by Saxon Andrew
Jing looked at the huge Zord as its skin changed color to match the fire. “I’ve always been amazed at how your skin changes color so quickly to match things around you. Right now you look like you’re on fire.”
Vring laughed, “It happens without thought. I can stop it, but if I quit thinking about it, it will start again.”
“No, no. I think it’s beautiful. Your species is blessed with great natural defenses.”
Bleath had heard enough and flew down to the fire. Every Human and Cainth in the trees were shocked at the size of the Zord that landed in the clearing. It was at least twenty five feet high and over a hundred fifty feet long. It had to be the biggest Zord in existence.
Bleath looked at Samuel and asked, “Why did you kidnap my ancestors and bring them to the prison?!”
Samuel shook his head and said, “Unfortunately, my species has some members that are not good. As a matter of fact, some of our ancestors were evil, and all of us suffer for their actions. We once lived in peace and prosperity but we lost it all because a handful of our leaders were blinded by ambition and craved power. It was one of those evil rulers that brought your ancestors here. We still curse his name to this day.” Samuel paused and said, “But you should know from your history there is also good in us.”
Bleath cocked his head to the side and asked, “What do you mean?”
“When it became clear the city you were being held prisoner was going to be destroyed by one of the evil Duke’s warriors, one of us released your ancestors to escape the coming attack.”
Vring said, “They also released the Torg.”
“Yes; all life should not be killed if it can be saved.”
Bleath thought about what the small two-leg was saying. He was right. He looked at the thoughts of the group and felt their fear and then he looked at the one that had saved his son. “You demonstrated that when you saved Vring.”
Scotty nodded, “He shouldn’t die when he had so much life ahead of him.”
Bleath looked up and issued a loud scream. The Humans and Cainth in the trees knew the ones at the circle were going to die. Four more giant Zord landed in the clearing and joined the group.
“Have you been listening?”
The four all lowered their heads.
“What do you think about what they’ve said?”
“Great Leader, these two-legs don’t act like those that held us captive. I look back at the memories of our ancestors and see there is a difference.”
Jing said, “May I invite our community to come and sit around us to hear what we are discussing?”
Bleath quickly looked at him and said, “How do you know I don’t have my flocks overhead. Out in the open you would be easy kills.”
Jing shook his head, “If we are to live together in peace, one of us is going to have to demonstrate to the other that they can be trusted. I suspect your flocks are overhead. They’re there to protect you and these fine Zord with you. I can understand their caution. But before my community can overcome their fear and distrust of you, they must hear you. I ask again, may I bring them to our conference?”
Bleath issued another loud scream and said, “Yes.”
Jing looked out into the trees and yelled, “Those of you who are pure of heart and free of fear may come join us.”
The first one to come was Jesa, who ran forward and grabbed Jingo and held him tight.
Bleath looked down at the small female and felt her love for her chosen. The other four Zord also felt it and looked at each other. A few came at first and then hundreds moved out of the trees and sat down in the clearing surrounding the giant flying creatures. Bleath and the other four elders saw that they came without weapons and still had their fear. Their bravery was admirable.
Bleath looked into the sky and gave a long quivering scream and suddenly thousands of Zord began landing in the branches of the giant trees overhead. Many more landed and walked up surrounding the two communities sitting in the clearing.
Bleath looked at Jing and said, “We could kill all of you if we choose.”
Jing said, “Then you would be no better than those that took you from your home. You would be without honor. It is my sense that your species, and ours, places honor above all things.”
Bleath just stared at the small two-leg, thinking.
Scotty said, “We can save your babies from the Torg.”
Bleath looked at him so fast no one saw his head move. “What do you mean?”
“I saw in Vring’s thoughts how the Torg attack your hatchlings because they are forced to stay on the ground in their nests. We can kill the Torg on the ground. We can protect your nests.”
Every Human and Cainth felt the combined thoughts of the gathered Zord. They held a huge sense of loss for those babies that had died in the teeth of the Torg.
“Vring told me you offered to help us and I didn’t believe him. Why would you offer to help us when we kill you?”
“I’m not helping you; I’m helping those babies that you can’t adequately protect. They cannot defend themselves. One of our most important principles is to do exactly that. Even if you choose to continue your attacks on us, if you will grant a truce during your nesting time we will come and protect your new babies.”
Bleath looked at the thoughts of the two-leg and sensed his honesty. He also saw that many sitting around the circle agreed with his statement. He sensed that many were still frightened. Bleath could hear the amazement of all the gathered Zord. These creatures were not what they thought they were. He looked at the other four elders and they deferred to his decision. Bleath looked down on the small two-leg and said, “We will no longer attack your communities.”
Every Human and Cainth stood and cheered the Zord’s statement. The Zord in the trees also screamed their approval.
Jing held up his arms and after a few moments the gathering became silent. “Why have you decided in our favor?”
“I was actually planning to attack you with my flocks tonight, but one of my warriors saw what you did to those that would not agree to your oath. I wondered if it was possible that you possessed honor. I called off the attack to see.”
Jing stared at the giant Zord and Bleath said, “I can sense you are honorable beings. We are more alike than different.” Bleath looked at Scotty and said, “You will come with me and see if you can help us protect our young.”
Jingo stood and said, “If he goes, I go with him.”
Jesa jumped up and said, “No, Jingo, no! Don’t leave me!”
Jingo looked at her, took her hands, and smiled, “Would you have me forget my oath?”
She stared at him, lowered her head, and said quietly, “No.”
Bleath slowly shook his head. Now he knew for certain. “You may also join us.”
Scotty looked up at the giant and said, “We need to bring our weapons, and how are we going to go with you?”
Bleath screeched and two giant warriors came down from the trees. “You will tie a binding around my warrior’s necks and use it to hold on. You will fly with us.”
Jing asked, “Can your warriors carry their weight?”
Bleath smiled showing his teeth, “We can carry a full grown Torg in our talons. Your weight will be nothing.”
Jingo looked at one of the warriors and said, “Just give me a moment to gather my things.”
The entire gathering laughed. Jingo turned and said, “What’s so funny?”
Jesa came up and kissed him. “Come back to me.”
Jingo hugged her, “You know my heart stays here.”
“Just don’t take stupid risks, Jingo. Promise me; please.”
“I won’t,” and he turned and ran to gather his bowguns.
While Scotty and Jingo left to gather their weapons and a pouch of food. Samuel said, “You’ll take care of them?”
Bleath said, “Absolutely, however, we will be going into Torg-infested territory.”
“I’m not worried about the Torg. It’s the flying par
t that worries me.”
Bleath started laughing and the four elders joined him. Bleath said through his laughter, “You need not worry about flying. Even if they fall, they will not fall far.”
Samuel said, “The fair-haired one means a lot to our community. His heart is our heart. He is his mother’s child. We would all suffer if he came to harm.”
Bleath felt the emotions of the gathered two-legs and knew that something great had begun this night. He looked up at the two full moons and wondered, “Where is this strange alliance going to take us?”
Chapter Four
Scotty and Jingo lifted with the Zord and gained altitude quickly. The two Zord warriors carrying them circled the gathered community below and they saw the gathered assembly praying for their safety with lowered heads. Scotty heard the Zord he was riding say in his mind, “They think highly of you.”
Scotty held the binding tightly, trying not to give in to his fear, and said, “Why do you say that?”
The Zord sent the thoughts of the community to Scotty and he was humbled, “I never knew they felt that way.”
“Such veneration is a great gift, Little One.”
“I know. I just hope I can live up to their belief in me.”
The Zord didn’t want to like this small creature, but couldn’t help himself. ‘My name is Zreeg, and I’ll be responsible for your safe arrival. I sense your fear but even if you fall, I’ll not allow you to come to harm. Relax and feel the motion of my wings. It will be easier if you look around and not straight down.”
Scotty closed his eyes and felt the Zord’s muscled wings flapping and gliding in the wind currents. He was right. He moved with the fluid motion of the flight and felt his stiffness disappear. He looked over at Jingo flying on the other warrior next to him and saw that he wasn’t holding the binding with two of his hands. Jingo appeared to love flying. He was a natural. “Tell me about the attacks on your nests. I would think that your full grown warriors could take on any Torg.”
“We can kill the Torg out in the open, but our nests must be under the cover of trees. It is too dense for us to fly. On the ground, even our largest warriors are in danger of the Torg herds. We can handle two or three, but they attack with huge numbers.”
“Why don’t you build the nests out in the open?”
“Our newborn’s skins cannot tolerate direct sunlight until they harden and start shifting color. That normally takes four weeks. The sun would kill them if they are left in the open.”
“Couldn’t you have an adult over them to keep them in a shadow?”
The Zord thought and said, “It still wouldn’t work. The Torg would attack in huge numbers and the adult would have to lift off the ground to use talons and teeth. The direct rays of the sun would blind the babies for life. They must remain is darkness for one moon. We have tried everything and the Torg seem to know our weaknesses. We rule the air, but they control the ground. We even tried to build the nests in trees but the babies can’t fly, and just as many died from falling when the Torg charged the trees to shake them.”
Scotty thought and didn’t want to ask but had to know, “How many survive?”
The Zord sighed mentally and said, “We were once lucky if a hundred out of the thousands live. Now, none survive.”
Scotty was shocked. “When do your eggs start hatching?”
“In seven days. The Torg herds are already massing outside the forest’s edge.”
Scotty looked over at Jingo standing on the warriors back holding on with one hand laughing and wondered if they could help in the little time that remained. We’ll soon know.
The flight to the Zord’s nesting grounds took more than eight hours, and Scotty estimated that they had covered more than four hundred miles. As they approached, Scotty saw three tall mountain peaks next to the Zord’s land. They were beautiful as the snow on top reflected the rising sun’s brilliance. They arrived just after daybreak and Zreeg said, “Hold on, we’re going down.”
Scotty gripped the binding and held on as they dived toward the ground far below. Zreeg flared his wings and came in on all four legs. Scotty used the binding to dismount and followed Zreeg into the forest. Jingo ran up and said, “That was amazing. I now have a new love.”
Scotty looked at him and Jingo said, “Flying. Cezee says we’ll go up again this afternoon to see the Torg herds.”
“Jingo, the Zord are forced to keep their nests in the shade of trees. The adults lose their mobility in the trees and even the adults are in danger from the number of Torg attacking their nesting ground. The herds overwhelm them.”
Jingo followed the two warriors into the forest and saw they had difficulty moving between the giant trees. “They’re not going to be able to help us.”
Scotty nodded.
“How many Torg are we talking about here?”
Scotty looked at Jingo and said, “Thousands.”
Jingo thought about that vision and finally said, “The Torg don’t have much room to maneuver, either.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“First, let’s go see the nests. I’ll know more after that.”
Bleath was waiting as the two walked into the nesting ground and saw them staring at the thousands of eggs in the forest. Jingo went to the first line of nests and started walking around the perimeter of the site. Scotty went with him and Bleath turned to the warrior that had carried Scotty. “Well?”
“Great Leader, the two-leg is determined to help us. I saw his thoughts and he is pure in his spirit. I see that he is deferring to the four arms for the plan to defend our hatchlings.”
Bleath watched the two strange creatures walk around the nesting ground talking to themselves. “Do you think they can help?”
The warrior shook his head, “I have no idea. I’ve spoken with Vring and he seems to think they can. I’m hoping he’s right.”
“So are we all.”
Jingo and Scotty arrived back where they had begun their walk and Scotty said, “We’re going to lose some newborns.”
Jingo nodded slowly and said, “We need them to move the outer nests into the center of the nesting ground. Do you think they will do as we ask?”
Scotty shrugged and turned toward Bleath. He walked up to the Huge Zord, “We need you to bring the outer nests into the center of the nesting ground. We must have a smaller area to defend.”
“If we do that, we could lose them all.”
Scotty shook his head and replied, “I am not willing to leave any of your hatchlings in danger. We cannot defend this large an area successfully. As it is, many will die and it will be the ones on the outer edge. I’m not willing to let them die.”
Bleath sensed the two-leg’s determination. He worried that if he gave in to their request, the Torg would attack the smaller area in a giant mass. The Zord had been able to save some of the hatchlings by making the Torg attack easier prey. As they stood among the trees considering the plan, six giant Torg rushed at full speed out of the trees seeking to make a meal of the Zord on the ground. Bleath turned and saw that four of the six were charging him and he had no chance of lifting among the trees. He braced himself and saw death coming.
Scotty and Jingo brought their bowguns up and fired six arrows faster than the Zord could comprehend. All six charging Torg were hit and died before they hit the ground. Jingo turned and fired six more arrows at six other Torg attacking from behind. All twelve Torg were twitching on the ground in less than six seconds. Scotty held his bowgun at his cheek and scanned the surrounding forest. Jingo ran forward and jumped on top of the biggest Torg and also scanned the forest.
“Jingo?”
“There were ten more, but they’ve moved back into the dense undergrowth.”
Bleath stared at the twelve dead Torg and then looked at the two small beings that had just killed them faster than he could see. He looked at the two warriors and said, “Start moving the nests.”
Scotty lowered his bowgun and turned to Bleath, “Why d
on’t the Torg attack the eggs?”
Bleath took a deep breath and said, “We sense their simple thoughts and we think they see the eggs as just rocks. Our eggs have no odor they can sense and the shells are extremely hard until they are ready to hatch. They seem to attack anything with movement and just ignore the eggs.”
Scotty smiled and said, “There are some blessings in this. Creatures that work together in teams and never see an easy meal for the taking. Thank the Creator for that.”
Jingo scampered up and said, “We’ll need at least a thousand good archers; every shot will have to count. We could use more, but the communities must also be defended.”
Scotty looked around and said, “We also need five hundred carpenters here to build blinds in the trees.”
Jingo nodded, “Archers first.”
Scotty nodded and turned to Bleath, “We need to get enough of us here to start our defense, quickly. How many warriors are big enough to carry one of us?”
Bleath said, “More than three thousand.”
Jingo said, “Good, sent a thousand to bring the archers and the others to ferry our builders. Scotty, you go back and tell Sam and Jing what we need.”
Scotty started shaking his head but Jingo said quickly, “You’re right. The better archer will stay here.”
“Darn it, Jingo.”
“You know I’m right.”
Scotty let out a deep breath and turned back to Bleath, “If the nests aren’t in danger until they hatch, don’t start moving them until we can get enough archers here to protect the ones moving them.”
Bleath gave a loud quivering screech. “I’ve stopped the warriors from moving the nests.”
“I also want all of you to get out of the nesting ground. You’ll only attract Torg that will trample the eggs, killing some of your babies. I want you to bring the archers and carpenters back and have your other warriors carry the materials we need to build our defenses. They can then go back and bring enough food for us while we’re here.”
Bleath looked back at Scotty as he left the nesting ground and said, “We are placing our eggs in your care. We’re depending on you to keep them safe.”