Hello There! I'm sorry it's been a long time since I updated. But here is another chapter. And it is very long. I hope you like it.
Enjoy!
-Joyful Wild :)
CHAPTER 18: THE CREATURE
Sara woke up in a cell where there were two windows. One on the door and another on the opposite side of the cell. She slowly sat up and moaned when she felt a knot on the back of her head. "Sara?" She looked to her right and saw Nia and Leeli beside her with concerned looks on their faces. "Are you alright?" Nia asked.
"My head hurts but I don't think there's anything broken." Sara said.
"That's good." Leeli smiled before hugging Sara. Nia smiled at the two girls and hugged them. "Sara, I need to ask you a couple of questions, ok?"
"Okay." Sara answered.
"What's her name?" Nia pointed to Leeli.
"Leeli." Sara answered.
"What is my name?"
"Nia."
"Do you remember why we came to the Blackwood?"
"To find the First Well and bring Janner back." Nia let out a sigh of relief and hugged Sara again. "You're going to be okay! Where did you get hit?"
"Right here." Sara pointed at the back of her head. Nia gently moved her hair to see the knot on her head.
"Is it bad?" Sara asked.
"It's just a bump you'll be okay. Once we get out of here, we'll take care of it." Nia said.
"How do you know we'll make it out?" Sara asked.
"It's what grandpa always told us, 'Ships and Sharks there's always a way out.'" Leeli said.
"And speaking of your grandfather did I see him back at that cave or am I going crazy?" Nia asked. Leeli and Sara exchanged a smile then looked at Nia who looked confused. Leeli and Sara explained what happened after Nia left to find Kalmar then Nia explained how she found Esben, Rudric and Kalmar. "So, you, Papa and Rudric are...okay?" Leeli asked after Nia was done with her story. "Yes Leeli, we'll be okay." Nia smiled then Leeli and Sara smiled back. A few minutes later a fang came and left a little bit of food and water. Then they sat in silence trying to figure out how to get out, but it was hard to think of a solution when there was nothing in the cell. Night came and the girls were getting ready to go to sleep until fangs came in and took them out of the cell.
...
Esben walked in the back of the group with a muzzle on his snout and his head down. He didn't want to see where they were going even though he already knew from the very beginning. First, he, Nia, Kalmar and Rudric were walking up the mountain towards Throg hoping to find everyone else that came to the Blackwood. Ever since Esben was told that Artham had wings now, he had been looking up at the sky hoping to see his brother fly. But as they were walking Esben caught many different smells, but he recognized Leeli's scent and followed that. That's when they found a group of cloven near a cave. Esben did the best that he could but the cloven and fangs surprised him with their strength. Soon he found himself with a muzzle on his snout and chains wrapped around his neck while a cloven that was a bit bigger than him held the other end of the chain.
They all walked together until some fangs took Nia, Leeli and Sara down a different hallway. Esben tried to stop them but more cloven and fangs came to keep him from escaping his chains. They walked a bit more until they turned right, and Esben froze staring down the hallway that had multiple cell doors but there was one that haunted him the most. The cloven tried to pull Esben forward but Esben didn't budge. Everyone turned and looked behind them to see what was wrong. Esben didn't notice everyone staring at him. He only saw the hallway lined with cell doors and soon everything seemed far away as he remembered the screams and moans, he heard from those cells. And the eyes that would glance through the windows or the claws and hands that would try to reach through the windows. He heard his named being called but it sounded so far away. Then he saw a small figure walk towards him. First, he saw blue eyes then curly brown hair as it reached out with its hand and put it on his head.
Everything quickly came back to him as he remembered that it was his second born son that walked up to him and stared at him. He blinked a few times then he was back in the present, he saw everyone staring at him with fear and the cloven and fangs seemed out of breath and covered with scratches. Esben looked at the floor and saw piles of dust with armor on top of them. He looked at his paws and saw blood on them then looked around again as he realized that he had attacked the fangs. He looked at Kalmar then at Rudric, Podo and Oskar. They didn't seem to be hurt which was a relief. "Papa?" Esben looked at his son. "Are you okay?" Esben closed his eyes and lowered his head trying not to cry. Then one of the fangs said, "Alright he's under control let's go!" The group then started walking until they reached a cell at the very end and put everyone else in there. They took off Esben's chains and quickly shut the door and locked it. Esben laid down with his front paws in front of him and rested his head on them.
Kalmar walked up to his father and unbuckled the muzzle and took it off. "Papa?" Esben lifted his head so that they were eye to eye. "This is the cell that you were in, isn't it? I remember when you first came to the Hollows you showed me something in my mind while you spoke to Janner. It was this hallway."
"Yes." Esben's voice cracked. Kalmar sat in between Esben's front paws and wrapped his arms around his neck and buried his face into his fur. Rudric came and sat next to Esben then Podo and Oskar came next to him then he cried. Esben tried his best to not think about the painful memories, but he was practically in it. The same walls, the same door, the same chains. Once he finally stopped crying, he opened his eyes and looked out the window that faced towards Anniera. Before he used to able to see a black cloud where Anniera used to burn but now it was gone. He smiled at the thought of coming back home. And soon good memories came to his mind, and everyone looked at Esben again. "Are you okay, Esben?" Rudric asked.
"Yes. I'll be okay." Esben looked at Rudric and smiled. He looked at Kalmar and kissed his hair and his forehead against Kalmar's. Kalmar smiled and said, "I love you, Papa."
"I love you too, son." The door opened quickly as fangs left some food and water for them. They ate silently but Esben started thinking about memories from when he was a kid and one of them was when he would look at Rudric and Rudric seemed to know what Esben was thinking because they knew each other so well. So, Esben looked at Rudric while thinking of something and within three seconds Rudric looked back at Esben and they stared at each other. Then they both started to smile, and Kalmar noticed the two smiling and wondered what they were doing. Soon they both burst into laughter which startled everyone. "Goodness boys, you scared the wits out of me!" Oskar exclaimed.
"What is it?" Kalmar asked desperately wanting to know what was funny.
"They've already started going crazy." Podo said.
"No, it's a joke." Rudric said still laughing.
"What joke?" Kalmar asked.
"You guys want to hear it?" Esben asked.
"Well, there's nothing much to do." Oskar said.
"Ok, a bear walks into a bar and says, 'I'll take a rum." Then Esben was silent for a minute. "And a cup of Bibes. The bartender says, 'What's with the pause?' The bear says, 'I was born with them'" Then they all started laughing. Once they all calmed down, they became silent again.
"Hey, Es' remember when you first told that to Artham?" Rudric asked.
Esben laughed, "He said it was dumb, but you could tell he thought it was funny."
"Grandpa, do you know where Artham went?" Kalmar asked.
"Uh... he went to go scout the road ahead but I'm sure he'll notice that something's wrong." Podo said.
"Can't wait to see him again." Esben said.
They were silent again. "Hey, I think I got a joke." Podo said. "What does a pirate say when he turns 80?" Everyone shrugged. "He says, 'Aye matey." Laughter filled the cell again. It felt like forever when the sun set, and the sky started to shine with little stars and a bright moon. Fangs and cloven burst into the cell and pulled them out and put a muzzle and chain back onto Esben. Everyone was confused but it felt better to be out of that cell.
...
Artham and Laylah were walking through secret tunnels inside the mountain using Laylah's glowing patterns on her fur as a light source. "So which part of Castle Throg will this tunnel lead us to?" Artham asked.
"Well, it should lead us to the dungeons. That is where your family is most likely to be held hostage." They continued to walk in silence until the tunnel lead to a wall. Artham was about to speak but Laylah quickly put up her hand. She looked at him and put a finger up to her mouth. She put her ears up against the wall and nose twitched as she sniffed. Then Artham came up behind her and put his ear against the wall as Laylah put her hand on the wall and moved it until she was able to push into it. She backed away and pulled the wall open. She started to giggle. "What's so funny?" Artham asked.
"I knew there was nobody in here."
"Then why were you trying to listen through the wall?"
"Because I know that you know that I know more about this place than you do and since you wanted me to lead, I wanted to see how you would react if I pretended that something was coming."
"Seriously?"
"Yep."
Artham took a deep breath and shook his head. "Well, I'm sure you got a high sense of smell can you smell anything nearby?"
"No but somebody was just in here." Laylah got down on all fours and sniffed the ground. "Let's see food was in here and so was water and... hey I think your family was in here."
"Are you sure?" Artham asked as he walked into the room but then froze everything seemed too familiar. He looked around and realized that he was in a cell. "Exactly what do you smell?"
"Well, I recognize a few scents. I think that guy with a peg leg and the guy with a bald head was in here."
"Podo and Oskar."
"Yeah them."
"Can you smell anybody else?"
"Yeah, but they don't seem familiar to me."
"What is it?"
"Well, I smell two other people, but I don't know how there's no blood stains anywhere."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I smell a bear."
Artham's heart skipped a beat. "A... bear?"
"Yeah," Laylah stood up. "Which is strange 'cause at some point the bear must've gotten hungry but didn't eat anybody."
"Well. Can you follow Podo and Oskar's scent?" He asked as he looked around trying to stay sane.
"Of course, I can. Besides they shouldn't be far." Laylah noticed that Artham looked deeply troubled. "Hey, you good?"
Artham jumped a bit and looked back at Laylah. "Yeah, I'm... good."
"You've been here before, haven't you?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I've lived here for eight years, and I've seen cloven go mad when it remembers the wrong thing."
Artham looked around the cell again, "Yeah I've been here before."
"Then I guess this cloak must belong to you." She said as fidgeted with the button that held the cloak around her shoulders.
"What do you mean?"
"Because you were able to recognize this symbol on this button and I was able to find this cloak in this cell."
Artham tilted his head a bit and wondered if she was put in this cell before. Then Laylah went to the door and opened it without trouble. She lowered her head down and sighed. "What's wrong?" Artham asked.
"They know we're here."
"What do mean?"
"The Darkstoners never leave a cell door unlocked even if there's nobody in it. But if this door is open then that means they did it on purpose. They want us to come to them."
"But how would they know? There was nobody around when we made the plan."
"It's..." Laylah sighed again.
"Listen I need to find everyone else before they get hurt. You're the only one I got to track them down and you know this place better than I do. I just need your help for a little bit longer."
Laylah looked up at Artham and handed his sword back to him. "I know it was supposed to look I captured you, but you are gonna need this." Artham took his sword back and followed Laylah down the hall. Everything seemed to be going well until they got out of the dungeon. There was a hallway that went to the left and to the right but straight in front of them was door. Laylah sniffed the air and started to look worried. "What is it?" Artham asked.
"There's danger to the left and to the right. Those doors lead to the torture room, and it has a secret doorway that leads to the main room of the castle, but I can already smell hundreds of fangs and Darkstoners... along with your family."
"Which way should we take?"
"It wouldn't matter. Each path will take us to a battle that we won't be able to win. And they know it."'
Artham slowly moved forward and looked towards the right. The hallway went straight then turned left. And the other side mirrored the right side. Then he looked at the doors and started to walk to them and slowly opened it. The room was full of weapons and torches were mounted on the wall. Once they both entered Artham turned to Laylah and asked, "Alright, where's the secret door?" He looked at Laylah, but she didn't look at him. She looked at something behind him with fear. He turned and saw a strange machine on the other side of the room. There were two giant wooden hammers that were attached to chains on a big pully. and below each of them was a stone platform.
"What is that?" Artham asked. Laylah didn't say anything as she walked towards the giant hammers. He followed her to it and when they reached the machine which now looked even bigger, she spoke.
"This is where the Darkstoners make you kneel in between the platforms and spread your wings out across the platform. Then they would pull the hammers up a certain height and let it fall on top of your wings."
Artham looked at Laylah as she put her ears down and swallowed. "Artham I really hope you're telling the truth about anything being possible because we're gonna need a miracle to get out of this. The Darkstoners don't need to be told when another Darkstoner is betraying them. They just know. And Murgah was already making it difficult for me to eat because I'm not as strong or big as most Darkstoners so I have to get my food from her as long as I do what she says. That's why I turned in your family because it was so much, and I could only think about how much food I'll get. But since they started to struggle Murgah gave me less food and now she'll probably let me starve. But at least I'm used to it."
Artham stood there staring at Laylah wondering how she even survived this long. Laylah looked up at Artham, "Well, let's get this over with." She said as she started to walk away but Artham quickly stopped her.
"Laylah... I believe that it's going to be okay."
Laylah blinked away the tears that started to swell in her eyes, "I wish you were right."
Artham followed Laylah to a wall and pushed in a brick and pulled it open. The only thing that Artham could see was black. There was no movement and no noise. He looked at Laylah who looked back at him with sorrow in her eyes. She nodded and then he nodded back.
"One." Laylah whispered.
"Two." Artham whispered.
"Three!" They both ran through the door only to find themselves face to face with Darkstoners that glowed and blinded them both for a few seconds. And the next thing Artham knew he was wrapped in chains and Laylah was pinned to the ground then he heard laughter come from the middle of the room. He looked around and hundreds of Darkstoners and Fangs come from the shadows. In the middle of the room were steps that lead to platform with a stone table on top of it. A creature that looked like a wolf with horse legs and antlers jumped onto the table and laughed some more. "Welcome Artham Wingfeather. I'm glad you came to our little reunion."
"Who are you?" Artham asked.
"I'm Murgah. Remember?"
"But you were supposed to be dead!"
"Be careful what you say Artham. There's children here you know." She nodded towards his left and when looked some Darkstoner and Fangs pulled Podo, Oskar, Nia, Kalmar, Sara, and Leeli. He gasped when saw Rudric and next to him was a bear. The bear looked up and stared into Artham's eyes then started to pull against the chains around his neck trying to break free. Artham tried to back away, but Darkstoner kept him in his place. He heard the voices in his head again and they were all screaming out of fear.
Then Murgah spoke, "Oh, Esben must you always make everything difficult? But don't worry you all will get your turn."
"If you think we'll sing the Song of the Ancient Stones then you're wrong!" Kalmar exclaimed.
Murgah laughed. "Little boy you don't get a choice. Now let me explain, when someone touches the Darkstone first their heart will sing the song even if the person doesn't want to. Then your heart will turn to stone and the monster within you takes over from the inside out then soon your outer appearance will change. It would make you look like the monster within you! And yes, you will remember everything but the monster in you doesn't' care because the only thing that the monster will be thinking about is what they will eat and who it will kill." The Darkstoners and fangs started to howl and roar and growl. " Unless of course that person runs away from the stone before the transformation is complete, they will be half human and half creature in the day but a full creature at night." Everyone turned to Laylah and stared at her. "But I must thank you Laylah for bringing so many new victims and I would give you a reward if you haven't betrayed us."
"How do you know that she betrayed you?!" Artham asked.
"Because we Darstoners can sense it. The Darkstone is what connects every Darkstoner. So, when someone tries to betray us, we can feel it and we know who turning against us. And Laylah," Laylah slowly looked up at Murgah, "You know the consequence, don't you?" Laylah nodded as she looked back down. "Prepare the hammers!" Then the Darkstoners dragged Laylah back through the secret door as she screamed and kicked. Artham struggled against his chains trying to escape but soon the door closed. "Now that she is no longer a problem," Murgah said as she turned and stared directly at Kalmar, " How about we bring one last person." Then a Bat Fang came carrying something wrapped in a cloak and set it on the table. You see it works on anybody. A cloven, a fang, a human, and even someone who is dead! That is how I stand here."
Then a Darkstoner came with a stone that glowed brighter by the minute. "Kalmar Wingfeather! Is there anything you want to say to your dear brother before he wakes up with a monster in his bones?" She lifted the cloak only to reveal Janner's face. Kalmar gasped at the sight. He didn't even look like Janner anymore. He looked so frail, and pale and Kalmar was speechless. "No?" Murgah asked. "Alright." She took the stone from the Darkstoner and set onto Janner's chest. "NO!" Kalmar shouted then a strange light came from the stone. It looked black but it glowed then as it started to cover Janner the light changed from black to white and the light quickly filled the room.
Kalmar closed his eyes until he heard a familiar voice. "Wingfeathers!" Kalmar looked up and saw the Maker. It was just like back at the well. Nobody realized that the Wingfeathers were able to escape. "Maker?" Kalmar asked. The Maker smiled, "Yes, that is one of My names." Everyone stood on awe, unable to speak. The Maker walked up to them, "Do not be afraid. I will deliver you. I have plan for you all. You must go to Anniera and care for it. I have risen it from the ground and the land needs protection." The Maker looked at Artham and held out His arms to him. At first Artham didn't move but then ran to Him and dropping at His feet and started to cry. "Maker, why do you hold out Your arms to me. I don't deserve to see You!"
The knelt down and helped Artham up and lifted his face up. "Artham, you have done good things. But the voices in your mind is the reason you can't see. I have heard your cries and every time you apologized to me, I have forgiven." The Maker held Artham's talon like hands in one hand and put the other on Artham's head. Then Artham felt something that he had never felt before. He saw the Maker's eyes glow like fire and felt the voices in his slowly turn to dust and disappear. "You won't have your talons," The Maker said, "But you will need your wings. Your wings will not be scars of pain but badges of healing. Of being free." Artham smiled then laughed then cry. The Maker wrapped his arms around Artham and held him. "And Artham, I need you to find Laylah and bring her to Anniera. Teach her how to fly."
Artham nodded, " Yes Maker."
Then the Maker turned to Kalmar who couldn't help but hug his King. The Maker laughed, "I have plans for you young one. There will be days of trouble, but I promise that I will deliver you." Kalmar looked up at the Maker. " I don't know how to lead a country. Or how to be a king. How will I know if something is from You or not."
"As long as stay near to Me you will know." The Maker said.
"I'll do the best I can." Kalmar said.
The Maker smiled, "I'm glad. But you must understand that you are still human and that you will make mistakes along the way."
Kalmar nodded. "I understand." Then he gave the Maker another hug.
"And Kalmar there is a Darkstoner here that wants to live a different life. That Darkstoner will go with you to Anniera.
Kalmar was a bit confused, but he nodded again and said, "I'll keep a look out for them."
Then the Maker turned to Sara and Leeli, "Ah and here we have two Warrior Princesses." Both girls giggled then Sara said, "She's royalty but I'm not."
The Maker tilted His head and looked into her eyes and said, "To Me you are." Then the Maker looked at Leeli and asked, "Would you like Me to heal your leg, Leeli?"
Leeli gasped and looked at her leg. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it and thought about before she spoke. "Well, I mean uh my broken leg... it might've started out as something that would slow me down but now it's become something that help make me a bit stronger. And now when I look at it, I don't feel sad I feel proud. Because I can still do things even with a twisted leg. So that's why um... I think I like it the way it is. And besides You did say that You have a plan for us."
The Maker laughed, "A good answer." Then He brought both girls into a hug. Sara and Leeli's eyes became huge, and their jaws dropped. They started laughing with joy.
The Maker then turned to Nia and Podo, "Wendolyn, wanted you two to know that she's very proud of both of you." Podo and Nia looked at each other then back to the Maker. "She's, okay?" Podo asked.
"Yes. And I let her have a glimpse of what happened, and she says that she'll be waiting you both."
"Maker?" Nia asked trying not to cry, "Could You tell her that we love her very much."
"I will." Then He hugged them both.
"Forgive me Maker." Podo begged.
The Maker looked at Podo with a smile, "I already have. But I think there might be someone who might need to hear that too."
Podo nodded, "I've been wanting to tell him."
"Well, your chance here."
"Thank You."
"You're Welcome."
Then the Maker turned to Rudric and Esben who stood there with big smiles on their faces. "I'm glad to see you two get along quite well."
Esben and Rudric exchanged smiles then looked back at the Maker. Rudric ran gave the Maker the biggest he could give but Esben stayed where he was. "Esben are you okay?" Rudric asked."
"Well, I can tell that You like hugs but..."
"Oh Esben." Rudric said.
"Do You like bear hugs?!"
The Maker laughed and said, "Come here!" And Esben ran towards the Maker. "And I have something for you two." The Maker looked at Rudric, "Rudric, first I want you to go to Anniera then back to the Green Hollows and tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And tell them that I have brought Anniera from the ashes." The Maker turned to Esben, "Esben, when you go to Anniera you will pass the crown to your son. Even though he is not of age according to the Annieran law I want him to be king at this time. And you will help him grow into a man. Do you both understand?"
"Yes Maker." They replied.
Then finally the Maker turned to Oskar who was writing down everything that was happening. "Hello Oskar." The Maker said.
Oskar looked up then started speaking as he wrote, "Then the Maker said, 'Hello Oskar'-" Oskar looked back up again and stared at who stood before him. He then dropped his things and rushed to the Maker who gave him a hug. "Oskar, keep on writing. It will help the next generations learn about the history of My world."
"Oh, yes Maker I will keep on writing. But uh I have a question if I may ask."
"Of course, Oskar."
"Some say it was the First Fellows who wrote the First Book, but others say that You wrote with Your own hand. But would You tell me which is right?"
"Well, I wrote the First Book through the First Fellows. I told them what to write and they wrote it."
"Really?"
"Really."
"That is amazing! Oh, thank You Maker, thank You!" Oskar gave the Maker one more hug.
The Maker looked at everyone one more time then turned to where Janner lay. "Janner!" The Maker exclaimed. "Evildoers have tried to turn you against Me. But you will not be like them! In the day you will be human but at night you will be a creature. But you will not stay as just one creature. You will be the creature that I need you to be at that moment. Even in the day light! You will kill and destroy out of evil, you will protect care for your family, friends and country. Janner Wingfeather Throne Warden of Anniera, WAKE UP!" Just then the light swirled, and the Maker disappeared in it and then the light disappeared with Him. Everything was silent.
A thick wall of fog floated where the light was. Esben was the first to speak. "Wow." He whispered. Rudric looked at Esben then at the fog then quickly gasped and looked back at Esben. "What?" Esben asked. Rudric couldn't speak he grabbed Esben's hand and put it in front of their faces. Esben's eyes when he realized that it wasn't a bear claw it was a human hand. Esben looked at himself. He wore a white tunic with black pants and brown boots. He had a small beard on his chin and had brown hair. "I...I'm a ... human!"
"Guys come look at this!" Rudric exclaimed. Everyone turned and gasped at the sight. Kalmar and Leeli ran to him and then Nia. Esben smiled held his children and when he saw Nia running to him, he ran to her and picked her up and spun in circle. Once he set het on the ground Nia hugged him and then gave him a kiss. But it didn't last long because Kalmar said, "EWW! Mamma, Papa, there are kids here!"
"Kalmar!" Leeli exclaimed.
Esben looked at his kids, "Come here you two." Then the kids rushed to him and gave him more hugs as he gave them kisses. Then soon everyone was laughing and hugging. Sara got to meet Esben and realized how much he looked like Janner. Podo looked over at Artham who was still staring at the fog and noticed that Artham looked different too. His talons were replaced by human hands, his hair was black with streaks of red and dark grey, and his wings had the same colors, but the design was different. The wings faded from white to red to grey. He walked over him.
"Artham?" Podo asked. Artham quickly turned to Podo.
"Podo, I-"
"No, Artham. I'm sorry. For treating you horribly all these years. I will ask for your forgiveness, but I understand if you don't because I've made you suffer for so long and I'm sorry."
Artham was silent for a minute then smiled, "I forgive you. But I am also sorry for just leaving like that and not listening."
Podo smiled, "I forgive you." He held out his hand and Artham went to take it only to be pulled into a hug. "We're good now?" Podo asked.
"Yeah." Artham hugged back.
"Ya, know I think there might be someone else who might want to see you." Podo said after backing up a bit.
"Right."
"ARTHAM!" Artham looked behind Podo and gasped when he saw Esben as a human again. Artham ran towards Esben with tears running down his face. And then finally the brothers embraced and cried into each other's shoulders as they sat on the ground. Artham was the first to speak, "I'm sorry Esben, I'm sorry!"
Esben opened his eyes and slowly pushed Artham back so that he could see him. "What?" Esben asked.
"I'm sorry for leaving you. I left you and I failed you." Artham hid his face with his hands cried.
"What do you mean you failed?"
"I left you Esben! Remember? After you sang the song, I escaped but I ran away because I was scared and ever since I thought you would be upset with me and-"
"No! No Artham why would I be upset with you?"
"Because I'm your Throne Warden but I failed to protect you!"
"But Artham, I told you to leave me."
"What?!"
"When I was going to run into the fire, I told you to stay with the jewels. I knew it would be hard for you to do but I knew you were strong enough. When you left Throg I begged the Maker to help you find my children because if you didn't none of this would happen. Anniera wouldn't even exist anymore if it weren't for you."
"What do you mean? Janner was the seed not me."
"But you showed him how to be Throne Warden. He looked up to you Artham. You were the one who rescued Kalmar from the Stone Keepers, you were the one who rescued my wife and kids from the fangs. Don't you see it. If you didn't leave me my family would've been fanged or killed." Esben lifted Artham's face so that they saw eye to eye. "Artham, you walked so that Janner could run! You shouldn't apologize for that I should say 'Thank you.' Thank you, Artham, for protecting the jewels." Then they both hugged again. They both stood up and Sara, Kalmar, and Leeli ran hug him. Then Artham remembered something, "Laylah!"
"Who?" Esben asked.
"Laylah!" Artham repeated.
"But she tried to turn us in remember?" Podo asked.
"Yes, I know that, but she didn't have much of a choice and the Maker told me bring her with us."
A growl filled the room, and everyone looked at the wall of fog. "What was that?" Leeli asked. Then there was laughter. "Yes!" Murgah exclaimed, "Rise! From now on you will be known as Killer. Now go and kill the Wingfeather's!"
"No Janner!" Kalmar exclaimed.
"Janner remember what the Maker told you!" Esben exclaimed. There was silence for minute until something glowed. It looked like a sword that was floating in the air. No one held it. Then two big bright green eyes opened up and stared at the Wingfeathers. "Killer! Kill them now!" Murgah yelled. The green eyes suddenly turned to gold as a giant paw with giant claws came from the fog and then another one shaking the ground. Then two big wings spread up as the creature stood up. He flapped his wings causing the fog to disperse and reveal first a head with antlers and horn. And the glowing sword was actually a marking on the creature's forehead. Then a large, long body with glowing spikes starting at the back of his neck to the tip of his tail. He was bigger than a dragon. He stretched his long back and flapped his wings again as he lifted his head and let out a mighty roar.
The creature looked around until his eyes rested on the Wingfeather's. He then looked at Murgah who was screaming at him and commanding him to kill. Then Darkstoners came tried to take the Wingfeather's to the dungeon, and Kalmar screamed, "JANNER HELP!" Suddenly the creature looked at the Wingfeather's again and leaped into the air and landed right in front of the Darkstoners. He roared again with rage in his eyes and clawed at the Darkstoners. Once he got them away, he started circling around them. "Janner?" Leeli asked. The stopped and looked at the Wingfeather's again and lowered his head on the ground. He did the best that he could to speak but it only sounded like a growl until he tried again and this time, they knew what he said, "I love you."
Thye all ran to Janner with smiles on their faces. The Maker had answered their prayers. Janner had returned. But in a way no one thought of.
Author's note:
I plan to write a new chapter next week. And it is currently 6:10 am. Yep I just stayed up all but I'm just glad I finally got this done! YAY! Good night! ZZZZZZZZ
