Shifters Alliance

by Shaun L Griffiths

  ‘You? You can’t go.’

  ‘It has to be me, when I change, I can run twice as fast as any man, and fight better if I have to.’

  ‘You can’t go, Lu, you mustn’t.’

  ‘I can and I must.’

  ‘No, Lu, you don’t know what these things are like; they’re evil to the core.’

  ‘Someone has to warn those people, and I can be there and back before a man is half way there.’

  ‘Lu, you’re going to be our queen one day, you can’t put yourself in such terrible danger.’

  ‘I won’t be much of a queen if I always think I could have saved someone but didn’t.’

  ‘We need you. This clan will die if anything happens to you. And besides, I never wanted to tell you this, but I have to. You’re not much of a runner, Lu. I’m much better.’

  ‘No you don’t. This was my idea, and you’d never think to go if I hadn’t asked you for the moss.’

  ‘It was your idea, but it does make sense. It also makes sense for the fastest runner to go.’

  ‘Kerri, you’re not going.’

  ‘Carter! Carter!’ Kerri called.

  He came running, concerned at the alarm in Kerri’s voice.

  ‘You’ve got to make sure Lulu stays here.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’ said Carter.

  ‘She wants to run off and warn the townspeople that the apes are about to ambush them.’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘Lu will explain. You just make sure she stays here.’

  ‘Stop it, Kerri,’ said Lulu, ‘I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you. I put the idea in your head.’

  ‘I would have come to the same conclusion anyway. I’m wasting time, Carter, keep Lu here.’

  ‘What? Where are you...’

  Kerri had changed to a hound as he tried talking to her. ‘Keep her here, Carter.’ Kerri turned and ran for the gateway.

  ‘What’s going on, Lulu?’

  ‘She’s gone to warn them of an ambush.’

  ‘Oh no! Lulu, you’ve got to give me your word, you’ll stay here.’

  ‘Okay, Carter, I give you my word I’ll stay.’

  Carter immediately concentrated on bringing out the hound that was inside of him.

  ‘Carter, what are you doing?’

  ‘I’m going to take care of Kerri.’

  ‘You bring her back, Carter, you promise me.’

  Carter closed his eyes against the flash, leaped headlong through the gateway, and launched into a run the moment he hit the ground on the other side. He turned west and stretched his stride to gain on Kerri. After running behind her so often, he picked up her scent immediately. He remembered she had a scent of wild strawberries, with a hint of oranges. Maybe because she was always running over them. The scent was getting stronger with each stride; he knew he was catching her. Over the rise ahead, he saw a blur of movement.

  ‘Kerri!’ But she didn’t stop.

  He stretched further, making longer strides, feeling the power in his legs, pushing him faster forward. He crested the hill.

  ‘Kerri,’ he shouted again. She was just ahead and heard her name called.

  She stopped, confused. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘You won’t do this alone.’

  ‘You said you’d take care to Lulu.’

  ‘She gave me her promise she’d stay at camp.’

  ‘Why do you keep doing these silly things?’

  ‘Have you a plan?’

  ‘I’m going to warn them.’

  ‘That’s not a plan. We run together until we spot the apes ahead. I can smell them already. These things are so evil, I think they’d never believe they could be attacked from behind. When we get close, I’ll attract their attention and lead them off to the west. You keep going towards the plateau, and you should pick up the scent of the bears, and hopefully the townspeople. The wind’s from the north, so it should help. You lead them well away from here back to the gateway.’

  ‘Good plan, except I’ll lead them away, I’m the faster runner.’

  ‘Not anymore, you’re not. I caught you.’

  ‘Carter, you do as you’re told, I’m older than you.’

  ‘Don’t pull that one on me, Kerri. You warn the townspeople. We’re wasting time, now let’s run.’

  He took off, leaving her to run behind.

  Carter followed the foul smell of the apes to where they’d turned into the burnt out grasslands. Now that he knew their direction, he increased his stride. The clouds of ash churned up behind them went unnoticed. He could feel the apes were getting very close. He stopped his run, and turned quickly to Kerri.

  ‘They’re close, I can feel it. The moment we see them, you stop and crouch low. They mustn’t see you. Once I’ve led them away, you follow this scent trail to the bears. I’m sure you’ll find the townspeople.’

  ‘Where will you go?’

  ‘Far to the west and then north, until they tire. Then I’ll double back. See you at the gateway.’ He turned and was gone, leaving no time for arguments.

  Kerri followed close behind, but she soon realised he was pulling away.

  Chapter 14

  Vin raised his arm for those behind to stop. Since the fire had passed through, the land could be seen to rise and fall. It was not the smooth valley he’d first imagined when it was covered in high grass. He nervously approached the next rise. Just a quick look and duck back down again, he thought.

  Naz watched Vin crouch and make his way up the next slope, as he’d done with every hill they’d approached since reaching the valley floor. But this time he fell to the ground and scrambled his way back down, urgently signalling to those behind to get down. Naz ran forward to join him.

  ‘What is it, Vin?’

  ‘There’s a dust cloud heading this way,’ he whispered. They both crawled to the top of the rise, through the burnt-out grass, to peer over the top. In the distance, directly on the course they were taking, they could see a cloud of ash and dust rising in the air, the wind blowing it to the south.

  ‘They’re coming this way, Naz.’

  As the cloud appeared over the next rise, they could clearly see it was apes approaching.

  ‘You’re right there, Vin. Here’s the plan. We’ll pull all the people in a tight group, try to keep ‘um together, and make a dash for the border. It can’t be that far. You lead them and don’t you stop for nothing. Me and the boss will... hold on, Vin, look.’

  He pointed to a dust cloud racing across the grassland from the east, moving like the wind.

  ‘It’s a hound, Naz. And it’s moving like its tail’s on fire. Blimey! I never knew they could run so fast.’

  ‘The apes have spotted it, they’re changing track. It’s acting as a decoy, drawing them away from us.’

  ‘You’re right there, Naz. I think the time for caution’s over. We should make a run for it.’

  ‘Hold up, there’s another one, it’s heading this way.’

  They both watched nervously as the cloud got closer.

  ‘I’ll warn the others,’ said Naz, and ran back towards the column.

  ‘It’s okay, Naz. It’s a hound,’ he shouted with relief.

  Naz returned to the rise with Jojo by his side, just as Kerri cleared the top in a flying leap, sailing over their heads. All three bears turned to watch her skidding to a halt in the dust.

  ‘It’s me, Kerri,’ her words whispered urgently.

  ‘Am I glad to see you,’ said Naz.

  ‘Who was that leading the apes away?’ asked Vin.

  ‘That was Carter. Listen, we’ve no time. You have to make for the gateway now. Those apes were tracking you and they may be back.’

  ‘Okay, we’ll be right behind you,’ said the boss. ‘I’ll get them moving.’

  He ran back to the column of people.

  ‘Dray, we need to make a run for the border. It’ll be a gentle run, so that everyone can keep up. No panicked stampede. We
stay organised and keep together. Sonny, get your people to drop everything they’re carrying. Dray, tell your guards to protect the rear and to make sure everyone keeps up. The gateway’s close and we’re not stopping till we get there.’

  ‘Is that Kerry?’ asked Sonny.

  ‘Yeah, she came to warn us the apes are coming.’

  ‘I must speak to her,’ Sonny said, moving to the front.

  The boss held out a massive clawed arm to stop him. ‘We’ve no time, we must move. Talk later when we get through the border,’ he told Sonny. ‘Do it now!’

  The boss returned to join them at the front. ‘Okay, lead on, Kerri, but please remember, we’ve children with us. Next stop: the border.’

  Kerri started at a walk and then quickened her pace. When she saw the people moving she increased her stride to a slow jog. Those behind managed to stay with her. She kept looking back. When the group became stretched out, she slowed her pace to a walk, allowing everyone to bunch up again, and then she started to jog forward, making them move faster. She kept pushing them and slowing up, urgency in her movements. But all the time she kept thinking about Carter.

  Why would he do such a stupid thing, to charge off like that? she thought. But I must admit, it did work.

  Kerri could see the place where the fire had died out, leaving a defined, jagged line between the ash and the remaining green grass, stretching off into the distance. Not far now, she thought. Turn east and we’re nearly there.

  She quickened her pace again, eager to get them off the burnt grass and stop the ash cloud from being churned up as a signal to anyone or anything watching. At last she felt the soft grass below her feet, taking a moment’s pleasure in its spongy softness after the sharp, burnt-out stalks they’d been running over.

  Soon be there, then I’ll deal with that idiot, Carter, she thought. Why do such a thing? she kept asking herself.

  Kerri looked back and saw the last of the cats in the rear guard leaving the ash field. She quickened her pace again.

  Nearly home, a warm bath and a hot pancake, she allowed herself to dream. But she was shocked back to reality.

  ‘Kerri! Kerri! RUN!’ she heard.

  Looking back, this time she saw Carter charging towards her.

  ‘It didn’t work. They split up, two came after me and the rest turned back. They’re right behind me. Run!’

  ‘Carter, go and get help. Our men are just over that hill,’ she shouted.

  ‘No way, I’m staying with you, I made a promise.’

  The bears approached at a run.

  ‘They’re right behind us,’ Kerri said.

  ‘Vin, lead them to the gateway, me and Naz will cover you. Go! Fast as you can,’ ordered the boss.

  Jojo saw Dray running up. ‘Get your guards prepared. We’ll make a stand here; try to stop ‘um long enough for your people to get to the border.’

  The townspeople caught up and Kerri spotted Sonny in the group.

  ‘Sonny!’ she called. ‘Go for help, our men are just over that hill, tell them we’re in trouble.’

  ‘But I need to help protect these people.’

  ‘You can help by getting more men. Go now!’

  Sonny ran, quickly overtaking Vin.

  ‘Line ‘um up in a ‘V’ shape,’ Jojo said, holding his arms out in diagonals to show where he wanted the cats.

  ‘They’ll try to charge straight through us without stopping, to get to the gateway.

  ‘Naz, you and me, we’ll stand at the point of the ‘V’. You cats come in from the side. Try to pick ‘um off. Don’t try to block ‘um, they’ll just knock you down. Let ‘um pass and then take their legs from behind. Just try to bring one down, then move on to the next.’

  ‘What can we do?’ asked Kerri.

  ‘You’ve done more than enough. Please, help get the people out.’

  ‘You’ll need help here. We’re staying,’ said Kerri.

  ‘Okay, if any get past me and Vin, try to slow ‘um down, trip ‘um up, anything to delay them,’ said Jojo.

  ‘Here they come,’ called Dray, seeing the ash cloud approaching quickly.

  ‘We can run faster than they can. We knock a few down, slow ‘um up, and we retreat. We do the same thing there,’ Jojo called, pointing to the next slope.

  Kerri stood beside Carter. He turned to her and saw fear in her eyes. ‘Go now, Kerri, go and get help,’ he said.

  She shook her head. ‘Thanks for being with me, Carter.’

  ‘They’re here!’ shouted Dray.

  Bears, cats and hounds all caught their breath at the sight of the apes charging over the hill. They stood for a moment in shock at the ferociousness of the creatures coming at them. Snarling through drooling mouths, their jaws snapping in anticipation of the damage they wanted to inflict with their gleaming, dagger-like fangs. Their eyes were glowing in rage, and the matted hair made them look mangy and disease-ridden. Covered in mud and ash, the overpowering smell of rotting flesh emanating from them and seemed to move like a wall before the attacking apes.

  They never faltered in their charge, expecting to smash their way through to get at the people of the town and to the gateway. They came on in a massed bunch, the front apes driving straight at Jojo and Naz, both standing to their full height. The bears swung their enormous paws, their claws extended, timing their strike as the first apes hit them. The sheer bulk of Jojo and Naz stopped the creatures in their tracks. The two leading apes were knocked flying to the left and right, rolling across the ground, dazed but still trying to get back up. The following apes then smashed into the bears, knocking them over.

  The apes following behind moved sideways, charging through the cats. Some of the cats ducked or stepped back, allowing the apes through, and then pounced from behind, trying to trip them or striking with their claws to slice through leg muscle or ligaments in an attempt to stop their headlong rush.

  Two apes lay under a mass of cats, who through sheer numbers, tried to hold the creatures to the ground. Other cats had tried to bite them, but the touch of their flesh or the taste of their blood was so nauseous, they were unable hold on.

  Kerri and Carter could see the apes breaking through and readied themselves. As one, they leaped high, trying to get at the necks of the creatures. They hit two at the front, knocking them down and falling with them, only to have the following apes trampled over them.

  Carter saw Kerri on the ground and watched as an ape slowed to strike down on her with its club-like fist. He jumped, front legs and claws extended, onto the back of the ape. Carter’s jaws clamped shut on the back to the ape’s neck. He shook his head as he’d seen Kerri do, his massive neck muscle shaking the ape like a rag doll. He heard its neck snap, and felt its dead weight in his mouth. Carter retched at the vile taste of the creature, and the stench in his nostrils. Kerri felt bites and scratches inflicted on her back as the remaining apes maintained their charge.

  ‘Up, Kerri, get up!’ Carter yelled. They’d delayed the charge for only seconds.

  Jojo shouted to the defenders, ‘Fall back to the second hill.’ Those who could raced up the slope on each side of the ape pack, determined to get to the crest first.

  Kerri and Carter arrived, side by side, Naz and Jojo arrived next with Dray and the remaining cats, running lamed or limping to get to the top.

  ‘We charge as one,’ shouted Jojo, measuring the distance and calling out the time, ‘In three, two, one, NOW!’’

  All four leaped together at the tightly bunched apes, attempting to knock down as many as they could. They hit the front four, pushing those into the following apes, who fell back down the slope under the weight of bears and hounds.

  They rolled down the hill in a tumble of snarling, biting, kicking apes. The ones not caught up in the melee sidestepped the jumbled mass and resumed their charge straight through the cats, heading for the gateway. Kerri caught a glimpse of the remaining apes approaching the summit of the hill, her heart sinking at the sight of them getting away.
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br />   Sonny came down the hill in full flight. He saw the large rock on the far side and knew immediately this must be the marker. He turned south just as Casey stood up from behind the crest of the hill. ‘Is that you, Sonny?’

  ‘Yes, it’s me. We need help. The apes are right behind us.’

  ‘Where’s Kerri?’

  ‘She’s just over that hill, trying to stop them.’

  Casey called to the men behind him. ‘Avi, your men stay here, protect the gateway. The rest of you with me.’

  Sonny led the way back with Casey running for the hill with ten of the clan behind him. They saw Vin and the townspeople in the dip between the slopes.

  Vin stopped when he saw Casey’s men approaching. He turned to the people, ‘There!’ he shouted, pointing to the last hill, ‘Get yourselves through.’ Then he, too, turned and followed Sonny back towards the apes.

  ‘We have to hold the high ground,’ Casey called to his men, sprinting for the summit. He saw Sonny take a flying leap over the top and raised his staff in readiness, expecting the apes to appear at any moment. Casey reached the top at the same moment the remaining apes arrived.

  He brought his staff down on the head of the first, knocking it out cold, immediately taking a side swing at the next approaching ape. The men arrived to his left and right to confront the remaining apes. Casey was shocked to see the jumbled mass below him ‘Kerri! Carter!’ he shouted. ‘Get out of there.’

  When Kerri heard Casey’s voice, her heart leaped.

  I knew he’d come, she thought.

  ‘Kerri, get up,’ she heard Carter calling. She kicked and shook herself free, looking around to see the condition of the others. Naz held one ape by the neck, holding him off the ground, while he swung another by its arm, throwing it back down the hill.

  Kerri saw Jojo struggling to get up, but he was dragged down under a mass of raging apes, biting and tearing at him. The sight horrified her; she realised Jojo was not going to get back up.

  The men on the hill knocked the oncoming apes to the left and right with lethal side swings from their staffs, but Kerri knew these creatures were not going to give up their attack. She dragged herself up the hill towards Casey and the clan.