Fighter

by Isaac Hooke

  Jack tried to shake them off, but could not. Soon, they were all around him, tightening, squeezing.

  Malem reached out, trying to Break them; while he could wrap his will around them, he was unable to tighten it. He Broke some of the weaker entities he felt in the forest nearby—those that resided in the boughs—and summoned them for help.

  Other worms came in at Malem and Aurora.

  Malem hefted his sword, and dashed forward. He slashed at the worms, cutting them open, clearing a path toward Jack. Beside him, Aurora stabbed with her pike, causing the worms to curl up into injured balls. Sometimes, the stricken worms would repeatedly curl and uncurl, convulsing in their death throes.

  Malem’s summoned beasts arrived. They were what could best be described as birds, and when they attacked, pecking at the white, slimy flesh of the worms, they proved relatively useless.

  As he reached Jack, Malem noticed movement from the corner of his eye. He turned toward the right side of the clearing.

  Apparently other worms nested in the surrounding trees, because from them, two of the largest worms Malem had yet seen slithered down from the boughs. These worms were about twice as thick as a man, and as long as a house.

  Aurora summon two Mini-Balors. She slumped, weakened from the previous summoning, and he fed her a small amount of stamina to replenish what she had lost. He was unable to take stamina from the other companions bound to him, for the same reason that he could not communicate with them.

  The demons approached, and swung a sword and an ax at the worms. The weapons struck home, but the worms seemed to absorb the blows, because they promptly wrapped their bodies around the mini-Balors, and proceeded to wrestle. As they fought, they rolled into the trees and out of the clearing.

  While Aurora watched his back, Malem sliced at the worms that bound Jack. He purposely didn’t kill two of them, stabbing only to injure, and then Broke the worms. He commanded them to release Jack, and attack the other worms that were still coming at Aurora.

  These two are mine, he warned her as the worms sped past to intercept the others.

  Jack, free of his larva binds, hoisted another log from the dwelling, and shoved through the resultant opening. He kicked the smaller worms off his son, an act that elicited a high-pitched hissing sound from the surrounding trees.

  “I think he pissed off the parents,” Aurora said.

  “Sounds like it,” Malem agreed.

  Four more big worms slithered down from the surrounding treetops, coming in from all four sides of the clearing. They were the source of the hissing, and continued to unleash that sharp sibilance as they approached.

  “Jack, let’s go!” Malem said. He tried to wrap his will around these bigger worms, but could not.

  “Uh,” Aurora said.

  The worms flung out their tails, overlapping them, and forming a solid barrier around all sides of the clearing. Malem and the others would have to cut their way through.

  Malem unhooked the crystal sword from his waist. “It’s about time I stopped keeping this from you.” He tossed the blade her way.

  Her eyes brightened with greed, and she promptly held the weapon aloft. Mist arose from the ground, and entered the bodies of the worms. As the smaller creatures fell, the blade glowed a bright crimson.

  But the four big worms remained standing.

  “Why aren’t they going down?” he asked her.

  “It doesn’t work on everything!” Aurora said. “Grendel was right: without Denfidal to boost my powers, the amount I drain depends on a combination of the monster’s level and will!”

  Using the stamina granted her by the sword, she summoned two more mini-Balors, and sent them toward one of the worms.

  They began hacking at its thick exterior, but the worm wrapped around the two demons, squeezing them together; that tail swung over Malem and the others, knocking down the dwelling. It squeezed between the nearby trees as it rolled away from the clearing.

  The other worms continued to close, tightening their tails, decreasing the size of the clearing.

  Malem sensed the other two big worms returning; they had beaten the original mini-Balors Aurora had sent at them. And they were weakened. He reached out, and discovered one of them was injured enough to Break. When it was his, he sent it forward to attack the worm directly in front of Jack, himself, and Aurora.

  The targeted monster squirmed, then curled its body backward, wrapping it around the surrounding trees, and Malem’s worm. A gap opened in that wall of tails, giving Malem and the others a path.

  “Let’s go!” he said.

  Just as he dashed forward, a roar filled the air, and then a giant beak slammed down into another worm behind him. That beak belonged to a large, otherwise apish monster.

  “Looks like the commotion has attracted some other denizens!” Aurora said.

  The ground shook, and more of those beak-apes tore through the trees. Malem couldn’t Break any of them, which meant it was doubtful Aurora would be able to drain them with her sword.

  The three of them fled through the jungle led by Jack. Branches whipped at Malem’s exposed face and hands, and he kept his sword at the ready to hack the bigger branches from his path.

  He could feel large energy bundles directly behind them as some of the apes pursued.

  Malem glanced over his shoulder, and saw the black, hairy feet of the monsters trampling through the undergrowth not far behind.

  “They’re attracted by our noise!” Jack said, carrying his son tightly against his breast.

  “Then we duck here!” Malem said. “And let them pass!”

  He dodged behind a thick bole with the other two, and cowered as the beak-apes broke through the forest and passed.

  Malem kept expecting those apes to realize they had lost the trail, but the monsters kept dashing forward, and soon receded into the distance.

  Malem sensed that Jack’s son was almost gone. He needed stamina. Malem could Break the child, or…

  He glanced at Aurora. “Can you feed endurance to the child with that sword?”

  She nodded. “If I kill all the animals nearby, yes.”

  “Do it,” Jack said.

  She glanced at Malem for confirmation. He nodded.

  “As you wish,” she said, and raised the blade. The sword glowed crimson, so he knew mist was rising somewhere in the forest around him, seeking out the animals that sheltered in the trees.

  And then she glanced at the child, and the glow subsided.

  The small Trabeculae coughed, and then opened its eyes. The child emitted a small clattering sound, which was answered by an excited series of hisses and clicks from Jack. He looked at Malem.

  “Thank you!” Jack said. Drops of moisture trickled down Jack’s mandibles, and Malem thought that was the equivalent of crying for a Trabeculae. Then again, it could have been from the effort of issuing all those noises.

  “Can you lead us back to the surface now?” Malem asked.

  “Of course,” Jack replied. “I want to get my son home.”

  Jack picked his way through the trees, heading toward the sloping side of the cavern to their right.

  “Last time I was here,” Jack said. “There was a portal leading to the surface.”

  “A portal?” Malem said. “That’s… strange.”

  “Yes,” Jack said. “My people believe the sinkholes always lead to the same pocket realm. And given that the layout of this cavern, and the monsters that inhabit it, seem similar to the other underworld cavern I entered years ago, I tend to agree with that assessment. If I’m right, we’ll be getting out of here shortly. If not, then it could be a while, considering it took me weeks to track down the portal the last time.”

  “So we’re actually in a different realm?” Aurora asked. “And not simply beneath the surface?”

  “I believe so, yes,” Jack said.

  Malem glanced at Aurora. “That explains why I can’t contact the others.”

  They emerged from the treeline
and proceeded up the slope. The foliage was still thick for the most part, though a few sections were sparse, and allowed for easier passage. A trail quickly emerged. Well, more of a partially overgrown trail, really. Malem didn’t need his sword anymore, so he sheathed it. He offered the scabbard of the crystal sword to Aurora.

  “You’re not going to take the weapon back?” she asked.

  “It’s yours, for the moment,” he replied.

  She nodded, and accepted the scabbard. “Thank you.” She secured the sheath to the belt that gird her robe, and slid the crystal sword inside.

  “I mapped out this route, and shared it with the others of my kind,” Jack said as he continued up the winding path. “So that if ever any of us got caught in this realm, they would know the way out.”

  “So, you’re suggesting that this trail exists only because of those like you who became trapped here, and escaped?” Malem said.

  “That’s what I’m saying, yes,” Jack told him.

  A familiar roar came from the treetops below. With the foliage so low around them, they were exposed on that slope, and visible to monsters that happened to be glancing that way from across the cavern. He saw two of the beak-apes emerge from the treeline.

  “Pick up the pace!” Malem said.

  More beak-apes emerged.

  The trail wound upward, past a mud-slick portion of the slope. A section of the trail ahead was completely devoid of any undergrowth, and covered in mud.

  “Careful here,” Jack said. “You slip, you’re sliding all the way back down.”

  Jack took a step onto the surface, and fell. His shoulder hit hard, but he shielded his child from the impact.

  Malem reached down, and hooked a hand underneath Jack’s underarm, and hauled him back up onto the path.

  “Thank you,” Jack said. “You’re making a habit of saving me.”

  “Yes, just don’t make it a habit of nearly dying!” Malem said.

  Malem led the way into the foliage that bordered the path, and diverted around the slick section, before rejoining the main path after it. Jack took the lead once more, moving at a jog.

  Beside them, the two beak-apes continued to climb the slope. Rapidly.

  The apes hit a muddy patch, and plunged down the slick surface before getting up and trying a different route.

  Two more beak-apes crashed through the trees and joined their brethren.

  The trail was rather slick ahead, and Aurora slipped and fell. The foliage was thick enough beside her to halt her descent, thankfully.

  “This is so not fun,” Aurora said, standing. Her robes were covered in mud all over again.

  The three of them hurried forward as fast as they were able. The beak-apes kept hitting muddy sections below so that every time it almost seemed like Malem and the others were going to meet an untimely end, they were snapped free from the jaws of death when the apes slipped away.

  And, where the trail met with the wall just beneath the roof of the cavern, Malem spotted a bright yellow portal, no bigger than the size of a child. He had to avert his eyes because of the pain that blinding light caused.

  Jack hurried to it. “Crawl through!” He lowered the child in front of him, and followed after on hands in knees.

  “After you,” Malem told Aurora.

  She frowned, apparently not wanting to get her robe—or knees—muddy again, but when the giant hand of an ape hit not far from their position, she promptly dropped to the dirt and crawled through.

  Malem switched to his hands and knees as well. And as another ape hand descended directly for his position, he hauled himself into the blinding light.

  That familiar warmth enveloped him, as did that all-encompassing white light.

  And when it faded, he resided on the plains of the Light Realm he had left earlier. He stood. There was no sign of the portal behind him.

  Aurora, Jack, and his other companions stood nearby. The Metals lurked nearby in dragon form, as did Iridaceae. Behind them were the ruins of the Trabeculae camp, along with the bodies of the alligaboars and spider monsters that had died trying to take it.

  Many Trabeculae were gathered around Jack, who was clicking and clattering, his arms moving animatedly, sometimes pointing at Malem and Aurora, other times at his child, who clung to his leg beneath him.

  Gwen slammed into him, giving him a hug. When she released him, she looked down, seemingly aware of the mud that encased him for the first time. Some of it had smeared onto her dragonscale armor. She smiled. “You need a bath.”

  “I do,” he agreed.

  He barely finished the words before Wendolin wrapped him in another hug. He felt similar warmth and joy emanating from the others bound to him. Lantos pressed its head against Malem, forcing him to acknowledge the pegasus. Malem stroked the animal’s flank.

  Timlir approached, but then suddenly leaped in fright. Beside him, Gwen started at well. Even Lantos pulled away, snorting nervously.

  Everyone was staring at something behind Malem.

  He turned around.

  A giant, mutilated, hairy finger had appeared, and lay there on the ground. Blood oozed from the severed end.

  “What the hell is that?” Gwen said.

  “That would be the finger of one of our pursuers,” Malem said. “See, this is why you don’t go sticking your finger into random holes.”

  “Sort of like what you do to us?” Xaxia said with a wink.

  24

  Malem sheathed his blade, and approached the group of Trabeculae. Jack turned toward him, and patted him on the shoulders.

  “My friend, my friend!” Jack said proudly. “Thank you for your help.”

  Malem nodded. “So does that mean you’ll help us in turn? We need someone with, what did the Paragon call it, the ‘Scent’ ability.”

  Jack’s insectile features seemed to darken, but then he said: “I will help you. Without you, my son would be dead now. I will personally lead you to the vessel containing the Balor you seek.”

  “Good,” Malem said. “I appreciate it.” He glanced at Iridaceae, who was towering overhead. “Did you hear that?”

  “Yes,” the Paragon said. She addressed Jack: “When can we leave?”

  “Immediately,” Jack said.

  Xaxia came to his side. “Your people don’t need to rebuild?”

  “No,” Jack said. “We’re nomads. These houses were disposable anyway. However, the lives within them were not. As soon as they are done preparing the bodies, my tribe will march.”

  “How will you find them?” Xaxia said.

  Jack’s mandibles curled back in either a smile, or a frown. Malem couldn’t tell which, but he suspected the latter. “I have the Scent, Human.”

  And so the next phase of the journey began. Jack bid farewell to his tribe, and he touched antennae to each and every one of theirs before departing. Some of the Trabeculae even insisted on touching their antennae to Malem, who bowed his head respectfully and allowed them.

  “I wouldn’t let those bugs touch me like that,” Gwen commented when the last of the Trabeculae had their turn with him.

  Malem shrugged. “When you hang around animals and the woods as much as I do, you stop caring if insects touch you.”

  Malem mounted Lantos, and glanced at the Paragon. “So, will you carry Jack?”

  “Jack?” she asked.

  “That’s what I’ve named our new friend,” Malem said.

  She gave Jack a curious look.

  “He is allowed to call me what he wishes,” Jack said. “He saved my son.”

  The Paragon nodded. “Very well. And yes, I will carry him.”

  “Wait,” Gwen said. “You’re going to let her keep that sword?” She nodded at Aurora.

  “Yes,” Malem said. “She’s proven herself trustworthy. She may keep it until that changes.”

  Aurora inclined her head. “Thank you.”

  “Also, when this mission is over, I’m probably going to let her go,” Malem said. “Now that we know
the type of magic she wields, and the extents of that magic. She isn’t the menace I thought she might be.”

  He was still a bit worried she would try to mentally break away from him, and that the duo would be locked into an endurance contest, with him draining stamina from her while she drained it from him with the sword in turn. He supposed if that happened, he could always have someone knock the blade away from her.

  Plus, he wasn’t certain she would be able to drain from him at all, now that she was no longer linked to Denfidal, and given how strong-willed he was. He decided it was worth the risk, if only to ensure her loyalty during the rest of the mission.

  “So you’re saying she’s not as powerful as you thought?” Grendel glanced at Aurora. “I think he just insulted you.”

  “Typical,” Aurora said.

  “You’re really going to let her go?” Xaxia crossed her arms. “Are you sure she can be trusted, free in the world?”

  “Denfidal’s influence is gone from her,” Malem said. “I don’t think we have to worry about her. However… if rumors ever drifted our way, about a woman who used a sword to slay entire villages without laying a hand on them, she can rest assured that we would hunt her down.”

  Aurora merely shrugged, and then clambered up Weyanna’s proffered wing with Wendolin.

  The others loaded onto their respective dragons as well, two per Metal. Iridaceae meanwhile scooped up Jack and held him before her in an open palm.

  Malem spurred Lantos into the air, and hovered the pegasus beside the Paragon’s hand. “So, which way?” he asked.

  A sheath descended over Jack’s eyes, before retracting.

  I didn’t know he could blink.

  “Get back,” Jack said. “I sense the Darkness of the Balor inside of you. It’s interfering with my tracking.”

  “All right.” Malem directed Lantos away from the Paragon, until he was well away from her open palm and the tracker it contained.

  “This way,” Iridaceae said. She began walking away from the ruined camp, to the southeast.

  Malem and the others followed.