It's Time!

Part XVI

"Cubbi" said Cammi.

"Cammi, you gotta help us" replied Cubbi his voice cracking and his eyes shining with tears.

"What?" asked Cammi but within he knew what it was.

"Lilli and Sammi, there gone, they disappeared last night" said Cubbi as tears rolled down his face.

A moment's silent was heard except for the occasional sob heard from the small pink cub when Cammi whispered "It's time"

"Time…for what" asked Cubbi hearing Cammi's whisper as the rest of the group looked at Cammi.

"The final battle (pause) begins" replied Cammi leaving the group astonished as he went.

All the group apart from Cubbi knew that the final battle was soon to come but that was not what surprised them, what made them astonished and bewildered was Cammi's calmness, never before had Cammi been so calm and unafraid when he heard the word battle. Though they knew that Cammi was afraid he just now no longer showed it.

Cammi walked along the corridor and into his bedroom where he pulled out his sword that he had specially made, with his name engraved down on each side of the blade as he pulled it from underneath his bed. He pulled out his sword slightly from its sheath to reveal the silver blade still forever shining its enchanting crystal white light of protection. He sheathed it again and attached it to his back before wrapping a cloak round himself and arming himself with several other weapons like two short daggers which he kept in his boots and two long dagger which were hidden around his waist. He left the room and headed back to the grounds where he had left his foster father and his friends when he bumped into his mother on his way.

"Mother…it is time" he said

Cammi's mother nodded her understanding and embraced her son, which he returned before he broke off and continuing his way down the corridor. Tears prickled in Meloni's eyes but she blinked them away as she watched her son walk away from her. She knew that the spell she had cast upon Cammi's sword would no longer be powerful enough to stop Tarquan from hurting him or even kill him. She had to do something, she wasn't going to do nothing and sit there hoping her son would come back when she knew he most likely would not be as she already seen what fate and destiny was to be brought upon him as she ran off in another direction.

Cammi walked in the grounds and saw his father observing him and especially Cubbi who looked at him his eyes wide as saucer's, tears no longer streaming down his face and his mouth slightly locked open. He mounted his unicorn that was beside his father already saddled and ready to ride as he took the reins and looked at his father. He could see that his father looked uneasy, worried and unhappy about the situation but he knew that it had to be done or Tarquan would find him and kill him. He also knew that Tarquan had Lilli and Sammi and was using them, as bait as to hope that he would bring Cammi to him, which he had successfully achieved. His face was stern, determined and worried all at once when he said

"To the Cave" said Cammi as he; his father and his friends rode out the gates.

Cammi waved to a few gummies that stood at the castle wall or by the gates as he rode into the forest that laid before them.

They rode for several hours through the forest as the sun began to sink behind the hills giving them barely any light as the sky began to get considerable darker and colder. A few times they would nudge their unicorns faster when they heard the bushes rustle or the breaking of twigs or branches as they felt it might be a spy of Tarquan's rushing back to report and tell him the good news. They were drawing close to the cave and had now stopped for a break, still being a mile away from the cave in case Tarquan tried to do a surprise attack on them if they were any closer.

Cammi was now sat upon a stone sharpening his sword but soon stopped when it gave off a grazing, loud noise as he sheathed it again on his back. He stood up ready to go back and join the group when he turned and saw his foster father walking towards him.

"Father" said Cammi.

"Cammi" he replied.

"Father, I fear," said Cammi shaking within himself but tried to ignore it as he began to walk with his father back towards the group.

"I know Cammi," said his father as he stopped in tracks making Cammi stop, as Cammi looked back at his father "Just make sure (pause) that you come back, Cammi".

"I'll try, father," replied Cammi as he embraced him this time his father returning the embrace as he realised that during this final battle Cammi could die though he hoped not.

Cammi and his foster father both knew that Tarquan was now stronger than he had ever been before as Cammi had told him of his memory that when he fought Tarquan several hundred years ago Tarquan was nowhere near as powerful as he was now. Cammi had wondered on a numerous occasions how Tarquan had gained extra power or was it that being stuck in an underground prison he had, had the chance to study or was is that he just naturally grew more powerful though Cammi doubted it. He cast that thought away for a moment but he knew that he must not as he figured that Tarquan might be getting his powers from somewhere but he was just not sure where. He knew that his sword that had been enchanted by his mother with the ancient's most powerful protection was now powerless against Tarquan, allowing Tarquan to kill him as he pleased. He broke away from the embrace and looked at his father tears beginning to form in his eyes as he tried to blink them away before his father noticed but it was no use as tears began to spill from his eyes. He closed his eyes and tried to turn away from his father when he felt a hand on his shoulder he opened his eyes as he felt his father's gloved hand wipe away his tears. He embraced his father again only holding him for a few moments before pulling away again and heading back towards the group his father close behind him.

The group of knights that had been waiting for Cammi and their leader to come back had managed to see through the bushes the two embrace one another, sad expressions on both their faces which didn't surprise them.

Everyone was upset partically Cammi, he had, had enough they could see that, they could see that he wanted to be carefree like all the other cubs but with Tarquan as his enemy and a strong one at that Cammi had brought himself to grow up.

They hoped that at the end of the battle Cammi would return to his normal self, his innocent smile and that mischievous glint in his eyes though they knew Cammi would no longer be the same person as they once knew him. Though they hoped that some part of Cammi would change and be like his normal mischievous self again instead of the more grown up self, though they had to admit kids did eventually grow up but to them it was too soon for Cammi.

Cammi and his father returned as they mounted their unicorns ready to make the last part of the journey to the cave where Tarquan was kept imprisoned and locked away from the outside world. Occasionally Tarquan would only be allowed out of his cave for a brief couple of hours every century though he could not do any harm, as when he left the cave he was merely powerless.

They began to ride again forever observing behind them, as they felt sure someone was following them. They stopped several times as to listen to where this person was but it was no use as when they stopped the spy, which they presumed stopped.

Although they were within a mile of the cave, Cammi seemed think that hardly anytime had passed as he stood outside the cave, his sword drawn, his face holding no emotion but instead was grave and stern, ready to take whatever Tarquan threw at him. He took a step towards the cave, first going slowly as his feet rustled a few maple leaves on the forest ground. He gradually grew more confident but was careful not to drop his guard as he made his way into the cave, his sword shining it eternal silver light, lightening the darkness around them and the entrance of the cave. He started to quicken his pace slightly with his foster father and his friends following close behind him as they entered the cave, proceeding with high caution and quickly broke their fast walking pace into a swift run when they heard crying and wailing from within the cave. Cammi being infront of all of them made the run within a few strides until he rounded the corner, a surge of heat blasting in his face as he saw his deadliest and most hated enemy, Tarquan.

TBC…

Well what do ya think, guys, please review and tell me?

End of Part XVI

Part XVII coming soon!