Key: *_8 or 8_* = cyborgs (they're trying to take over my story… :D just kidding ;))
Before the A/Ns I would like to express my amazement that I have managed to complete the 9th chapter of my story…*faints* hope you like it…oh wait…I'm supposed to be unconscious…
And I think this chapter has been badly named, because the assassin doesn't actually strike until quite a long way down :/.
Traid, a minor character in this story, will become VERY important later…
A/Ns!
Rayfan: AS I said before, I don't think that Fianna will be a romantic interest, but nothing is for certain :) Rayman will go through a lot of mental, physical, and emotional…
Dawnspirit: Thank you for your comment on that chapter, and you will find out who the shadowy person is in this chapter….in fact, it starts off with that 'character'. Ill give you a clue though. It isn't the person/thing that Rayman saw in the cave *taps nose*. :D hopefully, this didn't take a month of Sundays XD.
Lysha: Fianna reminds you of Sabrina huh? Hmm…I see the comparison! :)
Heyhwa: I hope you like this chapter as much as – if not more than – the others :D
*_8
We know what I do and don't own DON'T WE PEOPLE *glares at people* ok, lets get on with the chapter then :)
8_*
---
Chapter 9 - Assassin in the night
_= - =_= -= _= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_= - =_
The figure sighed. The sound of the companions that it was chasing was slowly fading away, even to the excellent hearing of their pursuer. The figure gazed ahead, and managed to perceive some shadowy figures ahead.
Upon closer inspection, the figure realised that it was not the only creature chasing the companions. The figure gazed at them for a few seconds, with keen blue eyes, marked with the wisdom and intelligence of many years, yet as young as most.
The figure stooped to pick up an invisible item off the floor. It leapt up into the trees, running across its slender branches as though it was merely walking on the forest floor beneath.
It raced ahead and soon reached the creatures in front. As it reached them, it caught the sound of a small and quite chattering, as though the creatures were talking amongst themselves. One turned its head, searching around the forest floor.
The figures blood turned cold, its blue eyes wide, as it realised just what the creatures were. The intelligence behind its eyes sparked up as its ears strained to capture the talk of the creatures' chatterings.
They were kobolds. Vermin, disgusting creatures that lived underground, hardly ever venturing above ground…and here was a whole squadron of them! What were they doing here?
The stealthy figure followed the kobolds, silently, efficiently, making sure that the kobolds would not realise that there was somebody there, yet always keeping them in its sights.
More often then not, a kobold would fall down off the high trees to the ground, with a high pitched squeak. It would then get up, and climb the tree again, obviously oblivious the pain that it should have felt after falling from such a great height.
The kobolds were speaking to each other, a language that had not been heard for many an age above the grounds, known to few. The figure tried to listen, tried to understand what they were saying, but it was close to impossible.
The kobold that had been looking around, evidently a lookout was not very clever, most probably a low-life hunter. It was searching the ground, unbelieving that anything could follow the mighty leaps and jumps that the kobolds used, leaping from tree to tree. It was looking only at the forest floor.
Big mistake.
The kobold looked around again, searching the forest floor. Although it was stupid, it did its job superbly, efficiently. It turned its head to look behind him, and the figure that was following caught its first true sight of a kobold.
It had a dull brown skin. It was furry, but the fur was rotten, and flea-ridden, as it had most likely never kept it clean. It had deep eyes, red, cunning, small slits that looked down into the forest below. The eyes themselves were red, wholly and completely red. Red within red, no whites at all. Its face was rat-like, but it was covered in what seemed suspiciously like a skull. An earring stood out from the rest of the kobold's possessions, the only one that had been made with love and care.
It glinted silver in the white moonlight, but it was hung on a rough rope that went through a small hole in the creature's ears. It seemed to contain some seeds, or perhaps small stones, for every time it shifted its head, a small rattling escaped from the silvery diamond. It was a small creature, but it was also very sturdy. It had a small tail creeping out from its back. It held a spear in its hands.
The creature's eyes narrowed, as it spotted what it thought was a threat. On its back was a small pack. It reached out with a hand to the pack, pulling out a small thick wooden pole, with a sharp metallic head-point. It was a spear: a throwing spear.
It threw the spear down onto the ground, with precision aiming, and skewered a small and helpless rabbit. The kobold leapt down onto the floor beside the rabbit, and sniffed at it.
Upon deciding that it truly was dead, it pulled out the spear with a disgusting squelch, and climbed back up the tall tree, the whole process taking mere seconds.
The figures eyes narrowed, seeing the merciless nature of these small rodents. It unsheathed a short sword; glinting silver in the moonlight, its golden handle beautifully crafted: the craftsmanship was excellent. A lot of heart and passion had gone into that sword.
The small kobold ahead was sniffing the air suspiciously, seemingly sensing the danger that was near. It raced ahead to catch up to its fellows, unbeknown that there was a small figure following it, just as speedily, but much more stealthily.
The kobold dropped down to the ground, dead before it knew it: a slit in its throat, yet it landed heavily, not softening its landing. Its killer had realised that it had made a deadly, possibly costly mistake.
The chattering stopped, dozens of eyes turned slowly toward their fallen comrade, and then to its killer. Tons of eyes narrowed, spears in their hands. This wasn't going to be quick, nor painless, as it had been for the small rabbit. It was going to hurt. A lot. The creatures silently crept forward, their hunting spears in their hands.
The figure was going to be surrounded, these small creatures advancing in the gloom. There were many kobolds, varying in both colour and rank. The piebald creatures had many varieties of weapons at their disposal, swords, spears, arrows, and many more such things.
One kobold stood from all the rest, larger, and cleverer. It was their leader. It bore a staff, small, wooden, perhaps useless as a melee weapon, but extremely powerful when concentrating the powerful magical energies of the shaman. For shaman he was, learned in the lore and magics of the kobold race.
An invisible, yet deathly aura surrounded it, strengthening its minions, but striking fear into the hearts of its enemies. It had many diamonds, different shapes and sizes, sounds escaping every time it moved.
It raised its staff high in the air, and with an ear-piercing screech the kobolds charged. The first in the line of the kobolds was small, smaller then the creature that had just been slain, but it was aware of the danger now.
But as it charged, its thoughts faltered. The creature stood there, a hood over its head, a cloak covering its body. It did not even stir as the kobold ran toward it, and as the kobold raised its short spear to drive it into the heart of the enemy, it thought that it was too easy.
The kobold was right next to the foe now, and still it did not stir. The spear was mere millimetres next to the heart before the creature even begun to stir.
With speed barely recognisable with the naked eye, the sword flashed, the kobold shrieked with pain as disbelief as it realised that its hand was no longer there, it stared down into the forest floor, shock written all over its face. Its shriek was cut short as the sword was pressed into its chest, piercing its heart.
The kobold sank to the bottom of the forest, the disbelief still on its face, its empty staring eyes looking straight up at its killer, its mouth still opened slightly. It landed next to its hand, and the spear rolled onto its chest, and it lay there.
The kobolds had stopped their attack at their astonishment, but their charged again. Their opponent looked down into the floor, sadness etched into its face.
The kobolds were almost on top of the figure now, but it still did not stir. The spears missed, an invisible, magical hand pushing them gently from their target.
The sword flashed upward, slashing, biting at its enemies, left, right, the kobold fell.
But as they fell, the dust raised into the air. It obscured the vision of the attacker, but it healed the wounds of the earth-dwellers. They were creatures of the ground, and as they returned there, they wounds seemed to heal. Hope looked dim for their attacker now.
But still it didn't give up, still it clung onto the small beacon of hope that remained, rather than give it up, and fling itself into death. It grabbed a hold on the tree trunk, using it to twist and turn away from the attacks of the kobolds.
As it swung round, it gained speed; it flung itself into the air, still holding the tree trunk, and kicked out at the kobolds, pushing them back, giving itself some more time.
It attacked with its sword once more, now dealing heavy and deadly blows, not giving the kobolds time to heal.
The battle was over quickly. As the dust settled, a figure walked out from the trees, without a backward glance. It moved ahead quickly. It was now imperative that it reached Rayman quickly.
As it moved on into the distance, the body of the purple kobold stirred slightly. Its eyes opened into thin slits, the life behind them draining. It buried itself into the sand, burrowing deeper and deeper, all the while heeling its body.
Anger and rage flared up inside it. It had lost its honour. It wanted to regain the honour. It wanted revenge.
8_* -_- *_8
The figure stumbled forward. It had indeed received some blows, and now the wounds cried out in pain and despair. The figure sat down for a small while, and opened a small, nearly invisible pack from its back. Inside there were many things, amongst them lay a prized bow. But the figure swept them all gently aside, and pulled out a small bottle of potion.
It took it out and rubbed small amounts of the potion onto its wounds. Aside from feeling revitalised, its felt energised too. It stood up, lifting the pack onto its back, and set off once more.
It could no longer hear its main target, but it no longer needed too.
It knew where they had stopped for the night.
*_8 *_* 8_*
-_~*~_-
It was sunny. Rayman took that as a good sign. It was early in the day, not long after they had set off from the valley.
Flaréoné had taken him aside from the others. It was apparently something important.
'Rayman,' Flaréoné said suddenly. 'You will need more power to defeat you foe.'
'I know…' Rayman replied unsure of what to say.
'And I could give you some.'
'Give then.' Rayman asked gently. Flaréoné turned to face Rayman. A fire blazed in his eyes. He raised his right hand, palm upwards, and a glowing fire ball appeared in his hand.
Rayman gazed at it transfixed.
Flaréoné shot the ball into Rayman's chest. Rayman was thrown backwards a few paces. A ring of fire surrounded him, but it quickly died.
Flaréoné walked up to him and helped him up.
'You have been given the power of the fire element.' Flaréoné said in a strange tone. 'I will not tell you how to use them, for they will be more powerful when unlocked by yourself.' His voice turned to normal.
'That is all I can do for you.' He said, and walked back to the others.
Rayman stood for a few seconds, and gazed at his hands. They seemed to be burning with an uneasy flame.
He walked back.
-_~*~_-
Rayman was first watch. He looked around the clearing. It was quite large, and in the middle of the forest. There was a brown patch of barren land were no vegetation grew.
Rayman sighed, and looked around the clearing again. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen…but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
And yet…and yet…
He just couldn't shake the feeling. The ominous feeling that something was going to happen was beginning to take over.
Crack!
There was something there! Something behind him! Rayman turned his head so quickly, that if he had a neck he would have cricked it. It was only Ly.
'I couldn't sleep,' she said apologetically. 'I've got the feeling that something's going to happen…I just cant shake the feeling.' Rayman nodded.
'Yeah me too,' he replied. 'I don't think I could get any sleep either.' He smiled. 'Want to help me keep watch?'
'Sure!' replied Ly. 'I couldn't expect you to manage it on your own anyway.' Rayman laughed, and pushed her gently.
At that moment, there was a great howling sound. Everyone in the camp suddenly woke up.
There was another loud roar, and a great beast flung itself out of the forest. It had brown skin. Its bare arms were covered in what looked like scars from long ago. Its bare legs covered in scratches and marks, along with some crudely made tattoos that looked as though they had been branded on.
It wore a giant protective hide that covered a short amount of his legs and waists. It looked as though it was made out of the skin of some animal. He had two legs, but he had six arms. None of them were the same, and they all seemed to have been sawn on, and made with the sole purpose of destruction.
His upper two arms were the closest to what normal arms were like. The creatures left arm was normal, but covered in many scars and burns, but there was a long snaking tattoo, completely black, snaking down his outer arm. It seemed to be many ropy things, five it seemed, all intercrossing, swerving, crossing on another until they reached its wrists, and then they turned themselves in a circle round his wrist, like a manacle chaining him to some miserable past. It clutched on a large staff, the magical prowess so great that it was actually glowing purple. However – although Rayman didn't know it – the arm had not been completely finished. Although the staff itself held great power, its owner had no magical prowess whatsoever. The staff was soon to be melded into the hand, making a part of this monstrosity and also giving it awesome power.
His upper right arm however, bore no scar, and no tattoo. It was much more hideous. The muscles from inside his arm were so big that they had erupted partially out of his skin. He skin was split, partially dead, and the muscles were clearly visible. But even now, they strained to grow, screamed at the small confining space into which they had been placed to grow. The skin that was still alive looked red, but it also looked unhealthy: doomed to die. He raised the arm high into the air, and the muscles good be seen working, lifting themselves, and the skin that they were attached to.
The middle right arm was also vaguely human, but it had had been converted, changed, melted into some hideous weapon. It was now one long pipe, but inside it there were many more pipes: each a different colour. At the end, where the hand should have been, the wires escaped from the larger tunnel, and they could be seen for what they truly were. Acid spewed out one, and fire out of another. Huge torrents of things forced they way out of the tubes, many things, both recognisable and not. Multiple liquids squirmed as they corroded the inner tubes on their ways out. As they landed on the ground, it burned, melted, froze, and transformed all at once. Steam issued forth from wherever the things landed. The stream of liquid was suddenly stopped, as though the monster had only put them on for show. A spout of electricity burst out of the middle tube, sending sparks and short bursts of electricity flying out, illuminating the ground. This show was also stopped.
The hand opposite that was not even close to humanoid. It was more robotic - metallic and shiny, but most of the arm seemed to be there merely to carry, or to power, the clenching 'hand' that lay at the end of it. It was a claw-like vice, gigantic, metallic. It looked heavy, and the power could almost be felt as it slowly clenched and unclenched itself. The arm itself seemed to be one long hollow tube, but to give it a more scary effect, it had been made to look bigger then it truly was. Circular metallic discs had been inserted into it, protruding outward, sharp; some were spinning with an amazing speed.
Underneath that arm, the bottom left arm – if it could be called that – was placed. This truly seemed to have been sawed on – the stitching was evident, and obvious. It seemed to have been stuffed with anything – rocks, stones, wood, cotton…many things were placed inside there, and then it was stitched up again. This made the skin look rough, uneven. At the end was placed a gigantic metallic claw, swinging against the movement of gravity. It accidentally swiped at a tall and sturdy tree, but its owner didn't even realise it. The shining blade swung through the tree like a hot knife through butter. It came out unscratched – indeed, it came out looking just the same as before, but the tree had its trunk sliced through. It fell, crashing down onto the other trees. The giant monster stopped the claw – with an effort it seemed – and raised it slightly, preventing it from swinging. The arm stopped swinging but the claw itself was still quivering slightly.
The last arm was perhaps the most deadly. Although it was not yet complete, the power that it would later wield was very evident. It was a short stump, not of skin, but of metal. An android arm perhaps? The short stump. Metallic. Small wires could be seen, jutting out from the hole that was soon to bee filled. There were many hollow tubes and pipes coming out from the short place; some wires rejoined the arm, whilst others stood out, sneering at any that would dare to come close to it. The creature was a terrifying monster, created for the sole purposes of destruction, and driving fear into the hearts of its enemies.
The creature stepped forward, its massive legs working hard to carry the heavy weight it carried. They resembled the muscled arm, doomed to carry the great weight above them forever more.
Upon the giant creatures chest there was a giant wad of metal, perhaps there to protect the weak points that the creature had.
The head was disgusting. Its chin seemed to droop slightly away from the rest of its head, as though it had been sunken. The actually face was something out of a nightmare. One eye was red, the other blue, and the face was twisted, converted into a permanent scowl. Small spots had erupted on his (for he was indeed a male) face, a mutation caused, possibly, by the arms that had been attached.
The giant stumbled forward, his mismatched eyes glaring down at the tiny ants below him, mischievous creatures that he wished to squash.
But his orders had been clear, and he begun to carry them out.
He raised a hand, the one with the many pipes, and a giant gust of flame erupted forth, scorching the land on which Rayman had been standing mere seconds before. Ignoring the rest of the companions, he went for Rayman alone.
'Hey, he's after me!' Rayman yelled to the others. 'Stay away and you'll be safe!' the others didn't want to stay away, but they did as Rayman said, and stayed far away.
Rayman jumped onto a tree, a sudden idea had hit him that if he could blind the creature, he may have more of a chance. The creature glared at him, and raised his claw. He sent it to the tree Rayman was on, but Rayman was too quick.
He jumped onto the next tree. And the next, and then the next again, all the while keeping away from the monsters attacks. The creature roared, and attacked in a furious rage, quickening his attacks, determined to get rid of Rayman. Rayman thought of a plan. It was dangerous, but it was all that he had.
Rayman waited for the arm to come near, and as it was slicing the tree, Rayman leapt onto the horrid skin. The creature laughed to itself – a deep booming sound, as it thought that Rayman had been killed.
The rage that overcame him when he saw that Rayman was on his arm was so profound, that he howled again. His upper two arms worked furiously to capture his prey. But his prey was elusive, and the creature had been told to bring him alive.
Rayman sent a sphere into the arm. The arm split, the sewing broken, and all the stuffing came out: guts, rocks: many things came out, but the skin remained. The blade hung useless at the end, hanging down, poised to fall.
Rayman leapt onto the pipe that contained the acids, knowing that this was perhaps one of the most deadly weapons that the creature had at its disposal. But the creature raised an arm: the normal like one, and raised its staff to attack Rayman. Rayman managed to jump out of the way, confident that the creature had don't itself some harm.
But no! The staff merely glanced off, not even denting the pipe organ of the giant. The staff itself was unchanged too, it appeared. Evidently it was made of stronger things that Rayman had thought.
The creature lowered his arm, as Rayman leapt onto the thick piece of metal, higher up on the pipe arm. The vice-hand gripped at Rayman, and succeeded on grabbing a hold on Rayman's shirt. It brought Rayman before it's faced and smiled a hideously evil smile.
It took a huge breath, and for a second, Rayman thought that he was going to be breathed into the giant monster, but no! The monster let out a putrid breath; a stun gas that had been fitted into its chest. Rayman knew what was coming, but the gas was slow moving.
Rayman twisted, and managed to fall away from the vice, but a small piece of his shirt was ripped off. The vice unclenched, and the piece of fabric began to fall. Rayman let fly a fist, grabbing the shirt before it hit the ground. Rayman could feel the vice coming nearer.
As soon as his hand returned, he jumped quickly to the left, avoiding the vice by inches. Rayman jumped onto the pipe arm, which the creature raised high into the air. Rayman ran up the arm, and helicoptered onto the creatures nose.
Rayman let out a grim smile and charged up a power-ball.
'Night, night!' Rayman said, but before he could unleash his ball, the muscled arm reached out and grabbed him.
The creature face was contorted into an expression of anger, as it raised the stupid creature to his face. He roared once more, and began to squeeze.
Damn the orders! Damn the boss! This creature had hurt him, and damn him too! He was going to squeeze the very life out of this infernal midget, and he didn't care about the consequences.
Rayman felt his eyes popping, his breathing was becoming hard. His vision swam, and he knew that this was the end. His vision was completely obscured by the giant seething eyes. They would be the last thing that he would see.
-_~*~_-
Traid was in the valley of the freelings. He was a magi. An ancient magi, of an old and supreme order.
He had been captured. It had been written in the stars…he had known that he would be captured. But it was still a huge shock when he did. The magical energy within him was so great that he had to wear a restraining belt.
He was a part of the ancient magus order. He had lived many long years; watching over the world, watching the stars…he was a magi.
But he was also the only one left. The others had all been killed; going off to fight battles…there were also many other reasons.
One of the most important was that the magi had made enemies. Enemies with evil, and those that fought to protect the evil. Many ancient evils had been destroyed or subdued by the magi. But many magi had fallen in the process.
The magi all had a link. In this way, if there was but one of the magus order left alive the magi order still remained. The souls of those long dead had come to reside in the bodies of their fellows. They had escaped the confines of death to help the rest of the world. Along with their souls, they magical prowess had also come to rest in the body of their comrade.
This was why Traid was the most powerful magi left in the world. His power was great – very great – but even he could evade his capture. He tried, oh yes! He tried! But it was not enough. He was captured. But he had been saved too. Saved by an unexpected return…
Rayman. He knew about Rayman. He had been the channelling energy that had created Rayman. No, not created. Summoned, perhaps? Nobody knew. Traid knew instantly that Rayman was more powerful them he. Traid knew instantly that this new figure, this beacon of hope had more potential then the rest of the world.
But where had he come from? Only one person knew. Only Rayman knew. But even he had hidden it from himself: the thoughts and memories only to bee returned when he needed them.
The history of Rayman was a shroud. But the deeds that Rayman did were not forgotten. He had vanquished his first opponent with such skill and ferocity that the world had appointed Rayman guardian. He was guardian of this world.
Mr Dark had been defeated easily, but the defeat had been so complete that the shadow had never been seen again.
And then Admiral Razorbeard had invaded along with his army of robots. Rayman had been captured hope had looked dim for the guardian. But friendship had prevailed.
Rayman succeeded in escaping from the prison ship, and went on to re-unite the four masks of Polokus. Polokus, who had needed to rejuvenate his powers, had gone to sleep for many hundreds of years.
He had granted Traid, the last magi, the energy to call upon a hero when it was needed. Traid himself had managed to keep the evils at bay for a long time, without any help.
But Mr. Dark had been clever. He had attacked when Traid was unfit to fight. Traid had been unable together his energies back quick enough, for the trial that he had just gone through had drained him of his power. Even now he was not yet recovered.
And so he had used what was left of his strength to call upon that hero, the person that would go on to become guardian, who would save the world many times. He had used his last ounces to summon Rayman, and then had fallen into a deep sleep.
When he had woken again, he was told about Rayman's deeds, of the destruction of the grolgroth, how he had almost sacrificed his own life to save those of many others.
He had also been told of his great deeds against the army of hoodlums, the transformed red lums, of how he had fought against the power of the leptys, handed down into the single monstrous creature known to most as Reflux.
Traid had been proud of this hero, happy that there was finally somebody to help protect the world from the evils.
But even now Traid hadn't been able to help. Although he was gaining energy fast, and rejuvenating it every day, I was not enough, not quick enough. He was still weak, next to little of his former power remained, not enough to protect this world.
He feared that his days were over. Perhaps it was time to move over, to let a new guardian protect the land. Whatever the case, he would do his part to help the world to its fullest.
-_~*~_-
What was happening? What was in front of him? Rayman's thoughts came slowly, far apart, and blurrily. Was the eye red, or blue? The whole world seemed to have melted into a mixture of red and blue.
Rayman strained to gather what was left of his strength to look his for in the eye. He opened his eyes.
The monster glared at Rayman, hate was all that it could feel, all that it felt: raw emotion; raw hate.
-_~*~_-
Ly stared at the monsters face. At its hand. At Rayman. Tears obscured her vision as she realised what was happening. She made to move forward, but Flaréoné put out a hand to stop her.
'You'll get killed. Only a miracle can save him now.' He said.
It did not take quite that, but they did get what they needed.
-_~*~_-
Rayman could see the creature's eyes. Only his sight seemed to be working now, he couldn't feel anything, his body was numb. His hearing and his sense of smell also seemed to have disappeared; though the creature seemed to be roaring, Rayman could hear nothing, and the stench of decaying flesh had left him.
Suddenly there was something in the monster's eye. A sudden glint. Its grip on Rayman loosened slightly and everything came flooding back. He was suddenly aware of how much the fallen arm had decayed, and he could hear the howling moans of the monster. A pain so great had returned to him that he felt as though he could pass out there and then.
But the creature still had a grip on Rayman. As Rayman's senses improved, he begun to realise that the creature was indeed howling, but now his howl was a howl of pain, rather then anger.
There was something in its eye! It was an arrow, excellently crafted, but were had it come from? And there was another one, piercing the other eye!
The monsters roars grew louder, as it desperately began to claw at its eyes, attempting to force out the arrows.
But he succeeded only in breaking the arrow shafts, and he pressed the arrow-points in deeper.
Rayman realised that there was a rope attached to both arrows, and he leaped out of the monster's slackened grip, and onto the ropes.
He felt suddenly energized, and as he looked around to see why, he spotted a squadron of red lums, not too far away, heading in his direction.
They speeded up to Rayman, flying around him; healing his wounds and hurts, and finally letting Rayman absorb them. Rayman felt re-energized and refreshed also.
A huge thing fell to the ground behind Rayman, landing with a huge thud, Rayman turned to see it, and realised that it was the red eye. Another thud told Rayman that the blue eye had also fallen.
The monster stumbled and fell into the forest.
A showed figure appeared before the eyes, unloosening the arrow heads, and magically reconnecting them to the shafts.
The figure then turned to Rayman and lifted its hood.
'Fianna?!?' Rayman exclaimed, for it was indeed her who had been following the companions.
'Yes,' she replied smiling, 'Fianna.'
Ly came up running to Rayman and spotted Fianna too. She stopped dead in her tracks.
'Fianna? What are you doing here?'
'I've come to help you in your task.' Fianna replied.
At that moment a huge bird-like creature flew into the sky. It was just a small bit bigger then the monster they had just fought. But it didn't stop.
Diving into something in the trees, it picked up something in its talons. It was the monster.
'Wait a second…' Rayman whispered. 'I've seen that before!' And he had, it was the very same that had been searching the ground before they had met up with Furion. Rayman saw up close just how majestic and deadly it was, but it flew away, with such a speed that he didn't have time to see it properly.
There was much happiness and rejoice between the friends as they reunited. Fianna told them of her journey, ending with how she had shot the monster.
'I saw that you were in trouble, so I opened my pack, picked out my arrows, and shot him in the eyes. They were like his only weak point. I wonder how he was disfigured.' Globox snorted. Disfigured was hardly the right word. Fianna continued.
'I added some roped, hoping that you would understand my plan. So with a touch of magical guidance, and a well aimed shot I managed to get it. The rest you probably all know.'
Flaréoné was more interested in the kobolds.
'They were above ground you say?' He asked.
'Yes,'
'And there were a lot of them?'
'Yes,'
'Hmm...Very suspicious. They rarely come out in ones, never mind packs! Very interesting…' and so he delved into his own thoughts.
'We might as well rest here for the night.' Rayman said.
And so they did, with Furio taking first watch and Furion taking second. They would not risk being caught unawares again.
-_~*~_-
It was the next night, and things seemed to be going fine. The day had gone fine, and according to Flaréoné they had made a lot of progress. They set up camp happily, and the blazing fire that Flaréoné had conjured flickered in the moonlight.
Rayman had an uncomfortable feeling again, and he could not sleep. Fianna was on watch, and she was tending to her bowstrings.
Rayman walked up to her and sat down next to her. Neither of them said anything for a while.
'Can't sleep?' Fianna asked.
'No,' Rayman replied. 'I can't shake off the feeling that something is going to happen.'
'Yeah me too…' Fianna sighed. 'I don't think I could go to sleep if I tried.'
'I could help you keep watch…' Rayman suggested. Fianna smiled.
'If you like.'
And they kept watch for a while. But nothing could prepare them for what happened next.
An ear-piercing yell erupted from the trees. A small ball flew out of the trees and attempted to smack into Rayman's face.
Rayman dodged it, but it turned in mid-air, and smacked him full-force in his stomach. He went crashing backwards, his eyes watering, and landed with a heavy thud on the ground.
8_* *_8
Flaréoné woke to the sound of the thud, and realised what was happening. Fianna was standing ext to Rayman, protecting him from the balls that kept flying at the two. But the balls were not giving up, attacking Rayman more then Fianna.
Rayman was already unconscious, and his already battered body was being continuously subdued to the attack. Fianna was slicing at the monsters, but their bodies seemed to be made out of hard rock.
Flaréoné instantly realised what the balls were, and rushed to Fianna's aid. Fianna's aid was slashing right and left. He was a few paces away when something terrible happened.
One of the balls attacked her from above, and ill fate had it that one attacked her from behind too. Even worse was that a third had distracted her by emitting a high pitched screech.
This screech had both its upside and a downside for the attackers. The downside was that all the other companions were awakened. However the upside greatly outweighed the bad points.
Fianna, believing that it was another form of attack, had raised her sword to block the attack, but shock was evident on her eyes when both other balls collided with her.
She slumped onto Rayman's body, and the other balls continued their attacks.
Flaréoné realised that he had stopped running. He raced forward again, but he wasn't quick enough to outrun Ly.
She leapt forward, am extremely powerful powerball fuelled by her rage and fear.
She had already feared to lose the life of her best friend, and now somebody who was quickly becoming a fast friend was also in danger. She couldn't bear to lose them.
She sent her first powerball into the pack of balls. They were tightly clasped together, a huge ball made out of balls, and when the powerball clashed into them, the ball burst, sending the rock creatures flying.
She sent out another powerball, and another and another, until the attackers drew back and formed another plan of attack. This gave enough time for the others to reach them
They tried to calm Ly down, but her anger was greater now than ever, she sped at them, charging a powerball as she went, but she never let it go.
A small creature fell out of the branches above her. It landed on its neck, and she began to try and shake him off – momentarily distracted.
The army of balls flew at her again, flying into her with as much speed as they could muster. But she didn't feel the attacks; the rage seemed to be protecting her.
She sent attack after attack at them, but they didn't stop coming.
They smothered her, blocking her from view of her friends. A small shriek was heard - cut short. The balls withdrew, and they saw the body of Ly.
It had bruises and dents all over it – as though the bones had broken – but there was a knife in her neck. She wasn't moving.
The balls seemed to have grown sudden heads and hands. They pawed at the ground. There were short blades in their hands, not unlike the one in Ly's neck.
They charged again, but this time they were faced by a much greater challenge…
Fuelled by the desperation and despair that had filled them on seeing Ly's body, they had prepared their best attacks.
A heavy black cloud flew out of Globox's hands, flying low across the grass.
Flaréoné swept his hand in a wide arc, from one side to the other, and where the hand went, an arc of flame formed, and rather than fading, it strengthened by the minute.
Furio and Furion both charged up a powerball each – as powerful as they could get it – and then they joined both balls to make an even more powerful ball.
The attacks all started at the same time.
Flaréoné let off his now very powerful arc, and at the same the powerball was also let loose.
Globox's attack was the deadliest however, and as the cloud gained speed, it reached the crouching figures just slightly before the other attacks, and as soon as it got there it began to drop bolts of electricity, attacking individual creatures with super speed.
The arc reached the first creatures and it blew up into a million smaller fireballs, battering the creatures. But they seemed to be immune to his magics, and they stood on defiantly.
As the powerball reached them, they scattered like ants scurrying this way and that. The majority of them managed to avoid the ball, though many slower ones were caught, and lay sizzling on the ground.
Now the thundercloud was growing by the moment, and it was chasing the creatures.
Either unaware, or uncaring of their losses, the creatures turned back to face the companions.
Globox's lips were pursed, his eyes closed in concentration, his hands quivering with the power that he was controlling. Flaréoné and the brothers had realised that his attack was the most efficient, and they had formed a small circle around him, the brothers with swords in their hands, whilst Flaréon's hands seemed to be melting.
He was turning into his most powerful form. He was doing so slowly, hoping that he wouldn't have to do it, but if he did he would.
The creatures leapt at full speed, hopping forwards, dodging even the bolts of lightning.
The glints of their many swords were visible as they charged forward in a last attack to kill their enemies.
But a sudden mist was swept upon them, and fear clutched their hearts and the soft moist covered them.
This was also directed by Globox who seemed to be gaining power rather then losing it, controlling two powers at once.
Flaréoné realised a better way in which he could protect Globox was to lend him some magical energy, but Globox refused it; a small shake of his head and a slight smile on his lips.
He knew where his power was coming from and Flaréoné didn't need to help him. Globox had enough power at his disposal anyway.
The lightning bolts flashed again, but they didn't break the mist. The lightning didn't stop – in fact they grew more and more powerful.
The lightning stopped abruptly. The cloud dispersed into t thin mist, and then was blown away by a gentle breeze. The mist lingered for a small while longer, but then it too disappeared.
There was not one creature left alive; all electrocuted, burned or smothered by the mist.
Flaréoné immediately ran to Ly, and checked her for any vital signs. He withdrew slowly, and bowed his head.
Ly was dead.