"Valery, will you slow down?" Roshani called out but I just laughed, running beside Takkar who actually chuckled. "At least wait until I catch up." He grumbled and I took pity on him, slowing so he could catch up to me.
"Roshani, you don't get out much do you?" I asked and he frowned at me, keeping a firm grip on his club. "I'm kidding. Soon you'll be safe to live however you want..once we defeat Batari of course."
"We will have to kill her." Roshani answered and I stopped so quickly he nearly knocked me over. "Valery, are you sure you want to come with us? You could stay in the Wenja village."
"No, my mind's made up. I just wish...we didn't have to kill her. But taking her hostage seems wrong too." I sighed and he reached over, giving my shoulder a light squeeze. "I'm not exactly squeamish but I don't really like killing people."
"You do not have to. Takkar will fight Batari and I will protect you." Roshani answered and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"You do know I can handle myself right?" I asked and he nodded, giving me a grin. "Come on, let's go take down Batari's temple." With a grin I whistled hearing a growl before a jet black cave lion raced towards me. "Hey, Dusk. Let's go hunt some Izila...present company excluded of course." I added when Roshani stared at me.
"I hope so, Valery." Roshani muttered, walking beside me as Dusk raced ahead. "I have seen Karoosh train you."
Trying not to laugh I followed Takkar who lead our group through the forest. It took us a few hours to reach the temple, stopping once along the way near a river.
"I know your leg hurts." Roshani told me as I sat at the water's edge. "I saw you limping." He explained, sitting beside me.
"It just hurts a little. I can still walk the rest of the way..but thanks for noticing." I answered, leaning towards the river only to hear Roshani call out a warning. I jerked back, falling on my backside with a thud as lunged at me from the water. Water spraying everywhere I saw a crocodile's jaws snap at my face, my screaming alerting Takkar who dived at the reptile. Landing on its back, Takkar wrapped his arm around the crocodile as he stabbed it repeatedly with his dagger while Roshani pulled me away.
Shivering from my close call I didn't even feel Roshani hugging me as Takkar climbed from the water, the now lifeless crocodile sinking to the bottom of the river.
"It is okay, Valery." Roshani whispered as I shook, gripping him tightly as I realized just how close I'd come to a painful and gruesome death. It wasn't until Takkar spoke that I looked up, water dripping down my face.
"It is dead but be more careful." Takkar warned me, wiping his face as he returned his dagger to the belt around his waist. He started for the temple again, leaving us behind.
"Will you be alright?" Roshani asked, relaxing his grip on me. Taking a deep breath I nodded and he fixed me with a tiny smile. "Please be careful. I do not want you getting hurt again."
"I promise I'll be more careful." I replied, quickly brushing a kiss against his cheek before we ran after Takkar who was still just within eyesight. This time I made sure to keep my eyes peeled for any danger, constantly raising my club every time I heard a rustling in the bushes. Which caused no end of amusement from Roshani, who found the sight of me standing with my club raised only to see a deer or goat spring from the bushes pretty funny.
"Valery, deer are not dangerous." Roshani explained as I sighed for the tenth time, turning to see my boyfriend looking towards me with a grin on his face.
"I know that, wiseguy. I'm just a little jumpy after that crocodile nearly took my face off." I muttered, falling into step beside him and for the rest of the journey we walked in silence.
As we walked my mind kept going back to what Roshani said; that we would have to take Batari's life no matter what. That didn't sit well with me despite having taken several lives, even if they were only in self-defence.
It wasn't until we reached a huge gate that I frowned, wondering how we were going to get past it. "Maybe we can climb over?" I suggested and Takkar actually laughed, pointing towards two woolly mammoths. "Oh yeah. I think Tensay mentioned them." I muttered as Roshani cracked a grin at me.
"Come on, Valery." Roshani said and I shrugged, heading over as Takkar climbed onto the back of one of the beasts. Roshani followed, gripping the fur behind the mammoth's head before he pulled himself up. "Here, I will help you." He said, offering his hand and I grabbed it letting him pull me onto the beast's back.
"Okay now this is cool." I said as Takkar's mammoth charged forward, smashing the gate as it charged through. "You're not going without us!" I called out, gripping the neck of the mammoth as it ran after its herd member. Trampling what used to be a gate I saw many Izila running from us, the only ones stupid enough to try and attack our mammoths were trampled beneath their feet or thrown into the many huts scattered about.
I grinned as Roshani wrapped his arms around my waist, turning my head and he smiled. "This is enjoyable." He said and I nodded, watching as Izila scattered to avoid being trampled. It wasn't until I heard cries for help that I gently tugged on the mammoth's fur, slowly it down enough to see a cage set into a cave wall. I wasn't at all surprised to find a Wenja man tied up so I quickly climbed down, hurrying to the cave with my club raised.
It took two blows before the bars broke, allowing me to free the captured Wenja. "There are more Wenja who need help." He told me, climbing from the ruins of the cage.
"Meet us at Batari's temple." Takkar said, hurrying over with a bloodstained club. The sight made me sick to my stomach thought I'd understand why as I followed Takkar, Roshani not far behind.
"I thought this was her temple." I commented and Roshani cracked a grin, his hand keeping a firm grip on his own club. "It was an honest mistake, stop making me feel stupid." I complained and he just laughed, taking my hand. Together we followed Takkar, moving from one outpost to the next to find Wenja being held prisoner.
Like before, Takkar told them to gather at the temple. Once we rescued every captive, Takkar left the outposts heading for the temple at a quick pace. Roshani, already knowing the way, kept a quick pace as I struggled to keep up. I tried to keep up but I soon found myself alone, my burned legs stinging badly so I limped to a halt. Panting heavily, I waited for Roshani to return but after waiting a few minutes all I could hear was the growls of animals.
"Oh thanks a lot, guys. Just leave me behind." I grumbled, sitting on a nearby rock to wait. It wasn't long until I grinned, letting out a whistle. Seconds passed before a familar black Cave Lion leapt from the bushes, moving my side with a low growl. "Hey, Dusk. Could you help me find two morons?" I asked him, giggling when he tilted his head to one side.
Climbing to my feet, I gave my sore legs a stretch before I headed in the last direction I saw Takkar and Roshani.
It took a fair amount of walking before I saw Roshani who turned, club raised at the ready until he saw me. "Geeze, calm down. It's just us." I sighed and Roshani snorted, lowering the club. "So what's the plan? Rush in and beat everyone up and sneak it?" I asked, frowning when Roshani sniggered. "Hey you two left me behind so you don't get to laugh at me."
"Okay, Valery. Takkar will lead us into Batari's temple wearing the mask of Krati. The rest is up to Takkar and we will protect him when he fights Batari." Roshani explained and I nodded, stepping to his side with Dusk at my heels. Together we made our way towards the huge temple in the distance, keeping an eye on any Izila who might spring a surprise attack on us. Thankfully they didn't and once Takkar placed the mask over his face they scattered, cries of "Krati!" coming from all but Roshani who kept his distance from Takkar.
Even he's scared of the mask. I guess Krati must have been a fierce warrior to even unnerve Roshani, commander of the Izila.
As we ventured deeper into the temple, I couldn't see Batari anywhere and that made me uneasy. But as we stepped through a doorway someone attacked, knocking us over. Ripping the mask from Takkar's face, the mask shattered on the ground to reveal Batari. Her eyes narrowed and her breathing heavy she glared at us, quickly climbing to her feet.
"How dare you?!" Batari cried as we rose, my eyes glaring back at her. It wasn't until she looked up at the sky, a solar eclipse making the sky grow dark that she turned to us. "You did this! You will pay, Wenja!" She snarled, rushing towards the highest point of the temple and I growled at her.
"Coward." I snapped as she readied her bow, taking aim at us. "Come on, we need to find cover." I said, just Batari let fly with a fire arrow narrowly missing Roshani's head. "Right now!" I shouted, quickly heading for the cover of a bush with Roshani not too far behind me. Even Dusk crouched low, growling softly as he followed me.
Takkar refused to hide, instead making his way towards Batari so we split up watching for anymore Izila warriors. Takkar raised his bow, taking aim at Batari who glared at him from behind a fire. Just as he fired his own arrow she fired as well, the fire arrow narrowly missing the Wenja who rolled to avoid it. Still glaring, Batari raised a horn and I grimaced as she blew it. Lifting my head I saw a gate in the distance swing open, four Izila warriors rushing through it and I paled.
"Here comes the cavalry." I whispered to Roshani who raised his head, frowning when he saw his former friends now rushing towards us. "Perfect timing."