Chapter 21

Freedom

Although the castle had been huge on the outside, it said nothing of what it was like on the inside. The hallways were very long, dark, damp and the smells that came from the rooms they past were horrible and in their animal forms the two rangers had to deal with the smell was worse than anything that they had smelt before but they needed these forms as it made moving around so much easier.

Gilan was just about to head down the next corridor, when he noticed Halt had stopped. Halt's whole body was tense and Gilan could see the hair on the back of Halt's neck was bristling, something was wrong with him. So Gilan had to ask.

"Halt... what's going on?"

"It's her" he growled. He was facing a door looking like he was going to steam in there any minute.

Gilan knew that there was only one her that he would get this angry about. It was the witch that turned him, it just had to be. Gilan also knew they could not get distracted here, that their main target was the monster that hurt Will and the others. The witch would just have to wait but he also knew that Halt would not wait long on going after her, so he reminded Halt of why they were there.

"Halt I know you want to kill her, but what of Will and the others? what if the monster comes after him again? we must stop the demon now" Gilan said in a serious voice.

It was this tone that brought Halt out of his mood. Halt knew that Gilan was right, that the mission they were on was more important than this one witch, but still it hurt that he could not end her life for what she did to him and the others like him. What he suffered at her hands he did not want to tell any one, even Will did not know the whole truth.

"Fine Gilan let's go but if I ever come across her again she dies, right?"Halt said turning to Gilan. He could see that the lion man agreed with him, so they could now carry on.

Soon they came across a large cathedral like hall and sitting on a throne was the demon, that had done so much damage, The demon was tremendously large with thick monkey like hair on its legs, and feet that were cloven hooves. He had a scaly chest and arms with clawed nails and its head was like a lion with curved horns on top. The demon looked like he had not a care in the world, he knew he was the master here and there was no one to come close to his power and might, but his witch.

Halt and Gilan watched as it reached into a cage and pulled out a hand full of animals, whether they were turned humans, Halt and Gilan did not know, but they watched as the demon ate them. Then followed it up by drinking some kind of shimmering liquid.

"That must have been what they took out of Will and the others"whispered Gilan. He was now wondering how the two of them could take down such a monster, when Halt said "look at his throat".

Gilan looked up and could see that the skin was incredibly thin, you could see the veins and muscles underneath It was an easy shot for a ranger, but it would take a thick arrow to do the dead.

""Look over there at that catapult. If we could find a spear, we could use it to target that monster's throat"said Halt looking around for a suitable spear.

"Halt over there, that broken tree, its big enough and one of the ends...its sharp"said Gilan.

Halt could see that Gilan was right but the problem was that the tree was right in the open and if they went to get it, they would be seen for sure.

"Gilan I'll draw his attention, you get the spear, don't argue with me, like I see you want too"Halt told Gilan when he saw he was about to protest.

"Why you?"Gilan asked "what about Will? if the demon gets you..."

"Its for Will that I am doing this and as for why me? in wolf form I am faster than your lion form, but your lion form is stronger than my wolf form and lion strength should lift that easily and carry it over to the catapult" Halt told him with a knowing look.

Then with that the two moved, Halt knew that he had the speed over the demon. Something that big did not need speed to hunt down its prey. The monster was top heavy and when he moved it wasn't with grace but still Halt darted forward and biting in only spot where something that enormous could feel it, in between his two toed hooves, in the soft skin that was there.

The demon howled in pain and looked down at this tiny ant like creature that had caused him to feel pain and agony. It turned on to Halt who was dodging and weaving away the blows. The hooves of the monster came down only inches from Halt's speeding body, when Halt heard something that told him that it would soon be over.

Gilan had the tree loaded and was just waiting for a shot at the throat to come his way. The creature screamed as Halt continued to avoid his hooves. So now the monster raised one massive taloned paw to strike him down, when Gilan let loose.

The tree arrow soared. The creature turned to see where the new movement had come from only to have the tree arrow hit it square in its massive throat. It penetrated all the way through, killing the creature instantly.

"Took you long enough" said Halt as he panted a little, but in his mind he thought that for now it is over.

An: sorry it took so long. I was on holiday with the family, more soon hopefully.