Creation Online

Lysandere and his group, carrying the mysterious girl from the forest, were halfway sneaking through the plains. The rise and fall of the grasslands made it easier to hide behind mounds of grass and sand. To stay still when a herd or pack of beasts passed by. Yet even as they rushed for the wall they argued their next move. The heat from the flames they were leaving behind still reaching them. The sounds of their animal visitors seeking to bring down their walls or gates.

"We can't go back to the gates." Lysandere argued again, this time glad they were close enough to see why. "The beasts are everywhere, and the gates won't open in this madness. Our best chance is to follow the mountain path. Even if the gates did open I doubt we'd be able to get there through all that". He motioned to the crowd of roaming and panicking beasts.

It was a battle royale everywhere. The not-panicking creatures were more of the predators using this chance to have a buffet. Here and there blood stung the air red lifeblood flowing from carcasses either being feasted on all left there. Some beasts it seemed were just killing for the fun of it.

Lemusa, looking at their daughter Elrenao tightly clutched by her husband nodded reluctantly. "But what if more of those creatures are up there?".

"That and the incline is quite steep. I heard it's impossible to climb". Tyrion added.

"Especially with loads" Eplirier, Tyrion's friend added. It was clear he meant no disrespect or harm but simply spoke what he was bothered about. He was right too. Lysandere didn't know if he could make the climb with his girl holding on to him. But he already knew that...

"We have no choice," he shook his head, his voice grim. "It's the only way." They'd just have to do their best.

With no further argument, the group began their journey to the base of the mountain passage. The path or lack of was treacherous. Wild beasts here and there, herds of running prey stampeding from their hunters. Curious creatures that could draw attention by watching and following them. Lysandere couldn't explain how they got to the mountain base unharmed and without trouble but he didn't question it.

"Alright. We're here". His eyes traveled up the path and winced as he saw all the harsh possibilities of falling. It would be a very dangerous move. Even worse he didn't know how they would get the girl up there with them.

A squeal and snarl from behind them was enough to get them going. Tyrion went up first Elrenao clutching onto his back with a vice grip while her eyes stuck to her parents, Her only consolation was Lemusa climbing next. Then the hard part. The girl. If this was a normal path one person could have carried her but as it was this wasn't a good route.

Tearing off several strips from his robe Lysandere tied the girl like a puppet to Eplirier and then nodded at him. The climb began and it was clear how difficult it was for Eplirier to move with the extra baggage.

Lysandere watched from below as they climbed ready to make a catch for anyone that slipped or rolled down. The path made it so falling was hard, yet rolling without stopping was another matter.

The climb was treacherous, the incline steep and the ground unstable. Every step was a struggle, but the fear of the beasts drove them forward. Every time a sound that wasn't normal echoed everyone paused and kept their heads down. Not like they could do anything else. The climb would continue and it went on this way till the came out above the mountain. Now was the actual harder part. Getting down. Unlike before falling was even harder here as a single mistake could send you tumbling in a painful roll.

Like before they kept up their journey. Soon they could see lights below. And with those lights came other things. As they neared the edge, they could hear the unmistakable sounds of combat. Lysandere's heart raced as he recognized the sounds of battle. The roar of beasts, the cries of Moonborns, and the yelling of orders.

"Stay close," he instructed the others his voice low and urgent as he crawled past them and shuffled down the path.

They all crawled past the mountain rocks blocking the view of the town to see the sight of the captain and his guards engaged in a desperate fight against the Flamestriders. The sight was terrifying—the guards fighting valiantly both for their lives and the people in the town. Lysandere could see young Moonborns amongst the guards. His fists tightened. The sheer number of beasts was overwhelming.

"Hand Elrenao to Lemusa". He whispered urgently to his brother. The transaction went off fast and without a sound. Lysandere stroked the hair of his wife and daughter. "We're going to distract the creatures. Run straight for the guards and don't stop". Not letting her get any word in he turned to Eplirier.

"Take the girl and run with my family, get behind the guards". He ordered. Fortunately, he was someone Eplirier respected which was why he didn't get a good measure of Moonborn disrespect at giving the order.

The Moonborn rose firming his steps and then with a nod to the others dashed forward.

" Follow". Lysandere whisper shouted.

" Go!. Now". His brother urged too. Both Moonborn siblings without even a glance or acknowledgment dashed down the incline past their family, past Eplirier, and halted at the end of the mad battle in such a way that they formed meat shields.

The moment Lemusa and Eplirier rushed past both men paused watching. Lysandere saw just as one of the Flamestriders turned its head almost catching sight of the runners.

"Over here!" He shouted, waving his arm to get its attention. He got more than its attention. All the Flamestriders turned to see the enemy behind their back. A shiver rushed over both brothers spines. Still, this was a boon for the fighters, one that Eldrin capitalized on.

His eyes widened as he saw Lysandere and the others., noted the beasts turning to them. "Hold your ground!" he barked to his men. "We have Moonborns to aid".

A split-second decision warred in his mind as he saw the farthest beasts stalk for the two men just as the Moonborns, both carrying people rushed past his lines and were covered by Alarion and Themeriel.

His eyes found Themeriel. With a quick move, he moved and stole her blade. Spinning he shouted at Alarion. "Throw your spear to the edge". Then he was dashing forward. It was a sight unbelievable to the guards as they watched their captain throw himself at the beasts.

Themeriel frozen in shock was whipped out of it as she heard Alarion yell at her. "Get back". Then he took a running step. His mind uncaring of the fact he was about to go weaponless. When Eldrin gave an order you obeyed. He threw his spear.

Eldrin jumped over a Flamestrider, the beast distracted failed to catch him as his legs kicked off it and to the next one. He was fast, jumping from one to the other until he landed with the two Moonborns. Just as a spear found its spot right next to the second man.

"How in Widow's kiss did you get here?" He asked with a grin as he handed Lysandere Themeriel's sword. The man simply sighed. Tyrion was already pulling out the spear from the ground.

"You know". Lysandere answered. Eldrin shrugged and then faced off against the beasts. Now surrounded the beasts were cautious and slightly panicked. On the other side, Themeriel bounded back two swords in hand. Alarion gave her a surprised look.

"I thought you wouldn't get me one". He chuckled. The Moonborn glared him down but the boy was too scared of the beasts to give her threatening glares a thought. Both stepped forward to stand next to the two guards left by their captain.

The Flamestriders were only six left. Three had fallen already to Eldrin and the guards, his spear, Themeriel's blade, and the other's arrows.

The beasts though were powerful. Just one enough to take down and kill two grown Moonborns. And there were six. It was only the captain's experienced orders that had kept them unharmed yet. The beasts seemed to realize this too as four pounced their way and the other two faced the three men.

Blades, fists, claws, and maws clashed in a loud bang, roars, and screams of defiance. The first injuries came.

A muscled tail swept Tyrion off his feet. Eldrin held off one while Lysandere attacked his brother's enemy. Pride at the fact that his cowardly brother would stand up for himself and his family filled him. 'If mother could see him now'. He murmured in his mind. Still, he knew that it wouldn't matter if they fell here. His eyes found his family standing behind the fight a safe distance away. Was the strange girl stirring?

His eyes turned back just as quickly to the animal before him. If only he could kill it fast and the Iron steel sword could cut deep. The corpses around told of numerous hits needed to kill a single one.

The Moonborn with bows released arrows into the group of four while the two protecting them rushed forward to aid.

Eldrin cursed at the fools breaking his orders. But his attention was stolen by the Beast before him. Just in time for disaster to fall. One of the lagging Flamestriders having kept an eye on all the Moonborns found his prey. Alarion.

He swung his blade in an amateur manner and with less experience. His marks missing and his attention slipped constantly to his fellow guard's beast. The creature stalked closer. Alarion failed to see it, but Themeriel did.

The beast rushed forward its muscles rippling as it crossed the non-existent distance. Mane billowing as it leaped into the air. Themeriel grabbed his robe shocking the Moonborn and tugged him out of the way turning.. The Flamestrider refused to go empty-handed.

Claws the size of daggers cleaved through her back. Blood splattering, meat rending. Alarion stared wide-eyed as the Moonborn stumbled forward. The Beast landed and was already turning when an arrow sank into its flank. Another struck its limb. The Flamestrider barely flinched. It had only meat in its vision.

It pounced. Alarion dashed forward. With the distance no more than a hand's length from each other he bodied the girl out of the way and his blade raised to his face height jabbed forward. Iron steel met Flamestrider claws. A clink, a spark, grating of claw and blade, then a weight like two inner mine carts struck him.

Everything played in Eldrin's eyes from his location but he was too far off. So he jumped back out of his opponent's grasp. Raised his hand, face twisted in a horrified glare, and threw his sword. It shot forward like a spear through the chaos of battle, badly reflecting the light from the dropped torches that lit up the wall, crossed between the two experienced guards. Both Moonborns were just turning to see the madness behind them even as their opponents took the opportunity.

It reached the beast's neck, just as the beast's fangs positioned over Alarion's neck but down. Right as Themeriel bodied out of the way found her head close to the edge of the wall. A hit that would likely send her to the afterlife

Tyrion with his eyes widened in fright shouted, his spear dripping with blood from the cuts he'd managed to land. His heart beat like the mine picks of the mountain His hand shook. 'Is this is?'. If some of them fell then their swords were reduced. And their damage lessened.

The blade was almost biting into the thing's neck just as its fangs were already peeking blood. Then a shout that shook everyone to their souls filled the air.

"STOP!".

It was like a command that went deeper than flesh and blood. Past mentality and past ideals. It locked unto their souls, unto their very spirits. And all actions ceased.

A hand covered in blue mists grasped Eldrin's sword and pulled it out of the air. Everyone was frozen before this figure. Her white hair fluttered calmly as she took steps around them. With a calm touch, she set down swords, moved beasts to one side and mortals to the other side. Finally, it felt like the command over their souls vanished.

Everyone unfroze, heads turning to see the source of the voice. Both Moonborns and beasts showing apprehension. The girl Lysandere's group had carried from the forest stood at the center of both sides. Her eyes were covered in a haze of blue otherworldly light and her body oozing blue mists that also swirled around her. Her hair floated around her as if caught in an unseen breeze, and her hands were raised, emitting a soft, blue energy.

"Enough of this!" she commanded, her voice echoing with a power that seemed to resonate with the very air around them.

The Flamestriders backed up even more, fiery eyes fixed on the girl. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. Slowly, the beasts began to back away even more, their growls subdued as if cowed by the girl's presence.

Eldrin lowered his hand still stuck in the position of his throwing move, his eyes wide with astonishment. "How are you....?" his voice barely a whisper died as the girl raised a hand to the heavens and then brought it down with force. An invisible pressure bore on the earth.

Everyone stumbled in shock only to gasp as they watched the Bow, once standing tall even in the flames get flattened to the ground. In all directions the bow stretched the fire was gone. And so was the forest.

The girl turned to Eldrin, her glowing eyes softening. "I'm Freyja," she said. "Don't attack animals." She smiled at him then turned her head to Themeriel who was now standing unharmed. The Moonborn was just as shocked as everyone to find not a mark on her. Her robe though told a different story.

The Flamestriders standing to one side seemed to sense something as one by one each approached the female who crouched down. Eldrin and Lysandere flinched as they saw a mental image of the creatures tearing her apart. It was nothing like that. Each one Kay at her feet, nuzzling against her and licking her. The laughs of a teenage Moonborn field the air. Mixed with it was the confusion palpable from the watching Moonborns.

Lysandere approached the girl, his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes locked on the beasts that looked at him and then away as if he was boring. Beasts that not a minute ago wished to take his head. "Freyja," he said softly. The girl turned to him her hand rubbing a huge Flamestriders belly while its tongue lolled out. Swallowing at the madness he was seeing he forced out his words. "Thank you."

She smiled faintly, the glow in her eyes finally fading. "Where am I?," she asked. "Oh right. Never mind. Mother already filled me in."

Eldrin frowned at the term but said nothing as he walked to his sword dropped to one side and picked it up. He noted how the big cats stir.red. He glanced at his sword and then at them before sheathing it. Turning he looked to Lysandere and motioned to the side.

*

"We will be happy to invite you into Frostfalls. You have saved us this night, Freyja. We owe you our lives. And some hospitality. My friend here says he found you in the forest while it was on fire. We believe someone might have tried to hurt you. We assure you we will get to the bottom of it".

The girl blinked at them. Looked to the cats that gave her a look that said 'Mortals. Crazy two-legged people '. Then she stared back at Eldrin.

"I assure you no one hurt me. I just landed wrong and hit my head". She assured.

"You landed wrong. Then you were climbing a tree when all this happened?". He asked waving to the now scorched bow curiously. "Must have seen the fire and tried to get down then slipped in panic. I apologize. Still you shouldn't have been there on your lonesome you could have been ..." His words paused at remembering she petting Flamestriders. He shook his head.

"Never mind. So who's your family. I don't believe you're from Frostfalls. I know everyone here" he was crouched now. The tale-tell position he took when speaking to young kids too small to look down on. While she wasn't that small she was still sitting with the cats so he had to take the position.

"No. Came. from home. My siblings and I wanted to see how the mortal realm looked". Eldrin was sure he wasn't the only one frowning at her term. Looking back at the others he found he was right.

"What do you mean?".

Freyja turned back to him and then opened her mouth. "Ah, sorry. I didn't think that you mortals don't realize we exist". She shot up to her feet and rushed to him. Eldrin stood in a stumble and found the girl just reaching his chest smiling up at him with a large and cute grin.

'Protect. At all costs'. His mind screamed at him. She was just too cute.

"I'm Freyja Ironstone. Primordial Spirit. Fourth child of the Creator". She tapped her chin. "That's Fifth now after very-very big brother came". She nodded then looked at all of them. "Your souls all look good and nice enough. May I heal your spirits though they seem a bit injured".

No one said a word as silence held their thoughts' grip. Yet the girl who just introduced herself as the daughter of the Creator stood there looking at them with a confused smile. It was clear she had no idea what was wrong with anything she said.

Eldrin turned stiffly, more stiffly than when he saw the beast horde. "We might have to announce another Monois Rai". He spoke. Lysandere said nothing and just nodded dumbly.