The New World: Crimson Winter

by Andy Skrzynski

  Caru pointed at the map on the screen. “According to Hound Dog’s directions, the Skalag caves should be within a couple of miles along the western bluff.

  Her bother touched a couple of spots on the screen, one labeled, ‘Depth Finder,’ the other, ‘Heat Seeker.’ “Hopefully this will help me find the entrances.”

  He glanced at Caru. “Does Father know you’re here?”

  “Not exactly, but I’m a grown woman. I know how important this is.”

  Within a few seconds, a darker location on the display flashed green, and two human figures on each side of the hole glowed red.

  Teli whispered. “This might be it!”

  He zoomed the lens. Two Skalags, dressed in heavy furs and strange headdresses with antlers, clutched spears at their flanks. They appeared to be guarding the sizable opening in the side of the cliff.

  Suddenly a spot on the screen turned crimson and blipped while an alarm blared, “enemy drone attack!” Caru’s chest tightened as Chili lifted his head and growled by the fireplace.

  Teli’s hovercraft veered to the left, then to the right, barely escaping the laser fire that struck the rocky wall beyond his drone. “Whoa.”

  He touched the flashing icon and the camera honed onto the attacker. Just as the focus cleared, the perpetrator slowly descended and landed. Its propellers slowed to a halt. The monitor’s speakers reported. “Enemy drone disabled.”

  With mixed expressions of shock and delight, Teli cracked a half-smile. “I didn’t know it could do that, but I’m sure glad it did.”

  Keeping his drone at a safe distance, he spoke into the microphone. “We’re here to talk a truce. We’d like to speak to your leader.”

  The Skalag Cavern

  Zo sat on a large boulder inside a dingy cut-out of one of his caves while he spoke with Kree, his siblings, and a handful of his most reliable warriors. Exhausted from the harrowing trip the previous day and gruesome nightmares while he slept, he’d rather be doing just about anything else than rehashing the disastrous events from their hunt.

  Staring at a scraggly cat asleep in a corner, he avoided eye-contact with his clan members. “When we heard Spider’s screams, we….”

  Gno frantically tapped the monitor in his left hand. “My drone doesn’t work anymore!”

  Jrok’s voice echoed through the hall. “Zo! Hurry! Someone’s asking for you! I think he’s from Ukkiville.”

  Zo raced out of the room. What’s going on? The last thing he needed was another crisis. When’s it all gonna to end? His stomach roiled as the hum of the hovercraft grew louder near the cave’s exit.

  A Moment Later

  Caru’s heart fluttered when the Skalag leader broke into the sunlight. Wow, I forgot how handsome he was! Look at his chest! His muscular pecs bulged between the cut of his leather vest.

  Every fiber of her body wanted to scream, “Zo, you’re alive!” but she held her tongue. Can’t jeopardize this mission!

  Her eyes watered. Don’t know how he’d react. A heavy sigh escaped her lungs.

  Teli peered at her with a sad frown. “I’m trying, but I know you want to go to him.”

  She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Don’t worry.” With the explosion of joy and pain throughout her soul, how could her twin block such emotions?

  Zo’s voice reverberated through the speakers. “Who are you? What do you want?”

  A woman ran to his side and wrapped her arm around the Skalag leader’s waist.

  “I’m Teli with a message from Ukkiville.”

  Caru pushed back from the table. Who is that woman? And why does she have her hands on him?

  Stunned, she ground her teeth. I can’t believe it! She hadn’t looked at another man that way in 12 years. How could he?

  Teli spoke again. “We’d like to invite you to talk with….”

  Zo lifted his arms. “Why should I care what Ukkiville thinks? You killed my family and most of my clan!”

  After a long pause, Teli responded. “For one, we’re returning one of your Skalags we found dead by a campfire a few days back. The scavengers got to him before we did, but here’s the remains.”

  “Good! Return him and leave! We don’t need anything else from you Ukes!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “What can you possibly offer us that we’d care about?”

  Again, Teli waited before answering. “Wouldn’t you like to learn more about the monster that killed your Skalag?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Dire Memories

  Two Days Later on October 26, 2105

  The Mountain Trail

  A couple hours after dawn, Zo and a few of his most-trusted Skalags rounded the southeastern point of Erik the Red Mountains on horseback. A blast of frigid air swooped from the bluff and smacked him in the face.

  Tightening his hood’s strap, he glanced up along the rocky wall. I hate this place.

  A sharp twinge stabbed his chest. What was I thinking? This is the last place we should have met!

  It was from that same vantage point he witnessed his mother and clan slaughtered during the battle with the Ukes long ago. The grisly visions still haunted him.

  Twelve Years Earlier on August 27, 2093

  Observing the skirmish from a distance with a spyglass, Zo watched his ma and her clan attack the Ukes. While warriors from both sides clashed, a little girl chased a small cat onto the battlefield and tripped. What’s she doing out there?

  A blur from the left caught his attention. One of Angrokt’s dire wolves streaked toward the kitten.

  That stupid girl doesn’t have a chance.

  His mother grabbed a spear and let it fly, but it struck the soil short of the ferocious beast. As the denamod continued to charge, its jaws opened, and the child appeared to scream.

  A split second later, the vicious creature chomped and shook the kitten.

  When the girl jumped to her feet, the denamod’s glare slowly shifted toward her. It bared its long fangs as the predator charged. The terrified youngster seemed to scream again.

  Angrokt’s chariot bolted toward the child. The girl’s face grew beet-red, and her head began to shake while glaring at the beast.

  The wolf bounded to within 10 yards but suddenly stopped and writhed in agony.

  Crumpling to the ground and vibrating vigorously, the tormented creature opened its jaws wide.

  Puke exploded from its throat. Within moments, whitish-pink tissue began to roll over its bluing tongue.

  Something that looked like its esophagus emerged and unraveled from its mouth. The limp remains of the drenched, mangled kitten plopped to the ground.

  As Zo locked his eyes on the horrifying scene, the beast’s innards continued to slowly unfold in a disgusting mass of tissue.

  Its body shook and convulsed while the exterior hide and fur shriveled and disappeared. The pinker, bloodied stomach and intestines forced their way to the surface.

  The jawbones widened further until the agonizing body turned completely inside out in a crimson heap of steamy innards.

  Stunned, Zo kept his eyes fixed on the gory event. How’d that tiny girl do that?

  Back to Present Time

  Stones tumbled from the cliff and snapped Zo’s grueling memory. His confused gaze shot higher. At the bluff’s edge, stood a handful of clickers, hulking down at him and his team with their demonic eyes.

  Why haven’t they attacked? Hopes that the cold front would have dissuaded his beastly stalkers faded.

  A persistent noise broke his train of thought, and he turned toward the distraction. Gno kept tapping the remote in his palm. “Won’t be long. The drone has spotted the Ukes. They’re 420 yards away on the trail to Ukkiville.”

  Zo scowled. “Doesn’t feel right. Those Ukes are up to something. Broaden the scan. Make sure there’s no other warriors in the area.”

  “Doing it now.” After a few seconds, his brother pointed at the screen. “There’s two humans in Porcupine Forest, but
they’re a couple miles to the south. I see a few deer and three raccoons — nothing else — probably just hunters.”

  Gno touched the zoom button. “Wait a sec! There’s some movement beyond the deer. Whoever’s out there could be in trouble. There’s a clicker in their area.”

  He smirked. “Other than that, nothing else of any consequence is anywhere near us and those Ukes on the trail.”

  “Good.” Zo spun around. “Kree, you and the others take cover near that cut in the bluff. Gno will stay with me.”

  While the rest of his team rode off, Zo sat rigid in his saddle. Several minutes later, a half-dozen horses and a polar bear drew closer from a distance. Is that Caru’s pet? It looks much bigger now.

  Through the light snow swirling with the wispy breezes, he watched his longtime nemesis approach. Mixed emotions strangled his heart.

  He hated every one of the Ukes, especially the little girl who killed so many of his family and friends in the last battle, but a splinter of hope forced its way to his heavy heart. Will Caru be with them? What does she look like?

  Guilt crushed the fleeting thought, and he glanced over his shoulder where Kree had just left. She’s the one I love. Who cares about Caru? She’s the enemy! He forced a smile to cloak his shame.

  The muffled pounding of hooves broke his concentration, and he spun toward the Ukes. He recognized the leader, clad in a heavy moose hide. Thoruk looked much like Zo’s ma had described during her rampages after the death of his grandpa, Zolokt, during the first battle.

  Ukkiville’s leader didn’t appear so formidable. He was just a warrior with long, reddish hair, hanging past his broad shoulders, and tightly-trimmed beard, similar in color but graying around the temples. He’s getting old.

  As Zo’s grip firmed around his sword’s handle, his heart suddenly tripped. Is that her?

  Slightly to Thoruk’s rear, rode a woman with red, braided hair, draped over her chest. It must be. She’s taller but still looks much the same.

  He sucked a deep breath as his dead mother’s voice jolted his soul. Concentrate on the mission!

  Stiffening in his seat, he clenched his jaw. The Ukes halted their approach 10 yards before him.

  Porcupine Forest

  Shivering, Tradulka sat on a stool next to his lifelong buddy in the shadows of a thicket near the western edge of the woods. A deep funk seemed to shroud his hunting partner. After watching his friend agonize over the death of his cows for the past week, he hoped the day’s hunt would lighten his misery.

  Even if his buddy didn’t, Tradulka savored the opportunity of another crack at the 12-pointer that alluded him for far too long. Confidence swelled within his chest. Today’s the day!

  The fresh tracks that led them to the spot belonged to one buck, and one buck only. I’d recognize that cracked hoof anywhere.

  He turned toward Bartuk and whispered. “Come on, cheer up! Nothing’s gonna keep us from nabbing that sucker!”

  Snapping out of his daze, his friend mumbled. “You’ve been saying that for more than five years now.”

  “This is different. I feel it in my bones.” Tradulka focused on a mesh sack of acorns his companion had strung from a low-hanging limb of an oak. That thing better show up!

  Though the thrill of anticipation filled his soul, something kept nagging the back of his mind. The trail of his prey led them much closer to Skalag territory than he’d prefer. Surely hope we don’t run into any of those scumbags or another one of those monsters.

  He looked at his friend “I hate what happened to your cattle. I’d like to give you a couple of young cows with calves to grow your herd again.”

  Bartuk forced a half-smile. “Thanks, every little bit helps. Wasn’t expecting to lose most of my Jerseys at one time.”

  Glad that his buddy finally shared his feelings, Tradulka perked up. “You know, those two sheep I lost a couple months back may have been killed by that same monster. I suspected a wolf, or maybe a bear, but I remember thinking it odd that only part of the carcass had been eaten. There were holes in the chest and abdomen.”

  “Could’ve been the same as what slaughtered my Jerseys.” Bartuk paused. “Seems like you’ve been busy lately. I haven’t seen you much.”

  “I’ve been helping Storm build cabins and fix the wall. Not only that, but Caru and Hoot have been on me every time I get a break. Been teaching them tricks with their reapers.”

  For the first time in well over a decade, Mercy won the crown over him in last year’s Archery Tournament. Is Hoot or Caru next? His heart sunk to think he stood a good chance of never seeing another trophy with the three women hot on his trail. Bartuk would undoubtedly rub it in, forever more.

  His companion shook his head. “Can’t believe they’ve got you calling arrows reapers.”

  “I kinda like the name; it fits.”

  “If you say so. Hey, we better button it up, or nothing’s gonna come calling.”

  A few plump snowflakes fluttered to the ground when a muffled snort shot from a cedar beyond the acorns. Tradulka retrieved an arrow from his quiver and whispered to his companion. “This could be it.”

  Within a few seconds, an enormous buck gingerly emerged. It swung its thick, wide rack to and fro, then sniffed the air. It froze for a moment and snorted again.

  Bartuk slowly leaned toward Tradulka’s ear. “Something’s got it spooked.” The muscular, broad-backed whitetail took one step forward and stiffened before looking both ways.

  His buddy whispered. “Better not dally, it’s edgy.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Confronting the Enemy

  The Base of Erik the Red Mountains

  Kree stirred a large pot of chirk, a savory brew of herbs and roots with a sprinkling of fermented grain mash to warm the belly on frigid days. Her thoughts turned to her mate. Why must we meet with the Ukes? Can’t even imagine. Zo hates them so much his innards must be twisted in knots.

  Vra tended the fire while the guard, a behemoth and strongest of the clan’s warriors, dropped a huge stack of branches not far from the flames. A couple minutes later, the clickety-clack of hooves filled the air, and Zo appeared from around the bend. Gno and a handful of unfamiliar faces followed.

  After they dismounted, a stout man with strange reddish hair and whiskers approached Zo. “I’m Thoruk, the leader of Ukkiville. Glad to have a chance to talk with you.” He extended his arm.

  Tentative at first, her mate lifted his hand, and they locked grips. “I’m Zo, son of Angrokt — ruler of our clan.”

  The red-headed man turned toward a woman with paler skin and hair of similar color to Thoruk’s but twisted in two long strands on each side of her head. The female Uke’s green eyes peered at Zo as she smiled. A second later, the corner of the Skalag ruler’s mouth turned up, and he peered at her for a moment.

  A sharp pain knifed Kree’s heart. That’s her — the one Vra spoke of! The girl Zo fell in love with before the battle.

  The muscular Uke continued. “This is my daughter, Caru, and behind her is my son, Teli.”

  Zo stared at the young woman for what seemed like an eternity before looking at her brother. Kree’s neck warmed as she scowled. There’s still something between them.

  After those who were present had finished their greetings, Thoruk turned toward Zo. “There’s one more person I’d like you to meet. He’s from Texas.”

  Puzzled, Kree focused on the Uke leader. He looked at the sky. “Admiral Sultenfuss is operating a large drone that’s much more powerful than yours. He’ll be participating in the meeting.”

  The Skalag ruler’s brow furrowed while he glared at Thoruk who waved both hands. “There’s nothing to worry about. We won’t disable your drone. It’s for all of our protection.”

  “Why should I trust you?” Zo glanced at Caru again. She nodded, and a tiny smile creased her face, light as snow and splattered with a few freckles. As he returned a single nod, his tense facial muscles relaxed.

  A sharp pa
in pricked Kree’s heart. There it is! That look! She still loves him.

  Her jugular throbbed. She’ll wish she never laid eyes on him!

  Seething, she stepped forward. Her mate glanced back at her as the polar bear growled. Kree’s body stiffened while she clenched both fists.

  Lifting his palms, Zo tried to soothe her. “Everything’s fine.” The creases outside his dark brown eyes softened.

  She took a deep breath and closed her eyelids for a moment. This ain’t over yet.

  Zo stared at the ruler of Ukkiville. “I’ll never forget what you did to my family and clan!”

  Thoruk glared back. “I hope not, but let’s be clear. Zolokt started this when he killed my mother — chopped her head off. Then, he had my father assassinated way before the first battle in 2093, so don’t think you own such pain and hatred by yourself!”

  Caru tapped her father’s shoulder and gently stepped in front of him. “Everybody, calm down.” She peered at Thoruk, then at Zo. “This is not why we’re here. We want a truce.”

  Still fuming, the Skalag ruler snapped. “Why should I care what you or anybody from Ukkiville thinks?” Kree hurried to his side and clasped his hand.

  Caru tentatively stepped toward her and Zo. “Because we need to talk about the same monsters that are attacking all of us. The ones making that clicking noise.” She pointed to the ridge above. “We’ve been monitoring them the past couple of days.”

  She peered into his eyes. “I know you must hate us, particularly me. After reports that Angrokt tried to save the kids, we felt bad. We’re sorry how it ended up.”

  Glancing at the younger woman with long, dark hair, she shook her head. “Hoot was just a little girl whose brother had been killed at her feet. She didn’t know what she was doing. None of us knew she possessed such powers.”

  Kree glared at Hoot and shrieked. “She must be a witch. Don’t listen to them! We can deal with these things on our own.”

  The red-headed woman took another step forward. “No, you can’t. You must not realize how many you’re dealing with. Besides, you don’t want to mess with them or us. We’ve got much more powerful drones and an android.”