Dosie Whiteclaw

One cannot mistake that sound. No matter how far or close am I to the source of that cry, my bones ache and my fur stands. O great goddess of light have us always in your sight, hold our hand above our path.

“What are they doing?”

Even the humans could hear those wails. The sun shyly winked from beyond the horizon but none of that mattered. Screamers. At least nice or ten of them, as far as my ears could tell, howled in unison ever since we broke free of whatever tried to ensnare us.

In the beginning, their cries came distant and muffled yet over the time the intensity and frequency grew as the dead gathered. I needed not to see as my human companions stuck by the windows, staring at what unfolded inside the city, tried to puzzle out what transpired.

No. My ears told me long before any of them could see it. Screamers gathered and howled in unison. The accursed sound they made came from the direction of the temple, the place we emerged from.

I clasped my palms against my ears, pressing them tight against my head to no effect, the sound still reached me and rattled my soul.

O goddess, you blessed thy servant with ears that hear the whispers of the night, strengthen my soul for what I hear undoes my courage. Steel my resolve o mother of all and help me honor my word for I waver. Chains of fear have bound my mind, no hope my eyes can see. O mother, guide your child.

“Dosie? Dosie? Did hear me?”

Leon’s hand rested firmly on my shoulder.

“We’re moving. The wails have stopped. Most likely those monsters found a way into the tomb…”

Something in my eyes stopped him.

“We won’t get a better chance. We must go now.”

The other humans already disappeared down the stairway. The price of blood. How easily it came to them.

Mother, accept those whose lights were snuffed to spare our blood and have mercy over our sin.

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I got up then hoisted the witch in my arms. Her body felt much heavier than her frame looked.

“I can’t save you both.”

Even though precious moments trickled by, Leon still waited for me. His eyes begged me to discard the additional weight I put upon myself.

“Then worry about yourself human. My word I won’t break. Go.”

With a sour look on his face, he went down the stairs. I knew he would not leave me, o goddess, repay him his kindness, but he would not risk his life for the witch. One that might as well be dead before we reach the end of the stairs. A burden indeed. But I gave my word.

A heavy burden she was. I dropped my shield and most of my gear, yet I already rasped while we hardly reached the end of the stone steps.

Without a rest I run through the iron door they left ajar and over the wooden bridge that lead to the wall. Beneath us, basked in the light of dawn, hundreds of thousands of dead faces followed each of our step. So tightly they were packed, none of the dead could move on its own.

I passed several behedged corpses, the testament of Leon and his people passage, but I no longer could see them. Tired, I was forced to make stops along the wall to catch breath before I could go on.

Steel my resolve o mother of all and help me honor my word for I waver, my heart yearns to cast away my burden.

The sun’s whole disk slid out of the horizon before I reached the first gate door. Barred and armored, an obstacle I would not pass even on my own.

Leon! Praised be your kindness! A rope hung next to the wall. I bound the witch wrists together, with her arms slung around my torso. I fastened her tights to my hips. No more than an unwieldy bag, she hung off my back.

O mother of all, give thy servant the strength she lacks!

Rattling my claws against the wall, I climbed the gate. Each step burned with pain as my muscles rebelled against my will, yet I move forward. The top, even though an arm’s length away felt like a distant peek of the tallest mountain. With my hands bloodied and no strength left to spare, clambered over the edge and rolled onto the top floor of the first gate.

But I could not stop here.

I crawled over to the other side where a second line waited, this one too, covered in Leon’s sweat. His hands always sweat so much.

I’ve half-slid, half fallen of the second rope and hit the floor too hard for my legs to absorb the force.

Unable to stand, I licked my bleeding palms and allowed myself a moment of rest. The witch still lived, her breath calm and steady. But that may not last.

O goddess, accept thy servant pain for all her sins she has made.

I untangled our bodies and yet again with the witch in my arms, I crept towards the second wall. I could not run anymore. Whatever broke within my foot, all I could do, all the pain allowed me was to limp along the wall.

Stench of smoke filled my nostrils while the sun burned from above when the cry erupted within my ears. I almost slumped underneath the wall. Out far behind I could see the horrors climbing the tower, most likely lured by still active charm.

First time in my life, tears dripped down from my eyes. My lame leg sentenced us both.

I have failed.

O goddess, have mercy on thy servant. I have lost my way. I could not keep my word. In my stead grant mercy to the one I could not…

“Put me down.”

The witch stirred in my arms.