Lost Lands
CHANGING TIMES PART 2
Shaun Griffiths
Contents
Bonus Materials
Prologue
1. Chapter One
2. Chapter Two
3. Chapter Three
4. Chapter Four
5. Chapter Five
6. Chapter Six
7. Chapter Seven
8. Chapter Eight
9. Chapter Nine
10. Chapter Ten
11. Chapter Eleven
12. Chapter Twelve
13. Chapter Thirteen
14. Chapter Forteen
Coming Soon…
Acknowledgments
About the Author
An Urgent Request…
Kindle Edition
Copyright 2016, Shaun L Griffiths
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Edited by Joy Mutter
Cover Art by CoverQuill.com
Typeset by Katzilla Designs
Created with Vellum
Bonus Materials
Would you like to move deeper into the world of Changing Times with exclusive content?
Click Here to join our VIP Newsletter list, and for links to bonus materials which include:
•A map that charts the course of our heroes through the Alps.
•First access to Part 3 in the Changing Times trilogy during its FREE promotion.
Also in this series: Shifters Alliance (Changing Times Part 1)
Dedicated to Tom.
Sometimes you have to journey to the ends of the earth to find what you really want.
Prologue
EVEN IN THE darkness, Sam could make out the bulky form of Naz and Vin, the Snow Bears’ white fur a stark contrast against the rolling hills behind. Sam nodded his thanks to them for staying with him in the coming battle, then stepped forward, calling the men to line up.
Naz felt a tinge of pride seeing Sam acknowledge them both.
‘He’s gonna be on the front line!’ Naz said to Vin, standing beside him. ‘Sam will be a great leader of this Clan when they get around to crowning him king.’
‘And he called us friend, did y’hear that, Naz?’
Naz shook his head in wonder, ‘I heard him, Vin. They’ll never believe us back home. Our friend the king!’
From the corner of his eye, Naz saw Carter approaching. He elbowed Vin in the ribs to get his attention, nodding in Carter’s direction. ‘Here’s the young hero,’ he said quietly.
Vin turned to watch Carter’s long purposeful strides kick up clouds of dust where he strode across the parched grasslands.
‘You should be back at the river with the others, Carter, helping them evacuate to the island. You’ve done more than enough in this war,’ said Vin.
‘My place is next to Sam. I’m the runner, I’ll be relaying messages.’
‘I heard you were one of the fastest,’ said Naz. ‘We’ll be rearguard, making sure nothing breaks through. We got your back, we’ll look out for you.’
Carter craned his neck back, trying to look the towering Snow Bears in the eye. ‘I want you to know, it’s been a real pleasure meeting you,’ he said.
‘Aww, don’t you go thinking like that, Carter, this is not the end. We’re gonna get through this. We’ll knock those apes from one side of that forest to the other. Come tomorrow, we’ll be laughing about this,’ said Naz, with a grin he hoped looked real.
Carter tried to raise a smile, but only half succeeded.
‘Use your peripheral vision, Carter,’ Vin said. ‘In this darkness, they could come at you from anywhere, so don’t stay focused on one point. Try to be aware of what’s going on around you, and let Sam know if you see any of them circling around behind.’
‘I will,’ Carter promised.
The bears watched the men form up into their lines, facing the forest. The roaring flames cast eerie flickering shadows along the ranks. Naz could see the nervousness in some, as they shuffled their feet, readjusting their hold on their staffs. Others stood unmoving except for an exaggerated rise and fall of their shoulders as they took deep breaths to calm themselves. There was a deathly silence along the rows of men. At the front stood Sam. The future king, leaning on his staff as if waiting for a fish to bite.
‘Front rank, DOWN!’ Sam shouted.
The men standing in the first line knelt on the ground, angling their staffs upwards, as a lethal barrier against the coming apes.
‘On my command, front rank, thrust and retreat!’ he called.
‘What are your Clan’s tactics here?’ asked Naz.
‘The men in front, kneeling, will try to take down the first wave of apes,’ said Carter. ‘They’ll step forward and jab, to the belly or the neck. When the apes fall, it’ll be an obstacle for the one charging behind. Then our men step back through the lines and the ones behind bring their staffs down on the heads of the apes following. It’s to stop their forward momentum, to slow them up so we don’t get hit full on.’
‘Brave men,’ said Vin, ‘and well disciplined.’
‘We train all our lives. We always hoped we’d never have to use it. I better take my place,’ said Carter.
‘Carter, you’re gonna be okay. We’ll look out for you. See you at breakfast,’ said Naz.
This time Carter’s smile was real. With a last look up at the enormous bears he’d come to know so well, Carter turned toward the burning forest, to take his position close to Sam.
‘You’d never believe he’s a youngster,’ said Naz. ‘Awful responsibilities on the young guy’s shoulders.’
‘Grew up before his time,’ agreed Vin. ‘But he had no choice in it.’
An explosion to their left went unnoticed as another towering pine burst into flames. The superheated air and gasses in the trunk exploding outward, sending a shower of branches and embers in all direction.
‘Not many left,’ said Vin. ‘Those apes will come charging the minute the last tree falls. They’ve got no tactics, it’s just gonna be a full on, mad attack.’
Naz looked at his companion. Remembering for a moment that they were now the last of the Guards sent south to try to stop the invading apes. He felt pride to be standing next to the young recruit.
‘We’re gonna get through this, Vin. We’ve done it before, and we’re gonna do it tonight. We’re prepared, and we’re Guards.’
Vin, nodded, silently preparing himself for the battle to save the Southlands. They moved forward, closer to the lines of men standing ready. The forest’s inferno advanced ever nearer. Vin felt his heart flutter and his knees shake as the adrenaline surged through him, preparing him for battle. Fight or flight? he thought, embracing the sensation. Tonight, there was nowhere left to run.
Looking into the forest they could see the hate-filled, red-glowing eyes of the enraged apes following their every move. The apes screamed hysterically from behind the once impenetrable border that was the forest, the invisible wall that had kept them locked out. Between the trunks of the last line of trees, the glowing eyes darted back and forth in a growing frenzy. Soon, the forest that had held them prisoner for generations would burn to the ground, and they’d be free to wreak their revenge on anyone and everyone.
1
Chapter One
IN THE DISTANCE, the forest was steaming and hissing, a mist slowly rising from the remains of the canopy. The smell of burnt pines was all-pervading. Last gasp cracks from the dying embers broke the stillness of early dawn. Rising smoke and steam mixed with the low rain-filled clouds, forming a heavy grey sky that seemed to weigh down on Naz.
He rolled onto his back and let out a long, low moan. His once white fur, now soaked and matted from lying in the waterlogged mud, took on a grey-brown colour. Looking down at himself, he tried to look on the bright side, Well, at least I’m well camouflaged now.
Turning his head, he saw Vin to his left, huddled in a ball and for once, not snoring. He lay in a pile of ash where he’d collapsed hours earlier, exhausted from the previous evening’s action.
And we’re still alive, he thought. That was some night.
As his mind slowly warmed up, he tried to piece together the night’s events, but couldn’t recall anything.
It’ll all come back to me... later he thought. His eyelids refused to stay open, he drifted back into a sleep of exhaustion.
Vin was semi-conscious. He also lay, trying to put the pieces back together in his mind. He remembered standing behind the line of men, watching the last of the trees ignite. Just one row left before the apes broke out and all hell was let loose. Then the heavens opened and the torrential downpour had started. Months of a scorching, arid summer finally coming to an end. He couldn’t ever remember being so happy to feel rain running down his face.
He could recall the moment when everyone realised it was all over, they were saved, and the forest would still stand. Some of the men had fallen to their knees in exhaustion, the adrenaline preparing them for battle making their knees shake uncontrollably. Others punched their fists high in the air, shouting, laughing, and singing.
But they’d acted as professional Guards. They held back, only looking at each other and smiling.
‘Looks like we’re going home, Naz’ he said
‘Have you got any pie left?’ Naz had asked hopefully.
‘I’ve been saving a piece, just in case.’
‘Better to have one and not need it…’
‘…than want one and not have it,’ finished Vin.
And then they too had started laughing, until their bellies ached and tears ran down their cheeks, mixing with the rain. He remembered they’d collapsed from laughing so much, and that’s when he’d stopped any pretence at being a professional, finally releasing the pent-up tension of waiting for the apes to attack.
Between trying to catch his breath, Naz had managed to say, ‘I always knew you’d make a good Guard, Vin. A Guard always knows where his pie is.’
‘Thanks, Naz, but where’s your pie?’
‘In your bag.’ And they both fall over again in another fit of laughter.
Hours later, Naz slowly started to recover his memory. It came back in disjointed flashbacks of the previous night. The celebrations began, he could remember singing, and then trying to dance at some point. He groaned aloud. Maybe it’s better not to remember, he thought.
They’d brought out food, lots of food. Roasted fish and vegetables laid out for them, with thick heavy bread. He remembered someone had passed him a cup, with a yellow liquid in it. Frank, he said his name was. He’d said he made the best Yellow Berry juice in the Southlands. The memories slowly reformed in Naz’s mind. And it sure did taste good, with quite a kick to it. After the fourth, he could no longer feel his tongue. He remembered feeling Frank was his new best friend and all the Southerners were really nice people. Before we head for home, I’ll have to ask Frank how he made this stuff was the last thought he could remember. He lay in the mud and tried, but failed, to recall anything past that point. He could not remember getting here, or where ‘here’ actually was.
I’ll rest a little more, it’ll all become clear later, he thought.
His eyelids were becoming impossibly heavy again. He felt himself falling back again into the oblivion of a dreamless sleep. His last coherent thought was, We’ll soon be going home.
* * *
Holly kept her eyes shut tight. Afraid to open them, not wanting to admit this was not a nightmare. She felt short of air, the pain in her chest made her breath short, sharp gasps. She was aware of the white light against her closed eyes, but her body, her arms and legs, were paralysed, unable to brush away the snow she now knew for sure covered her face. Her breathing came in quick shallow pants until she couldn’t hold back anymore. She felt a rising panic that this would never end, lost here forever. Finally, against her own will, her mind screamed ‘NO... NOT LIKE THIS!’ She grasped for the one thing deep within her memory that she believed could save her.
‘CARTER, PLEASE… HELP ME,’ her mind screamed into the deafening silence.
* * *
The sensations gripped Carter’s mind with a reality that was horrifying. A white blanket covered his eyes. A feeling of being cold, so very, very cold, it seeped into his bones. He felt the weight on his chest and struggled to breathe. Gasping for air, and unable to fill his lungs. He could not move, his whole body was frozen, unable to free himself. He was buried alive. And in his nightmare, he couldn’t stop screaming.
* * *
On the other side of the encampment, Vin shot upright, the fur on his spine standing on end.
‘Trouble, Naz,’ he called, his mind instantly awake and engaged.
Another scream echoed across the open ground. A man’s scream, a very young man. The thoughts tumbled through Vin’s mind, making a picture of the danger around him. Naz groggily rose to a sitting position.
‘I’ll check it out,’ Vin said.
They both clambered to their feet. ‘I’m with you,’ Naz called, from one stride behind. Walking quickly across the open ground, they both shook off the aches and pains of sleeping in the mud.
They saw others running towards the shelter from where the shouts had come; a few of the men now stood around outside. Sam emerged, ducking below the shelter’s frame as Naz and Vin arrived.
‘It’s okay, just a bad dream. Nothing to worry about,’ Sam called to those around.
‘He’ll likely have those nightmares for a while after what he’s been through,’ said Naz.
Sam turned to the bears, standing at the back of the crowd of men.
‘Carter’s gonna need a lot of help and understanding,’ Naz said, ‘I’ve seen this sort of thing before.’
Kerri arrived running with her staff in her hand, pushing her way between the two mountains of fur towering over her.
‘Is he all right, Sam?’ she asked, the concern in her voice plain for all to hear. Since she’d rescued Carter from the snowbound mountain passes, and he’d fought to protect her against the apes, their friendship had grown into much deeper feelings for each other.
‘Just a nightmare, Kerri.’
‘Can I see him?’
‘I’m sure that’ll make him feel better.’ Sam agreed.
Kerri pushed her way through to see Carter sitting on his bed. She dropped beside him with an exaggerated fall to sit facing him.
‘What’s up, dream you were coming second in the race behind me?’ she joked.
Carter raised his head to look at her. She could see the smile didn’t reach his eyes. She could also see the weight sitting on his sagging shoulders.
‘It’s just too real, Kerri,’ Carter whispered.
Keri put her arm around his shoulders, ‘You’ve got to let it go.’ she said gently.
‘Holly’s still out there... alone.’
Kerri stiffened, ‘You’ve got to let her go,’ she said more forcibly.
‘Kerri, I’m hearing her voice when I try to sleep.’
‘It’s because you feel responsible for what happened. It wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could. It was because of the storm that you didn’t hear her calls for help.’ Kerri shuddered again at the memory of that night, which now seemed so long ago. She squeeze
d him to her.
‘It’ll go away soon, you’ll see,’ she said quietly, her voice soothing him back to the reality of the morning.
‘I wish you were here every morning when I wake up,’ Carter said, with a real smile this time.
‘Don’t let your Mum and Dad hear you say that!’ she replied, elbowing him in the ribs.
‘You know what I mean.’
She stood quickly. ‘Come on, let’s go find some pancakes, that’ll make you feel better,’ she said, turning for the doorway.
She stepped out and saw Lulu waiting for her. There was a look of concern on her face that Kerri had never seen before.
Lu’s always so carefree, what’s her problem? Kerri thought.
‘Just a bad dream, Lu,’ Kerri said, but as she came close, it seemed Lulu didn’t see her there, as if she was seeing something far away that she didn’t like.
‘Lu? What is it?’ Kerri now felt a little uneasy.
‘Just a bad dream,’ Lulu repeated, without any conviction.
‘Will you come and eat with us?’ she asked, trying to lighten to mood.
‘Sure,’ Lulu, said snapping out of her trance.
‘What about you two overgrown fur balls? Do you eat anything other than pie?’ she said to Naz and Vin.
‘Afraid the belly’s a little fragile this morning, but I could do with some of that moss for a sore head that you gave Vin.’ said Naz.
‘Too much Yellow Berry juice?’ Kerri laughed.
‘Just trying to be sociable,’ said Naz quietly.
‘You’ll find Doc Mossman over there,’ said Lulu pointing to where the men were now dispersing in search of food.
‘Thank you, Miss Lucinda.’
‘No need to stand on formalities,’ she said. ‘You can call me Lulu, everyone else does.’
Naz bowed slightly, still aware of the position Lulu held in the Clan.
Lost Lands (CHANGING TIMES Book 2) Page 1