In darkness, a shoveling crunch against crisp snow. It was ongoing as though the shovel was sliding through the snow. Arash watched his limp feet dangle with his red toes swinging left and right.
"Captain Raymond!"
The soldier's yell was so loud as if right in Arash's ear. He felt his eyes wander around the snow but there was something that took up the most space. Smooth bark against his neck. And a rugged man emerged from over the snow caps. Furry dark charcoal hair that reached his chin and sapphire blue eyes that could be seen a mile away. Unlike the other soldiers with no helmet, he walked with each shoulder broadly pushing against the air. And on his chest, a small cracked shield painted on his steel.
Sliding off the top of the hill, he reached Arash and an unconscious Zorion. "..hey.." He knocked Zorion with the side of his fist, "Wake up. You kids have any idea what you're doing?" He crouched down on his toes, leveling himself with their faces."
"Dracuh..stone…" Zorion said with his head swinging around like a bobble, "Age of.. Adventurers…"
"Yeah?" Raymond sighed, "I should've known word would get out eventually. 'Dracuhstone, the start of the new era'," he laughed at his own words whilst the boys gained their surroundings, "Bullshit. The Lost is only slowing the war. And you two won't survive here." The captain leaned his forehead up against theirs, "Listen.." Static ran through his breath, "I have full obligation to kill you right now, interrupting such an ambush. But I won't."
"So you'll let us live?" Zorion asked.
"Yea.. You go off the west side. Back to your hooded friends." Raymond told him, "I have a general. If he sees you, he won't hesitate to execute you. He's just that fat and corrupt."
"Hm…" Zorion looked around, "How about the east side?"
"No. That's where my general is coming from."
"He'd kill us even though we share the same flesh? Dracuh's seem to be as barbarous as we were told."
"We do share the same flesh. But something troubles me." He looked at Zorion, "You act all like a smart-ass after easily scaling this mountain. Still able to run at us smiling. Such a feat would even be a struggle for me, a Captain of The Shield."
"What?" Zorion murmured. "Didn't seem like that much of a feat to me."
"Surely you're a prodigy. I only wish to have had your potential." Raymond lifted them up.
"What will we do with them?" A soldier asked.
"We will toss them off the mountain. Western side." And he began to drag them.
When they got around halfway to the edge, Zorion dug his feet into the ground, stopping Raymond. "I, in fact, know that this mountain is the border for both countries! Which means where we stand now you cannot touch us!"
"You'll thank me for this." Raymond forced his feet through the snow.
"Yeah I'm sure our military which I'm a part of would appreciate you tossing us off our own border." Zorion argued, which caused Raymond to growl; his thick eyebrows tilted and pearly blue eyes sharpened. "I'm a Captain of the Giastone, from uh.. Klyvite city!" Zorion added. "Home to the.. Uh.. Archery Festival!"
Raymond let go of the two of them. "I don't need Giastone getting involved with us. If they attack the Land of the Shield, that's the end of this war." He thought to himself, but before he could say a word, a voice creeped up the mountain. Deeply clogged, like the person was holding their nose as they spoke. When he got to the top of the peak, Raymond swung his head at the two. "What the hell did I say?!" He snapped. "Jump off the mountain!"
"Is that you I hear yelling, Krane?"
"There he goes, calling me by.." Raymond thought. "It's Captain Raymond."
"It's whatever I say it is." His footsteps quaked the ground and soon his head started to show. Short fecal colored hair and a long chapped mouth. Wrinkles around his eyes and chunky cheeks. His armor was shinier than any of the other soldiers. His left hand appeared to be dragging something. When he reached an even field of snow, red toes pointed upwards to a nearly naked man with his attire torn off almost completely.
"And who in Dracuhs name is that?" Raymond asked, stepping in front of Zorion and Arash.
"Our latest catch." He threw the man in front of Raymond, watching him twitch. His hair was the exact opposite of the snow and barely reached past his ears. His nose was smooth and he had wide blue eyes that froze open. Eyebrows thin. Cuts and bruises covered his face. "I found him beaten on the way up in a crater, took him, and line him up with the Lionside. I watch the block to be full today, for War Criminal K'Nare has finally been caught."
"Excuse me?" Raymond intruded, "Maybe if he was a prisoner or a thief, I'd consider it. But you found him helpless in the snow."
The soldiers were shivering as Raymond spoke, "Careful captain! Not the general!"
"You'd do best listening to your peers." The general added with a click of his tongue and a shake of his head, signaling for a soldier to come take the beaten man away. Raymond turned around and urged Arash and Zorion to run away from the scene.
"I told you we aren't leaving! You can't touch us." Zorion said, "I can take on fatso myself, bub."
Raymond boiled with anger, almost wanting to tear Zorion's face off.
"Who can't touch what now?" The general stomped his boots through the snow.
While Zorion stood his ground, he pushed his chest out and frowned his face. "I said what I said-" The general's face was suddenly against his own; he'd never seen such great speed before.
Suddenly, Zorion felt a tear of his hair as he was thrown against the willow tree. Raymond now where he once was. Zorion rolled on the floor catching his breath. "Who did that??" Zorion thought as he suddenly felt a static in the air.
"Sir! These are citizens of Giastone. They were hiking in the mountains and stumbled across our ambush of the Lionside, Sir!" Raymond shut his eyes, praying for the best.
"And what were you planning to do with them?" The general asked with his chin above Raymond.
"Considering we can't risk a war with the forces west, I was planning on sending them back the way they came." Raymond swallowed what felt like a rock; he couldn't put a finger on what mood his superior would be in today.
"Very well. Toss the black one. He's been silent.. But keep the white for me."
"Tch.." Raymond snarled away, "I guess that'll teach the kid not to do something like this again. Even so, I'll free that other boy." Raymond looked away, "Very well." And he grabbed Arash's green collar of his torn tunic, letting him watch Zorion be taken by the general.
"Don't- Do it…" Raymond suddenly whispered. But Arash had bit the Captains hand and hugged the plump general from behind and swung his satchel off his body, tying it around the general's neck and yanking as hard as he could.
"What I would do to keep a palette." Arash thought to himself, "This color is mine."
Soldiers rushed towards Arash and suddenly a wave of water twirled around them, the beaten man brought up breathing heavily.
"Who the hell you think y'all are?!"
Raymond stood and watched in shame as the three solidified their sentences. Arash kept choking the general, and the beaten guy swished liquid at the other soldiers. "They leave me no choice, then." With one step, he zipped to Zorion ann Arash, knocking the back of their heads and letting them fall to the ground. Then, he flashed over to the water-man.
Raymond went to grab the weary man. As his fingers grazed the man's skin, water vapor flew into his eyes. His index finger slid through his skin like a loose jelly. Through the vapor, Raymond's hand pushed it away, but the man was no longer there. Then, from behind, the captain felt a wobbly magical presence.
"Water, eh?" Raymond jabbed right through the torse, the water-man's sinister smile above Raymond's hunched down body. Meanwhile, Arash's vision faded, but his hearing persisted.
Smiling down at Raymond, able to smell the sweat from his pores, "You can't touch m-"
Raymond ripped out his voice, "CHARRED LIGHTING" and a bolt of lighting came from the sky! The water-man jolted back and forth, foam spilling from his mouth. Raymond ejected his hand and the now solid man fell backwards, eyes shut. Raymond grabbed the man's hair. "At ease, soldiers." And everybody relaxed their shoulders. "I got it from here." He assured them.
"Take em to the block.." The general tore the rope of Arash's satchel off him, "Giastone and their books.." He scoffed and threw it into the snow beside the weeping willow tree.
Discreetly, Raymond picked up the satchel and tucked it underneath his armor. "I'll get you guys outta here. No matter the side of the war, innocents should never be punished."
A man, Cade. Someone below Raymond signaled him to come over, "What are you planning? Don't do it man.."
"Quiet, Cade. I trust you more than any of the other soldiers. You know it's the right thing to do."
"Yeah, But still."
"Bring the carts up." Raymond turned away, walking to the three knocked out buffoons, "And trying to spread their bodies a bit. Make it look like we can't fit anymore prisoners."
Blindfolded with their mouths and hands binded together, four humans, four elves.. All had different assortments of hairs and skin tones. But a furry creature took up two spaces on his own. His ribs were stretching out his skin and his eyes sunk below his nose. Arash was placed next to him, while Zorion and the water man were set on the other cart across from each other.
The Lionside, a humanoid leopard, sat next to Arash. He had no bindings on his mouth, and his arms were frail, easily he could slip out of the metal. Watching the dark man obtain his surroundings, looking left and right, "Hey you, you're finally awake."
With one sniff, the Lionside glanced at Arash's dreads that were beginning to fall loose. "You smell.. Odd." The Lionside spoke with a purr, almost a gurgle.
Arash lifted his head, "Do I?" He looked off to the snowy tundra behind him as the carts rolled down the mountain. "I could care less."
The puffy snow grew thinner the steeper they went and an ominous noise growled ahead. Two horses dragged one cart each, Raymond was on Arash's, guiding the horse. Behind them was Zorion's cart, where the General sat on one of the strongest horses in the country. 'Fat ass', the horse should've neighed.
"Your head hangs low." The leopard purred, rolling his r's with distinct flourish, "And your feet stand unshaken."
"So do yours." Arash countered- meeting the feline's gaze, "Lionsides in Giastone don't act like this, no matter how sparse they are."
The snowy alpine trees around them started to migrate into a forest, where ravens darted from branch to branch. And snow bears hid within the subtle snow. All of this under the waning sunlight, beginning its descent from the middle of the sky.
Upon closer look, Arash observed the tapestry of gray fur with white patches scattering around black marking. The feline's claws, even though they hid within his paw, were too sharp to look at. The Lionside matched Arash in height, their eyes, a middle ground. "Your eyes mirror my own."
"At closer inspection, they aren't. For I am K'Nare. And your presence here is unwel- comed."
"K'Nare..?" Arash thought for a moment as his shoulders hung low, "K'Nare lived long ago. You can't be him."
In turn, the Lionside leaned into Arash's face. The moisture of the cat's nose squeezing against Arash's. Their eyes pressed on one another.
Even through Arash's numb motion and world, he felt the wiggle of his skin, as if his veins were wiggling around a needle. Inside his green eyes, there was nothing. No life, no dread. The screaming of a thousand souls. A feeling Arash oddly knew full well. But he didn't know why. There was a sudden purr out of K'Nare's body. And Arash gushed over his bushy cheek, "Look at you.." He said with a charlie monotone, "So soft.."
K'Nare slid his hand out of his cuffs and knocked Arash's hand away, "Odd specimen you are." He growled, inserting his hands back inside the cuffs.
"You want to die." Arash said. "That's pathetic."
"You're how old?" K'Nare blandly chuckled.
"Eighteen, nineteen. Around there."
"Still a child." K'Nare responded, "There's a reason that twenty-five is an adult. Through time, I never expected it to change."
"It doesn't matter. I doubt I'll stay confined for long." Arash stated, "But I don't care either way."
"Who'd you come here with, Arash." The Lionside tried to peek over the other prisoners to the other cart, "That black haired boy?"
"Yeah. The loud one." Arash thought for a moment.. "The one who's always smiling."
"Loud and black hair doesn't nim it down." K'Nare rested his legs apart, "Do not let this world ruin that boy." He ordered, "Even after death, I will make you suffer."
"You know him?"
"It's impossible to. But the feelings he brings me are familiar."
"Shit.." Zorion leaned back against the cart as he saw the plump general guiding the horse, "Then again, having to travel down a mountain would've proved harsh for both him and I. I'll take this any day." He wiggled his fingers on the stone cuffs, "Magic bindings?"
"Yeah." A man next to him without a muzzle or blindfold said. He had similar black hair, but it was shorter, and his eyes were blue like the ocean. "End of the line." His voice was cold and his resting face was an upside down smile.
"You're the water man? How'd you even get caught?"
"I was asleep." The man told him, "I've had my run. And with these bindings, there's no chance of me getting out."
"Nah." Zorion chuckled, "Don't think like that. I overheard them talking, they're mainly here for that Lionside, right?"
"The War Criminal, K'Nare." The water-man stated.
"Ah.. So the rumors were true. The Government can't hide anything from me." Zorion clocked his tongue like a long grandfather clock, "Although unsettling, I wouldn't mind having someone like him as a bodyguard."
"Are you serious? First you scale a mountain, then you say he'll be your bodyguard?"
"No. I said I wouldn't mind. I'm not an idiot. But it seems somebody hasn't read the tales."
"I care not for legends and shit." He snapped, "I want out of these fucking cuffs."
"You should care for your language!!" Zorion shivered, "What do you care for then?"
"I'm not from here. I am only here to finish what has been started by another. The man who made me get caught."
"Yeah??" Zorion bent into his ear and whispered, "What's that?" His breath tickled the water-man's ear drum.
"Get off of me!" He snapped, "Freak..:"
"I can read you like a book, dude." Zorion nudged him with his shoulder, "
"I promise you can't.."
"Ah!" Zorion yelped, "take it back! You can't promise something like that!!"
"Read me. Oh wise one." The water-man said.
"You have a distaste for us humans, even though you're one yourself." Zorion smirked, turning away, "What was your name?"
"J..Jaakobah." He stated, "And yes, I do not like humans. They are born to control. They are tyrants."
"Nah. It depends on who you surround yourself with." A village appeared over the yonder of trees, the snow was nearly gone at this point, but in place of it was blood. Gore that was like sap on a tree, stuck against the bark. It dripped onto bushes, soaking it like a sponge. And there were occasional bodies faintly covered by dirt and grass within the forest. Some with the emblem of a sword, and others with a shield. And some.. with both.
The horses trekked through the forest, eventually entering below a large hanging sign, 'Pine Village'. Kids were running outside, people were collecting clothing off thin lines and others were coming in and out of the 'Stimpa Inn'. Such a downgrade from Giastone. Not even rail tracks anywhere to be seen.
Then, Arash scrolled his eyes to a particular color. A person. Everything they touched, it seemed to leave a trace of color behind. Each footstep.. He watched as a certain woman was carrying a basket. Her hair wasn't gray. Instead, it was a silky mocha color. "Wow.." He mumbled. "Look at her.. People here are.. So full of color, it seems.." And he glanced at each person, trying to find the same aura.
After being unloaded into a barred boathouse. There was a line of cells bestowing the outside of the village. Arash K'Nare were placed with their cart in a cell. While Zorion and Jaakobah were placed elsewhere in the boathouse. There was mold on the walls and spiders crept from their webs into tiny little holes within the chiseled wood.
The only thing in the room besides the prisoners, was a pile of hay and a small window on the back wall, light and noises from the village peered inside.
After Raymond had placed Arash and K'Nare inside their cells, he made his way to the carrier pigeon building of Pine Village. A large tower, once a watchtower, now a post office. The center for all news in Dracuhstone's, Land of The Shield.
"Captain Raymond." The general spouted, "The Corps issued a new executioner. Right behind you."
A tan man with beefy arms hidden by his executioner cloak.
"Put him on the black one's block. Let them share the same tone." The general laughed, walking away.
Raymond tsk'd, looking at the tan-ish man, "What's your name?"
There wasn't any response. And his face looked weary, as if he'd been through hell.
Raymond chuckled, "I like you, follow me."
Zorion leaned against the back wall under the window, then slid down onto his bottom, his knees up to his face. "That's it. You in?"
Jaakobah chuckled, "He really thinks that would work?!"
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. Why are you keen on helping me with an objective you know nothing about? What if I was a mass murderer?"
"You're not. I told you, I can read you like a book. And hypothetically, it wouldn't matter. Anything is better than being back over the mountains."
"Very well.." Jaakobah pressed against his iron bindings, "Then I'll share it with you. Four Orbs.. We destroy them and that'll make the world a better place."
"Is that so?" Zorion sighed, "I was hoping it would be more.. Crammy."
"Crammy?"
"Yeah.. I'm not gonna help though.." Zorion turned away.
"So you lied?" jaakobah lifted his lip in disgust.
"Yup. You gotta make a promise for me if we get out."
Jaakobah stared at Zorion, "A promise? He's so naive to think I would be binded by such sentiments. But…" He smiled, "Go on."
… After grueling attempts to get Jaakobah to swallow his pride, Zorion managed..
"Say it." Zorion ordered, trying to contain his laughter.
"I promise to not ditch you all, I …shalln't…"
"Yes! Perfect!!"
"Shalln't frown for the whole day. And must smile at the night sky at least once a day whilst counting the stars."
"Then???"
… A groan, "And I will grow out my hair at least half an-"
"Full inch!!"
"A full inch.. Of what is now. When it reaches that, I will cut it to normal and throw it atop a chimney where I sit by myself."
"Ah! You sealed it!!"
Jaakobah looked at him in disgust, "Is this man a child.. No matter. Death is soon upon us."
As Raymond was walking to the prison cells, a light grabbed his foot, and pinned him against the post tower's wall.
Arash bolted up, "Somethings happening."
The general, with Cade, walked around the tower, "Raymond.." The general said, "DO you know what happens to traitors? Treason? I should put you on that block myself."
A light gripped his throat and tied his tongue.
"Damnit, Cade!!" Raymond eyeballed the man up and down with his wiggly toes and his smug smirk, "You always were jealous!! You're using your spell illegally too."
"I don't care, Raymond. Face the facts, in this war I hold the most power. Everybody trusts me!"
"Raymond." The general choked up, "You want someone like K'Nare to live? After all he has done? I am doing everybody justice by slaying him."
Biting onto the golden light, he shattered it with a spark, "It's against the King's orders."
"The king?? The king of the neutral kingdom?! We live under our emperor who gracefully bestows the word of Zetzino to his people!! And right now, I shield the world from this beast! For what will happen when he snaps?!!"
"You'll die for it. And I'll die for not stopping you." Raymond said, "And innocents should never be punished!!"
"Either way, Captain. It's all just another trap." The general let go of Raymond, letting his magic seep into the air.
Raymond fell with a few small burns on his hands, but his black armor was still strong. He glanced at his orange stripes, "Damn char stain." Then he glared at Cade.
"Better luck next time ?" And then went with the general. All the prisoners were let out and placed against cinder blocks. With an executioner for each victim.
The first dozen were the prisoners. But it ended with K'Nare, then Arash, then Jaakobah, and then finally, Zorion.
Zorion winked at Arash, hoping to give him a glance of hope. "I gotta… Hm. I could use the outer of the village, actually. So let me- I like a grand entrance!!"
Arash looked at Zorion, "I'm trusting you."
The axe's dropped. One by one, heads fall. But then, the one that hit K'Nare's neck snapped. And in that moment, there was a massive shake with a flap through the dust. The tavern overlooking the courtyard, gone.
What felt like an earthquake rumbled across the village. Something flew in the sky. It twirled past mountains and spread its wings as it landed onto the village's inn, splattering pieces of men and women around like ants. Miles away at a neighboring village, shockwaves blew their doors off the hinges. The creature's webby wings stayed in place as it slapped its tail onto the rubble of the inn. Steam emitted from its nostrils. Its eyes- whited out, as if it were possessed. The village grew silent, while horror hightend.. Pops bubbling up in its mouth like boiling water. Zorion couldn't believe the sight, and neither could she, basket in hand, walking away from what was once a happy tavern in front of the courtyard, her silky brown hair absorbing all the dust.
Zorion flew up past all the fallen executioners, bubbling with anger, but even so, a smile, "Even I have my limits!! YOU'RE RUINING EVERYTHING!!!" Now, face to face against the creature.
****BREAK NEXT WEEK****
!!!!!!!!!DRACUH-SHORTS!!!!!!!!!!
"Yo.." Zorion looked at Jaakobah.
"What do you want.."
"Why's your hair look like that?"
"What?? Look like what?!"
"It looks like crud. Like you tried to comb it but then got beaten up and taken into custody." Zorion said with his face titled.
…
"Are you kidding me right now?" Jaakobah struck Zorion's face with his cuffs, "Oh! Look! Your hair!! IT'S ALL MESSED UP!!!"
Zorion crashed into the wall, stars dazzling around his head, "You throw like Arash…"
"Are…" K'Nare looked at Arash, "Are they fighting?"
Arash sighed, "probably.. He and a friend back home did the same thing…"
"And you just spectated?"
"No." Arash said, "I didn't just watch. That was a long time ago."
"YEAH!? YUH LIKE THAT!?"
"Are you a girl?! Get off my hair!!" Jaakobah spat out his mouth.