The Barrier: The Teorran of Time: Teen Fantasy Action Adventure Novel

by Unknown

  He flew over to the other side, half-flying-half-crawling, and followed the trail. He lost it at the rock slide and slammed his paws on the ground. He chided himself to get a grip. The energy that surged into his bosom was almost more than he could take and he breathed heavily. His eye lids sagged under his blurry black eyes. Yavo ran his paws over his face. He stared into the distance without emotion and recalculated his steps. The trails he had followed, the marks he had found, the scents he examined. Still, nothing seemed to measure up.

  “He’s toying with me.”

  Yavo went back to the river and leapt back to the other side. He moved slower, making sure he didn’t miss anything. He gazed into the tree tops for signs that Azrak had used the canopy. Several lengths down, he discovered another set tracks. He leapt across and followed them up the side of the gorge.

  A thought came to him as he recounted the soldier’s message. Where were they going? To a secret what? What is out here that Groargoth would want? After I catch Azrak I will be sure to find out.

  The wind shot over the top of the ridge with intensity, breaking his concentration. Yavo pulled out his looking glass. A bright red form emerged from the corner. He twisted the levers and Azrak came into focus. He closed the magnifier and landed on a branch just under the canopy.

  Azrak’s emotions were all over the place. Sadness, anger, regrets and frustration rippled through his body in confused patterns. A sharp sting in his jaw jarred him from his misery. Yavo shot out from the trees and landed his closed fist on Azrak’s jaw. For a second Azrak didn’t know what hit him. Yavo’s hunter green and brown feathers shot past him. Azrak banked hard left as Yavo twisted and bent at the waist. Yavo whipped his blade from its sheath. He swung with an upward thrust toward Azrak who threw out his hind legs. With one he smacked Yavo’s paw and with the other caught Yavo on the side of the head.

  Yavo nearly dropped his sword but regained control. Azrak pulled his sword and hovered a few lengths away.

  “It’s about time you found me.” Azrak said.

  Yavo’s lower lid flinched, a growl escaped his throat. Yavo tightened his grip and lifted his arm. He swung downward as he lunged toward Azrak. Azrak pulled in his wings and lowered twisting like a siphon. Yavo fell into thin air and spun back around. Azrak opened his wings catching the under tow and pulled away.

  “I’ve waited too long for this.” Yavo growled.

  “You never were good at waiting. I knew it would somehow drive you mad.”

  “Mad, mad, you think me mad? I’m not mad, I’m furious.”

  “And delusional.”

  I’ve had enough.”

  Yavo lunged again, his blade out straight. Azrak engaged his sword with Yavo’s. He twisted his wrist and rolled his paw around Yavo’s. He yanked his sword, but Yavo kept a tight grip on his blade. Yavo brought up his elbow and smacked Azrak in the side of the head. Azrak released his talons and struck Yavo on the side of the face. He pulled his talons through his flesh.

  Yavo pulled back and roared with pain. Bright red gushed from the long gouges. Azrak lifted his hind legs and placed his paws on Yavo’s chest. He shoved him with fierceness flinging Yavo. Yavo rolled uncontrollably for several lengths. Azrak pulled his sling and loaded a rock. He flung it toward Yavo but at the last second the sling snagged on his belt and the rock sored over Yavo.

  Yavo laughed and shot back toward Azrak. Azrak swerved sideways and came in from behind. He sliced at Yavo’s wing, but Yavo pulled it in and dropped a length. Azrak reset as Yavo rolled upward and hovered.

  “What makes you think you can defeat me?” Azrak asked.

  “Because I’m better than you.”

  “You may be strong and quick, but you are not stable. You have always let greed and self-gloating get in your way of truly becoming what you could have.”

  “What are you saying? That I’m weak?” Yavo sneered.

  “Yes, weak minded.”

  The words stung Yavo’s heart. An uncontrollable anger surged to the surface. Yavo’s face turned red with furry. His chest heaved heavily as he contemplated his next move. Yavo shot toward Azrak, his beak fixed on Azrak’s jugular. He could see the vein pulsing.

  Azrak saw the discord in his face and knew he had lost it. Azrak lifted his arm and embraced Yavo’s neck as he engaged. Azrak rolled his body and lightened his grip around Yavo in a neck hold. Azrak was about to break his neck when Yavo stabbed a dagger into his side. Azrak roared with pain but didn’t let go. He squeezed tightly around his neck but couldn’t muster the strength to snap any bones.

  Yavo squirmed free but Azrak slashed his blade through Yavo’s wing tendon. Yavo yelped and staggered. Without his wing he sank from the sky. Azrak gripped his side, and winced with the pain. Azrak dove after Yavo. He remembered the rift and knew this was his chance to return without leaving a trail. Now that Yavo couldn’t fly he could get to the rift and escape without running the risk of him finding it. Azrak pulled his paw away and saw a lot of blood. He pulled out a cloth from one of his belt pouches and wrapped it around himself, then flew toward the rift.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  Scouting Party

  'Blast, no more arrows. Shaz thought. Serin only had one left herself. He rested against the tree and looked into the sky through the thinning canopy. Serin made her way back and Shaz jumped down.

  "Now what?" She asked.

  "I'm working on it"

  She was about to chide him for his shortness when he interrupted her thoughts.

  "Can you make the wind blow chaotic so that they have to land?"

  "I can try." she said.

  "If we can keep them from flying, then I can take them out."

  "But there are two of them!"

  "We don't have much choice."

  "I can help." she said.

  "No, you need to stay under cover and protected. I can't fight them and keep you safe at the same time. I need you to keep them out of the sky." He said.

  "Alright, I’ll try." she said.

  Serin slipped her bow onto her back, lifted her arms half way and closed her eyes tightly. She cleared her mind and focused on the air around her. She pulled at the invisible force with her thoughts and sent her magic into the air. The tops of the trees swayed back and forth rustling leaves about. Shaz made his way to the edge of the trees. Serin raised higher and placed one foot behind her. She bent her knees, dipped toward the ground, and threw her arms up. A gust of wind crashed through the trees. Leaves and debris whipped through the air. Serin dug in deeper and the wind gusts became strong enough to blow the gryphton's around.

  He opened and closed his grip around the hilt of the sword as he waited until they touched the ground. The green gryphton pulled in his wings tightly and scaled several rocks. A dark cloud moved in front of the sun casting a cool shadow on them. Shaz felt the adrenaline in his body as he closed the gap by about twenty feet before the gryphton's sharp eyesight saw him. The gryphton reached for his sword as Shaz ran right for him, but fumbled it in his grip.

  Shaz leapt off a small rock, flew through the air and twisted, shoving the blade into the enemy’s neck. Shaz's eyes met the gryphton's, wide with fear. He felt the resistance against the blade cutting through the bone. It severed the spinal cord before piercing the lungs. A feeling of power came over Shaz, a feeling that he liked, powerful, strong, the feeling of control.

  He felt a hint of guilt that he enjoyed killing the beast. He yanked his sword out quickly as he continued through the twist. He came full circle and ran through the motion behind the beast. The gryphton’s knees buckled and he fell face down on the ground. The other gryphton bore down on him. Shaz spun on his feet. The gryphton raised his sword and ran with long powerful strides.

  Shaz leapt out of the way and fell into a somersault. Shaz lifted his blade in an upward strike. The tip struck the gryphton’s shoulder. The gryphton grimaced but followed through with his attempt to knock Shaz over. Shaz side stepped the punch and slammed the butt of the hilt into
the side of the gryphton's skull. Off balance the gryphton tried to open his wings. Shaz circled around the back. It spun on its heels and blocked his thrust with a counter strike. Shaz slipped on some loose stones and tumbled to the ground. He rolled to the side and came to his feet, half crouched.

  The gryphton followed through his strike, and seeing he missed, stood up and squared his shoulders. Shaz stepped over a fallen tree trunk as they circled each other. The gryphton lashed out in an upward strike across his body. Shaz blocked and countered with a side strike. His blade sliced through the gryphton's hip. Shaz felt the winds decrease and knew Serin wouldn’t last much longer. He stepped into an upward thrust. Slashed through the leather armor and cut deep into the beast’s skin.

  Blood and splintered feathers flew into the wind as the gryphton fell backward. Shaz, coming out of his spin, tried to stab him straight through the heart but the gryphton lifted his leg and kicked Shaz in the chest. Shaz soared through the air and slammed into a tree. Serin fell to her knees and the wind died to a gentle breeze. Shaz scurried to his feet and reached for his blade. Before he could grip it tightly, the gryphton leapt into the air and feebly flew away.

  "Blast" Shaz cursed and ran to Serin.

  Serin knelt on her knees while she gripped her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't keep going."

  "Why the tears? You did magnificently." He said. Bright red blood trickled through her fingers. "You’re hurt." He slipped the sword into his sheath and gripped her arm to give more pressure. "Hold it tight until I get back." He jumped up and sprinted toward the horse. He returned with the satchel and grabbed the small jar of ointment and a cloth. "Let me see." he said.

  Serin removed her bloody hand from her skin and felt it peel against the wound. She winced and bit her lip.

  "The last one got away." she said.

  "It won’t get far, it’s wounded pretty bad." Shaz said as he wiped the blood and studied the wound. "How did this happen? Something ripped your skin.”

  "It was a branch or something from the wind I guess." she said.

  She closed her eyes as he smeared a glob of the goo onto her skin. He wrapped the cloth around her arm and tied it tightly.

  "There that should do it until we get back to the village." He said, "The horses aren't far, let’s get going before we get rained on." He helped Serin to her feet. "Wait, I'll be right back"

  "Where are you going?" Serin asked.

  "Getting proof"

  Serin shivered and made her way to the hoses. Storm clouds continued to darken the sky as they returned to the village. The sky opened and rain pelted the dusty road as they entered the village.

  "Where are all the people?" Serin asked.

  The village was quiet and Serin felt a certain uneasiness. They could hear muffled voices before rounding the corner of one of the meager buildings. Shaz halted his horse. He climbed off and untied the gryphton's head from the saddle.

  "They're back." called a villager.

  "This is what was killing your flocks. Not this woman." Shaz said holding up the head. Jagwynn hissed at the dead creature.

  "What is it?" a woman called.

  "A Gryphton." an old man said.

  Villagers let Shaz through but muttered amongst themselves.

  Shaz peered at a man standing next to the woman.

  "Untie her.” He turned to the wrinkled, leather like face of the old man and asked, "How do you know what this is?"

  The old man’s crinkled finger bent back and forth. "I have seen them before. Come, we will talk. My daughter will tend to your wound my dear." He said to Serin. “Bring your cat.” He invited them into his house on the edge of the square. Jagwynn decided to lounge outside the door. "Sit. Reanne, come help this young woman" he said. The mostly unfurnished room was dark and held little attraction. The walls made of old pine timbers had a thatched roof that needed mending. Gentle drips fell from a hole in the center of the room as the rain increased.

  "How do you know about the Gryphton?" Shaz asked.

  "Patience my boy." The old man said and poured some hot tea.

  A gently aged woman came from the other room of the small three room house. A small table sat in the center of the adjacent room with two chairs nestled under it.

  "Oh, dear." Reanne said. Serin’s arm was numb from the pain and the blood had soaked the cloth. "Come with me dear." She took Serin into the kitchen.

  The old man sat in his thatched rocking chair, "Now, I'll tell you. I have met one. He called himself a Gryphton and he's not from this world. He lives deep in the shifting woods."

  "The shifting woods?" Shaz asked

  "Deep in the forest is a place unlike any other. Trees move tending to the needs of the earth."

  "How did you escape?"

  "Escape?" the old man laughed "No, need to escape. We talked and he pointed me in the right direction to get back home when I was lost."

  "You mean he didn't attack."

  “No, he was quite friendly. I tried to tell the villagers that the creature taking their flocks was a gryphton but they think I'm a crazy old man." He sipped his tea. "Maybe I am." he smiled with only a few white teeth left but it was kind and sincere.

  Shaz covered his mouth and thought. The fang tingled his skin.

  "How do I find him?"

  "The Gryphton?"

  "Yes"

  "Why?"

  "I just need to talk to him. Can you tell me how to get there?"

  "I have a map around here somewhere." he said as he struggled out of his chair. He wobbled over to a small chest. Fiddled around and pulled out an old map. "Ah here." He held the faded and torn map in his shaking hands. "Now, keep in mind this is an old map and like I said, the trees don't stick to one place."

  Shaz studied it for a moment. "Is this red x where he is?"

  "Oh, no, that is where I buried my treasure." He said setting his fragile frame back into his chair.

  Shaz's brows twitched and he scrunched his face. He wasn't sure if the old man was teasing or not.

  "May I?"

  "Oh, yes, I'm never going to use it again, it might as well go to someone worthy to have it. This is a special map you know" he said, his eyes twinkling in the faded daylight.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I think you know what I mean." Shaz slipped it into his pocket. "You can stay the night here." the man said, "Besides I would like to hear all about your travels."

  It seemed like he knew about them, maybe even things Shaz didn't. Shaz agreed and then excused himself to tend to the horses.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Meet Azrak

  Shaz knew it was not too much longer and they wouldn’t be able to see anything. The deeper they went into the forest, the more their surroundings shifted from the bright green trees, shrubs and grasses to gray hues of green and tan with an ever increasing mist that seemed to sit on the forest floor. Shaz spotted a makeshift shelter. It was made of large bush leaves strung across a broken Waslick tree.

  It was propped up on an old half rotting stump on one side and a huge rock that had been moved into place. The moist earth had been moved and scuffed leaving a deep trench where it had been dragged or pushed. Shaz wondered what would have the strength to move the rock and analyzed whether it would be safe to use it.

  "Where are we?" Serin asked.

  She rubbed her sleepy eyes and massaged the kink in her neck.

  "Not exactly sure."

  He stretched his back by arching it and swinging with his hands gripped together in a wide circle then side to side. He examined the details of the shelter.

  "I wonder if anyone is using this shelter, these tracks are several days old." He said leaning down and felt the prints left in the soft dirt.

  "How can you tell, the dirt is too soft, the moisture here is thick and heavy."

  "Fresh tracks would have more definition in the shape left behind. These tracks have softened."

  "So we make camp here then?" Serin asked.

  It w
as quite roomy considering it was makeshift and not meant to be permanent.

  "Let me check out the surroundings first." Shaz said,

  Shaz hopped a fallen tree and disappeared into the woods. Serin climbed down from the horse and made her own inspection. The constant mist made her hair softly hang down around her face. She found herself thinking about Shaz again. It was all she seemed to think about lately and it was starting to make her crazy. Maybe I should just tell him how I feel, then it will be out in the open and I can think about other things, but if I did, it would make things weird for sure. He has enough to worry about. I wish he would tell me what he was thinking more, I could help. Does he think he has to do this on his own? Men, are so complicated.

  "Well I guess we make camp here tonight." Shaz said.

  Serin jumped out of her skin, her pale skin turned paler as she bumped her head on the top log.

  Shaz started to laugh but coughed into his elbow.

  "It's not funny."

  She slugged him in the arm as he rounded the end of the long pole sticking out the end of the shelter. Shaz turned into the punch knowing that she wouldn't hit him that hard, and flexed his bicep.

  "Yeah it kinda was." Shaz strode to the horse that nibbled on the tall grass. "I'm starving, you?"

  Serin glowered at him while he piled some branches together and pulled out a bit of dry kindling from his pack. Struck his knife against the stone and sent a spark into the tinder. A small flame burst into life. Serin shivered in the coolness of the evening, only wearing a light pink traveling tunic and skirt over leggings. She pulled out her cloak and wrapped it around her. Scooted a log over near the fire and sat lady like with her legs to the side and rubbed her arms.

  Jagwynn crawled up against her offering her body heat. Serin smiled and rubbed her ear. They sat quietly in the night as the stars appeared to dance and sparkle in the sky. The trees mingled tightly in the canopy high above them, shielding out most of the night sky.

  “What if it’s the shadow magic that gives you the headaches?" Serin asked.