2nd Time Around
Chapter 5
Artax pranced through the city, being careful not to draw out anyone. He jumped over huge rocks and was extra careful; not to trip on pieces of jagged rock.
Soon he came to a cave. It was sitting open like a rotting wound. Slowly, he went inside.
Atreyu was dosing in and out of sleep. He looked down at Auryn around his neck. "Moonchild," he whispered. She was always with him even if he didn't have the Auryn. "Please help me," he said.
His mind ran through the events of the previous days. "Why am I the one that always has to go through pain and suffering?" he asked to himself.
His eyes slowly closed. His breathing was steady and strong. Atreyu then felt the presence of someone coming. He stood up and glared. Then to his surprise, he saw his horse.
"Artax!" yelled Atreyu in a hushed voice. Artax trotted over to his master and began nuzzling him. "How did you get here?" he asked. Artax looked towards the sky.
"You flew?" asked Atreyu finding that hard to believe. Artax shook his head. "Wait a minute," said Atreyu. "Falkor?" asked Atreyu, obviously stunned. Artax nodded his head. "Miracles really do come in all shapes and sizes," he said.
"Can you break these chains?" asked Atreyu, getting to the point to where he felt like his arms were going to fall off his body. Artax reared and with his hooves easily broke the chains.
Atreyu's arms fell to his side. He hissed in pain as he began rubbing his arms to get some feeling into them. "Good boy," said Atreyu.
"NO. BAD BOY," came a voice. Atreyu and Artax looked to the side and saw Tir and Gmork coming towards them. "Your horse is smart and at the same time stupid," said Gmork.
Atreyu backed up as did Artax. "Listen," said Atreyu. "Fantasia is back. It's never going anywhere again," said Atreyu. "So why not just give up on this foolishness?" he asked.
Tir's eyes narrowed in anger. "FOOLISHNESS?!" he asked. "What's foolish is Fantasia. We're sick of it," he said. Gmork started to walk forward. "We're evil creatures. We are unfit to be here," he said.
Atreyu and Artax were starting to back up when Atreyu wasn't watching where he was going and fell backwards to the ground. Gmork saw his opportunity and was about to jump him when Artax intervened, rearing and pawing at Gmork.
Artax reared once more, then took off to where Falkor was waiting for him. Gmork was hot on his tail. Atreyu tried getting up to run away, when Tir walked over and as quick as he could, grabbed Atreyu by the hair and dragged him through the city.
Atreyu had no choice but to follow. He yelled as Tir pulled on him. "Let me go!" he cried. "Like that's going to happen. You're going to watch Gmork kill that horse of yours," he said.
Atreyu wasn't going to loose his horse again. "NO WAY!" he cried, then with as much strength as he could kicked Tir in the stomach.
Tir doubled over in pain. "You stupid little boy," said Tir. Atreyu started to run, but Tir tripped him by grabbing his leg. Atreyu looked behind him and saw Tir making his advance, this time with that Ivory knife in his hand.
Tir was on top of Atreyu wanted to put that knife into his throat. It took all of Atreyu's strength to keep the knife away from him. Then he elbowed him in the face. "GAHH!" yelled It in pain. The knife went flying in the air. Atreyu saw where it landed and dove for it.
It was in his hand, when Tir bounded on him. In a flash, the sound of knife piercing flesh filled the air. Atreyu looked at Tir. The knife went right into his heart.
Atreyu pushed his body off. He looked at himself. He was covered in a red sticky liquid known as blood. He stood up and without a word, went to go look Artax and Gmork.