Azeron, a fantasy story following six teenagers who are stranded in an unknown world and trying to survive. Serialized Every Week.
Day One: Part One
“Will you kids for once just pipe down!” Anita Heyward snatched up the paper plane from her lap, screwing it into a ball and chucking it on the dash, as she looked to her rear view mirror in time to see a satchel fly across the gangway. “You know if I crash this heap of junk we could all be killed!”
A combined, “oooooh,” followed by laughter and some inaudible mutters was the only response. Lucky for them all, the road was empty - it always was this close to Craven’s Peak. No one else had reason to travel this far into the forest, and once she was done dropping this lot off no one else would for another three months.
She’d be happy when the year was through and she could finally say goodbye to this wretched job. Anita couldn’t stand children regardless, but these delinquents were among the worst. All twenty-three on the bus had been cast out of normal state schools due to behavioural problems. Putting up with them four times a year for the past three years had already brought her premature grey hairs. Course if she’d done better herself at their age, she wouldn’t have to accept hideous jobs like this one, she thought.
Terrence and Tobias, the Emerson twins, were fighting again. Morris and Harper, the two Sandras, were polluting the air with noxious gases of their cigarettes, trading one fag back and forth like two lovers; which the rumours assumed they were. Meanwhile Baxter was up to his usual tricks.
“Oh come on….” Anita hollered, “I’m not blind you know, you two put those damn cigarettes out this instant! And Robert Baxter get out of Lilly’s bag.”
“Oh my God!” Lilly pulled her bag off her shoulder and down onto her lap. “Get lost you thief.”
“Yeah right,” he laughed “Ain’t like you have anything worth taking anyway… Orphan Annie. Everyone knows the Slaters bought you for one ninety-nine at the corner shop.”
A combined, “oooooh,” followed by laughter and some inaudible mutters was the only response. Lucky for them all, the road was empty - it always was this close to Craven’s Peak. No one else had reason to travel this far into the forest, and once she was done dropping this lot off no one else would for another three months.
She’d be happy when the year was through and she could finally say goodbye to this wretched job. Anita couldn’t stand children regardless, but these delinquents were among the worst. All twenty-three on the bus had been cast out of normal state schools due to behavioural problems. Putting up with them four times a year for the past three years had already brought her premature grey hairs. Course if she’d done better herself at their age, she wouldn’t have to accept hideous jobs like this one, she thought.
Terrence and Tobias, the Emerson twins, were fighting again. Morris and Harper, the two Sandras, were polluting the air with noxious gases of their cigarettes, trading one fag back and forth like two lovers; which the rumours assumed they were. Meanwhile Baxter was up to his usual tricks.
“Oh come on….” Anita hollered, “I’m not blind you know, you two put those damn cigarettes out this instant! And Robert Baxter get out of Lilly’s bag.”
“Oh my God!” Lilly pulled her bag off her shoulder and down onto her lap. “Get lost you thief.”
“Yeah right,” he laughed “Ain’t like you have anything worth taking anyway… Orphan Annie. Everyone knows the Slaters bought you for one ninety-nine at the corner shop.”
Lilly turned back to her comic book, “At least someone wanted me… Your mom’s so drunk she doesn’t know what you look like and what was your Dad’s excuse again?”
Some of the other kids laughed, until Baxter looked around for the culprits; they all hated him but none wanted to be on his bad side.
“Bitch!” He punched her between the shoulder blades. Swivelling around she lifted her bag, clouting him over the head several times.
“Fuck you asshole!”
The others laughed more, some chanting encouragement.
“I said cut it out!” Anita yelled, half wishing she could cheer Lilly on for her spirit. Although she didn’t much approve of the bright bubble-gum-pink streaks in the girl’s hair, she had to admire her gumption. Baxter was by far the worst of this bad bunch; deserving every whack he got, and more.
Lilly glanced toward the front of the bus, and for the briefest second thought she was going insane: ahead of them the air appeared to be rippling, similar to heat waves on a sunny day, except this was shimmering and expanding; a huge iridescent globule, as solid as it was transparent.
“What the…”
“Fucking hell!” Hearing Baxter’s exclamation, Lilly also looked up.
“Holy shi-”
The others were screaming as the bus swerved and they hurtled off road, straight into the thick of the old growth forest on their right.
Lilly heard none of it; she was too busy staring out the windscreen - her eyes drawn to that shimmering rift in the world. A second later the bus passed through it. For one long moment it felt like her entire body had been turned inside out and back again; as if that stomach dropping feeling of riding a roller coaster had extended to every fibre of her being.
The screams of the others remained muted and an incredible chill spread across her skin. Like a sudden wave of pins and needles, Lilly felt her entire body tingling. She looked frantically around, her long blonde hair swaying into her line of sight, the one dyed strip creating a halo of pink in her vision for a moment. Shaking it out of her eyes, and glancing around, she realised the others were in too much of a panic, to see the huge tree in their path and she screamed “Get down!" a split second before they smashed into it.
Some of the other kids laughed, until Baxter looked around for the culprits; they all hated him but none wanted to be on his bad side.
“Bitch!” He punched her between the shoulder blades. Swivelling around she lifted her bag, clouting him over the head several times.
“Fuck you asshole!”
The others laughed more, some chanting encouragement.
“I said cut it out!” Anita yelled, half wishing she could cheer Lilly on for her spirit. Although she didn’t much approve of the bright bubble-gum-pink streaks in the girl’s hair, she had to admire her gumption. Baxter was by far the worst of this bad bunch; deserving every whack he got, and more.
Lilly glanced toward the front of the bus, and for the briefest second thought she was going insane: ahead of them the air appeared to be rippling, similar to heat waves on a sunny day, except this was shimmering and expanding; a huge iridescent globule, as solid as it was transparent.
“What the…”
“Fucking hell!” Hearing Baxter’s exclamation, Lilly also looked up.
“Holy shi-”
The others were screaming as the bus swerved and they hurtled off road, straight into the thick of the old growth forest on their right.
Lilly heard none of it; she was too busy staring out the windscreen - her eyes drawn to that shimmering rift in the world. A second later the bus passed through it. For one long moment it felt like her entire body had been turned inside out and back again; as if that stomach dropping feeling of riding a roller coaster had extended to every fibre of her being.
The screams of the others remained muted and an incredible chill spread across her skin. Like a sudden wave of pins and needles, Lilly felt her entire body tingling. She looked frantically around, her long blonde hair swaying into her line of sight, the one dyed strip creating a halo of pink in her vision for a moment. Shaking it out of her eyes, and glancing around, she realised the others were in too much of a panic, to see the huge tree in their path and she screamed “Get down!" a split second before they smashed into it.
The sound of the horn brought Lilly to her senses, and seeing Anita slumped over the wheel was enough to get her out of her seat. Clambering forward she pulled the driver backward.
“Miss Heyward?” The constant bleat of the horn gave way to sobs and whimpers from the few still conscious. Seeing blood trickle down into Anita Heyward’s open eyes and gaping mouth - suspended in a scream that would never be heard - Lilly grimaced before turning away.
Smoke was pouring from the bonnet, spiralling upward in a thick cloud all too reminiscent of stories from her childhood. “You guys,” she moved to the door, pushing and pulling - it wouldn’t budge. “Guys, we need to get out of here. Someone help me, the door’s jammed. Come on you lot… we’re trapped!”
Baxter was the first at her side, adding hefty kicks and profanity to the effort. The pair were soon joined by the Emerson twins, but the combined effort proved just as futile.
Lilly glanced to the bonnet again. The spiralling smoke had become a thick cloud.
“Oh God no!” The others followed her gaze and panic began to spread.
The next thing they knew the door was swaying and contorting.
“What the hell is going on?” she looked to Baxter.
“I don’t know...” he shook his head, taking a step back as he added. “But I don’t fucking like it.” The others followed his lead as the sound of tearing metal reverberated through the bus.
Sandra Harper, who’d been sobbing in her seat near the front, started to scream hysterically. Her best friend, Sandra Morris, slapped her face - stunning her into silence, before hugging her tight.
They all watched as the door was ripped away by an unseen force; only to fly off and land on the ground below.
Lilly peeped out, expecting an explanation – there was none. The door lay engulfed in foliage below. She turned back to the others with a shrug, at which point Baxter pushed past her; almost knocking her down.
“I’m out of here,” he jumped out and ran off.
“Hey wait up,” yelled Terence Emerson as he and Tobias grabbed their backpacks and followed.
Wanting to do the same, Lilly turned to see a pleading look on Sandra Morris’s face. Another glance to the bonnet revealed it was no longer visible under the cloud of smoke that had now begun filling the interior. Putting a hand over her mouth and nose she stepped hastily toward them.
“You two coming or what?”
“We can’t,” Morris shook her head. “She’s frightened.”
“Well, frightened or not, you can’t stay here.”
Lowering her voice, Morris said, “She’s right, Sand we’ve really gotta get going, look the others have already-”
“Yeah, whatever…” Lilly grabbed Harper under the arm and pulled her up off the seat.
“Hey!” Outraged Morris rose to defend her best friend. “You can’t just-”
“We don’t have time for this crap OK!” Lilly yelled in her face, “This bus is a death trap! Now do you want help or not?”
“We do,” nodded Morris. “We want help!”
Together they dragged Harper through the gathering smoke and off the bus, her own legs moving too little to be much help.
A few feet away Morris turned to the wreckage,
“What about the others? What about Miss Heyward? Shouldn’t we help them too?”
“We can’t.” Lilly dragged Harper forward. “We have to get away.”
Scrambling to keep up, Morris glanced backward with every step.
“But the others, we can’t just-”
“It’s too late for them!”
Morris stopped to stare at the bus. “But-”
“Come on!” Lilly paused, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her round. “Ain’t the kind of thing you need clear in your memory OK… Just keep walking and don’t look back!” With a look of confusion Morris did as she was told, only to cringe a few steps later when the bus exploded behind them.
“Miss Heyward?” The constant bleat of the horn gave way to sobs and whimpers from the few still conscious. Seeing blood trickle down into Anita Heyward’s open eyes and gaping mouth - suspended in a scream that would never be heard - Lilly grimaced before turning away.
Smoke was pouring from the bonnet, spiralling upward in a thick cloud all too reminiscent of stories from her childhood. “You guys,” she moved to the door, pushing and pulling - it wouldn’t budge. “Guys, we need to get out of here. Someone help me, the door’s jammed. Come on you lot… we’re trapped!”
Baxter was the first at her side, adding hefty kicks and profanity to the effort. The pair were soon joined by the Emerson twins, but the combined effort proved just as futile.
Lilly glanced to the bonnet again. The spiralling smoke had become a thick cloud.
“Oh God no!” The others followed her gaze and panic began to spread.
The next thing they knew the door was swaying and contorting.
“What the hell is going on?” she looked to Baxter.
“I don’t know...” he shook his head, taking a step back as he added. “But I don’t fucking like it.” The others followed his lead as the sound of tearing metal reverberated through the bus.
Sandra Harper, who’d been sobbing in her seat near the front, started to scream hysterically. Her best friend, Sandra Morris, slapped her face - stunning her into silence, before hugging her tight.
They all watched as the door was ripped away by an unseen force; only to fly off and land on the ground below.
Lilly peeped out, expecting an explanation – there was none. The door lay engulfed in foliage below. She turned back to the others with a shrug, at which point Baxter pushed past her; almost knocking her down.
“I’m out of here,” he jumped out and ran off.
“Hey wait up,” yelled Terence Emerson as he and Tobias grabbed their backpacks and followed.
Wanting to do the same, Lilly turned to see a pleading look on Sandra Morris’s face. Another glance to the bonnet revealed it was no longer visible under the cloud of smoke that had now begun filling the interior. Putting a hand over her mouth and nose she stepped hastily toward them.
“You two coming or what?”
“We can’t,” Morris shook her head. “She’s frightened.”
“Well, frightened or not, you can’t stay here.”
Lowering her voice, Morris said, “She’s right, Sand we’ve really gotta get going, look the others have already-”
“Yeah, whatever…” Lilly grabbed Harper under the arm and pulled her up off the seat.
“Hey!” Outraged Morris rose to defend her best friend. “You can’t just-”
“We don’t have time for this crap OK!” Lilly yelled in her face, “This bus is a death trap! Now do you want help or not?”
“We do,” nodded Morris. “We want help!”
Together they dragged Harper through the gathering smoke and off the bus, her own legs moving too little to be much help.
A few feet away Morris turned to the wreckage,
“What about the others? What about Miss Heyward? Shouldn’t we help them too?”
“We can’t.” Lilly dragged Harper forward. “We have to get away.”
Scrambling to keep up, Morris glanced backward with every step.
“But the others, we can’t just-”
“It’s too late for them!”
Morris stopped to stare at the bus. “But-”
“Come on!” Lilly paused, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her round. “Ain’t the kind of thing you need clear in your memory OK… Just keep walking and don’t look back!” With a look of confusion Morris did as she was told, only to cringe a few steps later when the bus exploded behind them.
Baxter slapped the back of Tobias’s head.
“Ouch! What the fuck?”
“You told me your brother has a good sense of direction.” Baxter pointed ahead to Terrence; having removed his cap Terrence had his sleeve to his brow and was resting against a tree.
“He does!” Tobias rubbed his head, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Then why the hell are we lost MORON!”
“Who you calling moron? Asshole!”
“You and your dim-witted twin over there that’s who…”
“Yeah well, you better watch your mouth Baxter else I’ll-”
“You’ll what?” Baxter pushed him square in his scrawny chest; almost toppling him.
“You touch me again and you’ll find out.” Tobias hissed through gritted teeth.
The pair glared at each other.
“Hey! Cut it out you two.” Terrence shook his head as he re-joined them. “Hate to say this guys but I think we’re lost.”
“Oh really!” Baxter raised an eyebrow.
“What!” breaking off his stare Tobias turned to his brother. “Oh man. What do you mean we’re lost? How can we be lost, you know these woods like the back of your hand.”
“I know,” shrugged Terrence. “I don’t get it either. Everything just looks so… different. We musta crashed a lot further out than I thought… could a sworn we should be seeing the school by now.”
“Jesus Tez, it’s freezing out here. You know how I hate the cold. How could you go and-”
“Hey, hey! OK calm the fuck down,” Baxter pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and clamped one between his lips, lighting it as he added. “Ain’t his fault. He’s right, we must a crashed a lot further out than we thought. I know my legs sure as hell ain’t ever felt this tired walking through these damn woods before… we’ve been on the move for ages.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that’s because we’re lost!” Tobias flashed an angry look at his brother before turning back to Baxter. “Give us one would ya?” getting a raised eyebrow, he shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Oh come on. I’ve got a fat stash waiting for me at the Peak. I’ll give you a whole pack when we get back.”
Flipping the pack open again, Baxter held it out, then pulled back when Terrence went to help himself. “Na ah… these babies are like medicine for me and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take you to get us back. Go twos with your brother.”
With that he turned his back on them, looking ahead in the direction they’d been going and ran his free hand through his scruffy dark brown curls.
“Course I wouldn’t need you two sad-cases if I could just see the fucking spires. Damn this damn fog, I ain’t never seen anything like it.”
Tobias looked around then across to his brother, relieved to see him equally confused.
“Ouch! What the fuck?”
“You told me your brother has a good sense of direction.” Baxter pointed ahead to Terrence; having removed his cap Terrence had his sleeve to his brow and was resting against a tree.
“He does!” Tobias rubbed his head, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Then why the hell are we lost MORON!”
“Who you calling moron? Asshole!”
“You and your dim-witted twin over there that’s who…”
“Yeah well, you better watch your mouth Baxter else I’ll-”
“You’ll what?” Baxter pushed him square in his scrawny chest; almost toppling him.
“You touch me again and you’ll find out.” Tobias hissed through gritted teeth.
The pair glared at each other.
“Hey! Cut it out you two.” Terrence shook his head as he re-joined them. “Hate to say this guys but I think we’re lost.”
“Oh really!” Baxter raised an eyebrow.
“What!” breaking off his stare Tobias turned to his brother. “Oh man. What do you mean we’re lost? How can we be lost, you know these woods like the back of your hand.”
“I know,” shrugged Terrence. “I don’t get it either. Everything just looks so… different. We musta crashed a lot further out than I thought… could a sworn we should be seeing the school by now.”
“Jesus Tez, it’s freezing out here. You know how I hate the cold. How could you go and-”
“Hey, hey! OK calm the fuck down,” Baxter pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and clamped one between his lips, lighting it as he added. “Ain’t his fault. He’s right, we must a crashed a lot further out than we thought. I know my legs sure as hell ain’t ever felt this tired walking through these damn woods before… we’ve been on the move for ages.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that’s because we’re lost!” Tobias flashed an angry look at his brother before turning back to Baxter. “Give us one would ya?” getting a raised eyebrow, he shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Oh come on. I’ve got a fat stash waiting for me at the Peak. I’ll give you a whole pack when we get back.”
Flipping the pack open again, Baxter held it out, then pulled back when Terrence went to help himself. “Na ah… these babies are like medicine for me and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take you to get us back. Go twos with your brother.”
With that he turned his back on them, looking ahead in the direction they’d been going and ran his free hand through his scruffy dark brown curls.
“Course I wouldn’t need you two sad-cases if I could just see the fucking spires. Damn this damn fog, I ain’t never seen anything like it.”
Tobias looked around then across to his brother, relieved to see him equally confused.
“Where’d you think the others got to?” Morris tugged on her jacket collar, pulling it higher up Harper’s neck.
“Who cares,” Lilly shrugged, throwing more twigs on the fire before prodding it with a stick. “Baxter’s with them and we’re better off without him around, would only hog the fire and steal our lighters anyway.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” leaving Harper on the old log they’d found and joining Lilly beside the fire, Morris shrugged. “Maybe they’re back at school already. Bet Mrs Askey has search parties out for us right now.”
“Dunno.” Lilly shook her head. “Think we musta crashed quite a ways from the Peak I ain’t seen any sign of it so far.”
“Me either….” Morris looked to her lap, “it’s odd, last year when me and Sand got past Mr. Crick we could see the spires from most of the woods… wasn’t anywhere near this cold either.” She rubbed her arms. There was fear in her voice, and looking round Lilly sighed,
“Yeah well this fog is pretty thick it’s not surprising we can’t see-”
“Fog?” the bewilderment on Morris’s face was enough to make Lilly question her own eyes. A second look showed the thick fog, which seemed to have followed them from the wrecked bus still surrounding them. She looked back to Morris who was also looking around; a baffled expression on her face.
“You really don’t see it do you?”
“Errr…I see trees… lots and lots of trees.”
“Who cares,” Lilly shrugged, throwing more twigs on the fire before prodding it with a stick. “Baxter’s with them and we’re better off without him around, would only hog the fire and steal our lighters anyway.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” leaving Harper on the old log they’d found and joining Lilly beside the fire, Morris shrugged. “Maybe they’re back at school already. Bet Mrs Askey has search parties out for us right now.”
“Dunno.” Lilly shook her head. “Think we musta crashed quite a ways from the Peak I ain’t seen any sign of it so far.”
“Me either….” Morris looked to her lap, “it’s odd, last year when me and Sand got past Mr. Crick we could see the spires from most of the woods… wasn’t anywhere near this cold either.” She rubbed her arms. There was fear in her voice, and looking round Lilly sighed,
“Yeah well this fog is pretty thick it’s not surprising we can’t see-”
“Fog?” the bewilderment on Morris’s face was enough to make Lilly question her own eyes. A second look showed the thick fog, which seemed to have followed them from the wrecked bus still surrounding them. She looked back to Morris who was also looking around; a baffled expression on her face.
“You really don’t see it do you?”
“Errr…I see trees… lots and lots of trees.”
“It’s done!”
Vereena came running out of the hut. Thin braids of long blonde hair swished back and forth across her pale cheeks, while the mud and leaves clung to her long brown boots.
Reaching Toleth and the rest of the small group of riders, she took a moment to catch her breath before she could add, “Mai Mai says it’s done! They succeeded! She’s here!”
“Where?”
Her brow creased as she bit her lip, aware of the other villagers’ eyes on her.
“Middle of the forest.”
The other riders began to mutter among themselves for a moment till their voices were drowned out by Toleth. “Mordrel’s forces?” he asked.
“Some followed, couldn’t be prevented.” Vereena nodded. “They’re not far behind. And T’vor says we can’t keep her safe long, you must go now.”
He nodded, pulling on the reigns of his yimusa trundel, its head turned as he looked to the others.”
“It’s time, we ride!”
“Wait! Toleth.” Vereena called out as the others thundered up the hill toward the forest.
She dug a hand into the deep pocket of her hooded top, pulling out an opaque silvery ball the size of a tangerine. “I’m supposed to give you this.”
He nodded and took it… ignoring as best he could the stricken look on her face.
“Tell Mai Mai I was thankful and that I will be bringing it back.”
“Of course,” she bowed her head, one arm going to her chest. While those around her, watched him ride to meet his troops - they were out of sight in seconds.
Vereena rubbed her palm where the orb had left a warm tingle, and turned to return to their grandmother’s hut.
Vereena came running out of the hut. Thin braids of long blonde hair swished back and forth across her pale cheeks, while the mud and leaves clung to her long brown boots.
Reaching Toleth and the rest of the small group of riders, she took a moment to catch her breath before she could add, “Mai Mai says it’s done! They succeeded! She’s here!”
“Where?”
Her brow creased as she bit her lip, aware of the other villagers’ eyes on her.
“Middle of the forest.”
The other riders began to mutter among themselves for a moment till their voices were drowned out by Toleth. “Mordrel’s forces?” he asked.
“Some followed, couldn’t be prevented.” Vereena nodded. “They’re not far behind. And T’vor says we can’t keep her safe long, you must go now.”
He nodded, pulling on the reigns of his yimusa trundel, its head turned as he looked to the others.”
“It’s time, we ride!”
“Wait! Toleth.” Vereena called out as the others thundered up the hill toward the forest.
She dug a hand into the deep pocket of her hooded top, pulling out an opaque silvery ball the size of a tangerine. “I’m supposed to give you this.”
He nodded and took it… ignoring as best he could the stricken look on her face.
“Tell Mai Mai I was thankful and that I will be bringing it back.”
“Of course,” she bowed her head, one arm going to her chest. While those around her, watched him ride to meet his troops - they were out of sight in seconds.
Vereena rubbed her palm where the orb had left a warm tingle, and turned to return to their grandmother’s hut.
“Man this stinks!” Tobias complained “Which one of us put that asshole in charge anyway?”
“Not me,” shrugged Terrence, snapping another large branch and chucking it on the pile behind them.
“Damn it, I’m sick of his shit. Always throwing his weight around, you know what?”
“What?”
“We should kick his ass.”
“Yeah, OK.” laughed Terrence.
“Hey I’m serious,” Tobias watched him grab a last branch before gathering the rest together. “We could take him.”
“Really getting to you isn’t he?”
“You bet your ass he is, besides who’s gonna stop us? Ain’t no teachers here and those jerks he usually hangs with are at school already, their bus always gets in before ours.”
“Can’t help thinking you’re forgetting something bro.” Terrence took off his hoodie and tied its sleeves around the bundle.
“What’s that?”
“Our kicking his ass now, don’t stop him kicking ours later, even worse he’ll enjoy it more that way. Wait till his crew’s around him, get us one at a time, or in front of the whole school if he can…it just ain’t something we need to be giving him an excuse for.” He flung the bundle over his shoulder and headed back the way they’d come. “Nah, Baxter ain’t the kind of guy you mess with unless you’re planning on putting a bullet through his head.”
“Yeah well, that can be arranged.”
“Oh see, now you just chattin’ shit, more specifically, the kinda shit that put us in this shit-hole in the first place.”
“Why you always gotta be so fucking sensible?” Tobias followed him through the trees.
“Hell, I dunno. Maybe cos I got all the brains, you know being first and all, there just wasn’t a whole lot left for you bro.”
“Ah see now you’re asking for a whupping.”
“Right,” laughed Terrence.
“You may have gotten the brains, but don’t forget which one of us got the deadly physique.” Tobias squared up in front of his brother, “Come on then…”
“Shhh.” Freezing, Terence looked around.
“What you mean shush? You shush! Can’t you hear I’m talk-”
“Bro!” Whispering he put a hand across Tobias’s chest. “Seriously, didn’t you hear that?”
“No,” Tobias looked around also. “I heard nothing. Why? What do you think you’re hearing?”
“I dunno man,” Terrence frowned. “Sounded like… like a horse.”
“A horse! Out here!” Tobias laughed, “Oh come on.”
“I’m serious, OK, I heard a horse.”
“Yeah OK bro, you heard a horse,” nodding, he pushed his brother’s arm away, and kept walking. “Damn man. Why’s everybody gotta be tripping out, first Baxter with his invisible fog, now you with a horse!”
“Hey I’m serious all right, I heard galloping-”
“Galloping?”
“Yeah,” he looked around, “lots of it! Shit Tobe, that was more than one…”
“Oh, see now, I know you tripping, ain’t no goddamn horses on the Peak Tez.”
“Ain’t nothing in the world makes that noise but horses!”
“What damn noise? I didn’t hear-”
Hearing it again, Terrence watched his brother swing around; a startled look on his face. “See!”
“Man that’s fucking creepy. Why can I hear that but not see it?”
“I dunno bro.” They were both looking around now. Back to back they circled one another.
“Hey, maybe it’s a search party.”
“On horses! OK now who’s tripping?”
“Well it could be.”
“Yeah sure, next you gonna be saying, Mr Crick done built a stable on Craven's Peak. Gonna teach all us delinquent city kids to ride.”
Tobias came to a standstill, glaring at his brother.
“Man, why you always got to be making fun of me?”
“Why…” Terrence stopped too. “Cos you talking crazy shit and you know…”
The look on his brother’s face made him swing around again.
“OK. You were right. There ain’t no horses on the Peak!”
Together they stared at the bluish creature racing toward them, an armoured rider on its back.
“Terrence,” Tobias hissed, as several more appeared behind the first. “What the fuck are those? And why don’t they have any legs?”
“I dunno Tobes, but I don’t think they're a rescue party”
“Right.”
No more needed saying, in mutual, unspoken agreement the pair turned and ran.
“Not me,” shrugged Terrence, snapping another large branch and chucking it on the pile behind them.
“Damn it, I’m sick of his shit. Always throwing his weight around, you know what?”
“What?”
“We should kick his ass.”
“Yeah, OK.” laughed Terrence.
“Hey I’m serious,” Tobias watched him grab a last branch before gathering the rest together. “We could take him.”
“Really getting to you isn’t he?”
“You bet your ass he is, besides who’s gonna stop us? Ain’t no teachers here and those jerks he usually hangs with are at school already, their bus always gets in before ours.”
“Can’t help thinking you’re forgetting something bro.” Terrence took off his hoodie and tied its sleeves around the bundle.
“What’s that?”
“Our kicking his ass now, don’t stop him kicking ours later, even worse he’ll enjoy it more that way. Wait till his crew’s around him, get us one at a time, or in front of the whole school if he can…it just ain’t something we need to be giving him an excuse for.” He flung the bundle over his shoulder and headed back the way they’d come. “Nah, Baxter ain’t the kind of guy you mess with unless you’re planning on putting a bullet through his head.”
“Yeah well, that can be arranged.”
“Oh see, now you just chattin’ shit, more specifically, the kinda shit that put us in this shit-hole in the first place.”
“Why you always gotta be so fucking sensible?” Tobias followed him through the trees.
“Hell, I dunno. Maybe cos I got all the brains, you know being first and all, there just wasn’t a whole lot left for you bro.”
“Ah see now you’re asking for a whupping.”
“Right,” laughed Terrence.
“You may have gotten the brains, but don’t forget which one of us got the deadly physique.” Tobias squared up in front of his brother, “Come on then…”
“Shhh.” Freezing, Terence looked around.
“What you mean shush? You shush! Can’t you hear I’m talk-”
“Bro!” Whispering he put a hand across Tobias’s chest. “Seriously, didn’t you hear that?”
“No,” Tobias looked around also. “I heard nothing. Why? What do you think you’re hearing?”
“I dunno man,” Terrence frowned. “Sounded like… like a horse.”
“A horse! Out here!” Tobias laughed, “Oh come on.”
“I’m serious, OK, I heard a horse.”
“Yeah OK bro, you heard a horse,” nodding, he pushed his brother’s arm away, and kept walking. “Damn man. Why’s everybody gotta be tripping out, first Baxter with his invisible fog, now you with a horse!”
“Hey I’m serious all right, I heard galloping-”
“Galloping?”
“Yeah,” he looked around, “lots of it! Shit Tobe, that was more than one…”
“Oh, see now, I know you tripping, ain’t no goddamn horses on the Peak Tez.”
“Ain’t nothing in the world makes that noise but horses!”
“What damn noise? I didn’t hear-”
Hearing it again, Terrence watched his brother swing around; a startled look on his face. “See!”
“Man that’s fucking creepy. Why can I hear that but not see it?”
“I dunno bro.” They were both looking around now. Back to back they circled one another.
“Hey, maybe it’s a search party.”
“On horses! OK now who’s tripping?”
“Well it could be.”
“Yeah sure, next you gonna be saying, Mr Crick done built a stable on Craven's Peak. Gonna teach all us delinquent city kids to ride.”
Tobias came to a standstill, glaring at his brother.
“Man, why you always got to be making fun of me?”
“Why…” Terrence stopped too. “Cos you talking crazy shit and you know…”
The look on his brother’s face made him swing around again.
“OK. You were right. There ain’t no horses on the Peak!”
Together they stared at the bluish creature racing toward them, an armoured rider on its back.
“Terrence,” Tobias hissed, as several more appeared behind the first. “What the fuck are those? And why don’t they have any legs?”
“I dunno Tobes, but I don’t think they're a rescue party”
“Right.”
No more needed saying, in mutual, unspoken agreement the pair turned and ran.
Baxter stood up when he saw the twins racing toward him, and almost fell over again at the speed with which Terrence passed him, screaming, “RUUUUUUUNNN!”
“What in the…” he began yelling after them, but the steady thrumming caught his attention. Turning back he saw the creatures and their riders, bearing down and giving chase after the twins.
Well practised at evading all sorts of capture, Baxter was soon in the lead, ducking under branches, leaping over fallen logs and stumps of felled trees.
From nowhere a second group of riders; unarmoured, but on similar beasts, came from the right and one by one the boys were scooped up and each thrown across the broad shoulders of a legless equine.
“What in the…” he began yelling after them, but the steady thrumming caught his attention. Turning back he saw the creatures and their riders, bearing down and giving chase after the twins.
Well practised at evading all sorts of capture, Baxter was soon in the lead, ducking under branches, leaping over fallen logs and stumps of felled trees.
From nowhere a second group of riders; unarmoured, but on similar beasts, came from the right and one by one the boys were scooped up and each thrown across the broad shoulders of a legless equine.
“It’s getting dark.” Lilly looked around, the fog only she could see still surrounded the clearing they’d settled in. “We should get some rest, make it back the rest of the way in the morning.”
“I don’t think I can sleep in this cold,” complained Morris, she was beside the fire rubbing at her goose-pimpled arms, thick steam escaping her mouth with every word.
“Here,” Lilly took off her leather jacket and threw it over to where Harper lay on the other side of the fire, “Go lie next to her, keep each other warm.”
“What about you?”
“I’m good.” Lilly nodded “never really feel the cold… besides,” she shrugged, “one of us should stay awake in case somebody comes.”
“Right,” Morris nodded. “A search party or something, well, wake me if you need a break.”
“Sure.” She slid closer to the fire and began breaking up more of the branches they’d gathered.
Morris spread the jacket over Harper’s shoulders and crawling under it lay facing Lilly, head resting on her arm.
“They are looking for us by now right? I...I mean the bus exploded, that’s kinda hard to miss… right?”
“Sure.” Lilly nodded, staring bleakly into the fire, cracking branches into twigs.
It took her a moment to realise the sound appeared to be echoing in the distance. Ceasing all action she looked down at her still hands. The cracking continued. It was now several snaps at once, accompanied by loud thuds and getting closer.
She looked up, seeing nothing but fog. Morris propped her head on her arm and gazed off in the same direction.
“What’s the matter? Oh my God!” She sat up, looking high into the trees.
“What is it?” Lilly rose to her feet, looking up also. “What do you see?”
Then she saw him too; a man darting along the limbs and branches above them. He looked down at the girls a split second before diving off the thick, moss laden branch and yelling, “Viileerium.” A perfect flip left him on his feet in the clearing beside them.
Turning to Lilly he made a fist and thrust his leather clad forearm against his leather clad chest. “Lillian… We must leave now if you wish to see another sunrise”
“Err…” Lilly looked to Morris as she scrambled to her feet. “This is some kind of joke right?”
“Search me.” Morris shrugged. “Ain’t something I’m in on…” The man waved a hand over the fire muttering “Katat.” Seeing the flames die out the girls looked from him to each other.
“We do not have time for explanations,” he looked around them. “Mordrel’s forces are upon us.”
“Hey listen pal,” Taking in the strangeness of his attire: shaggy green trousers resembling matted wool, the long brown leather vest he had over them and a thick brown belt holding a multitude of odd tools and dirty pouches; Lilly backed away. “We have no idea what you’re talking about OK!” She shook her head “We don’t know any Mordrel and we ain’t going anywhere with a freak like you.”
“I am not of clan Frik,” the man frowned, the lines running deep enough to make him look thirty odd, when he’d barely looked twenty before “I am D’vey.” He nodded, “and you need not know Mordrel. She knows of you, that is enough.”
“Yeah, OK,” signalling to Morris that he was obviously cuckoo she offered a polite smile. “Well it just so happens that I can handle myself. So whoever this Mordrel is, can-”
“Listen!” He raised a hand, silencing her. “Listen! Feel! They are almost here.”
Lilly frowned, looking to Morris, and curious, they both listened. Lilly felt the hairs on her neck prickle as she heard and felt a rapid thumping.
“What in the-”
“When was the last time you handled yourself against an army girl? What you hear is at least two hundred skilled warriors with one goal in mind; To slice you in two and bring you back to Queen Mordrel in a weavel sack.”
“Err… Weavel sack?” Morris shook her head. “I don’t think I’ve-”
“Enough questions,” he raised a hand. We’ve dallied here long enough. We must leave this place now if you wish to see-”
“Another sunrise,” nodded Lilly, “we got that part already. Problem is our friend’s in no fit state to-” her voice had acquired an urgency that had Morris raising an eyebrow.
“You’re not seriously thinking of leaving with this loon?” she shook her head.
Ignoring her, he shrugged, “Leave her behind,” glancing dismissively to Harper he added, “She makes a good decoy.”
“Hang on a minute,” Morris’s reaction was instantaneous. “I’m not going anywhere without Harper!”
“Probably best,” nodded the man. “You’d no doubt slow us-”
“Hey, hey.” Lilly shook her head, assessing Morris’s rising anger and raising both hands to diffuse the situation. “We’re a package deal, OK! If I’m coming with you my friends are too. Besides…” she frowned “Harper’s not injured, she’s just… in shock or something. Our bus came off the road not far from…”
Realising he was no longer listening, Lilly's mouth hung open as she watched him pick Harper up and fling her over his shoulder before turning back to them. “We must leave… Now!”
“You do realise we’re following a crazy man?” Morris whispered as she handed Lilly her jacket back, before grabbing her satchel and following them from the clearing.
“Yep,” Lilly shrugged on the jacket. “a crazy man who knows my name and puts fires out with words.”
“Yeah OK, so that was kinda weird… but still… crazy man… dressed like a reject from a bad Robin Hood movie, picks Harper up like she’s an empty hold-all, tells us to follow him or else, and you’re not the slightest bit concerned!”
“Oh, I’m concerned.” Lilly paused to nod at Morris, “But something is definitely on its way here fast and I have no intentions of finding out what a weavel sack is!”
“I don’t think I can sleep in this cold,” complained Morris, she was beside the fire rubbing at her goose-pimpled arms, thick steam escaping her mouth with every word.
“Here,” Lilly took off her leather jacket and threw it over to where Harper lay on the other side of the fire, “Go lie next to her, keep each other warm.”
“What about you?”
“I’m good.” Lilly nodded “never really feel the cold… besides,” she shrugged, “one of us should stay awake in case somebody comes.”
“Right,” Morris nodded. “A search party or something, well, wake me if you need a break.”
“Sure.” She slid closer to the fire and began breaking up more of the branches they’d gathered.
Morris spread the jacket over Harper’s shoulders and crawling under it lay facing Lilly, head resting on her arm.
“They are looking for us by now right? I...I mean the bus exploded, that’s kinda hard to miss… right?”
“Sure.” Lilly nodded, staring bleakly into the fire, cracking branches into twigs.
It took her a moment to realise the sound appeared to be echoing in the distance. Ceasing all action she looked down at her still hands. The cracking continued. It was now several snaps at once, accompanied by loud thuds and getting closer.
She looked up, seeing nothing but fog. Morris propped her head on her arm and gazed off in the same direction.
“What’s the matter? Oh my God!” She sat up, looking high into the trees.
“What is it?” Lilly rose to her feet, looking up also. “What do you see?”
Then she saw him too; a man darting along the limbs and branches above them. He looked down at the girls a split second before diving off the thick, moss laden branch and yelling, “Viileerium.” A perfect flip left him on his feet in the clearing beside them.
Turning to Lilly he made a fist and thrust his leather clad forearm against his leather clad chest. “Lillian… We must leave now if you wish to see another sunrise”
“Err…” Lilly looked to Morris as she scrambled to her feet. “This is some kind of joke right?”
“Search me.” Morris shrugged. “Ain’t something I’m in on…” The man waved a hand over the fire muttering “Katat.” Seeing the flames die out the girls looked from him to each other.
“We do not have time for explanations,” he looked around them. “Mordrel’s forces are upon us.”
“Hey listen pal,” Taking in the strangeness of his attire: shaggy green trousers resembling matted wool, the long brown leather vest he had over them and a thick brown belt holding a multitude of odd tools and dirty pouches; Lilly backed away. “We have no idea what you’re talking about OK!” She shook her head “We don’t know any Mordrel and we ain’t going anywhere with a freak like you.”
“I am not of clan Frik,” the man frowned, the lines running deep enough to make him look thirty odd, when he’d barely looked twenty before “I am D’vey.” He nodded, “and you need not know Mordrel. She knows of you, that is enough.”
“Yeah, OK,” signalling to Morris that he was obviously cuckoo she offered a polite smile. “Well it just so happens that I can handle myself. So whoever this Mordrel is, can-”
“Listen!” He raised a hand, silencing her. “Listen! Feel! They are almost here.”
Lilly frowned, looking to Morris, and curious, they both listened. Lilly felt the hairs on her neck prickle as she heard and felt a rapid thumping.
“What in the-”
“When was the last time you handled yourself against an army girl? What you hear is at least two hundred skilled warriors with one goal in mind; To slice you in two and bring you back to Queen Mordrel in a weavel sack.”
“Err… Weavel sack?” Morris shook her head. “I don’t think I’ve-”
“Enough questions,” he raised a hand. We’ve dallied here long enough. We must leave this place now if you wish to see-”
“Another sunrise,” nodded Lilly, “we got that part already. Problem is our friend’s in no fit state to-” her voice had acquired an urgency that had Morris raising an eyebrow.
“You’re not seriously thinking of leaving with this loon?” she shook her head.
Ignoring her, he shrugged, “Leave her behind,” glancing dismissively to Harper he added, “She makes a good decoy.”
“Hang on a minute,” Morris’s reaction was instantaneous. “I’m not going anywhere without Harper!”
“Probably best,” nodded the man. “You’d no doubt slow us-”
“Hey, hey.” Lilly shook her head, assessing Morris’s rising anger and raising both hands to diffuse the situation. “We’re a package deal, OK! If I’m coming with you my friends are too. Besides…” she frowned “Harper’s not injured, she’s just… in shock or something. Our bus came off the road not far from…”
Realising he was no longer listening, Lilly's mouth hung open as she watched him pick Harper up and fling her over his shoulder before turning back to them. “We must leave… Now!”
“You do realise we’re following a crazy man?” Morris whispered as she handed Lilly her jacket back, before grabbing her satchel and following them from the clearing.
“Yep,” Lilly shrugged on the jacket. “a crazy man who knows my name and puts fires out with words.”
“Yeah OK, so that was kinda weird… but still… crazy man… dressed like a reject from a bad Robin Hood movie, picks Harper up like she’s an empty hold-all, tells us to follow him or else, and you’re not the slightest bit concerned!”
“Oh, I’m concerned.” Lilly paused to nod at Morris, “But something is definitely on its way here fast and I have no intentions of finding out what a weavel sack is!”
“Not a female among them! Toleth how could you be so careless?”
The three boys sat, huddled against a wall, on the dirt floor of the huge hut, watching the two men argue.
“They were in the mist Arteth…We had no time to look at them. Mordrel's forces were upon them… yet what of you brother? You return with nothing!”
“The mist we followed lead to an outed fire… Deebanaarie magick!” Arteth pulled off his hood, his dark blonde hair, braided into thick plaits swinging as he shook his head. “There’s no way of knowing how long they’d been gone, but the mist was down and Mordrel's troops were searching the area.”
“Then they have not found her yet either.”
The brothers turned as Mai Mai hobbled into the hut on her thick knotted walking handle.
“She would not listen to me, Arteth…” Vereena came in behind her. “I said I would fetch you but-”
“It is OK, Veer.” Arteth approached his grandmother and the leader of their people.
“Mai Mai, you should not be-”
“What happened?” she grimaced, leaning into him as his arm went round her thin waist.
“Here,” he led her to a nearby chair. “Be seated… you should not be up from-”
“You’re suggesting I have a choice?” She looked up at him, her murky green eyes fixing him with an anxious glare. “It is four settings of the sun till her Kalaareem, yet Herrella’s daughter remains lost to us! Do you expect me to sit silent with Mordrel's troops out there?”
“Holy shit!” Tobias muttered, pulling back against the wall as three smaller creatures entered. They were covered in thick fur, each in varying shades of brown.
The darkest looked curiously to the three boys, while the lightest, a tan coloured one, approached Mai Mai. Placing its small hand on her leg, it spoke in a low watery voice.
“She is safe… The Deebanaarie that doused the fire did so to cover their trail.”
“Agreed,” with a crest of thinning white hair, similar in shade to Mai Mai’s, the third sprite joined them, bouncing up onto the arm of the seat, its voice more guttural than the first. “There is only one who would take the time. We can be certain of that.”
“So he returns…” the expression on Mai Mai’s wrinkled face was a grave one. “But we cannot be certain we can trust him with her.” She shook her head.
“We must,” the palest sprite put a hand over hers. “He has left us no choice.”
The three boys sat, huddled against a wall, on the dirt floor of the huge hut, watching the two men argue.
“They were in the mist Arteth…We had no time to look at them. Mordrel's forces were upon them… yet what of you brother? You return with nothing!”
“The mist we followed lead to an outed fire… Deebanaarie magick!” Arteth pulled off his hood, his dark blonde hair, braided into thick plaits swinging as he shook his head. “There’s no way of knowing how long they’d been gone, but the mist was down and Mordrel's troops were searching the area.”
“Then they have not found her yet either.”
The brothers turned as Mai Mai hobbled into the hut on her thick knotted walking handle.
“She would not listen to me, Arteth…” Vereena came in behind her. “I said I would fetch you but-”
“It is OK, Veer.” Arteth approached his grandmother and the leader of their people.
“Mai Mai, you should not be-”
“What happened?” she grimaced, leaning into him as his arm went round her thin waist.
“Here,” he led her to a nearby chair. “Be seated… you should not be up from-”
“You’re suggesting I have a choice?” She looked up at him, her murky green eyes fixing him with an anxious glare. “It is four settings of the sun till her Kalaareem, yet Herrella’s daughter remains lost to us! Do you expect me to sit silent with Mordrel's troops out there?”
“Holy shit!” Tobias muttered, pulling back against the wall as three smaller creatures entered. They were covered in thick fur, each in varying shades of brown.
The darkest looked curiously to the three boys, while the lightest, a tan coloured one, approached Mai Mai. Placing its small hand on her leg, it spoke in a low watery voice.
“She is safe… The Deebanaarie that doused the fire did so to cover their trail.”
“Agreed,” with a crest of thinning white hair, similar in shade to Mai Mai’s, the third sprite joined them, bouncing up onto the arm of the seat, its voice more guttural than the first. “There is only one who would take the time. We can be certain of that.”
“So he returns…” the expression on Mai Mai’s wrinkled face was a grave one. “But we cannot be certain we can trust him with her.” She shook her head.
“We must,” the palest sprite put a hand over hers. “He has left us no choice.”
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