Creation Online

"Bulls, it had to be bulls. Why not Elks or Reindeers?" Eldrin murmured to himself. Alarion didn't bother with a reply as he took in the sight. A family of Thunderhoof bulls, the latest of the Thunderhoof family kept smashing their twin horns into the wooden wall.

"If not for the stones Meladrel worked into the walls last four Winters they'd be through faster". Eldrin frowned. Alarion said nothing as an image of the Moonborn came to mind. It seemed the town would have him to thank for the little respite. Still, it wasn't a certainty to be enough.

"Captain Eldrin. We have a problem". Themeriel, a female Moonborn with beautiful black eyes stood to Eldrin's left.

"What?". His eyes remained on the ground below where the Thunderhoof bulls were ramming into the logs. Each hit sent vibrations up the wall. Eldrin's face was locked in a frown. Alarion didn't doubt the Moonborn had a plan. No, what he suspected the captain was thinking about was how to keep his guards safe.

"Flamestrider. A pride of them". Eldrin's head whipped up to Themeriel. His lack of questioning was evident in the experience he had with the named beasts. Alarion couldn't help his eyes clicking to the man's left ear. Where knife ears were missing the point. A gift to a Flamestrider.

"The back mountain pass".

Themeriel nodded. The mountain pass was a bad path that could not be used by any humanoid which was the reason it had been ignored. Until the Flamestriders and beasts of similar build had shown just how good at climbing rocks and boulders they were. Eldrin had lost the tip of his ear to one.

And now those same creatures were taking a well-known path to flee from the fire. Eldrin turned his head slightly to look at me. I kept my gaze on him, an attempt to hide my ogle at his ear.

"You'll need that spear now".

*

The Burning Bow 🏹

The trees creaked as their once sturdy barks gave way to the ferocious flames. There was something just different in the flames. It had the ferocity of a normal flame and yet had a more lethal and effective touch. It was harsh.

Lysandere glared with animosity at the fire that surrounded his family. The flames reflected on their beautiful skins and made them feel warmer than usual. Hot actually.

"We're lost Lemusa. Face it. With the flames we could never find our way out of this mess". A female Moonborn with teary eyes persuaded her friend. Lysandere dared not speak as he knew anything he said could be a volatile switch for his wife. He wasn't known for his particularly endearing or thoughtful words and Lemusa's fright for their baby girl Elrenao was at its highest.

His eyes cut back to the brave girl hugging him tightly while her body shuddered. They had to move fast. Staying in one place for long was tempting the flames' hotness.

"That way". He pointed. While all the marks and and fauna he needed to trace his way back to the forest exit were all gone Lysandere couldn't and wouldn't tell them that. All he had to do was keep them moving.

Without a look to confirm if they were following, he hurried forward. The last thing you wanted to do was to delay in here. Lysandere had barely crossed more than five steps when a loud creaking sound came from ahead. The rows of burning trees caught his eyes as he brought up a hand to halt the others. A snap sounded and he almost flinched, head darting around and eyes jumping from tree to tree seeking the perilous one.

CRACK

SNAP

The deadly sound of wood giving beneath weight erupted in the forest and like wrath from the skies, a tall tree billowing with flames crashed into their path. 'There goes that way'.

With its length and fire they had no choice but to cut around. Not like it mattered considering he didn't even know if he was going the right way. He turned back to the others and frowned. The look of fear on their faces was a sight he didn't want to think of. All he wanted was to get his family out of here. Emotions could come later.

"Let's cut around it".

"What if that was a sign of it being the wrong path?" Tyrone spoke. Lysandere eyed his brother. He was always quick to speak when scared. He had no idea how he could be scared now when he had to stay alive.

"Sign from what?".

"The Alkis?. It has to be". Tyrone waved his hand as if he didn't understand why Lysandere wasn't thinking the same.

"And what next? This fire was from the Alkis too?" He almost scoffed but the nod from his brother just made him shake his head.

"The lightning that came and that sound was like nothing I've ever...'

" You've never seen lightning, Tyrone. Stop making up..."

" I have. And this this was different ".

"Let's just go. Well head that way". Lysandere pointed to his left and without a word turned and walked off his arms cuddling his daughter tighter. The talk of Alkis was something he didn't care for. It was a debate as old as he was. From the times of his parents and even now. The speculations and topics. The suspicions and hope or perhaps lack of hope.

He'd bln3wvt believed in them. Not when a Thundercat had taken his father and he'd asked for help. Not when his mother had inhaled Widow Kiss toxin by accident. He didn't believe it.

'If you want to be safe and get something done right. You do it yourself. You believe in yourself. Not some made-up thought or idea or...'

" Da!". His little girl's shout broke him out of his thoughts. Halting he pulled her back and away from him as he looked her over in worried fright. Her eyes though were behind him. Seeing nothing on her he turned to see the others just appearing out of the side of a somehow safe tree.

Lysandere was about to turn thinking his girl was telling him the rest were not keeping up when he saw it.

The tree he'd just noticed. The one not burning. No. It was what lay at its shriveled and charred roots. In the center of a wide hole that wasn't quite deep. Just a mere crater.

"Lysandere. It's, it's a child". Tyrone his brother called out to him as he stopped at the edge to look at the form lying there. For all his cowardice in danger, Lysandere appreciated his brother's good heart.

Just not now. For all he knew the child could very well be dead. He was at the feet of the tree before he realized it though, looking down into the hole. Everyone else was surrounding the hole and while the forest raged with fiery flames around them none moved. The reason was simple enough.

Lying there, in a white gown that was as simple as it was plain was a little Moonborn child. The girl supposedly no older than his teenage daughter back in Frostfalls was the example of an impossible beauty. Even just the side profile of her face told Lysandere her looks weren't normal.

But that was an issue for later. Now. They had a fire to get out of.

"Tyrion. Dermerl get her out". The last of the males with them, his brother's friend nodded and he along with Tyrone stepped into the crater. Lysandere took a moment to take in the scene around her.

Burnt ground, a crater, and a splash of what he was sure to be damage of some sort. A charred and burnt-up tree. Flames roared in a circle around them and yet for some reason not daring to approach any closer.

Lysandere felt like taking a step back but didn't. His brother and friend picked the girl up and together dragged her out of the crater.

"Let's get out of here". Picking the girl up bridal style the friend followed the rest.

No one noted the subtle pause of the flames, the tiny dart of unseen blueish-gray mists that trailed after them. No one noticed the blue energy that leaked from the girl's finger and even if they knew none could see it.

Somehow they found themselves outside the forest faster than before. Looking back all of them watched wide-eyed as a passage that the rushed four of was engulfed into the forest fire.

'Like it was waiting for us to get past'. Lysandere thought. His eyes narrowed as his head itched to turn and take a look but he refrained. "The Town's not far from here. Let's..." His words died in his throat as he and the others took a look at the madness that was the plains between their town and the forest.

"What in the Widow kiss?!".

*

Eldrin led a small group of guards to the mountain pass to the west of Frostfalls. Each one held a burning torch in their left hand as they approached, ready for danger. The town built into the mountain base meant that there was no way in except through the gates or like the Flamestriders were attempting over the mountain itself. With the walls buried in between rock and mountain, it left the edges of the town as part of nature.

Meaning that the only way around was to hike up the west or east trails till you found the paths leading into the Edgelands.

The animal didn't have such thoughts. All they saw was a wall, one that provided protection and as such they were hell-bent on getting in. To Eldrin's left stood Themeriel and to his right Alarion. Behind him, two more Moonborn guards, more experienced ones, followed.

Reaching the position on the mountain they were at now was made easy due to traversing the wall of the town. But that was all it had been. Now they stood at an incline where climbing was near impossible. Coming down though while easier was uncontrolled.

"This is it. We hold them here. With the narrow path their numbers mean nothing, with the decline for them, control and finesse are lost in any attack they can put to bear".

Eldrin turned to the five guards that were being them. "Handreil and Thomas, you both be ready to put arrows into whatever comes down from there.". He turned to the remaining three. You three protect our backs and make sure any of the beasts that get past us don't get past you.

"And finally..." he focused on the two experienced guards. "We're up front". Both Moonborn nodded. Eldrin sent a glance at Alarion and Themeriel. "Watch your backs. Amd be ready to strike when needed". The two Moonborns exchanged glances. Neither had ever worked with the other nor trained with the other so the sudden pair was disjointing as none knew if they could trust the other.

Alarion glanced at the Moonborn ready to ask her what their plan would be.

"Don't get in my way. And don't get me killed". The two statements dried up any sort of camaraderie he might have felt.

"Then don't die" he spat. Turning he walked off to the side trying to keep the annoyance off his face. It was something he was unable to do as one thing Alarion hated more than anything was arrogance. Yet another feature that drew him to Captain Eldrin. The Moonborn had not a single arrogant bone. Sure, yes, confident, true. But definitely not arrogant.

Behind him he could hear the other guards, inexperienced ones just like him chuckle and murmur to himself. Alarion just sighed already guessing what rumors the stupid Moonborns would spread. His palm tightened around the spear he held. His hand turning red from the exertion.

That was when the first sound of rocks tumbling down the incline echoed into the night. Eldrin made a wave of the hand and everyone, talking or not got ready.

The guards positioned themselves as Eldrin instructed, their senses heightened and their grip on weapons firm. The flickering light from their torches cast dancing shadows on the mountain path, amplifying the tension that hung in the air.

Eldrin's eyes were sharp, scanning the incline for the first signs of movement. Beside him, the two guards Liveriel and Yetmeil had their eyes peeled as well. Themeriel and Alarion behind them took deep breaths steeling their resolves, their expressions forming masks of determination. The sound of rocks tumbling grew louder, the crunch of sand, rock, and stone getting crushed reached their sensitive hearing.

Eldrin made a quick glance behind him. His message was clear They were here. Anxiety and fear washed through many of them.

From the incline, the first Flamestrider emerged. It was a large beast, resembling a massive feline with a mane of red similar to fire that swayed and billowed around its head. Its eyes burned with a yellow predatory intensity, and it let out a low, menacing growl as it spotted them.

"Hold your ground!" Eldrin commanded, his voice steady. "Remember your training!"

Themeriel and Alarion slipped into battle stances, both ready to act and flank Eldrin if needed. Themeriel's sword gleamed in the firelight, while Alarion's spear was poised for a precise strike. As the Flamestrider lunged forward, Eldrin moved with practiced agility, sidestepping and bringing his sword down in a powerful arc. The blade met the creature's side, eliciting a howl of pain and fury. The other guards hacked into its side making it stumble back. To his right, the third guard made a sharp thrust that ripped blood from the Flamestrider's front limb.

A roar from behind had Eldrin cursing. From the incline bounded down two more Flamestriders. "Get ready to hold it..."His voice tapered off as the first leaped straight over them. The second went on and then pounced on the wounded Flamestrider. Using it as a boost it pounced over the guard and like its partner landed behind the guards.

Alarion roared to get the nerves out of his body, thrusting his spear at the closest of the two new enemies targeting the beast's exposed flank. The spearhead penetrated deep, and the Flamestrider recoiled, its fiery mane flaring angrily. Themeriel took the opportunity to slash at its legs, her movements swift and deadly. But the other one wasn't having it. Ignoring the attacks that came from Eldrin and the guards trying to catch its attention it pounced at the Moonborn.

Her sharp reflexes got her out of harm's eyes and rolling to the edge of the wall. Behind the front line, Handreil and Thomal released a volley of arrows. The arrows, tipped with iron steel heads, found their marks in the beasts stalking Themeriel and Alarion.

Alarion followed, causing his to stumble and slow while Themeriel's snarled again baring its wide fangs but halting its advance. More roars came from up the incline and Eldrin cursed loudly while Alarion tried his hardest to kill the beast faster. Themeriel back on her feet kept her predator off with the powerful swings of her iron steel sword. The snarls and roars did little to hide the sound of more Flamestriders coming.

Fortunately, it was just in time too for Eldrin's Flamestrider to fall dead. The captain took a deep breath and rushed for the incline mouth. Behind him, the two guards followed.

The narrow path would work to their advantage, funneling the Flamestriders into a confined space where their numbers meant little. Still, if they jumped, Eldrin gave the guards a look one that they understood.

They'd be waiting to meet the flyer behind with swords.