by K. Dzr
Chapter Fifteen
T E S T E D
Tahir strapped the basket onto Jeverre’s back and they said goodbye to their new friends. Tahir once again expressed his gratitude to Meena for saving his life. They promised to meet again soon and declared themselves life-long friends.
They journeyed back to Elysi in high spirits; there was endless laughter and retelling of all the funny things said and done. Tahir was happy to see Oraden in a better mood, and to be free of the tension which had ridden with them that morning. After spending the day together in such vigorous play, Tahir thought that having Roddy along wasn’t so bad after all.
Jeverre stopped swimming and lifted his head out of the water.
“I’m sorry, guys, but it’s nearly dark, and if I’m not home soon my parents are going to be furious. Would it be okay if I dropped you off here? It’s not far from Elysi, but the river meanders around so much that you could probably walk faster than I could get you there.”
Tahir looked around to see if he recognized the location. He and the sprites had been here a hundred times before on little adventures. They could easily walk the rest of the journey.
“Here?” Roddy asked nervously. “But we’re not in Elysi. Anything could happen!”
“That’s okay, Jeverre,” Tahir replied, ignoring Roddy. The frightened unicorn stared at him with her mouth agape.
“We’ve walked farther than this before,” Oraden said. “In fact, I was farther away than this when I found Tahir.”
The sprites all voiced their agreement.
“Yes, it will be fun!”
“It’s okay.”
“The best berry bush is right over there. Yeah, let us out. I’m hungry.”
“Me too!”
“But, but…”
“Don’t start, Roddy. We come out here all the time,” Tahir said. “We don’t want Jeverre to get into trouble and not be able to come back.”
“Are you sure?” Jeverre asked.
“Tahir and Oraden can protect us.” Meelix answered.
“I’ve got my slingshot, we can be home before dark, and so can you.” Tahir reassured him.
Jeverre pulled out of the water and deposited his passengers on the bank. Meelix and the sprites worked the ropes loose, and Tahir quickly removed the basket. Jeverre hurriedly said goodbye and promised to return very soon.
The sprites ran to their favorite berry bush while Tahir hoisted the basket up on his shoulders. Roddy seemed frozen to the spot where Jeverre left her.
Tahir remembered how afraid he was when he first left home. He set the basket down near the frightened unicorn.
“Just stay close and you’ll be fine, Roddy. You weren’t scared before and we were even further away.”
“Yes, but Jeverre was with us. He’s gigantic. Nothing would hurt us with him around.”
“Nothing’s going to hurt you now, either.” Tahir said stroking Roddy’s neck. “If anything happens, turn invisible and run. Oraden and I will take care of the sprites. Come here, try some of these berries.” With a little coaxing, he led Roddy to the berry bush. He picked a few and held them up.
“Okay.” Roddy ate from Tahir’s hand, still nervously looking back and forth for predators. “These are good!” She gobbled berries from the bush, almost forgetting her fear.
Tahir shook his head and laughed. They continued talking and laughing about the day’s adventure as they ate their fill. Tahir filled his pack with berries for the sprites who were awaiting their return.
The adventurers continued on toward Elysi. The sprites frolicked ahead, chattering amongst themselves, with Roddy following closely. Tahir and Oraden trailed behind, carrying the basket together in silence.
“Oraden, why did you say that I don’t want to understand about the feelings between humans and animals?” Tahir asked.
“I don’t think you think,” he replied. “We talked about this before. Humans are killers and conquerors. They don’t want to co-exist with us. They want to dominate or eliminate.”
“But where I’m from we didn’t eliminate or dominate.”
“Yes, you did. What about your camels or your chickens?”
“We took care of them and treated them well. Yeah, we ate the chickens and rode the camels, but does that really make us evil?”
“I guess that depends on who or what you are.”
“Stupid human.”
Tahir stopped dead in his tracks. “What did you call me?”
“Huh? I didn’t call you anything. I said ‘that depends on who and what you are’.” Oraden repeated.
“Yeah, and then you called me a ‘stupid human’!” Tahir threw the basket to the side.
“I did not!” Oraden turned to face him, his eyes glaring.
“Yes you did! I heard you. I’m sick of you teasing me because I don’t know something.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Tahir.”
“You don’t have to call me names, you know. I admit there are still a lot of things I don’t know, but I’m smart enough to ask questions. But you! You just pretend to know everything and make fun of everybody else!”
Roddy and the sprites stopped to watch the argument.
“Tahir,” Roddy called. “Oraden didn’t call you stupid.”
“I didn’t. But since you brought it up Tahir, it is very annoying that whenever we get ready to do something you have to ask a million questions first. You want everything the easy way. You don’t even try! You want us to show you and teach you everything instead of learning for yourself!” Oraden yelled.
“Unlike you, of course. The magnificent Oraden who knows all!” Tahir shouted, waving his arms in the air.
“I know how to swim, and it didn’t take twenty beings to teach me, either!”
“You know what, Oraden; you’re just a mean ole jackal! In fact, you’re no better than Kodah!”
“Shut up, Tahir!” Oraden paced circles around Tahir.
“Alright you two. Come on, let’s just go home,” Roddy said.
“Shut up, Roddy!” They shouted in unison.
“And you’re nothing more than a lazy, two legged fool! You’re supposed to learn by doing. How long have you been here? And you still don’t even know your own magic! I guess you are stupid!” Oraden shouted.
“Please stop fighting!” the sprites pleaded. “You’re supposed to be friends!”
Tahir was getting angrier by the second. He kept his eyes on the unicorn pacing around him.
“And you’ve been here your entire life and you didn’t even know about dragons or mers! Thought you said you explored this whole area. You’re so stupid you don’t even know your own territory!”
Oraden’s horn radiated with the crimson heat of rage. He stopped pacing to stare into Tahir’s eyes.
“Stop it you guys! Please!” Roddy begged.
“Shut up, Tahir! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“There you go again. Just another way of calling me stupid!”
“Well, I couldn’t call you stupid if you ever said or did something smart, could I?”
“You know, you’re right, Oraden. I think I will start doing more. And I’m going to begin by making you shut your mouth, you nasty animal!”
Oraden reared up, his hind legs kicking the air, his horn and eyes like flaming embers; he charged Tahir head on. Tahir side-stepped the glowing horn but was not swift enough to avoid being knocked to the ground by Oraden’s shoulder.
“Ha! Who’s shutting up who now?” Oraden snorted as he kicked sand and sticks onto Tahir.
Tahir grabbed a stone and threw it, hitting Oraden just to the side of his eye. Oraden neighed and staggered back. Tahir jumped to his feet and pounced onto Oraden’s back. The young unicorn bucked and kicked, but Tahir gripped his neck and kicked his sides as he was jerked to and fro.
“Tahir! Oraden! Stop! Please! You guys are going to get hurt!”
The sprites screamed and cried as they scurried t
o avoid Oraden’s hooves. Roddy watched helplessly.
Oraden tried to rear up and throw Tahir off, but the majority of Tahir’s weight was on his neck, making it difficult to lift his head.
“Let go!” he snorted.
“No!” Tahir screamed, tightening his arms around Oraden’s sweaty neck. He swung his legs around to the ground and using all of his strength, grabbed Oraden’s head and flipped the unicorn off his feet. Oraden’s body slammed hard on the ground.
Roddy, the sprites and Meelix ran to where Tahir held him down in a headlock. They screamed at them to give up the fight. Oraden continued to snort and kick wildly. Sudlin ran to Tahir, pulled on his clothing and pleaded for him to let Oraden go.
“Get away from me, Sudlin!”
“Tahir! Just stop! Let him go!”
Finally, desperate to end the senseless battle, Sudlin ignored Oraden’s flailing legs and scurried up Tahir’s tunic. Tahir tried to shake him off without loosening his hold on Oraden’s head, but the unicorn jerked free. While Oraden struggled to his feet, Tahir punched his head and neck as hard as he could. Oraden immediately retaliated by kicking and stomping the boy. Tahir rolled in the ground dodging the attack. When Oraden charged, Tahir jumped on his back and continued punching and kicking. He was thrown off again and again until both were covered with bruises and sand.
Everyone was so caught up in the adolescents’ fight that no one noticed they were being watched. Six pairs of eyes closed in on the odd group: watching, waiting for them to grow weary, or for the loser to fall. Then the hyenas would move in for their feast—and quite the feast it would be: a variety of sizes and tastes. A buffet of sorts, rare to the deserts in which they dwelled. The leader of the pack recognized them as the same creatures that pestered them so many times. Meals often taste best when flavored with the sweet taste of revenge. But for now they must wait.
“Tahir! Oraden!” Roddy shouted desperately. Once again, the friends ignored Roddy’s plea. Roddy jumped in front of Oraden, carefully sidestepping Tahir’s bruised body, to block his attack.
“Get out of my way or you’ll be next!” Oraden snapped.
“But, Oraden, look…”
Pain rang through Oraden’s left ear from a rock loosed by Tahir’s slingshot. He was on his feet, dancing around Roddy, punching Oraden in the sides with both fists. Oraden charged and knocked Roddy and Tahir to the ground. Tahir scrambled fast to avoid the brutal kicks, but Oraden managed to get a hard hoof in his right shoulder and a few others in his back and sides. As he rolled in the sand he found a large branch. Gripping it with both hands, he shoved the leafy end into Oraden’s face, stabbing the smaller branches into the unicorn’s eyes and nose. Oraden backed off, wincing from pain and panting from exhaustion.
“You can give up now if you want, Oraden,” Tahir taunted as he slowly rose to his feet. “I won’t tell Kodah you’re just a big wimp!”
They faced off for a moment; each trying to catch his breath and hoping the other would not attack again.
“I’m going to…” Oraden paused. He was suddenly aware that they were being watched. They all froze.
The hyenas growled and began closing in.
“Hyenas!” Meelix gasped. They all huddled closer together.
“Roddy, get up!” Tahir whispered, never taking his eyes from the snarling beasts.
Roddy knelt on the ground. She was so terrified that she couldn’t make herself move. She’d been told there were dangers outside of Elysi, and that such creatures existed, but she never thought she’d ever see one.
“Tahir, what do we do?” Rassine asked in a hushed voice.
“When I say go, jump on Oraden or Roddy’s back and you guys run back to Elysi.” He slowly reached for his slingshot. “I’ll be right behind you. If I can jump on your back I will, so don’t be scared, Oraden.”
“But, but hyenas don’t bother unicorns,” Roddy stammered.
“Well, they do bother us!” Caan whispered.
Should we do something?
No, they’re supposed to do it themselves.
What if they can’t?
I don’t like this…
“They’re hungry; look at them, I can see their ribs from here. You have to get up, Roddy.” Tahir turned his head toward Roddy to see why she was still kneeling. “Roddy, get…”
Sudlin lay motionless between Roddy’s knees. Tahir had forgotten all about him. The last he remembered, the little sprite was scrambling up his chest just before Oraden started kicking.
The hyenas were in attacking range now.
“Roddy,” he said calmly and quietly, “I’ll get Sudlin. You get up and…GO!”
Tahir had his slingshot ready. He fired stones fast and hard at the hyenas. Oraden dropped to his knees as the sprites and Meelix scrambled for stones and then helped each other climb onto his back. As soon as they were all aboard they threw stones to protect Oraden from their attackers.
Tahir ran as fast as he could to Sudlin. He scooped the unconscious sprite up and tucked him safely into his robe before Oraden galloped past with the pack of hyenas on his hooves. Tahir barely turned around before the hyenas were upon him. He held Sudlin tight against his chest and struggled to keep the gnashing fangs from his neck.
Still paralyzed with fear, Roddy stared at the hyenas bounding toward her.
“Tahir!” the sprites screamed.
Though he felt no pain, Tahir could see blood running down his arms and splattering on the hyenas’ muzzles.
We have to help him!
No! Nayani said we’re not supposed to help them unless wizards come.
We never listen to her, why start now?
Because he’s watching!
Oh.
Oraden managed to hit one of the hyenas square in the chest with his hind legs, sending it flying into a date palm; it did not get up again. As a hyena bounded toward Roddy, Oraden leapt over her motionless body, lowered his head and met the predator head-on in the air, piercing the animal with his horn.
Caan, Lugg and Figg lost their grip and flew from the unicorn’s back. Meelix moved quickly; he stretched his long, strong arm and grabbed Lugg in mid air. The momentum pulled him from his seat on Oraden’s neck, but he held tightly to the unicorn’s mane. The two dangled in the thick mane. Meelix swung his friend up onto Oraden’s back and away from the frantic beast impaled on Oraden’s horn. The animal yelped as the horn penetrated his torso. Both dropped to the ground, the hyena still impaled.
“Get up Roddy!” Oraden screamed, frantically shaking his head to get the panicking hyena off of his face. Oraden finally shook him off and fired a barrage of kicks at the animal. Roddy finally came to her senses and scrambled to her feet. She ran past the preoccupied hyenas to find Figg and Caan on the ground several feet away.
“Hurry, hop on!” she called to them. The sprites scrambled up her tail. Roddy took off through the palms, not waiting for the sprites to get completely situated. One of the hyenas Oraden kicked away gave chase. Oraden, grateful for the distraction, charged the hyenas attacking Tahir; he stabbed one and knocked the other to its side. Tahir quickly rolled away from Oraden’s stomping feet and snatched a large stick. Careful not to drop Sudlin, he ran to Oraden’s side; together they beat and kicked the two hyenas until they stopped moving. He could barely stand straight, and Oraden wobbled on four feet. They were covered in blood, bruises and sweat. Oraden glanced at the bulge in Tahir’s tunic, but didn’t have time to ask if Sudlin was all right. Tahir didn’t want to think the sprite was dead, and he didn’t have time to think about it anyway.
Roddy ran in circles through the oasis, partly to keep one of the hyenas occupied, but mostly because she didn’t know the way back home. Seeing Tahir and Oraden standing, she ran toward her friends.
“What do I do? What do I do?” she screamed hysterically.
Four hyenas were still standing. They were tired and hurt, but they weren’t ready to give up just yet. As Roddy approached, Oraden began a slow gallop, w
atching to see if Tahir could keep up. Tahir spun the slingshot overhead as he ran behind Oraden, carefully holding Sudlin in his other arm. The injured hyenas regrouped as well, and the four quickly gave chase. The sprites had long run out of sticks and stones to throw, so all they could do was hold on as tightly as their little hands could and pray that one of the hyenas didn’t jump up and snatch any of them away. Oraden ignored his bleeding legs and ran as fast as they would let him.
Suddenly, familiar landmarks caught Tahir’s attention; they were near a camp he and Oraden had set up on their adventures in this area.
“Oraden, Roddy! This way!” Tahir motioned for them to follow as he ran with newfound energy in the direction of their campground. Hidden there was food, firewood, and blankets for occasions when they stayed out here exploring. Most importantly, the campsite was where his bow and arrows were stored; if he could reach them he could shoot the hyenas.
“Oraden! The campsite! My arrows!” he screamed between breaths.
Oraden understood. So did the sprites.
“Oraden,” Meelix whispered into his ear, “we can distract the hyenas, I think. Well, the sprites can, like in the game we played when we met Jeverre.”
Oraden didn’t understand, but if the sprites had a plan he was listening.
“Yes!” Lugg agreed. “When we get to the campsite, run by small trees and bushes and we’ll jump off.”
Get ready to jump off guys; we have to distract these hyenas!
I thought we weren’t helping?
We can help a little, good fairies!
Just no magic!
They were getting close to the campsite, Tahir firing rocks, Oraden and Roddy kicking. Human, unicorns and hyenas were spent, but no one was surrendering. Tahir finally reached his bow and arrows and threw down the slingshot. As directed, Oraden and Roddy ran near the trees so the little people could jump into the saplings and bushes. Oraden stopped running and kicked wildly at the hyenas that had been biting and scratching at his flanks.
One hyena went straight for Tahir, who was struggling with his bow. The boy didn’t realize how badly he’d been injured; his hands and arms were covered in blood. He could barely hold his weapon properly, and pulling the string back was nearly impossible. He saw the hyena pouncing in time to turn and face it. It knocked him to the ground. With Sudlin safely stowed under a bush, he only had to worry about himself. He pushed against the hyena’s neck and punched its face, trying to avoid its blood stained teeth. Oraden could not help; he could barely keep the two hyenas off of himself. Tahir could see his kicks becoming slower and weaker. He was going down with a hyena ripping his back and two more biting his sides. The sprites frantically hit the hyenas in an attempt to keep them from attacking full force. Roddy was nowhere to be seen.
Meelix grabbed one of the hyena’s tails and muscled his way up the creature’s back. His ankle hurt from the jump, but he found he could climb better just using his arms anyway. He swung like a monkey through the hyena’s fur, climbing up to its head. Using all his gnome strength and stone-hard fists, he threw rapid-fire punches into the hyena’s face. It pawed at him and shook its head, but he was relentless. Meelix bit down on the hyena’s ear and ripped off a chunk. Blood erupted from the wound; the hyena yelped in pain. The taste of the beast’s blood sent Meelix into a rage. He punched and bit the hyena relentlessly, refusing to let go despite how much the beast shook and scratched at him.
Look at Meelix!
Told you!
Tahir was still on his back with a hyena snarling in his face. This time, though, he was not defenseless. Using his arrow as a dagger, he stabbed the hyena repeatedly, hard and fast. The predator finally stopped moving and slumped over Tahir. He pushed the monster aside and loaded his bow with a new arrow. Aiming first for the hyena on Oraden’s neck, he fired and hit it in the side. He quickly reloaded and fired again. The arrow hit its mark and the hyena dropped to the ground. The sprites beat it with sticks. Tahir loaded another arrow.
He couldn’t see exactly what was happening, but one hyena franticly shook its head and yelped. He could barely make out Meelix’s figure flailing and punching in all the commotion. He let the arrow fly and the hyena dropped dead on the ground. Meelix roared and stomped the slain hyena, his arms, face and chest covered in its blood.
Only one hyena remained: old and scarred, it’s fur knotted and faded. It looked at Tahir and snarled. Realizing it was defeated, his pack dead, it turned and ran before Tahir let the arrow fly.
He lowered his weapon and set it down. Oraden fell to his knees and lay on his side panting. Meelix looked over to where the other sprites were resting and catching their breath. Jumping from Oraden at full gallop wasn’t as easy as he would have liked.
“Are you all alright?” Bennie asked as he surveyed everyone’s condition. “Oraden?”
He slowly nodded, but didn’t speak.
“Tahir?”
“I, I just need to rest…”
“I think I hurt my ankle,” Meelix groaned. “Where’s Sudlin?”
“Under that bush,” Tahir whimpered from his curled up position on the ground. He felt intense pain in his arms and side, and was very weak.
The sprites ran to the bush Tahir indicated. Sudlin was alive and awake but dizzy. Rassine knelt to examine him. She determined that he had a few broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, possibly even suffered a head injury, as he seemed quite disoriented and nauseous. With Meelix’s help, they were able to pop his shoulder back into place and carry him to the others.
Meelix instinctively took charge of the situation. It was already well into night, and Oraden and Tahir were in no condition to continue the journey to Rhykell.
“Okay everyone, looks like we’re spending the night here. Bennie, you get the fire going,” he ordered. “Lugg and Caan, hurry to Rhykell and bring back the healers and any gnomes who might be able to help. Make sure you bring plenty of pails, bandages and blankets so we can clean them up. Rassine, do what you can to tend to their wounds.”
“Lugg,” Oraden whimpered, “will you go find my mother and father please?”
“Of course.” The sprite reassuringly stroked Oraden’s sweat-soaked neck.
“Yes, take Roddy. You can travel faster that way,” Meelix instructed.
Roddy knelt so the sprites could easily mount her, and then galloped under Lugg’s direction back toward Elysi. Bennie already had the firewood piled and was busy getting a flame started.
“Reeny, find some healing tree leaves for these guys,” Rassine asked. “I may be able to stop the pain.”
“What can I do, Meelix?” Triah asked.
“Help me and Figg make them as comfortable as possible. We have blankets over there.” Meelix pointed to the wooden chest they had constructed for their play campsite.
The sprites placed the healing leaves on Tahir, Oraden and Sudlin’s wounds. Rassine found a suitable stick that Meelix could use as a cane. They made a bed of leaves for Sudlin and wrapped him in a blanket. He was more conscious of his surroundings and began asking questions. Last he remembered, he was crawling up Tahir’s clothes, trying to break up the fight. As the sprites worked, they excitedly told Sudlin what happened. Soon, the gnomes arrived, carrying pails of clean water, bandages, blankets, food, medicine, herbs and weapons. As more people arrived, the sprites told the story again and again, tactfully leaving out Oraden and Tahir’s squabble. Even the gnomes were excited about the adventure and amazed by Tahir’s skill as a marksman.
“Hey!” Caan shouted. “This hyena is still alive!”
The little people cautiously approached the fallen beast. Sure enough, even though Tahir hit it with two arrows, it still breathed.
“What should we do?”
“It would be cruel to just leave him to die slowly.”
“We could use his teeth and fur.”
“We can’t kill him! He’s very young. This was probably his first hunt.”
“He’s no danger to us now.”
>
“Well, not yet, but what if he gets up?”
“Maybe if we are kind to him, he will be our friend.”
“He’s a hyena! How can we be friends with a meat-eater?”
“The gnomes are meat-eaters.”
“Gnomes don’t eat sprites! And you eat meat too!”
“Still, we can’t just let him die.”
“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
The sprites agreed, despite the gnomes’ warning, to help the young hyena. They carefully removed the arrows and cleaned his wounds.