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Worryingly, they
were harried again and again over the next few days. Every time the
Javni'Tolkhrah would approach them, and Almonihah would drive them
off with arrows. Every time he injured or killed one or two of
them... and every time even more returned.
“Don't like th'
way this 's going,” he commented, watching as well over a dozen
monstrosities flew away after the latest attempt.
“Perhaps it is
better than if they simply waited until all had gathered?” Garkhen
suggested.
Almonihah grunted.
“Like they're getting us used t' it, or something,” he commented,
ignoring Garkhen's optimistic thought.
“We shall have to
remain vigilant, then,” Garkhen replied. “Perhaps more that are
capable of invisibility are gathering?”
Almonihah shrugged
slightly. “Never tell with Javni'Tolkhrah. Could do just about
anything.”
“That is hardly
reassuring,” Garkhen stated. “I shall do my best to ward us, but
it is draining.”
“Save it for when
they attack,” Almonihah replied. “I'll keep watch.”
“Me, too!”
Zakhin'Dakh screeched. “I'll watch too!”
“Let us hope it
is enough,” Garkhen said, worriedly.
They flew on in
silence for a little while, then Zakhin'Dakh screeched again, “What
if we chased them?”
Almonihah
grunted. “Chasing them's prob'ly what they want. They always fly
off in th' opposite direction from where we're going.”
Garkhen frowned,
thinking over what he'd seen and realizing Almonihah was right. And
something else, as well. “Then how are they always in front of us
again?”
The Ranger paused
to think, then growled. “Who knows if they have t' sleep.”
Garkhen shook his
head slightly. “They still seem to be living creatures, surely they
must sleep.”
Almonihah grunted.
He didn't immediately respond, instead looking around. There was
something to Garkhen's words... something... something wrong around
them. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the ground beneath them. They
were zooming past it, but...
Wait. They weren't
going that fast. Things suddenly clicked into place as he took a hard
look at their surroundings. They weren't making a lot of headway.
Instead the ground beneath them was... blurring, giving the
illusion of motion, while they fought against a headwind that made it
feel like they were moving fast.
Almonihah swore
under his breath. “Garkhen, can you do something 'bout this?”
Garkhen, confused,
tried to look over his shoulder at the Ranger. “About what, my
friend?”
“Th' blasted
wind,” he growled in response. “Look hard. Th' ground's actually
trying to fool us. Doing a good job 'f it, too.”
Zakhin'Dakh
screeched a wordless question, then peered at the ground himself.
“Yeah!” he agreed after a moment.
“Let me see what
I can do,” Garkhen replied after looking himself.
He half-closed his
eyes as he thought through the spell-prayers he knew. He'd never run
across one for wind... but if this wind was Chaos-wrought, he might
be able to do something.
The Warder raised
his symbol of Bahamut and chanted a prayer. The change was subtle,
but as Almonihah watched the ground, he saw that the illusion of
motion was quickly becoming truth.
“That did 't,”
he stated.
Garkhen nodded
briefly. He didn't want to mention how much it was going to strain
him to maintain this ward. Fighting back Chaos in the Madlands was
draining, and he suspected they'd need all of their strength in times
to come.
****************************
This section brought to you by the difference between air speed and ground speed. Also by the Madlands being, well, Mad.
