Invasion

Settling into the comfortable creases of his cushioned chair, he scanned the remains of his past domain. Just as he began lowering his defences and easing into his well deserved rest, it struck. A blast of cold wind swept through the room, sending shivers down his spine, leaving a tingling sensation one could only describe as eerie. Things weren't the same. They hadn't been from the start.

His mind raced. Years of journeying and travelling through the untamed world beyond allowed his well honed instincts to kick into high gear. In an instant, his alertness and mental faculties were working at 100%. He had been blinded by his nostalgia. Someone or thing had been in here. The most obvious clue being a shattered window in the periphery of his vision.

Things that he had dismissed as being the results of father time and mother nature were much more. The lack of dust. The recently smoldering ashes in the fireplace. The treads of human feet on the untamed grass. Someone had been here. Someone had invaded his safe haven. Someone had disrespected him. Someone would pay.