by Aiden James
“Fearing I’d surely regret it, I ran off the path and raced to the circle. Eluding the outstretched roots and branches from even more trees, I finally reached the one holding Banjo.
“Suspended almost fifteen feet above the ground, there was no way I could reach him. To make matters worse, the middle tree was in the process of positioning a branch directly in front of him, the twigs at the end of the branch stretching and contorting into sharp barbs. As it prepared to strike Banjo, I did the only thing I could think of. I kicked the tree holding him. Sharp pain ripped through my foot, traveling from my toes to my knee, and I remember crying out in agony. But the tree holding Banjo moved enough to where the middle tree’s weapon missed him by a hair, crashing into the side of the other tree.
“Both trees pursued me as I tried to limp away from their reach. Despite the pain in my foot I moved back in and kicked the tree holding Banjo with my other foot. The tree swung around, trying to attack me with another of its branches. It missed completely, but its twig ‘barbs’ rammed the tree trying to absorb the raccoon. Dark sap seeped from the wound and that tree dropped what was left of the animal’s carcass on the ground.
“To my surprise—and this is the God-honest truth—it swung a large branch loaded with sharp barbs, thrusting it into the tree holding Banjo. That tree dropped Banjo to the ground.
“Ridiculous as it sounds, it looked like the trees prepared to attack each other. But not wanting to waste the opportunity to rescue Banjo and get the hell out of there, I’ll never know if they duked it out or not. I threw him over my shoulder and raced back to the path.
“The entire grove was soon in an uproar, but the trees couldn’t get organized in time to stop us from leaving. All they could do was try to drop their giant tomato-like fruit on us as we left. I’m glad their aim sucked, especially after I watched more than one piece of fruit burst open on the ground, with some acid shit pouring out. It sizzled and foamed while burning a hole in the ground. I ran even harder once I saw that.
“I kept running until we were far enough away from the grove. I set Banjo down on the path and dropped to my knees from exhaustion. Every time I got tired it was worse than before, taking longer for me to recover. Thankfully, Banjo didn’t leave me this time, because I wouldn’t have been able to stop him. He put his front hooves on my shoulder and eagerly licked my face, bleating loudly in my ears.
“I still scolded him for almost getting killed, wondering why he and his buddies didn’t stay put in the meadow like they were supposed to do. He just looked at me curiously while I petted him. I looked to the side of the path where I’d watched him and the other animals at play earlier. The ground completely scorched, the grass and wildflowers had been burned away from that entire portion of the meadow. Whatever had caused this did so fairly recent, as smoldering flames burned the remaining grass near the path.
“I worried for a moment the somilas had done this, and that they might pursue us after all. But the damage to the meadow extended several acres on either side of the path, and I knew something else had done this.
“I spotted a pair of crumpled, shredded robes lying on the ground not far from us, and I moved over to get a better look at the mangled garments. Lying next to them were the partially eaten and charred remains of the two miahluschkas Genovene had assigned to watch over Banjo. Their torn bodies violated so badly, at first glance I wasn’t quite sure what I looked at. Then I stooped down to examine the half-eaten torso of one of the critters and its exposed internal organs, along with the shattered skull of the other one. It surprised me at how similar they were to the rest of the human race—unlike Genovene and the others.
“I moved back over to the path, keeping Banjo close by me. It didn’t take long to find out what was coming next, for no sooner than we reached the path again, a solid gust of wind greeted us. With it came an ominous dark shadow that obscured the late afternoon sun.
“I grabbed Banjo and ran to the river. I didn’t need to verify the cloud from earlier hovered above us. I looked up anyway, just in time to see a pair of misty appendages from the cloud reach for us, bringing more gusts of wind and bolts of lightning down into the meadow. Much larger than before, the cloud’s assault made it extremely difficult to maintain my balance and keep my hold on Banjo.
“The sheer force of the wind grew stronger and stronger until the powerful gusts finally knocked us down to where neither one could stand up. I crawled toward the stone bridge holding onto Banjo’s collar, dragging him with me. Less than a hundred feet away, I didn’t think we’d ever reach the bridge.
“The cloud’s ‘arms’ darkened and continued to solidify until clearly defined, with hands and lucid fingers, though disproportionately long. I swear to God I’m telling you the truth, Agent McNamee, but I can’t blame you if you don’t totally believe me. Hell, I scarcely believed it when I saw this shit!
“Somehow we reached the bridge. I climbed on first and pulled Banjo up with me, being careful not to strangle him. The cloud’s long fingers grasped the sides of the bridge, sending an immediate tremor throughout the stone structure. Powerful gusts blew across it, and torrid lightning strikes, which had been landing closer and closer to us, now crept to within a few feet. The crackling and sizzling sounds unnerving, we kept going. No other choice.
“Just before we reached the midway point, one of the clouds’ hands let go of the bridge and tried to grab us. More like scoop us out from the narrow bridge. It couldn’t quite get a grip on either one. Still, I nearly lost my grip on the railing, forcing me to use my arms and elbows to keep from being tossed over the side into the raging river below. I could no longer hang on to Banjo, though he managed to wedge himself in between my legs.
“Tedious, moving along like this, but we managed to make progress. Nearing the end of the bridge, a powerful lightning bolt slammed into the bridge floor right behind us. Singeing the hair on my right leg, it also mortally damaged the structure, leaving a deep crack where it hit. The crack soon splintered into smaller ones that quickly spread toward us, and I could tell the bridge wouldn’t hold up much longer.
“I dragged Banjo with my legs, desperately clawing my way to the other shore, resolutely determined to cross the bridge before it crumbled into the river. Within fifteen feet of the shoreline, the cloud’s hands began whipping the water from the turbulent river onto the bridge. The water acting as a powerful hammer, and the cracks throughout the bridge quickly widened.
“The collapse in earnest, huge pieces fell into the river from our rear. I clung to what was left of the railing with Banjo wrapped inside my legs. We were still nearly ten feet from the shore.
“Another section crumbled into the river, pulling most of the floor with it. I took as wide a step as I possibly could while tightening my grip on Banjo. When the rest of the floor disappeared beneath us, I leapt with all my might and pushed him along side me through the air. The river’s powerful current dislodged the bridge’s foundation, bringing us closer to land. I grabbed onto a large clump of thistles growing along the water’s edge with one hand. Ignoring the thorns piercing that hand, I secured my grip on Banjo’s front leg with the other. I then watched what was left of the bridge crash into the river where it vanished in the rushing rapids.
“I pulled Banjo to safety atop the embankment. The cloud’s hands and arms had already disappeared, and the cloud itself soon dissipated. The volatile water slowed down to a smooth, peaceful current as the river returned to its original course through the woods. Feeling a little safer, I took a moment to remove the painful stickers from my bleeding hand, finding it hard to believe I’d actually hung onto the sharp thistles and Banjo without both of us tumbling into the river.
“The late afternoon sun returned, though it’d dropped deeper into the western sky. The sun’s rays danced upon the river while the grove and meadow faded away. In their place stood the usual trees and plants typical for the woods near Carlsdale, like tall pines, oaks, and elms. Wild ferns and blackberry bushes we
re among the plants familiar to me that crowded the dirt path overgrown with tall grass and weeds.
“I felt ecstatic to be back in a world I readily knew and understood, where magic and monsters didn’t exist.
“‘We did it, Banjo!’ I shouted excitedly. ‘We made it out of that hellhole alive!!! Can you believe it??’
“I kneeled to hug him, despite my weariness. Just a hop and a skip through the woods and we’d be home. I stood up and headed for the hillside, with Banjo trotting beside me.
“When we reached the top of the hill, I took one last look behind us. The wilderness below remained impressive, though nowhere near amazing as the view I’d enjoyed earlier that day. In reality, I looked out onto the vast, and for the most part undisturbed, forest for the very first time. Though unremarkable, it was home and it was beautiful. Relieved the adventure had ended, I turned away and led Banjo into the woods.
“We’d just stepped into the woods’ deep shade when all at once we heard an incredible, almost ear-splitting roar that shook the entire hillside behind us. Since totally unexpected, the roar was the most frightening thing I’d heard all day! Cautious, I crept back up to the hill’s edge and peered down at the river below. On the ground between the river and the path that led up the hill sat the biggest damn reptile I’d ever seen.
“As I told Sheriff McCracken later that night, I estimated its length to be at least seventy feet, and from the shiny colors on its scaly skin, I recognized it had to be the serpent Genovene referred to as Vydora. But much larger than what I saw splashing around in the water underneath the stone bridge earlier. It took a moment to realize I’d only seen her tail and not the rest of her body at the time.
“Vydora’s appearance certainly matched her roar. Claws long and sharp, her huge head had gold horns on top of it. Her mouth opened wide, I could see two rows of long pointed teeth. As I mentioned earlier, she also had a pair of multi-colored fans near where her ears must’ve been. To me, she really did look like a cross between a tyrannosaurus rex and a mythical dragon—just like the sheriff’s report stated. To her I must’ve looked like dinner, for as soon as she spied me peeking down at her, she roared really loud again.
“A long stream of fire flew out of her mouth, stopping less than fifteen feet below us and scorching a patch of tall grass. At least I knew who was responsible for what happened in the meadow.
“Keep in mind Vydora had one other physical aspect I failed to recognize at first glance. The wings I told you about? They blended in perfectly with her scales on her back. So unless they were extended, like right then, you might not notice them. Having a good idea what would come next, I rushed over to Banjo, giving him a firm swat on his butt to get him moving.
“Vydora flew through the air and landed with an immense thud right where we’d been only an instant before. We ran into the woods, moving down the incline on the other side of the hill just as she reached its pinnacle. I turned and saw her colorful silhouette against the backdrop of the late afternoon sky, the sunlight glistening on her head and shoulders as it reflected off her horns and scales. Once she spotted us moving through the woods below her, she roared again and sprayed fire through the trees and plants, aiming directly for us.
“The light and heat extremely intense, I shielded my eyes and turned my back to her, running as fast as I could with Banjo keeping pace with me. She pursued us and closed the gap very quickly; crushing the trees—even the largest ones—in her path. Propelled once more by fear, we ran deeper into the woods where it was much darker and a lot harder to see anything. Vydora spewed another stream of flames that struck a group of trees nearby, illuminating the area.
“Banjo suddenly veered toward the right, sprinting into even deeper woods. Vydora continued after me and I knew I had no chance of outrunning her. About to overtake me, I could hear her breaths and I felt moisture from her snout spray upon my neck as she snorted. The sweltering warmth of her mouth cloaked my back and I smelled its sulfuric sourness. Visions of the miahluschkas’ charred, half-eaten remains filled my terrified mind. Since I knew she could bite me in half at any moment, I stopped and changed direction, sprinting toward the same area Banjo had fled to.
“Vydora’s jaws closed on empty air. She turned her head to follow me as I ran away, roaring in anger and spraying another long stream of flames at me. In desperation, I crawled under some thick undergrowth, where I was surprised to find a small cliff hidden beneath it. I grabbed onto a thick vine and quickly slid over the edge, leaning into a deep crevice beneath the cliff as far as I possibly could. Not caring about what might be waiting for me there, I touched a warm furry animal with bristly hair on its head. I immediately backed away from it.
“I almost scrambled out of there, but then realized it was Banjo! He started to whimper. I put my hand over his mouth to shut him up, since I knew Vydora was somewhere close by. Several trees ignited near us, and I tightened my grip on the billy goat’s snout while we both trembled. The pounding approach of the dragon bore down on our hiding place.
“The ground above creaked and started to give way, sending clods of soft earth down upon us both. A low-pitched growl rumbled through the area and then the underside of her massive jaw appeared as she nuzzled her face into the space in front of our hideout.
“An awkward angle for her head, she couldn’t see us hiding just a few feet away, though certainly she smelled us. Her loud snorts resounded repeatedly until she withdrew—probably on account of the fire rapidly spreading toward us all. I let out a slow quiet breath I’d been holding, but didn’t dare loosen my grip on Banjo’s snout just yet.
“The ground above creaked heavily once more and then the thunderous steps moved away from us. I let go of Banjo and stepped out from under the cliff as the fire crept closer. I poked my head above the cliff’s ledge and saw that Vydora had already moved a hundred feet away, getting more frustrated by the minute since she couldn’t locate me. She reared her massive head back on her neck as she straightened her enormous body, causing her head to briefly disappear in the treetops. She roared her displeasure and then sprayed fire into the very trees that concealed her. The scene surreal, the burning foliage cast eerie shadows. I looked around frantically for a way out of there that wasn’t on fire.
“I reached back under the ledge and dragged Banjo out. He whined terribly. I would’ve liked to check on Vydora’s whereabouts one more time, but the smoke and heat made it imprudent to stick around. I pushed him through a small gap in the spreading flames, praying that the fire wasn’t worse on the other side, and then followed.
“To my relief, the fire hadn’t spread there yet. Banjo shook his body to rid himself of the ashes that’d landed on him, while I wiped my eyes with the inside of my T-shirt. We moved quickly, before the fire could spread around us. It sounded like Vydora was moving further away; her angry roars not near as loud.
“But now I worried about Grandpa and Jeremy, since it seemed likely the dragon headed straight for our house. I needed to warn them, even though they’d surely heard her and seen the fire she’d caused. I grabbed Banjo and started running south as fast as I could, hoping to exit the woods near the Johnson’s farm.”
***
“The remnants of daylight visible just ahead, the trees began to thin,” said Jack, after Peter motioned for him to keep things rolling. The agent had just poured himself yet another cup of coffee, and Jack again waved off any refreshments. “Soon, the green backside of the John Deere tractor in that photograph you have came into view. I secured my grip on Banjo’s collar and raced out of the woods.
“Perhaps you know this, but Ben Johnson’s farm sat on one hundred and thirty acres, which bordered the woods on the west side. Lelan’s Way on the east side, Fielder’s Pond formed the southern boundary of the farm, while the northern border was my grandfather’s place. I ran past the tractor, practically choking poor Banjo as I pulled him along, and went directly to the Johnson’s farmhouse. I intended to use their telephone to call Grandpa, and t
hen the sheriff and local fire department.
“Once we arrived at the house I banged on the back door. No reply. I ran around to the front door, but got the same response. After peering through the living room and kitchen windows, I went over to the main barn that sat adjacent to the farmhouse. Both doors locked, I turned back toward the woods.
“Alarmed to see the area we’d just traveled through completely engulfed by flames, I decided to take the old frontage road to get home. Banjo resisted, since it meant traveling so close to the fire spreading through the woods. Hell, it scared me too, since I half-expected Vydora to reappear at any moment. But no sign of her—only the destruction she’d caused.
“The road wasn’t so overgrown with weeds and such until our farmhouse came into view, near the edge of the Johnson’s property. Suddenly, the air shook again as the dragon roared loudly from close by. I dropped to the ground, pulling Banjo down with me. The fire still raged through the woods, increasing in strength, but hadn’t crossed over into the field. In the fire’s midst stood Vydora’s hulking figure, bellowing an anxious cry into the smoke-filled air.
“I stood back up, smiling a little. Apparently, she’d boxed herself in with the very flames she’d created. She disappeared from view, her cries growing softer as she moved further away. Finally relieved, I walked the rest of the way home with Banjo by my side.
“Grandpa and Jeremy were in our backyard, sitting on the oak’s lowest limb. They both looked toward the woods. So far, neither of them noticed Banjo and me as we approached the gate. They didn’t seem to notice the raging fire in the woods and Vydora’s distant roars either.
“I heard my name mentioned. Grandpa glanced toward the sphere and back gate with a very worried look. He surely knew I’d ventured where I wasn’t allowed.
“‘Hey Grandpa! Grandpa!!’ I cried. ‘I’m over here!! Hey, Jeremy, tell Grandpa I’m home!!! Jeremy? Grandpa??’