At long last, the journey begins (like it hasn't already. lol). The last few updates have been pretty dramatic, haven't they? Well, I don't plan on letting up any time soon. XD
Chapter 12 – The journey Begins
"Once we reach the river, we'll follow it north towards the mountains." Flare said. The troop had been following the edge of the forest for no more than an hour.
"Sir, how far do you plan to take this search?" the Captain of the Guard asked.
"As far as need be, captain. Don't worry, we'll be careful every step of the way."
"I'm glad to hear it. I do not want to risk my men in any unnecessary fights." The captain sighed.
"Hey, slow down. Any closer and they'll notice us." Acura whispered to Crystal. Concealed in the forest's shrubbery, the two had followed close behind the troop.
"Looks like we're reaching the river valley. We won't be able to hide along the riverside, so we'll have to take the western cliffs."
"And you're sure we won't be noticed?" Acura doubted her decision.
"Stop with the questions and doubt. As long as we don't hug the edge or climb the trees, we'll be fine."
"And if we're attacked?"
"Then we go crying to daddy." She said, climbing through a bush.
"Sometimes, I just can't tell when you're joking or being dead serious." Acura growled.
While the troop entered the rocky riverside, the two young Eevees climbed up the steep hill. Reaching the top, Crystal cautiously looked over the edge.
"I don't see them."
Acura crawled up behind her and dropped to the ground, wheezing.
"They must be ahead of us." Acura panted.
"No, I watched them every chance I got." Crystal replied. "We were right next to them."
"Let's continue. We're bound to be slower than them."
"You sure you're up for it?"
"I'll live. Come on." Acura said, standing up.
Crystal sighed and led the way.
Hours had passed, and the sun had risen high in the sky. The troop seemed to have no intention of stopping, and the two young Eevees were barely keeping up.
"When will they ever stop My feet are killing me." Acura asked.
"Me too. I didn't think it'd be this hard to follow them." Crystal replied.
"We need food." Acura said.
"Agreed. But I don't think the berries we want grow around here."
"Oh, of course not." Acura said. Crystal glanced at him, then down at the troop.
"Oh, hey. They've stopped!"
"Good. What are they doing?"
"They look like they're… eating." Crystal hung her head in disappointment.
"Let's take a break. Maybe we'll find something to eat later." Acura sighed.
"Sir, the river valley begins to get narrower from here on out." A Pidgeotto said, landing on the rocky ground.
"Good. We're making better time than I thought. Once we get past this valley, it'll be open ground all the way to the mountains."
"Sir, this area is heavily populated by Graveller. Are you sure it's wise to pass through?"
"We'll be fine."
After their rest, the troop moved on, with the two Eevees following along on the cliff side.
"It's getting narrower already." Flare said.
The forests along the riverside became rocky. Large rocks stuck out of the ground at various angles and positions, as if they had been thrown or uprooted from underground.
"Sir, I get the feeling we're being watched." A Buizel said.
"Ignore it, but keep an eye out for any signs of threats." Flare said.
The troop proceeded carefully, watching the walls and paves ahead and behind them. Crystal and Acura soon came to a point where they could not continue as they had in the forest.
"Why are you stopping?" Acura asked.
"Those scouts in the air. We won't be able to hide from them." Crystal replied.
"They'll be too busy looking for Gravellers. Besides, all the threats are ahead of them, not behind them."
"Doesn't hurt to be careful, does it?"
"So, how do we proceed?"
"We could try putting dirt on ourselves? We might be able to blend right in with the ground."
"Then we're just dusty. Those scouts will still notice the movement."
"So, we stay far behind, and follow the scouts?"
"And if they turn off, we'll have to go down to follow them."
"I hope not. Let's–"
A loud rumbling took them by surprise as the ground began shaking violently. The scouts dove out of sight.
"Sir, enemies emerging on the high plains."
"How many?" Flare asked, bracing himself against the shaking ground.
"Many." The Pidgeotto said.
"Prepare yourselves! They're coming from the top of the walls!" Flare yelled over the noise.
"What do we do?" Crystal asked.
"I don't know." Acura said, beginning to run along the cliff side.
"Wait!" Crystal cried, chasing after him.
Large, boulder-like creatures rolled up to the cliff's edge and stared down at the intruders, who stared back at them. They turned around and pulled out large rocks.
"Go! Go!" Flare yelled. The troop ran as fast as they could.
The boulders were sent flying into the chasm. Graveller appeared ahead of the troop, turned, and threw rocks as large as they down the walls of the cliffs. The rocks sprouted arms, legs, and a head, and skidded to a stop on the path.
"Golems!" Flare yelled.
Rocks continued to rain from above, and broke the ground beneath. The Golems braced themselves as a pile of rocks collided with them. Grabbing the rocks, they chucked them at the troop. A soldier tripped, and was immediately crushed. He didn't even have time to cry out for help.
Crystal and Acura ran along the cliff, trying to keep up. The ground had been torn asunder, and looked like a large meteor shower had occurred. The creatures rolled up and quickly made their way down.
The noise was unbearable. And the shaking, the two young Eevees couldn't stand up at the moment. Flare tripped and watched as the creatures rolled right at him. Crystal looked over the edge and could only watch in horror.
Impact.
"Daddy!" Crystal screamed.
The rock creatures looked up and burrowed into the walls. Crystal slid down the wall and landed on a boulder. Acura followed.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Crystal cried, hopping from one rock to another until she reached his last known location.
Crystal began digging. Dirt flew from her paws. She couldn't do anything about the large rocks.
Finally, her paw touched something that wasn't dirt or rock. She began scraping away the dirt to find a patch of red. "Daddy!" She was frantic now.
Acura ran alongside and began digging.
Crystal kept digging and digging until there was no dirt left to dig. She heard a cough to her right and Acura pulled his head out of his digging spot.
Another cough, and Crystal pushed him aside. She could see his mouth. The rest of him was under the rock.
"Daddy!" Crystal cried.
No response. He breathed short, shallow breaths. Crystal reached in and touched his snout with her paw. "We're going to get you out of here. Just hang in there." Looked around and found a flat piece of rock. It had shattered from one of the stones. Taking it in paw, she began digging through the thin layer of dirt between his face and the rock on him.
In no time, the dirt was clear and he looked around with his eyes. Flare saw two shapes hovering over him. He tried to move, but couldn't. he was at the enemy's whim.
Then he heard the last thing he was expecting. "Daddy? Can you hear me?"
"Crystal? Is that you?"
"Yes. We're trying to get you out."
"I told you to stay home."
"I'm sorry, but I had a feeling something was going to go horribly wrong."
"Where are the others? Who's here with you?"
"It's only me. The others didn't make it." Acura said calmly.
"Just wonderful, Acura. Just wonderful. Not only is there no one to help, you disobeyed a direct order."
"I'm sorry father, I–" Acura looked up suddenly and jumped aside. Flare braced himself, but felt nothing. A high pitched squawk filled the air.
"Sir, are you alright?" the Pidgeotto asked.
"As far as I can tell. I can't move my body."
"That is good to hear. I have my colleague heading back with news of the incident and your children's following."
"How soon should aid arrive?"
"About a day and a half. We are in dangerous territory, and any strong allies would most likely be large. I'm not sure we could get you out ourselves."
"I'm not going to lay here all night. We have no idea what problems I may be having. My body hurts everywhere. I'll be lucky if I get only a broken leg."
"Very well, we will see what we can do." The bird said. "Children, carry as many large rocks as you can. With any luck, we'll be able to wedge them in to create a large enough gap for your father to climb or be dragged out. I'll remain here to keep a check on his condition."
"Okay!" The two ran off, searching the crevices and boulders for suitable rocks.
And here it is, as promised.