Shifters Alliance

by Shaun L Griffiths

  ‘Can you walk?’ she heard Casey shouting.

  ‘I’m okay. Casey, please help the others.’ she said.

  The cats had taken a terrible beating, being no match for the apes. Eight lay dead from the assault, all the survivors were badly scarred. Only Dray remained on his feet, but even he carried a serious injury. Dray was urging those left alive to move.

  The clan were holding their ground against repeated attacks from the enraged apes; it seemed the creatures’ main priority was to get to the gateway.

  Casey spotted Sonny lying unconscious, after taking a blow to the head as he’d dived at the oncoming apes. Casey picked up Sonny and carried him back up the hill.

  Kerri and Carter managed to get behind the men holding off the unceasing attacks in a battle for the hilltop.

  ‘You two get out of here, you’ve done enough. I’ll take care of the injured,’ Casey told Kerri and Carter.

  Running side by side, they passed Vin rushing to the ongoing battle.

  ‘Your boss needs your help, Vin, he’s over that hill,’ called Kerri as they passed him.

  The men at the gateway were shouting for them to hurry. They could see the last of the people leaving, a constant flashing erupting from where the gateway marked the way home. They staggered up the final rise to the marker boulder and turned to the south.

  Then Carter gave a groan ‘Oh no, Kerri, look.’ He pointed to the eastern hill.

  She saw what looked like an army of apes clearing the rise to the east.

  ‘Avi, look.’ she shouted, pointing to the east. They struggled up the final slope to where the clan stood in a line of defence.

  ‘You two go through, quickly,’ Avi urged them.

  They knew they’d done all they could, and had nothing left to give. Together they stepped through to the safety of home.

  They emerged from the flash of light to see a line of men, in a half circle, surrounding them. They all stood with staffs held high, in a defensive stance.

  ‘It’s Kerri and Carter,’ Lulu shouted. ‘They’re back.’ She rushed out to greet them.

  ‘This way,’ Lulu called. ‘We’ll get your wounds treated.’

  ‘No, I must speak to Sam, where is he?’ said Carter.

  ‘Sam! Sam!’ she called.

  He came running over. ‘You don’t know how happy we are to see you.’

  ‘Sam, it looks like there’s an army of apes heading towards us from the east. Casey is still struggling back from the west with the injured. It looks like it could be either one of them getting to the gateway first.’

  ‘Okay, Carter, you get yourselves to the rear, find some moss for those injuries.’

  Lulu helped them away from the gateway to look for Doc Mossman.

  ‘Lulu, will you take Kerri to see the Doc? I need to stay here,’ said Carter.

  ‘Come with us,’ she said. ‘You’ve done enough.’

  ‘They’ll need all the help they can get if those things reach the gateway first.’

  He turned to take up a position behind the men in defence, giving them plenty of room for swinging their staffs.

  Sam ran to warn the men standing in defence, waiting for the clan to return.

  ‘Close up the defence ring, men, we hit them the moment those things emerge. They can only come through two at a time, so we’ve a good chance to block the way out. Ben, check with those townspeople to find out how we can close this gateway down.’

  Casey saw the apes approaching from the east and felt a sickness in his throat from the smell that rose from them. It hit him like a blow to the face. He put on a final burst to get himself to the top first.

  ‘Here, take him through,’ he said, passing Sonny to one of Avi’s team, ‘I’ll take your place.’

  Vin was close behind, half carrying, half dragging Naz.

  ‘It wasn’t your fault, Naz; there was nothing that could be done. The boss wasn’t moving.’

  ‘I should have been at his side. I shouldn’t have left him to those monsters,’ Naz said in despair.

  ‘It’d be suicide to try and drag him back.’

  ‘He was my boss, Vin.’

  ‘I know, Naz. He was also the bravest guard I knew,’ said Vin. ‘C’mon, you gotta save yourself now, you’ve done all y’can.’

  Behind them, the only two remaining cats still capable of walking, dragged their beaten and bloodied bodies toward their escape from the carnage inflicted upon them. The fear showed clearly in their eyes at the sight of the army of apes quickly approaching from the east.

  Casey called to the bears approaching the gateway, ‘Is there a way to shut this down?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Naz. ‘You need water to cool the stone.’

  ‘You two go through and prepare to close it in a hurry,’ Casey shouted to them.

  Naz took a last look at the approaching apes. He nodded at Vin in resignation.

  ‘Nothing more we can do,’ he agreed, and Vin helped him, staggering into the tunnel of light.

  A flash signalled the last of the injured going through to safety.

  Casey called to the men around him, ‘Fighting withdrawal.’

  They quickly fell into two well-rehearsed lines of defence, waiting for the snarling, charging apes to reach their position. Raising their staffs over their heads, the men could already feel the apes’ rancid breath on them as they approached.

  When the creatures came within striking distance, the first line of men slammed their staffs down, the air ringing as the blows came slicing down together on the nearest apes.

  Immediately, they stepped back between gaps left by the second line, lifting their staffs over their heads as they retreated. Those who had been in the second line were now face to face with the apes, and they too brought their staffs slamming down. Then they also stepped back through gaps left behind them, lifting their staffs in readiness for their turn again.

  The men worked like a high-speed threshing machine, raining deadly blows down on everything that stepped within their range. The apes clambered over those who’d been hit and fallen, possessed in their rage to get at the men. The thrashing lines slowly retreated one step at a time in a well organised and often-rehearsed manoeuvre. The blows came down unceasing, even when no apes were within range, a continuous wall of deadly staffs cutting through the air.

  As they approached the gateway, the men to the sides stepped back to form a third line, and so an even faster rain of blows ensued while they retreated into the tunnel of light.

  Casey and Avi on the front line were the last to leave the lost land, now given over to the apes, finally stepping backwards onto their Northern Plain.

  ‘The next thing that comes out of there will be an ape,’ Casey called to the clan, standing in a semicircle around them.

  Naz was standing ready by the gateway. ‘Quick, Vin, that’s the last.’

  Vin rushed forward carrying a cask of water. He got to the gateway just as an ape dived through. Rather than attacking the men, it immediately turned on Naz standing over the black stone. It charged at him, its teeth locking onto Naz’s arm to stop him touching the stone. Casey raced back, gripped its jaws in both hands, and pulled it off his arm. The ape thrashed and kicked out in rage, but Casey managed to grip it by a leg and the neck, and physically throw it back through the gateway.

  Vin poured the water over the stone, to cool it enough for Naz to pick up. While he poured, another ape dived out of the gateway, charging into him and knocking the barrel from his grasp. The water spilt uselessly over the earth.

  Naz was determined to protect the black stone, even when the ape now turned to attack him. Casey was beside Naz in moments, swinging his staff down on the head of the ape, knocking it unconscious.

  Vin stared in disbelief at the water draining away into the soil where the barrel had fallen. He picked himself up, looking at the barrel.

  ‘That’s the only water cask here,’ he shouted.

  ‘I got this, Vin.’

  Naz bent down and
tried to scoop the black stone out of the earth. The heat that the stone gave off burnt through his hands. He tried again and again to lift it. Every time his hands came close to the stone, the searing heat burnt into his fingers and palms.

  Another ape jumped through the gateway. Naz gave a shout of anger, and using both hands, scooped up the earth surrounding the stone. The intense heat caused Naz’s hands to burn and his fur to burst into flames. But he held it long enough to lift it out of the ground where it had embedded itself.

  The ape, seeing the stone in Naz’s hands, turned on him. It leaped, its arms outstretched, its gaze locked onto the stone that Naz held, intent on taking it from him. Once again Casey was the first to react. In mid air, Casey’s staff landed on the back of the ape’’s neck, with a sickening CRACK, knocking it to the ground in a dead heap.

  Naz, shouting in anger at the pain in his burning hands, threw the stone as far as he could, away from the border. Immediately, the gateway started shimmering. A rainbow of colours pulsating inward, finally collapsing into an explosion of white light, closing off the tunnel and the entry to the South Land. The men rushed forward to tie the hands and feet of the unconscious ape.

  ‘Put a team of men on twenty-four hour guard over that one,’ said Sam. ‘Ben, your team take first shift.’

  ‘Naz, let me see those hands,’ Sam said walking over to him.

  Naz held out his arms, obviously in agony, taking deep sucking breaths to fight the pain.

  ‘That was an amazingly brave thing you did.’

  ‘It had to be closed. I knew what to expect.’

  ‘I’m afraid you’ll be walking on two feet for a while. Come with me, we’ll find the Doc and get some moss on those hands for you.’

  The bears followed Sam through the laughing, clapping men, releasing the pent-up stress now that the danger was over.

  ‘Mr. Sam...’

  ‘It’s just Sam,’ he told Vin.

  ‘Sam,’ Vin corrected himself. Quietly, so as not to be overheard by those around them, he said, ‘It’s not over yet.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Sam, stopping in his tracks and turning in alarm to look at Vin.

  ‘The forest fire is moving this way. Once it reaches this side of the border, they’ll have another entry point, and one you can’t close.’

  ‘Gather the people together,’ said Sam. ‘The women and children, along with the injured, we evacuate to the island. The men we expect to stay with us. They may not be trained in our ways, but they can help where needed. We’ll not give up this land without a fight.’

  The seriousness of a full-scale war looming was now sinking into the people of the South Land. The land that they’d loved and tended in happy isolation for generations was about to be invaded by a creature so evil, no one had ever dared to dream they could exist, not even in their worst nightmares. They’d looked into the face of their aggressors and for the first time, had felt apprehension.

  The one surviving ape had been bound, hand and foot, but since it had regained consciousness, it hadn’t for a moment stopped fighting against its bindings. Thrashing, kicking out, snarling and spitting at everyone around, its eyes flamed with hatred. Eventually, Doc had used moss soaked in one of his potions to knock it out.

  The clan stood around the campfire, discussing the coming battle for survival of their homeland. Everyone voiced their opinions and suggestions for tactics. Sam, standing in the centre of the clan, felt a tug on his arm. He turned to see Carter standing beside him ‘I want to help, Sam,’ said Carter.

  ‘You’ve done more than enough fighting, Carter. Would you help guide the people back to the river?’

  ‘As a hound, I can run much faster and further than any man.’

  Sam thought about this for a moment. ‘I see your point,’ he agreed.

  ‘I’d like to stay and act as runner.’

  Sam thought for a moment. ‘I’m okay with that, but clear it with your parents first, though.’

  ‘I’d like to...’ began Kerri.

  ‘No!’ said Casey. ‘You’re going to the river.’

  ‘Oh, Casey! I’m a battle hardened dog of war.’

  ‘This is not a game, Kerri.’

  ‘You always need a second runner, and I’m the best runner here,’ she said.

  ‘Second best,’ muttered Carter.

  ‘What, who said that?’ she asked indignantly.

  ‘You’ve done enough, Kerri. I want you safe and recovering on the island.’

  ‘You tell him, Sam,’ she said.

  ‘How old are you now, Kerri?’ asked Sam.

  ‘I’ll be eighteen one day.’

  ‘Okay. I need a runner to take a message back to my wife.’

  ‘Sam!’

  Sam sought out Naz and Vin. He found them recovering under the shade of a canopy that had been erected. ‘How are the hands?’ he asked.

  ‘No longer painful,’ Naz said, ‘remarkable stuff this moss.’

  ‘You should take some back with you, just in case.’

  ‘I was hoping to,’ said Naz.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear about your boss,’ Sam said.

  ‘He was a good guard,’ Naz replied.

  ‘Bravest guard I’ve ever seen,’ said Vin.

  ‘A hero to stand next to Ran?’ asked Sam.

  ‘Stories will be written about him in the same book.’

  ‘With you two standing beside him.’

  ‘I was only carrying the pies,’ said Vin.

  ‘Is there anything you need?’ asked Sam.

  ‘Other than a miracle, no thank you,’ said Naz.

  ‘I wanted to give you this.’ Sam handed them the black stone to open a way home. ‘I think you should leave soon.’’

  ‘We’ve talked about this. It’s better we stay, to help.’

  ‘You’ve both done more than enough. The townspeople are here, this is no longer your fight. You should travel to our west for some hours and then open a way home. That way you should be close to the mountains and away from the grasslands. I’ll send some men with you to close the gateway once you’ve left.’

  ‘We can still be of service to you.’

  ‘This is no longer your war, my friends.’

  Naz and Vin were moved to be called friends by the future King of this land.

  ‘I’m sure you must have family waiting and worrying for you to return. Go and tell them what has happened here.’

  ‘We don’t know what has happened here yet,’ said Naz.

  ‘In a few hours, the last of those trees will be alight, and the fire will reach our border. We can feel an evil presence even now. The clan think they’re already massing near the fire’s front, waiting for their moment.’

  ‘And you’ll stand and fight?’

  ‘This is our home. I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to see it under peaceful days. It’s a beautiful land.’

  ‘I can see that. We’ll do what we can to help. If the time comes and you decide to go south, we’ll take the stone and go west. If that happens, you won’t need to send anyone to close the gateway after us.’

  ‘Are they all as brave as you in your land?’

  ‘We’re guards, Sam,’ said Vin. ‘It’s our duty to do the right thing.’

  Sam smiled in thanks. ‘I need to make arrangements, I’ll leave this with you.’ He handed the black stone to Vin.

  The hours of their longest night dragged on. Sam called the men together for their final orders.

  ‘Casey, you take Ben and Avi’s teams, and cover this area nearest the border,’ said Sam, pointing to where he wanted the men to guard.

  ‘I’ll take the rest of the clan and line up in front. How soon they attack will depend on how big the breach is.’

  ‘It’s my guess they’ll attack at the first opportunity, at the first tree falling.’

  ‘That’s what I’m hoping for. The smaller the breach, the less can come through at once. That’ll give us the chance to do more damage. The more we take out, the
less to deal with later.’

  ‘Have you any idea how many there are?’ asked Ben.

  ‘No one knows. But remember, this is an invasion of our land. We don’t take prisoners, we’re fighting to protect our families, for as long as we can against however many try to hurt them. You all know the plans and the signals. When I make the call, we make a fighting retreat unless they try to go around us. Any questions?’

  They’d all discussed the plan many times during the day. Everyone was aware of what needed to be done.

  ‘Okay, let’s get into position,’ Sam called.

  The men formed up, watching the fire’s unceasing progress towards their northern border. Distinct shapes could be seen flitting in and out of the shadows cast by the flames. The fire threw an eerie glow all around, but the men could also see the red glow of eyes eagerly watching and waiting.

  The minutes passed like hours, every second experienced as another to wait, another delay before the coming battle. The nervousness of the men showed in their shuffling of feet and adjusting of their staff positions.

  The wait also showed in the eagerness of the apes, where amongst the trees, more and more shadows moved. Darting back and forth, waiting for an opening, for the first tree on the southern border to fall and break the force that had kept them behind their prison wall all these years.

  ‘What was that?’ a voice called out from the back line of men standing ready.

  ‘I felt it too,’ said another voice in the darkness.

  Sam held out his hand. Something large and heavy dropped into his palm. He looked up, but could see nothing. ‘There’s no stars,’ he said.

  Everyone looked up to a night sky full of clouds. The raindrops started to land on their faces and outstretched palms. Slowly at first, with a resounding PLOP!

  Big heavy drops of water, that had been waiting all summer to fall, came faster and faster. The men started to laugh, opening their mouths to catch the falling drops.

  In the distance, the forest started to hiss and steam, where the rain fell onto the burning branches and trunks. It came down harder and harder, pouring streams from the clouds, creating a curtain of water that was difficult to see through. The men lowered their staffs, some collapsing to the ground, kneeling or lying in the rapidly forming pools of water.