by C S Harrop
“Aunt Elora!” Asha said in a shocked voice not quite believing what she is seeing. Aunt Elora is that really you?”
“Yes Asha my darling it is really me,” Aunt Elora replied holding out her hands for Asha to come to her. Asha stepped once again toward the decking raising her hands to take Aunt Elora’s realising at that moment the marks on the palms of her hands were once again glowing a vibrant blue. Then with a blink of an eye, before their hands could touch she vanished. Reappearing back into the wooden cage in a blinding flash of light hanging from the tree within the goblin compound of Witherbark
Asha’s magical return stirred the goblin compound into further disarray. The Goblin King swung his huge mace in annoyance shouting orders to cut down the human to his panicking minions. Just as the goblins found their courage to go anywhere near Asha after her mystical vanishing act. The large gates of Witherbark thundered with a loud bang that echoed through the compound and the Great Forest. Then another bang followed and finally after a short pause with all the dark bloods holding their breaths the gate burst into pieces of wood and metal as a huge black sabre-toothed cat smashed its way through clawing and mauling at every goblin in its path.
Asha could not believe what had just happened to her but with no time to process the event she looked out across the compound with horror seeing a large cat like beast. Asha knew deep down it was the same beast that had been stalking her. The beast returned the look with its large feline eyes knowing it had found its prey. Asha felt like she was bait dangling from a tree as she sat helpless in the cage.
Asha could see the chaos unfold in all directions, the Goblin King furiously barking orders to his fleeing minions with his servant Relg hiding behind a small mossy boulder hoping the huge sabre-toothed cat or the Goblin King wouldn’t see him, Asha wasn’t sure which it was or maybe both she thought. Then through the opening in the destroyed gate fiery green arrows lit the evening sky exploding above the goblins heads making them run, crawl and hide in every deep dark hole and dead tree they could find. Stepping through the remains of the gateway a long brown and bronze tinted haired woman caught sight of the huge sabre-toothed cat. Wearing a thigh length dark brown and green short leather dress and leather bodice with a large leaf design buckled belt matching her patterned knee length boots moved at a quickened pace across the compound to a better position falling behind the furious wrath of the sabre-tooth.
Raising her carved bow the woman pulled back hard on the string with two fingers until it was touching her chin. Stretching her patterned armoured bodice with her shoulders a wooden arrow with a metallic head and vanes appeared with a soft glowing green aura. Relaxing her fingers released the arrow finding its target into the head of a goblin running at her way waving a rusty spear. Then in a blink of an eye, two more arrows embedded themselves into a couple more goblins attacking the sabre-tooth.
Bewildered but astonished Asha could barely believe her eyes that the bow wielding woman and the huge beast were actually fighting side by side. The main thought that instantly crept into Asha’s head are they actually here for her or do they want to give Asha to Onyxia themselves to claim a reward. Asha’s attention soon swung to the ground beneath her noticing movement from the corner of her eye the servant goblin Relg had crawled unnoticed from behind the boulder he was hiding and towards the rope that keeping Asha held in the air.
Asha knew the safest place for her at this moment in time was in this very cage away from opportunistic goblins. Relg selfishly ignored her shouts to leave the rope alone he knew to escape Witherbark he would need a bargaining chip or an excuse if he were caught leaving. The recapture of the Lost Soul would be a perfect excuse, looking up at the cage. He took hold of his spear with two hands and started cutting the rope. Asha braced as the sound of the rope snapped, she fell hard to the ground throwing her to one side of the mangled wooden cage.
Drifting in and out of consciousness with a trickle of blood running down her forehead Asha saw with focusing eyes the Goblin King and the black sabre-toothed cat charge at one another then clashing with such brute force the ground shook. Opening her eyes once again to the sound of claws scraping on metal instantly caught Asha’s attention. She rolled over to see the sabre-tooth cat swipe the Goblin King with its sharp claws sending him crashing into the mangled wooden cage by the dead tree hitting Relg hard across the dirt of the courtyard in the process.
Slowly turning her dazed head trying her hardest to keep her eyes from closing trying to find some sort of a bearing for her to make a run for her escape. The two personal guards of the Goblin King had been watching from a distance, seeing the Goblin King defeated and on his back and Relg’s unconscious body some distance away. The guards looked at each other then back towards Asha’s unguarded body lying in the dirt. The scheming pair jumped at the sudden opportunity the large cat pounced on another group of goblins and sneakily made their way over and peered down at Asha body with their spears in position readying to grab her.
“Let’s take this human meat to Onyxia ourselves she will reward us with anything we desire,” one of the guards said with an expression of delight on his face.
“Yes - Yes and maybe we can take a bite on the way,” replied the second goblin guard licking his lips. “Onyxia won’t mind if she is not whole.”
Asha froze in a helpless state looking up at the dirty horrible looking creature. A hooded figure appeared from nowhere towering over the two guards from behind. Wearing a darkened metallic mask and wielding a dagger in each hand, with precision and speed the masked figure masterfully attacked the two guards dropping their lifeless bodies to the ground.
Asha let out a long deep breath of relief as the hooded stranger knelt beside her. A black charred metallic mask made of forged strips of metal and engraved markings within the surface covered the stranger’s face. For reasons Asha did not understand, the first time since leaving the cabin on Lake Erat she did not feel alone as she looked upon the stranger, she felt an instant trust and warmth radiating from this person.
Struggling with consciousness her eyes rolled for the last time as Asha’s eyes closed to darkness, as she laid motionless on the dirt floor of Witherbark all sounds of fighting slowly faded away to hear only faint words before her lights finally went out. “Get the girl, it’s time to leave.”
Asha opened her eyes to the warmth of a crackling fire and the smell of hot food. Bruised and battered she slowly sat up with a muffled wince resting her back against an old withered tree quickly realising she was no longer in Witherbark.
The burning fire kept the calm mist of early morning to the borders of the clearing as it swept through the Great Forest. A lightly curled brown and copper haired woman knelt down throwing pieces of broken branches onto the fire. The fire reflected the silver and gold leaf patterned design of her leather armour, catching Asha’s stare the woman rose to her feet clutching her bow in her left hand and a metal container in the other. She tensed up as the woman walked slowly over, crouching down she looked at Asha with a comforting expression instantly easing her nerves.
“Your name is Asha is it not?” asked the bow-wielding woman giving Asha the container and wooden spoon.
“Y - Yes,” stammered Asha looking into the small metal tin to a welcoming sight of hot vegetable stew and a piece of bread that seemed to lift Asha’s spirits instantly.
“We have been sent by the Elders to escort you and another to Andoria, it was fortunate we took the path through the Great Forest.”
“Who is we? I remember you and someone in a mask and also the huge beast that hunt...,” cut short Asha saw a huge black sabre-tooth cat materialise from the trees and made its way over to the woman towering over them both looking directly at Asha.
Terrified, Asha pushed her self-back against the tree with the heels of her fur boots trying in vain to escape the beast the hunted her the previous nights.
“Calm Down,” insisted the young woman. “He is not here to hurt you, he is here to help you just as I am
,” softening her voice.
Asha slowed her breathing to calm her panic state, unable to take her eyes off the huge cat especially the two long fangs protruding out from the side of its mouth. Finally, she came to the realisation the huge sabre-tooth was not an immediate threat especially when the woman began to stroke its black and tinted blue fur as it laid down beside her with its massive paws outstretched in front by the campfire.
“My large friend here is called Riven and well my name is Willow - Willow Oakenshaw of the woodland realm of Elwood. We received word from the Elders to find and escort you and another to Andoria with hast. We were heading west and had travelled for many days taking the mountain pass of Everlong. Fortunately, we decided to take a shortcut through the Great Forest when we received a message orb, the Elders hoped we would reach you before Onyxia.”
“Onyxia did find me and she killed my Aunt Elora. I escaped across Lake Erat but she caught me crossing the snowy plain, I managed to run and hide into this forest thankfully her flying beast she was riding couldn’t follow.”
“I am sorry to hear about your Aunt Elora that would explain why there is no other; we will mourn her properly when we reach Andoria.
The Great Forest has been tainted by the dark bloods for some time now, Onyxia has lots of allies hiding in here including the Goblin king and she probably thought you would captured and be brought to her. She was nearly correct. We manage to track you down, if you remember when you first saw my friend Riven here and decided to run.”
“Yes I thought he was going to eat me,” Asha replied.
“Maybe it was not the best may of introducing ourselves,” smiled Willow. “Then the goblins caught scent of you, Riven killed a few of them as you hid in the tree. We thought best to let you rest but you were up and on your way before we realised. Goblins hunt in packs and the two that caught you must have been the remainder of the pack we killed. An opportunity arose which I could not pass on, the goblins know many of the hidden paths in this forest and I was positive they were going to take you directly to the Goblin King and the source of the darkness that spreads through the Great Forest.”
“So you used me as bait?” Asha physically shocked at the revelation.
“Yes, then we lost sight of you as more goblins appeared in the area. The plan was to let the goblins lead us to the Goblin King himself, save you before they reached the compound and comeback another day and destroy him. Luckily, we heard all the commotion coming from Witherbark, Well - you know what happened next.”
Asha sat with her mouth wide open, gobsmacked by the lack for her well-being even though they were both sent specifically to protect and escort her to Andoria.
“Now eat some food Asha and try getting some more rest we have a long journey ahead of us,” Willow advised sitting by Riven taking a bite out of a piece of dried bread.
“Even though you did put me mortal danger but thank you anyway I am in your glad you’re here and please give your big friend there my gratitude.”
“Why don’t you tell him yourself,” replied Willow stoking his huge furry face.
Feeling slightly uneasy staring face on with the huge sabre-tooth, Asha wandered what Willow meant by her last comment.
“You’re welcome Shade,” Riven said in a deep and commanding voice. Asha’s jaw dropped again with both an amazed and terrified expression as those words came out of the huge cat’s mouth. Asha only heard of talking animals from story’s Aunt Elora had told her at bedtime when she was a little girl.
“Why did you call me Shade?” Asked Asha hesitantly finding the courage to talk.
“That is who you are, that is who you will always be the rest is for the Elders to tell. Now rest Asha we will set off at first light,” replied Riven.
Asha’s body relaxed as Riven closed his eyes by the fire, her head rested back against the tree as a thousand thoughts ran through her head until she eventually succumbed to tiredness and drifted into an uneventful asleep.
The mist had lifted by the time Asha awoke to find the fire had diminished to a pile of smoking ash and a chill on the early morning air. Looking around the clearing, Riven was nowhere in sight. Willow however stood leaning against a withered tree looking out towards the endless graveyard of forest eating something that looked like fruit. Asha’s stomach rumbled with the sight of food realising she was still very hungry. To her surprise, she noticed her bag placed on the ground at the end of her feet after losing it when being chased by Riven. Remembering Aunt Elora stuffing food in there before escaping through the back window of the cabin on Lake Erat. Opening her brown hide bag the sight of crushed dry bread and fish didn’t look too appealing but Asha’s hunger took hold and within a few minutes and a few large mouthfuls the food had gone leaving her bag with the remnants of crumbs and a pouch of water.
Asha stood up brushing the crumbs from her fur coat and lifted the strap of her bag over her head and draping it over her shoulder resting the bag comfortably against her hip and made her way over to Willow’s position by the withered tree. A distortion of light ten steps away stopped Asha in her tracks as she reached the smoking ash of the campfire, the distortion emerged into the huge sabre-toothed cat Riven.
“It is time to leave young Shade,” Riven said in a commanding tone. “We will have to move at a quickened pace the Great Forest is very a dangerous place as you have found out and Onyxia will certainly of sent at least another pack of goblins to retrieve you.
“The Great Forest was not always this way,” stated Willow in a sombre frame of mind walking over towards them. “It was the most beautiful and tranquil place in the whole world much like my homeland. The trees were full of life standing tall proudly displaying their full array of colours, beautiful beams of coloured light shone down through the trees upon the calm blue waters of the many lagoons.”
“It’s hard to imagine this forest the way you describe,” replied Asha trying her hardest to picture the forest in its original form.
“And it will be again Asha - someday.”
“We must get moving word of our presence will have spread far and wide. Every foul creature in league with the priestess will be hunting for us mercilessly,” insisted Riven.
“But where are we heading?” Asha asked hoping they were not lost in some secluded spot in the vastness of the Great Forest.
“To the deepest natural formed crack in the earth known as the Chasm which lies to the south west of the Great Forest,” replied Willow strapping her quiver to her back.
“The Chasm why are we heading there it is of utmost important that I go to Andoria.”
“Yes Asha and that is where we are taking you however we must take the safer and colder route through the mountains of Everlong. The Chasm is what separates Everlong from the Great Forest, and there is only one-way to get across and that is by a very long roped bridge known as the Noose. We know Onyxia will be very cautious of the Frost Elves of Everlong they are not the most hospitable of races especially towards Onyxia and her dark blood army, that’s not to mention the harsh environment,” explained Willow putting on a small backpack over her hooded cape.
“And if we don’t get moving we will never get there,” interrupted Riven impatiently heading out of camp followed quickly behind by Asha and Willow.
Chapter 7
The Noose
Asha and her protectors travelled at a hurried pace through the forest, Riven vanished for short periods of time checking their surroundings for rouge groups of goblins believing they could capture or kill the lost soul for themselves and reap the rewards. The hard muddy ground Asha had miserably looked at all morning and most of the afternoon turned to a pleasing sight of soft white snow. Asha grow up with seasonal winters around Lake Erat she loved the snow like any child would making snow beasts and having snowball fights with Aunt Elora As she grew older the snow itself seemed to hold happy memories for her which warmed her soul at the very thought.
Asha knew they were now getting closer to the edge of the forest
as a cold wintry breeze intensified and snow became more widespread on the surrounding trees that became less dense with every few strides. Her heart sank at the sudden thought of Onyxia waiting mounted on her flying beast for her to reappear out of the trees readying to strike.
“Our tracks will be much easier to spot we must pick up our pace,” insisted Willow looking down at her footprints in the snow.
They picked up their pace to a steady run swiping away stray leafless branches and avoiding the lifelessly trees and protruding dead roots the best they could as the afternoon light began to dim.
Riven reappeared once again running alongside Willow with the cold breeze sweeping across his fur in waves. Asha did not think she would ever stop been mesmerised at the size of the huge sabre-cat and surprisingly of how silently he can walk on those huge paws.
The cold breeze picked up to a chilling wind that got stronger with every step they took. Feeling the sudden drop in temperature Asha wrapped her fur coat tighter around her body then suddenly Willow raised her carved bow in the air signalling to halt. Her braided shoulder length lightly curled brown and copper hair blew fiercely in the wind matching the erratic movements of her hooded cape.
“We have made it to the forests boarder, Asha watch your step beyond the trees because it’s a long way down if you don’t,” warned Willow.
Asha nodded in acknowledgement watching Riven taking up position close behind her as they followed Willow slowly out of the forest.
Without the protection of the trees, the icy wind became a huge shock to Asha, her body felt instantly frozen the very moment she stepped out of the forest. The realisation Onyxia was not here waiting for her was a huge relief in itself. The ground she walked on was a black sheet of ice layered on the rocky surface, keeping her feet steady trying not to slip was a challenge in itself. Asha slowly looked away from her feet to her surroundings to see and realised what Willow had warned.
