Wings of Arian

by Walls, Devri

  She scanned the creatures again, they were in trouble. “No.”

  The leader took a step forward, emitting a low angry growl. The others followed suit. “Back into the water, Kiora, now.”

  Kiora obediently took a step backwards, gasping as the frigid water splashed up her legs. Stepping back again, she gripped Emane’s shoulder as the current whipped around her ankles. It wasn’t only cold, but incredibly fast. Emane began backing up as well, keeping himself between the creatures and Kiora.

  “Run, Kiora,” he said calmly. It was the calm that frightened her most.

  She glanced behind her at the river, and then back at the hounds, “No,” she said clenching her teeth. “I am not going to just leave you here, your sword isn’t going to do any...” “DO IT, KIORA, NOW!” he yelled shoving her away from him. The hounds snarled and snapped their jaws in response to the noise.

  “Emane!” she shouted.

  He took one more step backwards, “Kiora! Now!”

  Her gut wrenching, she groaned and turned to the river. The water splashed up against her in freezing spray. The river dropped off quickly, the shallow edges giving way to nearly waist-deep, freezing water. The current pushed back against her as her feet slipped on the smooth river rocks. Hearing splashing behind her she tried to move faster, hopefully it was Emane but there was no time to look. The next thing she knew her head was underwater. She struggled to the surface gasping for air.

  “Emane,” she sputtered, before the river pulled her back under.

  Her lungs screamed at her as she slid along the bottom. Desperately reaching out she drug her fingers along trying to hold onto anything, but the rocks were smooth and flat. Panic pushed in on all sides. Her lungs ached for a breath. Three fingers lodged under a stone and her heart leaped, but then she slipped free again. Then, she felt fingers close around her wrist, jerking her up out of the water. Gasping great mouthfuls of air, Emane shouted in her ear.

  “Kiora, MOVE!”

  Disoriented and coughing she turned to see the large black dogs leaping one after another into the water. Struggling to her feet and still gasping, she clung tightly to Emane as he attempted to drag her to the other bank. Slipping again, Emane tightened his arms around her waist, pulling her back to her feet with a grunt.

  A frightened yelp came from behind them. Twisting, she looked over Emane’s shoulder to see one of the hounds being pulled downstream. The others were struggling but making headway.

  Kiora had to do something.

  Leaning on Emane, she concentrated on the small rocks at the shore as she never had before. The rocks jerked themselves out of the mud flying towards the creatures, hitting three squarely between the eyes. They yelped. The impact was enough that all three lost their footing, each one falling victim to a river that did not forgive mistakes. Their heads vanished beneath the water and did not appear again.

  Emane dragged Kiora to the bank, roughly pushing her forwards. She dug her fingers into the mud struggling upwards, her feet slipping. Finally with her feet beneath her she searched for something else she could use. The remaining hounds were not far behind.

  Emane scrambled up behind her. Leaning on his knees, he panted, “I don’t know how much longer we’ve got, Kiora!”

  “Use your sword!” she yelled, scanning the bank for something larger than the few rocks she had already used.

  Emane looked at the remaining set of ten snapping jaws making their way towards them and back to Kiora, “I’m good, but I’m not that good.”

  “I’m trying, Emane!” she yelled. “I don’t know what else to use!” She spun in a circle, there had to be something, anything! But this side of the bank was mainly mud and trees. A greedy snarl turned her attention back the bank as one of the giant heads appeared over the edge, his claws digging easily into the mud.

  “Emane!” she screamed.

  Emane took a step backwards, dropping into his fighting stance. He gripped the hilt with both hands pulling it back for a strike, but then the hound disappeared from sight as a flurry of white feathers landed in between them and the hound. She heard the hound snarl on the other side of Arturo.

  Arturo’s voice shouted through Kiora’s mind, Get on!

  Kiora ran past Emane, grabbing his arm. “Get on Emane, We have to go!”

  Following, Emane grabbed her by the waist nearly throwing her onto Arturo’s back and jumped up behind her. Arturo had his wings spread and was heading back to the sky before the hounds had time to process what was happening.

  Emane grunted. Looking over her shoulder, she saw him sliding backwards, arms flailing. Keeping a firm hand on Arturo, she reached out with her other hand, grabbing the front of his shirt and jerking him forward. He slammed into her as the hounds leapt forward snapping at Arturo’s hoofs.

  Kiora looked down at the pack of hounds snarling and snapping on the ground as Arturo rose higher. Relief rushed through her and she threw her arms around Arturo’s neck. “Thank you, you saved us.” Her joy was short lived as another thread ripped through her heart. It resembled Arturo’s, only this one was dark, and cold, and one she swore she had felt before.

  Tell Emane to hold on, but keep one hand on his sword, this is not over yet.”Emane,” Kiora sat up, wrapping Arturo’s mane around her hands as she shouted back to the prince, “Arturo says to hold on, but keep one hand on your sword.”

  “Why?” Emane shouted back, moving his one hand to the hilt of the sword. “We left those things on the ground.”

  “Something else is coming,” she said using her shoulder to push her wet hair back out of her face.

  “Marvelous,” Emane muttered.

  Kiora and Emane scanned the sky. But it was Arturo who spotted the danger first. It’s Raynor, Arturo told Kiora. He sides with Dralazar.

  She looked in the same direction and saw a black pegasus rocketing through the sky on a collision course with Arturo.

  HOLD ON!

  Kiora gripped his mane, pulling her legs in tightly to his side and leaning forward as Arturo turned and rolled to the right. Prince Emane started to slide before cinching his arm around Kiora’s waist, pulling himself tight against her.

  “A little warning would have been nice,” Emane yelled into Kiora’s ears.

  “I gave you warning,” she yelled back, “Arturo told you to hold on.”

  Emane rolled his eyes but kept his other hand firmly on the hilt of his sword. Arturo and Raynor were flipping and rolling trying to avoid each others’ blows. Emane pulled himself even tighter to her as the turns became tighter, the rolls faster.

  Kiora couldn’t help but notice how high up they were as her view alternated between the clouds and the ground. If Raynor were to injure Arturo, that fall would kill them all. This had to stop before Raynor got lucky. “Emane,” she shouted, “use your sword, next time he flies past us see if you can injure him.”

  Emane nodded and pulled his sword laying it flat against Arturo’s side, attempting to hide it until the last possible second. Raynor attacked again, coming up from underneath. Arturo rolled again, missing a collision by just inches. Flying past them Raynor turned for another attack. “He’s coming right at you Emane,” she yelled, adrenaline pumping wildly through her. She could feel Emane’s heart thudding against her back as his head whipped around to find his target.

  Raynor flew straight at Arturo’s side. Arturo pulled his wings in shooting down to avoid the impact. Seeing his opportunity Emane struck, his sword opening up a wound on the dark pegasus’s left side. Raynor whinnied in pain.

  “You got him!” Kiora yelled spinning around to watch Raynor.

  “It wasn’t very deep,” Emane shouted back. “I don’t think he’s done.”

  Sure enough, Raynor positioned himself for another attack. He flew straight at Arturo’s side again. Arturo again changed directions, flying towards the ground. Raynor anticipated it this time and changed directions with him, Kiora watched in horror. Raynor was going to hit them. A flood of pictures flew thro
ugh her mind. They were hurtling towards the earth, then lying on the ground, dead when Eleana found them; evil taking the kingdom. She had to do something. Without understanding why, she raised her hand at Raynor.

  “NOOOOO!” she shouted.

  A current stirred somewhere inside her. New and unfamiliar, it rushed down her arm. A white rippling wave of energy leapt from her hand forming a large flat barrier, shimmering in the sky.

  Raynor saw it, his wings flew open attempting to pull himself out of the dive, but it was too late. He slammed into the wave of magic as if it had been a brick wall. The black pegasus crumpled upon impact and dropped lifelessly toward the forest floor hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

  Kiora’s mouth hung open, looking down at the crumbled black horse on the ground. “Is he dead?” she asked. “Did I....” she swallowed, grief nudging next to the cold threads of the enemy.

  Without answering, Arturo circled lower a little above Raynor. They could see his side rising and falling with strained breaths.

  No, Arturo answered, not yet. A small flutter of relief buzzed inside Kiora. I am sure his master will come for him. We must get you back to the Hollow. Now.

  Kiora turned to Emane. “Arturo’s is taking us to the Hollow.” Emane’s eyes were wide, his mouth hanging slightly open.

  “What?” she asked

  Pronouncing each word slowly, he said, “Did you do that?”

  Kiora looked down at her hand, spreading her fingers wide before turning it over and back again. “I think so. I don’t know how.” She looked back up to him. “It just happened.”

  ***

  Kiora scanned the forest below them, looking for the tell tale signs of the Hollow. “Look,” she said to Emane, pointing down into the canopy. “There’s the Hollow.”

  “All I see is trees,” Emane said, sounding as exhausted as Kiora felt.

  “No, look.” she said pointing again. “See, those trees are different from the rest.” Amongst the forest of pines stood trees of a different variety, with smooth trunks that arched slowly up over the canopy. Once at the top, a fan of branches sprang out. The trees surrounded the boundary of the Hollow, each one bending its branches over the top, making a natural ceiling inside.

  Emane looked over her shoulder, “I don’t see how hiding in the trees is going to keep those hounds from finding us again.”

  “The Hollow isn’t just trees,” Kiora said. Arturo swooped gently to the right, preparing to come in through a small break in the otherwise dense pines. “It’s enchanted to keep all threads inside from getting out. The Guardians have been hiding here since the last war. This is where Aleric brought me after we left the castle.”

  Arturo swooped through the branches, one of which caught Emane under the arm, pulling him up and backwards under the cracking protest of the trees around them. Grunting, Emane threw his other arm around Kiora’s waist. Her heart did an awkward little skip and minus the adrenaline, she was very aware of the heat of his palm against her stomach.

  Landing gently within the magical borders, Arturo spoke to her as Emane slid off his back. They are waiting for you in the meeting hall.

  “Thank you,” she said, sliding off. “Emane, they are waiting for us in the–” turning she nearly ran right into him, “meeting hall,” she finished, jerking to a stop. He looked at her with one eyebrow raised.

  “What?” she said putting her hand on her hip, “I told you, he’s telepathic.” When Emane’s eyebrow didn’t move, she shoved past him with a huff. “Come on.”

  Over Emane’s chuckle she heard Arturo, You should mention to him that if he continues to complain about my flying, next time I will leave him for the Hounds.

  Kiora stopped abruptly, whirling on Emane. “You were complaining about his flying!”

  Emane’s mouth dropped open a bit, before tossing an annoyed glance over his shoulder. “Not much.”

  “Emane! He just saved our life!”

  Stopping, Emane looked skyward shaking his head, “Alright!” Turning he looked at Arturo, “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I was thinking that you nearly knocked me off with that last tree.”

  Arturo snorted before turning and flying out of the Hollow the way he came in. Kiora glared at Emane.

  “What!” he asked.

  “That wasn’t an apology.”

  “Oh my...” he fisted his hands, “You really are...” Blowing out a mouthful of air, he plastered a smile on his face, “Didn’t you say someone was waiting for us.”

  Kiora scowled, “Come on.”

  As they walked through the Hollow in the direction of the large red and white tent that now served as the meeting hall, Kiora had to keep slowing down to match pace with Emane. His head swiveled this way and that, taking in the beauty that was the Hollow.

  Tiny Guardians flitted to and from their tiny houses that hung on silver lines from the canopy. A Guardian nearest them opened the door to his house as the sun glinted off the large ruby placed in his door, coloring the crystal walls of his home in crimson.

  “These are spectacular.” Emane whispered.

  “I know, when you get a chance you should look at them closer.”

  The detail work was meticulous, and everything was done in crystal, silver, gold or precious stones. “Incredible,” Emane breathed, looking intently at the nearest little home.

  “Are these… fairies?” he asked quietly, but not quietly enough. One of the Guardians heard him and let out a snort of disgust.

  “No” she said with an apologetic look to the Guardian. Leaning towards Emane she muttered, “And they find that very offensive.”

  “Why?”

  “Come on,” she motioned, pulling him away from the irritated Guardian. “When the wars began, the Guardians were all fighting for good. Over time, a few began siding with evil and they started to change. Their beauty faded as their goodness did, changing over time until their outside was as ugly as their inside.”

  Emane had stopped again to look at a sapphire house that had been gilded with rectangular cut emeralds. Jogging to catch up to her he asked, “How does that happen?”

  “Aleric said that the reason the Guardians are so beautiful is because the greatness of their nature is too large to be contained in such a small package.” Kiora smiled. “The same goes for the ones who fell. The darkness of their nature is too great to be contained, it changed their outward appearance. The villagers began calling them fairies, but the Guardians refer to them as Fallen Ones.” One of the Guardians fluttered in front of them, smiling as he went past. Kiora smiled back with a little wave. “So, in answer to your question— No, these are not fairies.

  “You’ve learned a lot in a few days.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Not enough.”

  As she walked past the smaller tents where she and Aleric had been sleeping she noticed a third tent had been added.

  Guess its official, she thought, he’s staying.

  Just past them stood the tent that had been erected for meetings and meals, she led him inside. A table stood in the middle of the room made of simply hewn pine planks. Around the table were four chairs made of artistically twisted vines. They were works of art, coaxed by magic into their current shape. Aleric and Eleana sat at the table with pale faces.

  “Sit down,” Eleana said. Her blue eyes were hard and she sat stiffly with her copper hair flowing down her back.

  Both dropped obediently into chairs.

  “I should have been clearer about the dangers of running off the first time it happened.” She looked at Kiora, “But I was somewhat foolish and have underestimated Dralazar. I did not think he would be looking for you so quickly.” She sighed. “At least you are both safe. Unfortunately, you have been spotted, Kiora. They now know who you are and what you look like. We had hoped to avoid that specific danger for much, much longer.”

  Aleric added, “Raynor also knows your thread and the Hounds know your scent.”

  Kiora bit her lip, clenching
her hands in her lap, “What does that mean?”

  “Just as it sounds. Evil now knows how to track you every way possible. By sight, by smell, and by thread.”

  Emane interrupted “The Hounds? Is that what those things are really called?”

  “Yes,” Eleana answered. “They are controlled by Dralazar and are the deadliest hunters we know. Dralazar is the only one on evil’s side with enough magic to control the pack. But even then,” she shook her head, “his hold on them is precarious. Their desire to kill everything they come in contact with is overwhelming. Especially now. I am sure Dralazar has had them locked up for the last thousand years.”

  “Who is Dralazar?” Emane asked.

  Kiora saw Aleric wilt, looking as if he wanted to drop his head into the table.

  “Evil.” Kiora answered.

  “You should have known that Emane.” Aleric chided. “It was in your reading.”

  Emane shifted in his chair, before running his fingers through his hair. “Ah, Aleric, you know I never…”

  Aleric interrupted, waving him away impatiently, “Never mind, it’s too late to worry about it now.”

  “Anyway,” Emane interjected. “How can they know they found who they were looking for?”

  Aleric answered. “That little display of Kiora’s I am sure left them with no doubt.”

  “Wait,” Kiora said, “how did you see that?”

  Eleana motioned to a large basin set on the table filled halfway with water. “Much the way Dralazar would have seen it.” She waved her hand over the top, the water rippled underneath, colors stirring just under its surface as a picture came into focus. There in the water was Kiora, her dark hair flying out behind her, stretching out her arm, power rippling outward.

  The table was quiet. Kiora had fixed her eyes on her shoes feeling like she had swallowed a walnut. Her eyes flickered up to find Eleana, Aleric, and Emane each staring at her. Her voice shook as she asked. “What do we do now?”

  Eleana looked at them gravely. “The time table has been moved up. Dralazar knows you were with Arturo, and if you were with Arturo then he also knows we have you at the Hollow. It is only a matter of time before he finds it.”