Chapter 27

Drafting

I finished my drink and headed back to the hangar.

“Clyde, where are we to put the newcomers? We should have room somewhere.”

He was busy maintaining the ship and barely looked up from his circuit work. “Just put them in a room next to the Dryads. We can reorganize it later,” he said absentmindedly.

I walked down that hallway I’ve barely visited and started checking doors and rooms checking their vacancy.

They seemed stuffed with boxes, maybe the new coming warriors wouldn’t mind moving boxes. I might have trouble with it myself.

I noted a few rooms we could potentially put them and went back to find something else to do.

I started fiddling with my goggles. There were so many options and formats, ways to see, connections to various cameras.

Thats what I was looking for. I opened up the connection and found that I had a view of nearly every nook and cranny of the exterior of the temple. That’s how Clyde seemed to know whenever someone was coming.

I made it so that I could sit back and see sixteen at a time, and some on a rotational basis. Then I headed outside, adjusting the goggles’ screen to be opaque so I can see where I was going.

I walked around and up the mountain to sit at the top, maybe an Aves would be here soon.

It started getting late, but I found the cameras had picked up some motion and an Equine came out of the bushes.

I jogged down the mountain, taking a shortcut through the trees, meeting him where he would arrive.

I was elated now and started picking up pace and stepped back on the path nearly running into the Equine, the half opaque goggles didn’t help too much.

The Equine gave a startled shout and nearly struck me, “Huntress!” The Equine called out.

I whipped the goggles off my head so I could see properly and found I was staring at Roland! My favorite Equine. “They chose you?” I called back at him, “I’m so glad to have you here.”

“I’m glad to be here, I felt that we were closer than just acquaintances. But I wasn’t chosen. It was decided long before you or I were born. Destiny knew before you.”

I took that onto consideration and hugged him, climbed up and onto his back and I steered him to the back entrance where we could enter the hangar and bypass the small doors of the main entrance.

“I didn’t know you had such a place. And a flying thing!”

“I didn’t know either until you brought me back the last time. A lot has been revealed since we last met.”

I showed him around ecstatically, leaving out Clyde for the moment. I showed him my goggles, “This is my latest achievement, I can see far away, connect to cameras and see better in the dark.”

“An Equine wouldn’t need those. I can see in the dark, I know where everything is and when everyone is coming.”

I laughed, the same old over confident Equine.

I took him up the stairs and into my old room. “These are the treasures I’ve kept from my journeys around Xenobia.”

“So much gold, some of that looks priceless.”

“It is.” I picked up the Lotus, “This was what started the war,” so much rushed into my head.

It started the war, I started the mission. Ares and Xeres had given me the mission. Was it planned before, like the destiny Roland was talking about? I was curious as to the real intent behind that mission. Not just a key to a secret door.

So many other Huntresses before me. Was it that they couldn’t do it? Many Huntresses before me hadn’t even been able to complete the first three missions and unlock the doors according to Clyde. The prophecies and myself seemed to coincide so much that I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

“Are you ok?” Roland asked me.

“I’m fine,” I said truthfully, “but I’ve realized, I’ve gotten myself into something much bigger than I expected. And I’ll need all the help I can get.”

“I know. That’s why I am here. I am all the help you can get. So Huntress, tell me about this pretty piece of gold.”

I worried slightly, hoping that he wasn’t all the help I could get, We’ll need more, even more than a few warriors of Xenos.

“This piece of gold, this relic came from the island of Dakur,” I explained to him, “before that, it was a gift to Xeres, the first Feline, by Winston the Warlock. For a vast time, longer than even anyone can remember, it was hidden in—”

He interrupted, “The Equine could remember, many of us learned the history of all of the previous Equines, up to the coming to Xenobia.”

“So, I fought the prince of the castle,” I continued, “and in doing so, released the beast named Dakur, the chief and leader of the Ancients. Dakur has now gathered his army of Ancients and is now in the village of the Apes, south of us, and will move soon, west I’ve heard. But we have to stop him.”

Roland looked confused. “How could a little piece of gold start a war? Such evil like that I would break it and find the deepest hole, or the biggest lake and throw it as hard as I could to banish it from Xenobia to stop this madness.”

“Unfortunately it’s too late for that.” I humored his fallacy of logic. “Plus, there was a hidden treasure inside, something very special.”

“Something was hidden in there?”

“Yes, an elixir from Winston.”

“What did it do?” He asked.

I started to doubt myself, recalling the little vial and the message along with it. “It gave me good luck.”

Roland closed his eyes for a moment, sighed, and opened them back up. “Then that makes sense. The missing piece of the puzzle,” he said stoically. “Good luck is something not many Xenos have, though, depending on when you took the potion, I would wonder about your luck. Yours wasn’t always the best, but better than most.”

“I know.”

I was glad he believed in good luck, that for sure. I was starting to doubt it myself, a commodity such as that? But he said it with such heartfelt sincerity that I couldn’t help but believe in it.

“I’m starting to look at you differently Dawn,” Roland told me closely. “I knew you were special when I first found you napping in that tree many full-moons ago. You were smaller, and now you have another look in your face. One of determination, one that won’t leave when the wind changes.”

“Thank you Roland.”

A light blinked on my goggles, I checked it out. I got a message from Clyde.

An Aves has been waiting outside for some time. I think he’s looking for you. They normally don’t come down and stand in front of the door for this long.

I messaged him back, Thanks, I’ll bring him in.

“Roland, there’s another member of our army arriving. He’s outside.”

“Oh great. I thought it was going to be me and you conquering the Ancients together.”

“There’s more Ancients than you think.” I said sternly.

I think the repeated message from Ares was getting to me. But I don’t want there to be the first and the last attempt to kill the Ancients. The only attempt before they get to the rest of the Xenos. Our strategy is still coming forward.

I walked out, leaving Roland to look through my treasures, though there weren’t very many.

The Aves was just outside the front of the temple. I didn’t bother putting my goggles on, I’d know who it was soon enough.

I opened the door and greeted another newcomer to my army, he was looking out and into the trees.

As he turned around I recognized him and yelled, “Farrow!” I charged at him full speed. He was quite a bit bigger than me yet he still jumped into the air and nearly blew me away with the flapping of his wings.

He landed and greeted me, “You can’t sneak up on one like that. These are dark times.” He smiled at me, “But I’m very glad to see you, Dawn. You must know that I’ve been worrying about you since I left you in the city. I heard from someone that the police were after you.”

“Don’t remind me.” I said, waving my hand, and rubbing my shoulder.

“At least I’m glad you’re safe. After all the trouble I went through to save your life once, I’m…” he was getting teary eyed. “We’re both here again.”

“I think this time you’ll save more than just my life. Xenobia needs you.”

Farrow smiled again and stood up straight, looking smart.

I noticed he was equipped with weapons strapped to his chest and waist. They looked like a form of darts that were quite sharp, and a few other heavy, concussion dealing, and painful objects. I eyed them and nodded my approval.

I took him, collected Roland the Equine, and led then straight through and into the hangar.

Farrow had a similar look that I had when I first walked in, much like Roland’s look too.

“Wow, I would have never suspected the Felines to have something like this. I thought your King had one, but not the Feline Huntress as well.”

“I only found out in the last month. Since I got back from my trip to the East, I opened the last door. I am now a fully fledged Huntress. With the equipment to prove it.”

“We’ll see if you can use it,” he said laughingly skeptical.

I think he forgot how many Ancients are already gone thanks to me.

“I can use them. I’ve been training intensely for the last month, spending most of my hours of the days in simulation fights, at the shooting range or learning how to fly this guy.” I pointed to the ship in the middle of the hangar.

“I was about to ask. Who flies that?”

“Well, I do.”

Roland had come over to us after inspecting various tools in awe.

“You’ve hired an Aves, Dawn?”

“He’s an old friend.”

“Well not older than me.” Roland rebuffed.

I thought that one over. “I guess you’re right. I met him after I met you.”

“I thought so,” he said, now looking triumphant.

“This is Roland the Equine warrior, and this is Farrow, my Aves warrior.” I introduced them both.

Farrow stuck out his hand and Roland nodded.

“I think you both should meet my assistant. He’s been here since the beginning.” I wondered if they would know that term, the beginning, or if they really would have believed it. Clyde is a old fellow.

We walked over to Clyde and I managed to pull him out from under the ship to meet the newcomers.

I saw a message flash in my goggles and held them up to read it.

How dare you have me meet others when I’m all dirtied up by the under side of this ship. You could have waited until tomorrow.

I frowned at him as they greeted each other despite Clyde’s protest.

“Clyde has been putting me through my training, fight simulations, and taught me to fly. He’s the smartest person I know.”

I waited for Roland to say something, but I guess he missed his chance.

“Now, I’d like to get you two comfortable before the rest of the warriors come. Hopefully they come fast, we need to make plans before the Ancients make more trouble.”

Clyde helped me and we found the two rooms we could empty quickly and brought in some material for both of them to sleep on.

Farrow had first suggested to sleep outside, in the trees, but I insisted, he gave in, and made himself comfortable in the room.

Roland seemed to feel like a king, getting his own room, quiet from the outside. It made me wonder if he had ever been indoors.

With them seated comfortably, I asked if they needed anything to eat, as a good hostess would ask.

I took a mental note of their requests and went out to find a nice sized boar, I didn’t think Farrow wanted bird meat, and if I remember correctly, Equines don’t eat meat, so I had Clyde locate a few specified plants and bring them in for Roland.

I really enjoyed hunting, especially boar. It reminded me of my first catch. Plus it keeps one sharp and alert.

Soon enough I came back with a very heavy boar and cut it up, grilled it for a minute or two and handed Farrow a plate.

Clyde had led me to some contraption in the hangar to let me grill the boar on an open gas flame. It wasn’t like the one at the yearly village festival, but it had certainly served and Farrow took it down in one gulp.

Roland came out with two handfuls of grass in his hands, munching and leaving little pieces on the floor behind him which Clyde noticed and hurriedly, and anxiously, got to sweeping up. I could tell by the look on his face he wasn’t pleased.

It was night time now, I was almost expecting another few warriors tonight, but I suspected the Dryads would come by later at night.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

After they ate I took them outside and guided Farrow and Roland up the mountain. I was sure Roland had never seen the plains from up here. From his motions, I could tell he was slightly fearful of heights, but sternly kept himself together, seeing that neither I nor Farrow could care less about the height.

The sun had already set and a little sliver of the moon was glistening in the corner of the night sky, leaving the moonlight to whisper over the tops of the trees and illuminate the fields far below.

They both looked far into the distance. Speculating how far their home was. A dwindling thought that they would be back home soon, yet the creeping fear of not returning hardened their faces.

I looked out too, admiring the beauty and vast land we are going to save. This land is ours, not the Ancients’. The idea of Dakur ruling this land came to mind, but standing beside my best friends and fellow warriors, I knew that wouldn’t come.

My thoughts were interrupted by a whisper from one of the trees. It was the same tree I had used to send a message for help, which message found its way to Cedar.

I walked over to it and spoke softly. “Is Cedar back?” I asked. Hoping his travels didn’t get interrupted.

An even softer voice spoke. “Cedar is on his way.” I heard, very slowly, lethargically. “Stay here.”

I nodded and thanked him. So we stayed waiting for Cedar and his army. I know he didn’t have much choice but a few who could still walk, and fight. Maybe even some who could heal fast, and in the next few days.

The three of us stood there on the top of the mountain for quite a while silently saying our prayers and hoping the next few days will bring valiant warriors and an army to save all of our species.

All three of us were pulled out of our thought by a slight ruffle through the trees. There was Cedar, alone.

“I told you guys they’re harmless,” he shouted over his shoulder. “Well not so harmless, they’re warriors. But we’re on their side. Come on!”

I laughed a little and watched a few brave Dryads come out from the tree line.

Farrow and Roland stared, looking puzzled.

“Who are these guys?” Farrow asked.

“They’re our army of Dryads,” I told him. “They’re very friendly and have already helped me kill Stheno, an ugly giant Ancient with a snake infested head.”

“What are they?” He asked.

“Wood elves. Dryads, they call themselves.”

“I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

“You don’t have fairies or anything that guard secret places in the sky?” I asked him, wondering myself if they would exist.

“Just in the fairy tales,” said, snickering lightly.

“I guess that’s where fairy tales come from.”

He thought it over a realized that maybe they did exist. But the ones right in front of him where still unreal.

“I know who they are,” Roland said with certainty. “They are the wood elves, they call themselves Dryads and they protect secret places in the forests. I’ve heard of them, but the last sightings were long, long ago.”

Cedar spoke up, “We’ve kept to ourselves for a very long time. For our own protection. But here I am, in the bark.” He bowed and a few other bowed as well. “We’ve had very hard times when civilization came to our planet and started building, shooing us out of our homes. The whole land was ours, after some time Xenos accompanied us in our land peacefully and another thousand years later the city expanded and kicked us out, separating us from the east and our Grandfather Drus.”

It was a proud group of Dryads despite some limping or holding onto the trees for balance.

Farrow was quite cheerful about it, Roland was sizing them up. Obviously hoping for something better.

“As I said before, Roland, the eastern Dryads helped me kill Stheno, the Ancient. They’re stronger than you think, especially in number.”

Roland commented on the side, “I think they’re going to have to grow another few feet and some muscles before they gain—.”

A vine swung out of the tree and him in the back of the head.

“Hey!”

The Dryads snickered and so did the surrounding trees.

“Would you like to tell that to me?” I heard the guilty tree yell, though only the Dryads and I could hear her.

Roland looked around, and now thoroughly believing in the magic of the forest, swallowed his pride and respectfully greeted the Dryads.

“I am Roland, the Warrior and ambassador of the Equine. It is my duty to my tribe to lead the army of Xenos into the impending battle with the Ancients.”

I was glad he was back to his normal self.

The now larger group of us wandered down the mountain and into the temple.

I had seen multiple message in my goggles just before we walked down the stairs and into the hangar.

Don’t bring them in here. I just told you, I hate when I have to meet people and I’m all dirty. Now you have to bring them in while I’m washing myself, do you have any respect! I’ll lock the doors!

Sure enough, the door was locked and I had the whole group smashed into the tiny hallway leading down to the hangar.

“We’re locked out?” Roland asked.

“No it’s just my assistant. He can get finicky about things. I’ll tell him to open it up.”

I quickly sent Clyde a message to hurry himself up.

We were out there for a few hours and you happen to wash yourself right when we arrive back! It’s getting late!

The door finally opened after I sent another message or two for Clyde to hurry up. I showed the company to their rooms and helped Cedar get his men settled in and comfortable. Luckily I didn’t need a very big room for them. Even twenty or so could fit into a medium sized storage room pretty comfortably. They’re quite small, and friendly.

After getting everyone to their new rooms and any services needed handled, I went to bed myself.

I found myself back in the ocean. Sitting on the surface and finding nothing, I dove under, swimming below the algae and scum and coming into clearer water. The underwater castle of the Pisces gleamed in the distance.

I swam past a few schools of fish and entered, greeting the guards on either side.

The guards stopped me and asked for my name. One checked a list. The other one commented, “Odd for a Feline to be down here, especially at this time of night.”

“What’s your name?”

“Dawn.” I replied.

The one checked his list and after a moment said, “She’s on the safe list. Where are you headed?”

I didn’t really know, but since I have a good relation with Poseidon, I’ll see him. “I’m visiting the King,” I said and they both stared at me, trying to see if I’m up to something.

He checked the list again. “She does have full authority to go wherever she pleases, and whenever. With guards when requested.”

They uncomfortably vacated the entrance and floated at attention, letting me through.

I hadn’t been here at night, but the sea was much darker, the outside city to the castle was very well lit, making it feel like any pleasant city experience at night. If I had any.

I moseyed around the paths, realizing that many of the streets went up and down, not just laterally, and had to reorient myself a few times as I found myself off somewhere, facing away from the King’s residence.

I noted the different shops and diners, which didn’t serve much for Felines besides a raw fish. Many of them were already closed for the night.

Getting closer, I came up to the large ornate doors of the castle, which looked something like fogged glass, though I refrained from touching it.

Another set of guards stopped me, but one seemed to know me. “Back again Huntress?”

“Just came for a visit.” I said. “How did you remember me?”

“How could I forget? We don’t have many Felines down here.”

I smiled and he waved me on into the castle.

Poseidon was in the courtyard giving a tactical lesson to a couple of Pisces that looked armed and ready for battle. One glanced in my direction nervously and the King turned. He grinned from ear to ear and swam over to me in a flash.

“I’m so glad you’re here Dawn. I was starting to get worried the war would start without us.”

“I was wondering why I ended up here.”

He looked slightly puzzled, but so was I. I wonder what brings me to the locations I land in. Maybe Ares?

I answered his question, “Sometimes one finds themself somewhere, wondering what they’re there for. But I seem to have made it to where I’m needed.”

“That you have!” He laughed, his jovial self. “My warriors have their instructions, their blessings and know where to go. They will follow you inland and to your home.”

“I’ve just arrived and you’re escorting me back home already!”

“No, no,” Poseidon replied. “The Warriors for the upcoming battle. Otherwise you’re free to stay as long as you wish.”

“Well, I’m glad I have the reinforcements, but I have to say I wouldn’t want you to be upset if there’s no water for your Warriors to fight in when we fight the battle.”

“There’s no need for that. They will follow you all the way.”

“On land?” I asked, surprised. I looked at their long tails, those features that can only be used underwater, and skin that would dry up after thirty minutes out of water.

“That’s one of their blessings, Dawn”

One of them came up to me and flashed a vial of something with dark green contents. “After this there’s no going back. All in the name of saving Xenobia.”

Poseidon gave him a stern look that said I didn’t need to know that. “We all make sacrifices. These two will be the leaders of the Pisces army. If it feasible, a team will be ready in the waters.”

I had an army of Pisces now! But two on land, and a few in the river isn’t an army. We’ll need more.

I thanked Poseidon.

“What have you been up to Huntress? Killing more Ancients in the meantime?”

“Training, lots of training.” My head was spinning trying to consume the last few months at once. More has happened now than in my entire lifetime.

“I’m sure one like you, with all that training, would be able to take out all of the Ancients in one blow!”

“I’ve tried.” I said. “I need an army.”

He smiled empathetically and patted me on the back. “No one can do it alone. I know. I’ve been in your shoes too.”

I doubt he has, but somehow I doubt he lived such a quiet life stationed in the castle, passing laws and executing unlawful citizens under the sea.

“When I got the message from our ancestors, I nearly didn’t believe it. I didn’t believe it until you showed up. But the ancestors don’t lie. And you seem to have started something big. An inevitable war for Xenobia.”

“Yes, that’s true. But I didn’t mean to start it. There’s more to the story than that. But what I did start, I will finish, as the Ancestors have told me.”

“I wish you the best, and all my blessings.”

“Thank you again.”

Poseidon swam off suddenly, motioning for me to stay, and when he came back soon after he had another present for me. It was a little box made out of turtle shell.

“I won’t tell you what is inside, or when to open it. But from my heart to yours, I wish all of your Warriors valiance and courage in battle and for you, the winning stroke.”

With that I took the box he held and exited the castle. The two Pisces Warriors followed me.

“What is it in that bottle.” I asked the Pisces, still not having drank the contents.

“Don’t ask.” One said.

“Well, what does it do?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

I guess they didn’t like to talk, but I looked at their faces and they didn’t look mad, just apprehensive.

We made it to the shore, I figured I would show them to the temple and all the way into the hangar. Though it would be about a day’s trip.

The two stopped at the shore, three feet deep. They put their head above the water and took out the vials. They each had one.

“You first.”

“No, you first.”

“I hate this, didn’t you see what happened to the other guys.”

“They didn’t have the pure stuff, ours is the finest, given by the king and checked out by his personal potions master.”

“Fine, then drink yours.”

He looked up in to the sky and sucked down the dark green contents. He squinted, made a face and then went back underwater.

The other one moved back and under, looking see what was happening to his friend.

But his hand shoved the other back up and and the bottle to his mouth.

It was a fiasco. The water was churning with all their commotion until finally a head popped up, coughing profusely and trying to walk on the beach.

“I don’t think I was made to have lungs. This feels so weird.”

The other one came up vomiting out water and floating, but starting to sink again.

I came to the rescue and pulled him on the land, pumping the water out of his chest.

He threw up more water but was still out cold.

“Come on!” The other one yelled. “It’s not that bad, we’re fighting the Ancients. It will be glorious!”

He finally came to after another round of pep talking.

Then after a fit of coughing he opened his eyes, saw he was laying on the moonlit beach and said, “Oh no,” putting a hand to his head, and the other to his belly. “I miss the water already.”

The other one stood up on wobbly legs and reached down to pick him up off the ground.

I watched them get to their senses and to get used to walking around. Their long tail fins had shrunk and formed into legs which had apparently taken getting some used, though it was faster than I would have thought.

“What kind of biochemical potion is that?” I asked.

“Don’t know,” one said, “but there’s some seaweed from somewhere dark and some other stuff. The King’s alchemist made it.”

I didn’t know the Pisces had such a person. They seem like the most organized Xenos out of all of us. Probably because they’re closed off to most of the known world and civilization.

“Sorry to ask, but what are your names?”

They both tried to spit something out of their mouths but it didn’t seem to come out. “It seems we can’t say them on land. And I don’t feel I have the same muscles in my mouth to say it.”

“I guess we’ll have to find some new names for you.” I said. “Do they mean anything?”

They both looked at each other. Trying to guess something. “No, they’re just names.”

“Well you’ve got gray skin, and his is a little blue.” I observed.

“I guess that settles it than. I’m Grayson and he’s—.”

“Blue?”

I laughed, “But there’s stranger names than that.”

“Very true. We’ll keep it at that.” Said Grayson.

Grayson pulled out a map. “So, which way are we headed?” He moved the map around trying to find landmarks, find North, and find wherever we were.

I helped him out with that.

“It’s basically a straight line from where we are inland, through the rice fields and into the jungle.”

He still looked confused. “I’m not used to land maps, underwater maps are so much easier.”

“No they’re not,” Blue interjected. “There’s more directions than just north, east, south and west.”

“Shut up,” he said. “I can’t find any landmarks, it’s so dark.”

I think he finally got it, or just gave up to wait until there’s sunlight.

So, we decided to rest until the morning light and get some proper sleep on the way to the temple.

The moon was still up and the sun was down for some hours still.

The Pisces laid back in the surf and I sat a bit further up on the beach.

I was just starting to nod off when Ares stood over me, her dress flowing in the wind just as it had the first time I met her here.

“It’s time to get going.”

“But I’m taking them to the temple.”

“They’ll find their way.” She said, and helped me up.

We walked in the street going along the beach, and took the turn that would lead us eventually to the temple.

“The battle is coming soon.” She told me.

“I know,” I said, gloomily. “I’m growing weary of thinking about it all the time.”

“Me too, and so are the men. They keep bickering about the whole thing. A bunch of philosophical meetings of who’s going to strike the killing blow, who started it in the first place. All very philosophical.”

“Are they still blaming me?”

“Some are, some aren’t. Most of them have seen that it was coming no matter what. Some year or the other. The fact that you took the relic of good fortune was one thing, that you killed Dacoit and unleashed Dakur is another. But we all knew it was going to happen some day.”

“Then who is on our side and who’s not?”

“The Canines have left all of our sides. The Ursines are very impartial to it all. The Pisces don’t think it was much to do with them but will loyally be with us. The rest are very so caught up in the fact that it may mean the end of all, that they overreact and spit out illogical answers to the problem.”

“So you’re saying this is the most logical thing to do?” I asked.

“Build an army, fight the Ancients to the death? I think that’s the most logical thing. The wrong thing to do is nothing.”

“I guess you’re right. There’s no use just waiting for them to come by and eat us all up. Nor to go in head first with no plan whatsoever. Proposing a treaty with them would be useless, they were made to kill Xenos, and have been trying for thousands of years.”

“I think you are the one that’s right.” She said, looking straight at me. “I stopped you from going in headfirst on fight or flight logic. I said to wait for the right time and build an army. You were the one who is building the army and making the plans. The rest of us can only watch.”

“But you and the other ancestors are sending me the army.”

“There’s a difference, we aren’t making the army, you are. We can only suggest to our children.”

We had both stopped walking for some time already and we looked at each other. The sun had just come up and she hugged me and sent me back to the temple.

“The Pisces will find their way, you have an army to make.”

——-

I woke up in my luxury bed in the heart of the mountain where my temple sits.

I smelled like sea water.

After brushing myself off and taking a bite of something for breakfast I walked into the hangar and found it not so filled and not so buzzing with Xenos or warriors. Time to do something about that. We need more. More than one Equine, more than one Aves.

I headed out to the hangar.

“Farrow!” I called out when we met eyes. We came to greet each other. “There’s some work to do before the battle. We need an army, I need more Aves, we need eyes in the sky and an entire fleet of them for sky cover.”

He knew what I was saying. “I’ll get more.” He said and instantly jumped up and out the door.

I found Roland and gave him the same talk. “We need more cavalry. I’m not sure how many Ancients there really are, but if they have something up their sleeve I can’t afford to risk all of our necks. I’d rather we have something up our sleeves as well, something more.”

He seemed to understand and mentioned, something about not having sleeves, nor needing them, and galloped off into the forest.

The ones left were the Dryads. They had seemed to keep themselves busy with who knows what, but the whole hangar seemed alive and buzzing by their doing.

I found Cedar, he was crouching in a corner helping out some other Dryad that seemed to be having homesick problems already. He was one of the previously injured.

“Cedar, what’s happening with this guy?”

“He’s scared. He doesn’t think he’ll make it. He already lost a lot of his friends and family.”

I didn’t have time to console a him myself. “Why don’t we find some new friends here and take a walk around outside. I hope it’s not too unlike your forest out here. I like it. Some say the view from the top of the mountain is spectacular.”

He seemed to listen to what I said. Cedar picked him up and helped him walk over to a group of chattering Dryads to make some friends.

“Cedar,” I called him back. “I’ve just sent Farrow and Roland off to collect more warriors, we need a real army, not just a team.”

“Copy that,” he said, nodding.

Though I don’t think anyone has any idea what we’re facing. Except for the few who have already faced them. “Have you seen the Ancients?” I asked.

“Of course! They came in through our jungle, took down whole rows of Hamadryads and burnt another acre or two while they set fire on the city of the Apes. They’re terrible creatures.”

“That’s right.” Actually a few more than I thought have met the Ancients. “But listen, I somehow need to get more Dryads, Hamadryads, warriors. Do you know of any?”

“No, I’ve only stayed in my forest for hundreds of years, and so have our ancestors. Nobody travels outside the boundaries.”

“What about in the East?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t know anybody who knows anybody from the East.”

I had to think this over. “How do we get a message to grandfather Drus, fast?”

“There’s no way. The plains and tundra separate us from the city. We wouldn’t be able to even send a message past there. At least through the Hamadryads.”

“How fast can one get to the edge of the jungle and over to the other side of the forest?”

“Not very fast. We don’t have very long legs, as you can see.”

“True,” I said. The fastest way I know is an Aves and Farrow just left. Roland could get through the fields quickly, but then through the city, the desert and finding Drus would be too long. I give up on that idea until Farrow comes back.

“Then the only thing you can do now is get your warriors sharp and fast. They have to be a team and know how to fight.”

“I can do that. We may need another day or two to recover but the ones that can will start their training today.”

“Very good. Another question, don’t you have weapons of some sort, a shield?”

“We can form them, by our nature, but it’s a lost art, none are very strong or durable.”

“Can one of you start making them and learn how to make them strong?”

“I’m sure someone can. Maybe there’s a Dryad at home who knows how. I’ll ask around.”

So far I have a small number of warriors. Soon I’ll have a small army.

Clyde passed by in a hurry, “Dawn, there’s noise of the King’s ship..