The Last Legend: Awakened

by Joshua B. Wichterich

  All of a sudden the familiar sounds of loud, blood-curdling screeches could be heard. Panic shot through Tairren’s body as he remembered the flying black creatures from the first night Marrisa had gotten captured. Tairren quickly pulled out one of his arrows and Phillip pulled his sword from its sheath, both ready for whatever was going to come at them.

  “What’s happening!?” Natalia yelled from her spot near the forest.

  They all looked up into the sky where the screeches were coming from. They could hear the blood-curdling screeches and growls but they could not see anything but dark clouds above them.

  “Run,” Tairren said, still watching the sky.

  They both ran back towards their horses. But as soon as they got on their horse’s backs, Natalia let out a loud scream. Tairren and Phillip watched in horror as Natalia was yanked from her horse and up into the dark air. A large flying creature came out of the forest and swooped down, grabbing her like how a hawk grabs its prey.

  “Natalia!” Tairren screamed out as they both raced their horses towards her.

  Tairren got a flash-back of the night Marrisa was taken from him right before his very own eyes. Seeing his companions in danger tore at his heart. Anger flashed through him as he heard Natalia’s cries for help.

  Natalia screamed and fought, trying to swing her sword at the flying, black creature. All she could do was blindly swing the small sword, trying to get the fiend to drop her before they were too high up into the air. The creature would not relent and its grasp on her only got tighter. She kicked her legs, but the creature stopped her by wrapping its long bony tail around her legs tightly. The smell of burnt flesh emitted from the thing, burning her nostrils. Her heart raced as she was taken up into the sky with the repulsive creature above her. Its grotesque arms were wrapped tightly around her chest while its serpent-like tail swathed firmly around her squirming legs. The pulses of its clawed wings against the air thudded in her ears as it flapped away.

  “Tairren! Please help me Tairren!” Natalia screamed out as she was taken towards the top of the great wall and towards the Forbidden Lands.

  She was terrified of the thought that it might have been the end of her…

  All of a sudden more screaming and evil looking creatures came from the forest, and even more came from over the top of the wall, from the Black Forest. The black winged creatures looked like a cross between a monstrous bat and a deformed human with a long bony tail that had a sharp hook-like point at the end. Their mouths were opened wide, releasing their terrifying screams and their large black eyes were wild, searching into their souls. Their horns were sharp and pointed like their massive black claws and they left the foul scent of burning death in the air. They were like nightmares that had escaped from the deepest pits of hell.

  They swooped down at Tairren and Phillip, trying to grab any part of them to bring them into the air and into the Forbidden Lands like one of the creatures was doing to Natalia. Phillip swung his sword violently at the frenzied creatures as they attacked. He knocked off one of their legs and another’s tail. Their blood was like thick, black fluid as it sprayed out into the air and on their faces and tunics. He also got the best of one as he sliced off half of its wing and another by knocking off its head. They flapped and screamed madly as they crashed to the ground.

  Tairren shot some with his bow and arrows. His arrows pierced their chests and necks, but seemed to not affect them but only get them angrier—until he shot an arrow through one of their heads. The black fluid squirted out of the thing’s hideous head like a thick stream of water from a fountain. The creatures that were wounded crashed to the ground with heavy thuds, curling and thrashing about like wild, hurt animals.

  Tairren kept his eyes on Natalia during the chaos, waiting for the right moment to shoot the creature down, who would not relent. The creature was taking Natalia to the top of the wall, which was really high up. If Natalia fell from the monster then, she would surely die from the fall.

  “You are my strength—God of light,” Tairren whispered to himself with his heart pounding as he pointed his arrow directly at the creature who held on so tightly to Natalia. He raced Lilly as close as he could to the wall, to get a good shot at the creature. “Direct my hand,” Tairren prayed.

  Then as soon as the creature took Natalia right above the wall, Tairren shot his arrow, right at the creature’s head. The arrow, with full force, pierced right through the creature’s deformed and horned head, jutting straight out of the other side. The thing let out a blood-curdling and raspy cry as it released Natalia, dropping her. She awkwardly flung her legs and arms as she fell on top of the wall. The creature fell onto the top of the wall as well, making some kind of splat noise as it hit. Tairren’s heart jumped with excitement as he saw that Natalia was safe and away from the creature and that his shot was perfect.

  †††

  Natalia got up from her bruised knees, quickly standing to look down from the wall. She grabbed her sword that fell to the stone top of the wall and leaned over a short stone barrier that protected her from falling off. She was really high up—everything below her looked so small. Her heart seemed to be pounding in her head now as she watched in horror at the pandemonium below her. The many creatures swarmed around Tairren and Phillip below as they tried so hard to fight them off and get away from them on their horses. She noticed her poor Orchid was trying her best to get away from the attacking creatures as well, running here and there and jumping up to use her hooves to hit them. The creatures were relentless and tried so hard to get to their hearts.

  “What should I do!?” Natalia yelled out as she brought her shaking hands to her head while looking for a way back down again.

  The top of the wall was really wide as well and could fit at least ten large men standing shoulder to shoulder, all the way across. She looked around, feeling sick as she noticed many more dead men on the wall around her—some were torn open and others laid with their eyes locked open. She passed the limp and lifeless creature that had attacked her, slowly. She didn’t know for sure if it was dead, but once she saw the black liquid that oozed from its head and surround it like a rain puddle, she knew it was.

  The creature was bigger and longer than she thought and looked about six feet tall. It was really repulsive looking and still frightened her even though it was dead. Its massive wings lay broken and crinkled on the stone and its body lay in an awkward-looking position. If its wings were spread open from tip to tip, the wing span probably would have been twice as long as its height. Its large black eyes and gaping mouth were quite jarring and stayed open, even when it was dead.

  She hurried to the other side of the wall, looking for a way down. The wind whipped at her hair and gown as she nearly fell over one of the dead guards. There was no way down, anywhere. Her heart sunk like a stone in the ocean as she realized that there seemed to be no way off of the wall to help her companions. She began to become frantic.

  She looked off into the distance and noticed how vast, dark, and gloomy the other side of the wall was.

  The Black Forest went on for miles. Farthest to the south she could see the mountains and something that looked like a great tower. She quickly wondered if Marrisa was in that tower and if she was scared or safe—or even alive. She glanced around the view. Her heart raced as she got the full outlook of the Forbidden Lands—and she loathed it already. She could see that the farthest parts of the south was the darkest and appeared as if no life really existed there—no light. The clouds were black, the forests were dark, and the lands were dead. It appeared like something straight out of a nightmare.

  All of a sudden more shrieks erupted from the Black Forest. Her heart skipped a beat as she frantically looked everywhere. She looked towards the tops of the shadowy and twisted trees and noticed many more creatures coming from them. They were like shadows with mighty wings. Dozens began to swarm in the distance, looking sinister and hectic as they flew about in a whirling black cloud.

  “No,” N
atalia groaned to herself as she began to become upset and sickened, watching as many swarms of the wicked things came flying towards her and the wall—screaming and growling, whirling and flapping.

  Panicked and feeling helpless and terrified, Natalia went running towards the nearest tower, wanting to get down from the top of the wall as quick as she could. Her heart sunk even lower as she realized that she was between two of the towers that roared with fires. There was no way down! She ran to the short wall again, peering over—wishing that she could just jump off with no pain afterwards. She saw that Tairren and Phillip were struggling, fighting for their lives while she was trapped on the mountain of a wall…

  †††

  Tairren had just run out of arrows and was beginning to become nervous, all he could do was try to get away from the creatures as quickly as he could. He searched the grounds for some kind of weapon with his quick eyes—something that could be useful to him. His heart thudded rapidly and the adrenaline flowed through him like mighty waters as sweat dripped from his brow.

  He finally saw the perfect chance to retrieve an adequate weapon. He saw a sword lying next to one of the many dead guards. His only way to get it was to jump from lilly who was dashing like the wind. He could not stop because the creatures were gaining on him. He refused to look behind him because he knew that they were right on his back—the shrieks from the things rang through his ears like lightning, making him cringe.

  The time was upon him that he had to fall from Lilly’s back. Not doubting himself in any kind of way, he let go and crashed to the ground, rolling and tumbling, then stopped abruptly against one of the dead guards. He quickly went to his knees, frantically searching for the sword. He spotted it within seconds and as soon as he grabbed the sword, one of the creatures dove down at him—missing in the process and crashing head first into the earth. The snap of the winged creature’s neck sounded disturbing but the thought of one of them dying was invigorating. Tairren fought the creatures with all of his might as they attacked in a whirling and angry wind.

  Phillip saw that Tairren was in distress and made his way back to him, swinging his sword at the wild flying things in the process. He wouldn’t be of any help if he stayed on his horse, so he jumped from Sable’s back. He swiftly tumbled to the ground with his sword in his hand and got up as quickly as he fell. He was by Tairren’s side swinging, making sure their backs were facing each other so that the creatures would not get the best of them. The fiends began to circle them like a massive twister, screeching and taunting with gnashing jaws and swinging claws.

  “Glance up towards the wall!” Phillip yelled.

  Tairren quickly looked up towards the top of the wall, realizing what Phillip was yelling about. Natalia seemed to be screaming out something and pointed behind her in the southern direction. She looked terrified and the wind blew at her.

  “There are too many! We must get out of here for the sake of our lives!” Phillip yelled.

  Phillip was right, there were too many and the swarms seemed to multiply by the second. They had no chance and the fight was too big for them.

  “Run towards the nearest tower door, now!” Tairren yelled back as he took one last swing.

  Just then, they sprinted as fast as they could, dodging oncoming creatures and jumping over dead guards and horses. The tower entrance on the closest part of the wall didn’t look so far away from them, but as they ran it felt like they were never going to make it there alive.

  †††

  Natalia noticed that they began to run. She felt relieved but she knew the worst was coming as the screams from the looming creatures became louder. The oncoming beasts were swarming around her now, circling around her in a whirlwind of screams. The smell of burning flesh and death began to surround her, filling her nostrils with the stench. Her heart felt as if it were about to explode as the terror and stress of the situation lay thick on her mind and body. Natalia began to scream out as she dropped her small sword. The now useless sword made a clank sound as it hit the stone. The many taunting screams and growls were too much for her ears to handle all at once. She began to cry as she frantically covered her ears with her hands, pressing hard as she screamed at the taunting creatures. Through the screams she heard many threatening things in her heart. They were speaking to her spirit, and told her many wicked things—and they yearned for her beating heart and the blood it was soaked with.

  Natalia backed away towards the short wall-barrier, pressing her lower back against it as she continued to scream and hold her ears. The flying beasts came in on her, whirling around her like a mighty tornado. The wind from their wings was too powerful and hard to stand up against. One of the creatures swooped strongly down at her, bringing a wind like that of an evil storm. The wicked creature went to grab her but she fought it as much as her petite body could. She remembered what Phillip and Tairren had said to her earlier about protecting herself—and she fought like she never fought before.

  She panicked as she realized that she was falling over the edge of the wall! One minute her feet were on solid ground and the next, they were up in the air! In a quick second her heart felt like it dropped into her stomach as her body flung over the wall-barrier. She screamed as she flung her arms and legs frantically, speeding down to the earth in a mighty and terrifying pull of gravity…

  †††

  Tairren and Phillip saw the attack of the dozens of creatures upon Natalia. And just as they almost made it to the entry-way of the lowest part of one of the watch-towers—they saw her fall. They screamed out her name as the creatures continued to attack them. She looked so frantic and helpless as she hurtled down to the ground at full-force. Tears swelled up in Tairren’s eyes as he continued to scream, not realizing that the tormenting creatures were coming in on him and covering him, like a black blanket. All he could see was darkness now. All he could hear were screams in his ears and taunting voices in his heart—trying to get into his soul as he was taken down to the ground… “Bring forth your hand—my God!” his heart cried out—thinking that death had taken hold of him…

  †††

  Something happened so quickly then—like the blinking of an eye, or the flashing of lightning during a thunder storm. As it seemed to them that it was all over, like there was no way out—like darkness had won and suffocated every source of light out of them, and like their lives were over, defeated and gone—something miraculous happened... It came as quick as the wind or as quick as the flashing of light—and each and every one of them felt a pull within their hearts. A mighty strength of power seemed to come over them as they were on the threshold of death.

  Natalia’s life flashed before her eyes as the wind rushed over her body. She saw the faces of everyone she loved, she saw her childhood—and she saw Marrisa… And then—a strong hand reached out and grabbed her. She didn’t know what happened and she didn’t know what was going on—because it happened so fast—but as she was falling to her death, something swooped down and caught her. She felt as if she were caught into the air, as if a mighty wind became solid beneath her body. At first she thought it was one of the flying tormentors who caught her, but the grasp of the rescuer was too gentle, too considerate and loving—and she felt it through its touch. The next thing she knew, she was sitting in the lap of someone, but she was still in the air because she felt the wind in her hair and the coolness of it on her face.

  She realized she was now sitting on the back of some kind of flying animal—an animal she had never seen before. It had the whitest of white fur with golden flecks in it and it had mighty wings that were the color of snow in the sun-light. And it had the sweet smell of fresh air—it smelled like nature on a cold bright morning or like the crisp winds that would blow down from the north. She could see below her now as she felt that she was in peace. She was confused for moment, going from a state of frantic terror as she was crashing down to the ground in a chaotic whirlwind of death, to graceful peace—soaring through the air. And for the first tim
e since she left her home, she felt safe and sound, protected, and wanted to stay that way.

  She looked up behind her at the being who saved her, the one who held on to her securely as they soared through the brisk atmosphere. And she was shocked when she got a good look at him. He was beautiful but strange-looking at the same time. His long hair was like the color of the flying animal’s wings—the color of the snow in the sunlight. His skin was white like his hair and looked as if light glowed beneath it, as if every cell of blood in his body was made of soft light. His eyes were kind and beautiful, and had a light-golden hue in them, deep within them—like the color of the sky in the early morning which reflected off of rippling waters or mountain tops. She felt as if she were at home, safe and sound. She felt a strange connection with the being of light, as if she had known him her whole life. Natalia couldn’t take her eyes off of the beautiful strangeness of his face; and when she finally did, she snapped back into reality and realized that they were gliding safely down to the ground.

  †††

  Like Natalia, Tairren and Phillip were also forced into a radical change of scenario. It was like a dream of some sort, the way they went from a horrifying state of panic and back into the presence of life. It began with a loud sound, like the sound of a trumpet—and there were many of them. The sounds of the trumpets were beautiful and seemed to rip through the screams that came from the black creatures like a burning blade. The shrieks of the creatures diminished beneath the sounds of the trumpets and they began to disperse like a swarm of hornets beneath a heavy rain.

  It happened so quickly. Golden arrows shot through the black creatures like beams of light. They began to drop like flies as the golden arrows defeated them. As soon as the creatures relented and fell from Tairren and Phillip—they witnessed a powerful and heroic scene. They could see many creatures of light coming down from the sky, quick like the wind and beautiful like a sunrise. There were dozens of them, beautiful people who seemed to glow even though the sky was thick and black like shadows.