by Dawn Chapman
“Wow, this place is beautiful,” Alex said. “I know I’ve seen parts of it before with you. Just never seen it like this—so alive.” We seemed to walk for ages, the cave dipping and then climbing as we took several turns.
I heard and felt the vibrations coming from ahead before Alex asked, “What’s going on up there?”
I didn’t know, but I wanted to. It sounded like some sort of. . .
Not an argument, Dalfol came back to me, but a slight disagreement.
I cringed, and then I smelled the burning acrid smell of Tromoal fire.
Don’t be afraid. As soon as you enter this domain, they will stop squabbling.
I breathed in and moved forwards rounding the next corner.
Dalfol bellowed, and I could see him. He was facing off with a pale silver Tromoal, much larger than he was.
The Matriarch, where is she?
Dalfol didn’t answer. He seemed to be talking to the one he was fighting with. The other Tromoal looked over to me, and then suddenly stopped its vibrating annoyance and dipped its head. Dalfol lunged, gripping its neck, forcing it to the ground.
I heard part of their conversation.
You will not ever challenge me again! My decision to bring them in was mine to make. She is the lady of the skies; she is our lady. We obey Riezella and her. Understand?
I didn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but I was worried he was going to kill the other Tromoal. I ran forwards, and Alex tried to stop me, but he couldn’t I was too fast. I moved in quickly my hands up, and Dalfol glared at me before he let the other go. There were sharp teeth marks in its neck, and I wanted to cry.
I realised there was probably some kind of hierarchy that had to be adhered to. They needed to have a dominant and submissive.
The other Tromoal’s eyes trained on me, and I felt its regret.
I stepped forward and placed my hand over the wound. It started to heal, the ring on my finger glowed, and then I pulled it back. I heard the voice of the silver Tromoal. Apologies and thank you for your kindness.
I looked to Dalfol, not knowing what to say or do. Alex was the one who came up behind me and caught me as I was about to wobble over. “You’ve got to stop healing things,” he said.
“Why?” Then I saw it.
HEALTH – 30%
“I can see your health drop. You’re putting yourself at risk.”
He handed me some water out of his pack, and I felt the pain throb in my hip once more. I wanted to slug all the elixir I had, but I couldn’t.
Riezella is waiting for you. Dalfol motioned to the back of the large cavern.
Can Alex go with me?
Dalfol shook his long neck. No, you must go to see her alone first. There are some things you need to see, which he cannot.
There was probably a lot I didn’t want to see—or know about—let alone Alex.
So I headed off. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. When you’re allowed through, I’ll give the nod to Dalfol, and he will let you know.”
“They won’t eat me, will they?”
I laughed. “I sure hope not.” Then I moved to leave the cave system I was in.
The cavern dipped and then opened up once more. It revealed a large chamber filled with loot. So many gems, glittering objects made of gold, and then much larger objects, armour maybe? I reached down, picked out a solid red gemstone, its glittering energy pulsating into me. This cavern was richer than anyone’s wildest dreams. I put the gem in my pocket. How far were we actually underground? Was this all full of water at some point? I had so many questions I wanted to ask, so many.
Up ahead, I saw Riezella, her large frame seemed so tiny in this room. There was also something—no, someone—standing before her.
Who was that?
I moved forwards, and the closer I got, the more I could see. This was a woman—a woman in a white flowing dress with sandals whose laces traced up long legs, her glowing red hair shimmering around her frame.
She moved to greet me. “Thank you for coming to visit as you promised. I am the human form of Riezella.”
I was totally confused now. “Can you explain this to me some more. I’m not with you?”
The Tromoal seemed to be asleep, and I placed my hand on her flank—no, not just asleep, but stone cold, like she wasn’t alive anymore.
That was the weirdest feeling I’d ever come across. The woman smiled. “I’ve taken this form because I’d like to show you another side of this world. One I think you’d be most interested in.”
She held out a hand for me, and I took it. “There’s a place where we can go, with a little magic.”
She turned, and the whole room lit with red hues. The sparks around the room made me jump, but she held on tightly. I was surprised at her strength, but I shouldn’t have been. At the end of the day, she was a Tromoal, right?
Waving a hand in the air, the room before me shimmered, and with a flash, the wall opened up, and I could make out something on the other side. A different world.
“I wanted you to see the place where Alex comes from.”
What? My mind whirled. That wasn’t possible. “How can I see into his world?”
“The game they think they created is very unique. But,” she paused seeming to struggle with the words she picked, “to those of us from another world, this is a way in, a digital space, which we can inhabit or cross. To them, it might be just a game, but they created lots of ways for those of us who know how to manipulate things, to control what they thought they did.”
“So that’s the reason for all the system errors I’m seeing?”
She nodded and waved her hand over the world before me. “You see all of this like I do.”
The planet was mind-blowing. Buildings galore, lights, and cars. Oh my… the number of cars driving on their streets. How, I had no idea. I stepped forward, the grass squelching beneath my feet. I could smell damp, thick smoke, engine fumes, and many things I couldn’t put a name to. I reached out and touched the side of a manmade wall, dilapidated and falling over, but amazing to run a finger over.
The people here were all just going about their daily lives. They had no clue we were here. “So, I’m not just an NPC?” I questioned.
“You started out as one,” Riezella squeezed my hand, “but, no, you are not. What you really are, I must let you remember.”
“You know what I am?”
Riezella pointed upwards to a large sign. It pictured my world, and I read: Puatera Online Open Call 29th April 2096. “You’re like me,” she said. “A crossover of sorts, a soul that’s been reborn and integrated into a digital world.”
“And Alex knows this?”
“No, he suspects some things. In fact, he suspects many things. He’s just not voicing them to you.”
“So there’s a portal to his world. Where I could visit him for real?”
“I do not know if you’re ready. It might be too much for you to handle, and Alex might not want you to see him. That is something for you to consider.”
“Because he’s sick, right? Here he’s handsome, whole, but there he’s not.”
“Correct.”
“I could ask him, talk to him.”
“Maddie,” her sharp tone stopped my thoughts in their tracks. “The reason I wanted to show you this is because he’s not got long.”
“You mean in his world?”
“His energy levels are being kept alive by the Clan. When they start to weaken, due to lack of food, they will not support him.”
“That’s a little harsh.”
She lowered her head, turning away from the bustle of the strange planet. “It is the truth.”
“Riezella, I love him. What can I do?”
“There is one answer, but I don’t think you will like it.”
The fact that there was an answer at all had me grasping at it. I wanted anything. Would do anything. She was intriguing me, but I physically shook.
The image shifted, and there was
a large familiar cavern before us with four Tromoal eggs.
“The three larger eggs are growing well. There’s enough energy inside them to form and bond with their souls. They will become strong individuals.”
I could see it then. There was a smaller one. It was so tiny, compared to the others.
“The fourth egg will not survive.” She reached out with her other hand, as if to touch it, but didn’t. “He was supposed to be my first son, to carry on and have lots of Tromoal of his own, and to birth with his mate, the next Matriarch. But the egg can’t call forth his soul.”
Realisation sank in. “You want Alex to be the soul for your egg? I can’t let him do it. . .” I gasped out. “I can’t watch him become one of you.” I tugged my hand away from her, and the vision of the cave vanished.
Riezella locked eyes with me. “You wish for him to have a wonderful life, no?”
Of course, I did, I really did. My heart was screaming at me to tell her ‘no.’ But my head nodded.
“Then you know what must be done, for him, for us both. I wouldn’t have offered this if I didn’t think you were both strong enough to handle it, and to work through any pain it would cause.”
“If he returns home, he will die. This really is his last few months?”
“Not months. If the Tromoal do not get enough food, this will be his last few weeks. Maybe even less.”
“Dail hasn’t alerted anyone of the dangers, has he?”
Riezella shook her beautiful long hair, her chin dipped.
“If I see him again, I’ll kill him myself.”
“The next time you see him, you might have to.”
I looked back to the cave system where I knew Alex was tucked away with Dalfol and the others. Was he scared? What was he doing?
“He’s having the time of his life. Don’t worry about him.”
“Will you see him?”
“No, I don’t want to interfere with his decision when the time comes. If he saw me, he’d be compelled to help, but that decision will have to be his. . .” She held up a hand, “and his alone. You can’t interfere. Do not try to persuade him at all. This really must come from him.”
“We have to rally the city and the surrounding people. We have to get you enough food to survive and to raise the broods.”
“There is not enough time.” Riezella’s body shook.
I was the one now who stood defiantly. With confidence, I met her shimmering red eyes. “Yes, there is. We’ll make time. To survive, we’ll do everything we can. Dail and Port Troli will regret their betrayal.” I smiled at her. “There’s a way for us to move the food without them knowing. We can do all of this, and they’ll only see the Tromoal staying fat and happy.”
She wasn’t convinced, but I had to keep going. “I need to know everything about the cave system.”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Yes, you can and you will. Alex and I will be the only ones who know. I promise you.”
She regarded me with complete silence. I wasn’t sure if she would agree, obviously
“I will inform my second and mate what it is we are doing.”
“Your mate?” I was the one who grinned this time. “Dalfol?”
“Of course. Did you think I would have anyone else watching over you?”
“Alex will be pleased that at least he’s been keeping company with the man of the clan.”
Riezella moved back towards her Tromoal body. “The silver Tromoal he was fighting with is his sister, Fie. She’s never wanted me to be his mate and thought I would bring nothing but trouble to the Clan. I have protected him and our brethren for many years. It’s time someone else thinks for us, helps us.”
“That job is now mine,” I said. “I will think on this somewhat. I’ve colleagues I trust, those who aren’t associated with Dail. Some I’d lay my life down for.”
“You never wondered why you couldn’t be with him?”
“I do now.” He was a traitor and more, a liar, and I hated that. I now hated him. Maybe I’d get my retribution. Maybe I’d be the one to bring down all his plans.
I hoped Alex would make the right decision for him. I didn’t know how he would become one with the youngster or what might happen afterwards. Would he remember anything? Anything of us? I swallowed my pride and moved to go back to them.
I glanced to Riezella and watched as her ghostly appearance vanished into the sleeping Tromoal. The next time I looked, the large beast was awake and staring right at me.
Go, Maddie. I trust you with the whole of our Clan’s future.
I breathed in and stepped back through to where Alex and the others were waiting. He sat by a small fire, totally dominated by Dalfol and his sister’s body. They were curled around him and sleeping while Alex talked away. I wondered who to until I saw the shadow of someone near him. The Tromoal weren’t sleeping. They were in that stasis like Riezella had been. Dalfol was showing his human self to Alex. My heart wept.
Chapter 5
I moved to the fire pit and sat by Alex. Dalfol bowed his head to me and vanished.
“You know how amazing he is?” Alex said.
I picked up a stick, noticing the rabbits cooking. They smelled delicious.
“I do. I’m glad he showed you a part of what they can do.”
“In my world, as I said, they’re called dragons, but these here… they are so much more than that. They have two parts to their nature. An almost human side and the part that is animalistic.”
I listened as he explained most of what I’d just seen. His voice was full of excitement and happiness or was it all a ruse?
“What’s the plan now? You were gone for a very long time. Dalfol helped me catch these…” He poked dinner. “They’ve been cooking an hour.”
I rubbed my shoulder. I’d lived with pain for so long, it was a habit. Then I realised there was no pain. Had Riezella cured me?
HEALTH – 80%
Alex watched me carefully. “How’s your shoulder?”
“Seems fine now, I think Riezella healed me.”
“And our plan?”
Dumbfounded, I nodded. “Getting back to the village and the City is a high priority. We need to rally everyone and get food down here to the Tromoal. Without food, this world is lost.”
“Then let’s eat and make a plan.”
I was surprised, but the rabbit tasted amazing. Fed and watered, we worked out the details to move underground to the city. I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. It was Dalfol and his sister. Together, they shuffled into the light.
“We would like to assist you,” she said. “I am Fie, and I apologise for my earlier behaviour.”
Dalfol punched her with a soft fisted hand and spoke. “It is good to converse for real, Maddie.” He grinned, stepped towards me, and took my hand in his. I shook it, and he sat before us. “We’ve listened to most of your plans. I think they will work out well, but there’s only one section of the cave system where you’ll be able to corral the cattle without spooking them.”
“There’s a large farm to the north of the city. We’ve spotted them already, but moving that number of livestock will not be easy,” Fie informed me.
“I think there are a few mages and other folks who will help,” I replied. “We’ve got to keep you fed for the next. . .? How long?”
“My eggs are all laid,” Fie said while patting her flat belly. “They will hatch in a day, and they’ll be flight ready in two.”
“We have less than three days.” I glanced back to Alex.
I felt totally selfish looking at him. Could he make the right decision for his future? What if I told him how long he really had left? No, because he’d make the wrong choice then. I was sure of it.
I swallowed. “We’ll sleep here tonight, then make our move back to Trox with the Hog.”
“We’ll not move. Dalfol and I will fly you through.”
“I might need transport when we get there.”
Dalfol rubbed the side of his face, almost like he might scratch as the Tromoal he was. “Then we will get your Hog to you.”
I had no idea how, but I wanted to see that. “It might take a few of us, but we can carry it. Maybe even. . . my sister is strong enough.”
She rolled her eyes. “You get the two of them to the city, and I will sort out that stupid Hog.”
I liked these two. They bantered like any family would. Alex reached over and tugged me to him. “We need to rest. This has been one very exciting day.”
I agreed and settled back in Alex’s arms. Staring at the Tromoal scales around us. I reached out, my bare skin touching cool flesh. Dalfol nodded his goodnight and vanished as did Fie.
I will speak with you first thing. We will then get you to the city as soon as possible. Rest well, my friends. We’ll sleep beside you. Do not worry. We won’t turn over in the night. He laughed, and I did too.
Alex leaned in, his lips brushed mine. “Thank you for being so amazing,” he said.
I pulled him to me and hugged him tightly. I wanted to be with him, to make love to him right here. . . nope. I snuggled against his neck and drifted off to sleep.
I woke with only the pain in my hip as a reminder that things were the same, yet I was still against Alex’s chest.
Dalfol’s cool scales poked into my back, and I squirmed. “Why don’t you guys feel warm? The sheer amount of heat you have inside should be like radiators!”
Dalfol laughed. We’ll take you to the cave entrance on the opposite side of the mountain. My sister is getting that vehicle of yours with a friend.
“Oh, she actually has friends.”
I heard her snort from a distance, and I laughed. Standing to stretch, Alex lost the one thing keeping him warm, and he grunted. “Hey, that’s not fair.”
“Come on. We need to move,” I said and gently kicked his boots.
Alex stood and shook the dust off his trousers. “I have to admit, I’m nervous as hell.”
I couldn’t agree more. The thought of getting on top of this humongous creature with wings was terrifying. However, I was prepared to do anything to get home, fast. And that meant we needed to fly.
