The gray sky brightened to the hidden sun that rose. Signalling the day which they act on their plan. High above the sky, dragons and wyverns patrolled the island. The cloaking spell, Opn, who was nicknamed Bellandona, took effect. The foul stench of the swamp hiding their scent. Once they cleared the way, Aura and H'earring poked their heads out.
"Anything?" H'earring asked.
No. Aura said. Time to sail.
In a matter of minutes, everyone, with the exception of Maxxor, Chaor and Khybon, began to set the boats ready. Intress and Frafdo stood guard in front of the boat in case the enemy returned. H'earring, Blazejay and Wamma helped unfurl the sails. Once some of the supplies were organized, with the help of Odu, Mudeenu and Sprees gathering whatever herbs and fruit they could find, the group began to push on the boat. "I call dibs on the steering wheel!" Bondu yelled. In a matter of minutes, she stood at the ready.
Prince Iflar looked concerned. "Can she navigate the waters? Let alone the ocean?"
Sansi leaned next to him. "She can read the wind directions. You're safe for a while." She fiddled with her hands. "The only thing to worry about is the Leviathan."
Once the coast was clear and more supplies were collected, Odu, Mudeenu and King Theb-saar pushed the boat. They quickly climbed up the ladder just as it began to move further away from shore. The boat rocked and creaked under the weight but remained steady. The air began to smell of salt. The waters become less murky. The wind whipped at the sails.
Takinom flew close to the boat, circling like a vulture. Her red hair whipped in the wind. Her yellow skin threatened to make her stick out against the gloomy sky. Her red eyes scanned the area. Her ears strained to hear the sound of bubbles. A shadow. She looked down at Opn, who was started to look a bit dizzy. "How much longer until the Leviathan shows up?"
Opn looked at her with brown eyes. Her body wobbled. Her green exoskeleton looking pale. "Just a little longer. Usually, it's when the water starts churning further up is when we should panic." She felt a light touch. She looked to see Wamma at her side, concern in his green eyes.
"Are you ok?" Wamma asked. "You look like you're gonna pass out."
"I-I'm fine. J-just had to stay awake for the past couple of days that's all."
Monna crossed her arms. "A couple of days! You barely sleep at all. The moment you close your eyes, you start screaming."
"I'm sorry…" Her hands began to wobble. "Every time I close my eyes-" She fell. In a matter of minutes, Wamma caught her. Her eyes were closed. Her head resting against Wamma's shoulder.
Sprees looked on in dismay. Then shook her head. "I was afraid that was going to happen." She turned to Aura. "You sense anything, Aura?"
Aura scanned the waters. Her mind trying to pick up the creature that was filled with an instinct to kill. However, she only heard everyone's anxiety and frustration. Opn's anxiety spoke the loudest. The Instecte's fears of going back to being Shadowdancer's toy or target practice by Bonewing. Aura knew that feeling all too well. She still suffers from it but not as bad as before. I'll have to tell her once this is over. Suddenly, she felt a dark wave coming over her mind. Her fins arched. It's here! She said, stretching out her thoughts to everyone. He is here! The Leviathan is coming to us beneath the boat!
Everyone immediately scattered on deck. Each side lined with warriors from each tribe ready to attack. Wamma used his secondary arms to hold up Opn as he watched the water carefully. H'earring nearly jumped when he heard Chaor's frustrated growl.
"What's going on up there?!" The leader of the Underworld roared.
"The Leviathan is heading our way! Get ready for some unsteady sailing!" H'earring stiffened as he heard a sound of water moving.
Without warning, a spire of water exploded out of nowhere. The boat immediately pushed forward. Everyone sprawled onto the floor. Aura leaned over the bow. She shook her head. Then saw the large head of the Leviathan. A scarred head. Eyes the size of cannon balls. Dark green skin. Frills spread out in his head. Large serrated teeth the could've crushed the boat if the group didn't sail fast enough. The dark thought's leaked into Aura's brain. Orders to kill. Orders to destroy those that defied Queen Tikali. Then, a little sliver of a memory. Sad and mournful. A name etched into it: Arge.
Aura looked to the others. She didn't know why but she had to help this creature. The sensation in this mind felt all too familiar. Her wings and fins changed to a sense of a calm tingled with purple and lime green. I'll see if I can lure him away, She said. See if there's something bumpy or a split second of magic. Aura dove into the water before anyone could stop her. She focused on what form she had to take. I only know two, but I know the one I need to keep up with this Leviathan.
Instantly, her body contracted. Her tail turned into hind legs. She grew large enough to cope with the Leviathan's speed and power. Horns sprouted out of her head. She soon took on the same dragon form used to defeat Bonewing. With every ounce of muscle she swam forward toward the Leviathan before it could charge at the boat again. She let out a shriek that verbarated through the water.
The Leviathan turned to face her. It roared and sped after her. Despite the massive bulk of the mosasaur-like creature, he was close to her face in a matter of minutes. He chased her. Jaws snapping. A frenzied look on his face. Dark eyes filled with a haunted memory. Thoughts suddenly exploding left and right.
Aura soon felt mental screams. Everyone is disoriented and confused. I knew it! She flared out her wings. Each stroke propelled her out of the water and high into the air. The water coming off of her in massive sprays. She instinctively pulled out her mind shield as invisible rope began to tie around her. Her tail thrashed. She growled. Roared. Then, she sang her water song. The water coiled around the monster. Ice crackling as formations made. However, it kept breaking under the creature's strength.
Sprees was the first to get up from her stupor. She looked around to see everyone unconscious. Suddenly, she heard some flapping and saw Cot fly out. The Chime Gale wobbled in her flight. Sprees caught her before she could land. She tried to speak, but the words failed to pop out of her mouth. Cot turned her head. Then, Sprees noticed the bird frantically pointed at the bow. Sprees followed that direction and saw what Cot was pointing at. In a ring of ice was a collar. One similar to the one Aokua wore back in Mount Pillar, but larger and pricklier. The ice encasing seems to be slowing it down.
The creatures roared. Rage spilling out like an angry tsunami. It thrashed. However, each movement began to become slow and sluggish. The ice coming back. Harder. More pristine like polished crystal. It started to pant heavily. Eyes half closed with exhaustion.
Aura flew higher. Her nose upward to the sky. Her wings ached with each stroke. Lungs burned. Her vision flickered. Cot had once told her that it was called flyer's vertigo. It was a small condition that most would suffer from when they are starting to fly higher than normal. At the moment, Aura didn't care. She turned to face the creature. Then, like an arrow, she tucked her wings and allowed herself to plummet back to earth. Wind whistled in her ears. Her jaw opened. She reached out to Sprees once she felt stable. Sprees! Get your spear ready!
Spress shook herself. Then, she jumped backward as a loud explosion similar to glass. A cloud of white dust slowly faded to reveal a red light. It was bright and deadly on the glistening collar. Realizing that Aura created an opening, Sprees grabbed a metal spear that had a large hornet carved into it. She threw it with all her might. The spear flew across the ocean with four mighty wings. It gave a satisfying tink.
A light exploded. Everyone who finally recovered from the mindwave immediately covered their eyes. A screech rang through the air. Then, all went silent. They blinked for a moment. All eyes scanned the sky and ocean for Aura and the Leviathan. It took a painful hour until they heard shaky wingbeats right above them. A splash followed, making everyone wet.
Sorry... Aura said. Now back to her normal size, she poked her head over the bow. She clawed up while straining herself. She flopped onto the deck. Her head throbbed from overuse of her mind. Other thoughts from some nearby enemies didn't make it better. She grunted as she mentally pulled out an unconscious M'arrillian out of the water. He hovered over the group, dripping with seawater. He looked similar like the Leviathan that attacked them. She looked into the shocked gazes of her friends. Um...I know this is surprising to you, but can you help me carry him below? He's really heavy. Also… The body flopped onto the floor, landing on top of H'earring. We may need to hurry before anyone else finds us.