Dargonfire: Age of Legend

by LJ Davies

  Okay, now I've a good idea what the Cartographer meant when he told me to respect this place. I thought, terrified that my friends and I would be next as more roots sprang from the earth.

  However, as I looked about for any sign of attack, the mist began to clear, allowing the moonlight to reveal a path.

  "Hey, over here!" I called, and my companions retreated to my side.

  "You know I'm starting to regret some of the things I said about this place!" Neera declared, as more of the tree creatures dragged orkin and manticore bodies away.

  "Mandrakes, retreat to the sky!" one of our attackers cried, before a branch wrapped around his head and threw him to the ground.

  Despite his warning, many of those that had been stalking up in the canopy were too disorganised to counter the forest’s ambush. Like a swarm of bees emerging from a hive, the beings identified as mandrakes, scurried down tree trunks, leaping onto the winged beasts with alarming agility.

  A leafy green glow flickered from within each of their twisting cavities, while swarms of similar-coloured insects buzzed within them. Their numerous limbs were like serrated daggers, and their backs sprouted a bustling thicket of sharp tendrils. Others bore thorns and barbs, while some appeared to be nothing more than deadly whirlwinds of serrated leaves.

  Yeah well, just be thankful they only want to kill the orkin for now! I inwardly declared, as I glanced about.

  "We need to get back, now!" I called, looking at Neera.

  "You don't say," she responded, glancing to the moonlit path. "Come on, this way."

  Moving to follow, I was thankful to see that she had several plants strapped to her back.

  At least some of us could do what we were supposed to do. I reassured myself.

  Despite the destruction we'd left behind, there was a shifting in the mist when another large manticore landed before us. Its wings were tattered and bloody, while its rider shook off severed branches that writhed like barbed snakes.

  "Stupid plants aint's gonna stop me's," he growled as he charged at us.

  "Come on, we can outrun it under there," Neera called, directing us toward a tangled set of roots.

  How does she figure this all out so fast!? I wondered, yet I wasn't about to argue with someone who'd spent their entire life surviving in the wilderness.

  Neither did Boltock, as the two of us took off after the faldron. Ushering him into the thicket first I took one last look in the direction of the cave where the Cartographer had led me.

  So much for a plan to save us all. I inwardly grumbled, before scurrying under the root cover. We'll all die out here at this rate!

  The angry beast at my back struck the mass of tangled bark with a heavy thud, shaking free the frosty coat gathered on the tunnel’s surface. It let out a vicious roar and took off, while I could see Boltock's tail ahead of me, as well as a fork in the tight passageway. The tip of my friend's tail vanished left, and I swiftly followed, squeezing through the tangled hole of barbs.

  I really hate these kinds of places. I have wings, I don't belong in here! I inwardly huffed, unable to shake the sensation that the vegetation could spring to life at any moment and crush us like bugs.

  That was the least of my concerns when a part of the thicket exploded inwards and I found myself dodging a grasping claw. The orkin growled as we all slipped by, his manticore clawing through the roots like a bear after honey.

  "Are you sure this is the right way?" Boltock asked urgently.

  "I'm pretty sure; at least it's better than being out there!" Neera responded.

  The sound of splintering wood and an angry growl cut short her words as the whole manticore smashed through into a larger area before us. She jumped back as the beast lashed out, forcing us all further back into the tunnel. I instinctively coiled back, but with my less than fireproof friend between our attacker and I, I swiftly rethought my actions.

  Creators curse this place, it's too tight!

  Meanwhile, the manticore reared up, snagging its tail in a mass of tangled thorns. In the same instant, the whole tunnel came alive, roots starting to coil around the beast like serpents. Seizing the moment, I forced everyone past the creature as it battled with the angry vegetation.

  No more than a few moments later, another of the beasts smashed through the bark directly above me. The tight space made turning to face it difficult, and flames spat from my snout as I braced myself. Just as suddenly as it had struck, the monster vanished behind a wall of stone as the ground exploded upwards. It coiled back with a painful howl, falling against the wall where the ravenous undergrowth swiftly sprang to life, tossing the rider into reach of my tail blade.

  "Thanks," I offered Boltock as I dispatched the disorientated orkin.

  "Don't mention it," he responded proudly.

  "Hey, that’s all well and good, but less talk, more running, please," Neera called back.

  She's right, we have to get back to the others before the orkin find them! Crawling through more of the tangled mass, we soon found ourselves on a ledge opposite the gorge and our camp.

  "I told you this was the right way," Neera announced, immediately taking flight.

  "Good, now go!" I urged Boltock, who followed without hesitation.

  Beating my wings, I followed with the howls of our hunters in close pursuit. As Boltock reached the ground, I swivelled in the air to meet the first manticore head on. Surprising the beast with a swipe of my wings, I cut the rider from his saddle and sent him plummeting into the gorge. Unfortunately, the manticore wasn't so easy to deal with and swerved round to strike my side. Moments later, several more emerged from the trees, jumping forward as the horses tied at the other side of the bridge bolted.

  So much for riding to the overlook. My conscience commented. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, right now, I've bigger problems.

  I couldn't focus on every attacker and for every one that the angry forest tore apart, another reached me. Fighting to stay airborne, I sent several blasts their way, flaming explosions scorching the wings of at least two and directly hitting another. I counted twelve before my mind settled for simply classifying it as a lot more than I could handle, and my instincts screamed.

  Run!

  As the word radiated through my thoughts, I realised it was too late. I could hear fighting below me, and every part of my being wanted nothing more than to pick up everyone without wings and fly as far away from these monsters as I could.

  No, think rationally. There's got to be something I can do! I thought as a manticore slammed into me, only to be struck down.

  As I steadied myself, the sound of feathered wing beats heralded the arrival of two griffins, who immediately began clawing at the raiders with sharp talons and beaks. Torrents of fire followed the featherwings’ assault as Talvana and the rest of her wing surged up into the fray.

  "Steel yourself, Guardian," Apollo announced as he darted up next to me, wings beating furiously as lightning crackled around him.

  The sight of more manticores to my left drew my attention away and I opened my muzzle to send a wall of fiery death their way. The flames turned several into fireballs that not even the forest dared consume as they fell. The rest swerved aside; wings singed as they fought to stay away from the grasping branches.

  "Apollo?" I called, and he hovered right up next to me.

  "Do forgive me, Guardian, but may I say, it seems holding this area is irrelevant? The descendant has recommended we immediately make for the safety of our allies. Should I...?"

  "Yes, yes, that plan sounds very good!" I abruptly cut him off.

  I had to swerve to avoid another strike as the words left my muzzle, while finding his ability to hover in one place without attracting any attention very irritating.

  "Splendid, I shall inform the others immediately," he chimed with a ruffle of his metallic feathers.

  I turned to follow him, only for another pair of manticores to block my path. I sliced the underside of one with my wing blades, while the
second slammed into my back, sending me spiralling to the fallen log bridge. The whole thing gave a mighty shudder and I had to sink my claws in deep to avoid sliding off the curved edge. Flames drifted down as Talvana, Meadow Hide and Ice Feather, along with every other able-bodied dragon and griffin, battled above. Meanwhile, Soaren, Neera, Risha and her brother all held back any beast that got through as the injured hurried along a rocky passageway. Tarwin shot orkin from their saddles with extreme accuracy, while across the crevice, the forest continued to assault those that would dare break its sanctity.

  Everyone's fighting together... It's... The sound of Mordrakk's unimpressed growl filled me with hopeful pride.

  That was until the log shook and three more manticores surrounded me. I jumped back as another tried to swipe at me from the air, but regaining my balance, and coiling back, I readied myself to burn them. Before I could exhale, the wood under me splintered and a stone claw dragged me down.

  I gained a brief glimpse of the orkin who'd yanked me into the hollow log, before firing and shattering the whole thing into pieces. The force of the explosion broke my attacker's grip and catapulted me back as the whole tube began to slip into the gorge. Fighting to steady myself, I bolted toward the others, digging my claws deep into the wood as it slipped out from under me before narrowly leaping out as it fell. I rolled to a stop on a bed of pine needles while the remaining manticores retreated into the night.

  "By the skies, you idiot!" a frustrated voice announced.

  Despite her anger, Risha grabbed my foreclaws in her own and helped heave me up.

  "What were you thinking, taking them all on by yourself!?"

  "Better me than anyone who could actually suffer for it," I was swift to counter.

  "And you don't suffer for it?" she questioned, jabbing a wing at all the fresh cuts and bruises I'd sustained.

  "They'll be gone in a few hours," I huffed, but she scowled.

  "Well, at least you brought back something useful," she added, motioning to Neera and the herbs strapped to her back.

  Why is she so stubborn, why can't she understand? I won't let any of them get hurt, not again!

  The unmistakable sound of a horn echoed through the trees, and we all exchanged glances before Risha and I reluctantly set our argument aside.

  "Come, they will not be so few in number next time. They'll no doubt come in force," Soaren proposed, raising his head as another horn sounded.

  "You call that few in number?" I caught Ice Feather grumbling under her breath.

  "How far is it to the overlook?" I asked, passing an uneasy eye over the forest, then the horseless humans.

  "It’s through Shadow's Gate. I'd hoped not to traverse it at night, yet it seems you brought back more than herbs," Soaren scolded.

  I reluctantly nodded, before he and the other more experience fighters flew over to their lead positions.

  "You know, next time you think of bringing back an army, at least let me come with you," Tarwin joked as she appeared at my side.

  She looked tired; in fact, so did everyone other than me.

  Still being unaffected by many of the world's rules is an advantage, no matter how much I hate it.

  "Shame, I really liked that horse," she added, glancing across the gorge as several fires of various colours flickered in the gloom.

  I cast one look in the same direction and shuddered as I felt the eyes of the forest sink back into sinister lurking mode.

  "I'm sure they'll be fine," I offered Tarwin, but for once she didn't look so sure.

  "It's not the horses I'm worried about," she replied, taking in a deep breath before moving on up the pass.

  They're all worried about me? I shook off the idea as I moved after them. They should know there's far more pressing things to worry about.

  *

  The steep path snaked along the edge of a sheer cliff face, while an equally towering rock wall loomed upward on the opposite side. Ruins similar to those I'd seen in the forest dotted the snowy terrain, some forming regal gateways and arches of stone over the ravine. The trees dwindled to almost nothing, but for all their size, the great wooden pillars were amazingly resilient. I still didn't quite know how I felt about the plant's ability to grow almost anywhere, and I made sure I kept an eye on the thick roots burrowing through the solid stone.

  I certainly don’t want to meet the same fate as the orkin.

  No one was flying, not even when the updrafts from several waterfalls would have made it easy. Following at the rear of the group, I could still smell our pursuers’ foul odour in the air. More of them were undoubtedly amassing around us, patiently waiting for the time to strike. It was a daunting prospect that so many of them had managed to avoid the forest's anger, as well as the fact they seemed to stalk so effortlessly amidst the harsh terrain.

  The road ahead was almost too perfect for an ambush. It wound slightly as the cliffs softened into a series of rough slopes and towering trees clung to every available perch.

  "We should find more cover in the trees, the passageway to the overlook is not too far now," I heard Soaren advising the group as a smaller, cliffside forest came into view.

  "Trees didn't stop them last time," Neera snorted from a rock to his left.

  "She's right, they're too bold," Talvana agreed. "We should send someone to fly ahead for reinforcements."

  Soaren glanced at the dark road before us, eyes narrowing as he squinted through the trees.

  "They'd pick off anyone that tried to leave in a wingbeat," he stated, and I gave the cliffside ruins another wary look.

  Glancing back over a griffin’s shoulder, I saw Tarwin, and as close as we were, I could tell by her face that she'd disagree with me if I insisted on going ahead anyway. The manipulative voice in my mind tried to worm its way into my thoughts with the idea that she'd betray me. But thankfully, it failed and reason took hold, yet before I could volunteer myself, Talvana spoke up again.

  "One well trained dragon shouldn't attract too much attention while they are so focused on hunting the rest of you. Please, allow me to go ahead, the consequences could be more severe if we don't find help," the fire dragoness insisted.

  Soaren looked back over the beguiled group behind him, then sighed.

  "Besides, you're not my true wing leader, Soaren. In the end, it's not your decision," the fire order dragoness added, tone as stern as the one Soaren often used.

  "Very well, fly as fast as you can, don't engage anything until you reach the overlook," the air elemental finally relented.

  Talvana nodded once, and with a firm beat of her wings, she darted into the maze of overgrown ruins. I watched her vanish into the darkness like some kind of fiery ghost, pausing to look back at the muddy pathway behind us.

  "What are you thinking?" Risha enquired as she moved up beside me.

  That look in her eyes, does she expect me to do something stupid again?

  "They're not going to leave us alone. That last assault retreated too easily," I answered as she shook her head.

  "I mean what are you doing? All of this hiding away, taking on all the orkin alone? We can keep bringing this up and pretending we've moved on, but what you did back there has to stop. You're not alone in this," she explained, reigniting my doubts as I responded.

  "Risha, I..."

  The sound of dislodged rocks and a rush of paws caught my attention. I glanced up, expecting to see a set of ferocious teeth and a deadly barbed stinger, but thankfully it was Neera bounding down the cliffs toward Soaren.

  "There are none of them ahead, but..."

  A loud roar cut off the faldron's words as a ball of claws, fur and wings erupted from below the cliff's edge. Risha and I ducked in unison as the manticore slashed, while pulling up along the opposing rock face. I coiled back and glanced over the cliffside to see a whole pack of them clinging to the wall like giant bats.

  They've been waiting down there this whole time!

  One creature took advantage of my distraction, swi
nging around with its tail. Yet a bolt of lightning stopped its progress before it could strike.

  "May I recommend you act upon your former plan? Speed is most certainly of the essence, and a point of defensive significance is also preferable to this rather vulnerable position," Apollo's calm voice proposed as he released two more bolts of lightning into more manticores.

  "Run!" I demanded, flames building in my throat.

  "I'll run when you do," Risha replied, setting one of the beasts alight as the whole pack leapt into the sky.

  The rest of the group erupted into a sprint as more monsters filled the air and I finally gave in, darting for the trees’ cover with her close behind. Our attackers didn't hesitate to take full advantage of our retreat, yet the collective force of flames, talons and sharp projectiles held them back.

  No, this is too easy – they could kill us all if they wish. This is something else. I thought, and as we retreated under the canopy, I felt a sense of dread crawl over me.

  "I think we lost them. Ha, those stone-hides are too scared to fly under some trees!" Ice Feather spat mockingly, catching her breath.

  "No, we gave them too easy a target, this is far from over," Soaren stated, glancing back.

  A rustling in the trees, followed by several loud cracks, stopped everyone in their tracks as more manticores dropped from the canopy to perch on the branches like a flock of crows. Soaren spread his bladed wings and several humans drew their weapons, while the rest of us brandished blades, beaks and claws.

  "Giant monsters, just like old times," Tarwin remarked nervously as she backed up beside me with an arrow drawn.

  I found it hard to disagree and even harder not to feel terrified. My dread only doubled, when another shifting sound amidst the trees marked the arrival of several dark forms, and with a soft whoosh, a large black serpent landed before us.

  "You're right, you do make this all too easy," Sceptre announced in his sly, deceptively smooth tone.

  Several vulpomancers materialised from the darkness surrounding him, while the orkin shot uneasy glances their way.

  Don't let him distract you, just focus on keeping everyone alive.

  Dense trees and a sheer overhang meant there was no way out. The ebon wing had us trapped, and I could hear the grinding of stones in the back of my mind.