Almost as though worshiping the early morning sun, birds of many different sizes, colors, and shapes flew and circled high up in the crisp, morning sky, as if trying to reach the sun itself. Below, small scurrying animals darted to and fro, hoping to catch an early breakfast. Suddenly, the sounds of hooves trotting on the ground caught their ears, and the scavenging animals quickly scurried away, not wanting to take the chance of becoming breakfast themselves.
A moment later, the low hanging branches of trees and bushes were parted, and through it came a small traveling caravan. Having entered a dense forest after traveling through mountainous terrain, the band of travelers were relieved to see the land give way to open, mountainous space again. The forest had been so dense and dark, sunlight was barely able to filter through, and they were all worried about another attack from one of Zain's many forces, but by some strange, benevolent force, no such attacks happened. Once again, they were upon land that opened out to many mountaintops, hills, and valleys.
For a moment, Jeneta stopped her horse to just look out at the beauty and majesty of the land, looking around her everywhere and trying to ingrain it in her memory. Even if by some stroke of good luck they do make it back to Earth, she had sworn to herself that she would never forget a land as beautiful and wondrous as this. But just as that happy thought entered her mind, another one followed immediately behind....if she and her friends didn't defeat Kumraa and his evilness, then there would be no land, no beautiful scenery....no anything left. She sighed at the troubling thought, and hugging herself against the chill, shivered slightly.
"Hey, you alright?" a voice said behind her. Jeneta turned to see Angeni riding up behind her, her eyes filled with concerned. "We'd better catch up, or we'll be left behind,"
"Oh, I'm fine, really. It's just that...I was looking out at the beautiful scenery and it got me thinking, you know?" Jeneta swallowed a nervous lump in her throat and looked around her once more, her worries still fresh in her mind.
The Native American girl rode up next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know. I'm a little worried myself. It made me think....what if this all disappears if we can't do what we came here to do? If we fail...everything will be gone."
Jeneta looked up in surprise at her. "Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking! How...how did you know?"
Angeni chuckled and looked around at the land with longing in her eyes. "My grandfather used to tell me I had what he called "The Sight"...that I could read people's emotions and energies sometimes. But I don't have to be a mind reader to know what you were thinking, looking out there." She looked back into Jeneta's eyes. "We're all worried, okay? But you should also know that we're together now...we have friends that will help us...and I have a strong feeling that we're going to get a little stronger soon."
At Jeneta's grateful look, Angeni looked out once more upon the land. "But you're right, the land IS beautiful. You know, my grandfather also told me that the land is a people's greatest treasure. We all have to protect it in any way we can."
Whatever more she was going to say was cut off by Ling's excited voice, shouting over to them. "HEEY! You guys, come on, we're nearly there!" Looking ahead, they can see Ling waving her arms to them, motioning them to hurry. Indeed, a few miles ahead over a few more mountain tops, they could see soft, white smoke rising in the air, giving the signal of civilization ahead. Chuckling softly at Ling's impatience, the girls spurred the horses on and caught up with the rest of the travelers.
As soon as they caught up, another chill wind passed over them, making Jeneta shiver even more. "Is it just me, or did it get colder since yesterday?" she groaned.
"Yeah, I mean I don't mind the cold that much, but I'm freezing!" put in Heather, her teeth chattering.
Hun Li rode up next to them and gave an encouraging smile. "Don't worry girls, we're almost at the city, and once we get there, they'll be plenty of coats for you to choose from." The woman looked up in the sky for a moment, as though smelling the air. "The snow season is almost upon us, so it's lucky we're almost home."
"Snow? You..you mean we'll get to see snow soon?" Prya asked excitedly. When everyone looked at her, she blushed harshly. "Sorry, it doesn't snow much where I come from." she said softly.
"Hey, it's no big deal! There's a first time for everything," smiled Heather. "Coming from London, I'm one of the experts on snow, so I'll show you how to make a grand snowball that'll knock anyone off their feet!"
Prya giggled softly at that, then listened silently as the girls talked excitedly about what sorts of coats and boots they would like to have once they reached the city. After a few moments, Jeneta raised her head to look around, wondering where Djoser was and how he was doing. From since his fight with Zain, he had been very quiet and withdrawn, hardly staying around anyone for any length of time. She had desperately wanted to catch up with him when he was alone so they could talk, but it seemed as though he was especially avoiding her. Jeneta sighed and hoped it wasn't so. She had grown so close to the young man, and she hated to think he would want to hide anything from her. She turned to Hun Li and was about to ask her if she had seen Djoser, when Tao rode down towards them from the front of the caravan line.
"We're almost at the city. I just wanted to let you girls know that the people here aren't very used to outsiders, so don't get too concerned if you get strange looks."
"Heh, you mean there's people actually even more rude than you?" smirked Ling, folding her hands across her chest.
The other girls chuckled softly at this, but Tao turned to give her a very serious look. "No, I mean there are people more deadlier than me, so if you want to stay alive, I suggest you talk only when you have to and mind your business." His eyes turned a little mischievous as he looked her up and down. "Besides, you don't want to give the impression that ALL foreign girls are loud-mouthed and cocky, do you?"
"Why you...you...!" Ling's face turned red with embarrassment as she grounded her teeth at the insufferable man. "At least I'm not the one walking around with a girly hairstyle like yours, you...you...pretty boy!!" she yelled out.
"Whatever," Tao said, waving a hand and chuckling. "It would be fun to banter with you here for a while, but I can't. Maybe some other time. But before I go, I just wanted you to know," He rode his horse closer to Ling's and leaned in, "You're actually kind of cute when you're angry." He winked with a grin and turned his horse around, riding quickly back up on the front.
So stunned was Ling, that she could only stare for a moment at Tao's retreating back. Then shaking her head, she held a twitching fist in front of her. "That man is IMPOSSIBLE!" she said through clenched teeth.
"Hey, looks like you've met your match, Ling!" giggled out Jeneta, enjoying the little banter between Tao and Ling as everyone else did.
"Shut up." retorted Ling, her face full of annoyance.
"Aww, don't let Tao get to you, he's just trying to be smart, he does that to everyone." Hun Li giggled. Her face then turned a little more serious as she indicated the road ahead of them. "But he's right, as far as I can remember, our small city has been very suspicious of foreigners, so it'll be better if you stick with us, okay?"
The girls nodded as they urged their horses forward, and for the rest of the journey remained quiet as they got closer and closer to the city.
*******************************************
Hoping no one would see him, a skinny, shabbily dressed, middle-aged man sneaked into the scene of the tendrillias' attack a few days ago and rummaged through the ruins, hoping to find something valuable. Being a thief and scavenger for most of his life, he knew there had to be something valuable left in this area of dead bodies and smashed carriages.
Quickly he went from one body to the next, taking up small pieces if jewelry here and there. So intent in finding valuables, he didn't even notice a soft mist rising and floating towards him. He was just about to get up from looking under a burnt carriage when the mist totally surrounded him, making him unable to move or barely even to speak. The next thing the thief knew, a pair of warm, feminine arms were wrapping around his body, caressing him gently. A second later, the man's dark brown eyes widened as the body of a woman materialized right behind him, pressing against him suggestively.
"Hey there cutie," the woman said, breathing softly in his ear. "Fancy meeting you here. Why don't you tell me what you know about what happened here. I would be very grateful."
At first, the man's eyes were frightened, but a part of the mist suddenly went straight into his nose then, and with his eyes strangely clouded, he turned his head to look at the green-skinned woman with rapture in his eyes. "Oh! You are so beautiful, so heavenly! Please, take me away..."
"Yes, yes, whatever....tell me what you know happened here." Sabanti waved her hand dismissively, having heard that statement hundreds of times before. "Were there strangers here, strangers that traveled with someone named Djoser? What happened to them?"
The man nodded and thought hard for a moment. "Oh! Yes, now I remember. I heard there was an attack here by the tendrillias, and many people got hurt and killed. I also heard that a dark skinned man named Djoser was here, and traveled with five strange looking girls. Two of them defeated the monsters. They must have gone towards the East, to one of the cities in Xanishia...."
"Ahhh, I see. They are in Xanishia by now." Sabanti chuckled to herself and smoothed her hair back with her hand. "Thank you, sweetie. Now, you're no more use to me. Why don't you show me how much you love me by jumping off a cliff?"
"Yes, My Goddess..." With a smirk, Sabanti watched as the man dutifully walked off to the side, going towards a high and dangerous cliff. A second later, the man screamed as he plummeted to his death, not even knowing that the woman he died for was laughing evilly the whole time.
"Djoser, when I'm done with you, I'll make you regret the day you were even born, I swear it." Sabanti said to herself, her eyes gleaming as she narrowed them. "Just you wait!"
***************************************************
As they entered the small and impressive city, Jeneta and the other girls couldn't help but be amazed by the beauty and sheer energy of it. The city itself was built on a large, flat plain of land, surrounded on all sides by large and protective mountains, each topped with snow. The buildings themselves were all composed of white clay with dark yellow or red lining at the corners, and the thatched roofs on each of the broad houses were made of a thick, dark-colored stone and wood, and turned up at the ends, giving the city a look similar to the houses found in China and most of Asia back on Earth.
But despite the beauty, even the girls could see that the small city had seen better times. Hungry looking people wearing shabby clothes...some not even wearing shoes, walked up and down the streets. Weathered and old clothes hung on lines to be dried, and hungry children cried and hung on to the clothes of their weary mothers.
"Oh my gosh, Hun Li, your city is beautiful, but..." Ling looked nervously at the woman, not knowing how else to describe it as they continued to walk on, their horses already tethered at a small stable near the city entrance while Djoser and Tao looked for more weapons.
"I know." Hun Li whispered, her head hanging sadly. "Since Kumraa got free and his attacks began....no one dared ventured out of this city to keep up the trade, and no sellers came here. But at least we're slowly starting to realize that in order to survive, we MUST start traveling again." She sighed, then turned to smile nervously at them. "But come on, I said we'll get you some warm coats, and we will. This way."
For the next hour or so, the girls went to several small shops in their search for warm coats and pairs of boots. With the little money she had, Hun Li made sure the girls got a decent coat to keep them warm and furred boots to hike in snow. The coats resembled Hun Li's in that they were lined with a dark-colored fur on the inside and part of the outside, with black buttons to keep the bottoms from opening and flapping in the winds. But each girl chose their own colors, matching the outfits that they were wearing but slightly darker. When they were done, each girl sighed with relief at finally having something warm on to protect them from the cold. But they also tried not to notice the strange looks they were getting from the people, some even doing all they can to keep from going anywhere near them. Instead of being discouraged though, the girls held their heads high and walked on, pretending not to notice.
"Hun Li, this is great!" said Jeneta, looking up at her gratefully. "But...but I don't know how we'll ever repay you. We...don't have any money, and -"
"No, it's alright, really." Hun Li said, shaking her head. "Djoser told us all about you and your quest to help free our world. It's the least I can do!"
Suddenly, the ground they were standing on began to shake violently, and it was almost all they could do to keep from falling. People around began screaming as pottery and small things began to crash on the ground. Then, just as quickly as it started, the shaking stopped, making the girls look at each other and Hun Li in puzzlement.
"Wha...what the heck was that?" Ling said, her eyes wide.
"That, strange ones, was the Mountain Demon." said an old voice. The girls turned around in surprise and watched as an old man...his white beard almost at his knees, come up to them. His dark, almond-shaped eyes were filled with wisdom, and his bald head gleamed brightly in the sun. His red robes clung closely to his body, and his long staff clicked softly on the ground as he came up to them. "Forgive me, I am Wu Zang, one of the elders of this city." He bowed his head low, and when the girls saw Hun Li doing the same thing, they also bowed their head low, giving respect.
"Forgive us, but....the Mountain Demon?" Heather asked curiously.
"Yes," The old man turned around and looked up to a particular mountain, slightly taller than the rest. "At first, he was a kind and playful spirit that has lived in the mountain for thousands of years, protecting us. But when Kumraa was freed, he turned fierce and unforgiving. Everyday he threatens to destroy our city if we do not give up any offerings to him. That is also one of the many reason we fear to travel outside of this city. Many of our scholars have gone up to the mountain to appeal to him...none have come back."
"I see." Jeneta nodded and turned to the other girls. "Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yeah, another one of the gods turned turned evil by Kumraa's power." Ling nodded and looked towards the mountain. "And he could possibly be guarding the third Sacred Medallion." She turned to look back at her friends. "Guys, we have to go up there and find that medallion, now."
"What? Wait, you can't go up there by yourselves and fight that...that monster!" Hun Li said in alarm. "You might never come back!"
"They won't be alone." said a determined voice. They all turned around and watched as Djoser and Tao walked up to them, their faces set in determination.
"Djoser!" breathed out Jeneta. When she looked up into his eyes and saw the pain and sadness still inside his troubled mind, she grew concerned again, but she knew that no matter what, he would not let any harm come their way. She smiled softly at him, seeing how determined he was, and nodded. "No Hun Li, Ling's right, we have to go, there's no more time to lose."
The woman looked at her for a moment in concern, then sighed. "Fine, but you're not doing anything that crazy without me. Let's go!"
With another bow to the old man, Djoser, Tao, Hun Li, and the girls rushed off to get their horses and weapons. Another rumble shook the city, stronger and making more people scream louder than before. The horses panicked slightly, but calmed down after a moment.
Soon, they were on their way and riding hard across the vast and grassy field, the brisk air stinging their faces.
Within half an hour, they road up a rocky pathway to the bottom of the dark mountain, feeling small against its immense size. They dismounted their horses and tethered them to a few small trees scattered about, and began to climb, their feet unsure at first but soon getting used to it. A few minutes later, they reached a clear landing that was a few feet above ground, a few bushes and small trees growing on it.
"Well, so far, so good," Heather said, sitting down on a rock to take a breather. No sooner had she said that, than rumbling shook the mountain, nearly making them fall down. A second later, much to their surprise, the rocks and small boulders around them began to move. One by one, the rocks started to come together and form bodies, making massive legs, arms, torsos, and heads. When it was all done, about a dozen rock creatures, each movement making a grounding noise, stomped their feet and turned towards them, the heads blank with no faces. Everyone gasped in surprise and stepped back, horror on their faces.
"Oh bugger!" Heather groaned, "I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut when things are going right for us!!"
**********************************
To Be Continued.....
***********************************