Dawn of a Hybrid

by Ryan Johnson

  “For a long time, I’ve been comparing myself to the Demigod. I just see a few similarities: he’s half one thing and half of another like me, he had two different parents, he was thought to be powerful, and he was thought to be an outsider in his childhood years. I’m wondering if Ralenskrit and Belverda goy that idea: a god and a mortal coming together in a strange union and bearing a child.”

  “I think that is a great idea,” said Marina.

  “What? Having two different species coming together and making a hybrid? I couldn’t see myself coming in whatever king of union with you in any way. That alone is making me think of what our children would look like. I can’t bear the feeling of having so many cross-specimen children as my young.”

  “Are you suggesting we get married now?” asked Marina, smiling.

  Vaeludar gave a glooming look. “Getting married in unknown lands and inside mountain range and inside a hut where we were almost drawn into a fight?” Vaeludar looked at the mountain ranges that stretches off as far as his eyes can see. “Getting married in a glooming place won’t be a great memory to keep in my memory or a story telling place the kids wouldn’t want to wear?”

  “So you are suggesting us getting married?”

  “Not yet,” said Vaeludar. “I’m not going to propose to you right now, Marina. Right now I have an obligation to fulfil and I want to be at our journey’s end as soon as possible. As soon as we reach our destination, we’re going to head back south.”

  “Why do men always ruin a romantic moment when they talk about doing their duties and not sparing some time talking about their romantic life? Spare me duties, obligations, and protecting innocent lives from dangerous threats. They don’t matter to me as you are more important than doing your duty.”

  “If we don’t protect Shimabellia from any potential, lurking threats from the future, then any children we have now will be in danger in the future. Tell me this: if you had a song and Lusìvar kidnapped him, would you be able to save?”

  “Yes, by any means, I would save my child from him.”

  “Even if Lusìvar would make a trade: give you your son in return you kill a child? Would you be able to do that? Kill another child taken from his or her mother’s arms? Would you?”

  Marina remained silent.

  “See? If we don’t silence this Shadow King once and for all, then any child born into the future are going to have a terrible future. If we have children of our own, then they will also be in danger, and Lusìvar will do anything to achieve his power. Even if it means turning family against family, or a mother having to kill her child to kill another and there would be one less fighter.

  “If we take out Lusìvar, then there is a secured future for future generations to thrive, not live in a world of dread. Remember from the old legends: the Shadow King ruled for about four thousand years. In those legends, his last words were said to be double amount of years he would rule: eight thousand years. I wouldn’t want any child to be ruled under him for that long. He’s better off a dead Spirit than a ruling creature. Get it now?”

  Marina gave a small nod.

  “They are sounding like a couple,” said Flavius.

  Vaeludar and Marina turned to see the men and Flarefur glaring at them.

  “I just can’t see how we can cope with those two if we are going to be stuck with them,” said Wonomi.

  “If they keep acting like this,” said Galvin. “I’m going back to the kingdom and start hunting down some pigs and choking the worst grubs I can get my hands on.”

  Vaeludar and Marina turn their heads away from the strangers gazing at the two people acting so much like a couple arguing about their futures.

  “That is enough,” said Vaeludar, standing up. “We should get some sleep when dawn approaches.”

  “Why must we get up that early?” asked Marina.

  “We are still in unknown territory, and we don’t know if there are any prowling monsters lurking nearby. If we sleep through the morning and not get on the move, we’ll end up end being a free meal for the carnivores. And believe me; I don’t want any of my comrades becoming a meal for any predator coming this way.”

  “If you say so,” said Marina.

  As long minutes have passed, everyone was silent as the stars above them, even though they were hidden in a second floor of a hut. They were asleep and Vaeludar kept watch over the group and he would kill any predator that may enter into the hut, and he would stay awake all night long.

  TRAVELING WITH UNEXPECTED ANIMALS

  V

  aeludar blinked endlessly as he saw the few people and Griffin getting up. He sat against the wall all night watching over the people and the Griffin. He saw Flavius, Wonomi, Monico, Galvin, and Flarefur crowded in a circle eating and talking. Marina sat beside to the hybrid, leaning her head on his shoulder; she and Vaeludar watched the men and Griffin talking and eating. They seem to be talking about Vaeludar and how a single half man half creature could be so important could be.

  It was at the crack of dawn. A dimming light was coming from the one window of the hut’s second level. He stretched out his arms, wings, and curly tail to get his dragon blood and human blood flowing in his body. He stood up and helped Marina to her feet.

  “He’s up,” said Flavius, standing up.

  He was followed by Wonomi and Monico then by Galvin. Marina followed closely behind.

  “Is everyone ready to go?” asked Vaeludar.

  They nodded their heads and they stood up. Vaeludar nodded his head in reply and jumped down the hole. He was the first to exit the hut and the others followed behind him. He saw that the fog had cleared and the sunrise was the same the day before: dull, lifeless, and a grey setting.

  Vaeludar turned to face the north, and everyone behind him followed continuing their long walk.

  This time they descended. The walkway down on the mountainside was filled with slippery rocks. It was dangerous walking down. Flavius and Monico nearly lost their balance when they almost slipped on very lose rocks. They were grabbed by Vaeludar’s tail before they could fall off a cliff.

  Just as they descended from the high cliffs, they found themselves walking on a narrow pathway on the mountainside. They had to walk with their backs against the mountain wall. It was more dangerous than walking down on small and thin cliffs. Here, the wrong step would mean the fall of one’s death. They were traveling very slowly.

  Step-by-step on the mountain pass, the group moved without stopping. They walked, with Flarefur flying near them, for a full hour before they found a place to stop for a quick rest. It was an edge that had an overlook of the fog that was right beneath them. In the distance of about a hundred miles or so, there was a single sparling lake in green marshes.

  “That is where the river is, Vaeludar,” said the Griffin, pointing his peak downward the fog. “That is where the river lies, but it seems the fog is still here but only thinner. We may be able to go through it.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t,” said Marina who was looking at some wolves standing on higher cliffs of the mountainside. “Wolves!”

  Everyone turned their attention toward a pack of wile wolves that stood high.

  Growling and snarling, a pack of wolves appeared from behind the mountain’s rocks.

  She pulled the bow and an arrow and shot at a wolf’s head.

  However, the wolf grabbed and snapped the flying arrow with a quick snapping jaw. The wolf, for some reason, wasn’t growling, just staring at the strangers. The other wolves were growling.

  Vaeludar reached for the Crystal Sword sword and drew it out. Flavius, Wonomi, Monico, and Galvin drew out their weapons of swords, axes, and spears. Marina readied another arrow to the string of her bow. Flarefur cocked like an eagle flying in the air.

  The wolves moved slowly downwards with sharp teeth and claws. Their eyes were glowing blue like the night sky of a silvery moon.

  Behind the companions was a long drop of a t
housand feet. It seemed they either had to choose to fight or try to find a way down and quickly before they end up being the main entrees. Vaeludar and Flarefur could fly the non-flyers down, but the atmosphere made it impossible for Vaeludar to fly.

  From behind the group, about four wolves came down and slowly advanced towards them. The wolf pack slowly moved with teeth sharp and jaws snarling. They are as hungry as a carnivore can get.

  Vaeludar kept his sword pointed at the four oncoming wolves. The others stayed on the higher cliffs. He was ready to strike down the four wolves if they weren’t going to back away from them. He needed to protect his companions from the wolves.

  Just inches away from the sword, the alfa wolf had its nose right at the pointed end.

  “I’m not going to stick my nose in that thing if you want me to,” said the wolf

  They all blinked in great shock and confusion. They just heard a hungry carnivore talk to them. Then in the confusion, the wolves went from snarling fiercely to sitting like proper pet dogs.

  “Err, sorry?” said Vaeludar, confused.

  “What do think we are, boy? Carnivores?” asked the wolf.

  “Um, yes,” answered Vaeludar, lowering the sword.

  “Well, we don’t eat humans. Otherwise, we would be considered wild wolves of these wild mountains.”

  “You won’t eat us?” asked Vaeludar.

  “No,” answered the wolf.

  “But one of my companions—”

  “Almost killed me, yes,” the wolf barked. “I know that! You think I don’t? I have eyes. I can see plain and clear like night and day, sonny. On this matter, you are traveling towards the river, are you not? Come with us. We know the way around these mountains.”

  “Why should we trust you?” asked Marina, aiming an arrow at the talking wolf.

  “Know your place, Siren,” warned the wolf. “I am Worewolf, king of the Mountain Wolves. Yes, I have eyes that show me the true nature of any animal, creature, or animal. There are many things I know about that even you two legged creatures don’t know about.”

  “What choice do we have then?” asked Vaeludar. “Lower you weapons. As of now, these Mountain Wolves are, um, temporary allies?”

  Everyone carrying a weapon reluctantly put their weapons away. They didn’t want to trust a wolf that could talk. They knew it was an animal and not a creature; animal and creature had different meanings in their dictionary. Animal represented living animals such as lions, tigers, and turtles and any animal considered to be a real-life animal. Creature represented a living being of mythology.

  “I can tell you’re the leader,” said Worewolf.

  “I am a hybrid,” replied Vaeludar. “If your eyes don’t deceive you, I am half human and half dragon.”

  “I can see that. Didn’t I just say I have eyes, boy? I can see. I can see! I! CAN! SEE! So, what are trying to do anyway? Trying to find your way in the fog? Come with us and we’ll show you a faster way towards the lake.”

  “Are you sure you can do that?” asked Vaeludar.

  “What kind questions are you asking?” asked Worewolf. “That would be like asking if a chicken is ready to lay its eggs. I can travel through any fog and travel in any weather condition in these mountains. And you sound like you don’t trust us wolves.”

  “We don’t trust when we meet any creature or human at first sight,” stated Vaeludar, sheathing his sword. “It takes a leap of faith first. We start to trust later if they remain true to their word. We can never be too lazy to take one’s word.”

  “Wise one for someone at your age.”

  “I was raised by the best,” said Vaeludar.

  “Can we stop with this little pep talk and start moving?” grunted Galvin, shaking his legs. “I get tired when I stand in one place far too long.”

  “Interrupting at the wrong time, Galvin,” said Vaeludar. “Ok, we’ll trust only to get us out of these mountains.”

  “Very well, follow us,” said Worewolf.

  Worewolf and the three other Mountain Wolves went up the way they came. They led the way for the humans, the Siren, and the Griffin. Vaeludar slowly came to trust these wolves, even though they just met as he did with the people: Galvin, Wonomi, and Monico.

  “This way, up this mountain to the top. There is a clear pathway to walk on. It has been abandoned for a long time.”

  Reluctantly, Vaeludar ordered Flavius, Wonomi, Monico, Galvin, and Marina to climb the mountainside. Then he ordered the Griffin to fly ahead. They followed his orders but remained cautious about the Mountain Wolves.

  The climb was easy yet treacherous; some sites that looked like a stuck-in rocks were actually loose rocks. Galvin, Wonomi, and Flavius nearly lost their footing. The wolves would quickly grab anyone that would have fallen to their deaths. Then they warned the humans what to grab and not to grab as they descended further.

  Marina was climbing swiftly yet raveling with wolves had angered her. She was easily bothered by these wolves, and she would never trust them, even if they were showing them a faster way.

  Vaeludar was climbing with ease. Unlike the rest, he wasn’t using his human arms; he was using his wings to do the climbing. His eyes switched from human to dragon. His dragon vision showed him patterns of lose rocks and stuck-in rocks. Every time he would pass one, he would give it a small burnt look to the rock so it would be hot that one would be able to touch it.

  It was about two hours when the climbing humans stopped at the top of the mountain. Flavius and Marina brushed any small particles off their bare, bruised hands. Flarefur was waiting for them at the mountain’s summit. Vaeludar shook the claws of his wings after climbing really high.

  Vaeludar found a small pool of water. He walked towards and dumped his hands the pool although his hands weren’t numbed but his wings were. The water glowed blue; it swirled up his arms and to his wings. His wings were shaking if they were out of his control. The claws of his wings rattled when they were being healed.

  Vaeludar withdrew his hands from the small pool. His wing-claws were healed and ready for more climbing if there was going to be any more climbing.

  Soon after, every sat down for a rest from the high climb. Vaeludar was the only one standing up.

  At the mountain’s summit, Vaeludar could get a small glimpse of the lake far away, surrounded by green, lush swamps and marshes. As far as Vaeludar could see, they still had about a hundred or so miles of mountains to go.

  Worewolf joined Vaeludar’s view of the long walk ahead.

  “Thinking of traveling that way?” asked the wolf leader.

  “Yes,” answered Vaeludar.

  “Well, we’re not going that way,” said Worewolf.

  “What!?”

  “Everybody travels that way instead of going the other way around. Everybody goes that way because they think it is the safest way. Cyclopes roam those mountain areas. There is another way around.”

  “Where would that be?” asked Marina.

  “The Siren doesn’t seem to trust us at all,” stated Worewolf.

  “She is the last Siren, the last of her kind. Many wolves tamed by any hunters would use the wildest wolves to hunt down any Siren they deem a monster and… tear them apart, limp-from-limp. Since her kin was mostly demolished by wild wolves used by hired merchants, she hates wolves more than she hates men.”

  “I see,” said Worewolf. “But we wolves cannot be used or tame by men. We are already tame by a person of legend: a White Knight.”

  “What!?” they all shouted.

  “Yes, we are pets to a White Knight, or at least I am. We were to be placed in these mountains, to guide people towards their destinations, to have them trust us.”

  “Wolves? White Knight? Trust? I see a connection here: the White Knight of Trust,” exclaimed Vaeludar.

  “Yes, Vaeludar, the White Knight of Trust was my master,” said Worewolf. “In history, there have been four White Knights every time an evil
rises after another: the White Knights of Trust, Charity, Loyalty, and Strength. For each generation, a new White Knight was chosen to take the place of the old one. This had been a cycle for many millennia.”

  “Where is the White Knight of Trust now?” asked Flavius.

  “His spirit roams these mountainsides,” answered Worewolf.

  “But how… which…?”

  “The spirit of the very first White Knight of Trust was my master; his successors are thriving in the next world, among the stars. It has been my duty to get people to trust us to lead them out of the mountain borders.”

  “Hold on a sec,” interrupted Vaeludar. “How did you know my name?”

  “I know many different things you can never imaging, and I am not an ordinary wolf roaming in the wild,” answered Worewolf.

  “Now, I am starting to get suspicious about this place,” groaned Galvin.

  “Just lead us out of here,” said Vaeludar.

  “Very well then, if you people, hybrid, and Siren are ready, we will be leaving right now.”

  After five minutes, everyone was strapped and ready to go and ready to leave the mountains. They strapped their bags and weapons tight. Marina’s bow and quiver were attached to her back. Flavius had the bags of wood and food attached to his back. The others made sure the bags they were carrying were very tight.

  Worewolf howled in the distance horizon. Then they were off.

  The group traveled for the rest of the day. The pathway they traveled on was the mountaintops, which was save although they did come across some lose boulders. They walked in single file to stay on the mountain paths. Worewolf took the lead while the others followed him from behind. Vaeludar was behind the wolf leader as Flavius was behind him. Marina was behind Flavius and behind her was Galvin. Wonomi was behind Galvin, and Monico was in the very back of the traveling companions, but the wolves were walking behind Monico. Flarefur took to the skies.