Chapter 18
Chimera formed Sheldor raced into the cave. His mind was on one thing… the death of three women inside. He would kill the witches first then he would take his time and slowly peel the flesh off the blonde just to hear her and the foolish boy inside him scream.
The cavern seemed to be just the right size to fit the enormous Chimera. The path was lit with floating balls of fire in an exact amount of space between each of them and the ceiling seemed disappear into the shadows as the light couldn't quite touch it. The tunnel was long and perfectly straight. After what seemed like hours of running, the Chimera hadn't gone much of anywhere. Something was wrong and it was beginning to anger the beast.
Then, he caught it… the scent… the scent of fear and tree sap. The monster raced forward and finally saw a change in the path… lightlessness. The entire length of the darkened wall went from the cavern's ceiling straight down to the floor and showed nothing past it. The scents were gone but something itched at the beast and lifted up his massive paw and put it against the blackness. It sucked in the paw and wouldn't let it go.
The Chimera tried to yank his paw out but no amount of strength, fire, acid, or shadow fall would retrieve it. The moment he resigned his fight… the wall jerked him into it like a spoon slipping slowly into jello.
The Chimera was bubbled back into its original form but into a completely different realm. He stomped his huge body around to take in the strange surroundings. The sky was sherbet orange and there were three planets in the sky accompanied by an assembly of stars. One was gigantic and had half rings on the top side of the planet that looked like they were haunting the poor orb. The rings were nearly translucent but still easily visible. The planet, itself, was a light grey. Almost like the moon of Pasadenia, but less lit. The other two were small tan colored spheres that stood side-by-side underneath the ringed planet.
The terrain was MUCH more intriguing. He stood on the high arch of a marbled mountain top and he could see the expanse of the entire landscape. There were hundreds of ranges made up of sharpened, crystallized mountains. The mountains gave off strange lights of purples and reds across the horizon. The ground below was soft like a well maintained lawn but the colors resembled a clear, crystal granite.
The beast's ears shot forward as the sound of screaming filled the eerie silence of the place. He felt it… he felt her aura… the aura of the pure heart… and he snarled a smile as the cobra behind him hissed a little. With one foot launching off the rock, he dove off the soft, granite mountain and bolted towards where the blonde's aura was.
Penelope was staring down the mouth of a cave whose walls were slimy, jagged, and looked like it was moving in and out as if it were breathing. Lordornia stepped forward and yelled at the hole, "Deliver me from the man of excellent intention and an impure heart for my wings are too heavy with imagination to soar past his fantasy."
Penelope stared at the older woman's face and could see the once beautiful woman she used to be. Her brunette hair was long past her shoulders and was peppered with grey down from the roots to half way down the length. Her eyes were tired and stern and if this woman wasn't so ruthless and powerful… she might've mistaken her for a kind mother.
There was a huge rumble of the land and the squiggly cave's mouth snapped and filled with tiny yellow teeth and spiraled around the circular mouth. The ground around it raised and crumbled as a huge lamprey arched its slick body up in the air. It turned its right side of its body down and towards the three women where eight grassy green eyes with strangely oval black pupils and caused Penelope to scream. Lady Fowler's headlock gripped tighter and the blonde's scream choked back into her throat. The creepy creature rose back up to the sky then rushed into the ground leaving a tunnel glistened in gold. Lordornia moved into the hole and slipped into the darkness but before Lady Fowler could follow with Penelope in her grip… the red pelted Chimera roared loudly and springs from up above and lands with his paws on either side of the tunnel.
Lady Fowler backed up fast and narrowed her eyes. The Chimera slid his paw over the hole and snarled at the witch. He lifted his other paw and slammed it to the ground and a dark haze spread like smoke towards the two women. With her free hand, she swiped it in mid air and the demon's miasma vanished.
The Chimera snarled but the witch spoke with a condescending voice, "You are nothing more than a worm to my beak, DEMON. This is Lakshmi… the Land of Magic. Where magic is enhanced tenfold. FOR INSTANCE…" She waved her hand and the demon snarled in pain as he changed and ripped and molded back to his naked, human self again. He fell from a high point and fell to the ground on his side and rolled with his scarred back towards them.
"SHELDOR!" Penelope screamed, but the witch's metallic arm shut her up with another squeeze as she yanked them both into the tunnel.
Penelope's bare feet drug across the greasy tunnel floor as Lady Fowler kept her eyes to the entrance of the passageway as Lady Fowler's voice sounded angry and hurt, "Your boyfriend doesn't know when to give up… DOES HE!"
As she said this, Bazinga Sheldor leapt into the golden traced tunnel with a snarl and he bolted towards them. Lady Fowler shot a bolt of green and it surged into the demon and lifted him off the ground. The witch's hand flexed wildly and the demon was sent flying backwards hard into the dip down from the entrance.
Penelope was dragged quickly through the darkened burrow until there was an eerie fade of white and gray light. They were out of the tunnel and she was spun around and her eyes went wide at the sight before her. There was an entire room of treasure and a path of green scales each traced with gold. The path was long and curvy and led to a small staircase that led to a long, tall mirror where Lordornia stood.
Lady Fowler pushed them both forward and she whispered harshly, "Do NOT touch a thing."
Penelope swallowed as they moved through the treasure. There were golden rings, coins, diamonds, rubies, crowns, statues, and she even managed to see a snowflake preserved into a clear salve. She obeyed the witch and kept her arms to her side, but her eyes wandered. Lordornia's voice carried harshly across the treasure room, "HURRY AMY! Bring her HERE!"
Lady Fowler pushed her harder, "Yes, Mother."
They didn't get two feet before Bazinga Sheldor slammed into the path before them. His hooves cracked at the scaled pathway and slowly raising up. His eyes were wild and black and bleeding while his tongue darted to the side, "I wasn't quite done with you… Sweetheart!"
He lunged forward and was stopped inches from Penelope's chest as a web of blue electricity form around them. Lady Fowler scowled, "But I was quite done with you… Lambchop!" The demon screamed as the energy leeched into him and encased him into a blue web of energy and it hardened. Demon Sheldor was now a statue and Lady Fowler pushed past them to round the path. They were on the first stair of 6 to get to the mirror when the demon began to sing, "Tell me… WITCH… what would happen if I just… happen… to…" The three women spun and looked at the demon with a golden beaker in his grip as he snarled, "… Pick this up?"
Lordornia squealed, "YOU FOOL!"
The scaled path began to wave and twitch as the mirror thinned into a popped bubble and was teleported somewhere else in the treasure room. Lordornia screamed her frustration at how close she was to the seal as a huge profile of a head with a feathery mane almost hiding a pair of twisted horns while waves of scaled tentacles streamed off the side of its mouth like a mustache began to rise up and pause just a bit off the ground. The burning orange and red eye flew open and a black slit focused on them. There was an ankh burned under the eye as the dragon's scaled brow narrowed in anger as a rippling growl began to build. The pupil's slit thickened and it launched its body high into the treasure room as it opened its long muzzle and let out a monstrous roar.
Althea and Wolowix stumbled from their teleport and looked around to see they were in his old village… there was an immediate sadness that plagued him and he let out a sigh. Althea shook her head, "I'm sorry… I know this place holds ill will for you, but the spirits wanted me to guide you here."
Wolowix wasn't stupid enough to say that spirits didn't exist… his wife was one before she gave it all up to marry him. He turned his head from the woman and missed her small smile as she took a few steps backwards. He bowed his head to mutter to his dead wife when a strange pale aqua marine glow caught his eyes and he looked straight up to see a group of ethereal women with wild hair that blew in the wind, but no wind was blowing. They were all unclothed and well endowed, but similarly intimidating. The taller, more muscular female spirit had the face of a deer's skull with a wild assortment of bends and curves of horns. She held a sword nearly the same length as she was and she pointed it towards him. He flinched at the ominous action but noticed the wild-haired ghouls moved to the side beside the deer skulled ghost.
A short female with wild blonde hair slipped out from the line of ghosts and stood before the deer skulled guardian. Wolowix's heart stopped beating and his breath hitched deep into his chest and he gasped to breathe.
"Hello… Howardrick..."
Wolowix couldn't stop the tears falling from his eyes as he stared at the ghost of his wife… no… not her ghost… she was back in her Dísir form, "Ber… Bernaquette... I… I…"
"Shhhh…" She put her finger over her lips then smiled ever so sadly at the man,"I'm so glad I get to see you again…I… I missed you so much."
He threw his head into his hands and cried madly. He had been imagining and running through scenario after scenario in his head of what he'd say to her if he ever got to see her again… never did he imagine that it would actually happen. Yet, through all the planning in his head… all he could do was cry. What must she think of him… seeing him weep like a hysterical woman. He was broken… he was only half the man he could be.
He felt an ice cold feeling upon his hands that pressed to his face. The feeling shifted to the warmth of another's flesh and he could feel fingers slipping in the bends of his index and thumb. His hands were gently pulled from his face and he looked up to see Bernaquette only inches from him with her warmest smile. He sniffled and tried to look away, but she lifted her hand and cupped his cheek while wiping away his tears with her thumbs. He wanted to touch her… just one more time… but to touch a Dísir is considered a death penalty to any mortal; even consensually. He reveled in her touch by leaning into one of her hands for only a moment. He opened his eyes to stare into her ethereal glowing blue eyes and he licked his lips and spoke, "I have… I… I have plotted and planned EVERYTHING I have ever wanted to say to you if I ever saw you again… and… I can't think of a single one of them. Bernaquette… I… I love you… I will ALWAYS love you! I am… GOD… I am sorry I couldn't save you… that I couldn't avenge you… Please… please forgive me? Forgive me for my weakness… just… please… don't hate me. I couldn't take it if I knew that you hated me."
The Dísir shook her head and took his face into her hands, "I could never hate you, Howie… NEVER! I love you… more than anything." She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. It was a strong tingling as if his mouth had fallen asleep, but, much like her touch, there was also a heat there. He fought the urge to wrap her up in his arms as she kissed him more passionately. He felt warm drops upon his cheek as she pulled away. He didn't get to see her face as she spun and almost jogged back to the other Dísir. He stepped backwards, sadness hitting him hard, until he rejoined Althea's side. The Haitian placed a hand upon the innovagygr's shoulder then stepped forward and addressed the Dísir with the deer skull, "There is a battle coming upon this land and we wish for your aid within it. The witch who has been burning down your forests will be there… your revenge will be imminent."
The deer skulled ghost raised her sword and seemed to sheath it upon her back and stepped forward. She gave a curt nod to Althea then she turned and seemingly disappeared into the shadows. The other Dísir followed and left Bernaquette last. She turned to smile at Wolowix, sadly as she lipped out an 'I love you'. He took in a deep, painful breath and mouthed an 'I love you, too' before she was gone completely.
Althea took her hand off his shoulder and turned to head towards town, "Come, Howardrick… we have some humans to scavenge."
Wolowix stared at the spot that his wife once stood for a few more second before shaking himself out of his trance and followed after the Mambo.
The wind whistled and hissed into the nerk's ears as he galloped across the terrain. Through forests, small deserts, and puddle riddled grassland… he only stopped for an occasional hunt or biological need. His sprint soon turned into a mild jog as he came to where the flat lands tuned into foxtail infested plains. His ears flattened on his head as he took a big inhale through his nose… he lowered his head and trotted forward. The Hofkey territory… he was home… and he wasn't too thrilled about it.
He moved towards a knoll with six northern red oaks on top of it. A small cave could be seen and an enormous grey nerk lying on its belly right above it. Onar recognized the nerk right away… his brother Ekim. The black nerk groaned a guttural whimper as he saw his brother rise up then let out a few clicks and growls inside the cave. By the time he reached the knoll, the entire Hofkey pack was standing with their ears perking up and staring intently. A huge reddish brown wolf pushed through the pack and its piercing gray eyes found him. This wolf was taller than all of the rest hitting about 32 feet high where all the rest were close to 25 feet. This taller wolf… this looming red wolf was Ylreveb… his mother… and the alpha of the Hofkey pack.
She snarled and snapped at the nerks and they all moved forward to where the 15 something nerks circled around him. He stopped and spun around with his head and tail down showing his submissiveness. Ylreveb approached and met the black nerk at the center and his eyes flew down and he used his telepathy, "Greetings… mother."
She growled and snapped and he rolled onto his back to show his belly and shut his eyes tight at the sound. She used her tongue and teeth to speak in the Fang Language as she loomed over the black nerk, "You will not speak unless spoken to… BOY. And you will leave that infernal inner-talking drivel for your useless humans. You have a lot of GALL coming back. Chose the human pack over your own and you believe that you would be accepted back without consequences… you were quite mistaken." Her jaws were wide open as she gave out a growling snap at the last of her sentence.
Onar flinched and folded his paws across his chest, while still on his back, and lifted his hind quarters with his tail tucked in. He showed ultimate submission and his mother accepted it with a snort and allowed the black nerk to stand. Still, he showed submission with his tail low and beside his leg and his ears folded down and tried again, "Please… please mother… I didn't come here for forgiveness or to be accepted back into the pack. The witches… they…"
Ylreveb snarled viciously with her ears slanted against her head and she snapped her jaws inches from his muzzle, but Onar didn't flinch. For the first time in his life… he didn't flinch or pee himself at the show of dominance. He watched his mother's eyes nearly glow a dangerous yellow as she roared with the fang language, "DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK OUT OF LINE! YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO EVEN SPEAK IN OUR PRESENCE! NOW GO! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" She spun and dipped into the cave with her tail up in the air and frizzled.
Onar watched the wolves around him flow back to the knoll's cave after his mother. There were two arguments running through his mind. One was yelling at him to let them die while the other screamed for him to stand up and speak! He let out a burst of air through his nose and turned around with his dejected body language. He took two steps before he stopped and raised his head high and his tail followed suit. With a deep rumble in his throat, he spun around and let out a wolven scream then began to speak the Fang Language loudly as his tongue and teeth would permit, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN, BUT I HAVE TO TALK! THE WITCHES ARE AFTER THE SEAL OF MAGIC! THEY WILL SEND AN ARMY OF THE UNDEAD…" He trotted back as close to the knoll as he felt safe to do and spoke normally, "This army will be unstoppable… not even THIS PACK could defeat them, but… I still seek your help, Mother… Brothers… SISTERS… PLEASE… I know I am no longer considered a part of this pack… I know you only see me as the runt and the useless little welp you have ALWAYS seen me as but… I beg you… for the sake of survival… for the sake of YOUR OWN LIVES… FIGHT! Fight with me! PLEASE!"
His brother was the only nerk left standing there as the rest just went back into the hole. Ekim stared at him darkened eyes much like his own and jogged out to meet him. Ekim was shorter than their mother, but still towered over Onar. The gray nerk bent down and bumped the side of Onar's face with his own as he spoke telepathically, "You have changed so much, Onie… You are so much stronger than you were before you left. Is that because of the humans… or because you left the pack? They won't listen to you… even though they hear you… but I'll tell you this… the Hofkey pack will fight."
Onar and Ekim were never really close nor were they rivals… they were just two nerks within a pack. At this very moment… Onar realized that his brother was much more. That Ekim was just a brother wanting his sibling to be better… to NOT be some weak little Omega, but to rise above the hierarchy and become the nerk that Onar deserved to be. Onar's tail wagged just a little bit as he stood up on his back legs and licked at his brother's snout. Ekim put his paw on top of his brother's head and pushed him down. With his brother's paw still on top of Onar's head, he looked up with one eye as his tail continued to wag then he spoke to him with telepathy, "Thank you, brother! There is a village known as Omashire … that is where we meet. In an hour… the armies will be summoned. I have until then to get the wendigos and the garms aid."
Ekim took off his paw and looked down at Onar's body language. It was taut and confidant, but he knew that the other two wolven creatures were known for their vicious natures. The garms were ghost dogs. They were monsters that fed on the flesh and fear of weary travelers. They were easily seen for when their presence were near… there would be a strike of black lightning, even if the sky were clear. They hunted in packs, but used one as a distraction… their victims would be running from THAT one and right into the jaws of the entire pack. Then there were the wendigos. They were still considered part of the wolven family, even though they stood on two legs and resembled the human form more than the wolven. They were isolated creatures and fed on ANYTHING. The one attribute that set the apart from the other wolven clans was that they ate of their own kind… cannibals. There were only two times a wendigo would see another without trying to eat them… one was mating and the other was declaring war. Wendios were warriors, strong, standing 7 foot tall, able to use and build weapons or tools to hunt, even able to set traps. They were terrifying!
Ekim shook his head and looked back at the knoll. He turned back to his brother and spoke to him telepathically so as the others didn't hear their interaction, "You need to seek out Hetja. He is the Ancian of the wendigo clan. That means… he's the Elder… the one who can call upon all of them for the act of war. Do NOT look Hetja in the eye… he'll take that as a challenge and pretty much eat you! You want his help… just mention Lordornia… she took one of his eyes and he's still pretty sour over it. As for the garms… don't worry about them. I will seek out Ghaiscíoch the Ahaon of the pack. I've dealt with them before and they owe me one." Ekim looked down at his brother and let out a dramatically loud sigh, "Be careful… bro!"
Onar wagged his tail as he looked up at his brother, "I will… thank you, Ekim. Thank you." He turned and ran past the knoll at full speed towards the snowy mountain scenery. His brother watching him run with his tail flagged in the air ticking and tocking behind him.