The Dragon Blade

by P D Atkerson

  Chapter 11

  Cat Fight

  Time had grown slower. To Aroron, it was as if it had stopped altogether. Nothing around him moved, not even the wind touched him. The smell of rain hung in the air, but it had stopped falling long ago. As if it didn't want to be there for the fight that was sure to come.

  He was thankful for the light that glowed from the sword, illuminating the ground around him. In some strange way, it gave him the strength he needed to stand there and wait, when all he really wanted to do was turn and run like crazy the other way. Aroron looked up and to his surprise, there was a gaping hole in the tree branches above him. He was able to glimpse the night sky. He just hoped it wasn't the last time he saw it. On the very edge shown the moon. Aroron wondered if it had something to do with the sword's light.

  There was a loud 'snap' and Aroron stumbled back, as the branches above his head stretched and groaned. The opening in the forest roof grew smaller and smaller. The branches intertwined into a makeshift net. With one last creak and moan, it closed completely. The darkness soon began to settle around him. As he stood there, the light began to drain from the sword. Leaving him once again in utter darkness, the only light coming from the small glowing flowers at his feet.

  Aroron knelt and looked closer at the strange flowers. They glowed ever so lightly, as they opened and closed, making them look as if they were breathing. The light itself came from the heart of the flower. Aroron ran his finger along the petals, wondering what made it glow. Maybe he could take it with him. He moved his hand and gripped the thorn less stem. The moment he plucked the flower, it shriveled up and died. Leaving behind a fine powdered, blue and green, ash like substance in the palm of his hand.

  Another Panther's shriek echoed through the trees around him. Reminding him he needed to get moving again. He stood up and brushed the dry flower off. Then he turned and moved back into the dense forest. Aroron moved slowly, as he carefully worked his way around branches and roots sticking out of the ground. Soon, the dark shadows around him were so thick, it was suffocating. As if someone had put a thick cloth around his mouth and was slowly tightening it.

  His vision blurred and his eyes began to burn, as if smoke had been pouring into them.

  He screamed out in pain, as he fought to keep from rubbing them, knowing it would only make it worse. Aroron pulled on his collar and unbuttoned it, as his throat grew tight. He needed air! And he needed it right then. It was as if something was sucking the oxygen out of his lungs. He scratched at his neck and had to force himself to swallow, as he stumbled forwards. He knew the Dubh-Panthers were drawing near. He could feel it. Aroron didn't have to be told, he knew this was their doing.

  He had to stop moving. He reached out and leaned against one of the trees. His head spinning, as he tried to regain his thoughts. The air was sour and burned his throat, as he swallowed again. It made his stomach feel sick, like he’d eaten something bad.

  His stomach cramped, and a pain shot up his side. He thought he was going to throw up. He dug his nails into the bark and scraped across it.

  But things were about to get much, much worse.

  Like something hitting against his head, the ringing started in his ears. His head throbbed, and the ringing grew worse with every passing second. 'Boom! Boom! Boom!' He couldn't hear anything but the sound of his heart pounding against his chest, and the ringing in his ears that he was afraid would never stop.

  Pain shot through his head and rippled through the rest of his body, so fast it was like claws ripping at his skin over and over again. Aroron screamed and fell forward, he was just able to keep from falling to the ground, by grabbing onto a low hanging branch.

  He pressed his head against the bark and screamed again. Gripping his sword tightly, digging his nails into the handle, it gave him a little bit of strength. "Stop it!" Aroron growled to himself, as he opened his eyes. "Don't let them play with your mind," he whispered.

  Taking in a deep breath, it took everything in him to slowly stand up again. His hands trembled and shook, as he once again raised the sword into the air and readied himself for the fight of his life.

  Lightning flashed, at the same time as a shriek filled the air all around him. The sound of it turned Aroron's blood to ice and he froze in place. The hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He didn’t want to turn, but he couldn’t bear not to. He knew there was something behind him. He could feel it eyeing him.

  Reluctantly, Aroron turned towards the sound he'd heard just a second before and his heart nearly stopped beating. He watched as the Panther jumped from one of the trees not more than ten feet away. Without a sound, it landed on the soft ground. The sword almost slipped from Aroron's hand, as he took a step back.

  The Panther's eyes glowed orange, they strangely resembled sparks, as it moved towards him on soundless paws. Five feet away, it just stood there, staring at him. It looked like it was smiling at him, as if it knew he was going to die. Then it began to scrape its huge claws against the ground, ripping up the dirt. Between its lips, long fangs stuck out, its mouth blood red. The sight of it made Aroron feel sick.

  If given the chance, this monster could easily tear him to pieces, without a single thought. But Aroron wasn't planning on giving it that chance. He tightened his grip on the handle and took in a deep breath, calming himself.

  The panther screamed out at him. Green goo dripping down its chin, as it bared its teeth. Its tongue flashed out and licked across its lips.

  Aroron stumbled back and tripped over a root sticking out of the ground. He tried to catch himself, but he slammed hard into the ground, another root digging into his back as a moan escaped him. He could see now why there hadn’t been anything living in the woods. Right then he didn’t want to be there either. He wanted so badly to run, but he couldn't. He lay there frozen, not sure what to do. His heart pounding against his chest. Even if he could run, he knew this thing would easily devour him before he'd taken two steps. Aroron quickly scooted away from the panther and up against the nearest tree, still gripping his sword. A small rock dug into the middle of his back.

  All thought of standing and fighting the foul monster, were ripped from Aroron. The only thing that filled his mind was surviving. A salty tear slid down his cheek and dissolved into the snow. Had it really only been that day his father had died? It seemed like a life time ago.

  He wasn't going to let this be the day he died too. People had given up so much to make sure he lived, and he wasn't going to let it be in vain. He glanced around and quickly regained his bearings. There wasn't anywhere for him to go, except up.

  Aroron pushed himself to his feet, turned around and slid his sword back in its scabbard. He began to climb up the tree, grabbing onto the lower branches and pulled himself up. The monster wouldn't be far behind him. Climbing up a tree might help you with some animals, but not panthers. But what choice did he have? Why would he stay on the ground and let it devour him? Not a chance, he was going to keep moving. He wasn't going to make it easy for the Panther.

  His boots gripped the tree with ease, as he hurriedly made his way up the trunk of the dark tree. Using branch after branch to pull himself higher and higher. He was about twenty feet off the ground when his shoulder slammed into the trunk of the tree and stunned him. At first, he wasn't even sure what had happened.

  Then, the truth hit him, as he watched the branches around him begin to move. Just like they had earlier to cover up the small hole of light that had spilled in.

  Just as he realized what was happening, the branch he was clinging to, began moving. Slowly, shrinking back into the tree trunk. He thought about grabbing for another branch above him, but it was too late. Aroron's hand slipped from the branch and he began to fall.

  Branches wacked him around. He was unable to move quick enough to grab ahold of any of them, but luckily Aroron's sword got wedged between two moving branches, and he had just enough time to grab ahold of the middle of the scabbard and stop himself from slamming into
the ground.

  He gasped for air, as he pulled himself up and onto the branch. But he didn't have time to just sit there, as the branch started to move. He yanked his sword free and moved to the next branch. He was just able to wrap his hand around the one above him, before the branch was too small to stand on.

  The rough bark of the tree scraped his hand, drawing blood, as he jumped to the next branch. He could feel the Panther eyeing him from below. It looked as if it was smiling. Taunting him. Telling him there was no escaping, no matter where he went. Deep down, Aroron believed it. The monster was just waiting for him to fall from the tree and it would eat him up. It wouldn't even have to work for its prey.

  He looked ahead and what he saw made him smile. There was a branch of another tree, just a foot away from him. But the thing was, the other trees around him weren't moving. Aroron bit his lip but didn't give himself enough time to think about what he was doing. He ran forwards and jumped. Holding his hand up in front of his head, he grabbed the branch, quickly pulling himself up.

  It was just big enough to sit on and Aroron rested his shaking body on the branch. He couldn't believe it, he was still alive! Still holding tightly to the branch, he slowly scooted back towards the tree's trunk. He laid his head back against the bark and gasped for air, his heart pounding.

  It was only now he had the nerve to look down again.

  The Panther was still there. Sneering at him. Without even hesitating, the Panther moved forwards and leapt up onto the lowest branch. Then it began to move up, closer and closer to the limb Aroron had retreated to.

  It was the only branch that wasn't moving, the rest moved to help the Panther climb towards him.

  From the back of its throat, the Panther began to purr evilly, louder than before. The green goo dripping down its fangs, sizzling on the snow below. The Panther's purr wasn't like the cute purrs he'd heard from the castle cats. No, this was the purr of a wild beast calling its friends to join in its feasting and revenge.

  The Panther growled again, as it slowly moved towards him. Aroron’s heart slammed against his chest and he fought the fear rising in him. What was he going to do? Had he really come all this way only to be killed by this monster? It didn’t seem right to him. Why hadn’t he just died in the castle? It would have been easier.

  How could anything Munay had done to him, have been worse than being torn apart by this monster's jagged teeth? He doubted there was anything more painful.

  The Panther tilted its head, and its eyes bore into him. Aroron quickly turned away, a burning sensation spreading through his chest.

  Aroron wasn’t sure why, but everything about the Panther was… evil.

  He let out a long breath and hardened himself. If he was going to die, he was going to die fighting. Not just sitting there, waiting for it to eat him.

  As Aroron rose to his feet, another shriek came from below. Aroron's eyes darted from the Panther in front of him to the ground. What he saw almost sucked the life out of him. Four huge Panthers circled the tree, pawing the ground. Their tongues shot out and licked their foul lips. How many of these things are there? He'd always thought Panthers hunted alone, but obviously these weren't normal panthers.

  He was going to have to kill more than one.

  Holding tightly to his sword, Aroron measured how far away the Panther was. He wasn't about to let the foul thing kill him, not without a fight.

  "I've had enough of you!" Aroron hissed at the Panther, as he drew out his sword. Just holding it gave him strength. "It's going to be a pleasure to kill you." With that, Aroron held the sword out, ran forwards and jumped towards the Panther. For a second his eyes locked with those of the Panther's and he could have sworn it looked confused, as if it didn't know what he was doing.

  The sword easily cut through the branch on which the Panther lay, as if it wasn't anything at all. At the same time, Aroron grabbed ahold of a branch with his free hand and with a painful yank, he stopped himself from falling to his death.

  The Panther screamed, as it scraped violently at the tree, trying in vain to dig its claws into the bark. But the cries were cut short, as its back hit into a thick branch. There was a 'snap!' and its body fell limply to the ground. So, they're not invincible after all! Aroron thought to himself, a smile spreading across his face. Maybe he had a chance of surviving this.

  If he was lucky, that is.

  The other Panthers circled the dead one and began to growl. As the Panthers were distracted, he decided to leave. He slid his sword away and hurriedly began to climb down.

  His boots had just touched the ground, when one of the Panther's shrieked. Aroron instantly knew, they hadn't completely forgotten about him.

  Swallowing, Aroron slowly turned around.

  Four very mad Panthers stood before him, their fangs bared. They snarled, flinging green goo in every direction. Aroron jumped back, just as the nearest Panther lunged at him. The air moved, as it sailed past. He had no time to think about how close it had come, before facing the next Dubh-Panther.

  It came from behind. And as Aroron turned towards it, he slashed out with his sword. One slice cutting deep into the monster's face. It hissed and took two steps back, rubbing the spot against its leg. Then it snapped at Aroron's sword arm. His gauntlet was the only thing keeping it from ripping his arm clear off and the Panther knew it.

  The Panther jumped forwards and its powerful jaw clamped around his arm and pressed tight, causing the metal to cave inward. A jagged piece of metal dug deep into his arm and a small trickle of blood ran down his hand. Aroron was sure the rest of the gauntlet would give way soon.

  Aroron planted his feet and yanked his arm free. He jumped back from the Panther. But as he did, he slipped on the snow and slammed into the ground. The Panther lunged towards him, snapping its teeth again. Aroron had to think, or he was going to die.

  Aroron rolled across the ground. Quickly bringing his sword up, just in time to impale the Panther in the chest. It shrieked, clawing at its wound and finally it fell back. Green blood oozing down its chest and staining the snow.

  The Panther's body convulsed one last time and grew still. But the dripping of the green goo continued down its body and onto the ground.

  Gagging against the foul smell, Aroron rose to his feet. "Well, at least you won't be hunting in these woods again!" he hissed to the lifeless Panther at his feet.

  Two down, three to go. Aroron thought to himself, smiling, as he turned to find his next foe. Aroron didn't have to move more than five feet, until he came upon the next Panther.

  The Panther pawed at the ground, and Aroron wondered if it knew he'd just killed one of its kin. He screamed, as he brought his sword slamming down towards the Panther. It ducked down, and his sword flew over its head and slammed into the tree, causing a spark of light.

  But Aroron hardly noticed, he was already yanking it back out and trying again. But as he brought the sword around, the Panther made its move. It skirted his weakening thrust and lunged towards him.

  Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Aroron swung his sword around and brought it slamming down towards the monster's fat neck. The green gooey blood splattered Aroron in the face, stinging his skin, as the Panther's head rolled away from its body and rested against a tree trunk.

  As he looked at the third dead body of the Dubh-Panthers, Aroron was electrified, as if he could do and take on anything! Taking on one Panther at a time hadn't been easy, but it was almost worth it now. He'd shown them he was more powerful, he'd killed three of the monsters!

  Aroron stepped away and turned to find the last of the Panthers. But they'd already found him. Aroron looked to his right and his left. They were closing in on him quickly, one on each side of him. Just as Aroron was realizing what they were doing, the two Panthers lunged at him. And as they did, his adrenaline dropped and the Panther's poison hit him.

  As he tried to fight them off, his body faltered. Aroron wasn't even able to raise his sword towards either of them as they att
acked. The one Panther's claws scraped deep into Aroron's side, but he hardly noticed. His body already hurt all over from the many scrapes and cuts, the poison pumping through him. At the same time, the other Panther slammed into Aroron, throwing him off his feet. Blood and snow soaked into his cloak.

  He didn't even try to stand, as the monster moved towards him. The Panther snapped at Aroron's neck, just barely missing it by an inch. Green goo dripped from the Panther's mouth and fell onto Aroron's cheek.

  Aroron screamed and seemingly out of nowhere, a hurricane wind slammed into the Panther and threw it away from him. It went sliding across the ground. But Aroron didn't really care. With the last of his strength, Aroron forced himself to his feet, turned around and slammed his sword down through the middle of the monster who stood in front of him. The blood of the Panther splattered over everything.

  Aroron stumbled back, his face soaked with the sour smelling blood of the Dubh-Panthers. If he could have seen himself in a mirror, he wouldn't have even known it was him.

  He'd been able to kill at least a few of them, but deep down, he knew he wasn't going to make it much longer. There was only one left, but he was already finished. The Panther's poison had made him believe he was more powerful than he was and now, as he died, he would realize he was nothing! One way or another everyone could be killed.

  No one was immortal.

  The sword was heavy in his hand, and Aroron had to fight to keep standing, as he clutched his side. Blood dripped through his fingers and joined the green blood splattered around him. How long had he been fighting these monsters? He had no idea.

  The black monster stood before him, its shoulders hunched, orange eyes filled with anger and rage.

  But as Aroron looked at it, the last of his strength left him. The sword slipped from his hand and fell without a sound to the ground at his feet. And along with it, slid away any will to fight.

  The Panther hissed, pounced on him, throwing him against the ground. Small rocks and roots dug into his back, as the heavy monster pressed down on him. Aroron gasped for breath. He could almost hear his bones groaning under the weight. The monster's orange eyes bore into him, he couldn't look away, even if he had the will to.