Kyuu Sogou Byou (One who is cornered will fight like a devil)
By Amaniblue
© Amaniblue, September 2006
AN: All OC characters are of my own creation.
Chapter 2
An eerie silence reins the forest except for the pounding stomps of two lone riders. A new moon hangs low on the horizon, lighting their path.
Not once did their breakneck pace abated since leaving the castle. Time had been wasted enough with unanswerable questions thrown at them. Just when they had mounted their steeds, the steward of Blood Pledge Castle had blocked their pathway to the North portcullis. His demand fell on deaf ears as both riders responded with solemn faces before they rode pass him and fled into the night.
The two lone riders spoke not a word to each other since leaving the castle. All that was needed to say was left behind, and all the answers that they were dying to know await them at their destination.
They journey through many villages on the well trodden roads leading away from the castle; then swerved to another and another path as many forks presented itself, always heading North-East. Then at one point, the lead rider paused briefly and cut right into an opening to the forest, adjacent to the road. The second rider followed without hesitation.
Suddenly,
The rider guiding the way pulled hard on his rein, causing his horse to rear on its hind legs. The horse neighed loudly in opposition before it settled down to catch its breath.
The second rider, upon seeing this action, did likewise before he inquired softly, "What's the matter? Have you lost the –?"
The first rider held up a hand to quickly silence him. Understanding dawn on him, and the second rider raised his head to scan their surrounding with wary eyes.
Moonshine filtered through the leaves in patches, enough to light their path. In turn, it cast large shadows from the tall trees that melded together, forming a vacuum of darkness.
Not a creature stirred nor an insect chirped. Silence greets them still. Only the heavy breathing of the horses and the occasional clumping of their hooves was heard.
Silence crept onward for what seems like an eternity before a faint scratchy sound was heard.
Immediately, both riders darted their eyes to a section of trees, about thirty feet away from them.
The scratching grew louder and another sound was added to the mix, a billowing noise much similar to the sails of a ship flying with the ocean currents.
A movement cast in shadows, alerted its position to the tree branches high above. The first rider drew his long bow and plucked an arrow from the holder in his saddlebags. He positioned the arrow on the bow and pull the cord taut, readying it for launch.
Unsure of what their facing, the first rider glance at the second rider (who nodded his approval) before he fired the first shot.
A screeching wail bled through the silence as the billowing sound increase in its rapidity.
Upon hearing the inhuman screech, the rider immediately fired another shot. This time though, a roar of pain erupted from the shadows and a blur of darkness launched straight up to the sky and fled towards the mountains.
"Wh— what was that?" stammered the first rider. Then he continued, "In all my years of service, I have never heard anything like it."
"I don't know, Derik," murmured his companion.
For moments, both still have their eyes train on the diminishing figure of the creature; until the lead rider stir from his musings and looped the long bow over his shoulder, just in case the creature decides to return.
The first rider picked up his reins then squeezed his knees to nudge the horse into motion as he implored to his companion, "Whatever that was, there's no time to waste. Sir Josak, we must hurry."
Nodding in understanding, the spy extraordinaire replied, "Lead the way, my friend. And I shall follow."
To be continued...