Perpetual gloom engulfed the entire valley. Elwin felt the icy tendrils of the dark god’s power wash over him only to be rebuked by the light emanating from his necklace.
You will not prevail this day. This I vow.
Elwin knew they were close when a shift in the wind delivered death and decay that he could taste. The ground shook with the roar of hate turned corporeal. He burst out into the open field with his pack and knew what true fear felt like.
Warm energy pulsed from around his neck and the despair clinging to his emotions vanished, replaced with hope and a resolve to see this to the end.
“It’s time we took the fight to them!”
Elwin plowed into the horde letting his purifying light expose the creatures. They were a mix of converted beasts and walking corpses that contained a trapped soul. In teams of two, they used teeth and claws to end the living and return the souls to where they came from.
A barrage of fox, deer and bear cubs assaulted the group from the left, forcing them to regroup. Elwin, Vanima, Edon, and Zaos met the onslaught knowing they had four others watching their back. If it weren’t for the purifying light, they never would have lasted this long.
When they reached a third of the way to Unn Thalor, the ground shook and a dozen skeletons clawed their way out of the earth surrounding them. They screamed as the dark god knit their bodies back together, and bone-white curved swords emerged from the soil in front of each reincarnated elf. They smiled malevolently as they retrieved their weapons.
What they did next surprised the hell out of Elwin. Remaining passive, they stepped aside long enough to let the two animals stalk inside the perimeter. He had killed them once before.
One vengeful tiger and panther paced around them, snarling and baring their fangs.
We can’t do this alone.
In a desperate plea for help, he howled.
Elwin’s cry for help echoed across the battlefield and into the town, now full of monsters. Fraeya still held the last line of defense with their dwindling supply of torches when she heard the call for aid.
“Our protector has arrived! He must reach us! Until I return, you must hold the line!”
A silhouette of a deer appeared, gliding into the throng of monsters pacing around the perimeter. Fraeya followed, sword sheathed, with a single flame in hand. She noted both Keerla and Beluar had joined her but had no time to offer her regards before leaping over a wild boar and rolling over the back of a bear in pursuit of the ghostly trail.
Never faltering, ignoring her aching muscles and refusing to slow down, Fraeya dodged, leaped, and disregarded the foul beasts that now swarmed her home. The silhouette guided her past the monsters who appeared not to notice them.
Whatever is protecting us, I hope it lasts.
Fraeya could do nothing for her people if Elwin didn’t survive long enough to save them. She had to reach him in time.
Her guide vanished in a dark alley near the central courtyard where she watched in horror at the stream of creatures still flooding into the town.
Keerla whispered in Fraeya’s ear, “How do we get past that?”
The silhouette flashed in and out of view, dashing towards the dead bear, then along the wall before disappearing again.
“Move!”
Beluar’s squeal grabbed her attention, and she whipped her head around. Her friend was running from a giant gorilla. Frantic, she grabbed Keerla’s hand and cried out, “Follow me!”
Torch held out in front, she waved it at the smaller animals who scurried away from the light and ran for the bear corpse, the ape still chasing Beluar.
A massive snake slithered into view in front of them, raised its head, and hissed. Fraeya picked up speed, pushed off the ground, and used her momentum to run over the snake and continue. She glanced back long enough to see both her friends follow in her stead.
Inspiration struck her and Fraeya yelled, “Do you remember how we used to escape the town as kids?”
Beluar hollered back, “You got to be kidding me. We have a monkey chasing us.”
“You have any better ideas?” Keerla quickly retorted.
“Yes, I do as a matter of fact. Kill it then go over.”
Fraeya chuckled and said, “Says the boy who squealed in fright when it showed up.”
Both girls laughed, but neither disagreed with his assessment.
They reached a corner in the wall, turned around, and pulled out their weapons. Keerla fired shot after shot toward the gorilla, nailing it in the chest but still it charged forward. Fraeya ran towards the primate, arrows whizzing past her on the left. It swung at her face but missed when she leaped onto the wall, pushed off, and flipped over the beast. A furry arm swung backward as it twisted its body to face her. She struck out at the gorilla's face with her torch and nailed it right in the eye.
Howling in protest, the creature leaned forward to pounce but froze. Beluar had driven his sword deep into the animal's back, impaling it. Not wanting to be outshined, Keerla jumped onto his shoulders and fired three arrows into its skull for good measure before backflipping off.
He slid the blade out and asked, “Don’t we have someplace to be?”
Fraeya dropped her snuffed-out torch and ran over to the corner, turned, and cupped her hands. “You first Beluar. We all know you’ve gained a few extra pounds since we last did this.”
Ignoring her comment, he sheathed his weapon and sprinted straight for her. Beluar planted his lead foot in Fraeya’s hands and pushed off at the same time she lifted, hefting him up to the top of the wall where he dropped to the other side. Keerla secured her bow and repeated the maneuver, but with a lot more finesse.
Alone without her light, the corrupted monsters charged. Fraeya ran at them only to turn around and dash towards the corner. She climbed up the wall by bouncing from one side to the other as she ascended. Fraeya flipped over the top and landed next to her two friends who stood facing an elf she didn't recognize.
Keerla glanced over and said, “Holy shit, Fraeya. A skeleton just crawled out of the ground and turned into this thing.”
Fraeya buried her fears in stone and wrapped herself in resolve as she retrieved her weapon. “Out of my way gotii.”
The newcomer put on a wicked grin and said, “I’m no outsider, dukkoti.”
“There are no orcs around here, but if there were, they would be more appealing than you, N`Tel`Quess.”
The elf raised his long bone sword and raged, “You dare call me non-Elven? I will show you what a true elf can do.” Before they could react, the deer silhouette returned and plowed into the elf, stripping him of his dark god’s shadowy protection.
All three struck as one. The sword arm severed, sharp steel through its heart and an arrow piercing both eyes. The magic holding the elf together dissolved along with his body leaving a pile of dust on the ground. They nodded to each other in approval and moved on.
Stay strong, my friend. I’m coming for you.
They reached Elwin surrounded by twelve resurrected elves containing the pack. Tiger and panther struck repeatedly at the wolves with teeth and claws. She couldn’t tell if any of the wolves were seriously hurt, but they wouldn’t last much longer.
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“Beluar to the left. Keerla to the right. Show no mercy.”
Fraeya drew her weapon and thrust it into the nearest elf’s back, hooked her right foot behind his leg, and pushed her sword deeper into his chest, forcing him to his knees as he coughed up blood. Fraeya grunted as she yanked it out and sliced it into his neck, watching his body tumble to the ground and vanish in a pile of dust.
She glanced over at Beluar as he reached his targets and relaxed into his fighting pose. Blocking high to the left, he crouched and spun around, left leg extended then pushed off the ground with his right foot at the receding elf, plunging his weapon into its shoulder eliciting a grunt of pain.
He sliced down across the elf’s chest while falling to his left knee, dodging the sword strike aimed at his neck spitting out the blood that splashed across his face. Rotating his weight to his other leg, Beluar roared as he buried his weapon into the elf's gut.
Keerla opened fire with three arrows in quick succession. Her opponent stopped two of them with his bone sword, but the third sunk into his shoulder. She held her bow with both hands. She deflected his first strike down and to the right so she could smack him across the face. Keerla smiled at the broken nose and tripped him onto his back. Exposed, she reached for two arrows and sunk both projectiles into his eyes. She jumped back when the body twitched and fired three more arrows into his chest.
Forced to refocus, Fraeya felt the wind whip by her head as she dodged her last two opponents. Rolling forward and to the right, she grabbed the dead elf’s sword. Still, on her knees, she deflected both strikes and pushed up onto her feet, still feeling the vibrations run down her arms from the contact. Parrying with the bone sword, she sliced into his jugular with her own and rammed him into the ground, dodging a thrust to her back.
The elf pressed his advantage forcing her to deflect high with her left sword and counter by raising her left leg and jump kicking him in the head with her upraised right foot. She finished him off by piercing his heart with her weapon and crushing his windpipe with her boot.
May the three of you find peace.
She looked up in time to see Beluar toss a limp corpse at another reincarnated elf as it started to disintegrate before hurling his sword into the elf’s stomach. Fraeya could see the elf reaching for the sword lodged in its body, blood welling up from the wound. Beluar grabbed a bone sword from the ground and stabbed the downed foe in the heart, twisted the blade, and yanked out both weapons with a grimace.
Keerla secured her bow and retrieved her bone sword to dual against two more oncoming elves. Deflecting down and to the right, she leaned back and kicked the elf on her left in its knee before being forced to stop a powerful strike from the other with both blades crossed. Keerla pushed back and wheezed out a breath as she swung both weapons down towards the elf on her left.
The elf parried the bone sword, but it cut into his chest. Bending low, Keerla rotated her grip on her sword and thrust it back and up into the elf behind her before it could blink. When it was free, she sliced down with both weapons, cutting deep into his neck and body.
Keerla barely had time to take a breath before blocking an attack from the final opponent with ease and rammed her blade into his gut and stared him down as she twisted her weapon and watched him disintegrate.
Out of the twelve resurrected minions, nine returned to dust while the final three retreated into the forest without offering up any resistance.
All that remained were the eight wolves, several of whom were limping from the struggle to survive against the two beasts. Each wielding two blades, Fraeya, and her companions closed in on the tiger and panther.
Elwin and Vanima pushed the panther back towards Beluar who sliced into both of its hind legs giving the wolves a chance to finish it off by taking turns ripping into its throat. Beluar drove both swords into the panther's black fur and nodded to the wolves.
Fraeya and Keerla cornered the tiger, keeping its claw strikes at bay with their weapons. Keerla attacked its flank only to retreat, allowing Fraeya to throw the bone sword into its side, jump on the beast's back, and thrust her blade deep into the tiger’s neck, severing its spine. She rolled off the animal as it fell to the ground and retrieved both swords.
The pack encircled Fraeya and her friends, growling at the darkness. She looked down at Elwin and asked, “What’s next?”
A finger tapped her shoulder and she looked over at Keerla who asked, “Did you just ask a wolf what to do?”
Edon walked between them and the forest looking for danger while Vanima did the same facing the town. A dark-tipped arrow, fired from the forest, sailed straight for Elwin’s head. Edon jumped at the last second taking the projectile in the gut, knocking Elwin out of the way. Keerla pulled out her bow and returned fire, but the assailant had already disappeared.
Elwin rushed to one of his most loyal friends and howled, "Edon!" but it was already too late. He hung his head low and forced the anger and grief down, then turned away, channeling the god’s energy from the necklace into the minds of his pack and the three elves.
Yes, Keerla. She asked me.
Before Keerla and Beluar looked to the wolf and asked, “Elwin?”
Obviously. Now will you continue to suppress Morco so I don't lose anyone else?
“Morco?”
Fraeya turned to her friends and nodded, “Yes, the dark god must have resurrected him too.”
Keerla, may I bless your arrows?
With a thumbs up she replied, “You got it.”
She placed her quiver before Elwin and watched the arrow tips glow white.
May the light be a shield against the darkness.
Keerla ruffled Elwin’s fur and said, “When did you become all sagely with advice?”
Elwin turned to Beluar and said, “Protect her.”
The elf offered no reply except for a simple nod but he noticed Keerla pouting to herself.
Fraeya, let me bless your sword. I have enough strength for one more.
She complied and after great effort, he looked up at the glowing weapon and howled, “We go as two teams. Fraeya, Vanima, and Zaos with me. The rest will protect Keerla and Beluar. Move out! We do this for Edon, and all the rest who died getting us this far.”
Storm clouds started to roll into the valley as Elwin joined in on the charge into the forest against Morco.
A flurry of dark-tipped arrows assaulted the group, confirming their suspicions about Morco but were intercepted mid-air one and all by Keerla’s blessed arrows. The only evidence of this incredible feat was the light show after each collision.
Keerla guided the group towards Morco’s position. Elwin found Gael, the troublesome wolf that abandoned the pack not too long ago next to the last three reincarnated elves that had fled when their brethren had fallen.
Vanima and Zaos! Show the traitor what true justice looks like. Fraeya, it’s time to show Morco the error of his ways.
Keerla matched Morco shot for shot until he pointed at her and barked orders at the three elves who shrugged and ran in her direction, ignoring the rest.
It’s your turn to shine Beluar.
“You don’t have to tell me what to do, wolf. I protect my own.”
Elwin left the unruly elf to his fate and focused the power until it encompassed both groups using up most of his concentration. It severely reduced its potency but would have to be enough. Fraeya engaged Morco with both blades, forcing him to abandon his bow. She learned how effective the light truly was when her attempt to parry with the bone sword she picked up from the elf she killed failed to counter the dark god's powers.
Morco let his sword fade in and out of shadows, passing through her attack and into her upper arm forcing her to drop the bone weapon. Only Fraeya’s quick reflexes saved her from anything serious.
Vanima and Zaos clashed against Gael. It put a smile on Elwin's face when he saw the traitor's look of terror when his powers failed to protect him from the two veteran wolves.
Gael fell to the ground in pain and howled, “It’s your fault she died!”
Elwin risked a glance back at Beluar and Keerla holding their own against the three elves, and the rest of his pack engaging the rush of dark-touched animals behind them. Four blades to three, Fraeya's companions had the upper hand. These corrupted elves didn't possess the dark lord's blessing.
The rain began to pour.
Keerla stood to the left and behind Beluar ready to assist. He deflected a thrust from his left and twisted his blade, forcing his attacker's sword to the right. Keerla took the opportunity to thrust her sword under Beluar's left arm and into the elf's side, piercing his lung, and retreated.
The next several seconds passed by in a fury of sparks as they clashed but they paused when the dark god spoke.
The booming voice echoed in Elwin’s mind, “You shall not stop me. I will send you all into darkness and consume the land.”
By the pained reaction from his pack and his allies, everyone must have heard its voice.
I will not let you. This forest is mine to protect.
Lightning strikes followed Silvertree’s proclamation, and a tree fell upon the wounded Gael, crushing him to death. Both of his pack mates escaped the tree and rejoined the others still holding back the growing number of monsters, leaving Morco to him and Fraeya.
Fraeya held out the blessed weapon and said, “Can you see how your arrogance and stupidity led to Lorthen’s death and soon your own?”
Frustrated, the elf lashed out, “You know nothing, you stupid gotii!”
She laughed and deflected his next strike and smashed the hilt of her sword into his nose. “You only wish I was that easy in the bedroom.”
This only enticed him into further reckless maneuvers that pushed him to the brink. He whipped his blade from side to side at various angles. Fraeya deftly maneuvered around the enraged elf, laughing all the while.
Morco tossed his weapon to the ground and lifted his free hand up. A ray of darkness blasted from his palm and out towards Fraeya. She brought her sword up in time to deflect the pure energy, but it forced her to her knees. Elwin struggled nearby as he tried to maintain a connection to the necklace.
Morco laughed. “Now you are where you belong. On the ground looking up at me.”
Several lighting strikes hit the tree behind the corrupted elf, setting it on fire before it crashed down. The flames pushed back the darkness and snuffed out the ray of energy pouring out of Morco’s hand.
Fraeya struggled to rise but stumbled back to the ground. The elf pulled out a dagger and prepared to ram it into her heart.
Time to be a hero.
Elwin forced himself up, moved behind his long-lost lover, and ran for all he was worth. He leaped off her back and into Morco, sending them both backward into the flames. He heard her cry out, “No!” but could do nothing about it. Elwin held the dying elf down and watched the flames consume him.
To his chagrin, he had failed to notice his protection from the fire. So engrossed was he in killing Morco that Elwin couldn't understand why he still lived.
Silvertree’s hero stepped out of the flames, dazed, and looked up at the sky. The evil that blocked the light moved on and they watched as the dark god’s minions vanished into the forest.
He only now realized Cithrel crying over Siraye’s body. Vanima joined him by Cithrel and they howled in grief.
Is it finally over?