The Journey, Chapter 34 = previous chapter
Chapter 35: Priest
Santaya twitched in her sleep.
The rays of early morning shone through and she was playing in a clearing with her sister. The air tensed up, and her parents came out from their den, sniffing the air, listening carefully. Tree branches rustled and twigs snapped and a huge brown bear pawed its way through the branches stopping close to where the cubs were playing. Santaya growled trying to be big and brave, her sister Kristolia growled then hid behind a fallen trunk. Her mum ran forward grabbing Santaya by the scruff of her neck and carried her back to the den. Her father walked slowly towards the bear standing strong and proud, baring his fangs. He growled and then howled his warning to the bear. The bear responded by growling and dropping to all four paws, it ran forward and took a swipe at her dad. Santaya tried to run out but her mother pushed her back.
Kristolia watched in horror as she slowly crept back to the den. She noticed her father wasn’t breathing. The cub’s mother ran forward jumping in the air as high as she could, aiming for the bear’s neck. The bear stumbled and fell backwards into a tree, knocking her mother out before swiping at her face with its paw and killing her instantly. The bear turned on the cubs, out of nowhere a two-legs came running. Flying sticks let rip from his stick-thing and pierced into the bear's hide. The bear turned in a rage, charging for the flying-stick-with-two-legs. The two-legs dodged the bear’s huge swiping paw and shot a flying-stick from close range into the bear's shoulder. The bear shrugged it off and went to charge at two-legs again, but two-legs turned and ran, jumped and bounced off the tree sending point-stick-thing flying into the bear's head. The forest was filled with a blood-curdling scream scaring the birds from their perches and the forest dwellers into their holes. A thunderous thud resonated in the ground below Santaya's paws as the dead bear hit the ground. All was still in the forest now.
Santaya woke up shaking, she looked towards the moon and howled. Nekonata who had been watching her sat next to her and gave a big reassuring hug. “Everything’s ok Santi I promise, it’s ok!” He said softly
A couple of hours later they were packed up and back on the road. Neko pulled his cloak around tightly doing his best to conceal his weapons. The wolf's ears pricked up, and the ground rumbled a little beneath their feet, “Quick hide behind the trees!” They hid just in time as a group of riders stopped where they’d just been standing. As Neko peeped from behind a tree he noticed that they were a small group of horse riding Elves. The Elves chatted among themselves for a moment and then rode off. Coming out from behind the trees he watched them disappear into the distance.
“Elves? What are they doing here?”
“Long time no see around.” Squawked Loki.
They continued to walk on, following the road, staying to the side of it. A while later another group of riders were heard charging down the road, Neko looked back, “Shit, bandits, hide in the trees quickly, go, now!” Reluctantly his companions hid in the trees and he carried on walking slowly. The bandits surrounded him, “Who are yeh? An where ya goin?” Demanded the lead bandit…
“I’m just a priest heading to Colkeeth.” He replied, trying to stay calm.
A snort of derisive laughter rose from the group, and the lead bandit kicked Nekonata in the face knocking him out cold before he could react, and he slumped to the floor. The bandits picked him up and threw him over the back of a horse, tying his hands and feet together, and they headed straight back into the forest going east…
“We have come a long way from Ukiah Sands. We have been victorious in our pillagings. We will soon be rich!”
“Hey Murkel, where we headed next? I hope there is some fine-lookin' ladies when we get der!”
Murkel, the lead bandit, laughed and slapped his thigh. “We are going to Souleh Tomb’s, should be lots of treasure in those ruins. Never know, might find some warm flesh on the way!”
Laughter howled ringing through Neko’s head, he tried to sit up, but he felt drowsy and slumped back to the floor again. Taking a few deep breaths he managed to sit and look around groggily. Realising his hands were tied behind his back, he yanked his left thumb dislocating it, and slipped out of his restraints, watching carefully as he then united his feet. He saw the leader waving his sword in the air manically, his bow and arrows were thrown on the floor next to some sacks.
The leader, Merkel they called him, had scruffy unkempt hair, blue eyes, a hooked nose with a crooked smile and a missing tooth, he was slim and well tanned. There was a rustle by the side of him and he noticed his companions pop their heads out from behind a bush. He smiled, feeling relieved that they were ok, but shook his head, and they disappeared behind the bushes again.
Nekonata watched as the bandits slowly fell to sleep one by one, standing up carefully and quietly he slowly tiptoed around and over the sleeping bandits, reaching the leader who had placed his purple sword next to him. He reached for it slowly, as he was about to grab it Murkel woke up and growled at him. Nekonata deftly grabbed his sword unsheathing it and threw the scabbard to the side, unintentionally hitting a bandit in the face knocking him out. He swung his sword round in a smooth arching motion, adjusted his stance and prepared to make a defence.
The lead bandit stood up and laughed loudly waking up the others. “Yeh wanna ave' a fight do yah?” The lead bandit was fast, he drew his own sword from his scabbard and swung for Nekonata's face, Nekonata stepped back and blocked the attack, and then countered the man’s attack.
The other bandits jumped to their feet and drew their weapons getting ready to pounce on when Nekonata, Kristolia and Santaya burst through from behind the trees, jumped and snapped at two of the bandits' heads killing them straight away. The lead bandit and Nekonata were still attacking and counter-attacking each other’s blows. A loud whistle pierced the air over the clangs and scrapes of metal against metal, the lead bandit flinched, and Nekonata swung his sword round pivoting on the toes of his feet and stabbed the man straight through the heart in a clean decisive strike. Twangs from several bows as arrows launched from behind the trees killing their targets instantly. Nekonata jumped into a defensive stance, while his wolf friends joined him on either side.
The next few seconds passed agonizingly slow as he crouched in a defensive position in case of another attack. Nekonata heard the snorts of horses from behind the trees, and the crunch of feet on twigs as a rider dismounted.
A cloaked figure came from behind the trees and cautiously approached Nekonata, with arms raised to show they were unarmed. The figure stopped in front of him and slowly lowered the hood of its cloak. The figure had long blonde hair, high cheekbones, very refined features, and her eyes were of hazel.
“Saluton, sunt vobis bene?” she said in a soft gentle purring voice. Nekonata looked at her, mesmerised but confused. He didn't understand what she said.
She smiled, and then said, “Hello, are you ok?” She turned to look at the bandit leader, Nekonata gasped slightly noticing she had angle pointed ears, the female elf took no notice, “You have very good swordsmanship skills” She said looking at him again.
Nekonata shrugged his shoulders as he lowered his sword, he moved slowly to retrieve his armour to put them back on again. Nekonata turned to see the elf had knelt down and was stroking Santaya and Kristolia, they purred at the elf's touch. “What are their names?” She asked
“Santaya on the left, Kristolia on the right... and Loki is around somewhere” replied Nekonata. The raven squawked, flying down to perch on his shoulders. The elf looked up with a keen interest in the raven. Before anything more could be said the rest of the elf riders came from behind the trees, and silently looked around.
The female elf stood and walked closely to Nekonata, looking him up and down “I sense a power inside you, one you don't understand, soon you will, you just have to believe, I will see you again” She turned and walked away, another elf walked forward and handed her the reins of a horse. In one swift motion, she jumped and mounted, and turned to ride away.
“Wait please!” Nekonata shouted, “May I ask your name?”
The female elf turned and responded, “Gabija of Clan Panther,” with which she rode back into the forest heading east.
Nekonata watched as Gabija left with her riders, he sensed a power of authority from her but dismissed it thinking maybe she was the Captain of the group. He looked around to see the carnage and the dead on the floor around his feet.
Chapter 35: Priest
Santaya twitched in her sleep.
The rays of early morning shone through and she was playing in a clearing with her sister. The air tensed up, and her parents came out from their den, sniffing the air, listening carefully. Tree branches rustled and twigs snapped and a huge brown bear pawed its way through the branches stopping close to where the cubs were playing. Santaya growled trying to be big and brave, her sister Kristolia growled then hid behind a fallen trunk. Her mum ran forward grabbing Santaya by the scruff of her neck and carried her back to the den. Her father walked slowly towards the bear standing strong and proud, baring his fangs. He growled and then howled his warning to the bear. The bear responded by growling and dropping to all four paws, it ran forward and took a swipe at her dad. Santaya tried to run out but her mother pushed her back.
Kristolia watched in horror as she slowly crept back to the den. She noticed her father wasn’t breathing. The cub’s mother ran forward jumping in the air as high as she could, aiming for the bear’s neck. The bear stumbled and fell backwards into a tree, knocking her mother out before swiping at her face with its paw and killing her instantly. The bear turned on the cubs, out of nowhere a two-legs came running. Flying sticks let rip from his stick-thing and pierced into the bear's hide. The bear turned in a rage, charging for the flying-stick-with-two-legs. The two-legs dodged the bear’s huge swiping paw and shot a flying-stick from close range into the bear's shoulder. The bear shrugged it off and went to charge at two-legs again, but two-legs turned and ran, jumped and bounced off the tree sending point-stick-thing flying into the bear's head. The forest was filled with a blood-curdling scream scaring the birds from their perches and the forest dwellers into their holes. A thunderous thud resonated in the ground below Santaya's paws as the dead bear hit the ground. All was still in the forest now.
Santaya woke up shaking, she looked towards the moon and howled. Nekonata who had been watching her sat next to her and gave a big reassuring hug. “Everything’s ok Santi I promise, it’s ok!” He said softly
A couple of hours later they were packed up and back on the road. Neko pulled his cloak around tightly doing his best to conceal his weapons. The wolf's ears pricked up, and the ground rumbled a little beneath their feet, “Quick hide behind the trees!” They hid just in time as a group of riders stopped where they’d just been standing. As Neko peeped from behind a tree he noticed that they were a small group of horse riding Elves. The Elves chatted among themselves for a moment and then rode off. Coming out from behind the trees he watched them disappear into the distance.
“Elves? What are they doing here?”
“Long time no see around.” Squawked Loki.
They continued to walk on, following the road, staying to the side of it. A while later another group of riders were heard charging down the road, Neko looked back, “Shit, bandits, hide in the trees quickly, go, now!” Reluctantly his companions hid in the trees and he carried on walking slowly. The bandits surrounded him, “Who are yeh? An where ya goin?” Demanded the lead bandit…
“I’m just a priest heading to Colkeeth.” He replied, trying to stay calm.
A snort of derisive laughter rose from the group, and the lead bandit kicked Nekonata in the face knocking him out cold before he could react, and he slumped to the floor. The bandits picked him up and threw him over the back of a horse, tying his hands and feet together, and they headed straight back into the forest going east…
“We have come a long way from Ukiah Sands. We have been victorious in our pillagings. We will soon be rich!”
“Hey Murkel, where we headed next? I hope there is some fine-lookin' ladies when we get der!”
Murkel, the lead bandit, laughed and slapped his thigh. “We are going to Souleh Tomb’s, should be lots of treasure in those ruins. Never know, might find some warm flesh on the way!”
Laughter howled ringing through Neko’s head, he tried to sit up, but he felt drowsy and slumped back to the floor again. Taking a few deep breaths he managed to sit and look around groggily. Realising his hands were tied behind his back, he yanked his left thumb dislocating it, and slipped out of his restraints, watching carefully as he then united his feet. He saw the leader waving his sword in the air manically, his bow and arrows were thrown on the floor next to some sacks.
The leader, Merkel they called him, had scruffy unkempt hair, blue eyes, a hooked nose with a crooked smile and a missing tooth, he was slim and well tanned. There was a rustle by the side of him and he noticed his companions pop their heads out from behind a bush. He smiled, feeling relieved that they were ok, but shook his head, and they disappeared behind the bushes again.
Nekonata watched as the bandits slowly fell to sleep one by one, standing up carefully and quietly he slowly tiptoed around and over the sleeping bandits, reaching the leader who had placed his purple sword next to him. He reached for it slowly, as he was about to grab it Murkel woke up and growled at him. Nekonata deftly grabbed his sword unsheathing it and threw the scabbard to the side, unintentionally hitting a bandit in the face knocking him out. He swung his sword round in a smooth arching motion, adjusted his stance and prepared to make a defence.
The lead bandit stood up and laughed loudly waking up the others. “Yeh wanna ave' a fight do yah?” The lead bandit was fast, he drew his own sword from his scabbard and swung for Nekonata's face, Nekonata stepped back and blocked the attack, and then countered the man’s attack.
The other bandits jumped to their feet and drew their weapons getting ready to pounce on when Nekonata, Kristolia and Santaya burst through from behind the trees, jumped and snapped at two of the bandits' heads killing them straight away. The lead bandit and Nekonata were still attacking and counter-attacking each other’s blows. A loud whistle pierced the air over the clangs and scrapes of metal against metal, the lead bandit flinched, and Nekonata swung his sword round pivoting on the toes of his feet and stabbed the man straight through the heart in a clean decisive strike. Twangs from several bows as arrows launched from behind the trees killing their targets instantly. Nekonata jumped into a defensive stance, while his wolf friends joined him on either side.
The next few seconds passed agonizingly slow as he crouched in a defensive position in case of another attack. Nekonata heard the snorts of horses from behind the trees, and the crunch of feet on twigs as a rider dismounted.
A cloaked figure came from behind the trees and cautiously approached Nekonata, with arms raised to show they were unarmed. The figure stopped in front of him and slowly lowered the hood of its cloak. The figure had long blonde hair, high cheekbones, very refined features, and her eyes were of hazel.
“Saluton, sunt vobis bene?” she said in a soft gentle purring voice. Nekonata looked at her, mesmerised but confused. He didn't understand what she said.
She smiled, and then said, “Hello, are you ok?” She turned to look at the bandit leader, Nekonata gasped slightly noticing she had angle pointed ears, the female elf took no notice, “You have very good swordsmanship skills” She said looking at him again.
Nekonata shrugged his shoulders as he lowered his sword, he moved slowly to retrieve his armour to put them back on again. Nekonata turned to see the elf had knelt down and was stroking Santaya and Kristolia, they purred at the elf's touch. “What are their names?” She asked
“Santaya on the left, Kristolia on the right... and Loki is around somewhere” replied Nekonata. The raven squawked, flying down to perch on his shoulders. The elf looked up with a keen interest in the raven. Before anything more could be said the rest of the elf riders came from behind the trees, and silently looked around.
The female elf stood and walked closely to Nekonata, looking him up and down “I sense a power inside you, one you don't understand, soon you will, you just have to believe, I will see you again” She turned and walked away, another elf walked forward and handed her the reins of a horse. In one swift motion, she jumped and mounted, and turned to ride away.
“Wait please!” Nekonata shouted, “May I ask your name?”
The female elf turned and responded, “Gabija of Clan Panther,” with which she rode back into the forest heading east.
Nekonata watched as Gabija left with her riders, he sensed a power of authority from her but dismissed it thinking maybe she was the Captain of the group. He looked around to see the carnage and the dead on the floor around his feet.
The Journey, Chapter 36
The Journey, Chapter 35 = previous chapter Chapter 36: Colkeeth Loki flew up high above the trees, a few moments later he flew back down circling landing on Neko’s outstretched hand “Path west!” “Hmm, west it is…” Neko muttered. He searched the bandits pockets and satchels, find some some...
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