And Elisheva heard something else. The unmistakable hiss and snarl of a Fang. The young woman looked around, left and right. Why wasn't anyone doing something? But everyone else seemed to be busy with the holiday festivities.
It could be trap, an ambush or something like those warnings on the news. Then again, what if it's not?
"Put him down, you slithering bully!" The little girl's voice snapped.
Only one way to find out. Elisheva gulped, then rounded the corner. There she saw a Fang with deranged yellow and orange eyes holding a small dog in its left claw, and a little girl no older than possibly eight with a bad leg on the ground.
"Come closer, little hobbler," the Fang taunted the child. "And I'll give your bones a crunch!"
The little girl reached for her crutch, but the Fang snatched it away from her and crushed it into splinters in his jaws. Bits of wood etched with purple flowers flew through the air.
Oh, that was it! Picking on little kids was bad enough, but harassing a disabled kid?! Elisheva's temper flared like a raging volcano.
"Hey, toadwart!" Elisheva stomped over. "So you like picking on little girls? Well, why don't you try fighting a tall woman for a change?"
The Fang spun around to face her, dropping the dog. "I teach you ssssome respect!"
He swung his tail at Elisheva's legs, knocking her onto the ground. He bent over her neck with his scaly jaw wide open, baring his dripping fangs to bite. Elisheva stared wide-eyed, her hands trying to reach for any potential weapons.
"Leave her alone!" The little girl cried.
Just then two boys burst around the corner, a short brunette one in the lead and tall one with sandy blonde hair. The little girl saw them and began kicking at the Fang with renewed vigor. The older boy found himself on the Fang's back, beating him with all his might around the neck and shoulders.
Elisheva took advantage of the distraction to kick the Fang – right below the belt so to speak.
The Fang let out a howl of pain and stumbled backwards, making the older boy stumble. The shorter boy had picked up the top piece of the little girl's wrecked crutch then threw it at the Fang.
However, the Fang ducked causing the object to ricochet off a wooden wall then hit a chimney made of rocks. The Fang sniggered deviously, the older boy looked at the shorter one, who shrugged nervously. Elisheva cautiously picked up a handful of dirt and intended to throw it into the Fang's eyes… but something got their attention, the chimney had crumbled, tiles and stones slid down right onto the shocked Fang.
For a few seconds, the teenager and the three children stared dumbfounded. They did not see that coming.
"Holy… smokes!" Elisheva had gotten up with a yelp, then remembered the little girl. "Hey, kid, you alright? You alright?"
"I'm fine." The little girl nodded gratefully. "Thanks for helping me fight that Fang."
"What about you two?" Elisheva asked the two boys, who'd hurried to the little girl's side.
"We're not the ones who were pinned down by a Fang," the older boy answered.
Right. Elisheva checked her cloak. There were small holes in the fabric where the Fang's venom had dripped, and when she touched her arms, she felt a very dull ache. "Oh yeah, that's gonna leave a mark."
From the pile of stones and tiles, the Fang grunted. Any minute now he'd get up.
Afraid, the trio of youngsters and Elisheva alike ran. The older boy carried the little girl on his back while the brunet boy and Elisheva followed. They weren't exactly thinking about how strange it was that the four of them were headed in the same direction, only that they wanted to put some distance between themselves and the most likely angry Fang.
In effect, the Fang had to his feet then started sprinting after them. The quartet passed by some Fangs, who made no move to stop them, however they stopped the pursuing Fang, reminding him that the mother of the children makes the maggotloaf Commander Gnorm was so fond of.
The spiteful Fang hissed, intending to get even with both the children and with that ragged vagrant one way or another, but slinked away to the barracks. He didn't know that this was all observed by the woman who owned the town's flower shop.
An old walking path led through the trees and wound precariously near the edge of the cliffs. The view was terrible and vast. Shale and tough grass littered the rocky verge of the land. The horizon was silent and wide, and a salty wind sighed upward, around their ankles and through their hair.
The older boy found flat outcropping of rock for the little girl to sit on. By the time they stopped to rest, Elisheva found herself on the coastal cliffs with them.
"Are you hurt?"
"Mmm-mm!" The girl shook her head with a grin.
"What about your leg?" The boy glanced down at the girl's twisted leg.
"Nope."
Now that they were a safe distance away, two of the three children and Nugget felt a little better. The little girl was mostly happy that her dog was uninjured, and that Elisheva was still alive to tell the tale.
"Can you believe we fought a Fang?" The middle child, the brunette boy was delighted. He then noticed Elisheva and beamed, "That kick you gave old Slarb back there was quick thinking."
"You're telling me." Elisheva leaned back against the rocky wall.
Then the little girl's dog, who looked like a border collie mix, wagged his tail, then jumped to try and lick Elisheva's face, making her laugh. She and brother would've loved pets, but the apartment wasn't big enough for one.
"Nugget!" The little girl lightly scolded but she was smiling.
"Sorry, he's very sweet." Elisheva giggled, scratching the dog behind his ears.
"Not this much with strangers." the older boy said, looking at her in confusion.
The brunette middle child introduced himself as Tink and the older boy was Janner Igiby, while the little girl was named Leeli Igiby.
"Elisheva Bennet." Elisheva introduced herself. "Glad to help, I've been itching to get back at those jerks for months."
"We fought a Fang!" Janner agreed, his face fell. "Oh, we're in so much trouble…"
Tink was mostly glad that Leeli was fine, and Janner was mostly worried because he was the oldest and had begun to think of the future. He knew Glipwood was a small town, and it would be only a matter of time—maybe hours, maybe just minutes—before the Fang called Slarb reported back to Commander Gnorm.
Then Elisheva heard it. A long, warm note like the sound of a yawning mountain rose in the air and bounced off the belly of the sky. The deep echo was absorbed by the tall trees of Glipwood Forest and was answered a moment later by a higher sound that felt like a soft rain. The Igiby siblings' faces lit up with awe then carefully walked before stopping two feet from the edge.
"Are those whales?" Elisheva wondered, cautiously approaching the edge. She'd seen them in documentaries and books but not out in the ocean.
"Whales? It's the dragons." Tink pointed out to the sea below. "Sea dragons!"
Elisheva turned to gawk at him. "D-dragons?" Sure, she'd seen plenty weird creatures so dragons wouldn't be any more far-fetched. She looked back to the sea.
The Dark Sea was so far below that it seemed if someone were to tumble over the cliff they would have time to stop screaming and take a final, breezy nap before crashing into it. Tiny, silent streaks of white on the surface were actually chaotic waves smashing into the jagged rocks below, and the mightiest spray was only faintly visible, like a poof of dust from a pebble dropped in the sand.
The mighty Fingap Falls far to the north, roaring over the cliffs and pounding into the sea. To the south, the cliffs marched away into the distance, where they eventually curled backward and sloped downward to embrace Shard Harbor, home to Fort Lamendron, the largest Fang outpost in all of Skree. It was there the Black Carriage bore the people taken in the night.
Elisheva's eyes weaved over the waves and she let out a gasp.
In the churning white waters at the base of Fingap Falls, a long, graceful shape burst from the surface. Its skin caught and magnified the light of the moon. The sea dragon was easily twice the height of the tallest tree in the Forest. Its reddish body glimmered like a living fire. The head was crowned with two curved horns and its fins spread out behind it like wings. Indeed, it looked as if it might actually fly, but the dragon wheeled in the air and crashed into the sea with what must have been a sound like thunder but was inaudible over the constant roar of the waterfall.
"Whoa…" Elisheva whispered.
Far below, genuine sea dragons danced on the surface of the ocean. Their voices rang through the air, across the great distance. They were extraordinary as they were fearsome. Their bodies shimmered with metallic scales that swirled with color.
There was a cluster of people watching the ocean below them just a hundred yards away, enough to satisfy Janner that they were well hidden. The verge of the cliffs was cluttered with boulders between patches of tall grass, places where one could sit and comfortably watch the sea. At that moment, the dragon song rose into the air on a bright wind and filled the people gathered on the cliffs with a thousand feelings—some peaceful, some exhilarating, all more alive than usual.
The few Fangs unlucky enough to stand watch at the cliffs, however, heard only screeching, a miserable wail that set their teeth on edge. Their green skin shivered and they snarled and hissed at the people closest to them.
"We have to get out of sight, now!" Janner then said.
"We can't skip the dragons," Tink protested. "It's the best part!"
"Mom put me in charge, and I say we're going home!" Janner answered his brother.
More dragons exploded out of the water. They spun in the air and hung there for a moment before slamming back into the sea. Scores of horned bull dragons, amber and shimmering gold, swam circles around the thinner and more sleek mares that burst out of the water and over them in an intricate pattern.
However Elisheva noticed something else. Leeli was humming.
"Leeli, what are you doing?" Janner questioned.
The little girl did not answer, for she had begun sing a haunting but beautiful melody.
O Holore lay thee low
Holoel dark in the Deep
Down beneath the earth you go
Go Holore fast to sleep
The dragons had fallen silent. They had halted their dance and were gazing up at the cliffs. As if they were listening. But how could that be? They were a hundred feet upwards and it was nearing dusk.
Fast to sleep
Fast to sleep
Dark holorè in the Deep
If this wasn't odd enough, Elisheva was when one dragon rose from the sea.
It shimmered a crystal teal, like the ocean in summer time, but its winglike fins cycled between shades of blue. Its head was sleek and graceful, perfect for slicing through the water, with long whiskers like a chinese dragon, and its icy blue eyes regarded the group with great sentience. Teeth lined its mouth, straight and bright and sharp as needles.
A giant most likely predatory beast in such close proximity would scare anyone right out of their pants. Elisheva froze, but relaxed a little upon seeing it wasn't aggressive. Even Nugget the dog was calm, he only titled his head, staring right at it.
The boys were greatly fascinated, a stunned Janner claimed the dragon spoke in his mind and confirming the dragon was male. Elisheva was a little skeptical, but she knew that stranger things could happen.
And the dragon locked eyes with Elisheva. He gave the awestruck young woman a rather curious, but calm look. Then Elisheva didn't know what came over her, but she reached out her hand to the dragon…
She felt a strange sensation in her mind, like a whisper or a breeze. The dragon regarded her for a moment longer, then lowered his head and nudged her hand with his great snout. It was wet and the skin was smooth and considerably warmer than a Fang's. Elisheva gasped in amazement and felt a rush of excitement and wonder. She never imagined that she would be able to touch an actual, living breathing dragon, and yet here she was, experiencing something truly extraordinary.
Rise again holore now
Spring abundant holoel
Render green the dying bough
Raise the rock where Yurgen fell…
However before Leeli could finish, a woman with a long dark braid covered her mouth.
"That's enough." The woman, most likely the children's mother, said sternly.
Elisheva pulled her hand back, almost afraid to make any sudden movements. What was she thinking by reaching out to touch a sea dragon? Why did the children's mother reacted so strongly to the song?
The sea dragon cast its gaze over Leeli, the boys and their mother, then at Elisheva. It exhaled a soft puff of sea air then descended back to the sea, leaving the teenager to wonder.
As the beast disappeared back into the ocean with the rest of its pod, the young woman was left in awe of the magnificent creature. She had never seen anything like it before and was amazed by its beauty and grace.
The children's mother then began gently leading Leeli away.
"Mama, I could feel what the dragons were signing about." Leeli said to her mother. "I think that the big one is very sad."
"I heard him, he spoke to me!" Janner panted trying to catch up.
"I saw-" Tink began excitedly.
"Enough!" Their mother rebuked. "It's time to go. And it's best you don't follow strangers taking dangerous risks. They're not good examples."
Nugget whined sympathetically looking at Elisheva, who became indignant for a moment. "Now wait just a minute…!"
"Oh no, Mama." Leeli piped up. "Me and Nugget sneaked away…"
"That Fang Slarb was picking on them!" Tink interjected.
"He broke my crutch and then she-" Leeli earnestly pointed to Elisheva. "yelled at Slarb to save me."
"It's true." Janner admitted. "When me and Tink found Leeli, Slarb was just about to bite Elisheva."
Elisheva grimly walked over to show the small burnt holes in her cloak to the woman. "And I got the burns and the forming bruises to prove it."
Nia looked at the small burnt holes in Elisheva's cloak, then at the forming bruises on the younger woman's skin. She was taken aback by the evidence of her children's story, and by Elisheva's willingness to put herself in harm's way to protect them.
"Thank you," Nia said, her voice laced with wariness. "I appreciate what you did for my children, but you must understand that we can't afford to take unnecessary risks."
Elisheva nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I didn't mean to put your kids in danger, Ma'am," she said, putting her hands in her pockets. "I only wanted to help."
Nia regarded her for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you," she said. "But we must be careful. Come, let's get you cleaned up."
Elisheva followed the Igiby's long enough for her injuries to be treated before cordially parting ways that same evening.
As she made her way through to town, the teenager couldn't help but have her mind wander back to that moment Leeli sang to the sea dragons and what the dragon could've said to Janner – possibly some kind of telepathy or something. She had a sense that there was so much more to this world than what she had seen so far, and somehow neither cool logic nor science would be able to explain it.
That same evening in the Igiby household, a cozy cottage by the sea, the mother of the children, Nia Igiby looked out the window.
"All quiet out there, what should we do , Papa?" She walked to the dining table and sat down to face her father.
It was the same thickset man Elisheva had overheard asking Shaggy about news from the outside world in the tavern, Podo Helmer. The man was smoking a pipe thoughtfully, "The sea dragons will be going south tomorrow. We'll lie low for a few days, and hope that the slimy Fangs go back to their muck."
They hoped.
Because the only inn was full, Elisheva decided to spend the night up in one of the trees, out of sight of any Fang sentries. It was no different than what she'd been doing since her escape.
She looked up at the massive oak tree towering above her in the moonlight. She knew that she needed a safe place to spend the night, away from prying eyes and other dangers that lurked in the darkness. With a determined look on her face, she began to climb the tree, her fingers gripping the rough bark as she ascended higher and higher. Since childhood, she had always been a good tree climber, and she knew that she could find a branch large enough to sleep on.
Finally, Elisheva reached a wide sturdy spot high up in the tree just big enough for her to curl up and rest, hidden from view by the thick foliage. She settled down for the night, her back resting against the upper trunk of the tree.
As she closed her eyes, she could hear the rustle of leaves in the breeze and the chirping of crickets in the distance. She felt a sense of peace and safety up in the tree, far from the troubles of the world below. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, and soon she drifted off to sleep, comforted by the knowledge that she was hidden from sight and safe for the night.
Tomorrow was another day.
To be continued…
Author's note: The Wingfeather saga animated series is doing more seasons, but book 4 will be covered in 2027-2028... Homer said it best: D'OH!
That does it, I'm not waiting. I'll binge read the last two books and outline the rest of my fanfiction. If some of it doesn't match the rest 100%, oh well. In the meantime, show of hands, who wants to see me do fanart of my ocs?
