Back to Chapter 2
Conclusion...
"Did you hear that?" Franc asked, bringing the group to a halt as the wind rustled the dry leaves.
"Yeah, but do you feel the wind?" Johzen asked, testing the air with her finger.
"Not in the slightest. Lets get moving." Still half-dragging Rita, Johzen and Franc struggled forward, fighting the underbrush and low hanging branches. Twice Rita stumbled and fell, refusing to go further, until Franc gave up and hefted her over his shoulder. With Johzen helping to balance, they made better time and were almost overcome with joy when they stumbled onto the path they had left only hours ago. The night seemed to drag on forever in this Gods-forsaken place, but with renewed hope the trio forged onward, knowing safety was within their grasp.
Following the sounds of movement, the creature knew instinctively where it's next meal was headed. It could not risk following them outside of the forest, not now, with the burning light coming. Coiling from tree to tree, it's lithe, muscular body easily gained on the intruders. Looking down on them as they stumbled past, the creature toyed with the idea of facing them outright... it had been too long since it felt any sort of challenge to the hunt. Perhaps tonight it would be different, but first they must be convinced to stand and fight.
Johzen screams as a tree was violently shoved into their path. A massive Ironroot tree completely barring their path. Franc let Rita slip to the ground, where she lay, not moving. He attempted to climb over the tree, but its smooth bark and ill placed branches made the going difficult. Giving up, Franc started scanning for alternate routes. Nothing had presented yet when Johzen screamed again, this time as something massive came crashing down from the tree she had taken cover under. Diving out of the way just in time, Johzen was saved from being crushed by the weight of the creature. Self preservation overrode any panic she felt as she spun the bow off her back and notched an arrow. Franc was beside her, the knife in his hands. She let loose the arrow and then turn to run, not waiting to see if it struck home. Franc, however, could not turn away. He stood, staring at the creature known as The Guardian of Forgotten Forest. It's snakelike body coiled around itself as it's hideous, black-eyed face stared back at him. He watched as Johzen's arrow arced toward it, catching the creature in the left eye. A howl of rage and pain ripped through the night, and with speed it could not possibly possess, the Guardian lurched out and struck back, grabbing Johzen by the leg with one of the tentacles branching from its neck.
"NO!" Franc howled, and flung himself forward, wrapping his arms around the creatures trunk-like body, slashing and stabbing with his fathers' best carving knife, the one honed and trued to cut through anything. Johzen pulled free as the Guardian attempted to whip around and catch Franc, but he was too far up on it's back to reach. All it could do was roar and hiss as the deadly blade ripped through its scaly flesh.
Surprise was the element of a natural hunter. Dropping down on top of the one cowering below it, the creature was delightedly surprised by the speed and agility the little one moved with. Then, without warning, it stopped, and actually turned and looked at it, even pointed and threw something. It wasn't until the pain came that it knew there WAS challenge in this hunt. Such resourceful creatures, these ones, none had ever scored such a strike against it before. But they will pay for the insult. Glaring from side to side with it's one good eye, the creature managed to spot the one who had blinded it. Reaching forward, it decided that this one must be the leader, the other had just stood there and stared. It is always best to weaken the whole by destroying the head, and thus, this one must be dealt with first. Once again the Guardian experienced both surprise and pain as the larger of the two suddenly attached itself to its body. The bites were small, but none of its feelers could reach to remove the impetuous attacker. How dare they deliver such insults? Giving up on the fleeing one, the creature turned its attention on its attacker, rolling and coiling, shaking itself in order to be rid of the nuisance. Finally it felt the weight fly from it's back. This was turning out to be more than it had planned.
Franc landed with a thud, knocking the wind out of him. He had lost his grip on the knife, leaving it buried in the creatures back. Snapping and twisting, it flung itself from side to side, trying to get the knife out, but with not luck. Turning its attention back to Franc and Johzen, the vile thing hissed and struck out, hundreds of long thin teeth bared and snapping. Franc narrowly avoided losing his head to the beast's mouth, but Johzen was a step and a half to slow. Snagging her shirtsleeves, the creature flung its head back, tossing her like a rag doll across the clearing. Franc watched her land and winced as she bounced and rolled.
"THAT'S IT! You're dead now!" He howled, and leaped for the knife handle still protruding from the Guardian's back. Managing to grab hold, lay across the creature's back, holding onto the knife, and started to drag himself downward with his knees, carving a long jagged slash down one side. Wrenching the knife free, Franc felt a flash of white light glittered across the blade, and the shock threw him to the ground.
The stinger was still in it's back, and the Guardian could feel it burying deeper with every motion it made. It can be dealt with later, for now there was a real fight on, not just an entertaining hunt. Such small creatures, and yet they put up a fight like nothing else had. Amazed, but annoyed, the Guardian turned for one last strike. Missing the intended target turned out to be acceptable, considering the smaller of the two was a bit slower on the move, it seemed. Sending the little one flying, only hard enough to stun it, hopefully, it was distracted long enough for the other one to move again. It could feel the stinger left earlier being used again, this time to cut open its side! This can't be, nothing has ever done this before, nothing COULD ever do this before. Something instinctual was triggered at that point, and the Guardian knew that it was outmatched, regardless of the prey's size.
Franc watched with amazement as the creature coiled and sprang into the trees, disappearing without a sound. When he could move again, he was up on his feet scanning the area for Johzen and Rita. He spotted them huddled under the Ironroot, Johzen cradling Rita's limp form, crying.
"The shock was too much for her," Johzen wept as Franc joined them, "She's gone."
With a heavy heart, Franc lifted Rita, and with Johzen's help, carried her into the woods, keeping the fallen tree to one side, rounding its uprooted base, and following it back to the path it had severed. The going was easier now, the sun was rising behind them, illuminating the area bit by bit. Soon they could see real daylight through the tree tops, as they thinned out to the edge of the woods. Soon they broke clear completely, and could see wisps of smoke, indicating breakfast was on at the Cat's Rest.
Rita was buried three days later, layed to rest next to a marker dedicated to her brother, Henrie. Her family moved away from the place shortly after, as well as Johzen and her family, neither wanted anything more to do with the horrible place. Franc stayed behind, and spent his days growing old at the Inn, warning people of the dangers that lay east . . .
Epilogue