They didn’t get one.
It made Alex start to wonder what lay in store for him and Shade, with all of these new companions. They were much more patient than either of them, but that only served to annoy Alex that much more. They knew much, but what would they be willing to tell them? He already knew they guarded many secrets and stories, but would they be capable of hearing any of what the elders knew?
Heeding Gerieg’s request, they followed Kikren through the darkening forest. Within ten minutes they found a suitable clearing in the forest that was large enough to incorporate all of them comfortably, while also masking their visible presence from the surrounding foliage. It was a serene place with comfortable grass to lie on. Once they found this place Alex gladly removed his deer-skin pack and water-skins from his back and shoulders. Though they’ve traveled most of the day he still felt wide awake and clearheaded. Thinking about a campfire filled him with hope because that was always the best time to say and hear stories.
Kikren asked Alex to go find dry tender and he searched with easy success.
Coming back into the quiet clearing Alex saw Shade and Elo laying on their sides, on either side of the clearing, staring at each other like they were measuring what the others capabilities were. Not only did their appearances differ, so too did their personalities. Shade’s ears were perked and he lay comfortably on his side while Elo mirrored the laying arrangement, but his large front paws were crossed and his long sinuous tail lifted at its tip and dropped repeatedly on the ground and the brown and furry poof caught the eye.
Upon his arrival, Shade’s ears turned in his brother’s direction while Elo turned his mane and head directly at him as well. Alex realized how symmetrical Elo’s features were despite how his right saber had been broken. Large round ears listened to the boy and while his dangerous brown eyes studied Alex like he did to Shade earlier this morning. It was unsettling.
Kikren followed the movement of the giant cat’s head and stood up once he recognized the arrival. He told Alex to place it in the middle and when he did the elder aid did something they didn’t expect. Hanging from one of the lower buttons on his suit was a chain of linked gold and the other end of the chain disappeared in the pocket of his vest.
He walked up to the dry wood and reached in his pocket. At once Alex realized what the gold was linked to was an item. In the palm of Kikren’s hand lay a clear lens. It was circular and about half the size of his large hand. Around the edge of the lens is a gold housing that kept his item connected to the chain.
As Kikren knelt by the wood he looked up to see Alex watching intently. Kikren realized what he wanted to know without even asking. He lifted the lens and pinched either side with a thumb and index finger. “Lord Alex, what I’ve come to understand in all my years is that many young adults your age, love to see other items in action. I am a level five utility class item barer. This lens is but one of my two items. My lens can amplify even the most mediocre of light and focus it to a point to create a fire or create a beam of light capable of seeing in the dark or I can put it up to my eye and see over vast distances.” Then he tapped his breast pocket with his free hand to say “My other item is my handkerchief. Though it only has a single ability, it has no limit. The item cloth is capable of removing any stain or residue off anything I choose. And once it has done its job it makes a solid ball of the debris and compresses it for easy disposal. Here is a demonstration of my lens.”
Though Shade and Elo didn’t understand the conversation, Alex quickly filled Shade in because the other fiend lord already knew of these abilities.
Together they watched as the light of the sun was almost gone and Kikren placed the lens close to the tender. A focused light appeared on the dry leaves and in less than a minute smoke began rising and soon a small fire spark appeared and slowly began greedily consuming the wood to create a small flame.
As Kikren leaned away from the small tongues and put his item back in his pocket, a terrifying shriek sounded in the distance, about two or three miles away. The sound made all the hairs on each of their bodies rise and bumps coated the entirety of their skin. That shriek could only come from one kind of fiend. Alex and his brother recognized the sound all too well.
Elo grinned and calmly said “Sheer has begun the hunt. It won’t be long now until we get warm food in our bellies.”
Then there came another shriek from Sheer in the distance.
Alex glanced into Shade’s golden irises and he also knew the sound by heart. That sound came from a Fury’s ability to incapacitate the prey with only the sound of its voice. The sound is unlike any other and always works on their target. Even if you manage to plug your ears, the shock puts the victim into an unconscious state. Though they’ve never been on the receiving end of a Fury’s shriek they’ve seen the outcome several times. The Fury is the ultimate sky predator, just as the Big Three ruled the land. To kill the raptor fiend of the sky would be like someone killing one of the Big Three, nearly impossible to do. What’s more, a Fury’s shriek will even debilitate a full grown Shadow Fang for a limited time. Though the shriek cannot kill from a distance, a pointblank attack has been known to. Their ability is frighteningly powerful for all creatures.
Shade gave his brother a look that said ‘Just what have we gotten ourselves into?’
Alex shrugged and walked over to grab his staff and decided to bide his time by sitting with Shade. Propping his back against Shade’s ribs Alex felt them expand as he sighed and contented himself by laying his head on his paws, but his ears and eyes remained attentive on the old feline warrior.
As Alex stared into the growing fire the silence of the groups allowed them each time to reflect upon themselves. The warmth of early summer was still in the air, but a campfire was always a welcome sight. The smell of wafting smoke and the flickering of orange light is a calming aspect that Alex had come to miss. Although Shade and he were quiet and paid attention to the flames they continually watched Elo and once as Kikren left the group to return with more wood to enlarge the fire and keep enough to keep the fire going throughout the night.
Less than an hour after the fire came to life did Alex’s hearing alert him to a dragging sound quickly approaching. Both Shade and Elo heard it too and looked in the same direction the constant sound came from. Then before the sounds entered their field of vision a sound of flapping made them all look up.
Sheer had flown in and angled herself perfectly to land on a branch above Elo. They looked at each other and then she peered at the two new companions from her perch. Sheer then winked at Alex with one large brown eye. Though incapable of making facial features, she smiled at him like a proud mother hen.
Before he could ask what they did, Gerieg entered the clearing. Their hunt had been a complete success. Hung over each of his broad shoulders were two large boars and in each of Gerieg’s hands he drug a doe and a velvet antlered buck behind him by their cloven hoofed hind legs. Though he carried and dragged over four hundred pounds his pace had remained unhindered like Gerieg was merely taking a gentle stroll through the forest. His gaze swept over them all as he drug the kills over to the fire.
Just what are your limits? Alex thought to himself. Normal men your age would have difficulty carrying so much weight, but you haven’t even broken a sweat. Alex knew he brought his kills from more than a mile away from here yet he didn’t even have the look of being the slightest bit winded.
“The least you can do is give me a hand.” Gerieg said as he suddenly turned to gaze upon Alex.
“Oh, sorry. I’m just a bit overwhelmed by all that is going on.” He said in true honesty. Gerieg didn’t need to know much more than that.
Gerieg chuckled and knelt by the lifeless doe. “I’d call you a fool if you didn’t have any confusion. Come, give me a hand in cleaning our meal for tonight. Once our bellies are warmed and satiated we can see about easing your worries.”
Not wanting to be rude and ungrateful for all the work he has done, Alex laid his s
taff against Shade and pulled a knife from his pocket. During his walk over to kneel by the doe, Gerieg’s gaze never averted from him. It was disconcerting to have someone watching him closely the way he was.
Wanting to hurry on with this task, Alex plunged his knife in the doe and began the gruesome task of cleaning. Gerieg watched mainly, but only helped when he saw that an extra pair of hands were needed to expedite the gory process. It had taken Alex close to an hour to skin and gut the deer, but once the task was finished he looked over to see that Kikren had made a rotating spit out of two large limbs and a sapling. Using the straight sapling, Alex pierced one end of the meat completely through to the other side and placed it atop the limbs to cook over the fire. As the meat began cooking he began work on the second deer. Though the buck was larger it felt great to do something to occupy one’s idle hands.
Soon, two deer were cooking.
As the doe had be cooked thoroughly Elo said “Shade, you may have the smaller one. I will take the buck.”
Shade wasn’t nearly as hungry, but he nodded to the elder warrior. He stood up and his coat mimicked the darkness that surrounded them. His form was daunting, but he kept an air of tranquility around himself. He walked over to the fire, used his powerful maw to hold the end of the spit and lifted his meal off the poles. He made his way to where he laid before, dropped the doe meat on the grassy ground, placed his large paw atop the hind quarters and pulled out the wood that held the food above the fire. Before he began eating he brought Alex the sapling and said to use it on the pigs.
As he began cleaning one of the razorbacks Gerieg surprised Alex by asking in a calm tone. “Alex, do you believe that these four creatures were right to be killed for food? I mean do you believe it is a right to kill a living creature?”
His question made Alex wonder how to answer. They didn’t know each other so it would be best to give him an answer and find a way to support it.
Without meeting Gerieg’s stare, he said “Nay, everyone and every creature has only one life to live. You live how you want to because that is the only true right all creatures are born with. Unfortunately this world is cruel and the strong suppress the weak. What we should do is limit the destruction of life we cause to remain alive, so that future generations have something to see. If we killed needlessly and indiscriminately what joy will our children and their children bear witness to? If all the predators killed off their prey they would die of starvation from overpopulation. It is the same with us, if we destroy everything, life’s meaning becomes worthless and takes us that much sooner.”
The silence that overcame the group was only broken by the crackling and hissing of fat from the fire.
Taking a risk, Alex looked up to see Gerieg smiling at him with a hint of pride. He sat two yards away with his legs crossed and sat properly. It was then that Alex realized that his voice didn’t tickle like it usually does when he speaks to a human. The last person he spoke to was Shade several minutes ago to see if his meal was proper, he said it was delicious.
Gerieg understood without asking. “That is alright, Furions can speak to each other as humans or as another creature’s voice, the sounds matter not to us because we can understand their language. Earlier, at the city, you probably wished for other humans to be privy to our conversation so your voice changed to incorporate your will.” Then he threaded his fingers together and sat them in his lap. “Now as to the answer you gave, I am quite impressed with how you see the world. It is not unlike my own. I too have witnessed the cruelty and hideousness of the world, but for all its faults it has an unrivaled beauty. You are correct in that we must limit the damage inflicted because the balance of this world is both strong and exceedingly delicate. Every choice we make has a consequence. Some are seen where as others aren’t shown to you directly. What is most difficult to do is making the right choices and dealing with the pain the consequences bring about.”
“You do not need to lecture me on choices.” Alex said calmly, trying to not sound belligerent. “Both Shade and I have been through much suffering and pain through the actions of our choices.”
“Your words ring true. I can see how you’ve seen much through the intensity of your eyes and your solemn words only back that conviction.” With that said Gerieg gestured for him to finish the bloody task.
As he finished cleaning the boar, Elo stood and took the buck from the flame and quickly began consuming his meal with much delight.
Soon both pigs were cleaned and were roasting over the fire. Once Alex’s job of preparing the meals was complete, Kikren handed his handkerchief item over. Heeding his commands Alex placed his hands on either side of the soft blue cloth and watched in amazement as it began moving on its own. The cloth caressed his hands and where they touched, the blood, dirt and gore vanished. Alex then handed it back to Kikren and watched as he folded it empty and when he opened it up again sat was a small orb of red, brown, hair and gore. He then grabbed the orb and threw the solid object into the woods. Kikren’s item was quite amazing to watch.
When the larger of the two boar were finished Alex looked up into the tree behind Elo and said “Sheer, will you be joining us down here or would you like me to toss your meal into your perch?”
Her large eyes locked with his and she cocked her head to the side to say “I would be delighted to savor my meal in the company of my new friends.”
With that said she opened her white tipped wings and glided to the ground. As she landed, she opened her impressive talons and tucked her wings against her side. She then walked forward and towered over him.
Seeing her eyeing the larger meal Alex stood and removed the pig from the fire. He then laid it on the ground before her and withdrew the wooden spit. Rising to his full height, Alex saw that she stood over five feet tall. She was actually the first Fury lord he’s ever seen so closely before. Her feathers were a beautiful brown with black flakes blended in with them and the white feathers that tipped her wings and tail feathers were glorious. Her body was streamlined to perfection and her features were the finest of her race.
Sheer then surprised and startled Alex by jumping atop her meal, digging her talons into the skull and flanks of the boar. Then she encircled her body and meal by bringing her wings forward to shield what she was doing. Through her suddenness he stepped back by instinct. She didn’t notice his reaction to her frightening display as she lowered her head and used her beak to rip a chunk of meat from her meal.
“Be not afraid, Alex.” Elo said. Alex turned to see that he had already eaten his entire meal, bones and all. “Sheer and I have been partners for over two decades. She is an honorable Fury and will not attack her friends.”
Hearing this, she stopped eating to say “Elo is correct. I see you as one of my hatchlings. I see this whole flock as my chicks and I shall protect you as any mother would. Should any danger threaten my chicks they will be the first to taste my talons.” She lifted one to demonstrate. “Besides you’ve yet to meet your new nest-mates, Alex.”
Gerieg suddenly cleared his throat in annoyance and Sheer quickly said “Never mind. Forgive me, Gerieg.”
“It is quite alright, but keep in mind what must be done in proper order.” He said and then turned to Alex. “I should say that you should forget what she said, but that won’t happen, I’m sure. Keep in mind, Sheer isn’t a patient female. She is kindhearted, but sometimes gets ahead of herself.”
“Doesn’t she remind you of someone else?” Elo said to Gerieg with a tone of humor and the corners of his dull yellow lips turned up in amusement.
Gerieg laughed and stood up to stretch. “Aye, that she does.”
The older Furion then made his way over to the gigantic Beran. He then sat down again and rested his back against Elo’s ribcage.
Feeling left out of the loop, Shade asks “Who does she remind you of?”
Gerieg smiled grimly at the pup and then glanced at his partner for a moment. “Shade, Sheer has the personality of someone I’ve only recent
ly learned is no longer among the living.” He sighed and said “She reminds Elo and me of Alex’s mother, Eriana.”
“My mother?” Alex asked in exasperation. He felt lightheaded and out of breath so suddenly, but remained in control from collapsing. How had he known my mother? He wondered. Alex never got to know her because she died when he was five and only faint memories presented itself from time to time. Maybe he can tell me about her. “What was she…”
“like?” Gerieg said, finishing the obvious question. “I’m sorry, Alex,” he sighed and gave a meaningful look that stopped the lad from interrupting him. “but there is information I cannot tell you about as you are right now.”
“WHY?!” Alex demanded. Gerieg’s words cut through unlike any before. Gerieg knew so much that meant more to Alex than he could possibly ever know. Hearing how childish his own tone was and seeing how Gerieg’s reaction hadn’t changed, Alex composed himself. Clearing his throat first, he asked “Gerieg, you must tell me about her. All you’ve told me was that you were the former king of Ra’van and she was your wife’s aid. I need to know exactly who my own mother was. Was she a good woman? Did she get in trouble as a child? Do you know if I have any more family? Please give me… something.”
Gerieg, Sheer and Elo shared a solemn look between each other and Alex before Gerieg eventually said ever so carefully “Alex, we have the night to discuss certain matters and a full year to learn what you need. Please sit by your partner.”
At the simple request, anger seeped into him, but Alex walked over and rested his back against Shade again. The Xeal staff remained nearby and he retrieved it to lie it across his lap. His expression became impassive to cover up the anger that flowed throughout him. Seeing this, Gerieg spoke in a placating tone. “Alex, while you are with us you will learn much about yourself, who you are and what your gifts are capable of. You will learn of your heritage and parentage in time. Though you were too young to remember me, you must trust that I know what you are going through. If I say something that triggers your abilities, do you know the dangerous consequences they have?”
Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy) Page 2