2nd Time Around
Chapter 3
Atreyu was pinned under the vampire/werewolf. "Long time no see," said Gmork through his razor sharp fangs. "I killed you," said Atreyu, struggling to get the 200-300 pound animal off his body.
"Stop struggling. It's useless," said Gmork. "As for killing me, when that fool boy, Bastian, wished Fantasia back, I came back from the grave. You can thank him for that. All this time, I've been searching for you…to kill you as I should have did last time we met," said Gmork, his foul breath going into Atreyu's nose.
Atreyu coughed and breathed heavily. "I won't go die without a fight," said Atreyu. "Same as always, foolish boy," said Gmork.
Atreyu tried kicking Gmork, but Gmork just laughed. "Feels ticklish," he answered. Atreyu's eyes went wide when Gmork bit down on Atreyu's leg and hurled him into the air.
Atreyu flew in the air until his petite body landed in the Swamps of Sadness. Atreyu groaned as he looked around. "I hate this place," said Atreyu.
He looked forward as he saw a big black mass coming towards him in the mud. Atreyu, now covered in mud, tried to hide behind one of the trees.
Fresh blood poured from his leg and stained his pants. His hand he put over the wound as he slid down the tree and into the swamp.
Gmork's ears pricked up. "You can't hide your blood scent," he said. Atreyu gasped as he saw that Gmork was coming closer and closer to his hiding spot. Even with the Auryn around his neck, he couldn't prevent what was about to happen.
Gmork smiled, his white fangs that were about to be stained red with Atreyu's blood. Then both males heard a terrifying shriek. Atreyu looked to his side to see his horse, Artax, coming full gallop and strike Gmork in the side with his hooves.
Gmork went flying backwards further into the swamp. Atreyu smiled at his horse. "Good boy. Well done," he said. Artax reared in joy and anger. He then went down on his front legs to allow Atreyu to climb on.
He did in a hurry because Gmork was coming back for more. Swinging his injured leg over the saddle and into the stirrup, Atreyu and Artax then went as fast as they could out of the swamp and back home to the Grassy Oceans; to home.
Atreyu then heard a cry for help. He slowed Artax down and turned him around. There in the swamp, he saw Gmork struggling to get out. He was sinking to his death. "Someone let the sadness overtake them," he said.
He watched as Gmork took his last breath and went under. "It's over," said Atreyu. He turned Artax and then headed for home.
Gmork kicked under the mud, until he resurfaced and ran out of the swamp. "That was too close," he said while breathing in the air, something that he wanted to do forever.
"Fine. If I can't kill you first, I'll kill those close to you first," said Gmork as he followed the hoof prints left from Artax.
Atreyu hung on for the next 2 days until he got back home. A little girl saw him coming, injured but alive. She ran and got the Elder and then, Atreyu got rest and treatment for his 2 injuries.
It was days until he woke up. "Where am I?" he asked. "You're home Atreyu," said the Elder. "Gmork!" yelled Atreyu, then he bolted up into a sitting position. "It's alright. He's dead," said the Elder, pushing him back down.
"That's right. He sank into the swamp," said Atreyu resting back down. "So, is Morla dead?" asked the Elder. "I would imagine so," replied Atreyu.
"Well, she's in a better place now," said the Elder, checking Atreyu's wounds. "Where is Artax?" asked Atreyu. "He's with the children," said the Elder. "Good. Artax loves kids," said Atreyu as he fell back to sleep.
The Elder looked down and saw Auryn still around Atreyu's neck. He smiled. He had washed the mud off the medallion so the silver and gold could shine through.
Artax, meanwhile, was with the little girl that had saw Atreyu coming. He was untacked and grazing while she played around him.
Artax then took off bolting, rearing, and bucking all over the green pasture. "Looks like someone is happy to be home," she said.
Unknown to her, Gmork had spooked Artax and that's why he took off bolting. Gmork snuck up behind the girl like a tiger, then charged her, grabbing her little form in her mouth.
He chomped on her like a rag doll. Blood came out from all over the girl. She screamed and cried for someone to help her, and the whole village had heard her.
Atreyu, along with the rest of the village, came out and saw the now dead girl in Gmork's jaws. Then he spit her body out into the once green grass.
"I told you I would kill you boy. Now this is twice you have escaped from me. If you don't come to me, I will kill off every person here, down to the last baby," threatened Gmork, showing his long red fangs.
Atreyu glared at the beast. "No," said Atreyu. He slowly started to back away, but was pulled forward by someone. His back met someone's chest.
His mouth was covered by someone's hand. "Everyone get back, or I'll kill him," came a male's voice. Atreyu knew that voice. He tried to speak, but couldn't.
Gmork smiled. "Took you long enough," he said. "Sorry Gmork, but you know kids these days," said the Elder!!!
"Elder what are you doing?!" yelled the villagers.
"Don't call me Elder. I am so sick of you people!" he screamed. The people started to come forward in order to save Atreyu, but Elder had taken out an ivory knife.
he placed it under Atreyu's neck. Atreyu couldn't do anything. "Get back or he dies!" yelled the Elder. The villagers did as they were told.
Elder and Atreyu got onto Gmork's back and took off someplace unknown.
Once out of sight, the whole village was in a panic. The mother of the girl that was killed had picked her up and was crying hysterically.
"We have to save Atreyu!" screamed one of the men. "But how?" asked another. "We don't know where they are taking him!" said another man.
Artax had come back, but didn't stay. He followed the tracks that were left over by Gmork. He reared as he was going to go save his master.