Chapter 2
Reacquiring the Sword
The Wild Lands
Chima
I emerge from the woods only to see a ravine in front of me. From here, I can see over various parts of Chima. Above me, in the sky, is a huge mountain. Curious, I stare up at it. "I see you've noticed Mt. Cavora. Amazing, isn't it? Way back when, when all of us walked on four legs, the Phoenix Tribe fought with the Hunters. This resulting war created Mt. Cavora and the Everlasting Gorge. Mt. Cavora's waterfalls flow with Chi, our energy source. If you want to try some, I think we can find maybe one or two Droplets around here somewhere." Quincy is flying nearby me, and all I can think about is that mountain. How the faces are carved into it. "The faces on Mt. Cavora represent the Tribes. Lion, Eagle, Gorilla, Raven, Bear, Croc, Rhino, Wolf. There are also loners here, but we very rarely see them. About the sword, I found it just over here."
After ten minutes of walking, I come upon a grove of trees. They seem to be in a circle, and when I get close to them, I feel magic radiating from them. "Magic? This isn't natural…" I step up to the first tree, and put a paw on it. Magic flows through me and I notice for the first time that the Raven's Mark is no longer just a Raven, but a mix of animals. Plus, it's glowing. "What is that?" I bring my right paw up to the bark of the tree. I then feel the tree yield, and a doorway appears. It's cut into the trees themselves, and I step through the doorway. Only to find a wolf sitting before me.
"Well done. You found me." The wolf stands and shakes, then pads up to me. "I have been waiting for you, ever since I heard your call for help. It has been four nights since you came here to Chima, two of your friends are already at the Lion Temple. You must travel there after claiming this strange object that stands behind me." The wolf then steps to the left of me, and I finally see what the wolf was talking about.
A sword. Embedded deep within a circular ancient stone. Grass covers almost all of this stone, and roots break up the stone, creating cracks. "…Could it be?" Without realizing it, I slowly pad towards the sword that is embedded within the ruined stone. Once I am standing before it, I reach out to grasp it, but then hesitate. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. But what? Concerned, I turn back to look at Quincy and the Wolf, who are still by the area's entrance. Not getting an answer from either of them, I turn back to face the sword. I then place my right paw on the hilt, and I let it rest there. Out of nowhere comes a voice. I look around wildly for its owner, then realize that the voice is in my head. "You are alive! I feared when you suddenly vanished from my conscience, I knew something terrible had happened. Are you alright?" …Rachel? "Yes. I feared you had lost your memory of me…" Why would I do that? "…When you transformed from your human self into the being that you are now, it damaged you. What it exactly did, I cannot say, but you lost some of your mind in that clearing….how and why, I cannot answer that either. Now, pull the blade that stands before you, and reclaim it. Don't you recognize it?" Rachel then leaves me, and goes back to wherever she came from. Heeding her words, I then move my right paw to the hilt of the sword. Feeling something change within the sword itself, I then place my left paw on the hilt.
I then feel something change from within me. I hear someone else speak to me. 'Pull the blade from the stone that stands before you! Then make your way to the Lion Temple! All will be explained there!' …Who was that? Wait…I narrow my eyes and glance at the cross guard of the sword. Silver and gold intertwine around the hilt, with spells and enchantments and incarnations carved into the blade itself. A jewel of Sapphire rests as the pommel of the sword. The cross guard itself is the wings of a bird, spread in flight. …I know this blade. I know it well. I tighten my grip on the sword, then bend down slightly, and pull upwards.
The sound of metal ringing against stone surrounds me. As I watch the blade rise from the stone, I notice something. It appears to be glowing. And it appears to be getting brighter by the second. A few more seconds, and the light is so bright that I have to look away. When I notice the light is gone, I look back towards the sword, only to stare at it. It's changed. The blade is cut down the middle, a glowing blue cylinder stone resting between the cut metal. The cross guard is changed as well. The wings are bigger, and white instead of black. Its' sheath appears on my back and, taking the sword in my right hand, slide it into the sheath. I then turn back to face the Wolf and Quincy. "I must bring you to the Lion Temple as quickly as possible. Come to me." Heeding the Wolf's words, I walk over to her. She then lowers herself to the grass and orders me to climb onto her back. Doing this, I make myself comfortable, the Wolf rises, turns away from the stone to face the break in the trees, and bolts forwards.
The Plains
Chima
"Look around you. See the huge structure in the distance? That is where your friends are slowly gathering. I have informed the other Legend Beasts of finding you. Both the Lion and Rhino have been found. I believe that the others will make their way to the Lion Temple in time. Your brother…I sense great evil in him. How, I do not know, but watch out for him. Meanwhile, you have regained a weapon that you had before you came here. What is it called?" I am sitting on the back of the Wolf, listening to her speak. Quincy is still with me, fluttering beside me. "It goes by many names. The Sword of the Raven, Brenda, and Dragon's Fire, the Sword of Hogwarts…and some others." The Wolf seems impressed, and she starts to pad forwards, her paws breaking the wet-with-rain grass. "I am what is known as one of the eight Legendbeasts. 'The one who walks on four legs'. I and seven others chose not to embrace the substance called Chi, what is 'Chi', you ask? Chi is what all of the Tribes, good or bad, use for energy. It can be used for anything, from healing us to in battle. When used in battle, Chi gives us strength, and allows us as Legend Beasts to become even more powerful. You do not want to cross one of us. For you will regret it. Now," She says, shaking her head, "I hear the Lion calling me, can you not hear him as well?" ….So, you are the one who called to the others….interesting…that blade you wield, I sense great power within it, waiting to be set free. Make your way to the Lion Temple, young one. I shall meet you there. …..Who was that? Was it the Lion? I tell the Wolf what I heard, and she grins. "That was indeed the Lion. Interesting that you can also hear him….Listen! The others are calling." The Eagle is safe. As well the Gorilla. So is the Rhino. The Raven is well. The Bear has returned safely from her dream. All is well in the Croc Swamp, for the Croc Prince has returned to us. Can you hear them? They are the other six Legend Beasts. I am the Lion, and both the Rhino and my escort are safe. Come to the Lion Temple, young Wolf, and let me greet you. "I will. I will come." I direct my thoughts to the Legendbeast. "Let us go. I am needed." She nods, and starts running across the plain.