Chapter 14-2

The three were silent for a long moment. At last, Almonihah slowly said, “I still think Zakhin'Dakh's faster 'an them.”

Garkhen frowned. “Yes... but surely you are not suggesting...”

“Probably the only way,” Almonihah growled. “If he can draw enough of them away, I could probably dive in there and grab it.”

“No! It is too dangerous!”

“Got a better idea?”

“I hardly think suicide is a valid option!”

Suddenly Zakhin'Dakh shrieked a challenge and turned, diving down close to the swirling mass of Javni'Tolkhrah. Spiting a curse in Draconic, Almonihah dove off the griffon's back, trying to put some distance between himself and his friends so that they could put their desperate plan into action. Garkhen swiftly summoned up a ward around the valiant griffon.

He had to draw surprisingly close before the monstrosities responded, but when they did, it was as one. Zakhin'Dakh only just barely managed to pull aside before the teeth of those in the lead caught him. Pumping his wings as hard as he could, the huge griffon sped off, trailing a massive swarm of Javni'Tolkhrah. Even most of those on the ground were following him.

Most, however, was not all, and Almonihah didn't like the look of the few that were still milling around the man holding the Amulet. He'd grabbed a rag earlier—he didn't trust touching the Amulet with his bare skin, especially not how it was now—and he wrapped it around one hand, watching the Javni'Tolkhrah around his target... and then dove. Swiftly he soared over them until he neared the Amulet, then dipped down and siezed the Amulet's chain with his wrapped hand.

In spite of seemingly being dead, the man's grip was firm, and while Almonihah's fly-by snatch succeeded in pulling it out of his hands, the force required upset his inexpert flight, sending him tumbling to the ground just beyond the remaining monsters. Cursing again as he rolled to his feet, Almonihah immediately had to dodge a charging boar-tiger beast. Thinking quickly he leaped on its back as it passed, then jumped off and took to the air again as it rolled to try to throw him off.

As he flew away, one of the other beasts spit spines from a hideous tongue at him. Most missed, but one pierced his boot and stabbed into the foot within. He gritted his teeth against the pain as he fought to gain altitude, then turned to follow after Zakhin'Dakh. He hadn't thought this next part out too carefully.

Zakhin'Dakh, however, was loyal to his friend. In spite of the Javni'Tolkhrah on his heels, the big griffon turned in a big loop, staying just out of their reach as he came around to pick up his friend. Seeing the situation Almonihah turned himself, so as to be flying in the same direction when Zakhin'Dakh caught up to him again. Garkhen reached out a hand as they neared, and Almonihah managed to grab it and pull himself onto the griffon's back.

“Get to Midport!” He shouted as he changed his grip to the back of Zakhin'Dakh's saddle. “Only hope now's that they can help us fight these things off!”

“Indeed!” Garkhen agreed.

Now that he wasn't flying on his own, Almonihah had time to lift his foot. The wound looked bad, but he pulled the spine out, grunting with pain as he did so. Garkhen saw what the other half-dragon was doing, and murmured a quiet spell-prayer of healing, stopping the bleeding and mostly healing the wound.

“Thanks,” Almonihah said, a bit grudgingly. “Now save your strength. Going t' need it all soon, I think.” 

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Yeah, there's going to be a big battle soon. A very big battle. 

I have no idea how I'm going to write it. XD

Chapter 14-1

Chapter 14: Desperation

“Things don't always work out like stories. Sometimes none 'f the choices are good, 'nd just living's the best you can do.”

None of the Javni'Tolkhrah seemed to react as Zakhin'Dakh flew closer. Which wasn't to say any of the group were happy about what they saw. More monstrosities than they had ever seen flew and prowled around the source of the light. Almonihah could just barely make out a man standing at the center... holding something above him.

“Think that's th' Amulet,” he said, unnecessarily.

Garkhen nodded. “But what are we to do about it? I fear we cannot face so many in open combat...”

Almonihah growled. “Well we can't just turn around. Only going t' get worse.”

“Indeed,” Garkhen agreed, “But that leaves us with the question of what to do.”

They were all silent for a few moments, save for Zakhin'Dakh's wingflaps. Almonihah stared at the gathering of Javni'Tolkhrah.

“Not a one 'f them look like they can fly well,” he commented. “Bet you could outfly 'em all, Zakhin'Dakh.”

The big griffon screeched proudly in response to this praise. But Almonihah was still considering the sight below them.

“Think 'f I shot that guy it'd break whatever spell's going on?”

“It seems our best chance,” Garkhen replied doubtfully, “Though it seems it will be a difficult task.”

Almonihah grunted as he nocked an arrow. “Just try t' hold steady, Zakhin'Dakh.”

For a few agonizing moments, the half-bronze dragon held his bowstring taut, looking for an opening. At last he loosed... but his arrow struck one of the many monstrosities circling the man and the Amulet. It roared in pain and swerved, leaving the swarm to chase after the three friends.

The Ranger growled back and fired another arrow, this time aiming at it deliberately. It dipped slightly as his arrow struck it in the shoulder, but it kept coming. His next arrow only skimmed its head. His third arrow, however, pierced its skull, and it tumbled from the sky.

“Least we could pick 'em off,” Almonihah commented. “'less they changed their minds and all came after us.”

“As they likely would,” Garkhen agreed. “And so...”

“Keep shooting,” Almonihah stated, nocking another arrow.

He waited a long time to take his shot, watching for the perfect opening as Zakhin'Dakh slowly circled around the swirling mass of monsters. Finally he fired, his arrow sailing straight through a gap between two Javni'Tolkhrah and shearing through the man's arm and into his chest.

None of the Javni'Tolkhrah so much as looked in their direction. Nor did the man lower the amulet he held. Almonihah growled.

“Not sure that guy's even alive any more,” Almonihah stated after peering for a little while longer at his target. “Doesn't seem like he matters, at least.”

 Garkhen nodded solemnly. “And so, now what are we to do?”

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Wheee, cliffhanger!

Chapter 13-6

 “Are we already that close?” Garkhen asked.

Almonihah growled. “Too close. Can't you feel 't?”

Garkhen was silent a moment, focusing. At first he didn't know what the Ranger was talking about, but then a wind blew from the south for a moment, and the Warder shivered at the touch of wrongness it brought with it.

I don't! Zakhin'Dakh interjected.

Almonihah patted the big griffon's leg. “Just trust me. We're close.”

Then we should go fast!

Almonihah nodded. “Ready t' go?” He asked Garkhen.

The Warder nodded, and after a moment, they were both on Zakhin'Dakh's back, Garkhen in the saddle with Almonihah holding on behind, as usual. They flew along the path, watching for any signs of places someone could have left the trail... but soon enough they didn't need to.

What that? Zakhin'Dakh asked, suddenly pointing a talon into the distance ahead of them.

The two half-dragons on his back strained their eyes in the indicated direction. After a few moments, Almonihah grunted. “There, see 't too. Don't like that I can, though...”

After another moment, Garkhen caught sight of what his friend had seen. Off in the distance, a small light on a low mountaintop... one that was rapidly shifting in color and brightness.

“I cannot think that good,” Garkhen agreed, as Zakhin'Dakh flew on in the growing darkness.

Almonihah grunted his agreement. “All right, Zakhin'Dakh, fast 's you can fly!”

The big griffon shrieked agreement and started flapping heavily, building speed towards the distant lights. They hardly looked better as they closed, especially as the three started to make out shapes moving around the lights.

Many shapes. Very, very many.

“Javni'Tolkhrah,” Almonihah growled.

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Yeah, I had to leave it at the cliffhanger here. 

Chapter 13-5

Zakhin'Dakh brought back part of a mountain goat, so Almonihah had something to eat, and left some for Garkhen. The big griffon settled down afterward and soon was napping, but Almonihah couldn't stay still. He was too tense, too conscious of just how much was at stake... not to mention it was still mid-afternoon. While they'd fought hard, Almonihah wasn't really tired, at least not in the way that would lead to sleep anytime soon.

So he scouted ahead a bit. He'd been nervous about stopping looking at tracks, but as far as he could tell, more people had walked this way recently. Sure, he couldn't guarantee they were the same people, but who else would they be? He did wonder a bit about why they were walking, though. They clearly had powerful wizards among them—why not use magic? Almonihah couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that there was more going on here than they knew, and that it was going to bite them just when they could least afford it...

He returned when the sun was reaching the horizon, having seen no more enemies, but plenty of tracks. Zakhin'Dakh met him in midair.

There you! He shrieked happily when he saw his half-bronze dragon friend.

I was just looking around, Almonihah called back as he flew nearer. Didn't see the bad guys, though.

Not see when hunt either, Zakhin'Dakh agreed.

Is Garkhen awake yet?

Yeah! He wake up! Me too, but not see you, so come look.

Sorry, I couldn't sleep, Almonihah replied as they neared their campsite.

Garkhen waved at them as they approached. “I am glad to see you well,” he said to Almonihah as the other half-dragon came in for a landing.

“Thanks,” Almonihah grunted.

“I apologize that I slept so long. If I but had more endurance...”

“Stop.” Almonihah snapped. “'f it weren't for your wards we'd all be dead twice by now. So don't be sorry that you can't carry a mountain, too.”

Garkhen blinked, taken aback by his friend's gruff admonishment.

Almonihah didn't give him time to come up with an argument. “Moon's mostly full tonight, 'nd it'll be up soon enough. 'f we fly for part of the night we might catch them camping.” He paused. “Though I think we might find 'em already in th' Madlands.”

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Yeah, Garkhen doesn't accept his own limits well. 

Chapter 13-4

Garkhen gritted his teeth against the fatigue, forcing his ward to stay up through sheer force of will as Zakhin'Dakh flew towards the two men. One was clearly the wizard throwing lightning, while the other fired an arrow. The big griffon flapped a bit harder, rising enough for the arrow to pass underneath just as yet another lightning bolt struck Garkhen's ward. The Warder closed his eyes as he fought back another wave of fatigue.

Then Zakhin'Dakh was upon his foes. They split, running in opposite directions as he neared, but he was far faster on the wing than they were on foot, and so easily caught the caster. The big griffon reached out and grabbed him with his talons, piercing through the wizard, killing him swiftly. Swiftly he turned, dropping the dying man down the side of the mountain as he did so.

The archer desperately fired another arrow, but Garkhen's ward held, though Garkhen himself almost fainted. Then Zakhin'Dakh was there, his beak shearing through flesh and bone, and the archer was dead. Garkhen shut his eyes, simultaneously glad it was over and not wanting to see the carnage, while Zakhin'Dakh looked back over his shoulder and saw Almonihah approaching.

Almonihah! He shrieked, proudly, I kill bad people!

The half-bronze dragon grinned just a bit in relief. “Good job, Zakhin'Dakh!” He shouted back.

The three met in midair, Zakhin'Dakh and Almonihah circling around while Garkhen slumped on the griffon's back. Almonihah noticed this, and shouted, “You hurt, Garkhen?”

The Warder blearily opened one eye. “Not physically,” he replied.

Almonihah growled. “We're making camp. You're not fit t' travel, 'nd I don't think we dare go without you. We're faster 'n them, anyway. Catch up tomorrow.”

Garkhen tried to form an objection, but was simply too tired. Almonihah looked around, and spotted a fairly flat space a little ways up the mountain for them to land. They landed there, and Almonihah looked up at Garkhen to tell him to get off, only to notice he was already asleep. With a snort, the half-bronze dragon jumped up to Zakhin'Dakh's back and undid the straps to his saddle.

“Going t' need some help, here, Zakhin'Dakh. Get over... there.” He pointed at a steeper spot on the mountainside. “Not as much of a drop 'f you go over there and crouch down.”

With some difficulty, they managed to get Garkhen off of Zakhin'Dakh's back, after which Almonihah took Zakhin'Dakh's saddle off. He wanted to get the Warder's armor, off, too, but after seeing the kind of magic it did, he didn't think he could. So he did what he could to make his fellow half-dragon comfortable while Zakhin'Dakh took off again to look for something to eat. 

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No, I'm not going to string this out much longer. Just in case you were wondering. 

Chapter 13-3

Almonihah took off, flying low over the mountain path, looking closely for any sign of anyone straying from it. He didn't think it very likely with how steep the sides of the path were, but they couldn't afford to take chances. Not with this.

He didn't see any sign of anyone leaving the path, though, so they made fairly good time. Zakhin'Dakh circled as much as flew, Garkhen dozing on his back as the big griffon stayed slow enough for Almonihah to do his work.

Hours passed with little change save in the scenery. The view here was truly beautiful—dramatic mountainsides, with snow-capped tops and wooded canyons feeding down into small valleys. 

Zakhin'Dakh was getting rather bored with it, though, since Almonihah had to go in and out of the canyons, following the mountain path, while he could just fly across them.

I fly ahead! He finally declared.

Almonihah looked up at him sharply. He should say no, but he kind of doubted the energetic griffon would listen. “Just be careful—fly back 's soon as you see someone.”

Okay! Zakhin'Dakh screeched cheerfully, then zoomed ahead.

By now Garkhen was feeling somewhat less fatigued, and so he opened his eyes as the big griffon flew. “I will keep watch as well, Zakhin'Dakh,” he stated.

The griffon screeched happily and nodded, and Garkhen smiled. “Perhaps someday I shall have to learn your language,” he murmured, to be met by another enthusiastic agreement.

They flew further from Almonihah than he would have liked, but it was too late for him to say anything—there was no way his voice would carry that far. If something happened, there'd be no way for him to catch up in time... Uneasy, he flew higher and faster, shoving the persistent whisper that always seemed to accompany the wind when he flew to the back of his mind.

And soon enough his fears were realized. A bolt of lightning lanced out from the mountainside, and the small shape in the distance that was Zakhin'Dakh dropped...

Zakhin'Dakh shrieked in pain as the bolt of lightning struck him, his muscles spasming as the electricity coursed through them. Quickly Garkhen called upon Bahamut to heal his friend, and soon enough the griffon pulled out of his dive. Turning his head, Garkhen saw a pair of figures on the mountain, too distant to make out in any detail. He swiftly started forming a ward around them, bringing it up just as another bolt of lightning struck.

Almonihah bared his teeth as he saw his friend stop falling. He had to get there faster... he pumped his wings as hard as he could, trying to close the distance between them.

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Look, more fighting! I did not know, when planning this, that I would get so tired of writing all this combat...

Chapter 13-2

Almonihah was less surprised this time when Zakhin'Dakh suddenly reverted to his normal size. Illusin had shrunk the griffon down to fit him in the building with them, then cast the spell to send them on to... wherever here was. It was up in the mountains, certainly, but not in the Madlands.

It was also a trap. Of course, they'd expected that, which was why Garkhen had warded all of them heavily before they'd departed. He grunted now as the barrage of arrows bounced off the air around the trio, forcing him to channel more energy into maintaining the wards around them. Almonihah, on the other hand, had a clear shot at the half-dozen archers around them, who were standing with no regard to cover, confident their ambush would have killed any pursuers.

An arrow to the chest quickly disabused one of the ambushers of that notion, and the rest quickly backed up, desperately searching for some sort of cover while they reached for more arrows. There was little to be found, however, at least close by—the teleportation circle had placed them on mountain path, in a place where the path spread out somewhat. The archers were on both sides of them, trying to back up down the path without getting to near to the steep drop-off on one side.

Zakhin'Dakh shrieked and leaped forward, wings half-opening in the time it took him to be upon one of the archers. His talons scrabbled for purchase on stone as he bit into one of the men, but there was simply not enough room for him, and he was soon sliding off the path with a dead archer in his beak. With a powerful leap he pushed off of the mountainside and began to fly, wheeling back around to rejoin the battle.

Almonihah had enough time to shoot another of the archers before they had recovered, though his arrow only hit an arm. Still, it was enough to cause the man to drop his bow. The remaining three archers fired on Almonihah, only to have their arrows again brushed aside by wards.

Zakhin'Dakh swooped back in before they could nock more arrows, seizing a pair of them and throwing them off the mountainside as he turned back towards open air. Almonihah's next arrow took the remaining, uninjured archer in the chest. The injured man had, by now, drawn an axe with his uninjured arm, and now charged at the two half-dragons.

Garkhen blocked his attack with his shield. “Surrender!” He growled at the attacker, whose only response was to lift his axe again.

Almonihah's next arrow made certain he no longer drew breath.

He then glanced around at their surroundings, then waved Zakhin'Dakh back over. “Better get out 'f his way,” He commented to Garkhen.

The two of them stepped back as the big griffon came in for a landing. “Get on,” Almonihah commanded the Warder.

Garkhen looked surprised. “I am...”

“You've been throwing around those wards all through this battle,” Almonihah interrupted, “'nd I'll bet you're about t' fall over. Get on, 'nd save your strength.”

Garkhen could not argue with that logic, and so, with some difficulty, climbed up into the saddle on Zakhin'Dakh's back.

“I'll figure out which way they went, 'nd then we can fly along th' path,” Almonihah continued, turning to look at the ground.

Zakhin'Dakh and Garkhen waited, the griffon watching curiously, the Warder closing his eyes for a bit of rest, while the Ranger searched for tracks. It was difficult to tell, with the path more stone than anything else, but there was enough dirt for him to gradually piece together which way a number of humans had recently gone.

He looked up at the sky, gauging which direction they had gone. “Southeast. Should've known.”

“Towards the Madlands,” Garkhen agreed, quietly.

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In other news, look at this fun Zakhin'Dakh picture!