The Rise of Skandranon
A FanFiction by Emily Hutchins
1
:Well, it could be worse,: Skandranon mindsent his Wingmate. :There could always be 80:
Kessrah paced a few more steps foreword, raking her talons into the turf and watching the incoming Makarr warily.
"Just our luck, our first scout mission and we run into 8 full-armored Makarr. ...they have never been sent this far south of our boarder before ..."
Skandranon only grunted in response, his eyes clouded with calculation as he watched them fly closer.
"Well," Kessrah said solemnly, "luckily they are flying low over the trees and haven't seen us; if we slip out now we can get to Ralendor to call in reinforcements."
Skandranon snapped his beak shut; he had made his decision. "The only thing of interest miles around here is Lin'shala. It's right to the south of here, and they are heading straight for it. I don't know why they are here, but we would never get help in time; you know they couldn't defend themselves."
"No!" Kessrah growled, "Urtho created you with brains in your head to think with, not to get them smeared all over the countryside in some stupid move like this!"
Skandranon cocked his head to one side and opened his beak- the Gryphon version of a smile. "Well, we both know that I didn't have too many brains to begin with." He chuckled to his partner as his eyes blazed with excitement and confidence, "C'mon Kess, what's 8 Makarr? We can take them out easy."
With that he ran for the nearest clearing in the forest and launched himself into the air with powerful wing beats. Kessrah only had time to yell; "Damn you bird, if we live through this I want a medal from Urtho himself!" Before she too vaulted herself into the air, to bravely face their opponents.
While Urtho magically created his Gryphons with freewill, adaptability, and intelligence equal to any human, Marr's sick parody of them was his Makarr, who were, effectively, merciless killing machines. Although they were based on Urthos creations, and included their long talons, powerful wings and back legs, and tearing beaks, Marr preferred his creatures to be compliant, and therefore lack independence and ingenuity. But what they lacked in intelligence they made up for with deadly obedience, bloodlust, and strength. Luckily for Gryphons, their increased size compensated their speed and agility, and Skandranon and Kessrah would have to use this to their advantage;
Skandranon lifted himself into the air with a speed and ease that made him the envy of his peers, and the pride of his teachers at the small academy in Lin'shala where he and Kessrah had only so recently graduated.
: These Northern lands are safe my tail; I guess Marr and his scum grow more confident with every passing day,: Skandranon brooded as he gained altitude.
: Thank the gods most of the students in Lin'shala are away on midsummer break, but Belkahn and Nall are still at the school... and their families. My teachers may be more experienced then I, but after that wing injury in the spring Belkahn wouldn't be much use, and Nall is one tough human, but he wouldn't be able to take on this many Makarr. And their children are so young... Gods I hope they are alright.:
:Snap out of it, Skan: Kessrah mindsent him with a mental "whack". :We cant think about them, not now.:
:Right, action,: he mentally replied. :Lets take out those two to the right with a double fall-tuck:
With that Skandranon used some of his mage ability to throw up illusions around him and his partner, obscuring them from view for a few crucial seconds as they prepared for one of the well-practiced battle maneuvers that their school was known for. Kessrah gained more altitude, flying into the clouds over where two Makarr had foolishly wandered from their tight formation. Skandranon moved into his position only seconds away from the pair, gave the signal, and dropped their cover.
With a blood-curdling shriek Skandranon charged at the two Makarr, surprising them while Kessrah, like a tan bolt of lightning, plunged out of the clouds and used the force of her fall to crush one of the Makarr's skulls. As the first body fell, Skandranon snapped out his left wing; moving over and up, where he disemboweled the second before twisting out of striking range. The remaining six Makarr circled together, screamed challenges, and charged. Skandranon and Kessrah mock-charged as well, but at the last second Skan let loose a flash of magical light, which disoriented the group long enough to let him get back into position for another attack. As she swooped by, Kessrah took her opportunity, and neatly held out one talon, where it connected with one of the Makarr's unprotected throats.
: 3 down, 5 to go,: Skandranon mindsent his partner optimistically.
As they traveled downwards and then swooped up in different directions, Skandranon attracted the attention of three Makarr while two others tailed Kessrah. He racked his mind for some plan, and when something occurred to him he pulled himself higher into the sky.
:Well, this will be the stupidest thing I have ever done, leaving out that time I put nestles in Belkahn's dinner... Either this is going to work, or I am going to die very painfully.:
As Skandranon reached his desired height he suddenly folded his wings into his body and plunged towards the earth, blasting right through the three Makarr, who hastily followed him. As the treetops began speeding closer and closer too him, he fought down his fear, and concentrated. :Wait for it. Wait for it...: At the last second he snapped his wings open and sailed upwards, while the slowest of his pursuers crashed into the tree canopy below. While enemy talons passed mere finger lengths from his flesh, Skandranon gained the advantage of higher ground, and used the second that he was above his enemies to his greatest advantage. With a twist of his wings he made a quick shot downwards, plowing his back feet into the back of the second Makarr, and its limp body fell through the trees. :Hardest part over; only one left now.:
As he righted himself in the air and turned to face his last opponent, Skandranon could only make out his rump; he was making a hasty retreat. He actually felt rather badly for the Makarr. They were raised from the time they were hatched in large camps, free of parents, love, or independence. They were trained only to obey orders and kill.
They would never appreciate a spring day, or enjoy the laughter of a friend, or the caress of a lover... Only the orders of their masters, the blood-rage of battle, and the violent heat of the mating season.
And Skandranon knew the cruelty of their masters. This survivor faced a fate worse then death for his cowardness, and yet could not bring himself to run from it...
Skandranon was happy to have lived through his last stunt, and let this last enemy go. He let out a jubilant screech of victory and craned his head towards the clouds. Then suddenly, he remembered. : Kessrah...I saw her go into the clouds only moments ago... I should have seen her by now...: He cried out her name anxiously, and what came in response was a momentary mist of black blood, followed by the mangled body of a Makarr. Kessrah swooped out of the clouds, her beak smeared with dark blood, and victory written in every line of her.
"Status?" She asked.
"Got two, one got away. You?"
"Got both."
As the battle-rage drained from their veins, they began to feel themselves again. "I saw that move you pulled." She chuckled. "You could have gotten killed, feather-butt."
"Yeah well, wouldn't be any fun for me if that option wasn't on the table, hu? And you're the one who scared half the life out of me by disappearing for candlemarks!"
"Clandlemarks! Hardly! It probably just felt that long to youuuu." Kessrah crossed her eyes and made little kissing noises, which prompted a branch in the face from Skan.
They both chuckled as they landed and checked for injuries. Upon finding that they were both fine, they flew back in the direction of Lin'shala, excitedly swapping stories of tactics, congratulating the other's moves, and being thoroughly happy to just be alive after their first encounter with Makarr.