Ruinscorch gave a satisfied smirk at his handy work. "That'll teach you to be insolent with me." He turned to the others. His fingers pressed together. "Now that's done. How about we settle for an arrangement."
Odu glared at Scorchruin hard. This guy is really getting on my last nerves. "What arrangement?" His hands balled into fists.
"Just some land from Perim." He began to walk down and up the prisons, ignoring the protests. "You see, I know Tikali is going to give some of that land to me. However, she's been rather…unstable to say the least."
Wamma edged back as far as he could with his cage. "So are you…" He muttered under his breath.
"What was that?!" Scorchruin whipped his head toward Wamma.
Wamma gulped back his fear. "Nothing."
Scorchruin clapped his hands together. His smile forced onto his face. "Well. I need to secure at least SOME of your territory to make sure the resources will go to me and me alone." He stretched out his arms to the prisoners. "What do you say? Want to set up a negotiation?"
Prince Iflar crossed his arms. His face showed no expression but his eyes burned with great hate. "You'd have to be an arrogant fool if you think I'll assist you in giving Mepedian territory to the likes of you."
"The Danians would rather choke on rocks than negotiate with a lunatic like you!" Odu struggled to sit up but his body could barely move.
Bondu could only growl. Her mane puffed out. Ears flat.
Sansi leaned forward as she could dare. "I may not be an Overworlder or Underworlder, but they'll never side with you."
A slight twitch appeared in Ruinscorch's eye. He interlocks his fingers together. Behind him, the Blaze Elf guard began to inch slowly to the door. "Oh…I see. Well then…I guess it's a trip to the colosseum for all of you. Don't worry. Your M'arrillian friend will awake by dawn. Good night." He took a few steps toward the door. Ruinscorch shut the door with a loud slam. Faint sounds of outrage were soon heard followed by a boom that shook the dungeon.
Wamma let out a huge sigh. "Well…That could've gone better."
Sansi rubbed at her temples. The pain in her burn nestled in her shoulder. "We best get ready. The fights he'll put us up for will be extremely brutal." She sat back down onto the floor.
For a moment, the room was silent. All the creatures tried to figure out their chains. The bars seemed a bit flimsy but the energy they gave off made them a bit uneasy. Wamma, the closest to Aura, craned his neck to see if she was doing ok. So far, she was asleep. Her fins were delicate pastels.
Prince Iflar was the first to speak. "That…Ruinscorch seems to know you Sansi…What did he mean by your father not caring for you?"
Sansi leaned against her cell. Her eyes blinked away the tears that threatened to come out. She let out a soft sigh. "My father…has a lot of responsibilities to our clan. Ruinscorch came one day. Wanted to negotiate our crops and trade their coal. Our Sabertooth Snaketigers were one of the best things in our land." She drew her knees in. "The problem is…they only want their hearts."
Something about this made Mudeenu's scales turn whiter than ever before. "What do you mean? Do they have properties similar to eating a M'arrillian mind?"
Sansi sniffed. "No…If one were to eat their heart, they would become immune to poison and have superstrength. They were planning on killing Rue when she was just a cub. They killed Monna's before she was old enough to ride it." She let out a sob. "Ruinscorch threatened my mother by trying to burn her alive!" The entire dungeon wracked with sobs.
Mudeenu craned his neck. He could see the Meerakeet's fragile form was close to his cell. He reached out, but he could barely fit his hand through the bars. The smell of singed fur made his blood boil. If he ever got a chance to fight that monster in the ring, he'll gladly rip those stupid ears off. I just need a plan…A really good one.
—-(Skithia, next morning)-
Skithia woke up to the light of dawn. She barely had any sleep. Her limbs were sandbags against her body. Her hair is in a massive disarray. Skithia slowly moved but only a few feet before plopping her head back down.
So many things ran through her head after hearing what Ashfire had just said to her. She had family here. Her mother was born here. She was half-Underworlder. Now, Skithia was some sort of Wisp. A powerful being that was going to be killed off by a mad king. "I just can't catch a break, can I?"
A knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts. Before long, Ashmoon appeared. In his arms were a plate of what looked like very flimsy meat. It didn't even smell the least bit appealing from across the room. He gave a small smile. "Good morning. Hungry?"
Skithia gave a tired look. Her lips pursed. The fire inside of her was barely a sizzle. "Really? After giving my life changing information that changed everything I knew about my life, my tribe-clan or whatever and my own mother? Not to include the fact that you're my uncle! Are you expecting to smile and eat!?"
Ashmoon sighed. He went over to a nightstand and set the meat down. "I'm sorry. I…" He folded his arms. "I was so overwhelmed at seeing you…" He shook his head. Ashmoon rubbed his face as tears leaked out.
Skithia sighed. "Just…help me understand this whole Griffin thing before I go be hero to my captured friends."
Ashfire grimaced. His fingers pressed together. "Um…About that…"
Skithia leaned forward. Her eyes grew wide. Oh no…Another catch to that lunatic. "What is it? What treachery are they in for?"
Ashmoon sighed. His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Just like your mother," he muttered. "Ruinscorch is known to have a…difficult relationship with Queen Tikali. She promises certain resources that he can gain for his clan but keeps it all to himself. If anything…He'll try to make a bargain with the leaders in hopes of snatching more land if possible."
Skithia didn't like where this was going to go. She knows each of the tribes well enough to know they'd never yield to whatever crazy demands a lunatic asks. "What if they don't?"
Ashmoon grimaced. "They get to battle in his arena. Or die trying to get out."
A massive pit formed in Skithia's stomach. Panic sent a shock through her limbs, launching her out of bed. She ran out of the room and down a hallway. Skithia ignored Ashfire's cries. Her mind warped with worry as she thought of Aura and Atrapol taking on monsters that she's not even sure they can truly handle. She soon reached a door and yanked it open.
She was only a few steps out of the door when she crashed into a wall of feathers. Skithia stumbled back, landing on her butt. She looked up to see a griffin staring back at her. However, the colors were red-gold with an eagle head. It stared down at her with amber eyes. Muscles rippled underneath the skin. A lion tail twitched with annoyance.
It was soon joined by another griffin. This one was a bit smaller. The head was that of a sparrow. Dull shades of brown and tan speckled across the body. A cat tail raised into a question mark. Dark eyes went from the bigger griffin to Skithia. Cinderlin raced up behind it. Her face flustered. A weapon in hand. "What's going on?"
Ashmoon leaned against the doorway. He let out a few breaths. "Skethia was ready to be an idiotic hero the moment I talked to her about Ruinscorch."
At hearing that, Cinderlin crossed her arms. She gave her husband a glowering look. "Did you tell her about the arena?"
Ashmoon looked away. "Well…Yes."
In a blink of an eye, Cinderlin strode over to Ashmoon. Before anyone could react, she smacked him. "Idiot!"
"Ow!" Ashmoon rubbed his head.
"Of course she'll do that! You practically told her about Ruinscorch's insanity and didn't explain the dangers of our kingdom first."
Skithia watched them bicker for a moment. Her annoyance grew to anger as she slowly got up from her spot. She's stuck in a house that's in the middle of some hostile kingdom while her allies are imprisoned. Aura, her only friend, among them. "I have no time for this foolishness." She grumbled under her breath as she walked away.
She was only able to walk a few feet when the sparrow griffin stopped in front of her. Wings raised up. It let out a few chirps. Behind her, she felt something pull her hair. A gentle yet firm tug. She turned her head slightly to see the hawk griffin hold her hair.
Skithia let out a snarl. "Let go!" She tried tossing and turning her head but it didn't let go. She was about to unleash a flame when she spotted something moving in the bushes. A dark shape. She calmed down a bit.
Ashmoon walked up to the hawk griffin. No doubt it was his. "Blazewalker. Let go of Skithia's hair."
Blazewalker stared at him for a bit. Then, let out a mew of protest as it let go of Skithia's hair. It sat down but didn't take its eyes off Skithia.
Ashmoon patted his friends. "Sorry. He's gotten a bit protective as of late."
Skithia raised a brow. "Protective? Of me?" She found it very strange that someone would care about her that much. Even Aura's time with her makes her a little shy.
Ashmoon blushed. He rubbed the back of his head. "Well…When a griffin bonds with you, they'll feel what you feel. Most of the time the riders must be the ones to know how to handle the situation." He heaved a sigh. "So did your mother."
Skithia flinched at that mention. Then she shook her head. I can't handle these feelings now. I need to head to the colosseum. She turned to make a step but Cinderlin was already in her face. She finally realized that Cinderlin was a foot taller than her and Ashmoon. Skithia balled up a fist, summoning a flame orb.
"Don't even think about it," Cinderlin growled. She summoned her own flame orb. An angry green color that matched her own. "I've taken down more soldiers way before you were born."
"I don't care!" Skithia growled. "I can't sit still while the only things I ever cared about. Ever! Are trapped in a castle of an insane king!" She took a step forward. "Hide from your king all you want but I'll rip him apart!" She felt a hand grip her arm. She turned to see Ashmoon stare at her with frantic eyes.
"Dont!" Ashmoon's voice started to become brittle. "I know we've just met but you don't understand how important you are to us! To me!" His eyes were now filled with tears. The water ran down his cheeks. He sniffed before he could continue. "Your mother left me alone and never once thought of me. She went away…I have a wife but we weren't able to have children. You're the only thing left of her!"
Skithia bit her lip. An aching filled her heart. Then, anger soon replaced it. "Maybe if you weren't a coward, your home wouldn't be as bad." She ignored the hard stares that were on her. She ripped her hand away and jumped a few feet from where she was.
She took on a burst of speed. Trees and bushes rushed by her. A few thorns scratched against her legs and arms but she didn't care. Her hair turned into a bright blue in the dim light. A few logs were barely a challenge with each jump. She continued on until she found herself a clearing in the middle of the woods. Skithia slowed at that point.
Her lungs hurt from the air that she gulped. Her hands began to ache. As she looked down, she soon realized that blood oozed out of her cuts. She gritted her teeth. "I'm not afraid of a mad king or queen. I have a score to settle with both." Skithia swallowed back the pain and soon noticed three different paths winding away from the clearing.
She gave an annoyed sigh. "Great! Now I just need to find the castle." The problem is where to locate it. She looked up the nearest tree. Sharp spines peeked out of the bark. Maybe if I climb this, I might see it.
Skithia began to climb. Her limbs stung but she continued on. The leaves were just as prickly as she made her way to the top. They stuck to her hair. Some even clung to her clothes. After a few more growls she was able to reach the top. She steadied herself on a stable branch, looking out to a landscape of plants as sharp as her mind. She scanned the area.
There was nothing peaking out. Only trees and large thorns scattered across. She could see a few shapes flying around. Other griffins no doubt, She thought. Her frustration only grew as she continued to look around. She growled with frustration as she punched a tree hard.
Pain radiated throughout her arm. She gritted her teeth and slunk down. Skithia gripped her hand. She looked at the blood dripping from his arms. She sighed. "No matter where I go…I'm always…stuck." Suddenly, she heard a faint thumping noise. She looked up to see a large, black beak to her right.
Skithia nearly jumped off the branch at the sight of the same black griffin as before. She waved her arms frantically to regain her balance. Her heart hammered in her chest. She took a few moments to calm down before regaining her composure. She grimaced. "So you came all the way here just to see me get teary-eyed? Well. I got news for you. I don't cry."
The griffin said nothing. It hovered slightly. Wings angled to avoid the thorns. It tilted its head as if it couldn't understand what she was saying. In an instant, it whipped its head in another direction. A hiss escaped its beak.
Before Skithia could say anything else, she was pulled into the trees. Claws wrapped around her arms. Her face was buried in feathers. She soon heard screeches. Words that were hard to make out. Skithia could barely move until she felt something hard against her back. She shifted slightly, but she was pinned down hard. Her view was obscured by a black wing.
"Drat! I thought I saw it." The first voice was masculine. He gave a rough cough that shook the silence.
Skithia froze. Without warning, she could see an image of herself coming out of the underbrush. She threw an attack at an armed man. However, the attack missed. She saw herself being struck down by a spear. A king grinning at her menacingly. Once it was over, her skin was drenched with sweat. Her breathing labored.
"That griffin is quick. I'll give it that," the second voice was feminine. A youngster by the infliction of the voice.
"Bah!" The first voice scoffed. "As long as it doesn't have a partner, the prophecy won't come true."
Skithia rolled her eyes. Oh great. Another prophecy to understand. How many are there in this depressing land?
A hiss sounded above. Their griffins were close. Close enough to see them if they're not careful. In all her years of being a warrior and spy for Lord Van Bloot, she knew well that there's a time to fight and a time to spy. This was the latter of the two. Skithia strained her ears more to listen.
The gruff voice yawned. "Still can't believe we've been flying all night trying to find those stupid stragglers."
Skithia raised a brow. Stragglers? Does that mean some of the others got away? Her heart dared to pray to the Cothica that Atrapol is among that group.
The female let out a gasp as her griffin squawked. "Wish we could get some grub. My Dart is getting antsy but the king will kill us if he found out."
"He won't. You know he's been fixated on the M'arillian that came here. You know. The silver one with the colorful fins and wings?"
Aura! Skithia tried to lift her head but claws pinned her down. The talons missed her throat by a few inches. What is it with this griffin?! She looked up at her companion.
The black griffin had feathers raised up. It seemed to fight the urge to clack its, no…his beak. Blue eyes staring back at her. The body trembled. It laid his head on her shoulder. Tendrils of fear sneaked into her own heart. Memories of being a young chick entered. Blood. Screams. Dead griffins with black feathers scattered along a forest floor. Each image was worst than the last. Skithia found herself wanting to scream.
"Let's get going." The female voice broke the trance."They couldn't have gotten far." A sound of flapping began to fade into the distance.
Skithia soon found herself drenched in sweat. The salt stinging her wounds. She had to take a few deep breaths to ease her unease. Once the griffin removed himself from her, Skithia got up. Her arms propped against the dirt. Her eyes wide. She soon realized that her cheeks were wet. She lightly touched it. To her surprise, she was in tears.
"You…you've been alone all this time." Each word felt dry in Skithia's mouth. How she longed for water. "You're the last black griffin." She sat up. "Just like I'm the last wisp."
The creature cooed softly. His beak pressed against her shoulder. Sorrowful eyes laid on her.
Skithia had her own tears leak out. She sniffed. Her head pressed against the soft, dark feathers. Her arms wrapped around them despite the pain. A smile plastered across her face. The name of her griffin danced in her head.
A faint rustle was heard south of where she was. Skithia and her griffin stiffened. The sound only grew louder. She pulled out her flame orb once more. Her griffin growled beside her. A shape appeared before her. In reaction, she threw a flame orb.
"Woah!" A large, four-armed figure ducked out of the way. The fire hit a nearby tree. "Watch it!"
Skithia let out a massive sigh as more familiar faces began to appear. Cot being amongst them. Her heart even jumped with joy at seeing Atrapol once more. She fought the urge to leap in to hug him. "Never thought I'd see the day when I'd see the likes of you."
Khybon only gave her an annoyed look. "Happy to see you too." He got up and brushed away the dirt. His eyes held bags underneath. His body looked more worn than before.
Cot fluttered to Skithia. She was about to perch on the Underworlder's shoulder but noticed the marred pale skin. "Woah! What happened to you?!"
Skithia sighed once more. "A lot of emotional things that I'm still trying to process. Anything useful? I can't find a castle here."
Cot made a soured expression. "About that. You see…King Ruinscorch's castle isn't just an ordinary castle." She landed on a rock. "It moves."
Skithia stared at her disbelievingly. "It…moves? As in all over Melodalia?"
Cot shook her head. "No…Just over Blaze Elf Territory. Which…is…big territory…"
Everyone groaned at this detail. Khybon practically screamed his frustration. "I can't take any more of this! Forget the Fire Element! I'm going to save Aura!" He was about to run in a random direction when he saw a faint shadow cross over them. "Uh oh…"
Skithia growled. "Way to go, genius." She turned to her griffin. She could see that his body tensed with fear. Skithia patted his feathers. A reassuring smile plastered on her lips. She formed fists Her flame orbs at the ready."Get ready for a brawl, Noct. We're going to be in for a long day."
A soft thump sounded just behind the group. To Skithia's dismay, it was Cinderlin. The female Blaze Elf glared at her. "You owe an apology, young lady!"
—-
A/N: Going to leave it there. Skithia has a long way to go to learn how to use her newfound abilities. Will Aura and the others survive their colosseum duel?! Stay tuned!
