Hunting can be fun on a beautiful day,
Hunting can be fun,
Unless you're the prey
"How much longer can we stay here?" asked Lizire. "I don't know….we should probably leave soon," I replied. Torlem, Lizire and I had been hiding on various islands for some time now. But it seemed like whenever we lost Ripslor, he found us yet again. Today we were on Nonce. Lush and green, it offered a little relaxation but not enough. I could barely sleep at night, and when I did, my dreams were troubled and fearful. Something moved in the bushes behind us. "C'mon. We better get going," said Torlem rubbing her eyes. Grudgingly Lizire and I followed her. We figured the more we moved the harder we would be to track down. After all, it's harder to hit a moving target than a stationary one.
We had since set many, many false leads behind us in hopes that it would throw Riplor off guard. We decided Babilonium would be our best bet because we would blend in there very well. The thing is, so did Ripslor
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The Hunt!
The Hunt!
Yes I've almost got you,
The Hunt!
The Hunt!
It won't be long now,
Until I've got you,
And you're under the ground
Ripslor had been on Marina's trail for some time now. He would have had her back in Midnight by now if she hadn't managed to avoid him when he thought he finally had her. Ripslor had been using one of Carrion's massive birds of prey as a way for transportation. Arriving on the lush green island of Nonce, he started for a trail he knew too well. Ripslor finally arrived at what looked like a temporary camp- now abandoned. Growling he swiped at a nearby bush, cutting it into pieces. He felt his blood boil within him. He had gotten so close to this girls capture and she slipped through his fingers like water. But she can't run forever, Ripslor knew this, and so did the girl he was chasing. Standing up right, he started for the nearest ship port. After question various sailors, he decided Babilonium would be his best bet.
Pushing his way through the crowds was not necessary for Ripslor; people just backed out of his way. Gazing around him, he was enveloped in a sea of tents, and thousands of people. Colorful tents were all around him as the merchants cried out for the people to buy their goods. "Leather boots here! Only made of the finest dragon leather!" cried one. "Get you Bablionium souvenirs here! Sacbrood shaped candies! The finest in Abarat!" yelled another. "Hey you! With the growth!" shouted a small purple bat-like creature. Irritated Ripslor turned around "What?" he snapped. Looking slightly taken aback the merchant continued. "I've got some medicine that will heal those scars like that!" and as if to prove his point, he snapped his fingers. After making a rude finger gesture to the merchant, Ripslor continued on his way. A cold breeze drifted through the crowded streets. This didn't bother Ripslor one bit, but as the people in the streets hunched over to try and avoid the harsh wind, Ripslor could've sworn he saw his target enter a tent. Roughly shoving his way though the crowd, Ripslor advanced toward the tent.
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My freaks, my freaks,
Don't you just love me?
My freaks, my freaks
How I love your weird physique,
You scream for your freedom,
And dance for my money,
My freaks, my freaks,
Your lives will never be sunny
We had just run into one of the Freaks tents. Judging by how dark and smelly it was, we were in the holding/storage area. "Do you think he saw us?" whispered Torlem though the darkness. "I hope not," I replied swatting the air around my nose. "We should keep moving," Lizire finished. "Yeah, let's go," said Torlem. As we advanced our way though the darkness, we heard a soft voice cry out. "Don't leave us here…" A pasty green slug like creature with 8 legs was looking at us with round, red eyes. "Yes, don't leave us!" whimpered what looked like a needle fish with a dogs head. Soon all around us a chorus of "Don't leave us" erupted. Frantically looking around we knew we had to do something. "We have to do something," said Lizire, her eyes brimming with tears. "I know, I know, but what?" I replied.
"Free them!" Lizire's reply caused the ranting to become even louder.
"I will if I can, but they're starting to make to much noise someone might-"
"Know your back here?" said a gravelly voice from the back. Startled I turned around, relieved, it wasn't Ripslor. The old woman was holding a single key in her knotty and grey hand. Veins pulsed though out the hand as she jangled the key. "Are you trying to free my freaks?" she asked. Her black eyes seemed to pierce the air itself and inject it with verbal venom. "No…ah, well…," Torlem started to stutter. I guess Lizire thought it was now or never because when the woman turned her head toward Torlem, she took a chain link rope and swung it at the lady. The key flew out of her hands and into one of the freaks' cages. Chirping with joy, the feathered monkey quickly set himself free and started on the others. "My freaks! My beauties! My money! Come back! Come back!" pleaded the old woman but to no avail, the freaks were quickly running or flying as fast a they could away from their cruel imprisoner. Torlem, Lizire and I started to slowly edge our way out of the tent. "You," hissed the old woman. Her head swung back like an owls so that her face was toward us but her body was still facing her precious run-away freaks. "You," she hissed again shaking with anger. The ratty and pungent dress she wore seemed to flow and move in a wind that wasn't really there. Sparks hissed and crackled around her head as her eyes rolled up into her head. "Run!" I shouted. And that's just what we did. We had just gotten out of the tent but an invisible hand seemed to grip us and drag us slowly backwards. "Oh no you don't…" jeered the woman. "Who are you?" Torlem demanded. The old woman seemed to find this amusing. Her laugh sounded like rusty nails against an old chalkboard. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up just at the sound of it. "My name? Oh, don't worry about it. But I guess you can call me your worst nightmare," she finished. Looking around, I tried to think of anything that could get us out of here. I hoped we could get away from her quickly. The invisible rope in which we were bound started to tighten and burn. "You think you're their worst nightmare? That's funny, I thought I was," growled a voice from the back.
Ripslor was standing in the back near the cages. In the dark lighting, he looked scarier than ever. The growth above his eye was pulsating madly and his fingertips twitched in a nervous fashion. My heart rate went out of control as I burst into a cold sweat. I knew a thing or two about magic. I just hoped it would be enough. The old woman pointed a bony finger at Ripslor as she opened her mouth to talk. Deciding that this was the best time, while she was distracted and her magic was at its weakest, I yelled an incantation that broke the rope that held us to her. Grabbing the fire crackers from a nearby shelf I quickly lit them over a candle and hurled them at Ripslor and the woman. These were no ordinary fire crackers, but fire crackers from Black Egg. They were used to inflict pain, and were illegal. A brilliant light illuminated the tent as my sisters and I made our way out.
Dodging our way though the crowd, we found safety behind a communicator stand. "Listen," I said, "We might get separated. We should at least have some way to communicate—just in case." Lizire nodded, too out of breath to agree. Torlem looked slightly unhappy but nodded her head nonetheless. Grabbing 3 overpriced communicator gadgets we continued our way toward the docks. We were on the wrong end of the island so we had to get moving fast.
The crowds were dense and difficult; taking a back route would be the better way we decided. Carefully tiptoeing our way though the dank back alleys we tried to make out way back to the docks. Progress was slow because there weren't any signs, just tents. At last, the docks were in sight. Right then and there a massive bird landed on the docks.
When it spread it wings, the scene of screaming faces and a war ravaged land filled out view. It's black substantial scaly legs supported its massive bulk; at the end of its feet brutally sharp claws the color of black polished onyx stuck out-ready for destruction. But one could not look at the scene on the wings, or the wickedly curved talons, but at the head. The birds skin was black; it had no feathers. The beak was also black but wickedly sharp and lined with dozens of razor sharp teeth. It's eyes where a crazed red as the pupils, green and cat-like, stared down at what were soon to be it's prey. It tilted it's head skywards and screeched. But no ordinary screech, glass broke and children screamed at the sound.
The crowed did no better than the children. People in a fearful frenzy pushed and shoved their way away from the bird. Cocking its head it reached down and tore apart its first 3 victims. I, too backed away. Suddenly, I heard my name being screamed. Helplessly I could only watch Lizire and Torlem being dragged by the crowd away from me, both in opposite directions. The frenzied crowd kept me from advancing as I tried to reach one of my sisters. Pushing my way back to the alleys, I tried my luck again. But my luck wasn't with me, instead, Ripslor was. "Hello," he said approaching slowly. "Goodbye," I replied as I turned to run. Turning my head behind me, I saw no one. Confused, I looked back were I was going and almost ran into Ripslor. "Does that ever work?" he asked. I was speechless, how did he do that? Grabbing a nearby rusty old pipe I prepared to swing at whatever came near me. Ripslor rushed forward toward me, knocked the pipe out of my hand, and covered my head with some sort of bag. A sickly sweet scent filled my nostrils as I distantly told myself to try not to breath. The next thing I know, I hear the gentle thumping of giant wings, the soft breeze in my face, and the gentle grip of massive talons holding me as we flew back toward Midnight.