by Reece Dinn
He trudged through the deep snow, traversing the pass back to camp. Give up for the day. Tomorrow travel far east. If find herd of mirac kill many of them. Store meat in snow. Eat after. It was a handy skill he'd learnt, storing meat under the snow. The trick was to bury it deep enough to mask the scent from wandering sehseh. The first few he'd tried to store he'd buried too close to the surface and when he'd awoken the next day they'd been ransacked. The carcass's remains had been strewn all over the camp. Burying them deeper hid them from the sehseh's keen nose.
His stomach grumbled, his energy depleting fast. Normally he'd have been fine missing eating for a day, but since encountering the Enemy and losing some Raiz he'd found that his stamina wasn't what it'd been. He needed to eat more just to sustain his energy levels. He tired faster when training, and had to resort to using Brubah to stop his muscles draining of strength. Doing that though meant his mind tired faster, and it took more concentration to perform any Raiz skill. Using Raiz too much forced him to put an end to his training earlier than he would like each day as well, so he could sleep. The needless extra effort was becoming frustrating. Like Sehnal after they'd created their weapons with Raiz, he'd learn to cope with the loss of Raiz eventually through training, he knew, but he had no idea exactly how long that would take, or what kind of training he would have to endure. Would it happen naturally, or was it some technique the Lial taught them?
The deep snow was sapping his strength, so he used Brubah once again to keep going. Already he felt the effort tiring his mind. He just wanted to lie down and sleep. Live rest of life like this?
Rocks tumbled down the mountainside to his left.
Two sehseh were stalking up a trail rising steeply up and around the mountain. He watched the two until they disappeared around the bend. They hunt animals? Follow them? Kill prey for me? Sehseh hunted in the mornings, Melonaz had observed, then again in the afternoon, then for a third time just after dusk. Sehseh eat when can, I think. Not think they like hunting. They prefer to steal.
He glanced up, following the trail. Eat sehseh if must. Better than no food. Melonaz smacked his lips. He thought of mirac broth and lilnac stew, or even just meat crackling over a spit. The images filled his mouth with saliva.
The trail wasn't difficult to navigate, the snow shallower the higher he rose, though the rock underneath was covered with slippery ice. Progress slowed when his already depleted stamina began to fail him, forcing him to use whatever supports he could find to help him as he clambered up the steep rise. He hadn't realised just how high the trail went up the mountain until he'd reached the bend the sehseh had disappeared around. The pass below looked small and narrow now, like a stream of snow through a landscape of black rock.
He continued on, following the sehseh tracks in the snow. Further on the trail dropped away sharply. At the bottom of the big drop was a mound of snow, but it was impossible to gauge how thick it actually was. There were nothing to indicate that the sehseh had made the jump, although further on their tracks reappeared. How? They climb down the other way? The rock down the rest of the mountainside was much too steep and slippery for him to climb down without injuring himself.
He unfastened Dajimoz and dropped it into the mound. To his relief the sword sank into it completely. Deep enough. Without hesitating any longer he jumped, plunging into the thick snow. Pain shot through his ankle as it hit something hard. He growled, punching the snow with irritation, straining his Raiz to strengthen Brubah. The pain gradually eased, but fatigue overcame him. He lay there for a few moments, trying to muster the will to continue on. When he finally managed to he dug through the snow, blindly searching for Dajimoz. The blade almost sliced his fingers open when he found it. Excavating it, he then dug his way back out of the mound and continued along the trail, following the sehseh's tracks.
The trail led to another precarious part a little ways ahead, a series of ledges that led up the mountainside, each one covered in ice that glistened in the early evening light. He'd have to jump up them if he wanted to follow. Sehseh do it. I do it too. The sehseh were much lighter of body however, and he knew it wouldn't be so simple. He braced himself for the first jump. It was tempting to use Hakah, but he knew that he couldn't stop Brubah, and was too tired to even attempt to perform two skills at once. It was certain death if he misjudged the jump, or slipped, the drop down the mountainside steep and sharp. He took a deep breath.
I not die here.
He jumped, landed, but his foot slipped on the rock and he swayed to and fro, desperately trying to keep balance. His sore ankle throbbed, knee threatening to buckle. He bit down on his lower lip, forcing himself to bear the pain. Grasping the wall he found his footing and righted himself, breathing a sigh of relief as he did so.
The next ledge was further away than he'd first thought, higher too. No choice. Hope don't pass out. He stopped Brubah, used Hakah, enduring the pain that suddenly burned in his ankle, and leapt. Even with Hakah he only managed to jump high enough for his hands to reach the ledge. Desperately he grasped the rock, terrified of even one finger slipping, and pulled himself up. He flattened himself on the small ledge when he hauled himself up, taking a moment to gasp in a breath and recover. Don't be so weak. He grumbled to himself, the pain in his ankle worsening.
Picking himself up he leapt for the next rock, using Hakah again. To his surprise he almost over jumped it, landing on its far side, half a hand's breath away from toppling over the edge. He leant backwards to stop from falling. Stupid. Stupid.
The next jumps were easier, but he still breathed a big sigh of relief when he reached the final ledge and rejoined the trail that continued to circle up the mountainside. The trail rose sharply, becoming narrow and slippery. The tracks led on though, so he followed them. It rankled that he hadn't caught the sehseh yet, but wasn't too surprising, considering the condition he was in. He was lucky to still be standing.
Up ahead the trail disappeared behind an outcropping of jagged rock. He ascended it, using his hands to keep balance while keeping his body low, sensing that he was close now, several specks of heat having appeared in his mind. Two were bigger than the others.
The rock was sharper up here, the thin layer of ice coating them harsh to touch. The snow on the ground was thicker at least, but he kept wincing as he cut his skin every time he grabbed a rock for balance. As the trail steepened he was forced to crawl on his hands and knees to avoid slipping. He wasn't sure why he was still climbing, the risks were far greater than the reward at this stage, but his stubbornness wouldn't allow him to turn back.
The sun had dropped below the mountain peaks, the sky glowing with red light. He guessed that he'd be climbing back down in darkness, unless he was going to make camp up here somewhere. Neither prospect appealed.
The trail narrowed more, barely wide enough now to fit a sehseh, let alone him, but it'd levelled out. Jagged rock lined the path, the rocks cutting into his sides as he passed, but at least he could walk on two feet again, having something to hold on to.
A low growl came from ahead.
He slowed, holding his breath. No other sound came so he crept forward. The trail fell away ahead, making it difficult to see anything. He crept along to the point where it fell then crouched down, nearly slicing his cheek open on a sharp rock as he edged forwards.
The trail dropped into a small opening surrounded by a wall of rock. Two ankaroc lay inside it, their fur golden in the setting sun's light. The creatures were calm and peaceful. Several large white eggs lay underneath one of them, the Mal, Melonaz assumed.
The two sehseh stalked down to the ankaroc, keeping themselves low to the ground. Through a gap in the rocks he saw two more sehseh stalking up another trail that led to the same spot. Not think sehseh hunt ankaroc. Think other way around. He rose slightly and crept forward, trying his best to not make any sudden movements. Not have ankaroc before. Taste good, I think. Better than sehseh.
The cold white eye of the ankaroc incubating the eggs snapped op
en. Its dead white eyes fell upon him, its glare piercing. Melonaz fell back onto his rear, heart pounding. The ankaroc leapt to its feet, spreading its wings, making itself look even bigger, and let out an almighty screech that split the silence of the mountains like a sword through flesh.
The sehseh barked and whimpered. The two he'd been trailing bolted back up towards him. The fleeing creatures leapt over his crouched form, their claws near slicing him as they narrowly passed overhead.
The other ankaroc, the Dal, was on its feet now, screeching too, stamping its feet and beating its wings on the rocks around it.
Want fight? Good. Crack open your skull. He drew Dajimoz, trying to display more confidence than he felt. I kill ludenez. Can kill you. Dajimoz trembled in his hand as he rose back up.
The Mal ankaroc beat its wings furiously, screeching and screaming as loud as it could while trying to cover its eggs from sight. Their cries shook Melonaz to his core. Everything he'd learnt from the Lial left him. The Dal ankaroc charged forward, leapt high into the air, and dove down at him, its gaping mouth revealing dozens of razor sharp fangs.
Melonaz reacted too slowly, allowing the ankaroc to twist in the air and kick him, the force of the blow knocking him backwards, its claws shredding his flesh, ripping through his furs with ease. He was flung back, his body smacking the rocks, scraping the flesh from his back in multiple places before he crumpled to the ground. His head swam, but the ankaroc's screeching swiftly brought him back to his senses.
It'd risen back up into the air to circle around and attack again. Its large form drifted through the air like it was weightless. Then, in a sudden spurt of speed, it dove at him again, its cold white eyes making him falter, paralysing him with fear.
'No,' yelled Melonaz, trying to focus his Raiz but feeling nothing. The ankaroc twisted again, baring its claws.
Melonaz braced himself, the pain in his wounds burning as his muscles tensed. The claws engulfed his vision. Instinctively he lashed out at them with Dajimoz, but the blade fell short. With his free hand he grabbed hold of a claw as they stabbed into him. Pain exploded across his chest, but he held on tight as he was lifted off the ground, the ankaroc flapping its wings furiously, struggling with Melonaz's weight. It screeched, the sound splitting his ears. Each beat of its wing hit him in the head, dazing him as he was about to stab it. They rose higher and higher, the ankaroc refusing to let him go, the creature's strength considerable, then it flew away from the mountain, the terrain below transforming into a sea of white. He held on tight, suddenly thankful that its claws were in his chest, despite the agony they caused him. They spun and tumbled through the air, locked together in a deadly embrace.
The beating of its wings slowed, then ceased, and an instant later they were plummeting, the mountainside hurtling towards them. They crashed into it, Melonaz's head bouncing off a large rock. The ankaroc screamed, writhing around, trying to get back up, its every movement ripping Melonaz's chest open, blood seeping out. Melonaz hacked at the ankaroc's side and it screamed again, struggling to free its claws from Melonaz's chest, but couldn't. It tried to get airbourne, but his weight dragged it back down. It bounced off the rock it fell onto, then plummeted down the mountainside, dragging Melonaz with it. The ankaroc didn't move as they fell, but its dead eyes remained open. It was hard to tell if it still lived. Melonaz cried out, trying to free himself as they hurtled to the ground, white snow engulfing his vision. Focus. Focus. He felt for his Raiz, that warm tingle. Need to do something. Anything. He could almost feel himself breaking against the ground.
Focus.
Focus.
There. He found his Raiz. Wind. Desperately, he pushed out a large amount of it and willed it into a massive gust of wind, firing it downwards, unsure it would even work. The feat felt like it stripped him of everything he had left, but he didn't care. He felt the tug of the scattered Raiz and drew it back to reuse. He closed his eyes, not daring to watch, just kept sending a steady wind blasting down to the ground, hoping it'd slow his fall. He braced himself for the inevitable crunch.
Suddenly his face was battered by sharp flakes of snow.
He reopened his eyes. The wind was kicking up a cloud of snow. Some flew up into his eyes and broke his concentration. As the wind ceased he was ripped from the ankaroc's clutches, flying up over it as it hit the ground in a puff of snow. Pain exploded all over his body as he crashed down beside it, his left arm cracking. He cried out but the sound was muffled as his face sank into the snow, the snow filling his mouth, nose, ears. He gagged, trying to break free, but opening his mouth only allowed more in.
His mind darkened, the pain of his body fading. Before he lost consciousness he heard the ankaroc cry out one last time, then there was only silence.
Chapter Fifty Nine
Melonaz came to with a start, a screech instantly made him panic. His body was in agony, his chest tight and constricted, it was a struggle to even breathe. He felt considerably weaker. Lose more Raiz? Hope not. In big trouble if I have. He dared not look down at his chest in fear of what he might see.
Another screech roused him fully. It's the Mal ankaroc coming to kill me. He swallowed hard. His useless body wouldn't move, the harder he tried the more pain he caused himself.
Wings flapped, the force of them kicking up snow. A large shadow loomed overhead.
If want to kill me, do it fast. Feed your Al with me.
The ankaroc screeched again. It hovered over him, he could feel its eyes on him. Snow and wind beat against him. He braced himself for claws and teeth to plunge into him.
Another ankaroc screeched, this one distant.
One touched down beside him. A moment later the other landed nearby.
With great effort Melonaz lifted his head. These ankaroc were in fact different. Saddles were strapped to their backs and reins tied to their heads. From the saddle of the nearest one a man carrying a spear leapt off, landing in a crouch.
Ankarocal?
The Ankarocal's braid hung over his shoulder. He was tall and lean, his black furs clinging to his frame. His spear had a sparkling green point that drew the eye. The point split into two smaller points, each extremely sharp. The Ankarocal blurred as Melonaz's head swam, but he could tell that he was approaching.
Melonaz lowered his head back into the snow, no longer having the strength to even keep it raised. The Ankarocal crouched down beside him. Fingers gently pressing into the side of Melonaz's neck.
'He alive?' asked a distant, muffled voice.
'Yes. Hurt bad though,' said the Ankarocal beside Melonaz.
'He strong if survive that fall.'
'Yes. He look young though. Too young. His Lial send out on Cubsoz early?'
'He run away, maybe. You help him?'
'Not know. Want know why he here. He just a boy.'
'Can kill ankaroc. Maybe he small man.'
Melonaz turned his head so he could speak, spitting out snow.
'He awake,' exclaimed the Ankarocal beside him. 'You move? Where hurt?'
'Arm....break....Chest..... Can't.....breathe....Can't...move.'
'It morning. Out here all night?'
'Yes.'
'Lucky that sehseh not eat you.'
Melonaz grunted.
'We take to lookout, yes?' said the other Ankarocal.
'Think so,' said the one beside Melonaz. 'Not leave him here. Boy, why you here? On Cubsoz.'
'No....Lial....make...leave,' said Melonaz. 'I..do.....bad..thing.'
'What do?'
Melonaz groaned. He could feel himself about to faint again. 'Need...go...furaz.....Rest.'
'Furaz? Where?'
'Over mountains.'
'Where?'
He suddenly realised he had no idea where he was or what direction his camp was in. The ankaroc had flung him around. They hadn't flown away from the mountain very far, he knew that at least.
'Need move, Gillenaz,' said the other Ankarocal.
'Boy, we move you,' said the Ankorcal named Gill
enaz beside Melonaz. 'Find furaz when you heal. Take to your Lial, maybe. Lookout not far from here. You can rest there.'
'No...go...back....I....exile.'
'You boy.'
'Do...bad...thing.'
Firm hands grabbed his lower torso and leg. 'Not matter.' Gillenaz lifted him up, cradling him like a baby, and gently carried him away. Melonaz still clutched Dajimoz tight, his fingers frozen to its grip. He panicked when he opened his eyes and saw golden fur near his face.
'Don't be afraid. It not wild. Won't attack you.' Gillenaz carefully draped him over the back of the ankaroc, in front of the saddle, then leapt onto it and grabbed the reins. He patted the ankraroc's neck and it rose to its feet, flapping its large wings. Melonaz thought he was going to fall and panicked, but to his relief he stayed in place. The ankaroc beat its wings hard and swiftly rose into the air.
Moments later the whole of Mir-Tolkz was spread out before them, the mountain peaks rising high into the sky, a few rising higher than the clouds. The other Ankarocal rode beside them on the back of his own ankaroc. They flew through the air with breathtaking speed, soaring past mountain peaks. Melonaz was amazed by how much faster it was to fly than to walk. They were only airborne briefly. The ankaroc soon swooped down to a large series of ledges jutting out of a mountaintop, gently touching down on one.
Gillenaz leapt off, then gently pulled Melonaz from the ankaroc's back. He slung him over his shoulder and carried him off, jumping from one ledge to the other. Melonaz glanced at the ankaroc. Already it'd curled up and closed its eyes. It was hard to believe it was the same species of creature as the ankaroc that'd mauled him only half a day before. Think that of wild mirac too though.
Gillenaz set him down on a bundle of animal furs strewn before a cave mouth, the furs warm and soft. The other ankaroc had settled down now too, having curled up into a ball also, wings folded back against its back, head tucked under a wing. Gillenaz's ankaroc was awake again, its head raised, cold white eyes regarding Melonaz, unsettling him. Melonaz looked away, focusing on simply breathing, but he could still feel its eyes on him.
