Monstar Saga: Exiled

by Eden Redd

  “Kavan, when the time is right, speak to Mayor Sunaxe about the Heart of Moonvale. He will understand and know you’re ready. Talk to him in private, just the two of you. Speak of this with no one else but the mayor.”

  Kavan stared at the fae as his serious gaze melted into a jovial smile.

  Misty and Onka came back into the living room, cups in their hands. Onka looked at Kavan with a warm gaze and sat down beside him. Misty handed Kavan a cup, her other hand on his shoulder. He looked up to the beautiful fae as she looked down on him. Her fingers massaged his shoulder in what felt like an intimate way. Her hand lingered as she picked up the wine bottle and poured it into his cup.

  “Praise Vala. Praise Hexnia,” Misty whispered before pulling her hand away from the dragonkin’s shoulder and pouring into other glasses.

  Kavan sat with a neutral look, unsure exactly what was happening.

  A town secret and I should go to the mayor? The plot thickens.

  Cups were raised for a small toast when a scream pierced the air outside of the house.

  Everyone was to their feet. Kavan marched over to the door and picked up his belt with a sheathed dagger from a wall peg. He curled it around his waist and buckled it as Onka, Raine, and Misty looked at him. The moment he took hold of his spear, a shadow darted by the window. Kavan turned to the door when something banged it hard, causing it to shudder.

  “Master! Master! Let me in!” Abby shouted with terrified urgency.

  Kavan opened the door and the taur crashed into him. She looked up to the dragonkin with wide eyes.

  “They were searching around the barn! They tried to get in. I heard them! I heard them scratching! When they moved around, I ran here. They’re out there!” the taur said hysterically.

  Kavan pulled Abby in by her arm and brought her to the others by the table and couch.

  “Everyone, stay here. If there are any sounds of fighting, go up to the second floor,” Kavan commanded.

  “Shouldn’t we go into the basement and barricade ourselves in?” Onka said with wide eyes.

  Kavan shook his head. “No. The basement will be a death trap. You have a better chance to get out through the windows on the second floor and run for town.”

  Kavan kept his mithril spear at half-length as he turned and walked toward the front door. “Raise the alarm in town if they get into the house.”

  Raine put his hand on Onka’s shoulder and addressed Kavan, “We will do as you say, Magistrate.”

  Misty nodded.

  Kavan nodded and stepped to the front door. Onka watched with fear as the dragonkin reached the door and peeked through it.

  The area was silent. Kavan poked his head out further and glanced around. The barn stood in the distance. Long shadows covered it, the structure barely visible. Nothing moved. A small breeze touched Kavan’s nose and a strange scent carried on it.

  The dragonkin became very still. His eyes barely blinked as his senses took in every nuance. The scent continued to stroke his nose, filling it with a dried grass smell from a long summer day.

  Kavan was about to turn back to his guests, ready to tell them that they were going to make a run for it when something moved by the edge of the barn.

  A tall humanoid stepped into the low light emanating from the house. Chitin legs gleamed as the thing moved cautiously. A strange hand reached out and touched the wall of the barn. Round glowing eyes, the size of saucer plates, turned. They didn’t blink as the shadowy humanoid moved further along the barn door.

  Kavan’s eyes were thin slits, seeing the thing as it moved further into the low light. The dragonkin’s heart hammered in his chest as the thing’s legs moved again.

  The humanoid moved into view, inspecting the slightly open barn door. Thin, almost frail looking hands stretched out from its chest, taking hold of the barn door and opening it. Horrific large arms were folded up against its shoulders. They appeared like folded claws, similar to a praying mantis back on earth. Armored legs moved silently, the creature fully coming into view, it’s large white eyes and pointed head moving from side to side. Long antennae twitched as the thing continued to inspect the barn door.

  Kavan stared at it, remembering the large white eyes from the thing that visited the town over a month ago. The only difference was, this one was much smaller. Still, from where it stood by the barn door, it was roughly seven-feet-tall, as tall as Lorta when she stood by the barn door.

  Kavan’s scaled brow hardened. Seeing the creature, he calculated if he could take it down with a single spear throw. The moment was dashed on the rocks as several more emerged from the darkness by the barn. Two crawled along the barn roof, like roaches searching for a meal.

  Kavan stepped back into his home, silently closed the door and locked it.

  Raine, Misty, Onka, and Abby stared at the dragonkin with wide eyes.

  Kavan moved with delicate steps to the group and spoke in a hushed whisper, “I count seven xykks by the barn.”

  Eyes widened across the small group with deep dread.

  A memory cycled through Kavan’s thoughts. The book about xykks glowed in his mind. He only leafed through it before he began reading about the pantheons of Voldor. In that small reading, certain bits of information glowed brighter in his mind.

  “Blow out the lanterns. Remain quiet and wait by the stairs. They are attracted to light and sound,” Kavan said with a commanding whisper.

  Everyone nodded and moved. Lanterns were opened and flames were snuffed out. The first floor went dark. Inky shadows filled the area now that the light was gone.

  Kavan’s sensitive eyes took in what little light there was, which wasn’t much. A primal darkness enveloped the farmhouse. Only the purple, cloudy sky above gave any light to the area.

  Abby panted louder and louder. Stark terror filled her nearly round eyes. Kavan turned to her, practically hearing her heartbeat.

  “Abby, it’s okay. I’ll make sure we’re okay,” Kavan said with an understanding tone.

  The taur shook her head, her eyes growing more and more manic.

  Misty stepped closer to the panicking taur and placed a hand on her. “Calm. Let my energy calm you.”

  A small glow appeared around Misty’s hand. Abby’s terrified features relaxed.

  Kavan nodded when a thump touched the front porch. The dragonkin turned around, half-spear at the ready.

  A shadow moved by a window. Another shadow moved by another window on the other side of the door. The sound of footsteps moved with slow, steady steps.

  Everyone watched as shadows moved under the door. Silence followed for a small moment. The doorknob turned slightly. The door didn’t budge. The knob rattled as the creature on the other side tried turning it again.

  The entire door bulged out slightly as the thing on the other side pulled hard.

  “Get ready,” Kavan whispered and called up his stats.

  Kavan Cynder

  Species: Dragonkin

  Health: Normal

  Mana: 7

  Gold: 12

  Attributes

  Strength: 4

  Intelligence: 4

  Dexterity: 4

  Constitution: 4

  Willpower: 4

  Natural Abilities

  Claws

  Regeneration

  Spheres

  Fire: 2

  Body: 1

  Life: 1

  Skills

  Combat: 4

  The door returned back into place. The silence was deafening as nothing moved, inside or outside the home.

  Can they hear our heartbeats? Are they waiting to attack?

  “From what little I saw of the book, they have extremely sensitive senses. Judging from their stealth, they may be…”

  Viz was cut off when the door blasted off its hinges and slammed down onto the floor. A tall xykk peered in with large, insect-like white eyes. A sickening yellow and black coloring covered its exo-skeleton. Claws unfolded from its sides as small, three-fingered han
ds folded to its chest. A gleam off its chitinous body shined as it turned its pointed head to the group of heartbeats in the large living room.

  A spark within Kavan lit into a flame. The dragonkin’s body tensed and bolted forward in blur. The mithril spear pointed aimed for the monster’s chest when a bent claw flashed and grabbed the spear shaft, halting the tip's advance, several inches from the monster’s chest.

  A stream of clicks filled the air as the xykk looked down on Kavan with unblinking white eyes.

  Movement on the porch turned into a charge. Several xykks appeared behind the xykk in the entrance, their white round eyes glaring at the fresh flesh within the home.

  Kavan’s eyes drank in the monsters before he shifted the power in his shoulders. The claw opened as Kavan bent his spear at an angle. When the tension ebbed, he pulled his spear back, and shifted on his feet. The spear slid forward, missing the creature’s neck. Kavan pushed to the side and the spear edge sliced across the creature’s neck.

  Gurgling screeches rose up as a foul, cloudy liquid spilled from the wound across the monster’s throat. Kavan continued to move, pulling his spear back and thrusting forward, the point stabbing between the creature’s eyes and exploding out the back of its head.

  The xykk flailed as puss oozed out of its head. The xykks behind it pushed in, ready to tear the living creatures inside to ribbons. Kavan pressed his advantage, the flailing xykk and himself blocking the doorway.

  Kavan turned the spear, the bladed point ripping up the creature’s head. It flailed, big claw-like arms spasming as it tried to grab at anything. Kavan brought up his knee and slammed his boot into the creature’s waist. The xykk went crashing into the other xykks and they began ripping their fellow xykk to pieces.

  For a brief instant, Kavan watched as the insect monsters became aggressive. It was like a switch going on and nothing would stand in their way. The dying xykk was torn limb from limb before the body parts were cast aside.

  “Second floor!” Kavan shouted and charged into the group of monsters on his porch.

  Onka watched in disbelief as Kavan launched himself at the monsters.

  Claws flashed and met with Kavan’s spear turned sideways. His boot slammed into a knee and one of the xykks stumbled to the side. The dragonkin pulled back and spun his half-spear. Xykks closed in and a spearpoint stabbed into an unblinking eye. The creature screeched as claws slammed into Kavan’s shoulder and arm.

  Kavan channeled 2 points of mana into his fire sphere.

  Kavan Cynder

  Species: Dragonkin

  Health: Minor Damage

  Mana: 5/7

  Flames engulfed his hands as he let go of the spear. Claws slid out of fingertips and the dragonkin roared in defiance.

  The xykks hesitated the moment the flames appeared. It was enough for Kavan to shift his weight and slice hard across with his left hand. Kavan ignored the pain along his right arm and shoulder, wicked spikes along the claws digging slightly into his flesh. Flames streaked across mid-sections and screeches filled the air.

  The xykks let go and Kavan came at them, his arms moving like flaming balls and chains.

  “Behind you!” Viz shouted.

  Kavan ducked low as a clawed arm swiped at him. It missed his head and horns as the dragonkin spun on his heels and sliced flaming claws across armored knees. Fire and bone claws cut through the monster’s knees and opened them up. The creature screeched as Kavan fell to his knees and drove his claws into the creature’s stomach.

  The porch was crowded with wounded and dying xykks. Kavan pulled his claws and rolled to the side. His feet touched the floor and he was ready to launch himself upwards when a pair of claws clamped onto his shoulders. Pain bloomed and the dragonkin grunted. He tried to move but the monster had a firm grip on him. Flaming hands rose up and grabbed at the claws. The xykk screeched loudly as Kavan growled like a primeval monster.

  Pain blasted at Kavan, but he took small comfort in the monster in front of him screeching to the flames. The moment the xykk’s claws eased their power, Kavan let go and sliced across its midsection with quick swipes.

  Two remaining xykks attacked from behind, their large claws clamping on Kavan’s shoulders and arms. Kavan’s blood touched the air and the monsters chittered in greedy violence. The one before Kavan sank down and let go, the light dying in its eyes.

  Serrated claws dug deep into the dragonkin’s shoulders and arms. Flaming hands were kept still and away from them. Arms and hands unfolded from their chests and raked claws down Kavan’s back. The dragonkin roared in pain as the monsters continued to hack at him from behind.

  Kavan Cynder

  Species: Dragonkin

  Health: Seriously Injured.

  Mana: 5/7

  Onka darted out from the house and grabbed at the sheathed dagger on Kavan’s belt.

  “Leave him alone!” the goblin shouted and drove the dagger into the side of one of the creatures.

  The monsters didn’t bother reacting to the goblin or the dagger buried in the side of them. Small clawed hands continued to rip at the dragonkin’s back while holding his arms to keep the flames away.

  The pain and torment fell away as Kavan heard Onka’s voice. He glanced to the side, seeing the goblin pulling the dagger back and hands reaching for her from behind. Time stood still as Raine and Misty reached for the goblin to pull her back in, fear in their eyes.

  Onka’s eyes were filled with an unrelenting fury as she tried to stab the creatures again.

  The flame within Kavan roared into a blaze. The dragonkin channeled 1 point of mana into his Body Sphere.

  Muscles glowed with strength and the dragonkin pushed off the porch floor. Hands grabbed Onka and pulled her in, the goblin swinging her arms and legs in protest.

  The xykks stepped back as Kavan pushed against them. They continued to claw at him when Kavan lifted up a knee and slammed his heel into a kneecap with enough force to shatter it.

  One xykk teetered and began to fall sideways. The large claw loosened and Kavan pulled his flaming hand free. Burning claws sliced across the large claws holding him and each one separated to a foul burning stench. The xykks backed off. Kavan spun around and slashed flaming claws across the falling xykk’s head. Several pieces of its pointed head went flying in several directions.

  The last xykk turned and launched off the porch. Insect wings flashed open and blurred as the creature tried to take flight.

  Kavan’s rage burned like the sun. He bent his legs and launched after the fleeing creature. A flaming hand grabbed a leg and the monster screeched. Kavan was ten feet off the ground when he swung his other flaming claws around. The fiery arc slashed at an armored thigh and singed a transparent wing. The monster faltered as Kavan climbed the creature with fiery hands. Each pull up burned at the exoskeleton and the monster screeched louder.

  “No, you don’t!” Kavan shouted as his claws stabbed into the monster’s lower back and burned.

  The xykk tilted and fell. Kavan ripped at the creature with his clawed hands until they hit the ground. Bodies curled and bounced twice before the two of them slid to a halt.

  Kavan rose up like a heaving monster. The xykk struggled to move as Kavan closed the short distance. Flaming claws rose up and stabbed down into the monster’s back.

  The light died in the xykk’s eyes and it collapsed.

  Kavan stood up and heaved. The pain across and down his back was distant as his rage burned. He turned back to the porch, several smoking xykks laying on it. Bodies moved to the doorway. Raine, Misty, and Abby looked at the dead xykks in stunned silence. Onka looked past everything, her gaze connecting with Kavan’s burning eyes.

  Heat swirled within the dragonkin. The connection between him and the goblin glowed. The heat cooled. Sensations returned, his back wet from his own blood. Kavan ignored it as he stood.

  “We have to alert the town,” Kavan said and walked toward the porch and Onka’s gaze with a new, protective fire burning along hi
s soul.

  Twenty

  A small stream of lanterns and torches moved from Moonvale’s South Gate. They made their way along the dirt road towards Woodhaven farm in the small distance. Mayor Sunaxe led the way, his son Durzol by his side with a warhammer in his hands. Raine and Misty followed behind them as Healer Soki, Lorta, Kazko, and Rujin followed.

  Kavan sat on the stairs of his porch, eying the small stream of residents as they made their way to his home. Onka was behind the dragonkin, using a cloth to dab at the many wounds crisscrossing his back. Steam rose up from the bloody gashes as they slowly closed.

  “The wounds are starting to look better,” Onka said as she continued to clean the wounds.

  “As long as I stay still and rest, my regeneration works a little faster,” Kavan said in a low tone.

  Abby remained on the porch. The taur used her cloven foot to push at a dead xykk and she cringed as it shifted to her touch.

  A thought stabbed into Kavan’s mind as he stared at some of the approaching townsfolk. “Onka, why didn’t you go upstairs?”

  The goblin looked down at the closing gashes with calm, soulful eyes. “I couldn’t leave you. I’m your guide. I’m supposed to look out for you.”

  Kavan turned his head slightly, a slitted eye looking back at the goblin. “You are more than that. You’re my friend. You could have gotten hurt. If there is a next time, listen to me.”

  “They were killing you,” Onka said in an even tone.

  “And if they killed you?” Kavan countered.

  The goblin looked down. “Kavan, I will not apologize for trying to help you.”

  Kavan turned halfway around and looked at the sad goblin. His own heart beat with a steady and loving pulse. He reached over and curled his arm around her shoulders. Onka leaned into his chest, the heat coming off his body in waves.

  “I don’t want an apology. I just want you safe,” Kavan said softly and kissed her forehead.

  Onka closed her eyes, hugging Kavan and making sure her hands didn’t touch his wounds.

  The front gate opened and Mayor Sunaxe led the small group onto the property. Lorta stared at Kavan with worried eyes as the group moved closer to the porch. Kavan and Onka let go of each other and looked to the townsfolk as they made a semi-circle before him. Eyes lowered to the scattered xykk corpses, fear and horror touching their gazes.