Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Alex also met the Grizon leader who was scarred from all the battles he survived. Standing on his back legs showed he was nearly ten feet and his double set of clawed arms remained dangerously deadly. Knowing that the Grizon leader would accompany Alex as the leader and representative for his race, another blood oath was made between them and the lord was grateful for such a profound vow and took the oath to heart. The Grizon’s last statement filled a primal part of Alex that thrived on the need to punish all threats. “Let us enjoy the sweet death of our hunted enemies with a drop of blood at a time.”

  And the grandest spectacle thus far inside the safety of the mountains was that preparations were underway to gather strength for the coming march outside the sanctuary. It came slowly at first when fiends from all around the sanctuary began to gather in and around the interlocked trees, that had lost much of their greenery to survive in dormancy of the savage winter. Within the first week of making the oath with elders and leaders on his birthday, several dozen fiends turned up from outlying territories.

  Hundreds more came in the next month. The Orggian that laid scattered all around brought all of their supplies with them to reinforce Meek’s stock and the growing mouths to feed. Very few elderly fiends came to see things through and fight in the coming battles for they would stay behind to protect the mothers and young. Ages and experiences ranged among the fiends, but it was amazing to see this and know that well over half would help in ridding of their common enemy.

  By last count over six thousand had gathered to fight and more continued to come. The Orggian asked for assistance in building harnesses. Alex and Gerieg didn’t mind helping and it became clear that they were using the harnesses to hold medicinal plants and be carried by the four legged fiend lords. It would help expedite travel and the lords were proud to carry the plants they might need to be used to help themselves when injured.

  “Did you hear me?” Ava asked from Alex’s left shoulder. With a soft peck on his head, she gained his undivided attention.

  “I’m sorry, I was just reminiscing on what it has taken for us to get this far.” He explained.

  “Get your head out of the clouds.” Ava teased. “What I was asking is why we are out here again? We’ve followed this trail every day since the last rain.”

  “I’m just seeing the differences of the land, as each day passes. The rebirth of nature after a snowy winter is new to me and it is amazing to watch how quickly things grow.” She silently contemplated this and another memory jumped into Alex’s mind. “Shade, so how was your night?”

  Shade was caught off guard and stumbled and crunched his paw in some of the remaining snow that resided on the trail. “Why do you ask?” He said defensively.

  “When Ava and I returned from meeting the Grizon leader you didn’t come home at all last night. You didn’t come back until daybreak. What did you do?”

  Clearing his throat Shade cast a pleased gaze down upon his elder siblings. “I’m sorry if I worried you. Crest and I went for a run like always, but we both ran so hard that we exhausted each other and fell asleep. It wasn’t until well after night fell did we realize how long we slept.” To give further credit to how tired he remained he yawned widely.

  Ava bluntly asked “Is Crest in heat?” Both Alex and Shade came to an abrupt halt and looked at her with open shock. She looked between her siblings and made her wings mimic a shrug.

  Alex was the first to react as he asked “Why would you even ask such a thing?”

  “Because he is so tired,” She answered unfazed and sounding logical. “I’ve seen him run all day long and never get tired. It is also the only conclusion that is reasonable that could answer is expended energy.”

  Shade finally broke his open, gawking features. “She is not in heat.” He said flatly and in her defense, but Alex caught a hidden meaning in the words he chose. “And even if she was, it is not your business. Secondly since we’ve ran so much she has gotten faster, making my chase more difficult and tiresome. All we did was run and rest.” His defense held in how he carried himself.

  “Alright come on,” She began with a lighter tone. “we still have to allow Alex to see the trail and any differences he might possibly notice.”

  With the matter settled they began following the trail again.

  On the way back to the interlocking trees an hour later a terrifying and painful howl blasted through the forest. Distinctly a female Shadow Fang in pain made all senses heighten within Alex as heat surged to them. Scents of thousands of fiends filled the air, but the faintest trace of metal wafted along the strong breeze. Filled with an iron scent mixed with salt it became clear that blood was spilt. Another foreign scent clung to Shade, but that wasn’t the focus for the blood and pain couldn’t be ignored. Sharp hearing focused to the north, to help pinpoint the origin and distance of the howl. Sight didn’t help for the forest was still too thick to be seen through, even with the absence of late winter foliage. Both Shade and Ava detected the same things.

  With another yelp their path was clear.

  Ava immediately took flight for she would be useless and in the way from where she was perched. Both brothers launched themselves into the trees while Ava easily flew through the branches without difficulty.

  They knew the sound came from nearly a mile away and in the thickest trees that nearby area had to offer. What’s more, it’s practically isolated there and not many venture to it unless it was to hunt the dwindling game. Using skills beaten into them over the months they darted into the trees without losing a single stride or time.

  It became clear that two large sounds of distinctive movements were locked in some kind of heated battle. Both shouted, but the strong wind passing all of their ears muffled the clarity, but not the intent. Someone was out for blood while the other was trying to flee. In the distance, coming from the gathering army by the interlocked shelter, heavy fiend lords were all running to investigate the problem, but they were too far away to be of any assistance.

  Within a minute the siblings found what the problem was. Streaking flashes of black revealed that two Shadow Fangs were locked in a one-sided fight for the one who attacked was larger and faster while the other was trying to escape with their life intact. Unfortunately the smaller and weaker lord was favoring the left forepaw and it was dripping crimson.

  The intent was clear, this was going to be a death sentence.

  They were all too far to react in time as the large one sunk its enormous sabers into the right flank of the other as she tried diving in her shadow. The female yelped out in another expression of terrifying pain. Alex watched as if the world had slowed when the large one shook so forcibly that the smaller was forced to the ground before it could concentrate on escaping through its own shadow.

  As bloodstained sabers slid cleanly out Alex gave but a single look and Shade knew what he had to. When the Shadow Fang renewed its attack, this time to finish the job, Alex and Shade moved in to intercede.

  Shade reached the other massive lord with not a moment to spare, for the attack was going for the throat. Making a solid connection, Shade rammed his head on the broadside shoulder of the assailant, surprising and removing the threat before the deed could be done. The sudden strike made the assailant stumble and fall far enough away to not be a threat at the moment.

  With Shade taking a defensive stance, Alex ran to the downed Shadow Fang. Unconscious from the impact, this creature couldn’t have even hoped to move in such a condition. The foreleg was difficult to get to but a jagged slice was cut deep into flesh, as was the flank. Blood continued to pour from the wounds, but the major worry came from the foreleg for it bled too profusely. An artery was severed. The familiar shape of who he looked over struck Alex as he gasped in a whisper “Crest…”

  Shade didn’t hear as all of his attention remained focused on the attacker. The large male stood, but he was unprepared for who it was. Midnight’s crimson fangs turned upon Shade in equal surprise, but still retained the same murder
ous glare. What could have thrown him into such a frenzy? He wondered. Why would he have went against Gerieg’s explicit orders? Shade first demanded “Midnight, what are you doing?! You know the rules, during the gathering of our force no attacks are permitted!”

  Midnight growled “It is not your place to judge me!”

  “We don’t have time for this.” Alex stated loud enough. “Crest is seriously injured and needs immediate treatment.”

  Shade’s heart dropped when he understood what was happening. “Crest?” He asked worriedly. As Shade looked back, Midnight took the opportunity to strike in his maddened state.

  He would take care of all his threats all at once. Or so Midnight thought.

  Ava saw this as she flew into their midst. She saw Midnight about to strike her brothers while they looked away. She swooped down and aimed her face directly sat Midnight. Knowing that the direction would keep all behind her relatively safe, she shrieked in outrage. The blast of sound whisked away loose snow and moist dirt, but the full effect of her shriek was delivered to the object of her focus. The shrill filled the entire area to the point of deafening, but was kept short enough to only incapacitate Midnight.

  Her focus was perfect as Midnight took a lunging nosedive into the hard ground. Unable to ever defend against her kind’s ability, he was rendered helpless and unconscious. She alone stopped his rage that they knew not the cause of or the reason for this gruesome scene.

  Alex and Shade felt the effects of her shriek by only becoming slightly dazed. Shaking their heads a few times to remain focused, they held on to the task at hand.

  Being ill equipped at the moment to give any kind of treatment, Alex knew the closest place to receive help, but just as he was about to talk a large shadow descended through the branches with blinding speed. Sheer dove in. She ordered as she landed “What is going on here?! I heard shouts of battle and a shriek.”

  Alex gave his own orders. “Ava, tell Sheer what you’ve seen and make sure to not allow Midnight go anywhere before Gerieg arrives. We need answers. Stun him again if need be! Shade,” His frightened eyes turned down upon his kneeling brother and the female he has also grown to love, while Ava fluttered to her mother’s side. “make a path to the Orggian settlement. I’ll carry her there. We need to hurry, she’s hurt terribly.”

  He watched in horror as Alex moved around and lifted Crest’s chest over his shoulders and held her forked between his head and arms. The hardest part was seeing how her large frame looked lifeless and limp over his broad shoulders. He stifled a howl of remorse and a growl of anger, but if her life was in the balance he had but only one option.

  Turning to the right direction, Shade charged the trees easiest to clear, without question. As he made the easiest path possible he could hear Alex’s weighted running right on his tail. Knowing to pick up the pace as Alex used his strength to follow, he did. Thin trees were no match against him, now more than ever. The Orggian settlements weren’t too far away, but time was a factor one couldn’t ignore, especially if his brother said so..

  The pack Alpha from another territory in the west was the second to make it and see what caused the pained howl, but when Shade growled “Move!” the other Shadow Fang altered direction and allowed free passage. The onlooker gasped when he saw Alex carrying another of their kind limply over his shoulders.

  Others began appearing, but moved at his charge. One Grizon thought it a challenge and roared in acceptance, but Shade didn’t have time to coddle such petty ambitions. The Grizon was big, but not as big as Shade, nor as fast. The Grizon was caught off guard at the single minded charge, for not many attacked them head on unless it is one of their clan. With a powerful impact and a thrust of his powerful head and neck, Shade tossed the foolish challenger away and continued his beeline for the Orggian clans.

  Alex didn’t even flinch at Shade’s direct strategy for if it was Lily, he’d do the same. He didn’t have time to look back as the brown flash of the Grizon was tossed out of the way. It was easy maintaining the strenuous pace Shade set, but the most difficult aspect was keeping Crest positioned correctly over his shoulders while also making sure not to have any obstacles strike her again. Several times the trees were too strong and narrow to pass and had to turn sideways so she could fit safely between them.

  As they reached within shouting distance Shade howled “Orggian! We need help immediately! Crest has been injured and we need your help!”

  Within seconds branches moved violently with an explosion of movement. Nine Orggian swung from tree branches with an astounding pace. They were on a mission to help and seemed to move in unison. Almost choreographed by look alone, they approached without pause. Their purpose became clear as they saw the limp Shadow Fang and redoubled their swinging approach. Their reddish-orange fur moved quickly with the body while their polished brown shells flashed, reflecting the sunlight. At the gruesome sight some whooped for more to come and help heal this wounded being.

  As they easily climbed down the trees with powerful limbs Alex stopped and easily laid Crest on a large patch of snow, keeping the wounded flank up and easy to access. They approached with urgency, but remained calm. Their eyes asked the questions and Alex quickly recounted all the injuries he witnessed without delay, but left out how they occurred when a curt female said shortly “We only need what her injuries are, not the actions that caused them.” With that clear he explained every vital point of injury and pointed to the sites.

  The nine had Alex keep Shade away for he was reluctant to leave even a hairs breath from her. The Orggian healers used their fingers to forcibly pull the fur that would usually thwart any access to the flesh to gain access to the pooling wounds. While several held it open a medium sized male put his lips just above the puncture wounds in her flank and drooled copious amounts directly into the gaping holes. They did so with care and speed. Once enough saliva saturated the bleeding wounds the ones holding the injury open pinched the flesh together tightly with a finger-strength no normal human could ever achieve, sealing in the saliva and as much flowing blood as possible. Then the ones not holding the flank went to the foreleg. It was impossible to hear who said it, but he said “It is good that you got her here when you did for the artery in this leg has been severed. We will fix it, but it will take time and patience. It is good she is not awake for this.”

  “Do whatever you can.” Alex pleaded. The wound didn’t look too bad on the outside, but the knowledge of an artery being cut was not lost on Alex. The foreleg was bleeding much more than necessary. The assumption to get her here was right. Alex sighed and carefully watched Shade and Crest.

  Crest remained motionless, except when the Orggian forcibly moved her limb to get greater access to it. Alex and Shade watched as the largest female in the group pulled a metal needle from a crack in her shell, cleaned it with her healing saliva and then did the same with a long strand of hair grown from her arm. She threaded it and began sewing the artery closed, but also moved her shell to block the view from Shade most of all.

  Shade watched all of this with anxious worry. They worked quickly and efficiently, but she still bled and that was still cause for concern. His kind were difficult to draw their blood for the further a foreign object came to the skin the harder the fur tightened into armor. Only something razor sharp and physically powerful could have a chance of piercing such a defense and not many were equipped, but she was hurt. Her own father tried taking Crest’s life. Thoughts of the cruel attack boiled his blood and since it was Crest, his female, it made his rage more potent. Alex could see the conflicting emotions of remaining by her side and going to rip out Midnight’s throat. If it weren’t for Alex’s firm grasp on his leg Shade would have ran off to end the cause of Crest’s pain.

  A rustling overhead brought in four more Orggian reinforcements carrying pouches. They quickly spoke with those that worked on her and Krum was among them. He had a pouch strapped to his right shoulder and brought out a green leaf with a pungent smell that was irritat
ing and caused one to sneeze. Alex knew what it would be used for, but Krum waited several paces back until the artery was sutured, as was the knitting of the skin.

  As the Orggian worked, many other fiends made a ring to watch what was happening. One look from both Alex and Krum kept all silent and in place. Whispers were made, but not enough to interrupt concentration.

  It took nearly an hour until the wound was officially closed before Krum walked forward and placed the pungent leaves directly in front of her snout. There was an immediate reaction as she sneezed. Shade’s anger dimmed as he saw her finally wake and alive. Her ribs expanded with conscious effort. But as her ocher irises opened the remaining Orggian put a strong arm on her head and body. One of them clearly said “It would be best if you remained still. You’re still in a critical state and we couldn’t allow you to sleep, just in case you had a concussion.”

  “I can help test if she has a concussion.” Alex offered and stepped forward. Shade was rooted in place knowing she was alive so there was no worry of him running off for revenge. Krum acknowledged what Alex meant as he drew his sword. Replacing Krum, Alex knelt before Crest with care. The look in her eyes were still in agony, but she remained lucid. Her jaw muscles quivered as she struggled not to scream, but she held fast to the pain. “Crest,” he said with calm companionship and delicacy. “try to keep your eyes open.”

  Her ears wilted, but she gave a weak nod.

  Alex angled his naked blade to reflect a beam of sunlight into each large eye. Luckily both irises contracted. In a grateful sigh he announced “From what I can tell, you didn’t hit your head hard enough to get a concussion. Besides your paw and flank, are you injured anywhere else?”

  She sucked a breath through her teeth and spoke in a tight and pained tone. “My ribs, they hurt.”