by Tyler Wild
I had noticed the vultures circling high in the sky as we traveled during the day.
It didn't bode well.
They were expecting us to die. But I had news for them—they were going to be sorely disappointed.
They kept their distance, and I didn't think much of them. They appeared as little more than specs in the sky. Without a reference object to provide scale, I had no idea how large they actually were.
It turned out they weren't ordinary vultures—they were something entirely more disturbing. And they weren’t waiting for us to die either. They were going to take an active role in our demise.
29
Kron
The flames crackled.
Glowing orange embers floated into the air, drifting through the canyon with the wind. The amber flames illuminated the rocky walls of the alcove. It was pitch black beyond the light of the fire.
A thick blanket of clouds had rolled in during the late afternoon. It obscured the moon and stars.
My belly rumbled from hunger as I tried to get comfortable on the stone ground. There was nowhere to mount Cassandra's magical hammock. And even if there was, I wasn't sure she let me back in it tonight.
There was an uncomfortable tension between the three of us. Nobody had much to say. Worn out from a long day's journey, we all called it an early night.
I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. It was cold, and the occasional gust of wind highlighted that fact.
The flap of wings, followed by the clack of talons on the stone ground, drew my attention to the darkness.
I grabbed Asgoth and sprang to my feat. A glimmer of light reflected in the beasts’ red eyes. It gave away their position.
There were three of them, and these vulture-like creatures stood six feet tall.
Their wingspan was easily twice that.
They were more reptilian than birdlike and looked somewhat like a pre-historic pterodactyl. Their beaks were longer than the length of my sword and came to a point that could pierce armor.
I squared off against the beasts as they encroached upon our campsite. Their shrill screeches pierced the night air.
One of the creatures stabbed his beak toward me.
I stepped aside and slashed at his snout.
The blade bounced away. Their beaks were hard as stone.
Another attacked.
Then another.
I dodged and weaved, circling around, trying to draw them away from the campsite.
Cassandra and Sophia sprang to their feet. They drew their swords and joined in the fray.
With the creatures’ attention on me, Sophia sprinted behind one of the vultures. With catlike grace, she leapt on the creature's back and stabbed her sword into its spine.
The beast wailed and moaned as it collapsed to the ground. Green blood oozed from the chasm in its back. The monster twitched and flailed for a few moments as the life force drained from it.
The kill drew the attention of the two other vultures. One of them swiped at Sophia with his beak and knocked her to the ground.
The beast leapt into the air and snatched Sophia in its talons. Its massive wings flapped, launching it skyward, carrying Sophia into the blackness.
The creature before me turned its gaze to its fallen comrade, then quickly glared at me with rage filled eyes. Its powerful beak stabbed at me again, and I narrowly avoided the deadly spike.
My eyes followed Sophia as the evil bird carried her away. I clenched my jaw, and my whole body tensed. My stomach twisted.
There was nothing I could do.
I had my hands full, fighting the beast in front of me. The creature kept pecking at me, and I kept dodging and weaving.
Cassandra grabbed her bow and knocked an arrow. She took aim at the monster absconding with Sophia as it flapped its massive wings.
Sophia screamed as she dangled from its talons.
Cassandra let the arrow fly.
It raced through the air and slammed into the bird’s shoulder. The wound disrupted its flight and caused the creature to dip slightly.
In a flash, Cassandra had knocked another arrow.
The second projectile pierced the bird's neck.
A third arrow went through its head.
The monster struggled to fly as it bled out. Its long neck drooped as it grew weaker and weaker.
Soon the beast was soaring toward the ground. Its grasp on Sophia slacked, and she almost fell away.
She grabbed onto the bird’s thigh at the last moment and hung on for dear life. The wounded beast swooped toward the ground.
Sophia pulled her way up the bird’s thigh and managed to climb onto its back. She grabbed onto the knobby armor-plating along its spine and held on tight. Wind rustled her hair, and the sexy feline used all of her agility to hang on.
The monster plummeted down and slammed into the ground. Its body skidded across the rugged terrain, kicking up rocks and debris.
The impact catapulted Sophia from the monster.
She flew through the air and tumbled across the ground, then sprang to her feet like a gymnast.
If Sophia had nine lives, she definitely used one of them.
The monster flailed about, trying to stand. It fell back to the ground, flapped its wings a few times, then its last breath rattled from its lungs.
I continued fighting with the beast in front of me.
Cassandra put two arrows into its head, and I hacked the beast’s neck, opening a chasm that carved into its spine.
My blow didn't sever its neck completely. The creature’s head dangled by a few tendons as the stump spewed green blood. The giant bird flopped about like a chicken with its head cut off, spraying slime in all directions.
After a few minutes, the beast finally collapsed.
"Nice shooting," I said.
"I know," Cassandra replied with confidence.
She strolled past me and recovered her arrows from the bird’s skull. She wiped the blood clean and quivered the arrows.
Sophia made her way back to camp. A few minor cuts and scrapes, but overall, she was no worse for the wear.
“Looks like I owe you one,” she said to Cassandra.
“Think nothing of it,” Cassandra said in a dispassionate tone.
Sophia surveyed the carcasses. “Well, at least we’ve got something to eat now.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“An overgrown bird is not going to kill me,” she said, defiantly.
I stabbed Asgoth into the beast and carved a tender slice of meat from the bird’s breast. We roasted the meat over the open flame.
I had my concerns, but it wasn't bad. A little chewy, but it beat starving.
Sophia contemplated the meal before her. "This thing would be eating me had you not been so adept with a bow and arrow."
"It is a necessary skill that all Elves are taught." Cassandra paused, then added. “Besides, you still owe us money. Just protecting our investment.”
Sophia grinned. "I guess being in debt has its advantages. Would you have bothered to save me otherwise?"
“It is not in my nature to turn my back on someone in need."
I flashed Cassandra a curious look and called her out on her bullshit. "You didn't want to help me when I first asked.”
She scowled at me, playfully. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Sophia looked over her cuts and scrapes. Her knees, elbows, and pads of her hands were red with abrasions.
Cassandra took notice, and I guess she felt sympathy for Sophia. “Here, let me take a look.”
Cassandra rubbed her hands over Sophia’s knee. She caressed her leg gently, and within moments, the scrape was healed.
Sophia’s eyes widened. “Impressive. Thank you. That’s very kind.”
Cassandra continued to heal Sophia’s minor injuries. I grew a little concerned it might deplete Cassandra’s energy, but the wounds weren’t near as traumatic as the gash I had received to my chest.
But the healing ma
de Cassandra a little tired.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” Cassandra said, trying to perk up. “Just give me a minute.
She dozed off for a few minutes.
A concerned look played over Sophia’s face. “Is she okay?”
“It takes a toll on her.”
A look of sincere appreciation washed over Sophia’s face. “She didn’t have to do that?”
“I think she’s a genuinely caring person,” I said. “Even if she tries to hide that fact.”
The carcasses of the slain birds would draw more vultures and other predators to the area. I was feeling antsy about staying at camp and was ready to leave. But I figured Cassandra needed a little rest. I’d let her sleep for another hour, then we’d get on the road, I thought.
“Honestly, I’ve never met anyone who would sacrifice themselves even in the slightest for me,” Sophia said.
“You’ve been hanging around the wrong people.”
“There is no honor among thieves anymore.”
“Like I said, you've been hanging around the wrong people.”
She frowned at me. “I have no choice. I was born into a family of thieves.”
“We all have a choice.”
“Well, when your dad sells you into slavery at a tender age, you tend to have a jaded view on life.”
“I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”
“That was a good thing you did for those kids back there. I saw their faces, and it just broke my heart. But there’s that part of me that puts up an emotional wall. I tend to compartmentalize and ignore the painful things.”
“I think we all put up our shields from time to time. It helps keep pain out, but it also closes us off from the good things. Sometimes you have to let go. Trust and have faith.”
Sophia balked. “Trust? That’s an interesting concept,” she said in a sardonic tone. “I’m all out of trust.”
“I understand.” I sighed. “Well, like they say. It doesn’t matter where you came from. It matters where you’re going.”
“And where are we going?” Sophia asked with a hint of sarcasm, mixed with a bit of curiosity.
“Someplace I think we’d rather not go.”
After letting Cassandra sleep, I nudged her awake. Her groggy eyes looked at me with confusion. “What happened?”
“You healed Sophia. Then you passed out.”
“Oh, yeah. Right.”
“I think it’s best if we get moving.”
She agreed, and we left camp, entering the dark valley. Cassandra pulled a glowing stone from her bag which illuminated the path. It cast a blue glow several feet in all directions and allowed us to navigate the treacherous terrain.
We moved cautiously. In the back of my mind, I worried the light might attract other predators.
30
Kron
By daybreak, two more of the vulture -like monsters circled overhead. I kept a watchful eye on them. As we reached the Dark Forest, they moved on to better prospects.
It left me a little concerned.
Why didn’t they want to follow us into the Dark Forest?
If the vultures didn’t want to set foot in there, it had to be bad.
The forest was an endless array of gnarled black trees without leaves. They looked angry and grotesque. I had long heard rumors about the dangers within the Dark Forest, and thought most of them old wives’ tales. But I was beginning to think some of them had merit.
I tried to spur my horse forward, but he neighed and reared up on two legs. He wanted no part of the treacherous landscape.
It was time to part ways.
I helped Cassandra down to the ground, then dismounted the horse. I took off the saddle and unbridled the reins and let the magnificent creature roam free. The Dark Forest was no place for such an innocent spirit.
Sophia did the same.
“Looks like we’re on foot from here,” I said.
The three of us stood at the edge of the forest, regarding it with trepidation.
Sophia swallowed hard. “I think accompanying you into this forest goes way beyond what I owe you.”
“If it’s too scary for you, I’ll understand,” I said, deliberately trying to get under her skin.
Her cat eyes narrowed at me. She defiantly said, “I’m not afraid.”
Sophia took bold strides into the craggy forest.
Cassandra and I exchanged a wary glance, then followed Sophia. An eerie wind whistled through the barren trees. Black and twisted, they looked ominous. The ground was dry and what little grass there was looked dead or dying. There was a foul stench in the air. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it resembled the smell of rotting flesh.
A wasp buzzed past my ear.
I dodged to the side the minute the I felt the nasty buzz in my eardrum.
I couldn't stand the vile creatures.
But this wasp was even more reprehensible than usual. It was nearly twice the size of an average wasp. Big and black and aggressive. It dive-bombed me, and I kept swatting. It darted about with expert precision, avoiding every attempt I made to bat it out of the sky.
The hateful insects swooped down and stabbed its stinger into the back of my neck. I felt pain, like a white-hot poker had been stabbed into my flesh. I slapped the back of my neck, hoping to squash the infernal creature, but it had already taken flight.
The searing pain extended down my spine and across my shoulders. I felt the throbbing all the way into my biceps. The muscles in my lower back seized, and I arched my back as it cramped. I fell to my knees.
Then things got worse.
I tried to suck in a breath of air, but my throat swelled shut—some type of allergic reaction.
I had never responded that way to an insect bite before. But the toxin in this wretched creature’s stinger was powerful. My lungs were on fire. To make matters worse, more buzzing filled my ears. I looked up to see a swarm of the nasty wasps approaching.
My heart filled with dread. If one sting did this to me, several would put me into the grave.
The angry wasps swirled around me.
I felt a sharp stab.
Then another.
I collapsed to the ground and writhed in agony. My skin felt like it was going to blister. My insides boiled from the toxins.
This sucked!
31
Kron
I was dying.
On my back, squirming, I stared at the sky. The corners of my vision grew dark. Consciousness would leave me soon. I’d be nothing more than a lifeless corpse. The varmints of the forest would feed on my flesh. Birds would pick out my eyes. Maggots would scrape the last traces of flesh from my bones.
Hundreds of wasps swarmed overhead. They swooped in, embedding their hateful stingers into my flesh. My veins coursed with molten toxins. My throat and trachea were swollen shut. Oxygen was a distant memory.
Paralysis set in. My fingers and toes tingled. My arms felt fat and numb. I managed to glance around and see Sophia and Cassandra writhing in the same agony.
Then something miraculous happened.
I thought it might be a dream at first—the last hallucination as the final flood of endorphins filled my brain.
The horde of wasps vanished, buzzing away, disappearing into the trees.
A beautiful girl hovered over me and kissed me. Her plump wet lips were a slice of heaven in a sea of pain.
I could barely move my lips to respond.
Then I realized she wasn’t kissing me—she was blowing air into my lungs.
Her magical breath opened my trachea and soothed my inflamed lungs. The searing pain dissipated, and within moments the numbness and tingling stopped.
My chest heaved for breath as I sat up, trying to fill my lungs with as much air as possible. I felt like a free diver that had been underwater well past their breakpoint.
I looked at the girl in awe. Words didn’t come easy. My brain was still in an oxygen deprived stupor. Not to mention
, the girl was gorgeous.
She wasn’t human.
She had fair skin, big lavender eyes, and hair with a bluish tint. She had an aura about her and almost seemed to glow. She had pointy ears, but she wasn’t an elf. Her clothing, what little there was, seemed to be made of leaves and strung together with strands of vine. they barely contained her luscious breasts that defied gravity.
She smiled at me and giggled. “Silly. You should avoid wasps at all costs.”
“Believe me. I’m not a fan.”
She moved to Sophia and Cassandra and kissed each on the lips, blowing life into their lungs.
The girls gasped for breath.
My senses were beginning to come back to me. “How did you...?”
“Wasps don’t like fairies.” A proud smile flashed on her face. “Our magic is powerful. And we’re not to be trifled with.” She paused for a moment and gazed at me with curious eyes. “Why have you come to the forest? It’s not a safe place for humans. There are many things worse than wasps here.”
“We are looking for the sorceress,” I said.
A grave look washed over the fairy’s face. “Oh, no. You don’t want to go there.”
“Why not?”
“Phaedra is wicked and treacherous,” the fairy said. “You’d be best to leave the forest as soon as you can.”
“We don’t have that luxury,” I said.
Her curious eyes surveyed me.
“If it’s so dangerous here, why do you stay?”
“I can’t leave. I’m cursed.” Her head drooped and her body slumped.
“What do you mean, cursed?” I said.
“I’d rather not say. I don’t want to think about it.”
“I’m sorry.”
She sighed, then tilted her head up to meet my gaze. “If you insist, I will show you the way to Phaedra’s castle. But I implore you not to go.”
“We’d appreciate that.”
We climbed to our feet, and the fairy led us through the forest—though she didn’t walk. She hovered above the ground, leaving a trail of glowing particles behind her as her perfectly toned body glided through the air. She was a petite thing, maybe 5 feet tall.
