Nuyani could feel a strange sense of calm washing over her mind. Her thoughts flooded with sudden visions. The woman’s eyes shot open remembering the chaos that ensued centuries ago. The spirit lied before her wearing a warm smile. Nuyani sat up. The images of strange people, monsters and odd powers used even by the defenders of the stone village made her head spin.
“By the Great… How did they travel through the cliffs?” Nuyani wondered. She looked at the spirit. “You’ve been here for so long.” Her eyes began to well Nuyani held out a hand toward the spirit. The child narrowed her eyes, confused about her reason. Releasing a soft hum from her core, Nuyani’s body was filled with energy allowing her to place a hand on her head.
The child’s eyes widened and grew red. She launched from her seat wrapping her small arms around Nuyani’s waist and buried her head in her chest. For the first time, the child made a noise crying as she held on. Nuyani hugged the child back. Despite her state, the spirit felt as warm as a living person. “What keeps you here? Why haven’t you passed?” Nuyani questioned. The child shook her head, still clinging to the runner. “I think I can free you if you’d wish,” Nuyani offered.
The girl pulled away pleading eyes trained on the witch’s as the tears ceased. “I can’t explain it but, I can free you if you wish. Let you rest,” Nuyani said.
She reached out with her hand in offer. The child looked to the woman with an eager stare but stopped. This time, Nuyani furrowed her brow in confusion. The girl then stared and turned to the side behind the runner as if to see something. She followed her gaze, finding only the ruins still behind her and looked back. The spirit was now looking to the ground with a determined look. When she looked up at Nuyani, she seemed saddened wearing a sense of pain but smiled before forming into a white wisp and descending into the ground.
Nuyani started rummaging through the rubble and dirt until she found a small ring stone circle she recognized as the child’s bracelet covered in the dirt. The girl’s presence was contained within the item. ‘What keeps a spirit lingering in a place like this? Did I offer her something bad?’ She wondered before placing the bracelet back on the stone and moving toward the statues. ‘Please find some peace, child.’
Nuyani walked away heading toward the pedestal where only the deities’ feet remained. The runner looked back noting most of the rubble stayed on the right side of the room. The statue sat a good distance away from any stone nearby.
‘Do’alm and Do’alc. Were they our gods before lord Kelvert? Are there more?’ Nuyani questioned as she moved from the statues and headed toward the tunnel. “Should I still use his name in prayer, or the others?” Nuyani whispered under her breath. As she passed down the hall, the lingering spirits wailed in her passing as they fell near the remaining blast marks in the stones.
As her hand brushed over the marks accepting the phantom waves of pain, she thought back to the strength that grew in her with every whisper when the howlers first appeared. She remembered each time she ran out into the drylands and thought to stay in wait for a blood-mane or blade-jaw to take her but, something pulled her back to the cave, some strength or source kept the beasts out. Despite everything, it was Kelvert who she prayed to when wishing for strength, strength that came when she needed it most.
Nuyani looked to the side seeing another long pool through the pillars as vines and algae claimed the water. She placed a hand on her stomach. ‘Should I keep praying to them? Kelvert is a borrowed name?’ Her core pulsed steadily as she released the thrum sparsely through the area. Though she wanted to keep her senses sharp, it was hard to focus with the spirits around her.
She strolled down the hall, cautious of where she stepped as she passed the stones scattered about. Her eyes then fell on the pillars wondering why the hall possessed them. She thought back to the cavern wondering if it was to keep the air circulating. Nuyani looked forward into the shadowed doorway. Walking through the entrance, she found herself in a dark room with little light passing into her eyes calling forth the silver outlines. The mortar between the bricks, cracks in the walls, and edges of the doorway all grew distinct in her vision. Nuyani was forced to squint with what light from outside was still visible, grew brighter and painful.
Nuyani sighed. “Every tool has its uses and problems,” she said.
She continued to look through the room, seeing the items present. There were few stones on the ground making the area cleaner compared to many of the others she had visited. A back entrance sat on the opposite walls. She looked at the ground seeing several curved pieces on the floor. “Is this it?” Nuyani wondered as she marched forward and looked at the items sitting in the dirt. A pile of the same curved blades sat on the floor. Small silver rings showed in the wall above them. Nuyani picked up one of the items releasing a clang while the point dragged on the floor. The surface of the weapon was covered in dust that Nuyani wiped away. Beneath the dirt, the surface remained reflective, finding no spots of orange, brown, or red.
Nuyani smiled as she looked at the weapons. “We can fight them off,” Nuyani whispered. She fantasized the image of many villagers swinging the blades at the howlers in defense. Her smile faded as she looked back at the pile. There were at least three dozen weapons on the floor but, even the single one she held still felt a little heavier than her knives. Crossing back over the water would be impossible.
“So close,” Nuyani said as she turned the blade over in her hands. She looked at the handle which was identical to the chief’s own weapon. The handle was curved and long enough to fit a single hand. Nuyani found it strange that the weapon still had wood on the handle expecting it to rot away like other natural portions. She then noticed the outlines of a circle in the hilt’s end. As Nuyani released a pulse, she noticed the soft vibrations rising in answer from the circle along with the others.
‘What is this?’ she wondered standing and walking toward the back entrance. With a stronger light, she saw a smooth clear jewel embedded in the hilt.
“What?” Nuyani said. Her brow furrowed once more. “This can’t be.” Her mind trailed back to the chief’s weapon, a single encrusted jewel at the end. The chief retrieved the weapon from a stone bracelet. Nuyani then removed the jagged clear crystal from its pouch. Though her stone was rougher and larger than the blade’s, it still had the same clouded look to it. She saw through the small stone where wood overlapped the ring stone to shape the handle.
“Do they enter the stones like mine stores food?” Nuyani wondered as she pressed on the small crystal. Silence. The weapon stayed in her hand. None of the shining lights came forth in her stead. “Hmm. What else can I do with you?” Her thoughts returned to her chief and to the vision the child shared.
‘What…’ Nuyani stopped her question as her next pulse rose from her and the small portion radiating through the stone grew wider and stronger. Nuyani’s eyes widened. Keeping her thumb placed on the stone, she willed a single beat to reverberate through her body and the small digit entering the stone. The stone’s center glowed white. The blade began to twist and pour into the small crystal. The small crystal fell to the ground. ‘It’s like the crystal but, why can’t mine collect anything other than animals?’ Nuyani wondered as she retrieved the stone.
The differences between both stones seemed strange. While she required gripping the crystal and directing the light, the smaller one required the strange power. She pushed the questions back for a moment as she repeated the action feeding a pulse into the crystal. Light gleamed from the core and the blade poured out of the center with the stone fixed into the hilt as it stuck toward the side. Unprepared for its reappearance, the blade fell to the floor releasing a clang as it hit the earth.
She picked up the blade and stood. Her eyes fell on the polished edge as she saw her eyes show on the smooth surface. Nuyani then repeated several of the slashes she saw in the vision. As she swung the blade about, her brow was furrowed. She could still feel the weight of the spirits lingering in the corridor. The weapons were meant to protect them yet, so many fell. There were far more people there at the time compared to the village.
‘If they couldn’t defend this place, returning with the village may not be a good idea,’ Nuyani realized as she tried to imagine the village guard fighting such monsters. She stopped swinging the weapon and looked at the floor. Her imagination did not conjure a fight but, a slaughter. The invaders were strong. Even she began to wonder if any of the villagers would be a match. ‘Then we should fight in the village. I don’t know if we could return to this place,’ Nuyani thought.
She fed a pulse into the stone once more reducing its size and returning it, and her crystal into the sack. Nuyani turned around only to kick something in the dirt. Taking up the item, she recognized the ring stone claws and talon shaped knife. Her eyes widened as she looked at the weapon. A pulse radiated from her core and into the item. The wave strengthened greatly reaching nearly three times the initial senses allowed.
“What is this?” Nuyani wondered aloud. She focused her senses through the blade imagining the odd blue orb the other fighters conjured. The rhythm that radiated from the spirit’s memories replayed in the same pattern from her core. The waves rose from her body altogether and formed the orb in the middle of the air. The sapphire lights gleamed in her eyes. Before she could say a single word, a strain rose in her hand as she tried to contain the energy. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the power snap from her body with a strange recoil traversing her core. The blue sphere lit up the dark room and fired as it sailed toward the stone wall. It struck the stone releasing a loud crack as if the stone was struck with a hammer and light flaring out for a moment. The silver outlines were gone for a moment only to slowly return. “That’s it,” Nuyani said as she looked at the stone wall. New cracks appeared in the brickwork.
Trembling started to rise in her hand. Nuyani raised the strange knife examining it and her body. A strange prickling rose in her fingers as if blood was returning to each digit. The energy returned to her core stifling the beat and weakening the rising pulses for a moment. Nuyani’s mind returned to last night as she managed to create a similar barrier as the fighters to block the howler from fleeing. Her body was wracked with pain and paralysis after each stress of the core.
“It’s not hurting. Will it work with the other tricks?” Nuyani wondered as she focused once more on the pulse.
The pulses grew steady once more, rising evenly from her stomach and radiating through her body. Remembering the strength that rose from her muscles, Nuyani willed stronger pulses to radiate. As the waves coursed through her, every muscle grew stronger. Her body felt lighter. She could feel the individual frays in the worn leather resting against her skin, and the flowing dust in the air. Yet, her core was not taxed. “How can I do this?” she wondered. Every attempt came to her as second nature, though she was negligent in remembering the pain that often came with the use of the core.
‘What else was there?’ Nuyani questioned as she remembered the various attacks the fighters launched. Lightning and fire were thrown about like slung stones along with a projectile that looked like blue, white, or clear stones. Some shattered easily colliding with stone as others encased them in a weird, hardened surface. ‘A strange world. Let’s do something small first,’ Nuyani decided.
Raising her hand, she envisioned another light construct. With the others creating them with ease, she wondered how much she may need to work on it. Her core pulsed, releasing a steady stream of energy out toward her hand. Nuyani could feel the energy pool around her limb but not reaching beyond her fingers. Putting more focus on the core, the beats grew deeper as they rose. The energy began to stretch outward passing her digits.
‘A little more,’ Nuyani thought as she strengthened the waves.
They reached out almost a foot away. The pulses started to form into a flat surface, stopping only to form the envisioned shape. A dim blue light then rose as a rectangular construct standing at her height appeared just before her. Nuyani smiled as her grip tightened on the knife. She took a deep breath.
“By his light…” Nuyani started. Her focus broke and the light construct faded away. “What should I consider? The Great Lord isn’t our creator. Is there really any reason to pray to someone else? Do’alm and Do’alc… I don’t know anything about them,’ Nuyani concluded. She turned her attention back to her core and attempted the construct once more. With her focus completely on the barrier, the light was brighter illuminating the room in its blue glow.
Feeling confident in her ability to wield the barrier, she stopped and looked at the pile of blades lying on the floor. Nuyani placed the weapon on the floor and knelt before the blades. Removing her spare pouch, she took up one of the weapons and collapsed it into the stone. One by one, she filled the pouch with thirty of the weapons.
Scratching then sounded from the hall. Nuyani turned toward the door wondering if it were just another spirit she had failed to notice. She looked back to the weapons, almost collecting all of them until the scratching was accompanied by a constant patter. Nuyani looked toward the entrance falling back as a large paw stretched through the doorway. Nuyani released a pulse coursing through the area. The wave collided with an immense pressure resting against her core. The head of a monstrously large blade-jaw poked through the doorway as one of its fangs dragged against the stone floor leaving a gash in the bricks.
“By the Great Lord!” Nuyani exclaimed as she snatched up the strange knife and scurried through the back entrance.
Crumbling stone sounded behind as she rounded the corner. Her heart leaped as the immediate sounds of scratches against the stone rose at her backside. Nuyani did not wait as she sprinted down the narrow alley. The noise of broken stones signaled the beast was free. Despite her great speed, the patter of the animal’s feet grew louder.
‘How?’ Nuyani wondered as she felt a surge within the pressure. She slid on the ground as claws slashed overhead, scarring the stone.
Her momentum carried her to the end of the wall as she turned the corner with the beast passing by only a few meters. Nuyani swung around as she quickly tied the pouch back onto her tool strap. She fought against the trembling as she looked upon the predator. The blade-jaw stood almost as tall as a whip-neck. Its muscles were tearing through some parts of its skin showing the red sinew. It growled as it turned to face her. Nuyani could not fight the trembling much longer as she looked into the animal’s unblinking, glazed eyes. A large welp the size of her had sat by its shoulder. The flesh grew gray at the base, then gradually into yellow at the top as sickening pus seeped from it. Something was wrong with the beast. Even in a hunt, there was a determined glare worn by the animal’s, sense of focus. Some signs of life. Yet as it prowled before her, she could only feel as though it were a corpse.
Nuyani raised a hand as she took a step back. The beast launched forth with its maw wide open and claws splayed out. Nuyani dashed to the side out of the animal’s reach as it landed. A sense of confidence rose in her as she found her burst of speed quicker than the animal’s pounce. Stealing a glance of her surroundings started to diminish that sense of power. The two stood outside the hall with the alignment of pillars. On the opposite side was another long pool. Nuyani sank a little lower in her stance prepared to dart in any direction as the animal did the same. The woman’s eyes trailed to the strange blemish as she wondered what infection the beast carried.
The claws slashed at her. Nuyani rose her arms in defense as her core pulsed once more. She conjured a barrier before her as the claws raked against the barrier. Nuyani was pushed back falling onto her rear but, remained protected. Before she could do anything else, the blade-jaw took the initiative and pounced once more. The runner transformed the construct into a dome surrounding her as the claws dug into the light. Waves danced on the construct’s surface as if it were water. Nuyani winced feeling the animal’s pressure attempting to pierce her core.
Focusing on her core, her face creased further drastically as she called her core to ring forth. The barrier strengthened and expanded pushing the animal back onto its hind legs. The beast continued to claw at the ethereal defense as it slid away under its expanding radius. Soon the dome stood as tall as the beast pushing it toward the pool. Confidence began to well within her as she pressed on. Her eyes widened when the animal then extended a paw through the barrier, attempting to reach her. The limb stopped at the shoulder and was empty of the repelling energy that flooded through everything.
“What?” she whispered. She fed more power into the construct. It grew larger backing the animal closer to the pool.
Nuyani stepped forward moving the dome with her until the infected animal was backed against the small wall. Without hesitation, she then conjured a blue sphere and launched the projectile at the blade-jaw. It struck with a loud thwack in the animal’s torso. The flesh rippled showing even its ribs as the beast toppled over the wall and fell into the water with a loud splash. Nuyani did not hesitate as she moved to the wall and reshaped the barrier to fit the entire pool. The beast thrashed about in the water stirring the heavy dirt and algae obscuring her vision of it.
‘Just drown. Just drown,’ Nuyani thought waiting for the blade-jaw to give.
Moments passed as she watched the animal continue to thrash about, its fury never tempered. Her breathing grew heavy. The pain and stiffness began to grow in her hands as she held on. She could feel the animal’s pressure weakening the rhythm.
“No. H-how?” The creature started pushing against the construct with a paw making the barrier bulge.
Gritting her teeth, Nuyani drew her focus on the wall demanding it keeps to its shape. Before her core could respond, the beast broke through the barrier. Shards of the light flew into the air only to fade from sight. Nuyani however, could still feel them as every piece converted into the ethereal waves and returned to the knife and her core with punishing results. The knife snapped into several pieces absorbing many of the waves but the few that remained still took their toll. Her hand jittered with pain, locking her fingers into claws as her stomach strained and convulsed. The urge to puke rose after the waves struck from the pool wall. The runner fell to her knees, breathing heavily as she watched the blade-jaw emerge from the water, drenched.
“How…” Nuyani stuttered. All her thoughts dwelled on the creature’s strange behavior. Still alive and moving after sitting in the water for so long.
Worse, she was now hurt, and the knife was destroyed. The pulses rising from her core were erratic and uneven. Her senses were now distorted. Nuyani glared at the creature as she slowly climbed to her feet and backed away.
‘You won’t take me. None of you demons will have me!’ Nuyani thought as she reached the pillars. Stealing a quick glance, she slipped through the narrow spaces and started down the hall.
Nuyani expected the beast to go around and follow the hall back to her if it cared. She was wrong then its paw broke through one of the pillars just before she could reach the larger room sending new chunks of stone flying. The runner did not wait as she pivoted in place only for the beast to reach for her once more, destroying another pillar. A small piece of the debris struck her leg with enough force to offset her running, Nuyani collapsed for a moment as the blade-jaw broke a few more sitting in between, Nuyani tried to release another beat. Pain racked her body as she trembled, nearly forced to sit still.
‘What are you doing here? Did you follow me?’ Nuyani wanted to ask. If every animal stayed in a special terrain, what was a blade-jaw doing in the abandoned village of stone. Nuyani began to wonder if this was her last moment as its shadow grew larger blocking out what little light came into the hall.
The flow of the hall changed growing cold rapidly. Spirits came forth, catching the woman’s attention. Their flow was uniform and swirled through the area washing over her core like a tide but, Nuyani remained conscious. The shadow of the beast showed the animal having a fit. Nuyani looked to the side finding the spirits swirling around the animal’s head.
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“What?” She then looked back toward the great room entrance as a man wearing a bloodied tunic, with one golden sash over their shoulder, and a golden rope around his waist flew toward her. “Kelvert?”
Before she could utter another word, the energy of the spirit pierced through her core. Nuyani felt as if she were cast in a wave as she blacked out for a moment. Her sight returned only to see herself pushing through the other pillars and into a clear area. Despite seeing herself in flight, she was not in control. Her heart started to race.
“How is this happening?” Nuyani questioned.
“Fool! So na?ve. You were strong enough,” a man’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Wait! Are you Kelvert?” Nuyani questioned as she could feel the strange flow of energy coursing within her being. A strange chill covered her as the flow stayed separate from her senses.
“Never return! This is but, a grave.” Nuyani watched as her body leaped over another pool and squeezed through the pillars. The sound of collapsing stone resonated behind her giving Nuyani a scare. The beast must be pursuing her still. She wanted to turn and see just how close the creature was to capture her. “Never return!” The spirit’s voice was stern and commanding. Another set of crashes sounded behind her.
“At least let me control my own body,” Nuyani protested. The spirit said nothing as he continued to lead her through another hall.
‘Where are we go…’ Nuyani found her answer as they came to another hall. The rising pressure of the other spirits sat on her core. Made aware of her core, Nuyani felt as though she could release a single ring and expel the spirit but, she did not. Even the dead were trying to keep her alive.
As they cleared another hall, crashing stones scattered across the floor as the blade-jaw went through the opening made by the fallen structure. The beast panted as excess water poured from its mouth. The spirit in control had her leap to the other side of the pool before looking back. Kelvert then sent several small streams of energy rushing toward the core from within. Pulses rang forth in a strange pattern. Nuyani watched as her commandeered body whipped around and rose her hand. The pulses range forth, crossing into the water as a sudden spout rose. The water then hardened into a shape like a spear.
‘The attacks,’ Nuyani thought remembering the strange objects all the fighters would use.
The clear spear turned in the air toward the beast and launched like an arrow. The blade-jaw proved to be quicker as it ducked the projectile which collided with one of the bricks knocking it free of the curved wall. The spirit then turned toward a bit more as the beast bound over the water and conjured a single wall of blue light sending it forward. The construct collided with the beast midair causing it to fall into the water.
“Wasteful, fool,” the spirit complained as it led her through the pillars and down the hall.
‘Wasteful?’ Nuyani questioned as she tried to ignore the tightening feeling in her stomach. ‘Is he complaining about my energy?’ She did not dwell on the meaning long as another crash rang through. The passing spirits were gone. Making Nuyani wonder what became of them.
As they ran through the area and crossed the room she first entered, Nuyani felt her control return as the spirit poured from the core. Nearly falling as she staggered a few steps. Nuyani whipped her head catching a glimpse of the proud fighter before her body dissipated like smoke.
‘Thank you,’ Nuyani thought.
She continued running up the hill passing the abandoned stone huts. The loud crash of shattered stone rang from the entrance. Nuyani made it several meters past the homes running into the tree. A second crash then rang followed by a sudden roar. As the beast’s lament reached her ears. her core froze completely. Cold wrapped around her body forcing her to fall limp on the ground as her conscience faded.
‘Whuh?’ she thought as her senses dulled. She could feel the steps of the beast shake the ground in its approach.
“Move,” her voice echoed waking her from the sudden stupor. The core rang breaking through the freeze and dispelling the chill.
Nuyani turned to find the beast looming over her, its maw widened revealing its teeth. Nuyani held out her hands in defense. A pulse rose from the core conjuring another barrier between her and the beast. She strained to keep the animal at bay realizing its greater strength.
‘How will I get out of this?’ she wondered as she channeled more of the waves into her body strengthening the muscles. It did little to keep the beast away.
Nuyani thought rolling to the side but knew that would only leave her turned over for the beast to claw at her. She then imagined firing another ball of energy at the beast to take its attention away. Yet, the use of two tricks at the same time seemed difficult and her arms were already straining from the animal’s weight. The flow of life shifted within the creature leaving its mouth. As its snout passed through the barrier, Nuyani rolled to the side with what space remained. The beast snapped up several clumps of sand. Making her choice, she released the barrier only to conjure a ball of the orange light within her palm and launched it at the blade-jaw’s eyes. It struck with a loud thwack but did little to force the beast back. Nuyani tried to stand. She raised her arms once more and conjured another barrier in reflex as the blade-jaw batted her back to the ground.
She looked at the beast as it took a second attempt to bite at her. Before its head could descend, the flow of spirits swelled in the area. The girl appeared beside the animal as she released a shriek as loud and chilling as the howlers. Nuyani’s vision grew hazed as she looked at the girl. Her face was elongated as her chin reached down to her collar bone. Her eyes shrank to the horrid glints of light amongst a void. Her youthful face was now shriveled with drastic wrinkles.
‘No. Are…you turning into one of those things?’ Nuyani thought as her fading conscience returned.
“Go!” the child yelled trying to get Nuyani’s attention.
As her vision cleared, she could see the spirits encircled the animals once more. It started to grow frantic. Nuyani crawled away from the creature before she was crushed. The animal snapped and clawed at the spirits doing little against them. She looked at the girl finding her face returning to normal, though one of her eyes still looked hollow she smiled at Nuyani. The woman frowned knowing she was leaving more spirits to linger, ones she wanted to help but, could not.
A stronger surge of energy rose from the beast’s presence. Nuyani’s core acted on its own sending powerful beats echoing through her body as the beast roared. The lament rang through the area as the pressure slowed her pace. Yet, the frigid hold was lessened. Her conscience waned yet, she remained aware. Nuyani fought the gripping confusion as she continued up the hill focusing on her core’s strength to enforce her constitution.
Running into the molded ravine, the divots added to her anguish understanding the dangers they fled. The monsters were larger than the buildings people lived in. Beings with the powers to command the clouds, lightning and wind were taken down by a man-shaped tree. There was reason to flee.
The patter of the blade-jaw gaining on her echoed in the ravine. Nuyani ran harder refusing to look back in fear that the creature would take her. Faster and faster, she pushed herself as the rapids grew louder up ahead. Nuyani felt the pressure grow against her core signaling that the beast was gaining on her. She glared seeing the frothing water up ahead. Nuyani angled her approach closer to the wall as she dropped into a slide. The blade-jaw reached out for her as its claws extended further than ever. With a wide swipe, the animal cut through the leather runner’s wear around her hip making her shriek in pain. The beast’s claw then snagged on one of the pouches as momentum carried the beast toward the whirlpool.
Nuyani looked back in horror as the twine was severed and fell to the floor. She tried to reach for it as it fell on the steeper portion of the stone. As she fell to the ground, it rolled into the rapids. Tears rolled down her cheek. Time was not on her side however as the beast clung desperately to the stone side. Its gaze was still fixed on her.
“By the Great Lord, why?” Nuyani wondered as she stood on the narrow path.
The beast did not bother to climb out but, committed to its daring cling to the side making its way toward her. Nuyani retreated running down the path that forced her to move slowly or fall into the water as well. Cursing her blunder, she wondered if she should. Making her way toward the sandy bank. Nuyani started in a full sprint. The blade-jaw was not far behind. Its low growl reverberated against the stone walls as they traveled. Thanks to the winding turns of the ravine, Nuyani was able to keep some distance between her and her pursuer.
‘What now?’ Nuyani wondered. ‘How is there an animal faster than me?’ Her mind returned to the larger charge-horn with what seemed to be the same plague. ‘A sickness that makes you stronger. No. That’s not it.’ Nuyani continued to release softer pulses to search the area. As the waves washed over the beast, the pressure sitting on her core seemed strange. It did not contain one but, several beads of pressure clustered together flowing in unison. ‘How is that possible?’ Nuyani thought of the creature being pregnant but, she had her doubts. ‘No, what animal looks for danger if it has a litter?’ Some of the beads of pressure shifted and turned within her senses. Though keeping the same flow, they did not move in the same direction. Her mind returned to the strange yellow blemish on the animal’s shoulder. ‘What is that disease?’
Her thoughts ceased as she reached the first waterfall. Nuyani darted through the brush and flowers and dived into the algae-covered water. Another splash sound beneath the water signaling that the blade-jaw continued the pursuit. ‘It can swim?’ Nuyani questioned seeing how the only available waters contained river bites. There was no way for the beast to become well-practiced on its own. Nuyani swam on passing the bank knowing the beast was faster on land. As she allowed the current to carry her away, she could feel her strength fading, forcing her to rely on the core.
The water grew faster as she was carried off. Nuyani released several pulses noting the location of the beast and the lack of life around her. She looked about seeing the cliff shelves coming into view.
‘Those large lizards…’ Nuyani remembered as she pulled for the water skin containing the bulbs. To her surprise, none of the yellow fruit had burst. She pulled one free and took out her knife. Stabbing into the bulb beneath the water, the powder burst, spreading as the current washed it away. A flare of pressure rose and dispersed before her confusing it for a moment.
She then caught sight of a large lizard floating to the water surface twitching as it went belly up and floated away. Several others fell victim to the cloud while others swam quickly to the edges of the river. Nuyani did not wait as she swam on feeling the looming presence of the blade-jaw grow stronger. Nuyani made her desperate swim to the cliff wall noticing the small ledge she could reach. Reaching for the ledge, she climbed out of the water. Bringing up her feet, she pushed against the wall reaching for the next ledge and climbed up finding more space for her to stand.
Grading claws called her attention. She looked down to find the blade-jaw descending into the water as its slash chipped at the wall. Nuyani started moving down the ledge toward the cliffs. There was little she could do in such a small space. The animal then leaped up and clawed at the wall anchoring to the stone for a moment. Nuyani reached up for a taller ledge as she raised her feet and climbed out of the path of a wild swipe. The beast fell back into the water.
Nuyani breathed heavily as the blade-jaw paddled in the water waiting for another chance to attack her. Her nerves shook as she looked into the glazed eyes of the animal. Life swirled in its body but, she was certain it was not living. The river itself then opened to a bright pink maw filled with teeth clamping down on the blade-jaw’s left foreleg. A smile almost rose on her face thinking the beast would do battle with the large lizard clinging to the limb. Blood darkened the water showing the beast still bled. Another of the lizards appeared biting at the beast’s torso. Flesh was torn from the creature, yet the beast trained its eyes on her.
“Great Lord, what are you?” Nuyani questioned as she lowered her feet.
The beast attempted to climb once more ignoring the wounds inflicted onto its body. To her luck, the lizards weighed down the beast keeping her feet out of reach. Nuyani glared as she retrieved another of the yellow fruit. Raising her hand, she threw the yellow bulb down with enough force to make it pop. It struck the blade-jaw square on its snout as the powder scattered over its body and part of the water. The creature’s wet fur and flaring nose were caked in the powder. Nuyani watched the creature waiting for it to convulse and grow rigid left at the mercy of the other predators. Her heart sunk as she watched the animal continue to swim. Her mind returned to the pool as the bubbles stopped rising and the blade-jaw continued to move.
She continued down the ledge moving with greater haste nearly slipping twice. More of the river lizards started to attack the blade-jaw but, did little to stall the monster. Her heart raced, shaking her body as her fingers fumbled on the ledge. She pressed her thoughts looking for a solution yet, no solution came to mind. The creature was faster than her. It was unyielding in its pursuit. Worse, it carried some form of infection she worried would take over the drylands if not ended. All she knew was that the creature needed to die, and soon.
The presence of the creature surged pressing on Nuyani’s core. She braced herself releasing stronger rapid vibrations as she clung to the ledge with a tight grip expecting it to roar again. As the surge of collected energy seemed ready to burst, it settled. Splashing and snarling replaced the lament. Nuyani looked back finding the blade-jaw covered in bites and surrounded by the bodies of several lizards with claw marks carved through them.
‘Why’s it reacting now?’ Nuyani questioned. Seeing this as her best chance to reach wider ground, she moved on.
As her ears were filled with the roar of the rapids, Nuyani reached the top of the pillars. She looked for a narrow section to squeeze through in the cluster of hoodoos both for an easier descent, and safety from the animal’s reach. Reaching a solid footing, Nuyani found herself on the lower cliff looking about, curious if it was the same blade-jaw from before. As she reached the middle of the cliff’s wide space, the pressure then rose drastically.
Nuyani darted to the side as a heavy gargled roar sounded beside her. The ground shook from a heavy thud. She looked back seeing the mangled beast riddled with torn flesh as coagulated blood dripped to the ground along with water dripping from its thin coat. Nuyani looked toward the animal’s neck seeing a large flap of muscle and sinew dangling. Despite its dead eyes, the beast started to growl as it lowered its body.
‘What’s wrong?’ Nuyani wondered as she looked at the creature.
The animal strolled forth. Nuyani’s core remained vibrant prepared for an attack. Looking to its neck, Nuyani wondered if the light constructs could decapitate the beast. Releasing a pulse, she reached toward the animal imagining the wall appearing at the animal’s neck. The ethereal waves radiated toward the space. As if wielding the same sense, the blade-jaw duck and moved to the side dodging a wide circular construct of orange light.
‘Can it sense things too?’ Nuyani wondered as she retracted her hand willing the construct to return to her.
The blade-jaw lunged for her with a downward swipe. Nuyani backed away to the side dodging the heavy blow. She spun around. On her other side, she conjured another wall of light as tall as her but, fused to the ground. Another swipe came from the side and collided with the barrier. Cracks appeared in the earth and on the surface of the light wall’s center.
Nuyani’s vision doubled before she released the barrier and ran further from the animal’s claws. It tried several times to clamp down on her with both paws but, she barely dodged each of them. She tried to conjure another barrier only for the pulse recoil striking back at the core. Pain radiated through her stomach and canceled out the hum strengthening her to move. Nuyani fell to one knee as the beast nearly bit down on her head. Drops from the wet fur tapped the back of her hood as she felt the warm breath envelop her head. Nuyani winced as she tried to stand, her vision returning.
‘Fast! What now?’ Nuyani wondered.
Her muscles started to ache as she moved about. Her hands trembled. Her wet runner’s wear grew constricting. Her breathing grew laboring. Nuyani stared down the blade-jaw and raised her hand as she released a single pulse filling another orb of orange light, its bright core rivaled a raging fire. The orb sailed forth striking the animal in its snout. The orb burst exploding the unseen waves through the area. The beast’s head went low as its limbs gave and it fell to the ground. The energy within its body slashed about with a chaotic flow. Nuyani could sense the cluster of pressures coming apart.
‘What is in you?’ Nuyani questioned as she remembered trying to cut the beast’s head off.
She raised her hands trying to envision the wall of light once more only for the waves of her previous attack return striking the core. Her stomach twisted and she clenched bringing anguish. Nuyani collapsed to the floor grunting as she tried to power through. Her eyes watered as she tried to watch the beast. The blade-jaw rose, its flow of energy returning to normal. She started to tremble as dead eyes focused on her.
A roar filled the area. Nuyani could feel another pressure sitting on her erratic core. She struggled to turn toward the source finding another blade-jaw leaping from the cliff and flying toward the larger blade-jaw. Snarling and scratching sounded as Nuyani tried to sit up.
‘It must be the other male,’ she concluded. Most animals avoided battle unless for territory. ‘I have to…kill it.’
Nuyani then fumbled with one of her pouches remembering the last blade she kept with her crystal. The large blade-jaw batted away its smaller foe as it tried to turn toward Nuyani. The runner gawked at the animal as she struggled to retrieve the weapon. Undeterred, the small beast returned and leaped onto the animal’s neck. The infected blade-jaw reacted immediately to the attack shaking and jumping about. Nuyani retrieved her weapon and released a small pulse into the crystal. The blade poured from the weapon. She took up the weapon prepared to engage the animal despite her core.
Nuyani raised a hand to her stomach noticing the erratic waves were growing steady. Testing the core, she released an unstable pulse. The wave managed to reach the weapon and corrected itself as it echoed out into the area.
‘Good,’ Nuyani thought as she ran forward.
The smaller blade-jaw seemed to have experience as it stayed beneath the larger beast. Ever cautious, the beast stood on its hind legs, attempting to find and pounce. Nuyani readied her core releasing another pulse coursing through the weapon. An orb, the size of her head, hung in the air at the tip of the blade. Nuyani felt the orb pluck free of her control and fly toward the animal. Struck in the head, the blade-jaw nearly fell into the water but stayed upright. The witch then aimed for the ground before the animal’s feet, tripping the beast. The smaller blade-jaw bound onto the beast’s back and started slashing into it sending spurts of blood pouring onto the ground.
‘Right,’ Nuyani thought as she readied to send another barrier. The infected animal shot up from the ground nearly bucking the smaller blade-jaw away as it swung at Nuyani. With the blade in hand Nuyani could feel a ghostly call leading her movements as he raised her blade hand over her head and aligned the blade with the side of her body and stepped back. Two of the long claws were severed as they met the weapon’s edge. The pieces fell to the floor as gouts of blood fired out. The blade-jaw ignored the injury as it continued to swipe at her with the next paw. She stepped to the left dodging the descending claws. Nuyani followed with a slash into its front ankle bringing more blood but, doing little to stop the beast.
The beast went for a bite. Nuyani fought the urge to backtrack and created another orb straining her unstable core within its mouth just before its teeth could close on her. The conjured sphere resisted the teeth. Gashes in the teeth and gums rose. Blood spilled to the floor. Nuyani grunted as she tried to keep the animal at bay. She could feel her arms strain, despite the blade stabilizing her core. Nuyani ducked and rolled away as the teeth clamped shut. Two of the smaller teeth shattered under the beast’s force. Like the rest of its wounds, it went unnoticed. The animal then leaped once more trying to pounce down on the witch but, reeled back as it turned to the returning blade-jaw lunging for the creature’s neck.
Nuyani pointed the blade toward the ground beside the infected animal. A barrier, half the height of the beast, rose from the ground blocking the animal from retreating. The smaller blade-jaw jumped onto the animal’s neck once more sinking fang and claw into its flesh. Once more the large beast jostled about throwing its smaller foe off. As the animal descended to the ground, the larger blade-jaw swung its paw around at the blade-jaw knocking it toward the river. Nuyani readied herself expecting the beast to turn for her once more.
She gawked at the beast. It turned toward the smaller predator and started after it. Seeing her chance, she attempted to conjure another barrier aiming for its neck. Her face creased as her hand shook. Even with the blade, she could not release another pulse. As the waves rose from the core then receded to their source never leaving the boundaries of her body.
“No,” she bemoaned. ‘Everything has a limit,’ Nuyani thought watching the larger blade-jaw swipe at its smaller foe having little luck as it darted around its flank and slashed at its sides. The infected beast was forced to circle constantly protective of its neck. The larger animal then backed into one of the pillars shaking several of them and the one free and leaning against the other pillars. Nuyani looked at the stone columns realizing her options were limited. The witch darted toward the columns as the beasts continued their brawl. Nuyani squeezed through the pillars making her way toward the loosened column. She climbed up a pair of pillars standing on the perimeter of the cluster. Nuyani then pressed her feet against a pillar and propped her back against the other.
Nuyani took a deep breath and released a pulse of her core. The pulses radiated through her body strengthening her muscles as she grunted pushing against the pillar. As the animals continued to fight cracking sounded at the base of the pillars. Small stones scatter along the ground. The pillar started to tilt.
‘Just a bit more,’ Nuyani thought as a final shove cracked the rest of the stone.
The larger blade-jaw circled with its back to the river. Both it and the smaller beast were preoccupied with each other. Nuyani desperately pulled her arms and legs back clinging to the rear pillar as the other toppled over. The column landed onto the infected blade-jaw as a deafening crash roared through the area. A tremor shook the entire area threatening the other pillars to fall as dust covered the area. The other blade-jaw ran through the dust that obscured Nuyani’s sight as the sound of shredding and growling broke the silence.
A smile rose on the runner’s face. ‘It worked!’ she then dropped into the cloud of dust confident she could land safely from the height.
“Aagh!” she yelled. Nuyani’s foot twisted as she landed on a hidden stone.
Nuyani fell back leaning against the pillar. Pain radiated through her leg. She held her foot and looked at the animals wondering if they would turn on her. To her relief, the smaller blade-jaw seemed more concerned at ending the infected monster.
‘By the Great Lord, this was a close one,’ Nuyani thought as she looked to the ledge.
It was time to leave. She released a pulse strengthening her ankle. The pain barely subsided before Nuyani pressed on. She released a pulse, caution still warning her. Nuyani froze. The pressures remained on her core. Both the beast and the smaller beads within it. Nuyani’s heart raced. Stones rumbled and tapped behind her. Instincts flared in her mind as she ran toward the ledge.
‘Something needs to kill it. By Lord Kelvert’s will, it must die. How?’ she wondered as she descended the cliffside.
Nuyani ran on as the lone pressure she recognized as the small blade-jaw sailed overhead heading toward the west. Before Nuyani could turn. She felt the returning cluster of pressure weigh against her core, the heavier patter of the beast’s feet sounded behind her.
The pain faded. Nuyani ran parallel to the river as the winds rose. The sun sat lower as an orange tint overtook the bright blue.
Nuyani breathed heavily as sweat fell. Her legs threatened to give as she ran on forcing her body to keep moving. Dust clouds rose in her footsteps as tall as her. Her thoughts blared, ‘How?’
