Several weeks had gone by since Sindri had received the dream from Odin, yet no humans had shown themselves. Asger and his warriors, along with Zarda, were immersed in training and preparing for battle, while Sindri focused on caring for the females and young ones. She took it upon herself to teach them basic skills for self-defense in case of capture, believing it was better to be prepared than caught off guard. Day after day, Sindri anxiously kept watch for the ravens and Eindride the seer, knowing that their arrival would bring news of the humans.
Endless days of anticipation left everyone feeling on edge, except for those diligently preparing for combat. Zarda reassured them that there would be successes and setbacks, but not to fear because he had faith that the animals would triumph in the end.
The fragile glass cup broke into pieces as it collided with the soft blue wall, scattering shards across the room. Scientist Hopkins was still seething with anger inside her office after weeks of hearing about the explosion at Nexus Labs. Each time she dwelled on it, it consumed her with madness. Fortunately, Severence labs was still operational, but the majority of their important research had been kept at Nexus.
'Is this is what I get for leaving,' she thought to herself.
If she hadn't of, they would not have suffered such a loss. She knew that the animals and building had been destroyed in the chaos, resulting in lost test subjects, materials, and countless hours of work towards finding a cure. Her patience was wearing thin, as was her father's life. Despite this, she sent her soldiers to salvage whatever they could at Nexus. While searching through the rubble, they discovered a trail of footprints leading out of the building and tire tracks from a large truck. This mysterious information was the best news Hopkins had heard all day. Her green eyes sparkled, her fiery red hair seemingly ablaze, and her devilish grin wider than usual.
Hopkins mocked, "Do you realize what this means? Zarda and his animal friends are alive. I'm willing to bet Delilah assisted them. We need to make plans to locate them. They couldn't have gotten too far."
Soldier Gibbs and Anderson listened off to the side as she spoke passionately to the other officers, they knew their friend was in trouble.
Hopkins commanded, "Whether they come back dead or alive, I don't care. But I will find them and they will suffer. The lion, hes mine all I need is his blood. Collect all the specimens of xx-mutants. They finally have a purpose for me. Let's move out."
Soldier Gibbs expressed, "We need to find a way to alert Zarda that Hopkins is planning an attack. The only option I can think of is to personally deliver the message ourselves. Hopefully, he has found refuge with other animals by now."
He absentmindedly scratched his face with weathered hands. Soldier Anderson agreed and proposed they depart that night while the rest of the group was preoccupied with gathering supplies. It would take the soldiers and scientists a minimum of three days to prepare the mutant xx- and other necessities, assuming they didn't take a wrong turn leaving out. Fortunately, Gibbs and Anderson had the advantage of knowing where they had last left Zarda, unlike the others.
Gibbs and Anderson carried out their mission with stealth, slipping away unnoticed and safely reaching the exit. They found two unmarked motorbikes meant for minor missions, with Gibbs locating the keys and starting his bike with a few revs. Anderson followed suit, and they rode out of the cement garage without being caught. They disappeared quickly, and by the time their absence woukd be noticed, it would be too late. Gibbs pushed his bike to its limits, feeling the heat of the engine beneath him as the tires easily gripped the terrain. Anderson, wearing a helmet, followed effortlessly. They raced towards the forest and beyond Rising Wolf Mountain, their escape reminiscent of birds taking flight. As they rode, Gibbs couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be Zarda - neither fully human nor creature. In that moment, he felt closer to that experience than ever before.
Meanwhile back at Severence Labs, hopkins and her men were preparing for a fight. They had boxes being filled with toxic chemicals, metal cages were being carried in by soldiers containing deformed and fierce mutated creatures. A rat had grown to the size of a medium-sized dog, with half of its fur gone and its putrid flesh and blood exposed. The creature's eyes became glazed with a foggy appearance. Numerous creatures with strange deformities were brought in. Some were noisy, some were larger than normal, and others were frothing and behaving erratically inside the cage. The soldiers were extremely frightened, resorting to using metal poles to carry them. The noise and smells in the enclosed area were overpowering. One soldier stepped away, confidently approaching Hopkins.
""What are your instructions for us upon arrival, ma'am?" he inquired warily.
Hopkins gazed malevolently at the soldier, her expression bordering on insanity.
"You are authorized to use heavy artillery and shoot to kill on your mission. Utilize chemicals to burn the forest. I will torch them out or they will burn inside like Nexus did. If any remnants remain, the xx-mutants will handle the rest. I have worked too hard for this white lion to come and ruin everything. Those beasts are too intelligent. If I don't get that lion, the cure I need to save my father will be lost. His blood is the key to curing him," said Hopkins with deep emotion. The soldier waited to respond appropriately.
"Understood. I will inform the others to be ready on departure day. Should we bring metal tanks with us?" He inquired.
Hopkins was thrilled to hear the suggestion, fully endorsing it before dismissing the soldier.
Asger stood next to Zarda, observing the warriors as they moved in perfect harmony. Lord Asger felt immense pride.
"A remarkable sight, isn't it Zarda? Are you really unable to stay and fight? My warriors would truly benefit from your presence. They have come to admire and rely on you. Your leadership qualities are exceptional. Just between us, something is shifting in my heart. What I once believed to be true, I now question. You have shown me a different, tangible reality that defies explanation. Watching my queen with her magic only brings me darkness. It haunts me at night, unlike before. I desire peace, no, I need it." He confided.
Zarda responded by saying, "If your heart is searching for Elohim, how can a person of integrity remain in a place of disgrace if they find him?"
Lord Asger found those words perplexing, but he couldn't deny their truth. He took some time to contemplate before giving a reply.
"I understand your perspective. It's clear why you can't stay. Let me accompany you on your journey, Zarda. I'm tired of this place and I want more than what Havardr offers," the Lord said earnestly.
"I am not your guardian. You are free to come and go as you please. If you want to join us, then do so. Oridan recently brought me some good news, and now I am sharing it with you. We now have a way to get to Africa. Oridian has found a military plane in good condition. We checked it out a week ago and everything seemed legitimate and well-maintained. As soon as we hear news of the battle, we will leave without hesitation. If you want to come with us, you will need to act quickly. We will not wait for anyone, and nothing will stop us from completing our mission," Zarda replied.
Lord Asger remained silent, internalizing everything that Zarda had said. He understood the seriousness of the situation and how desperately Zarda wanted to return home no matter what.
"Alright, I will arrange to meet you along your route. It's great news that you found a plane for the escape. Some of my warriors have experience flying a plane, so maybe they should accompany you or at least fly you out of here. I will instruct them to follow you and your group. Lady Sindri waits for Odin to send his ravens with the seer. She is confident that once these two omens are observed, the seer will bring news that the humans are approaching," Lord Asger responded.
Little did they know that two individuals were on their way to see them at that exact moment. Their intention was not to cause harm, but to warn. They had a genuine concern for Zarda and only wanted what was best for him. It was also a chance to update Zarda on Delilah's well-being.
The soldiers arrived at the drop off area just in time. Gibbs concealed his bike in a dense bush, covering it with tree limbs to make it less noticeable. Anderson decided to hide his bike behind a large boulder nearby, also covering it with foliage. They both set out on foot to track down Zarda. One months passing and the landscape had changed with the weather, making it difficult to find any clues. Despite the lush forest, the colors and ground had been altered by rain, erasing any traces. With a three-day head start, they knew it would be a tough challenge to stay on the right track. They spent hours following an uncertain path, hoping they had made the correct decision to go straight.
As they continued on their path, they spotted two objects resembling brooms - one large and one small - leaning against a tree near what seemed to be a bed of fallen leaves. At first glance, it could easily be mistaken for branches and natural debris. Gibbs quickly rushed over to take a closer look and noticed a large paw print pointing towards the north. It had to be Zarda and the other animals. Acting swiftly, Gibbs and Anderson spread out the pile of leaves, throwing the broom-like objects in different directions. Without wasting any time, they continued on their journey to find their friend.
Deeper and deeper, they journeyed into the shadowy woods, almost as though they had been following Zarda all along. Unbeknownst to them, Elohim was guiding their path just as he had done for Zarda. Suddenly, Gibbs halted, as the faint sound of clanking and grunts reached his ears. Anderson also picked up on the noise, which resembled a battle despite Hopkins and the soldier being back at Severence labs. Stealthily, the two men moved towards the commotion, the volume ramping up as they crept closer under the cover of darkened forest. As they approached the mysterious runes in the trees, a strange glow emanated from them, visible only to Sindri, the Seer, and the trained guards.
Feginn and Mercury, both on parole, strolled together as usual, engaging in nonsensical conversations while keeping an eye on the nearby treeline. Feginn, the observant moose, noticed a faint glow and immediately alerted Mercury. The two became vigilant, scanning the area carefully. Nearby, Gibbs and Anderson were silently positioned, unaware of the guards approaching from the left. Despite the soldiers unable to see the warriors practicing in the woods, Mercury spotted them watching from a distance. Little did they know, just beyond the dense foliage, the warriors were conducting their training on an open field.
Gibbs and Anderson had no time to flee before they were captured by Mercury and Feginn. The guards quickly tied their hands and escorted them into Havardr's encampment. It was their responsibility to deliver any suspicious individuals to Lord Asger or Lady Sindri right away. As a result, they headed towards the training grounds to locate their King.
Eindride sat on his cushion in a meditative state, deep in trance as he often was. He moved between the spirit realms, communicating with mysterious entities. In one realm, he saw two soldiers resting in the woods, unaware of the spirit animal watching them. Eindride sensed that trouble was approaching, even though he didn't feel any immediate threat from the soldiers. The number three flashed before his eyes, signaling that the kingdom of Havardr had three days until the eve of battle. In reality, Eindride's body convulsed violently as his spirit projected out of his body, causing a brief death-like state. When he returned to his flesh, he gasped for air, noticing Odin's ravens watching him from the treetops. They cawed frantically as Eindride realized it was time to act. Gathering his cushion, Eindride walked towards Lady Sindri, who was resting in a vine tree swing. As he journeyed, the crows and ravens followed above, creating a cacophony of noise accompanying him on his path.
Simultaneously, two groups with identical warnings gathered in separate locations. Eindride and the ravens encountered Sindri unexpectedly, just as Mercury and Feginn emerged from the treeline with Gibbs and Anderson in tow, standing before their Lord Asger and King Zarda.
Sindri jolted awake in fear with a loud hiss, as the ravens awoke her from her deep slumber. Her eyes widened as she stared at Eindride the all-knowing seer, understanding perfectly well why he and the ravens were by her side. She nodded in acknowledgment, knowing that it was time.
"In three days, on the eve of battle, they will arrive. Two soldiers have come to warn Zarda to proceed with caution. It is time, my lady, be vigilant," Eindride said ominously.