Hey, next chapter! Hope ya'll enjoy!
I don't own Ice Age.
The panther second in command tried not to show his fear as Zalim paced back and forth before him, little patches of ice being left behind wherever his feet touched. He was that powerful. His ability and strength were implied simply by his looks.
In his form now, he looked like a monster of sorts, the types children saw in their nightmares, the types that adults told in horror stories, said to drink blood or eat brains. He walked around on his two back legs, arms flinging around. He stood at about ten feet. His body was furred, like most ice age creatures, though slicked down and slimy, dripping acidic goo that sizzled on the floor, burning inch deep holes wherever they touched. It was a dark green, with the occasional patch of inky black. His face resembled a human, furred of course, if not for the large pair of fangs protruding from his bottom row of teeth, sticking upward, terribly sharp and jagged. His hands were humanoid also, though with three inch claws instead of regular nails, webs between the fingers.
"-must be perfect." He tuned back in the rant before he was noticed and was stripped of his hide, literally. "Strong, graceful, and as beautiful as the gems I'll have for her." He paused and stared up at the sunlight that only he was privileged, flowing through the hole in the ceiling. "She must be everything. A warrior. Strong, beautiful, a love for power. She must be fit to rule by my side, with an iron fist! She must be fit to be a queen."
"Yes sir, of course! Perfect! Only the best for you!"
He turned to him and shrank into a less monstrous form, his mortal one, holding up a fist of blue fire. "Shut up." He growled. "Before you annoy me."
"Yes sir."
"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!" he exploded, hurling the ball of destructive flame at him. The predator leapt away, the fireball just barely missing him, instead hitting a pile of bones, sending them all flying, clattering to the ground, making quite a mess. For a moment the magical being panted in pure rage, temper flaring up, gathering more fire… then clenching his fist to extinguish them. "I don't have time for this." He muttered, putting a hand to his head, his fingertips glowing, soothing the headache forming. He thrust out his hand toward the door. "Go. And summon the finest jewel crafter." The panther didn't even respond. He didn't want to test his luck any more than he already had. He scampered out, eyes still popping wide from his near death experience. Cold fear coursed through him, because he knew next time, Zalim wouldn't miss.
…
Zalim was sitting on his throne again when the jewel crafter arrived. He'd never met her before- he didn't have time to mingle with his… employees- and was surprised at how small she was. Tiny, not even six inches tall. "You are the best jewel crafter?"
"Yes sir." Her voice was high, not annoyingly so, but his sensitive ears didn't like it. She bowed down, getting on her knees, head bowed, hands folded. "You summoned me, Milord?"
"Yes." He sat up a little straighter, leaning into the light so he could see her better. She was entirely in the column of light, and he had no doubt it was on purpose. All of his little subjects just loved light. Exactly why he took it away. "Well. I have an assignment for you."
"…My Lord?"
"You are the best jewel crafter, correct?"
"Y… Yes?"
"Well then. I need new jewelry made. The finest. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, crowns, everything. Nothing short of diamonds and gold. And" he jumped down in front of her, and she watched in awe as ice spread to nearly her hands. "A special jewel. Something new. Something as beautiful as the one wearing it."
"But where will I-"
"That is of no importance to me. I don't care how you do it, but I want something special featured in every oneof those new accessories. I need an infinite amount. They must never run out."
"L-Lord Zalim, with a-all due resp- spect and more… new gem? But every one on this island is harvested daily."
"I DON'T CARE!" he boomed, slamming one fist down right by her head, the stone floor cracking. "You will bring me new wonders of jewelry, fit for royalty! Better than royalty! I will accept only better than your best!"
"Y-Yes Milord." She squeaked out. "Better than royalty, of course! Anything you say."
"Oh, and one more thing." He added. "They must be done in five days time."
"Five days?!" she shrieked in horror. She would be lucky to get ten necklaces done in five days, let alone an infinite amount. And take a few days off to travel to the east side of the island to see about new jewels! "B-But My Lord-"
He grabbed her by the neck, bringing her threateningly close, so his ruby eyes were glaring into hers. Just because they didn't glow in his mortal form didn't mean they were any less terrorizing. "What was that, little one? Is that defiance I heard?" he held up one finger, blue fire lighting the top like a candle. "You know what happens to those who defy me, don't you?"
"Y-Y-Yes Milord." She managed to choke out.
"Good." He threw her down. "Now GO!" she scurried away, clutching her neck.
"…Sir?" Claw knew Zalim was especially irritable and snappy right after a burst of rage like that, so he chose his words extremely carefully. "Why only five days? Must it be rushed?"
"Yes." He hissed. "Yes it must." He gave him a wolfish grin that made Claw's throat tighten. "Because in five days, I expect you back here with the perfect girl." He grabbed him by the scruff and shoved his face into his, flashing his fangs. "Or else your skin pays the price. Got it?"
He nodded the best he could. "Good."
"I will conjure a ship for travel. It will appear at the North Shore beach in five minutes sharp. I expect you off by then." He released him and headed back to his throne, picking up a triangle shaped aquamarine, tossing the half pound gem up and down in his palm admiringly. Leaping back to his throne, he glared at the panther. "Why are you still here? GO!"
…
The panther, Claw, strode through the small, damp tunnels. He still didn't know how he remembered the way. Actually, he didn't. It was his keen sense of smell that got him around. He just hoped that never failed him. If it did… well, he knew what happened to those who lost their way in the endless tunnels. Every now and then you'd pass a skeleton, a poor soul who got lost in here and starved to death and rotted away as a sort of gruesome reminder to always be careful.
He found the small living quarters for the few workers in Lord Zalim's 'lair'. It was a bit crowded, but it was much better than what the sorry slaves in the villages had. He had his own second in command, and immediate people to carry out orders. He called for attention, calling forward his lieutenant and three others that made up his group. They often prowled the city, enforcing their rulers ways, making sure everyone was working past their limits. Zalim's orders.
"My fellow subjects." He addressed everyone. "We have a new assignment from Lord Zalim himself." Nervous, anxious murmurs rippled through the small crowd of seven, not counting the team by his side. "He has decided to marry. We have been given the duty of retrieving a perfect bride. If we fail… well, you all know what happens then." Several shudders. "We have been given a short five days to find the perfect one. She must have a warrior's spirit, and be more beautiful than any jewel or precious gem." He noticed his explanation was starting to sound like a pep talk/speech. Why not use that, he figured. "We must find our future queen!" cheers went up all around. "To the beach!"
…
Zalim was true to his word. A ship of ice waited for them at the North Shore beach. The quintet boarded via the gangplank laid out for them. As soon as the last one stepped onto the deck, it vanished into thin air. Ah, Lord Zalim must have been watching them through one of those magic smoke screens he sometimes brought up when he didn't want to go down to the villages himself yet wished to see what was going on.
Claw looked at the four he had brought, two on either side, watching as they drifted away, the ship obviously having been charmed to steer itself, the others waving goodbye. He wondered if, when they returned, they'd live. It was a lot to cover in five days. Find the perfect female to please their temperamental, picky, and highly explosive overlord, probably have to kidnap her against her will, then force her into marriage. Of course, the last part Zalim would handle, but still. He wondered if they'd ever find her.
Good looks, combat skills? Tough, with a warrior's spirit, but having a pretty face as well? Was that even possible? He wasn't sure. But he was sure that he hoped it was possible. If not… well, he didn't want to suffer the same fate of so many before him. Like that possum earlier that morning. He'd seen plenty of deaths just like that in the short two weeks he'd worked as Zalim's second in command, far more than fourteen. He was lucky to see less than five a day.
He wondered, even if the perfect future queen was out there, would they find her in time? Five days wasn't enough time to search the whole world, not even a good portion of it. If they found her, it would be merely by chance an infinite amount of pure luck that found her. He severely doubted they would.
"Oh… I hope we do." He glanced over his shoulder at his soft, smooth pelt. "For your sake."
Ya like it? Please review, even if ya didn't (if that's the case, please be gentle)! Feedback really helps!