by P. L. Smith
"There... was an eighth..."
Lethan's mumbling voice trailed off, as he slipped back into a fitful sleep.
"Can you believe that Jak? Wolf-horses and flying lions?"
"Could be just a myth."
"Aye, I suppose it could. Still, be sommat to see."
Jak just nodded. She had other things on her mind. Namely, how they were going to warn all the other villages, and what good would it even do? Where would they go that Firejacks wouldn't find them? How were they going to build armor for the foresters, once all the villages were destroyed? It was too much to handle, and all she wanted to do was sleep, but her mind kept racing.
When the horizon began to turn gray, she had had enough. She pushed herself up and left the relative comfort of the heat radiating from the pile of coals. Her eyes felt swollen from her lack of sleep, and she rubbed at them with her fists. She stretched her stiff body from side to side and bent forward, her palms flat on the ground. Rising up, she arched her back and pulled her shoulders together, feeling the satisfying pop, pop, pop of her spine.
Jak walked through the trees, breathing in the morning air. It was cold, and it stung at her nose. She could smell the dew on the earth, the trees, and the leaves. Everything seemed so fresh and clean and right, but then she smelled the smoke. The image of her burning village came back fresh in her mind. She leapt catching the lowest branch on a big pine. Her fatigued muscles quivered as she pulled herself up. Her heart beat fast from the exertion, and it felt good.
She climbed higher and higher into the tree, stopping only when she reached the small branches at the top that wouldn't carry her weight. Straddling one of the last branches, she leaned back against the trunk and took in the panorama of the forest and the valley beyond. Smoke still rose from the village. It rose to a point in the air and then spread out into a long flat cloud. The low light of the morning and softness of the smoke cloud made it appear as though the valley were bathed in a layer of fog.
She remembered fog. They never got any in the village, but when she was younger, just after her brother was born, her parents had taken them to the sea. It was cold and the salty water splashed over the rocks and sprayed her, but it didn't matter. She loved it. She ran upon the soft dark sand as fast as she could. She and her mother had looked for tiny shells among the grains of sand. By afternoon, Jak had filled her pockets with the tiny shells, only to have nothing but broken bits when they arrived home. The only thing she didn't like about that day was the fog. It had scared her, and it still did, and still she didn't know why.
Through the smoke she could see a long dark line leaving the village heading east. It was like a long black snake. Her eyes squinted, trying to focus. It was moving unnaturally fast across the plains. The haze, the lack of sleep, and the low light made her think she was seeing things. But it didn't fade in and out like a mirage. It was there, and it was moving very fast, weaving back and forth, almost slithering. As the sun rose from the east, and the land was swallowed by a wave of golden light, the line became illuminated. It shone shiny orange, Firejack orange.
Jak dropped from the tree in an instant and was sprinting back to their campfire.
"Tiny! Lethan! Wake up!"
Lethan's head snapped up with a snort.
"Huh? Hmm? What’s up?"
"We're leaving."
Jak walked over and nudged the big snoring man until he stirred.
"Tiny! Wake up! We have to leave. There's thousands of Firejacks marching to the east. We have to get to Dagan and tell him to warn the villages."
"Huh? What's that you say girl? Firejacks marching to the east? Well, I suppose we best get a move on then."
Tiny grunted loudly as he pulled himself to a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from his face.
"Well then, let's be off. Ain't got nothing for breakfast anyhow."
"Dammit!"
Lethan cried out in pain as he tried to stand; the crinkled skin pulled tight as his muscles flexed.
"You're in no shape to travel, at least not fast," said Jak.
"Go ahead. I told you to leave me yesterday."
"You won't make it halfway up the mountain on your own. We'll just have to move as fast as we can.”
"Nay, Jak. You go. Them villagers need warning. I'll bring up Lethan. You're the fastest. Go.”
"Don't I get a say in this? Maybe I don't even want to go to the mountains," said Lethan.
Jak and Tiny ignored him.
"All right. I guess that's the only way. I'll go, as long as you two promise not to kill each other."
"I'm the wounded one!" said Lethan.
"Don't worry Jak. We'll both be on our best behavior, won't we Lethan?"
Tiny was smiling broadly. Lethan grimaced.
"Peachy."
"All right then, good luck and goodbye you two!"
"Be careful Jak, Mo-Na be with you," said Tiny.
"Keep your bolts handy," said Lethan.
They waved, and she loped off, disappearing through the trees.
"Well Lycan, are you ready to put those charred stumps to use?" asked Tiny with a smirk.
"It's Lethan, Tiny, and since we don't have anything to eat I don't see why not."
Lethan pushed himself up against the tree and tested his weight on his legs. The pain nearly caused him to fall, but Tiny swooped beneath his arm and took his weight.
"Might find you a stick to walk with on the other side."
"Well, if we see one on the way you can grab it for me. I don't see any point in leaving the trail. It's going to take us long enough as it is."
"Right. Here we go."
They moved forward, getting their steps in sync, slowly hobbling through the forest. Lethan's ears perked.
"Hey you ever hear the one about the Centaur and porcupine?"
CHAPTER VIII
Dagan shifted uncomfortably on the large rock upon which he sat. His old hips and joints couldn't take sitting on something so hard anymore. The soft grass growing next to the cold mountain lake below would be preferential, but he didn't have much longer; his watch was nearly up.
He had managed to get all of his foresters, the ones left, into the safety of the mountains, following the great peak to the mouth of the Mountainhold Canyon. Towards the end of the canyon, it narrowed and got very steep. It had been difficult climbing for everyone, but Dagan's old bones still ached, and this was the third day since the climb.
They had reached the table on which the lake was carved just before nightfall. It was a good spot, plenty of grass, water, and had an excellent vantage point. From where he sat, he could see the entire forest and the plains beyond.
The smoke had finally gone. Today was the first day that the sky was clear, and his eyes squinted at the brightness of the sun, nearly at its peak.
Dagan heard the loud clopping of horse hoof on rock and turned to see his relief.
"Good morning, Calypso."
"It's nearly midday. Take your leave."
"Thank you." Dagan grunted as he shifted again.
"Have you seen anything?"
"Nothing, no sign of them."
"I meant of Firejacks."
"Oh. No, none of them either."
"You haven't been looking very hard, Old Bull. There's something coming now."
Dagan turned and gazed back down the canyon. It took him a minute, but as soon as he spotted the two figures emerging from the tree-line, he knew it was Lethan.
"Right, that'll be them. I, uh... don't suppose I could ask one of your legion to help retrieve Lethan? You remember how steep it was."
"I'll not order any of my people to carry any other creature, especially a Lycan. But you are free to ask, steward. I doubt any will agree."
"I see."
Dagan moved past Calypso, his split hooves handling the rocky terrain much easier than the flat hooves of the Centaur.
"Dagan. Ask Minar. He'll carry your Lycan."
"Thank you, Calypso. I'll do that."
****
"Oh thank Mo-Na. They're sending horses to get us. That's good, I was near done in," said Tiny.
"That's a Centaur, not a horse," said Lethan.
"Oh. Are they friendly?"
"Not particularly."
The Centaur galloped down the hill and skidded to a stop before them.
"Lycan, I am Minar. I'll carry you to the top."
Lethan slapped Tiny on the back with a grin.
"But then again, I could be wrong! Minar, I would be happy to accept your invitation."
Lethan hobbled over and pushed himself up onto the centaur's back and carefully lifted his leg over.
"Well, Minar I'm ready when you are. Tiny, I'll see you at the top!"
"Yeah if I don't die first!"
But the Centaur had already kicked up a dirt cloud and was lurching up the hill, with Lethan desperately trying to keep his seat.
"All right fat man, one last push up the hill," Tiny told himself.
When he finally reached the top, covered in sweat, he could hear shouting. It was Lethan.
"What do you mean she's not here?"
"I mean she's not here. Hasn't been for two days."
"Talking about Jak? Where's she gone?" asked Tiny, trying to catch his breath.
"She came here and told us about the Firejacks marching east. So we sent out messengers, but she insisted on being one of them. A lot of fire in that girl."
"And you let her go?!"
"Of course I did. I am not her caretaker, Lethan, and she's shown she can handle herself. Besides I'm not saying no to a feisty young girl with a weapon like that crossbow."
"Aye, she's a hard headed young gal. Her father was the same way," said Tiny.
"She's been gone for two days? How long before she should be back?"
"I expected her and the other messengers back by today or tomorrow. Have patience Lethan; she'll be all right. She's a smart girl."
Lethan cursed and kicked at the ground and immediately regretted it. His painfully charred legs gave out, and he landed on his tail. He looked up at Tiny and Dagan, his face growing red.
"Well, don't just stand there! Help me up!"
****
"Owe! Mo-Na! Honestly Dagan, can't you do that any easier?"
"You've got to work it in to the cracks, keeps out the blood poison."
"What if I don't have any skin left?"
Dagan ignored him and continued rubbing the stinky salve into Lethan's legs.
"Well gents, how are we this fine morning?"
"Ah, Mr. Tiny, we're doing well. How did you sleep?" asked Dagan.
"Oh, well enough. I must say, you have quite the beautiful sanctuary up here."
"Yes, it is that. The foresters have used these canyons as a refuge for centuries, but I haven't been up here since I was a calf, during the great fire."
"Great fire? Only one I know of was when my Grandpa was a boy. He said nearly two-thirds of the forest burned to stumps."
"Yes, that'll be the one."
"Nah, you can't be that old?"
"Oh yes. Minotaurs, well all foresters, have a much longer lifespan than Yumans."
"Hah, I never knew. Then again, there's much I didn't know about your lot. I didn't even know the stags were foresters, until Lethan told me and Jak. Then the Griffins and the Volcanacks..."
"Vukodlaks. Yes, both ancient races that died out a very, very long time ago," Dagan said.
"Lethan said there was another one, an eighth race, but he fell asleep before he could finish."
Dagan's head snapped to Lethan, and his eyes pierced into him.
"I... I did?"
"Oh yes. Although you had a mighty fever and could have been a tad delusional."
"No, he was not confused. There was an eighth," said Dagan.
"Oh?"
"They were the Dragons, flying serpents. We do not speak of them, because they were an abomination. An evil race. They sought control of the world and began warring with the Vukodlaks."
"Sounds like the Firejacks are following in their steps."
"Funny you should say that. The Firejacks were actually bred by the Dragons, raised to be soldiers."
"So the Firejacks are foresters then?"
"No, at least not entirely. They are a hybrid. Something in between beast and forester. The queen can speak, but the Firejacks cannot. They are just mindless drones, killing machines. Luckily, they hadn't been breeding long enough to have a sizable army at the time. I think the dragons were planning on using them to wipe the rest of us out after they finished with the Vukodlaks.
"The Vukodlaks asked the other foresters for aid, but by the time they managed to rally, it was too late. The Dragons had slain every last one of the Vukodlaks. So, the foresters drove the Dragons up into the northern mountains, finally cornering them all in a deep canyon. The Griffins kept them pinned down from above and the rest of them attacked from the ground. The Dragons had nowhere to go. They fought until only the king, Agethar, was drawing breath. The Griffins pulled him from the sky, and the rest of the foresters tore him apart, limb by limb. His body was scattered to the ends of the earth, so that Mo-Na could never collect his soul. It was a dark time for all foresters."
"What about the Griffins? What happened to them?"
"There was but a few left after the war. They were a race that had long lifespans, much longer than the other foresters, so they seldom bore offspring. A disease swept through them and their numbers dwindled. Finally, the few survivors simply left to die. They were a strange race, strong in their values and secretive in their rituals."
Tiny let out a heavy breath. There was so much that the Yumans didn't know about the Foresters.
"Too bad you lot didn't wipe out the Firejacks while you were at it," said Tiny shaking his head.
"Yes, had they the foresight to know this was coming, I think they would have. But at the time the Firejacks were small in numbers and not much of a threat without their masters. They..."
Yelling caused the three to turn towards the mouth of the valley. Foresters were running to the edge of the hillside as Yumans appeared; ragged and bloody refugees from the villages.
Tiny and Dagan ran forward with Lethan hobbling along behind.
"No, don't worry about me."
The first villager they reached was a man with a blood-crusted forehead carrying a small sleeping child.
"What village are you from?" shouted Dagan and Tiny, speaking at nearly the same time. The man looked dazed for a moment, looking back and forth from the big Yuman to the even bigger Minotaur.
"I uh... we're from Greenleaf. We were attacked."
"By the Firejacks?"
The man nodded slowly as Lethan limped up.
"Who was it that brought you? Was it a girl?"
The man shook his head and pointed back at a Centaur conversing with Calypso. Lethan, Dagan, and Tiny all seemed to shrink.
"All right. Get yourselves to the lake. The water is cold and fresh and we've collected food. The grass is soft. You all look like you could use some rest," said Dagan.
The man nodded again and moved off.
"Well which village do you suppose she took?" asked Lethan.
"Ah! Fool girl," said Tiny.
"What?"
"She's got a cousin up in Stonesweat."
Lethan's eyes widened.
"Stonesweat? If Greenleaf was hit, that means they've already been through Stonesweat!"
"I know, Lethan!" said Tiny.
"All right, let's take it easy. It doesn't mean anything. She's a smart girl, and she had a head start. She'll be coming in with a lot of hungry Yumans any time now," said Dagan.
Lethan turned and limped off.
"Where are you going?" asked Tiny.
"To stand watch."
Tiny and Dagan watched him go.
"He's taken to that girl hasn't he?"
"Yes. Yes, I think he has," nodded Dagan with a smile.
****
Lethan stared across the dim, moonlit treetops.
Just before the sun had set, one of Dagan's Minotaurs brought in a group of villagers from Foxden. They were ragged but not bloody. Luckily Dagan's scout had convinced them to flee before the Firejacks had come. He had said that they could see smoke from their burning village mere hours after leaving. It had been close.
The throbbing in Lethan's head was worse than the throbbing of his legs, which he couldn't decide if it was a relief or an agony. But tonight the demon in his gut was punishing him. The feeding had not taken place; the demon had not been satiated, and it was angry. Lethan's hands shook uncontrollably, and he kept swallowing hard to keep his bile down.
He did his best to ignore the demon's painful pokes and prods and focused on the tree line, urging the figure of a young blonde Yuman to emerge. Rubbing at his temples did nothing in the long run, but the hard pushing of his fingertips seemed to release the pressure and the pain if only for a moment.
The bile threatened to come up, and Lethan felt its foul tasting burn at the back of his throat. He leaned forward putting his head between his knees. He choked and coughed as he vomited, his entire body convulsing as the demon's claws squeezed around his throat.
"You don't sound so good."
Lethan turned to see Tiny carefully making his way down the loose jagged rocks near the cliff's edge.
"You should see how I look."
Lethan coughed and spit, trying to clear his mouth of the foul taste.
"Here."
Tiny held out a goat skin sack. Lethan took it and pulled the cork, sniffing the contents before pouring himself a mouthful. He swished around the cool water and spit it out on the rocks before taking another swig. The water eased down his throat cooling the demon's fire. For a moment at least, he felt relief.
"Thanks."
"Thought you could use it if tonight was anything like the last couple."
"Worse. Much worse."
Tiny worked himself down onto a rock next to Lethan and breathed in the cold night air.
"Ya seen any sign of anything?"
"No nothing."
"What about smells? You ought to be able to smell pretty good eh?"
Lethan raised his brow.
"I can smell better than I can see, and all I smell is trees, smoke, and blood... and now vomit."
"Aye."
They both sat silently. Lethan's hands began shaking once again, and he felt a new wave of nausea wash over him.
