Aeron

"You stupid human. Don’t you know I’ll kill you if you don’t work? Do you think I won’t punish you?"

"But if you punish me, how will I work?"

"Don’t get smart. I’m bigger and stronger. You’ll do what I say."

"No. I won’t."

"Then I'll kill you."

The creature stressed the words "kill you".

"Then kill me," came Aeron’s reply.

"What? You would rather be dead?"

"No, but I will no longer work. And if I don’t work, you’ll die."

"Bah! I can plant. I can grow beans. And better than you!"

Aeron turned until he was eye to eye with the monster.

"Then do it."

There was a brief sensation of pain as the monster back-handed him.

Aeron unsteadily stood himself up and waited, motionless.

"Work," said the beast quietly.

Again no reply and a step closer.

"Work. Work! WORK!" it shrieked into Aeron's face.

But Aeron did not even blink. He only smiled.

"You fucking humans! You’re all too good, eh? All full of your ideals and beliefs. So stubborn, my God, so stubborn! I have shattered the skulls of rams less thick! I had a whole town at my beck and call once, before I slaughtered them. A whole town! But you loners- you men alone. You’re so goddam rigid. What a pain in my ass!

"To hell with you. The whole countryside awaits me. You think I’ll waste the effort with you? Bah! To think I bothered with the toils of one scrawny man when I could have tens of men awaiting my every command. Bah!"

And the creature stalked away, leaving Aeron to himself.

It took Aeron some time to return his land to its proper health and form. But eventually he recovered in health and prosperity.

Then the creature returned.

"Ah, so I see you have prepared for my return. That’s good, stupid human. Get me some water!"

Aeron, who was tending his crops, simply leaned on the shaft of his hoe and looked at the creature.

"No," he said. "These are not yours. Go away."

The monstrosity shrieked in laughter. It was a ridiculously high pitched scream, but not so ridiculous as the bloated form rolling on its back and kicking its legs in the air. Finally, composing itself, the beast sat upright and spread out its arms.

"But all this is mine. And you will tend to me."

"No, I won’t."

"No? Then watch as I take what I like. And if you don’t want to eat, then die because I will come back again and again and again- forever!"

Aeron watched as the monster walked over to the potatoes and took a handful of plants, roots and soil and all.

There was a brief sound of a catch being released and before the creature’s wide, horrified eyes could fully comprehend its mistake, a scythe shot up from the ground and embedded in the beast’s forehead, killing it.

Aeron, in the manner of a dutiful worker, cut up the beast and buried its parts among his crops. As fertilizer, the monster proved of a wonderful quality for it was very beneficial in the quick and productive growth of his harvest.