The Mighty Paladin Hooh

In the Forest of Redemption…
Where the imperfect souls dwell…
Begins the story…
I must tell.

Deep in the forest…
Lives a protector true …
The sire of his race…
The Mighty Paladin, Hooh.

Loyal has been his kind
Since the dawn of creation
Each Paladin born taking up the task
Of the last generation

In the service of the creator…
Guarding souls while they wait…
To be perfected while time…
Cleanses their marred slate.

To this task alone…
Generations of Paladins have been born…
Whether on the darkest winter night…
Or at the breaking of a summer dawn.

His days as sentry scout…
Had come and gone…
Now with homage…
He was looked upon.

His great deeds were told to pups…
In the dark of night…
As they huddle…
Oh, so tight.

Listening to the tales…
Of Hooh, their great sire…
For adventure and honor…
Set their young hearts afire.

Deeds of the past…
Wouldn’t help him on this night…
As he watched for the young ones…
Into come into sight.

The night around him falling…
But Hooh stood taciturn…
Watching for the last patrol…
Of protectors to return.

He understood the pain that seized him…
He’d felt to often as of late…
It told him a Paladin…
Had just gone to meet his fate

He howled his lament…
Up to the sky…
Asking once more…
“Why, Creator, why?”

The whistle of an arrow…
Reached his ear…
This predator was bold…
And very near.

He howled again…
This time a warning…
Hide the young ones…
‘Til sunrise brings the morning.

Then, he went to meet his foe…
Whose arrows met their mark…
There’d be one less human…
When the dawning chased the dark.

This time justice…
Would not be cheated…
This barbarian…
Would be defeated.

Others had justice escaped…
By virtue of distance from Hooh…
This time the killer…
Would get his just due.

Storm Cloud the Bold…
Was the first put to the slaughter…
They hunted him down…
And gave him no quarter.

They drove him, and drove him…
And drove him until…
They had him surrounded…
Then fired their arrows at will.

In the forest he loved…
Eight wounds in his side…
The brave and proud Paladin…
Slowly died.

With the vision of Storm Cloud…
Fresh in his mind…
Hooh saw the man…
He’d been searching to find.

Hooh tracked the human…
With all of his skill…
But unlike the cruel hunters…
He went straight for the kill.

Once it had started…
It was done in a flash…
On the barbarian’s neck…
Was a wide-open slash.

Hooh, had done it…
Without any thought…
The human deserved to die…
For the cruelty he wrought.

His enemy dead…
Hooh returned to his post…
This was not something…
About which he’d boast.

For the killing of a living thing…
Whether the greatest or least…
Brought the killer of it…
One step closer to beast.

Hooh watched over all…
Through the night ‘til the morn…
The creator’s voice touched him…
As the morning was born.

“My faithful servant…
Hear what I say…
To save you kind…
You must spirit them away.

“I and my kind…
Will obey your command…
We will our home…
As you demand.

My servant, go first to the south…
And then to the west…
The Lady Glenamaraen…
Will aid in your quest…

She and her brother…
Will grant you sanctuary…
And the Paladin Race…
Will e’ermore and forever be free.

Now go to your rest…
My servant, so true …
I will stand watch…
O’er you kind and you.

Your journey can start…
When you awake…
And remember, my blessings…
With you you take.

Hooh did as bidden…
And the events did unfold…
Exactly as the Paladin’s Creator…
Had foretold.

Hooh lead the Paladins…
From the Forest of Redemption…
And Paladins honor him still…
For bringing them salvation.

Copyright 2003 Bobbi Duffy