked the village, leaving him alone, without protection or a friend in the world. And so he lived by himself, wishing for someone to understand him.

The entire village loathed him simply because he was different. He didn't have jet black hair and dragon wings like they did. So he became bitter toward himself and others, for being lonely all those long years angered him.

Now on this particular day, he was sitting on the ledge of a window at the front of his house, looking out at the village, at all the others running around and playing. He had his knees drawn up to his chest and his slender arms wrapped around his legs. His eyes glittered a dark violet as the sun danced over his face. He wore nothing but a simple shirt which was open, and black pants that were a size too big for him. Behind him, starting just underneath his shoulder blades, was a set of wings. Though they were not leathery and thick like a dragon's, but like a crow's. The soft black feathers shined proudly in the sun's glorious rays. From his head came long, thick strands of lavender hair that tumbled down his back and ended just below the wing joints.

He heavily sighed, watching the demons enjoying themselves. A female demon walked out of her hut and tossed some old water out, then went back inside. Detrius thought of his mother and hated her. It was entirely her fault that he looked the way he did, for she had been an angel and his father had been a demon.

"If it wasn't for her, I'd be a full blooded demon," Detrius said angrily to himself. "I'm glad she's dead."

Finally he turned and got off the window sill, now showing his black speared tail that swung behind him. His barefeet padded across the warm stones as he made his way to the door. Placing his hands on the ring, he gently pulled the door open, exposing the outside. The dusty grounds were full of animal bones that the others had fed off of, but no one seemed to mind, for it was normal. Detrius closed the door behind him and began walking through the village.

Every time he passed a demon, he earned a scowl or glare of hatred. Thus he kept his head bowed, avoiding the murderous glares. Had he been older and stronger, he would give them the same stare, but since he was small and weak, he knew better.

'Why couldn't my father have chosen someone else for a mate? Because of his choice, he has cursed me forever,' he thought furiously.

Something flew through the air and slammed into his head. He winced, rubbing the sore spot beneath his lavender hair, and turned around. The same group of demon boys that tormented him every day stood near a hut, throwing large stones up and down.

"Hey there mutt face, I thought we told you to never come out of your pathetic little home ever again?" one snarled.

Detrius could not remember his name, he never could. For all the boys looked practically the same. "I'm not bothering you."

Another chuckled. "Even when you're asleep you're bothering us."

By now many of the demons in the village had gathered around Detrius and the others, their dark eyes watching with interest.

"Please, just leave me alone," Detrius mumbled, the soft breeze stirring his hair.

"No, I don't think so."

Realizing that they meant to attack him, Detrius moved back, trying to get away. But the bystanders shoved him forward. His violet eyes widened in fear as the demon boys moved in on him.

'Twas the next day, and Detrius was at his usual spot on the window, though a large cut ran down his cheek and his right eye was blackened by someone's fist. As he watched the normal demons, his eyes teared up, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be accepted as one of them.

Suddenly a scream rang through the air, startling Detrius and making him jump. When he regained himself, he leaned out the window to see a young female with white feathered wings running through the streets, but no one went to her. Not even when she collapsed onto the ground, her back soaked in blood, did anyone go near her. They all stood, eyes curious at the stranger.

As Detrius stared at her, an image of his mother flashed through his mind and hatred seethed through him. He jumped down from the window, grabbed a weapon similar to nun-chucks except that the ends were edged with sharp blades, and ran outside. For the first time, no one paid him any heed. He carefully drew near the woman, clutching his weapon tight. When he got to her, her purple eyes stared at him. "They need your help."

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"Boys down by the creek...attacked by a serpent...they need your help."

Detrius' mind wandered. 'Why is this woman talking to me? She doesn't know me. And why would I want to help someone? I have never had the same kindness shown for me.' He narrowed his eyes. "I will help no one." He began to turn, when her voice rang through the air.

"Do it for your mother, Detrius!"

He froze, his eyes wide. "My...my mother?" And then he remembered her, how when she had been alive she had always cared for him, always loved him. She had been his friend. A single tear slid down his face and he looked back at the angel. "I will do it for my mother."

When he got to the creek, he saw nothing. Not even a piece of clothing. He held his weapon tightly as he surveyed the area. Then he heard the sound, coming from beneath the water. As he drew nearer to the creek, he saw shapes at the bottom, writhing wildly about as if trying to escape. And tied around them was a snake, larger than any he had ever seen.

Beneath the waters, the serpent saw a dark shadow standing near the edge and he shot up, his head splashing out. When he saw Detrius, his eyes gleamed. "Another tasssty sssnack."

But when he lashed out at Detrius, the boy dodged his blow and dealt one of his own. One of the sharp edges wedged itself underneath the snake's left eye, causing it to hiss in pain and lessen its grip on those under the water. Soon enough, the boys he had been holding came sputtering up and Detrius saw that they were none other than the ones who always tormented him. His eyes narrowed. 'I'm going to risk my life...for them?'

The snake drew its tail out of the water and sliced it through the air. Detrius ducked just in time, but his eyes never left the boys.

"Mutt face!" one yelled as he tried to fight against the current. "Save us, mutt face! Please!"

'They don't even know my name.'

"Sssoon you will join them in your watery grave, sssilly boy."

"Mutt face!"

'I will not save those who have hurt me most, those who hate me for looking the way I do, as if I chose to look this way.'

"Detrius please!"

His lavender head snapped up, his eyes staring at the boy who was the farthest down the creek. Had he heard right? Did the demon boy call his name? The snake began slithering out of the water and Detrius stepped back, readying himself.

"Detrius we're sorry for everything! Please just save us!"

'Am I really willing to risk my life for them? When they have tried to take mine from me?'

The snake reared up, opening its wide jaws, its fangs dripping globs of acid saliva. "Thisss isss your lassst chance to run, boy."

"Detrius!"

The outcast boy narrowed his eyes. "I will not run, I am no coward."

"Then die for your foolishessss."

'This is my last chance to run. If I run, I'll live, but if I stay, I could die.' He thought about his mother, how when the dragon had attacked the village she could have easily fled. But she ran back to the area in which he had been playing, scooped him up in her arms, and hid him deep within the forest. When she had come out, the dragon had caught her. Detrius drew himself up tall and proud, the snake's breath ruffling his hair. His knuckles turned white as he gripped his weapon and with all his might he yelled: "For mother!"

He swung the weapon sideways at the same time the snake struck. A pale red light came from his swing, leaving a glowing trail in the air. The boys in the water had grabbed the bank and were now pulling themselves up from the creek which was calm. Time became still. Neither the snake nor Detrius moved. And then, with its last hiss, the snake collapsed to the ground, its head slipping away from its body. Detrius' shoulders heaved with each breath he took, his weapon dripping with the dark blood of the serpent.

The demon boys ran over to Detrius, their eyes wide with disbelief and fright. When they approached him, he spun around, his eyes angry. 'If they try anything, I will kill them, for I am no longer afraid.'

But the youngest boy, the one who had called his name, held out his hands and walked to him, his dragon wings hanging limply behind him. Detrius was still, ready to hack the demon boy to pieces. But when the boy got to Detrius, he did not swing at him, he did not call him names...he threw his arms around Detrius' shaking shoulders and pulled him close. "You saved us."

Detrius' violet eyes widened, his face a mask of confusion. He stood there, his arms at his sides, and then he dropped his weapon on the ground and put his arms around the young boy. As he hugged his new friend, he looked at the faces of the other boys, who were all smiling, welcoming Detrius as one of them, for he had shown that he was no stranger, but one the same.

Not far from where they were was the angel who had run into the village, though she no longer had blood on her. "Well done, my son." And she faded into nothing.