《Spirit Shaman》


 Chapter 1

    Tomorrow was the day The Great Spirit would deem me worthy of getting my spirit gaurdian. So today I had to be on my best behavior.


    Tocagee village usually sat peacefully in the Forest of Naruka. Only the streams, the rustling of trees in the wind, and the calls and songs of animals were all that were heard. Yet on this day, the village was stirring. Not with the chants of a hundred voices around a campfire ... no. But the excited hollars of fifty triblings waiting to see if they''d be chosen.


    "I bet I''ll be chosen first," Tuma grinned. He was a short, stubby boy who reached under his loincloth to scratch his rear. "Probably a Coyox or a Canolf spirit."


    Onwae''s lips raised and curled, bubbling her cheeks. "You''d be lucky if Pachu, the papoose killer, would eat you for lunch."


    The other kids chuckled nervously ... it was no secret Pachu was the most feared spirit animal in all of Naruka Forest. And if the tales were true he was big, mean, and always hungry. But I only wanted to be picked. And wouldn''t shy away if he looked my direction.


    Tuma''s lips sunk. He crossed his arms and gazed at Onwae with a look as menacing as Pachu''s face ... or at least what most triblings imagined it to be, for none of them had seen him. They only knew of his tales that spread around the village like wildfire by the lore shaman, AzarJi.


    "I''d take Panchu if he were the only one to have me," Tuma snarked. "It''s better to have a guardian and become a shaman then to be passed up like the shaman''s living in the shadow territory. What says you, Kai?" I glanced up from the the spear I was carving to a point. Tuma pointed. "you are the most gifted out of all of us. Which Spirit Animal will choose you?"


    I hacked once more taking a sizable chunk from the wood with my stoned blade. I shrugged. "The Great Spirit will determine that. We are only to wait and be chosen."


    Mowak, a short-haired girl, with too many tribal markings on her skin, rolled her eyes. "Indeed. But you know you will be chosen above all else. My guess is by Kutari, the three-eyed eagle."


    "Kutari is the Chiefs Guardian." I chopped the spear with force. "She''s already bound and can''t be bound to another."


    Onwae was the sweetest of the three. And the cutests. Her skin golden. Abd eyes a golden-hazel. She rubbed her chin. "what about Kataru? It is said whomever he chooses will be the next chief. That has to be you, right?"


    I sigh at the thought. Becoming chief was my dream. One I had since I was a boy. But there were several villages within the forest. And several young shaman to choose from. Surely I wouldn''t be the only one considered.


    "If the Great Spirit deems me worth-"


    Tuma slashed his a hand from his right brest to his left. "Stop saying that! You know that you''re the most worthy. It''s an insult to the rest of us when you pretend you don''t know it."


    "Whatever you say ..."


    I must stay well-headed. The Great Spirit was watching. And gloating and praising would only think less of me.


    I hacked once more at the spear tip, prodded a finger on the point and then was off towards the falls, ready to spear supper. The other three followed on my heels like stray wolves. I didn''t mind the company, although Tuma wouldn''t keep his snare shut.


    "If you wouldn''t be named Chief then who? Who would do a better," he grunted, stepping over a log, "I can''t think of anybody ..."


    There was on name that came to mind. One name that was always on the tip of my tongue. Always lingering at the back of my head. Though I would not speak his name. Not even The Great Spirit could make me-


    "Kangee is the only one I can think of," Mowak chuckled. "He''s beaten Kai at every tribal competition."


    "Oh,right. Kangee!" Tuma nodded, giving a crooked grin. "I heard he killed a dire boar at ten."


    Onwae nodded. "Mmhmm. And he chased away a Wendigo at twelve. They say he''s fearless. That not even The Great Spirit can bring fear into his heart."


    I jabbed at the air. "We''ll see about that. I almost knocked him down in our last duel."


    "Almost?" Tuma snickered. "He danced around you like a cougar ... and you hacked at him with the elegance of a sloth."


    My blood boiled and I turned the tip of my spear on the boy. He gulped. I grinned. "Don''t make me test this point on you ..."


    Mowak snickered and placed a hand on the spear, pushing it away from the boy''s throat. "If you waste your time gutting Tuma, the guardians will surely pass you up."


    Tuma rubbed his throat and nodded, "I-it''s true." He winced, checking his palms for blood. "Gutting me will only get you a spirit pet like Panchu."


    "And what''s wrong with Panchu? He''d be a strong companion."


    The three kids stopped. Their eyes widen. Mouth dropped. Terrifed like Panchu walked out of the woods, ready to maul them all.


    "You know the tales." Tuma whispered. "What he did to Kawah ... Panchu abandoned him. And a spirit pet that abandons his man spirit, well ... he is forsaken by the Great Spirit. Left to wander the world alone."


    I chuckled, "maybe he didn''t like Kawah."


    "It doesn''t matter," Onwae said. "no guardian is allowed to leave his shaman."


    "Which I never understood." I replied sharply, looking down the trail through the woods. Wthout another word, I was off in that direction. The three others ran after me.


    Mowak rubbed her short hair. "Why would you say that?"


    "Because shaman abandoned their gaurdian all the time. And I believe guardians and shaman need to be mutually respected."


    "Yes." Tuma nodded. His rounded cheeks wobbling. "But we have that right. We are the guardians masters."


    I ducked under a branch and waved a hand at a second. My nostrils filling with the fresh, spring air. We were getting close. "I believe a gaurdian and a shaman are one." I looked over my shoulder at the three. "And as one, we must act together ... in victory and defeat. Many Shaman will abandon a Spirit Pet that is too weak. When it is they who is the weakling."


    Onwae nodded. "I agree with you Kai. Gaurdians are our friends.


    "Says you," Mowak shrugged. "In my opinion, I can''t blame one for leaving them? Who wants a weak spirit?"


    "I know I don''t," Tuma said, sharply. "I''d get rid of him right away."


    "Youd be lucky to get one at all." I chuckled, leaping up onto a log. The bark felt firm, and rough against my feet. I welcomed the slight pain knowing it would only harded the bottoms. "I''ve seen how you fight, Tuma. You look like a dying ape."


    I chuckled and the girls snickered. Tuma frowned, while his cheeks reddened with anger. He grabbed at the club at his hip. A short, white-wooded ugly thing that hadn''t a single kill. "Don''t make me use this."


    "I won''t." I said, reaching the rooted end of the tree, where it''d sat yanked from the dirt, from a storm or being knocked over by a beast. "Wouldn''t want you fainting from taking a swing."


    The girls and I laughed. Tuma''s face purpled. He was always quick to anger, and that only made him stupid. He pulled the club from his hip and climbed up the log, wobbling. He held out his arms to maintain balance.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "I''ll show you," he said, charging towards the end of the tree, flat-footed, and sluggish. "Nobody insults me!"


    I stood upright, leaning my chin out for an easy target. Tuma reeled back his arms, his club now behind his head. He swung with all his might. A strong swing. A sure swing. And an untimely swing. I leaned back, felling the wind as the club head wooshed by. Tuma groaned. His momentum carried him around. He spun then pummeted into the bushes down below, being swallowed up by them.


    The girl giggled.


    When I located him, legs up over his head, but alive and not seeming to be hurt I too chuckled. I cupped my lips. "You sure showed me."


    Tuma frowned, "I''ll get you next time ..."


    I laughed and climbed down the rooted end of the tree. Onwae and Mowak met my sides and we howled with laughter as he struggled like a rollie pollie on his back.


    "A little help," he squealed and grunted, "would be much appreciated."


    The girls pointed, whispered, and giggled. I followed their eyes, looking upon Tuma''s loincloth. It was flappd upside down. Concealing nothing. And revealing everything.


    "Why?" I chuckled. "That''s a good look for you."


    Tuma must''ve felt the branches prodding into his loin, or heard the girls giggles. He grabbed at his cloth, pulling, doing his best to conceal himself though achieving little.


    "Pleas. Help me."


    "Say it ..."


    "Oh, come on ..."


    "I said, say it."


    The boy frowned, but being upside down, one could mistake it for a smile. I decided to do just that. I crossed my arms, and gave him the look that told him, ''I am waiting.'' After I lifted an ear, the boy sighed and grunted.


    "Tuma is a big, clumsy puma ..."


    "And don''t you forget it." I prodded the flat end of the spear into the bushes, keeping it just out of reach. Tuma swung his arms wildly, unable to grab ahold. We laughed. He griped. And I finally I gave in, allowing his sweaty hands to get a grip. He rocked and grunted, and after a time, rolled while I tugged until he fell from the bushes onto the ground, grunting on impact.


    "Well, that completes your fall," Onwae said, giggled.


    Mowak rubbed her head. "What are we going to do with him? Maybe we can pretend he''s a spirit pet, and abandon him out here."


    I chuckled. "No. The Great Spirit would never forgive us for abadoning something so hopeless ..."


    Once Tuma caught his breath, he raised up onto his feet, grunting the whole way up. He pulled down his loincloth, finally allowing our eyes some comfort. "I''m not hopeless ..." He reached into the bush and yanked out the club. "I just need a little more time to blossom."


    "You blossom any more and you''ll be a watermelon." We chuckled. He reddened like a ripened melon.


    Tuma closed his eyes and inhaled through his large nostrils, catching his breath. "Calm your inner spirit ... calm your inner spirit."


    "What are you doing?" Mowak asked, crossing her arms.


    "What does it look like I''m doing," he snapped, then took another breath. "The wise woman said if I wanted to control my anger, I needed to control my inner spirit."


    Onwae giggled, placing a hand to her lips. "The only thing you need to control is which way your loincloth is hanging."


    Tuma raised an eyebrow then peered down. His cheeks were round, reddened, and out for all the animals of the forest to see. He frowned, eyes widening. "Look away you monkies!" And with that, tugged until his flesh was hidden. I was thankful for that ... Infact, I think we all were.


    After a few more laughs at Tuma''s expense, I guided the four of us to the waterfall springs. Sunlight shot through the trees, sparkling the water that fell over a cliff, a hundred feet high, collecting at a crystal, blue pool at the bottom. Birds dove between trees. Fish leaped and slipped beneath the surface. Rodents, coons, and squirrels drank and played in the limbs. Butterflies twirled. And dragonflies skipped off the surface.


    We reached the bank and held out our spears. "Get positioned," I said. "We need enough fish for the feast tonight."


    "Or one spirit fish," Onwae winked.


    Mowak shook her head, "Even the best fishermen can''t catch Vhiva. She is the most elusive catfish in all the world, even at ten feet, and a thousand pounds. At least that''s what my father told me."


    "Mmhmm." Onwae nodded and giggled. And with a hint of sarcasm said, " And you best not wade too deep or she''ll swallow you whole."


    "It''s true." Tuma nodded. "I''ve seen it happen."


    "No you haven''t," Mowak sneered.


    "Have too!."


    "Have not!"


    "Have too!"


    "Have not!"


    "And who was it that got swallowed?"


    "Ummm ... it was the water chiefs former son-in-laws, daughters, tribling." He nodded, looking to convince himself. "I mean, I wasn''t there, but I heard about it. He waded too far from the shallows and Vhiva did one of her whirlpools, and sucked him up. Slurp. And he was gone."


    "Liar!"


    "Am not!"


    "Are too!"


    "Am not!"


    "Are too!"


    "Will you too shut up?" I pointed my spear down at the spring. "You''re scaring away all the fish."


    Mowak grimaced. Tuma stuck out his tongue. Onwae giggled. I began the hunt.


    We waded out to our knees beneath the high sun. Out towards the edge where the spring sank into an abyss, which seemed endless and black to the eyes. How far down it went nobody knew except Vhiva and the Shaman who were swallowed whole. There were several pools around spring falls. Some that weren''t connected to the main pool where Vhiva resided. The largest fish were in her pool. Many of the tribesmen and shaman risked fishing in her presence in order to gain a meal worthy of a Chief.


    Tuma looked between his shoulders for any sign of the monster. "My folks told me never to hunt in this pool ..."


    Mowak whispered, "as did mine, and you don''t hear me whining about it."


    "That''s because your folks don''t care what happens to you." He grinned and chuckled.


    Mowak''s face twisted. She slung her arm back behind her head, rolled her fingers into a ball, and with might, threw it forward. She connected to his arm with a thud.


    Tuma groaned. "Hey, what was that for?"


    "For being a liar!"


    "I''m no liar!" Tuma''s face reddened.


    Onwae snickered, "just a fabler."


    "Will you all be quiet!" I said, glaring at each and every one of them. "There''s something out there ..."


    I squinted against the sunlight sparkling off the falls and the pool''s surface. Even in the black abyss, I could see the shadow slowly rising. She''s coming. I thought. The tales are true.


    Onewae eyes grew. "What is that?"


    Tuma squeaked, "run!"


    "No!" I waved a hand. "You run and she will hunt ..."


    "We stay and we get eaten ..."


    I glared at Tuma, and he rolled his lips until they sealed. I then turned to the others who stood frozen, their faces twisted in terror. Knowing I had to be strong, I twisted at the hips, facing forward. Eyebrows furrowed. Teeth clenched. Holding my spear ready for battle.


    In the center of the spring, an enormous ball of water rose from the surface. It lifted and slid around the concealed creature. Each stream of liquid running off, exposing blueish-green scales that flickered like emeralds and sapphires. Two large, rounded eyes, bigger than even Tuma''s head, gazed upon us. They flickered bluish-green while a large flipper-like brow sunk on his forehead sank.


    Tuma took a step back, "she''s bigger then a boulder ..."


    "Whom disturbs my pool?" Came a deep, drowning voice, that was neither male nor female, but something in-between. With each word, the gaping hole that was her mouth snapped, drawing and spewing water. "Are you shaman? Have you come to challenge me?"


    Tuma shook his head. The girls eyes widened. I stood tall, chest out, eyes forward. "Great spirit of the pool. We only come to take enough fish to feed our families."


    "Your families?" Water spewed from her lips, streaming across the pool. The girl scream as it connected, dropping them off their feet. I shielded myself with an arm, fighting the pressure. "You eat my spawn to feed your spawn?" She gurgled. "How darrreee you!"


    I raised a hand. "Our apologies, oh great one. We did not know they were yours. Please. Forgive us."


    The large iris''s rolled until they fell upon me. My heart skipped and my legs trembled, but I kept still, trying to hide my fear. At least it was not some kind of wolf spirit. They could smell the fear ... fish spirits normally only used vibration.


    Vhiva mouth stretched upward, gaping, and forming a strange, eerie smile. "I''ll give you forgiveness, by offering your corpses to my brood ..."


    The fishe''s mouth opened into an abyss as dark as the one beneath her. Water pulled against the back of my legs, strong as a river current.


    "She''s creating a whirlpool!" Onwae said, pointing towards the fish as she slipped back below the pool, sucking the water into her mouth. "We''ll be swept away!"


    I whipped around on my heels. "Lock arm!"


    Onwae and Tuma raised to their feet and stretched their arms. They locked. Mowak and I met at the forearms, our hands and arms intertwining. The four of then came together. "We step on three," I yelled above the hiss of receeding water. "One. Two. Three!" We took a step. "One. Two. Three!" And then another.


    Behind us the center of the spring spun in a blue and white current, quickening with every turn. A coon that strayed too close to the bank was swept in, crying out to the others on the shore as it spun, slipping out of sight to endure a fate I tried not to imagine.


    Tuma gasped, "we''re going to die!"


    "No we''re not ... just keep going!" We''ll get to the bank if I have to drag you, I thought.


    Step after step we fought against the swirling current. When one fell, the others picked them up. We walked with all our strength, until we were close enough to dry land. Mowak yelled, "jump for it!" and we did, rolling, and falling together. Each stone bruising our legs and arms on impact. We groaned and cried out. When we stopped, I looked to each of them, caught my breath, and then chuckled. Onwae and Mowak gazed upon me then joined my song with chuckles of our own.


    Tuma frowned. He crossed his legs and his arms. A dreaded look in his eyes.


    I walked over and looked down upon the boy. "Lighten up, Tuma ... we''re alive ... and as Shaman we''ll face far worse than that."


    "It''s not that we almost died," he snapped, tightening his arms and legs.


    Onwae and Mowak snickered, pointing at the boy. I followed their fingers. Where the loincloth used to be was only a palish-tan ass, left out to be seen for all the world. I raised my chin and chuckled.


    "Looks like Vhiva took one thing from you afterall, Tuma." I chuckled. "Your pride."


    The grils and I chuckled. And for time, Tuma stayed quiet, until he too was grinning from ear to ear. "She can have them," he said. "They were dirty anyway."


    I looked back at the pool and saw that the water was still, and sparkling. And the great beast that resided inside, now quiet, with a belly full of coon. I was thankful that we survived ... and maybe ... just maybe, it''d be enough to make The Great Spirit see that I was worthy of a spirit gaurdian.

 Chapter 2

    All that was on my mind was when and what spirit would choose me at tonight''s ceremony?


    We spent the day hunting at the other pools, spearing two catfish, three toad, and four salamanders. Enough to make a fine supper on the day of appointing spirits. And with our own bellies full, we''d be ready to be chosen if The Great Spirit deemed us worthy.


    The festivities started, and the chants began around the village. And I along with Tuma were dressed in our finest hide robes. Beaded, with patterns of antlered and horned beasts patches on them.


    All throughout the wooden teepee village, great fires roared and thrashed, alive as the spirits that rested in the woods. Soon dusk fell upon us. And it¡¯ll only be a matter of time before the spirits would come out and choose who¡¯d become a shaman.


    I bit down, sinking my teeth into the throat of a salamander. Warm juices flowed into my mouth as I tore left and right, removing the head with a struggle and a pull. It flopped on my tongue, burning. And when it cooled I found the courage to swallow.


    Tuma walked up, tugging and pulling on the head of his own. Reddening. Unable to tear the head from the body.


    "Give it here," I said, holding out my hand.


    Tuma riased an eyebrow. "I''m not going to eat it ..."


    "You best not ... I almost died today trying to retrieve that."


    I bit down on the head and tugged from right-to-left. When it gave, blood and juices filled my mouth. I spat the head into my palm and then gave Tuma that and the torso. He didn¡¯t wait, tossing the head up and into his mouth.


    ¡°Hot ¡­ Hot ¡­ Hot ¡­¡± It fumbled around his tongue. He swallowed quickly. Tears rolled down his cheeks as it slid into his gut. He coughed, ¡°good stuff.¡±


    "You need to learn how to use your teeth."


    "But they''re sensitive ..."


    "That''s cause you don''t take care of them." I said, looking upon the yellow-black stained stones in his mouth. I grimaced. "You''ll lose them before too long."


    Tuma shrugged and tore into the flesh. "The wise woman has no teeth, and it doesn''t seem to bother her."


    "The wise woman is also over a hundred seasons old ... she didn''t lose them all at thirteen like you are."


    Tuma shrugged. He chomped, squirming when the juice hit his tongue.


    "Come on. Let''s find Onwae and Mowak.¡± He nodded then followed on my heels, slurping and crunching away on his salamander. I finished my own, tossing the tail into the bushes where some other beast would come and finish it off.


    "Young child, watch the magic of the runes." Said a man in a long, hide robe with thick eyebrows that looked to have been singed several times over. Tuma and I walked up and found ourselves a spot in the crowd. "Can someone tell me what runes are used for?" Many hands shot up into the air. "Yes. You there. Little tribling girl."


    I couldn''t make out who spoke, but her voice squeaked like a chipmunk. "To enchant spirit guardians?"


    "Very good!" The performing shaman said, moving up his eyebrows. "Runes can give a guardian special abilities." He rolled his fingers around a bright, red rune. He held it, shook, then opened his hand quickly. Resting in his palm was a bright red and orange ball. Around it, flames danced and flickered. Sparks rose into the air. My nostrils flared, catching the scent of burning wood. I sneezed, then wiped my nose. "This fireball can be passed to a spirit pet, and together they can cause serious injury to other spirit animals. Would you like a demonstration?" The children raised their voices and shrieked. "Very well," He chuckled. "Now. Everybody stand back."


    The crowd took three large steps back. The shaman¡¯s right side of his mouth curled. He used his free hand and grabbed at something around his neck.


    Tuma corked his head and squinted. "What''s he doing?"


    "Grabbing his spirit totem."


    Around the man''s neck were several tiny wooden animal heads that made up a necklace. He pinched the rabbit head with antlers carved from wood. Between his index and thumb, he waved it across the crowd. "I call upon you, Rohop."


    Expelling from the totem was a vibrant green orb. It swelled and pulsed brightly. Beating like a heart. And with a swing of his hand, the shaman casted the orb to the ground. The kids leaned forward, blinking. Tuma did the same. I chuckled.


    The orb shuttered and pulsed. Shrank and stretched. Molded and formed. It then flashed a grassy greens that caught all of our eyes. Slowly it shaped a pair of long-ears and antlers, a rounded body, and two long feet in the back, and two short ones in the front.


    "Can one of you youngsters tell me what I must do next?" The shaman asked, raising his right hand that cuffed the fireball.


    Tuma shot his own hand into the air, pouncing.


    Cast the fireball, I thought, but was much too old for these types of tricks. This was for the younglings to answer.


    Tuma blurted, "cast the fireball upon the Jackalope!"


    The shaman flicked his dark eyes upon the boy. A green glint swayed in his pupil while the fireball¡¯s light cast a red gleam across his face. "Thank you for answering.¡° He replied in a cold tone. ¡°And can someone else tell me when to cast the ball¡ª"


    "While in spirit form!¡± Tuma leaped up and shrieked. ¡°It¡¯s the only way to enchant a guardian!"


    The shaman''s singed brows furrowed. He crossed his left arm beneath his right, glaring at Tuma. "Maybe we can allow some of the younger children to answer."


    Tuma¡¯s crooked, toothy grin, flattened. ¡°What¡¯s got his robe tied in a knot?¡± I swatted his chest and he groaned. "What was that for?"


    "Because you''re being disrespectful.¡±


    "How?"


    "What do you mean how? You''ve seen these tricks at many spirit ceremonies."


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t know the answers then ¡­¡±


    I pointed to the triblings who stood a head shorter than he was. "For most of them it''s their first time. Do not ruin it for them."


    Tuma scratched the back of his head. "Oh ..."


    The shaman kept fixated on Tuma for a moment longer. He shook his head and swore beneath his breath. Suddenly his eyes grew upon the fireball steaming in his hand. He groaned, "I bind this fireball to this guardian." And with a grunt, he threw his right arm forward. The fireball soared through the sky. A streak of fire behind it. The spirit animal stood on his hind feet greeting the fireball with his chest. Flashes of reds, oranges, and greens illuminated the stage. Scorching, fusing and electric sounds echoed off into the night. And when faded, the spirit animal stood in a glowing, firey aura.


    I closed my eyes and raised my hand, shielding my face against the light.


    The shaman shouted, "I command you into flesh form!"


    The spirit pet made a loud squeak as the flames engulfed him. The crowd gasped. When the flames died, there wasn''t a blackened, charred carcass lying on the ground. It was a white ball of fur with two long ears and a pair of antlers. It looked upon us with fiery red eyes. Nose twitching.


    "Hello there," the creature said, bowing his head. "I am Rohop ¡­ and I am a guardian."


    The youngest triblings gasped and pointed. Their excited whispers carrying over the crowd.


    The shaman smirked and said, "You see there, children ... the jacklope has not been harmed ... but enchanted."


    Tuma''s eyes were large as the kids while his curled smile could bring a young tribling to nightmare.


    The shaman pointed, "now carry on to the next booth for another amazing display!."


    "Can we go too?"


    "You''ve seen this for the last three years," I said, shaking my head. "Next they show you how to capture a spirit guardian, and then how to battle them. It''s all staged. Nothing like being out in the wild, facing real shaman, and real guardians."


    Tuma frowned, reddened, and snapped. "But I like it."


    "Do what you like," I said. "I''m going to find the girls¡ª"


    "Found one."


    I followed his gaze to a girl with wavy black hair and almond eyes. In her hand was a wooden jar, carved with many grizzly faces. She handed it to a tall, thinly muscled man who had her same wavy black hair and almond eyes.


    "Look there," Tuma said. "Onwae is helping her father."


    "I didn''t know they were part of the ceremony." I walked in that direction. Tuma clapped excitedly behind me. "Looks like you get your wish after all ... too see another demonstration."


    The man asked, "Onwae, please hand me that jar of yours." She did as her father requested. "Now watch closely, tribling.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    When the crowds focus was drawn on him, I snuck up on my tippy-toes. "Pst," I whispered, waving a hand. She looked in my direction, and scooted over, trying to keep her father from noticing. Thankfully he was to preoccupied with waving his hand over the jar. I asked, "When can you leave?"


    "Save me ..." She frowned. I chuckled loud enough for our ears only. "My father asked me to be his assistant at the last minute. My uncle, smoke too much ceremonial weed, and is now chuckling in a teepee at the back of the cottage. Father said he''s not to come out until he''s restored his pride." We laughed.


    I looked over at her father. He lifted the jar and said. "release the orb!"


    Onwae stood still until his eyes narrowed upon her. She reddened, "oh, yes, father!" Kneeling , she pulled a wooded pin from a wooden box. A green orb took to the sky. Spinning. Racing off to reach the stars in the distance.


    Her father followed it with his eyes while yanking a white rune from his belt. He tossed it into the jar.


    "When a spirit animal dies he becomes an orb to float back into the life force where it will be reborn anew." He pointed the jar in the direction of the orb. "But children, if you capture them before they return, you can bind the orbs together, creating your own guardians."


    Her father clenched his teeth as the jar shook in his hands. A white gust spun around the top, as air drew inside. The orb fought against the pull. Looping around and around. It was no match for the power of the rune. Likely a low powered spirit. It gave to the force and shot back into the jar. Her father placed a lid on top and raised it for all to see.


    "And now you have a spirit orb ... But be warned, that this is only a common guardian. To use it you must bnd it to a totem," he pointed to his neck where a necklace of wooden beast heads hung. "or it will never obey you."


    The crowd cheered. Tuma clapped above the rest. "Amazing performance," He yelled. Onwae''s father glared at him. Tuma was never a performers favorite.


    "Now go to the next booth and watch a real live battle!"


    "Real." Onwae laughed. "If only it were real ... Muwak would love to see that."


    "She does have a thing for blood and gore."


    Onwae giggled, then turned towards her father. "My work here is done ... I''ll see you before the choosing ceremony."


    He smiled and pecked her cheek. "You be safe now ... Kai, watch after her. And keep that Tuma boy away ... he and his whole family are a bunch of angry troublemakers."


    "I''ll see to it."


    Now a party of three, we headed off with the crowd where we hoped to find Mowak. It was no secret she loved watching spirit guardians battle. And that''s where we found her. Standing crossed armed, face twisted. She glared at the two shaman on the stage duel.


    "This is worse than last year ," She shook her head, "At least when we came in they could wound the shaman ... now it''s only the guardians that take the damage."


    I looked upon the stage at a boy and a girl only a few years older than we were. They had on their black shaman robes, and yellow bands around their head, showing that they were tracker class of shaman.


    Two fierce creatures stood on opposite ends of the stage. One a red and orange, three-tailed fox and the other, a giant greenish-black beetle, with mandibles large enough to tear through a limb.


    Onwae asked, "Is that ...


    I looked upon the girl who was a year older than we were. Even young she stood tall and confident. Her hair an earthy brown, that was braided, and hung past her hips. Her robe was an elegant, tan deer hide, filled with beads and patches of three tailed foxes. And her skin was a golden complexion that made her appear even more beautiful. Looking upon her, nobody could mistaken who she was ¡­ the shaman to the three tailed fox ¡­ and the daughter of our chief daughter ...


    "Meeka?"


    I nodded slowly, feeling a bit dizzy. It was a year ago and still the wound of her leaving made my chest throb. She was a year older than us. But we all stuck together. All seven of us. Before Juk, Garnak, and Meeka were taken to Spirit Ridge. Now I hardly recognized her, and wouldn''t have done so if Onwae never said anything.


    ------


    In front of me, a mother told her son, ¡°you see, Tonki, in a battle you cannot kill the spirit guardians ¡­ only weaken them. In order to defeat the opponent, you have to defeat the shaman ¡­ for the shaman holds the true power.¡±


    The boy¡¯s lips raised, revealing his two, bunny-sized teeth. ¡°That is so neat. I want to be an elder shaman too one day.¡±


    His mother giggled. ¡°The two battling are only you shaman ¡­ they too have a lot to learn ¡­ but if you truly want to be a shaman, you¡¯d more want to be like our chief Kawahka or the great elder Memahkota.¡± She pointed to the men standing erect, arms crossed and hidden in the sleeve of their robes. Each with a warbonnet, with feathers of black and gold, wearing stoned-look faces. ¡°They are true shaman. The strongest in all the land.¡±


    I glanced at the men I aspired to be. Strong men. Respected men. Who were bound to the majestic three-eyed eagle and the wise Aramdoth. I¡¯d prayed many times to The Great Spirit that he give me a guardian with as much strength, courage, and wisdom as they possessed. One that would not abandon me as Panchu did his shaman. But stand by me even in the darkest parts of the shadow territory.


    Suddenly, the beetle mandibles snapped open, and it lunged towards the fox. Tuma laughed. ¡°The three-tailed fox is a goner ¡­¡±


    Not so fast, I thought. Where the beetle is strong, the three tailed-fox is quick. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you two arrowheads the fox takes the beetle.¡±


    Tuma reddened, and clenched a fist. ¡°You¡¯re on!¡±


    The fox sat still until the mandibles snapped. In a blur, the fox was at the beetle¡¯s rear. The boy raised his hand and screamed, ¡°Mylock, look out!¡± It was too late. The fox lunged forward, bashing the beetles rear, turning him belly up.


    I held out my hand and Tuma swore as he placed two arrowheads into my palm. ¡°These battles are staged ¡­¡±


    Mowak shook her head. ¡°Pathetic. They didn¡¯t even battle using the power of runes.¡±


    ¡°It can be too violent for the little ones.¡± Onwae said. ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯ve changed the ceremonies. It is no longer only for shaman.¡±


    Mowak spat. ¡°That¡¯s because they know it¡¯s a good time to make trades with everybody attending.¡± She pointed to the trading booths. ¡°Love over there. Lines out the door.¡±


    ¡°Can you blame them?¡± I said to her. ¡°There has been less trading with all these shadow attacks as of late. And sighting of strange monsters in the woods have everybody on edge ¡­ why do you think we are told to always stick together.¡±


    Tuma gulped. ¡°I heard there were grim spirits ¡­¡±


    ¡°There you go, lying again.¡± Mowak shook her head. ¡°The great fabler of our time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a lie, you no-good-rotten-shawitch!¡±


    Onwae looked up at me with her bright, almond brown eyes. ¡°What do you think, Kai? Could there be grim spirits out here?¡±


    I rubbed my head and nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°There is whispers in the wind, and it is why we can only go to the springs.¡± I turned towards the forest. ¡°Something is out there ¡­ and it has brought fear into the minds of our elders and the chief.¡±


    Mowak said in a hollow tone. ¡°I hope they come ¡­ would give this place a bit of excitement.¡±


    ¡±You can¡¯t be serious.¡± Onwae said, grabbing Mowak¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Even joking could bring curses upon our village.¡±


    She pulled away and shrugged. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s where I belong ¡­ with the cursed and the damned of the shadow territory.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± She grabbed her rubbed her short hair. ¡°The Great Spirit will probably have the guardians pass on me ... and if I want to be a shaman, I¡¯ll have to go to the wicked and the cursed to become one.¡±


    Onwae lowered her head, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even wish that on my worst enemy.¡±


    ¡°Cut it out, Mowak.¡± I said, examining the two arrowheads in my hand. Tuma was not good at much, but his arrowhead skills were the best in the village. Each stone beaten to a fine point. ¡°You know talk like that upsets Onwae.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m only kidding ¡­¡±


    Tuma whispered, ¡°Is it true that Dark Shamans use hex runes instead of spell runes on their guardians?¡±


    Onwae forehead wrinkled. ¡°Grim spirits are not guardians! They¡¯re monsters!¡±


    I tucked the arrowheads in my pocket. ¡°I agree. But to Dark Shaman, grim spirits are their guardians.¡±


    ¡°Hey, look over there.¡± Tuma said. ¡°They¡¯re starting the spirit dance.¡± He raised his hand at Mowak. ¡°Care to be my partner?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t dance¡ª¡±


    He grabbed her hand and pulled. ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± Before Mowak could protest, they were off being swallowed into the crowd.


    Onwae waddled up to me, her hand at her front. ¡°Would you care to dance? I¡¯ve heard that the better the dance, the better the chance to earn a guardian.¡±


    My lips curled, and I chuckled. ¡°Only with you ¡­ you¡¯re the most sure-stepped in the whole tribe.¡±


    She giggled and took my hand. Together we were drawn like moths to the great flames at the center of the village. The sky blackened as the moon peaked above the forest, giving our dance light. Drums and flutes kept rhythm with our feet. Onwae and I moved as one, pouncing and spinning as we made our way into the group, chanting and circling the fire, and twisting and pivoting our bodies into the images of bears, wolves, and other beasts that mirrored the other tribe¡¯s folk:


    The spirits come. The spirits come.


    With the wind, and the beat of drums.


    The spirits come. The spirits come.


    To bound our souls, and make us one.


    Their Guardians!


    Who make us strong.


    Their Guardians!


    Our right and wrong


    Their guardians!


    Who pull us along,


    To turn us into spirit shaman!


    We chanted.


    From the forest, green and blue orbs floated and spun, guided by the music, and fighting against the wind and the pull of the life force. They drew in from every direction, in every size, from small as a stone to as big as a boulder. Glowing as vibrant as stars.


    I glanced into Onwae¡¯s eyes, following her, moving our bodies with the elegance of two bears before they mate. I shifted and shook, raising my hands above my head, holding the mantis pose. Then crouched low, placing my hands on the ground, moving my body side-to-side, sly as a fox. From there, I lept, tucking my legs in and flapping my arms, strong, valiant as the eagle. Onwae mirrored me, with the butterfly, the lynx, and the swan. At the end, we did our final poses. She crouched, arms behind her back, waving them gracefully like a ladybug. And I stood tall, chest out, fingers firm and like claws, while I twisted my face into a grizzly expression, holding the pose of a bear.


    The drums stopped. We halted. And above us, the orbs floated twenty feet above the flames. Around us was a thick silence. I held my breath while the young, the old, and the unworthy stepped out of the ring of people, leaving those ready to be bound if chosen. Onwae took my hand, looking into the woods.


    The rest of the villagers vanished inside their teepees. To be unworthy and to be seen by the guardians was a great sin. One that came with a curse of a short, painful death. I shivered at the thought.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming ¡­¡±


    The ring of children looked at one another. Some with their jaws rattling, others their legs. Then some stood chin high and chest out. Mowak was one of them, while Tuma held himself and shivered, trying to hide the terror in his eyes. Onwae fiddled her fingers in front of her. And I did hold of my grizzly pose. But inside, I felt the fear of a boy, and not the young man I was supposed to be.


    Tuma whispered, ¡°I heard it hurts when it binds to you ¡­¡±


    ¡°Quiet ¡­¡± I said, furrowing my eyebrows.


    To speak is another sin ¡­ one that could cost us our chance. But Tuma was never thrilled about becoming a shaman. He preferred mining runes, but all his family members were shaman, so he¡¯d had to take up the role as the others had.


    A blur flew above the village, causing the orbs to spin in a whirl, and gust to rile the flames, our hair, and our robes. Onwae squeezed, harder than a talon, yet I welcomed the pain. It took away the fear clouding my head. And then came a loud shriek that echoed off into the night.


    Mowak watched the shadow above. "It''s the three-eyed eagle!"


    Large and small creatures ascended from the woods. Guardians. Monsters with bear heads on sloth bodies, antlers on foxes, wings on rabbits, snake tails on beavers. There was lynx''s that stood on two legs. Falcons that had a wolf frame. And bugs the size of humans, buzzing, and crawling. The shrieks, cries, roars, and clicks that followed were enough to bring nightmares to any tribling.


    One by one, the monsters came towards the flames. Towards us. Surround on all sides. And when they drew close, their fleshy, hairy, scaley, and feathery bodies slowly faded into glowing reds, oranges, greens, and blues apparitions.


    I braced myself, taking a large breath, expanding my chest outward. And then they came in their spirit form, pushing against the chests of each child, and vanishing within them. The kids cried out, then collapsed, as a wooden headed totem fell at their feet.


    It happened quickly. Two dozen kids lay on the ground, each one tweaking and twisting, as the creatures bound to their spirits, leaving only those unworthy left standing. I looked down upon Onwae, Mowak, and Tuma as they squirmed, fighting the spirit within them. Their grunts and cries echoing in the night.


    But what about me? Why am I not in agony? I quickly realized that I was the only one in our party who was still left standing ... left standing forgotten ¡­ left standing alone ¡­ and left standing unworthy of being chosen.

 Chapter 3

    "They''ve left me," I whispered. "The guardians left me because I am unworthy ..."


    Above me the orbs vanished, and I looked towards the forest where a large, four-legged silhouette stood beneath moonlight, watching. It sat on the edge of the forest, turned on its paws, and headed back inside.


    "Panchu," I said, lifting my eyes. "I have until the high moon to be chosen ¡­ I must convince him that I am worthy!"


    I collected my spear and was off to the woods, using the moonlight as my guide and my clock, knowing that it was a race against time. I passed through the threshold between my village and the forest. I knelt down, looking for the trail left behind by the beast. Broken branches. paw prints. Anything.


    "Where did he go?" I whispered, checking a group of trees for any fur that may have been left behind. "He''s vanished ¡­ likely gone into spirit form."


    I held my spear point forward and walked deeper into the woods. The thicket above made it impossible to see in front of me. Darkness had swept over the forest like a cloak, concealing everything for hundreds of miles.


    "Water." I thought. "Panchu has traveled far ¡­ the guardian will likely head for the spring." It was my only hope. If not there, I''d be lost. I knew that trail, even in the darkness. I''d traveled it several times over the years in the heat of the sun and the eye of the moon. The trail was used often enough that the ground was beaten, and snaked through the woods, between and over trees, up hills, and around streams and creek beds.


    Moonlight found it''s way through clearings in the trees, and I was able to maintain my heading, finding the points that marked the trail. Past the Old Oak that was as wide as the long river, past the boulder that looked like a sleeping cub, and around the beaver dams that ran along the river.


    The walk felt longer alone and in the dark. And creatures were stirring within the thicket, walking on trees and scurrying through bushes, even calling in high howls and low hoots that ran shivers down my spine.


    After an hour, I reached the falls that flushed over the mountainside, and into the pool where Vhiva lurked. Moonlight gave the water a sparkle unlike the sun, a bluish-white sparkle that was calming to my eyes.


    I walked along the springs, searching for any sign of life. Trying to keep on my tippy toes to keep from scaring away any spirits that may be trying to fill their bellies and quench their thirst. I knelt near a tree and concealed myself in a bush, hoping I would not be discovered by anything. A slight breeze was in the air that brought a chill off the water, and carried the mist from the falls.


    I peaked upward, seeing the moon arcing towards its peak. Nearly there. My time running out. "I have to find a guardian ... I just have to¡ª"


    Suddenly, from across the pools I heard a bush shake, and in an instant, a giant, four-legged silhouette appeared, nearly twice the size of any common grizzly. It pivoted it''s head before stepping into the moonlight. Cautious though it seemed unafraid. Why should it be? This beast looked like it was the chief of the forest, and could tear anything that challenged it.


    "Panchu?"


    The silhouette moved towards the springs, and when it reached the moonlight it''s body began to form. A large snout. Black eyes. Rounded ears, and thick fur ... no ... it was not fur on it''s back. But long pronged hairs that stuck up, sharp as pins. The beast waddled to the spring. Stopped, and lifted its nose. It turned his head in my direction.


    "Come out, boy ... or I''ll chase you out." The bearpine''s voice thundered and growled. "I have no time for tribling games ... unless you''re here to test my claws against your spear?"


    I stepped out from the bush, standing tall, chin high, and chest out. "Great Panchu ... I am Kai of the Tocagee village, and I am here to seek you as my guardian."


    The beast chuckled, eyeing my frame. "You''ve come to ask me? Why?" He snarled. "Because you were unworthy? Shaman do not pick their guardians ..."


    The words sent an ache in my chest, but I didn''t allow myself to falter. "I am a worthy, Great Panchu ... I believe The Great Spirit had the other guardians pass on me so I could find you."


    The bears lips curled and the moonlight highlighted fangs three times the size of any arrowhead. Fangs that tore through much flesh, and could easily tear through my own. I swallowed, but continued to keep the fear inside from showing on my face.


    Panchu took a few steps closer, taking another breath. I narrowed my eyes, notizing the white haze in the beasts black orbs. It sniffed the air and took three large steps in my direction.


    "You''re blind ..."


    He stopped. "In the eyes, yes ... though they are not the only way to see you. I can smell your fear ... its a stink that lingers on your flesh ... why?"


    I lowered my head and took a breath through my nostrils. "There is strength in fear, if one chooses to find it." I said confidently. "I do not wish to hide my fear from you."


    "Oh. But you do. alAnd you are." He laughed in a low, growl. "And the more you hide it, the more you make it known." He shook his head and turned back towards the spring. "Go home, tribling ... You are not worthy of becoming a shaman ¡­ it is why the other''s passed you up."


    I rolled my finger into fist. "Why?" I snapped. "Why am I unworthy over the others? I am the greatest young warrior of my village ¡­ the quickest learner ¡­ and strongest¡ª"


    "Yet your fear is your weakness." He stood over a pool, swaying his snout from side-to-side. He quickly whipped his paw and tore a fish from the pool. It flopped on land, until the beast jaws gave it rest. A small, glowing blue orb rose from the fish and floated through the trees back towards the life force. "And you wear it on you like a coat of fur ¡­ you must have confidence in one self, and you don''t."


    "I am confident." I said, taking a step towards the beast. My eyebrows furrowed. "Everybody in my village knows this."


    The beast let out a long, low chuckle. And in one bite, had the fish torn then swallowed. He turned back and looked at me. "They''ve built your confidence ¡­ it was never earned."


    My jaw fell open and I took a step back, squeezing my spear, my muscles trembling. "And what do you know about confidence? I know your tale. You abandoned your shaman¡ª"


    The bearpine turned and roared, "and that''s exactly why I know, tribling!" He swiped a claw at the dirt, and I took a second step away. My heart beating into my throat. "Even blind, I''ve seen what the lack of confidence brings ¡­ what fear does to a young shaman. Hate. Jealousy. And evil. That is where your path will bring you."


    I waved my spearhead. "You lie! I would never give into darkness."


    Panchu raised his snout towards the moon. "Then what will you do? The moon is nearly at its peak, and you have no guardian. The shadow territory is the only place for you now, boy."


    I clenched my teeth and trembled, then dropped my head. I whispered, "You and the others are wrong about me ¡­ even The Great Spirit is wrong ¡­ and I''ll prove myself, if not this year then the next."


    His lips curled and he chuckled. "For your sake boy, I hope you''re right." Panchu turned towards the woods, and without another word, walked to the treeline where he disappeared into the thicket.


    I collapsed to my knees, dropped my spear, and beat my fist into the dirt, cursing at the top of my lungs. I screamed towards the moon. I sat there and closed my eyes, listening to the water that plunged into the spring. The gentle beat of water kept pace with my heart, and for the time I felt peace return to my spirit.


    I could wait until next year. I was only fifteen. I had until my seventeenth spirit ceremony to become a shaman. That gave me two more chances to conquer my fears. "I can wait ... I can be patient."


    I heard a rustle behind me, and I whirled around, raising my spear.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Or, you can give your soul up to a grim," a slithery, raspy voice said. "That it was most smart shamans with your fear would do." The creature snickered.


    I frowned, "who are you?"


    Two fiery red eyes floated in the darkness only twenty paces away. I shivered, tightening my grip on the spear. The smell of carrion in the air. I gagged and held my breath.


    "I am Xukai, a lesser grim, but with you we could be great." He hissed. "Bound your spirit to mine and together we can make the world ours."


    "Never!" I said, pushing my speartip towards him. "I will never give into darkness!"


    He snickered. "Never say never, boy ... cause you never know when you will need to take another path."


    I shook my head, "My path does not belong with you."


    The creature hissed, "And it seems it does not belong with a guardian neither." The creature looked to the moon. "You still have time to obtain true power."


    "Never!" I yanked back my arm and threw it forward. The spear disappeared into the shadows, finding its mark. The creature hiss and shrieked.


    "Fool!" The monster roared.


    From the treeline, it shot out towards me, quick as lightning. I dove, but it caught my legs and I flew, ten, twenty, thirty feet, slamming against a trunk. I gasped as I hit and groaned. The red eyes rose higher and higher, as a dark silhouette began to form, swaying back and fourth. My head spun, and a haze fell over my eyes.


    The creature snickered. "I''ll make a meal out of you, boy!" And it lunged forward.


    I gasped.


    From my right, a blur came from the bush, sliding out in front of me. The red-eyed creature''s jaws snapped around the beast. It screamed as the fine, pointed barbs drove into its mouth. The creature hissed. The beast roared. And in the next moment everything was quiet.


    My eyes faded in and out as I tried to look upon the beast standing over me. But darkness fell over me ... and the last thing I felt was the pain in my back as I smelt blood in the air.


    I fought my eyelids open as the bright morning light found them. In response, I shut them and sat up, blinking until my eyes adjusted. My insides burned, and my back ached. I rubbed the pain, with little luck of easing it.


    I peered down on the ground, eyeing a small wooden head. I took it into my hands, twirling it in the light. It had a snout, two round eyes, fangs, and two small, rounded ears. "A bear-hear totem," I whispered.


    "You are fortunate I was still around," a deep voice boomed. "That grim spirit wanted to injure you, then before you died, force you to bind your spirit with his."


    I whirled around and found the giant beast lying on the bank. His head was a boulderous size, with a thick, brown coat of fur that matched his legs and the top of his feet. But on his back were long, brownish-white barbs that came to a point. Hundred upon hundreds of them. And I knew they were a quill.


    I see why they call him a bearpine. I winced, rising to my feet. "Thank you for your help," I said, feeling a sharp pain roll from my shoulder down my spine. I groaned.


    "Take it easy. You were thrown thirty feet ¡­ and I have not finished healing your spirit."


    "Healing my spirit?" I raised an eyebrow and looked down upon the totem in my hand. "Do you mean?"


    Panchu turned his snout towards the falls. "You were dying, so I bound our spirits in order to save you."


    My tongue was heavy and I was unable to find my voice. I walked over to the beast. Lying down he shadowed me like a mountain. At least eight feet tall, and half as wide as the great oak tree.


    ¡°Why did you save me? I thought I was unworthy ¡­¡±


    The beast brought his hazy eyes upon me. In the light, they appeared like two black orbs hidden behind a mist. ¡°I hate grim spirits.¡°


    ¡°I thought it was one,¡± I replied, rubbing the smooth wooden totem. I felt strength just having it in my hand. ¡°What was it doing out here?¡±


    ¡°Where guardians go, grims and beasts are close to follow.¡±


    I scratched the back of my head. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    The bear drew in a long breath and blew dust and leaves into a whirl. ¡°Did they not teach you anything, Tribling?¡± He shook his head, grumbling. ¡°Grim and Beast spirits are like leeches ¡­ they bind to the spirits of young unchosen triblings. Offering them power, rewards, vengeance, and shaman''s way of life. You denied the grim, therefore he would¡¯ve forced you to bind with him.¡±


    I sat beside the bear and dipped my feet into the pool. ¡°But I would¡¯ve never said yes ¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Panchu replied hollowly. ¡°But grims and beast are known to keep their victims alive, torturing them until they do give in. And when they do, the torment does not end there. Where guardians gain their power by bonding with their shamans, grims and beasts gain their powers by draining one''s spirit. The darker the spirit, the stronger the monster.¡±


    I cupped water into my palm and splashed it on my face, cooling my skin that was hot from the morning heat. Once I shook myself dry, I turned towards the old bearpine. ¡°So you only saved my life because you hated grims?¡±


    ¡°I saved your life because it needed saving.¡± The bear frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret it.¡±


    I stood to my feet and brushed the dirt from the back of my robe. Between my index finger and thumb, was the bear-head totem. I raised it for Panchu to see. He sniffed the air and squinted his blind eyes. ¡°We should start heading back to the village. Retreat!¡±


    Panchu¡¯s lips curled downward.


    I waved the totem, ¡°I said, retreat!¡±


    The bear let out a low, rumbling guffaw and stood slowly to his feet. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, boy.¡±


    I grimaced and looked upon the totem. ¡°I thought spirit pets were supposed to hibernate?¡±


    ¡°Spirit pets?¡± Panchu growled, shaking his thick coat of quill. ¡°What happened to calling us guardians?¡±


    I shrugged and snapped the totem to the band around my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t know. That¡¯s what all the young Triblings call guardians ¡ª¡±


    Panchu lunged forward, snout inches from my nose. He roared, ¡°I am no one¡¯s pet!¡±


    I wiped the saliva from my cheek, ¡°and I am no one''s spit rag ¡­" Panchu sighed, his breath foul, reeking of blood and fish. He turned on his paws and headed for the trees. I walked closely behind, keeping on his heels. ¡°So you¡¯re not going to hibernate in the totem?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Totem hibernation is not all that it¡¯s made out to be. Besides, I am a much better warrior when I''m not suddenly awoken and called for battle.¡±


    ¡°Is that what happens? You just sleep the whole time?¡±


    Panchu swung his oversized head at me. ¡°It¡¯s called hibernation for a reason. Don¡¯t they teach you triblings anything anymore?¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°not too much ¡­ no ¡­ not until we¡¯ve become a shaman, and are allowed to go to Spirit Ridge. That¡¯s where everything is taught now.¡±


    ¡°Spirit Ridge?¡± Panchu grumbled. ¡°I forgot about that wretched place ¡­¡±


    I spun the spear, swiping and jabbing the air. ¡°There, you and I will become one spirit!¡±


    Panchu grumbled, ¡°this was a mistake ¡­ ¡°


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that, old bear.¡± I reached to pat his head.


    Panchu glared, ¡°don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    I nodded and pulled back my hand as he headed down the trail. I quickened my pace. Three steps for every one of the giant bears. We walked past the bear cub boulder, and the great oak tree, until I couldn¡¯t hold my tongue.


    ¡°What happened with Kawah?¡±


    The bear brushed against a tree, toppling it over ¡°It¡¯s best you keep your questions to yourself.¡±


    Power of Panchu¡¯s kind should never be tested, but now that we were bound, I felt I could push things a bit further. ¡°Since you were with a shaman, you must¡¯ve been through many battles.¡±


    ¡°A few ¡­¡±


    ¡°So we should be unstoppable partners.¡±


    ¡°A guardian is only as strong as the spirit he is bound to.¡± His snout raised and lowered as he looked upon me. ¡°And yours is very weak.¡±


    ¡°For now.¡± I said. ¡°Wait until I¡¯ve bound more spirits ¡­ by the time I¡¯m an elder shaman I¡¯ll have an army.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, Tribling.¡± Panchu stepped over a log as I leaped. ¡°The more spirits you carry, the less of your spirit remains."


    "I never thought about that ..."


    The bear guffawed. "That does not surprise me one bit. You don''t think about a lot of things ... like throwing your spear at that grim."


    I looked upon the pointed stick in my grasp. "I could''ve killed it if I struck it in the eye ..."


    "Grims and guardians are too strong for mortal weapons ... You must use runes and you must use guardians." The old bear grumbled. "You''re lucky you left with your life."


    "You''re not going to lecture me again, are you?" I massaged my forehead. "I don''t think I can take another one of those ..."


    "No. You don''t listen anyway. And a tribling who doesn''t listen is as good as dead."


    I shrugged, "if you say so ... What was that thing anyway? I know it was a grim, but what kind?"


    "A wendingo. And you''re lucky it was looking for a spirit to bound to and not supper."


    I recalled one of the lessons I''d heard from the great wise woman. How wendigos were danty, pale flesh creatures, with an everlasting ache of hunger. I shivered at the thought. And was grateful I was breathing the fresh, pine air and not being inside the belly of the beast.


    After we crossed a stream we came to the edge of the forest. The great teepee village only a few hundred feet away. I looked upon my home and grinned. Panchu looked upon the place and frowned.


    "I''ve done my best to try to forget this place," his snout wrinkled, "and now I''m back to where I started."


    "This will be a different outcome this time, old bear."


    "Don''t call me that ¡­ let''s stick with Panchu."


    I pointed to the totem on my neck. "You sure you don''t want to hibernate?"


    "And miss the look on the tribes folks faces?" Panchu lifted his snout and laughed. He growled, "not a chance."


    The sound of drums and whistles carried over the village rooftops and found our ears. I swayed back and forth, my legs walking with the rhythm. I followed the noise, Panchu on my left side.


    "The Shaman Ceremony is beginning! Let''s get there before it starts."


    Panchu grumbled, "we''ll make a grand entrance ¡­"


    We followed the song until a voice rose up above the music. A strong, deep voice that carried beyond the forest. "People of the Tocagree tribe! Today we give you our twenty-four chosen Shaman!" Cheers and chants filled my ears. I halted twenty feet from the crowd and forty feet from the stage where the other shaman stood; their guardians of all shapes and sizes standing next to them.


    Panchu whispered, "I''m going to love this ¡­"


    I tore the totem from my neckless and lifted it into the air. "Tribes folk of Tocagee village! I, Kai, am the twenty-fifth Shaman worthy of The Great Spirit!"


    At once, the crowd turned their heads over their shoulders, as the elder, and the other young shaman looked upon me. Their faces twisted in surprise.


    "Kai?" A man with gaged wooden earrings in his ears whispered. "But I thought he was carried off by a grim?"


    "No, it''s even worse." A white haired woman with three teeth replied. "He has been bound to a former guardian ¡­ the one, and the only ¡­ Panchu."


    All eyes turned to the enormous bearpine. Their eyes widening. Jaws unhinged. All fighting back the screams hung in their throats. Inside my chest, I felt an ache that raised to my head, giving me a thought more horrifying than nearly being eaten by a wendigo.


    I''ve bound to the most hated guardian in all of the lands. I shook my head. And no one in the village would forgive me for it ...

 Chapter 4

    I packed my sack angrily preparing for the long journey to Spirit Ridge.


    It was only a week ago that Panchu and I bound as one spirit, and already the tribe folk treated the two of us like we had a plague. When I''d go to the trading market they''d clear out, when I went to hunt they''d leave me behind, and when I went to attend meals they''d clear the area. Even when Panchu was not around, off hunting for food, I''d hear their whispers. Everybody in town was afraid. They remembered Panchu and Kawah. But what truly happened all those years ago? What truly made them fear him?


    "This has become a nightmare," I told Onwae as I stuffed the last of my dried meat in my sack. "I''m not here to make enemies ¡­"


    "Well, you do know Panchu''s reputation. He''s as feared as a grim ..."


    I lowered my head, "I think they fear him even more ..."


    Mowak crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "You should count your blessings that you''ve been bound. You would''ve lost your chance otherwise."


    Tuma replied, "I don''t understand why you were overlooked. You''re the best out of everybody in the village."


    "Maybe the great spirit thought that I''d be too much trouble. That if I gained enough power I''d use it for evil ..." I shrugged. "Panchu believes it''s because I''ve got too much fear in my heart."


    "You?" Tuma chuckled, and the others joined him. "You''re not afraid of anything ..."


    Onwae nodded. "Remember that time you hunted that three tailed ox?"


    "Or when you saved us from those spirit vultures?"


    My lips curled, "Those were good times."


    Tuma squeezed his fist, "You even saved us from Vhiva the day before the ceremony. There was probably some kind of mistake."


    "The Great Spirit doesn''t make mistakes ..."


    The three of us sat in silence for a long moment, each of us reflecting on the spirit ceremony, and the horror and honor that was placed upon our shoulders.


    Mowak said hollowly, "The tribes folk may be concerned about you ... but the elders are more concerned about the missing triblings."


    I raised an eyebrow. "How many this year? Three? Five?"


    "Twenty five." Mowak replied. "The grims and beasts were waiting for them, and all of them gave into the beasts, too ashamed that they weren''t chosen."


    "That''s terrible." Onwae wrapped her arms around herself, rocking side-to-side. "To know all those triblings will be headed towards the shadow territory, never to return."


    "That''s peculiar," I said, rubbing my chin. "It''s almost as if they were possessed ... or forced to join the darkness. There''s never been that many."


    Tuma stuttered, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. "I was so angry when they said that you had joined the grim too."


    "What?" I pulled away, my eyes growing. "Who said that I joined the grim?"


    Onwae''s vioce lowered to a faint whispered. "Everybody."


    Mowak chuckled and said hollowly. "I wouldn''t have blamed you. " Tuma and Onwae glared at her and her grin hammered into a straight line.


    I grabbed the totem around my neck, slowly rubbing it. "They should know I would never join the Dark Shaman ... Never!"


    "We know you wouldn''t," Onwae said, giving me one of her warm smiles. The ones just reserved for me. It revived my spirit


    "I have to tell you something, Kai." Tuma scratched his head and for a moment I throught he wouldn''t speak. "My folks don''t want me hanging around you any more ... they want me to focus on my training at Spirit Ridge."


    Onwae lowered her eyes and twiddled her thumbs. "Mine neither."


    I felt my spirit ache within me. I clenched my teeth and looked upon Mowak.


    She shrugged, "My folks told me to stay close to you ... that Panchu will teach you allot, so I should stay to listen."


    Tuma corked his head, "you mean, your folks are not afraid of Panchu?"


    She pushed off the wall and stood erect. "Why should they be? Many of my family members have gone to the shadow territory. In fact, they were hoping I''d be next to join the grims. So you can see their disappointment when I was bound to my guardian."


    We all gasped.


    Onwae trembled, "You never told us this ..."


    "I didn''t need you all judging me and my family like the rest of the tribes folk do."


    I said, "I''m glad you told us. The Great Spirit has deemed you worthy¡ª"


    "Save your worthies for somebody who cares," Mowak replied, holding out her hand. "Truth is, my folks have a reason for why they''ve kept this secret from me for so long."


    Tuma, Onwae, and I exchanged bitter looks. "And what might that be?"


    "Your families cursed, aren''t you?" Tuma asked then mumbled. "I hope I don''t get cursed ..."


    Onwae placed a hand on Tuma''s head She patted him. "Relax."


    "No. We are not cursed." Mowak said dryly. "Our family tree just has many roots ..."


    Tuma raised an eyebrow, "roots?"


    Mowak nodded. "It seems Kawah is ... my great, grand uncle."


    "Your grand uncle!" Onwae placed a hand over her lips. "But he ... I mean ... Kawah ... he is the leader of the Dark Shaman."


    Mowak lifted her chin and chuckled. "See why my folks were disappointmented when I was chosen by a guardian.."


    Onwae prodded her chest, "it just means you have a good heart¡ª"


    "This is great!" I said, giving a joyous expression. "Maybe you can help me with Panchu?"


    The three of them turned towards me and suddenly I regretted speaking.


    Mowak narrowed her eyes. "Help with what?"


    Onwae was quick to respond, "Why didn''t Panch hibernate?"


    I grabbed my bag and threw it over my back. Now I was in for it. "He doesn''t respect me ..."


    Each of the tribling shifted their eyes at one another, then raised their lips, letting out a soft giggle. I clenched my teeth, and adjusted my bag until it sat comfortably on my back.


    Tuma snorted and chuckled, "what''d you expect? He''s not a true guardian ... he''s a beast if anything."


    My brows furrowed, "don''t say that! He''s just misunderstood ..."This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "It''s true," Mowak shrugged, "he is only bound to you for his own purpose. And when that purpose is filled he''ll leave you like he did my great uncle."


    "No." I shook my head and rubbed the totem. "I can feel it. There''s something pure about the old bear."


    A shadow cast over Mowak''s face and her eyes fell black. "He abandoned Kawah ... and if you''re not careful he''ll abandon you too."


    Onwae looked at me tenderly, "use him until you can find a stronger, pureer guardian to bond to. I''ve heard Shaman do that all the time."


    "You mean abandon him?"


    "Why not," Mowak flicked her thumb, staring at me boredly. "It''s just what he deserves."


    My skin grew hot. "I would never do that to him. He saved my life ... I owe him a chance."


    Mowak replied, "never, say, never."


    I shivered, reminded by the raspy hiss of the grim.


    Tuma chimed in, "we know he is your guardian, Kai. We''re just looking out for you. We hope that he can be true to you." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "We just want you to be prepared if Panchu acts ..."


    "Acts?"


    "Acts. Suspicious ..."


    Mowak grabbed her own bag and placed it on her back, "you know, like he seems distant or he is trying to give you away to a grim. It''s better you are on alert, and abandon him before he abandons you."


    I picked up my spear. "He would never do that." I said the words confidently, but they still felt strange off my tongue. "I trust him."


    "And so did Kawah," Mowak said. "Before Panchu convinced him to give his spirit to a grim."


    Onwae looked out the window at the sun. "It is almost high noon ... we best get ready for the long walk to Spirit Ridge. The other Shaman are likely already there."


    I noddedm "I''ll catch up with you all later. I want to go find Panchu before we set off."


    Tuma grabbed the rooster-head totem, "just blow into your totem and they''ll be summoned."


    "No. I''ve tried that already. Panchu doesn''t listen to the call." I ignored their puzzled looks. We headed outside where we exchanged waves of goodbyes. "I''ll see you all soon."


    I went behind the teepee following the buzz of a snoring beast. It didn''t take me long to locate the oversized bear, laying in the shade of an enormous tree. On his back. Paws pointed to the sky. I halted a few feet away then pressed the bear-head totem to my lips and blew. The bear''s right ear twitched. He continued snoring.


    "Wake up. We''ve got to get going!"


    Panchu snored louder


    I used every trick I had to wake him: yell, kick, push the spear in his snout, and throw stones. Nothing seemed to work. Aggravated, I grabbed a bucket of water and drenched his face. The old bear turned his head, slapping his tongue against the roof of his mouth, then fell back into snoring.


    I whispered, "still no such luck ..."


    The soft buzz of thousands of wings drew my eyes upward. Hanging on limb, was a tan cone-shaped nest surrounded by thousands of black and yellow striped insects. Flying patrols. Waiting and watching. And resting inside or returning with larva or nectar stolen from a flower.


    Even from the ground I saw the long, pointed stiner prodding from their heads. "Unicorn wasps," I whispered. I recalled the words of the wise woman. If you see unicorn wasps in a nest, it means they''ve taken it from the honey bees.


    I knelt down, picked up a rock, tossed it up, then caught it in my hand, grinning. "Let''s find out if the tales are true."


    I reeled my arm back behind my head, lifted my leg, then slung my hand forward. The stone flew and zipped by the nest, ricocheting off a tree. I frowned. The wasps unphased. I then gathered a handful more stones and threw each one in session. Two flew off into the leaves, while four hit the target, the fifth bringing down the nest. It crashed and split on Panchu''s head.


    I darted behind a stump to keep from being stung.


    The old bear''s eyes shot open. Hundreds of black and gold bodies flew around him, trying their best to penetrate flesh, though his hide was thick. A few wasps buzzed my way. I swatted them, getting bit three times and stung twice. My right arm, left leg, and neck burning and tingling. A pain I''d grown used to from heaving rocks at nests as a boy.


    Panchu turned his snout and looked upon the honey comb. He scooped it into his paws and sniffed. "Yuck!" He said, tossing the comb behind him.


    I raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Unafraid, I came out from behind the trunk. "You don''t like honey?"


    He rolled up on to his four paws and rubbed a group of wasps off his snout. "Hate it," he growled. "It''s too sweet and sticky." He shook his quill. "I much prefer a jar of jam." I rolled my eyes. He yawned. "Couldn''t you see I was sleeping?"


    I grabbed the totem. "You could''ve gone into hibernation had you just listened to me. Now come on, the other shaman have gathered for the long walk to Spirit Ridge."


    He smacked his lips. "What''s the big hurry? It''s not going anywhere. And I know a quicker way then your man''s trail."


    I turned and waved a hand. "Just come on. We''re already the talk of the village. Arriving late is only going to make it worse."


    "I thought you wanted to become a shaman." The bear guffawed. "I didn''t know we were out to make friends."


    "We are ¡­ and were not." I sighed. "I''m just not trying to make enemies."


    The bear waddled over. "What''s the fun in that? If you have no enemies, you have nobody to challenge you ... and without challenge, is without growth."


    "You sound wise. And maybe I''ll start listening, when you start being a good pet." I chuckled. Panchu growled. "Are you coming, or do you want another honey bath?"


    Panchu grumbled, "I''m coming ... I need to teach you triblings some manners."


    We walked through the village. Tuma, Onwae, and Mowak were gathered with the others at the stage, saying their goodbyes to the folks that raised them. Mowak''s parents looked upon us and smiled. Onwae and Tuma, along with the other triblimgs parents looked upon us and scowled.


    "Just ignore them."


    "Always do." Panchu glared at each one of them. Their eyes grew and mouths hung, and they turned away. He chuckled. "Hey, Kai. Where are your folks?"


    My blood boiled. "Let''s make a deal ... I won''t ask about Kawah if you don''t ask about my folks."


    "Sounds good to me." The old bear said in a lighter tone. One I didn''t know he had. "It''s going to be a long walk, where can we get some grub?"


    I pointed to the tables stacked with dishes full of charred meats, fresh vegetables, and juicy fruits. Many of the shaman were already in attendance. Their plate''s full. Stomach''s filling. And mouths chomping away. Ignoring the flies and bees that circled and landed trying to get a taste.


    "There. Let''s go find a seat."


    The crowd parted to allow us to pass. I knew it wasn''t a kind gesture by the eyes narrowed and lips sunk, nose wrinkled. It didn''t bother me none. Made it easier for us to get to the front of the line. I grabbed to clay dishes and found a seat at the end of the table. Panchu sat at the edge, mouth dripping.


    A young shaman with a pair of wooden glasses raised his hand. "No pets at the table."


    I raised an eyebrow and looked over my shoulder, searching. I turned back to the boy. "If I see a pet, I''ll let you know."


    "Ehem," the boy blinked rapidly, looking upon Panchu.


    I grinned. "You can''t mean my guardian, do you?" Then brought a hand to my lips. "Best you not mistaken him for a pet. Last tribling who had lost a hand. You''ve heard the tale, right?"


    The boy''s eyes grew as Panchu revealed his enormous fangs.


    The boy gulped, "of course I''d never make that mistake ..."


    I patted him on the shoulder. "Didn''t think so. Come Panchu. Let''s fill our plates."


    I stacked my plate with two fish, a loaf of bread, grapes, and a few corncobs. Panchu sniffed. "That''s not yours!" I scolded. Then grabbed two more plates and filled them with large slabs of pork and fish. I set them in front of the beast. He ate it before I had time to naw into my own. I sighed and refilled his plates. Every time I thought he''d finish, he was ready for another serving, until the table of food was nearly empty.


    Panchu belched and grinned. "I forgot how much I preferred not having to do the hunting."


    I laughed looking upon the furrowed faces. "Don''t get too used to it ..."


    "Young Shaman!" Came a voice that was soft yet strong. I turned and found a girl with a scarred lip, braided brown hair that hung to her hips, and forest green eyes that glared at me. My eyes widened. It was the girl I knew since I was a tribling. The one who was part of our group only a year ago. The chief''s daughter ...


    "Meeka?"


    She turned her head and looked at me like she''d never seen me in her life. Her right hand pointed to Panchu, left pointed to the fox-head totem. "Why is your guardian not hibernating?"


    I bit into a fish, feeling warm juices fill my mouth. Then whipped my head towards Panchu. "You try telling him to do that ..."


    ¡°You¡¯re his tamer, therefore you must tame him!¡±


    Panchu flipped a fish around with his tongue, chomped, then swallowed. He gathered three more with his snout then devoured them without a sense of decency. She and the other shaman grimaced.


    He whispered, ¡°What¡¯s her problem?


    ¡°She¡¯s the chief daughter ¡­¡±


    Panchu smacked his lips and looked upon the girl like she was his next meal. ¡°I can see the resemblance. ¡°


    Meeka snapped, ¡°Are you going to tame him or not?¡±


    The other young shaman laughed.


    The old bear brought his snout close to my ear, ¡°And she has his attitude.¡± We chuckled silently. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± I turned towards her. ¡°Little Cheifling, this is called training. I¡¯m showing Panchu how to eat at the table like the rest of us. Isn¡¯t that right, old bear?¡± Panchu raised his lips, displaying his bloodied, meat riddled fangs. ¡°You see?¡±


    Meeka turned her head and raised her chin. ¡°Disgusting.¡±


    From the stage, stood the high elder in his valiant, long hide robe, holding his feathered staff. Next to him, perched on a massive pole was a golden feathered eagle, three times larger than a common eagle, with two black eyes and third in his forehead. The feather''s on his head were white as snow, while his beak was long and sharp, and bright as gold.


    ¡°Young Shaman¡¯s of Tocagee village.¡± He raised his hands and silenced the stirring crowd. ¡°We will now take our leave to Spirit Ridge!¡±


    The crowd roared as they lifted their totems staffs!


    Mokahdu leaped from the post and mounted three eye eagle. And with one loud swoop of his wings, they were off, soaring in the sky. Dust kicked from the ground. And a gust of wind yanked the hairs and robes of the young shaman.


    I smirked at Meeka and said, ¡°We¡¯ll see you at the ridge. Come on, Panchu. It''s time to go. ¡±


    The old bear belched, leaving meat particles on the table. He stood and grunted, bopping the table. It wobbled, knocking off platters and plates of food to the ground.


    My lips sunk and I said, "He can sit and eat, but he''s still learning to stand.


    Panchu chuckled behind me.


    Meeka crossed her arms and I felt her glare burn through me.


    I turned away and started after the herd of shaman making their way towards the trail that led us up to Spirit Ridge.


    Panchu walked next to me, still grinning. He whispered, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve made your first enemy ¡­¡±

 Chapter 5

    I walked towards the parting crowd. All dressed in hide robes with animal patches. Spears and totem staffs in their hands.


    ¡°If I knew any better, I¡¯d think you planned this whole thing.¡±


    Panch chuckled. His voice dropped into a careless tone. ¡°To make you look bad in front of the Chief¡¯s daughter? Why would I do a thing like that,¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve heard you have a pretty bad reputation.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s no fun to be good all the time.¡±


    From the village we headed through the eastern woods. Our Chief, three elder shaman, ten higher ranked shaman, ten second year shaman, twenty-five young shaman, and one bearpine who was too stubborn to hibernate. The journey was a month''s walk with five villages for resting and gathering supplies. And mid-mountain village marked the midway point.


    There was little complaining the first three days. All the young shaman were to excited about being chosen to complain. But by the fourth day, most were growing weary, and ready to reach the first village.


    "It''s only half a days walk from here," the chief announced. "For now, we''ll rest."


    We stopped at The White Snake River. It was the largest and most fierce river in all the lands. It started far north in the mountain territory. Snaking southward through Spirit Ridge, while branching into the five other great territories: Forest territory, Volcano territory, Island territory, Prairie Territory, and the Canyon Territory.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see them!¡± Tuma said, eagerly. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting to see your Guardians for over a week!¡±


    Mowak glanced at the skunk head totem on her wrist. ¡°Shade is hibernating ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you mine if you show me yours!¡± Onwae grinned, her cheeks bubbling. She plucked the butterfly totem from her neck.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Tuma grabbed his rooster head totem. ¡°I¡¯m tired of looking at Panchu¡¯s rear ¡­¡± The old bear licked his underbelly, glaring. ¡°B-but I¡¯ll start walking at the front of the pack from now on.¡±


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Panchu snapped, and then began licking himself again.


    We chuckled.


    Ownae held out her hand and shouted, ¡°Sapphire ¡­ awaken!¡±


    From the totem sprang a large, blue orb that shuttered green, blue, green then blue again. The spirit energy extended outward, fluttering and shaping into four wings attached to a slender-segmented body. Two antennas extend from the head as two rounded, black eyes sparkled. Sapphire flapped. Her wings sparkling blue, green and beautiful.


    A gust whirled tdirt. Tuma held up an arm deflecting partials. ¡°Hey!¡± He spat. His face reddening. ¡°Knock it off!¡±


    We all laughed.


    Sapphire shot over Tuma¡¯s head, as she glided out over the river. Yellow sun spots marked the blue of her wings. We watched and marveled at her beauty. Four times as large as any bird. And more majestic in every way.


    ¡°I guess if you¡¯re going to show her off,¡° Mowak pulled the totem from her wrist. ¡°Then shade needs to make an appearance.¡±


    Tuma wiped his tongue on his sleeve. ¡°But I thought it was my turn ¡­¡±


    Panchu chuckled, ¡°Pathetic.¡±


    Mowak held out her totem. ¡°Shade, awaken!¡±


    The totem expelled from her hand, creating a blue orb that flashed and flickered, forming an outline of a four-legged beast with a bushy tail. Black hairs sprouted from all around the creature''s body, as a white stripe extended from her pointed head to the tip of her tail.


    Shade looked at Tuma and corked her head.


    The boy''s eyes bulged and he raised his hands. ¡°Nice, skunk ¡­¡±


    Muwak frowned, ¡°she¡¯s not a skunk ¡­ she¡¯s a skugar.¡±


    ¡°What difference does it make!¡± Tuma screamed, his face as red as cherry. ¡°The thing is as large as a cougar and stinks like a skunk ¡­ Get it away!¡±


    Shade brought her snout down and her brows furrowed.


    ¡°Oh, now you¡¯ve done it.¡± Mowak shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s not spray trained yet.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The boy lifted his arms. ¡°You mean?¡± Shade turned around and lifted her tail. ¡°Call her off¡ª¡±


    A yellow mist projected from the creatures rear, bringing with it a foul beastly reek that made me grab my nose and hold my breath. Onwae waved a hand. Panchu lifted his snout then buried it in his belly fur. And Mowak grinned.


    ¡°Gross!¡± Tuma screamed, tears rolling down his cheeks. ¡°That thing urinated on me!¡± The four of us bursted into an uproar that carried over the trees. Tuma ran to the river, splashing himself with water. ¡°It won¡¯t come off!¡±


    Mowak shadowed over him. She crossed her arms and said coldly, ¡°The smell will last at least three months.¡±


    ¡°Three months!¡± He clenched his teeth and pointed at shade. ¡°That vial creature is not a guardian ¡­ she¡¯s a menace!¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have been so rude,¡± Shade said, raising her snout. ¡°Now, best you hush or I¡¯ll give you a real one.¡±


    Tuma looked towards me for help. I waved my hands and shook my head. He then glanced up at Mowak. A pleading look in his eyes.


    She said coldly. ¡°A real spray would''ve left you bed ridden for months. You don¡¯t want to experience a skuars fury. Nor her poison." Mowak''s lips sunk deeper. "What you got was a warning spray. Count your blessings. You should be smelling ripe by the morning.¡±


    ¡°Thank the great spirit,¡± Tuma said. Uneasy, he turned towards the Skugar and scowled. He then leaped to his feet and held out his rooster head totem. ¡°Sqakron! Awaken!¡±


    A flaming purple orb floated an inch from the ground, snaking outward into a long strand with four legs, and two wings. Black, sharp scales faded from the neck, over the wings, and to the arrowhead-shaped tail. From the belly, four taloned feet formed. And from the head, white feathers sprouted, a red comb on top, a golden beak, and a red sack that hung beneath it.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Sqakron, to me!¡± He waved.


    The creature crawled towards his heels, body slithering behind him. It was a small thing. Not much bigger than a common snake. Sqakron sniffed at Tuma. ¡°Bru-cock!¡± It shrieked. Round eyes spinning and getting stuck, one up, one down. ¡°Did you roll in a pig''s pit? You smell awful!¡± Gobble, Gobble. He tilted his head sideways, glancing upward with his right eye. ¡°You got any seed, master?¡±


    We all laughed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he great?¡± Tuma cheeks bubbled. He pulled some seed and littered the ground. Sqakron began to peck. ¡°The best guardian a tribling could''ve asked for. One that listens. All it takes is a handful of seed.¡±


    Panchu rumbled a guffaw. ¡°A odd spirit for an odd boy ¡­¡±


    Sqakron raised his head, flicked it right, then quickly left. His left eye examined the old bear. ¡°You talking about me?¡±


    ¡°Who else ...¡±


    ¡°Intolerable!¡± Gobble. Gobble. ¡°Intolerable!¡± The creature went back to pecking.


    Pachu glanced up at me. ¡°See what I mean?¡±


    Tuma shouted. ¡°You leave him alone, you no-good-shaman-abandoner!" He raised a fist. "Or else!¡±


    Panchu yawned.


    I held out my hands between them. "You two need to get along. Having enemies is one thing, but to make enemies in our own party is another."


    Tuma kneeled and picked the dragon rooster into his hand. "He''s the one who started it ..."


    "I said enough!" I lifted my ear to a high, whistling call. "It''s time we get back to the group."


    After they put their Guardians back into hibernation


    we found the others. They gathered their things and started back on the path to Spirit Ridge. A windy path, that was much more overgrown then the one we''d been on previously. We started bundled together, but as the path narrowed and thickened, we found ourselves marching in a single line. The sky graying and rumbling, sending down droplets that hammered us and soaked our thick hide robes.


    Vegetation grew like a fungus. Vines extended across the path, concealing the trail. The Chief called upon his greatest shaman. They used their spirit beasts to tug and tear through the thicker. And when they tire, they were swapped out for another group of spirit animals.


    The Chief shook his head, "I''ve never seen it this bad ¡­ we''re going to need the first year shamans help too."


    Shade, Sapphire, and Sqakron, along with the other spirit animals of the first years, did their part to pull, cut, and rip through the brush. Each one taking their turn until they too tired. Panchu stayed at the rear, doing his best not be of any use. Instead, picking off any stray forest rats or birds that tried to get away.


    "You know you could help ¡­"


    He looked around at all the shamen and shrugged a bear''s shrug. "Looks like you''ve got all the hands you need."


    I took a breath, deciding it was not worth my time to argue. Instead, I allowed my spear to be my guardian, spinning and swiping at every branch and bush that was in my way. The other shaman took their totem staffs and spears and did the same. And we too grew weary. Sweaty and muscles aching in every part of our bodies


    Three days came and went. Rain. Sun. Cold. Warm. Windy. Calm. Each day a little different. But eventually we cleared the path, and when we had, the chief told us why it was so important. On the night we''d finished, he''d gathered all the young shaman together and explained.


    "We allow the brush to grow over the trail on purpose," the Chief said. "It is your first test as a shaman. And many of you and your guardian did well." He looked upon Panchu and I. "Others, still have a lot of growing to do ¡­"


    After the Chiefs overlong speech, prasing every shaman other than those who knew us, I found Panchu lying down close to a campfire, looking upon the stars above.


    I sat on a log beside him. "You knew it was a test?"


    Panchu shook his head. "The same test every year ... even back in my day."


    "And you wanted us to look bad?" I crossed my arms, my right eye twitching. "Cause you don''t care about what they think."


    "Indeed¡ª"


    "Well I do!" I said, prodding the butt end of my spear into the beast''s belly. Panchu turned his enormous snout upon me, baring fangs. "And you''re going to learn that this is not just about you."


    Panchu snapped, "don''t forget I saved your life, boy!"


    "And don''t forget I can save yours too." I spun the spear and prodded it into the ground, glaring. "You know what I think?"


    "I don''t care what you think¡ª"


    "That you''re afraid!" I clenched my teeth. "You''re afraid of failure so you''d rather pretend not to care then to try." The old bears grizzly face eased and blinked several times, watching me. I had his attention. I would not allow myself to lose it. "You saw something in me. That''s why you came back."


    Panchu guffawed. "All I smelt was fear¡ª"


    "Exactly!" I said, bringing the beasts jaws closed. "You smelt the fear that lingers within you, pouring through me. You know why? Because we were meant to be bound to each other .... It is the purpose of The Great Spirit ¡­ and you felt it, as did I!"


    The bear spun onto his legs quickly. "That was not why!"


    "It is too!"


    "No it''s not!" He lunged forward and growled. "The only reason I saved you was because you reminded me of Kawah¡ª" His voice trailed and his eyes widened. And he shook his head, turning away from me.


    "Because you cared about him?" I smiled, searching his black eyes for the answer. "And you know what I think?" I pointed to the group of shamen behind me. "I think they''re wrong about you. That they''ve always been wrong about you. And you''ll continue to make them believe their right as long as you keep acting like you don''t care."


    I yanked the bear head totem from my neck and placed it on the log. "The choice is yours. Keep proving them right ¡­ or you can come prove me right. That we''re a team. That you and I are one spirit. And that we belong together. I can''t show them that my own ¡­ that we belong here ¡­ only with your help."


    The old bear lowered his snout onto his paws. I frowned, turned on my heels, and left him alone by the fire.


    The next morning I awoke to screams and hollars. I jumped up and grabbed my spear, racing towards the sound. Maybe the grim attacked us last night? Or maybe it was Dark Shamen? Or maybe, just maybe, I angered Panchu enough to go on a feeding frenzy. My stomach twisted at the thought.


    I ran around a corner finding the massacre at the camp ¡­ but it was not the one I thought it''d be. And the screams and hollers were not of horror and terror, but of joy.


    "The Great Spirit has blessed us!" Tuma grinned, grabbing my shoulder and jumping like a hare. "Look over there! Look over there!"


    Across the way, hundreds of silver, scaly fish, each one larger than the last, sat in a pile, ten feet tall. Enough to feed a tribe for a month. My eyes grew and sparkled of silver.


    "By what miracle?" The Chief grinned, looking to the sky above, then to the group of young shamen. "Your work has made The Great Spirit proud!"


    They raised their arms and screamed and hollered victoriously.


    Onwae and Mowak came holding their plate filled with fresh meat. "It''s delicious!" Onwae said.


    "Even I''m impressed." Mowak said bitterly. "Why don''t you both go get you some."


    Tuma grabbed my hand, "let''s go, Kai!"


    I pulled away. "You all go on without me ¡­ I''m sure Panchu will want to join us."


    I then ran to where he''d been the night before, slightly worried he''d gone back to where he''d come from. Though oddly, my spirit didn''t feel empty, but full of warm energy that passed through from my feet to my head. I found the firepit was only smoke and ash. And my bear-head totem, and two of the largest silvers I''d ever seen, were resting on the log.


    "''Bout time you showed up," Panchu said, positioned upright and prepared to maul. "Are you ready to eat?"


    I nodded and sat across from him, smelling the fresh, fishy flesh. My mouth tingled and my tongue salivated. "You did all of this?"


    Panchu stared at me for a long moment. "You''ve still got a lot to learn, Tribling."


    I scratched my head. "What have I missed this time?" He corked his head at me and waited. Suddenly I was hit by a thought. "We were too tired to hunt ¡­"


    "Precisely." The old bear replied. "All of you were expending all your energy hacking leaves, instead of staying ready for an attack or a hunt." He looked into my eyes and for the first time I saw light within them. "If you and I are going to be the best, then we always have to be smart, and we always have to be ready. Do you understand me?"


    "I¡ªI guess so ¡­"


    He nodded and looked over his shoulder at the thicket. "Out there, in the world of Dark Shaman and Grims, all they know is hate. And if we allow it, their hate will consume us all." He turned back towards me, brought his snout down, and then swallowed the silver in one gulp. "Now, if you don''t mind ¡­ I''ve been awake all night and would like to get some shut-eye."


    Panchu rolled onto his back and the instant he hit the dirt, he was snoring loud as a buzzard.


    I grinned and nodded. "Thank you for the lesson, old bear." Then took the totem and snapped it back onto my necklace. Pleased, I whispered, "thank you." Then too tore into my fish, leaving only the bones.

 Chapter 6

    Onwae, Mowak, and Tuma ran up on me like three wild animals on the hunt.


    "There you are, Kai!" Onwae panted. "We''ve been looking all over for you."


    Tuma nodded, wiping sweat from his face. "What are you two doing taking a nap? We need to get going!"


    Mowak shrugged. "Go. Stay. Doesn''t make any difference to me."


    I pointed a thumb over my shoulder. "The old bear is resting," I replied, over his abruptive snores. "And I''m not going to wake him."


    Tuma''s face wrinkled and his face reddened. He snapped, "And why not?"


    I smiled at my guardian, proudly. "Because he worked all night and deserves a rest."


    "Worked?" Tuma looked between us then glared at Panchu. "He rested while we did all the work ... don''t think we didn''t notice."


    Onwae found my eyes, "it was him. Panch, who delivered us all those fish, wasn''t it Kai?"


    I nodded. "Worked all night while we all rested. That''s a large task to hunt for close to fifty people."


    Mowak and Tuma''s eyes grew and sparkled. Mowak wore a crooked grin and said, "Looks like you misjudged him."


    Tuma raised a fist at her and snapped, "I didn''t misjduge him. I just ... don''t like his attitude, that''s all."


    Onwae giggled. "You know, Tuma, your temper is worse than his is."


    The boys head shook and he bit his tongue. "Remember what the wise woman said." He whispered. "Remember what the wise woman said." He closed his eyes and took a breath. "You''re right. Panchu did a good thing."


    "And because he did a good thing we should let him rest."


    Tuma grumbled, "he should be hibernating in his totem ..."


    "Enough, Tuma." I said, waving a hand. "Let him be. Panchu and I will stay behind and catch up with you all at mid mountain village."


    Tuma nodded and looked at the girls. "You heard him. Let''s get going."


    "I''m not going anywhere," Onwae said, twiddling her thumbs. "Sapphire and I will stay with Kai and Panchu."


    She gave me one of her warm smiles and I gave her one of mine. "Appreciate it."


    Mowak plopped down on a log and kicked her moccasins up on another.


    "Come on, Mowak." Tuma waved. "We have to catch up with the others.


    She stretched her arms and yawned. "I think I''ll take a little nap myself."


    Tuma''s lip quivered. "But ... we have to get going."


    Mowak crossed her arms and pressed her chin against her chest, eyelids pinched. "Why? I''d rather stay with Onwae and Kai then be with that bunch. Especially the chief''s daughter, Meeka. She''s become a real pain since becoming a shaman."


    "That settles it. We will stay and you can go ahead with the group."


    "Alone?" Tuma right lip sunk.


    "You''ve got Sqakron."


    Tuma rubbed the back of his head. "I guess I do ... but ... but we''re a party ... and a party sticks together." He plopped down next to Mowak. "So I''m staying put. beside, you need somebody with my prowess to stand guard."


    Mowak said hollowly, "oh, whatever would we do without you ..."


    Tuma raised his fist, "Shut it, you!"


    Onwae giggled and I chuckled as we sat together, leaning our backs against each other.


    "I guess we can take a nap too."


    Onwae grinned, "Mmhmm!"


    It was a loud, long roar that made me open my eyes, grab my spear, and jump to my feet. Onwae, Mowak, and Tuma rubbed the sleep from their eyes, sitting up.


    Onwae asked, "What was that?"


    Panch guffawed, "finally you triblings have awoken. For a moment I thought you were all hibernating."


    I looked to the old bear and yawned into a grin. "You''re awake."


    "Good thing too." He said, looking around the forest. "Don''t you triblings know a thing about survival? There always needs to be somebody on the lookout."


    We all glared at Tuma. He shrugged. "What?"


    "I thought you said you were going to stand guard ..."


    He yawned and brushed the dirt from his robe. "We''ll everybody else was sleeping ... Seemed like it was the thing to do."


    "Silly, boy." Panchu shook his head then looked up at me. "You should never leave that one in charge of our lives."


    Tuma crossed his arms and scowled. "What do you know ..."


    Panchu turned his snout downward. "I know that while we were sleeping, something came into this camp."


    We all followed his gaze. Several tracks were around us. All with five oval pad prints, five claw prints, and one larger, oddly shaped pad print. I knelt down and touched the dirt.


    "Still warm ¡­"


    "They were here recently, alright." Panchu said, bringing his snout upward and drawing in a long breath. "I can still smell them."


    "What is that?" Tuma narrowed his eyes. "Wolf or cougar prints?"


    Mowak rolled her eyes, "have you ever tracked anything other than your next meal?" Tuma raised an eyebrow. "Whatever beast made these prints has five toes. No common wolf or cougar can make that track. They all have four toes. This was obviously made by a guardian or a grim."


    "And by the smell of it, it was a sly as a fox." Panchu grumbled. He drew his eyes eastward. "I sense something else ¡­ Come on ¡­ we must make haste."


    We gathered are things, then found the trail that led to Mid Mountain. It didn''t take us long to catch the ashy scent in the air, one that Panch smelt long before we had.


    Onwae pointed to the great orange and red light that flickered in the tree. "There," she pointed. "Over there! I see it!"


    "Fire." I said, clutching my spear harder. I moved my legs quicker. "Come on!"


    The four of us sprinted down the windy trail, leaping over logs, and dodging around trees and under limbs. We slid in the dirt, feeling the heat of the wild flames.


    I raised my arm to shield my face. "We''re cut off ..." I looked around the passage of the cave. "The fire has completely engulfed the entrance."


    Panchu looked around then brought his snout down towards the dirt where pebbled, red stones rested in a pile. "Here."


    I knelt down and scooped them up, bringing them to my nostrils. I smelt the foul, ashy scent coming off them. "Fire runes ..."


    Tuma''s jaw dropped. "You mean somebody started the fire?"


    "Probably Meeka if I had a guess." Mowak replied. "She doesn''t seem very fond of Kai and Panchu."


    "Really?" The old bear asked with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "I thought she was warming up to me."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "No." I shook my head. "You''ve just gotten too close to that fire, that''s all."


    Onwae rubbed her chin. "Doesn''t Meeka have a three-tailed fox as her guardian?"


    Mowak nodded. "She does ..."


    "Why would she do such thing? We were all friends not too long ago."


    Tuma squeezed a fist until his hand turned red. "I''ll get her! Wait until she see mine and Sqakrons wrath!"


    Suddenly a purple orb shot from Tuma''s neck and hit the ground, forming into scales, wings, feathers, and a beak. The creature screeched. Gobble. Gobble. "Did you call, master?"


    We all blinked at the dragon rooster several times.


    Tuma''s cheeks twitched. "What are you doing out? I didn''t call upon you!"


    The cocktrice fidgeted right then left, corking his head sideways to gaze upon Tuma with his left eye. "No call?"


    Tuma shook. "No!"


    "Intolerable." Gobble. Gobble. "Intolerable."


    We all chuckled. Tuma''s face reddened, looking to erupt. He yanked the rooster-head totem from his neck. "Retreat!"


    The Cocktrice nodded. "Sure thing, master. But first ..." Gobble. Gobble. "Do you got any seed?"


    Tuma raised his hand and dropped them. "unbelievable ... I said retreat!"


    Sqakron screeched. "I can''t sleep on an empty stomach!"


    "I don''t have time for this!"


    "Just give him some seed, Tuma." Onwae said, kneeling down and scratching below the creatures beak. She smiled when he cooed. "If it helps, you should give it to him."


    Tuma shook his head. "I''m his master ... he needs to listen to me!"


    I rubbed my forehead. "Tuma, just give the bird the seed ... we have bigger problems to deal with, like putting out this fire."


    "Fine." He swore, burying his hand in his robe, then littered the ground with tiny yellow seeds. "Are you happy?"


    Panchu shook his snout. "No."


    "I wasn''t talking to you, abandoner ..."


    Panchu glared at Tuma then turned his eyes on me. "What I meant was, no, we can''t put out this fire ... It''s a rune fire ..."


    Tuma shrugged, "so ..."


    Onwae nodded. "Rune fires burn much hotter and longer than natural fires ..."


    "Meaning?"


    Mowak sighed. "Meaning you need a water rune to put it out ... and last I checked, none of us are carrying any water runes, nor know how to use them to enchant our guardians."


    Tuma fell to his knee, lip trembling. "You mean to tell me we are stuck here?"


    Sqakron pecked the ground a few more times, then scurried over to the boy, coiling himself up on his lap. He looked upward. "You ok, master?"


    "Do I look ok?" Tuma snapped. The cocks eyes corked, one up, one down. "I''m sorry ... I''m not mad at you." Tuma pat the creature''s head.


    Panchu''s voice boomed. "Stop giving up so easily. Kai, I told you I know a quicker way to Spirit Ridge. We just need to go down and through the mountain."


    Onwae''s bit her lip. "Down and through mount Korba? We can''t!"


    I raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"


    "My father mined runes from these mountains ... but it did not come without it''s hardships."


    "What kind of hardships?"


    "The kind with fangs and claws." Onwae lowered her eyes, fiddling her thumbs nervously. "There''s an angry spirit that lives within the mountain who''ll kill any and all who enter the lower passages."


    Panchu nodded. "Yes. But if you know how to navigate them without disruption, it¡¯ll save a full day.¡±


    ¡°And how do you know?¡± Tuma asked, looking to him suspiciously. Sqakron gave the old bear the same look. ¡°Is that where you go to hibernate?¡±


    Panchu guffawed, rising his lips to reveal his fangs. ¡°Kawah and I roamed these caves in search for the spirit that resides there ¡­ but we never could find him.¡±


    I asked, ¡°how come?¡±


    The old bear shrugged and said, ¡°we couldn¡¯t figure out how to bait him out ¡­ we tried meat, and to drive him out with smoke and noise, but nothing seemed to bother him.¡±


    Onwae pondered. ¡°I wonder why it¡¯d attack the miners?¡±


    Mohawk leaned against a tree. ¡°Maybe it didn¡¯t like the sound of the pickaxe¡¯s driving into the stone.¡±


    ¡°Could be.¡±


    Tuma crossed his legs. ¡°I¡¯m not going in there ¡­ sounds too dangerous.¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± I shook my head. ¡°You¡¯re going to wait here until the rune fire dies down? That could be a week ¡­ and I¡¯m not waiting here with you.¡±


    Onwae replied. ¡°Me neither.¡±


    Tuma glanced over at Mowak as she spat. ¡°All of you are going in there?¡±


    Mowak grinned, and rubbed her head. ¡°Why not? If the creature does come out, we could capture it.¡± She snickered. ¡°Something as fierce as that would make a great addition to my team.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it would,¡± Tuma grumbled. ¡°You¡¯d like anything that brings fear to others.¡± He sighed, then held out his totem. ¡°Sqakron, retreat!¡±


    ¡°Yes, master!¡± The creature shrieked, glowing vibrant purple. And in a blur, drew back into the totem. Tuma snapped the totem to the leather around his neck. ¡°I¡¯m ready, I guess.¡±


    We found our way back a mile to where the original trail spilt. The second path was hidden by overgrowth. Fortunately, Panchu could see even being blind as a bat. Together we ascended down the hillside, through switch back after switch back, until we reached the lowest part of the forest. There waiting was the black mouth of the cave. The wind howling through it, making a sound that reminded me of some feral beast.


    ¡°We have to go in there?¡± Tuma asked, trying to stand tall. He raised his fist. ¡°Well, whatever is in there is going to have to take on my guardian and I. So it best stay hidden!¡±


    ¡°Careful, now.¡± Mowak snickered. ¡°The spirit might have a liking for chicken.¡±


    Tuma¡¯s face reddened and he spat, ¡°He¡¯s not a chicken ¡­ he''s cockatrice!¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say ¡­¡±


    Onwae narrowed her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t see a thing ¡­ Oh, I know!¡± She pulled the butterfly totem from her neck. ¡°Sapphire, awaken!¡± A bright blue light burst from the totem. The butterfly formed and glided in a circle, flapping softly only a few feet away from her tamer. Onwae grinned. ¡°Please, be our light, while Panchu is our guide.¡±


    ¡°Bright idea,¡± I winked.


    Onwae batted her eyes while her cheeks grew red as roses. ¡°I thought you¡¯d like that.¡±


    We ascended into the mouth. An icy draft brushed against our skin and we shivered. Panchu shook unphased. The further we sank into the stoney abyss, the darker, and tighter the cave became. Narrowing around us. The air thickened with each breath.


    ¡°How long does it take to cross?¡± Tuma asked, staying within Sapphire¡¯s light. It seemed to bring him less fear. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid or anything ¡­ just want to know for the sake of the girls.¡±


    Onwae raised her hand and giggled.


    Mowak rolled her eyes, ¡°I feel safer already ¡­¡±


    I tried to keep from chuckling but it slipped and I didn¡¯t fight it. Even the old bear guffawed once or twice. We came to a halt at a three-way fork in the cave. Panchu raised his snout and took three drawn breaths. He turned right then left.


    ¡°This way ¡­¡±


    Tuma raised his nose and sniffed. ¡°Are you certain? I don¡¯t smell anything.¡±


    ¡°You best hope so,¡± Panchu grumbled, ¡°because your stink might be throwing my senses off. And if that were to happen, I may lead us to the creature''s lair.¡±


    Tuma brought his nose to his chest. ¡°I washed this morning.¡±


    Mowak snickered, eyeing him coldly. ¡°Seems shades stink is still lingering. But I think it helps your body odor reek.¡±


    ¡°Body odor!¡±


    He lunged and I grabbed him by the chest, wrapping my arms tightly. He flailed his arms and legs. ¡°Let me at her! Let me at her!¡±


    ¡°Calm,¡± I gasped, ¡°down.¡±


    Mowak placed a hand on her hip and waved the other. ¡°Let him come.¡±


    ¡°Let me go! I can take her!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own protection!¡±


    Tuma eased and his weight became less burdeness. He stood up and looked into my eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t think I can take her?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I know you can¡¯t. Remember what happened last time? She threw you on the ground in less than a second.¡±


    His face twisted. ¡°That was a long time ago!¡±


    Onwae giggled. ¡°That was just last month."


    ¡°And I¡¯ve improved since then.¡±


    Sapphire brought her eyes upon him. ¡°Would you like me to put him to sleep, Lady Onwae? It may make it easier to just carry him the whole way.¡±


    ¡°Nobody is carrying me!¡±


    ¡°I second that,¡± Panchu grinned. ¡°We can put him on my quill.¡±


    ¡°Keep talking, you, and Sqakron and I''ll make a rug out of you¡ª¡±


    Buh-cock! The dragon rooster formed. ¡°Did you call, master?¡±


    Tuma smacked his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re only supposed to come out when I say awaken, you dumb bird!¡± He clenched his hands into fists and shook. ¡°Retreat!¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say, master.¡± The rooster nodded. ¡°But first ¡­ you got any seed?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Tuma buried his hand into his pocket. He frowned. ¡°I¡¯m all out ¡­¡±


    ¡°Intolerable.¡± Gobble. Gobble. ¡°Intolerable.¡± The creature''s head pivoted from side to side, watching his hand. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without some seed.¡±


    ¡°I just gave you some before we got in here!¡±


    ¡°But I need some every time before I rest.¡± Gobble. Gobble. Buh-cock! ¡°It¡¯s the only way I can sleep.¡±


    Sapphire glided over. ¡°I can put him to sleep.¡±


    Panchu nodded, ¡°that¡¯d be real helpful, Lady beautifly.¡±


    Onwae raised her hand, ¡°Wait!¡±


    Tiny blue sparkling dust cropped over Sqakron. He blinked twice, his eyes spun then stopped. The cocktrice dropped like a sack of potatoes.


    Tuma fell to his knees. ¡°You¡¯ve killed him! That winged pest killed him!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not dead.¡± Onwae promised. ¡°He¡¯s only sleeping.¡±


    Panchu said, ¡°now only if we can make the boy sleep.¡±


    Sapphire spun in the air. ¡°I can arrange that.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± I raised my spear then tapped it three times. Their eyes all fell upon me. ¡°No more of this nonsense ¡­ we need to get out of this cave and if we¡¯re going to do it we need to do it together ¡ª¡±


    Sunlight passed through an opening in the roof, drawing to the back of the cave wall. A golden-orange orb slowly raised from the darkness. Bright as the morning sun, casting light at them all.


    They threw up their arms.


    "What is that?" Tuma stuttered. "Is that the evil spirit?"


    "No" Onwae said, shaking her head. "That looks to be a spirit orb. Maybe one of the tribe miners who was killed by the creature. It must be stuck in here and can''t return to the life force."


    Sqakron''s head shifted from side-to-side as he fought his eyes open. Both blinked wildly and out of sync. He turned his beak towards the glowing orb, tilted his head, then raised his beak into the air.


    Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!


    Mowak pressed her hands to her ears. "Why''s he''s doing that?"


    Tuma shrugged, "I don''t know ¡­"


    I pointed at the orb, "he thinks it''s the rising sun!"


    Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!


    "Quiet you dumb rooster!" Tuma said, smacking him on the head. Sqakron shook his head and continued his morning call. Tuma''s face reddened. "Retreat! I said retreat¡ª"


    From deep within the cave came a mighty, shrieking roar that rattled the walls and the ground.


    Shade pointed her head down the right path and sniffed the air. "Whatever you''ve awoken stinks ¡­"


    "You''re one to talk," Tuma gumbled, pinching Sqakrons beak closed.


    Sapphire glided over. "I can put him back to sleep!"


    "It''s coming," I whispered, "we''ve awoken the cave spirit."


    Panchu glanced up at the orb then looked at Onwae. "You said the miners were attacked here by the creature when they were mining?"


    "Mmhmm." Onwae nodded. "Why?"


    "Do you remember if they brought roosters with them?"


    She rubbed chin and looked upon Sqakron. The creature kicked and pulled, trying to break free from Tuma''s grip. "Settle down!" He screamed.


    Onwae eyes brightened. "They did ¡­ they brought roosters to wake them up in the morning before the sun rose."


    "That''s it!" Panch looked upon us all. "When we came here we could never bait out the creature ¡­ but it''s the roosters call that awakens him from his slumber ¡­ the roosters call is the bait."


    Tuma''s lips sunk, "but he''s not a rooster ¡­ he''s a cocktrice¡ª"


    Swakron yanked free, Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo¡ª


    Tuma snatched his beak shut.


    A second roar shook the cave sending dirt and pebbles trickling down the wall.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    And then the ground rumbled as our bones rattled. The fear within growing on each boom!

 Chapter 7

    I shouted, "Run!"


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Tuma gulped, squeezing Sqakron in his arms. "It''s gaining on us!"


    Panchu snarled, "it can smell us ¡­ and knows these caves very well." He stopped at a second fork and turned his snout right. "This way, Triblings. Stay close to the wall. There is a cliff on the left side." He glanced up at the enormous butterfly. "Make sure you brighten their path."


    Sapphire nodded and swooped out in front of us, her wings fluttering bluish-green, causing the cave to illuminate.


    Onwae looked over her shoulder and eyed the golden-orange orb that tailed her. "Hello, there!" She smiled warmly, reaching out a hand. "Have you come along too?"


    I stayed at the rear and waved a hand for them to carry forward. "Watch your step."


    "Falling to your death is not that bad a way to go," Mowak snickered.


    Tuma''s eyelids peeled open. "You mean go out there?" He whispered, looking upon a crevice that fell into a black abyss. "But I''m afraid of heights ¡­" I swung my spear and smacked his arm. He shrieked and rubbed. "What was that for?"


    "For whining all the time. Now would you rather this or to be ripped to bits?" I asked. Tuma stood and pondered longer than I liked. I smacked him again.


    "Alright!" He waved his hands. "I''m going ¡­ I''m going¡ª"


    Rocks the size of boulders plummeted from the roof as a roar echoed throughout the chambers.


    It''s getting closer, I thought, gazing behind my shoulder. I glared at Tuma. "You best hurry or you won''t get a choice!"


    The orb pulsed orange and gold behind Onwae. She giggled. "You''re cute! What''s your name, little guy?"


    Mowak grimaced and said hollowly. "How do you know it''s a boy?"


    "I can sense these things." Onwae lips curled. "I think he''s scared and lost ¡­ maybe we can help him get out!"


    "It''s just a stupid orb!" Tuma yelled, gripping against the wall.


    Sqakron turned his head gazed at Tuma with his large, right eye. "You alright, master?"


    Tuma snapped, "Fine ¡­"


    "Got any seed¡ª"


    "No, I don''t got any seed!" He grabbed the creature by the throat and shook. "I''m going to kill this thing!"


    Roar!


    The cave shook as boulders fell like meteors. Tuma stepped away from the wall and looked up. His mouth hung, eyes wide, watching a massive stone drop, targeting him.


    "Look out!"


    I crouched and lunged forward, my momentum carried me into the boy. We collided and groaned as we flew over the edge. Plummeting, the wind screamed in our ears. The darkness all around us as we were swallowed into the abyss.


    Tuma screamed and Sqakron shrieked. Their voices drowned as we hit a pool at the bottom. I sunk and spun like the boulders splashing and sinking around me. Their weight caused the water to whirl. When I found myself upright, I kicked, pulling my arms downward until I broke the surface, gasping for air.


    Tuma snorted and gasped, screaming and flopping. Sqakron resting on his head, shivering.


    Golden-orange orbs sat suspended in the air. Hundreds of them. Lighting the enormous chamber around us. Water trickled down stone into the black pool. And the smell of a thick, rotten air filled our nostrils.


    We paddled towards the edge.


    "They''re everywhere!"


    Sqakron twitched his head right and gazed upon an orb. Cock-a-doodle-doo! He then looked left and screeched at another. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Then behind him. Cock-a-doodle-doo¡ª


    Tuma yanked the creature and shoved him underwater. Then pulled him back out, shook, then glared. His face red as fire. "We''re already awake!"


    "My apologies, master¡ª"


    Tume reeled back his arm and threw it forward. Sqakron twitled into the air and splashed as he darted under, quickly resurfacing. The dragon rooster slithered through the water.


    "Intolerable!" Gobble. Gobble. "This is intolerable!"


    We reached the stoned bank and pulled ourselves up out of the water, rolling onto our backs, gasping. I narrowed my eyes, blinded by the many glowing orbs.


    "They must be trapped here," I said. "Just like the one following Onwae."


    Tuma sat up and shook. "Who cares about those darn things! You nearly killed me!"


    I shot up, grabbed him by his robe, and shook. "If it weren''t for me you would''ve been crushed!"


    He yanked away, "so instead you''d rather us plummet to our deaths? We were lucky there was a pool down here."


    Sqakron shook until his feathers were dry. He turned his head and blinked several times. "Um ¡­ master?"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I stood to my feet and squeezed my fists, "you ungrate toad! I wish you''d never came with us!"


    Tuma climbed to his feet and stuck out his chest. "I wish I had too! Seems like ever since you bound to Panchu you''ve made only stupid decisions!"


    "Master?" Gobble. Gobble. "I''d hate to interrupt but¡ª"


    "I''ve made poor decisions? Look at you? You can''t even get your dumb bird to shut up!"


    "He''s not dumb and he''s not a bird!" Tuma shrieked. "He''s a cocktrice¡ª"


    "Mmmmaaasssttteerrrr!"


    Tuma and I turned towards the dragon rooster and yelled, "what!"


    Sqakron snapped back, blinked wildly, then raised a talon. "What are those?"


    Tuma sighed, "What are what?"


    I looked away from the creature towards the direction he pointed. My eyelids stretched. Throat tightening, gazing upon the piles of yellowish-white bones and skulls. Some of beasts. Most of tribe folk.


    "What did we fall into ¡­"


    Tuma turned around and followed my gaze. After he took in the sight he yelped, "we''re in the monsters lair ¡­"


    From above, a bluish-green light faded into view, expanding larger and larger until four wings, a skinny, oval body, and two antennas came into view.


    I waved a hand, "Sapphire! Over here!"


    The guardian dove through the bright orbs. Each one clearing a path for her. She glided over to me, gently flapping her wings. "Kai! Tuma! Sqakron! You''re alive!"


    Tuma grinned and shot up his arms. "We''re saved!" Sqakron raised his front talon, mirroring his master.


    "Sapphire, I need you to fly back up and tell the others we''re alright," I said. "Tell them that we''ll need to find our own way out."


    Tuma shook his head, "why can''t she just fly us back up there?"


    "We''re much too heavy." I insisted. "She can''t carry us all."


    "One at a time!"


    Gobble. Gobble. "I call first!"


    "Shut your beak!" Tuma kicked at the creature. "You''re lucky I don''t turn you into Cockatrice soup!"


    I sighed. "We''d still be too heavy." Then turned towards sapphire. "Please, let them know we''ll find our own way out. That they must all stick together."


    Sapphire spun and said, "Will do!" She looked at me with her black, round eyes. "Kai. You can use your totem to call upon Panchu. He can find his way to you through his spirit form."


    I raised my eyebrows. "How does it work?"


    "When a guardian is called to return they can go into their spirit form ¡­ and in that form they can see which direction their spirit tribling is in. Then they can float through trees, walls, and even cave boulders to return their spirits back to their masters."


    Tuma chuckled. "He''d never do that. Panchu is one stubborn bear."


    "Thank you!" I said, nodding. "Take care, Sapphire ¡­ we''ll see you soon!"


    "Be safe, young warriors!" She said then looked at Sqakron. "Would you like me to put him to sleep?"


    I shook my head. "No. We may need him ..."


    Buh-cock! The creature shrieked. "Need who? Me? Of course you do!"


    Sapphire glared at the Cockatrice, whirled around, and faded off towards where she''d come. Once she was long gone, I turned towards Tuma. "We need to find a way out?"


    He looked between the piles of bones, "where do we start?"


    "If this is the creature''s lair then there must be a way it can get out." I said, squinting to see beyond the piles. "It has to be somewhere around here¡ª"


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Tuma''s lip trembled as he pointed upward. "W-what if there''s no way out ¡­ what if it climbs?" His eyes were filled with terror.


    I twisted around and looked beyond the orbs. Out to where the light met the darkness, clinging to the wall, was a silhouette that moved between the threshold of darkness and light. It hissed and screeched as it descended downward, clinging to the wall with four legs. A long spear-tipped tail whipping behind it.


    I glanced at Tuma, "hide!" He picked up the Cockatrice and pinched his beak, and together the three of us tiptoed between the pile of bones, keeping to the shadow of the mounds. "In here," I said, pointing to a tunnel between the bones, made from the ribs of a large beast.


    The orbs light casted upon the creature as it drew further and further down into the chamber. Greenish-orange scales covered his horned head and horned tail while a giant shell sat on his back.


    At first, I couldn''t make out his eyes, but soon I found myself drawn to them; black slit irises between golden and brown circular patterns.


    "Can you identify it?" I asked Tuma who was surprisingly knowledgeable when it came to lizards. "What do you make of it?"


    He squinted and trembled beside me. "It looks like it''s a cross between a snapping turtle and a croc," he whispered and threw up a digit. "See the beak and the shell ¡­ that''s part tortoise ¡­ the tail, head, and eyes are part croc."


    I nodded and swallowed. "That''s a good assessment. But I''ve never heard of croc in our territory. Nor have I seen that or a tortoise climb a rock wall."


    Tuma''s voice trembled. "It''s feet look like it could be part salamander ¡­"


    I nodded.


    The creature''s breath grew heavier the closer it got to the ground. Long, growling breaths that echoed throughout the chamber. The piles of bones rattling. Boom! Boom! Boom! Rattle! Rattle! Rattle! It hissed and screeched, drawing closer and closer.


    "We''re going to die!" Tuma wrapped his arms tightly around the dragon rooster. "It''s going to rip through us then swallow us whole."


    "It''s not a giant snake," I whispered. "You sure it would do that?"


    He shook his head quickly. "You ever seen a turtle with teeth? It''ll use that beak or it''s tail to knock us unconscious, then send us down it'' throat, to be cooked in itss belly acids."


    "At least we''ll be unconscious," I gave a crooked grin. "We wouldn''t feel it if that were the case."


    "Just depends on how it wants to consume us. It may just break our bones so we can''t get away."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The creature climbed from the wall, hissing.


    Each step taken drawing closer and closer to where we hid. The bone piles rattled and down the mountains.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Sqakron pulled his beak from Tuma''s hand. "Master!"


    "Shhh!" Tuma and I placed a finger to our lips.


    "But I think," Gobble. Gobble. "There''s something out there ..."


    "What gave you that impression?" Tuma snapped. "You''re even dumber than I thought you were."


    "Not the monster, master." The cocktrice shook his head. "But something else. Something that smells like you."


    Tuma and I exchanged twisted expressions.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The creature stopped behind our mound of bones. It was silent for a time, and I felt myself trembling. I tried to stay still and keep quiet. Suddenly a loud, harsh hack came from the beast. And a smell of hot, acidic stink burnt my nostrils.


    "Gross ... did it just vomit?" Tuma choked, trying to keep from hacking himself. He grabbed his nose and held his breath.


    There came two more coughs and hacks, one oddly human and the other from a beast. "Disgusting creatures!" Came a low, haunting hiss. "You taste dreadful."


    A hollow voice replied, "Well your insides were a disgusting place to be ..."


    Tuma scratched his head, "I know that voice ..."


    "It''s Mowak!" I said, trying to peer through the bones. "Keep quiet!"


    "I can''t eat you," the creature hissed, "But I have other plans for the two of you. Just stay put while I finish off the others."


    "You best hurry, or they may already have escaped ..."


    "For your sake, you best hope not." The creature hissed and shrieked.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    It halted. Tuma, Skaqron, and I froze. Three breaths were taken by the creature. His enormous head on the other side of the ribs cage we hid beneath.


    "Do you smell something?" He hissed. "Something ... living?"


    Mowak replied, "all I can smell is the stink of your insides all over my robe."


    Through the bones I could see the silhouette of the beast''s head. Larger than any boulder, and as big as the piles of bone. The creature took three more breaths, drawing his beak closer to our hideout. My hairs stood, and my heart pounded, the fear growing in me like a fungus.


    "Times running out," Mowak said. "Best you hurry."


    "I think you''re right." The creature''s head pivoted and there came a woosh.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    And without another word it was off scaling the walls. The sound of it''s footsteps fading, and echoing throughout the chamber until it was lost to the trickling and of water in the pool.

 Chapter 8

    "Good thing he''s gone," Mowak said.


    Shade replied sadly, "I stink ..."


    "Look there ... It''s a pool. We can wash ourselves in there."


    I looked at Tuma then waved a hand. We crawled from the bones, stood up and brushed off the white dust on our robes. Cleaned, we came around the piles until we spotted the young girl and her guardian.


    "Mowak!"


    She turned from the pool holding a stone blade. "Kai? Tuma?"


    Gobble. Gobble. "And Sqakron." The cockatrice said. "Don''t forget about me."


    "We could never forget about you," Shade smiled.


    Mowak splashed herself, "I''ll say ¡­ we all thought you were dead."


    "We were fortunate to have fallen in the pool. Looks like you''ve met a similar fate."


    Mowak sighed. "That creature came from below the cliff. Shade and I were peering over, trying to see if we could locate you in the abyss when we were yanked like flies into a toad''s mouth. Next we knew, we were in the creature''s belly. Thankfully shade spray caused the creature to puke us back up."


    "Smart thinking." I said, my lips curling. "But we have other problems."


    "Like what?"


    Tuma held his nose. "Your smell ..."


    I slapped his chest. "This is not the time for joking."


    "Who said I was joking?"


    Sqakron walked over to shade and gave her a whiff. "Woah! You both need a bath!"


    Shade turned her rear towards the creature. "I''ll give you something that''ll make your eyes drain."


    "Cut it out, Shade." Mowak said, smugly. "And Tuma, get that bird under control!"


    "He''s not a bird ... He''s a cockatrice!"


    Mowak looked upon me, "What were you saying?"


    "I said we got bigger problems." I clenched my teeth. "There''s no way out except up. And all the walls are too steep and slick to climb and¡ª"


    Gobble. Gobble. "Well if you can''t go up, then we must go down."


    "Shut your beak!" Tuma swung at the guardian, but the creature was quick, ducking and dodging each swipe. "Get over here!"


    "I can kill it for you," Mowak said, "all you have to do is ask."


    "Nobody hurts my guardian," Tuma gasped, "except me!"


    "Wait." I looked at the Cockatrice. "What did you say?"


    Sqakron scurried to the top of a pile of bones. "I said if we can''t go up, we must go down."


    "Down?" I rubbed my chin and looked upon the cave. Nothing. I then gazed upon the pool. "We must go ¡­ down!"


    Tuma began scaling the pile of bones, slipping and sliding with each step. Sqakron pounced on his head, rolled, then scurried behind my leg.


    "I''ll get you, you dumb bird!"


    Puh-cock! "Be kind, master!"


    Tuma ran up to me. "Step asided, Kai ... I need to teach this bird some manners."


    "Intolerable." Gobble. Gobble. "Intolerable."


    I kneeled and looked the creature in the eyes. "Did you see something underwater?"


    Sqakron turned his head, keeping an eye on Tuma and an eye on me. He nodded. Gobble. Gobble. "When master was playing, and dunked me underwater, I saw a passageway."


    "I wasn''t playing!" Tuma''s face reddened. "I was trying to drown you!"


    Mowak smirked. "Seems your pet is smarter than I gave him credit."


    ¡°He is?¡± Tuma scratched his head. ¡°I mean, of course he is. We¡¯re no dummies!¡±


    ¡°Can you show us the way?¡± I asked, patting Sqakron¡¯s head. ¡°Will you be our guide?¡±


    Sqakron turned his head and blinked his right eye rapidly. ¡°For a price, yes. How much seed you got?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you some seed.¡± Tuma squeezed his hand into a fist. ¡°A seed with four knuckles!¡±


    I ignored the boy and said. ¡°You¡¯ll get your own bag if we get out of here alive.¡±


    ¡°Own bag?¡± He shifted left then right and gazed at me for a long moment. ¡°I don¡¯t see no bag ¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have it here. We¡¯ll get it to you as soon as we¡¯re out of the cave.¡±


    Puh-cock! ¡°Intolerable!¡± Gobble. Gobble. ¡°Intolerable!¡±


    Tuma kicked. ¡°Intolerable is having you as a guardian! Now I command you to show us!¡±


    I gave the cockatrice my most sincere look. ¡°I give you my word, you''ll get your seed.¡±


    He blinked quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, but you best be telling the truth.¡±


    I stood and looked upon the others. ¡°You heard him all. Get ready. We¡¯re going to take a swim.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Mowak snickered. ¡°You¡¯ll have to go on without me.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Tuma snapped. ¡°You don¡¯t like to bathe.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she shifted uncomfortably and leaned a hand on her hip. ¡°I don¡¯t do water.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ''you don¡¯t do water?'' We just went fishing the other day!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t do deep water ¡­¡±


    Tuma raised an eyebrow, ¡°What are you scared?¡±


    ¡°Leave her alone,¡± Shade pounced forward and bared her tiny fangs. ¡°Or I¡¯ll leave a mark that¡¯ll stay with you for life.¡±


    ¡°Ooooo, I¡¯m shaking in my moccasins.¡±


    Shade snapped, ¡°you shouldn¡¯t make fun of those who can¡¯t swim!¡±


    Mowak¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°shade! You were supposed to keep that secret.¡±


    The Skugar lowered her head, ¡°my apologies ¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t swim?¡± Tuma spat, snorting and chuckling. ¡°How pathetic!¡±


    ¡°Keeping grinning,¡± Mowak raised her fist, ¡°and you won¡¯t have any teeth.¡±


    ¡°I can silence him in one squirt ¡­ All you have to do is say so,¡± Shade growled.


    I shoved past Tuma and knocked him to the ground. The boy swore, then walked over to Mowak and took her hand. She tried to pull but I kept tight.


    "Take my hand and I''ll guide you."


    Mowak''s lips sank. "I can''t, Kai. You don''t understand."


    "I thought you weren''t afraid of anything," Tuma said.


    "And I thought you were afraid of everything," Mowak snapped. "Truthfully, we all have fears we try and hide¡ª"


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    We all turned our chins over our shoulders, looking up the slick wall.


    Tuma''s lip trembled, "he''s coming back ..."


    I rubbed her hand gently. "Mowak, I''m not going unless you''re coming."


    Tuma stepped into the water, "Well I''m not staying. Sqakron, come with me!"


    "Coward." Shade snapped.


    The cockatrice''s head whipped right and left, his eye gazing upon Tuma. "I ain''t going unless you got some seed ..."


    Tuma''s face reddened. "You staying put will only get you killed!"


    I squeezed Mowak''s hand gently, "you can do this. I believe in you."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Tuma raised a finger, his hand trembling. "I see it!"


    Mawak tried to turn but I pulled her, keeping her eyes focused on me. "You''re stronger than you know."


    "You are," Shade nodded. "Face your fear, it''ll make you stronger."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Buh-cock! "You can pay me in seed later!" Sqakron said to Tuma. He scurried to the bank edge until his talons vanished. Like a snake, he slithered out into the water.


    Mowak looked at me, turned to Tuma, then to me again. She shook her head, "I can''t let him have all the fun."


    She waded out into the water. Shade leaped and followed in after her. I got my feet wet last. Boom! Boom! Boom! The creature was nearly half down the wall.


    We gathered at the midpoint of the pool. "You may want to take a deep breath," Sqakron said, Gobble. Gobble. "It''s a long way down before we go back up."


    Everyone nodded, and with that drew a deep breath, and slipped below the surface. I kept tight on Mowak''s hand as we sank deeper and deeper into the abyss. The pressure pushed on our bodies and skulls, enough to make them feel like we were going to explode.


    Once we were fifteen feet deep, the air in my lungs was waning, and a sharp pain filled my chest. We stroked harder and harder, driving deeper and deeper into the pool. When we hit twenty feet, we arched under a stone wall and began rising upward. Sqakron slithered ahead, gazing back every so often to make sure we were close behind.


    Mowak''s eyes widened. She began to pull and yank, fighting me with all she had. I kept a firm hold, racing towards the surface, trying to get there before the blackness in my head took over.


    At once, we all broke the surface, gasping and taking long, drawn breaths. "We made it!" Shade said, paddling like a cat to the stoney edge.


    "That was exciting!" Sqakron said. "We should do that again!"


    "No, you dumb pet!" Tuma smacked the water with a fist. "This is not the time to be playing in the pools!"


    Mowak and I paddled to the edge of the water and pulled ourselves onto the stony bank. We gasped for air, and when we caught our breath, we chuckled.


    "The creature will notice you''re gone," I said, "We best start looking for another way out."


    Tuma let out a high shriek. "This was a terrible idea!"


    I turned towards the boy and followed his gaze. In the corner, engraved into the wall, were enormous yellowed bones. Outlining a beaked faced, shell backed, massive, spear-tailed beast.


    "What is that?" Mowak raised an eyebrow. "Is that a fossil?"


    "Precisely what it is," Shade nodded, gazing upon it in wonder. "This must''ve been where the creature fell and how it became trapped here."


    "You mean to tell me that the creature out there is connected to the fossils in here?" Tuma asked, lips trembling. "This is bad ..."


    Shade walked up and gazed upon it, "This creature is a fossil spirit." We all raised our ears. "Alive when the world was filled with prehisotric beasts ... carnivores and herbivores ... all trying to survive before the great fall."


    Mowak crossed her arms. "What makes the fossil spirits any different than a beast spirit or grim spirit, or even a guardian?"


    Shade looked between our faces, "they''re trapped to where their bones rest ... meaning if we get far enough from his bones, he won''t be able to follow."


    Tuma raised his arms and dropped them. "And I take it the closer we are to his bones the worst off we are?"


    I looked around, "we need to find a way out."


    Everybody nodded, running towards the wall, searching for any signs of an opening. "Here!" Sqakron pointed to a tiny crack in the wall. "Through here."


    Tuma squeezed his hand until it grew pale. "Does it look like we can squeeze through there?"


    I squinted at the pile of stones, seeing the light slipping through. "Looks like this used to be a cave."


    Tuma nodded. "That doesn''t help much."


    I rubbed my chin, "Onwae said that there were workers down here searching for runes. What if in their search they found the creature''s lair? And when it started killing people, they tried to seal it back up?"


    Mowak slid her hands down her braid. "But they weren''t able to conceal it because it was already awoken."


    I nodded.


    Tuma shrugged, "Great tale, but it''ll take hours to get through this ... and we don''t have the time for that."


    "No. We don''t." I shook my head. "But if we had enough strength we could tear through these stones quickly."


    "And where are we going to get that, genius?"


    "Panchu," I whispered.


    Tuma chuckled nervously. "Ya, well, Panchu is nowhere to be found. If you hadn''t forgotten, he, Onwae, and Sapphire are likely lost or have already been eaten."


    Shade said from the bank, "the pool ... it''s stirring."


    I glanced to an orb in the corner of the room, glowing vibrant orange. "There''s nowhere to hide ..."


    Mowak said, "I noticed something when the creature attacked me ... It''s eyes ... they are a bluish-white."


    "Wow," Tuma said. "Great observation."


    She furrowed her eyebrows and said hollowly. "If we stay in the orbs light it may not be able to see us!"


    "Right." I pointed. "Everybody to the corner of the room."


    We all ran and got against the wall, glowing as orange as the orbs above us. "This is a terrible idea." Tuma shook his head. "Lizards don''t just use their eyes you know ... they can smell too¡ª" he beamed with light, and looked upon shade, grimacing. In a second, he stood, outstretching his arms and legs, closing his eyes, and tilting his chin downward. "Spray me."


    Shade corked her head. "As much as I''d like to, I don''t think this is the time for that."


    "You stupid skunk!" Tuma spat. "If you spray us it won''t smell our flesh and blood!"


    Mowak glanced at Tuma, her lips twisted. ¡°He¡¯s right, Shade. Even in the light it¡¯ll smell us ¡­ you¡¯re going to have to spray us ¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Sqakron said, running towards the crack in the wall. He slithered in-between them. ¡°I¡¯m staying right here!¡±


    Tuma pointed down at his feet, ¡°You get back here right now¡ª¡± The pool sloshed against the banks causing a small, expanding ripple. ¡°He¡¯s here ¡­¡±


    I ran over to Mowak and Tuma. ¡°Spray us all ¡­ quickly.¡± Shade nodded and turned around, lifting her tail. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to spray yourself too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting that stink on my fur.¡± Shade said, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯ll just release enough gas to hide my own smell.¡± And with that, a warm mist shot from her rear. Tiny droplets sprinkled to the ground, covering us, and concealing our natural smell with one of a beastly, urinated reek.


    I gasped, ¡°Get against the wall ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to throw up,¡± Tuma said, grabbing the rock and leaning against it. ¡°This is disgusting.¡±


    ¡°You smell much,¡± Mowak coughed, ¡°better than before ¡­¡±


    We held our breath just as a hiss echoed throughout the chamber. From the pool, a sharp beak broke through the surface with two large nostrils, each one dripping water. The beak snapped, "well, now ¡­ this is interesting. What a peculiar smell. Could it be something dead, or to hide something made of flesh and blood?" He let out a low, haunting laugh.


    And each of us exchanged a daunting, helpless look.

 Chapter 9

    The creature raised his enormous head and turned towards the opposite wall in the chamber. ¡°Do you think I was born yesterday, girl? I am Rakuu the relic. I¡¯ve seen more than you can imagine. Don¡¯t waste our time trying to hide. It will only anger me, and I¡¯ll make your death that much slower.¡± He dragged his head left towards our direction, taking slow, rhythmic breaths.


    He halted, squinting his pale-blue eyes at the bright orange glow, then took three more breaths. ¡°Clever,¡± He laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve realized that I have nocturnal sight ¡­ so you thought you could conceal your stink with the stink of the foul spirit you¡¯re bound to. I admire your spirit.¡±


    Mowak looked upon Tuma and I. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know you two are here.¡± Then she turned towards the creature. She took a step forward, and before I could pull her back, she came out of the light into the shadow.


    Shade shook her head.


    The creature corked his head and hissed, ¡°there you are.¡±


    Mowak shrugged, ¡°you¡¯ve found me. Guess you¡¯re more clever than I thought.¡±


    He let out a low, hissing laugh. ¡°That I am, girl ¡­ that I am.¡± He slowly opened his beak, exposing a rounded-red ball.¡±


    Tuma¡¯s eyelids widened and he pointed to his tongue. I shrugged, never good at guessing games. He pointed to his tongue several times, sticking it in and out. I shook my head, waving my hand to shoo him away.


    Suddenly Rakuu snapped his jaws close. He raised it and took two more long breaths. ¡°What is that familiar,¡± he licked his beak''s edge, ¡°smell?¡±


    Mowak looked at us, eyebrows twisted, then back at the creature. ¡°Um, I¡¯m uncertain what you mean ¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course you are,¡± he took another breath, ¡°But I could never forget that smell.¡±


    ¡°And what smell is that?¡±


    He hissed and laughed. ¡°The smell of rooster ¡­ are you with those miner fools?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ I¡¯m no miner ¡­ not even a miners daughter.¡±


    Rakuu snapped his beak three times and gave it a quick lick. ¡°I hate roosters ¡­ but they¡¯re quite the delicious tttrrreattt!¡±


    From the wall, Sqakron¡¯s head popped out, whipping right and left, eyes blinking quickly and out of rhythm. Tuma clenched a fist then waved his hand. Sqakron blinked three more times, then slipped back between the walls.


    He didn¡¯t get sprayed, I thought. That lousy creature is going to cost us our lives ... I rubbed my temples, and closed my eyes. Think, Kai, think ¡­ Suddenly, a thought hammered into my head. ¡°Panchu! I can call Panchu. Sapphire told me I could, but how?¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°I must focus ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make a deal with you, girl.¡± Rakuu snapped. ¡°If you bring me the rooster, I¡¯ll make sure your death is quick and painless.¡±


    Mowak leaned against her hip and grinned. ¡°I prefer pain.¡±


    A low, rumbling hiss came from deep in the beast belly. ¡°I like you, girl. Too bad I¡¯ll have to kill you, or I think we would make a great team.¡±


    He opened his beak exposing the rounded-tipped, red appendage. Sqakron¡¯s head popped out. The creature turned, his tongue springing out, firing as quick as an arrow. It slammed into the wall. The chamber rattled. Dust and rocks fell and splashed. The tongue recoiled back into the creature''s beak.


    Rakuu hissed with laughter. ¡°So you¡¯ll run and hide, huh?¡±


    Tuma smacked me and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s part crocodile, part turtle, and part ¡­ part ¡­ chameleon.¡±


    I raised my eyebrow. ¡°How can you be certain?¡±


    ¡°The tongue ¡­ climbing walls ¡­ it all makes sense.¡±


    I closed my eyes and took slow, rhythmic breaths. ¡°Focus,¡± I whispered, ¡°focus ¡­¡± Suddenly the world around me went silent and black. The darkness expanding around me in every direction. Off in the distance was an orange silhouette. What is that? I thought.


    ¡°Kai?¡± A deep, low voice echoed into the void.


    ¡°Panchu?¡±


    The orange silhouette zigzagged in the blackness. ¡°Stay in Spirit Focus. It is how we can communicate from afar. And it how I can come and find you.¡±


    ¡°Onwae? Sapphire?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re with me, and they¡¯re safe.¡± Panchu''s voice echoed. ¡°But Mowak and Shade have been taken by that foul creature ¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re alive ¡­ for now.¡± I replied somberly. ¡°But the creature is amongst us. If you don¡¯t help us get free, I fear our fate is a grim one¡ª¡±


    A haunting hiss caused my eyelids to snap open. I found myself back in the cavern, surrounded by the orange orb light. Tuma and shade on both sides of me. Mowak standing only a few feet away.


    Rakuu hissed and chuckled,. ¡°If you will not come out, little rooster, then I¡¯ll have to come in.¡±


    Sqakron''s head popped out, eyes wide, blinking rapid and random. Tuma waved his hand, ¡°Hide you dumb bird ¡­ hide!¡± The cockatrice¡¯s head tiled then slid back between the cracks.


    From Rakuu''s belly came a high, hissing laugh as the creature snapped his jaws. He opened his beak slowly. A second, black appendage fell from his mouth and hit the ground. Saliva splattered. His breath heavy. Suddenly, the black appendage jerked from right to left. It snapped to life. Two red eyes glaring towards the crack.


    Tuma swallowed. ¡°And it¡¯s part snake ... ¡°


    Rakuu hung on the stony bank of the pool, head resting, beak open, while the snake-like tongue slithered across the ground. A trail of saliva behind it. The appendage head examined the crack then disappeared inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to kill him!¡±


    ¡°Guardians can¡¯t die unless the spirit they¡¯re bound to dies.¡± Shade whispered through her fangs. ¡°But they can be wounded ¡­ and leave your spirit scared, Tuma. If that happens, Sqakron will need to heal before you can call upon him again.¡±


    The boy dropped his mouth and trembled.


    I closed my eyes and slowed my breaths until they matched the beats of my heart. Darkness wrapped around me, and in the distance stood Panchu¡¯s orange silhouette. ¡°What happened?¡± His voice echoed.


    ¡°For now the creature is preoccupied with Skaqron ¡­ apparently he really hates roosters.¡±


    "Glad I''m not the only one," Panchu chuckled. ¡°And glad to know you''re not dead. We must hurry ¡­ you can¡¯t stay in spirit focus forever.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    I saw Panchu¡¯s orange silhouette leap then climb down the blackness. ¡°This is not really the time to discuss these things, but there is a duration to your spirit energy. The more you use it, the more your spirit is weakened, until it¡¯ll fade in order to keep you from killing yourself.¡± Panchu said grimly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t take much spirit energy to keep me in flesh form, but if I was in spirit form, you¡¯d be severely weakened.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Panchu looked left then right, choosing the left direction. ¡°We¡¯re getting closer ¡ª¡±


    Buh-Cock! Sqakron shrieked and flapped his wings, unable to gain lift. He landed on the stone. Rakku tongue whipped from the crevice and snapped, clinging onto the Cockatrice¡¯s tail. The creature shrieked. Sqakron pulled and the tail popped off.


    Tuma stepped from the light and into the shadow, ¡°Run, Sqakron, run!¡±


    In a blur, the cockatrice skipped across the stone and dived, disappearing into the pool. Rakku turned his head, gazing at Tuma with his pale blue eyes. He reeled his tongue into his mouth. ¡°Another meal! And this one''s fat!" His lips curled and he guffawed, causing the cave to quake. Tuma stood frozen. Eyes wide with terror. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you later!¡±


    Rakuu sunk into the water in pursuit of Sqakron.


    ¡°Now is our chance!¡± I said, running over to where the stones had collapsed. The others followed on my heels. ¡°We need to dig through as quickly as we can!¡±


    One stone after another was picked up and thrown as we dug. Are hands gathering cuts and bruises, leaving them red with blood.


    Tuma¡¯s lip trembled. ¡°We¡¯re not going to make it ¡­¡±


    ¡°We must!¡± I yelled. ¡°Together we can do it!¡±


    Shade grabbed a stone between her teeth only hard enough to pick it up and sling it behind her. Mowak was the most productive, tossing the boulders like they were skipping stones. Showing much more discipline than both Tuma and I.


    ¡°This is useless ¡­¡±


    ¡°Quit whining and keep throwing!¡± Mowak said harshly. ¡°Or I¡¯ll make you my next target!¡± Tuma swore beneath his breath. ¡°And without attitude!¡±


    I halted and closed my eyes allowing the void to return. Panchu was closer and brighter than before, racing towards us. ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡±


    ¡°Hurry!¡± I waved. ¡°The wall has collapsed ¡­ and we need your help to get us out!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going as fast as we can. Hold on¡ª¡±


    I felt a dull pain in my chest. My eyelids ripped open. A foot away stood a boy with round cheeks, a gapped frown, and eyes a bark brown. Tuma reddened and yelled, ¡°what are you doing taking a nap! You need to help us!¡±


    I clenched my hands and decided it best not to hit him back. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sleeping ¡­ I was in spirit focus, you idiot! I''m Trying to help Panchu find us before we all die.¡±


    Mowak snapped, ¡°You both need to help out because that thing is about to resurface!¡±


    Tuma groaned.


    Irritated, the four us pulled and yanked, fighting the pile with all our might. With each pull, another group of stones fell. An endless mountain with no end in sight. When the pile at our rears, filled with stones of many sizes, was taller than all of us, we halted, panting. Every muscle in my body screamed while sweat trickled down my face like a waterfall. The others looked in my condition, and Tuma''s robe head was drenched.


    ¡°I give up,¡± He said, plopping down on the pile of stones. ¡°I¡¯ll just let the creature eat me ¡­¡±


    ¡°Get up!¡± I snapped. ¡°This is not the time to give into your pain ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving in. I am completely spent ¡­¡±


    Mowak shook her head, ¡°No surprise there ¡­ he is as soft as shade''s fur.¡±


    Shad corked her head, ¡°don¡¯t compare me with him ¡­¡±


    "My bad."


    I took a step back and closed my eyes, allowing the void to cloak around me. The large, orange silhouette was very close. Panchu said, ¡°we¡¯re here on the other side of this pile ¡­ i¡¯ll do my best to get through!¡±


    ¡°Hurry!¡± I said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer we have.¡±


    Panchu swiped and pulled at the blackness. ¡°I¡¯m coming ¡­ just hold on!¡±


    I opened my eyes, ¡°Panchu, Onwae, and Sapphire are on the other side. They¡¯re going to help us.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be too late,¡± Tuma dropped his head.


    I grabbed a rock and slung it, connecting with his ear. The boy yelped. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sick of the way you¡¯re acting. Now get up and help us or I¡¯ll throw you in that pool. Together we can do this, but alone we will fail. Now, please, Tuma be a part of our team.¡±


    He kicked a rock, and grumbled, standing to his feet. ¡°Fine,¡± Tuma wiped the sweat from his hands. He began heaving rocks.


    Mowak wiped her forehead. ¡°I can see why they tried to keep this thing in.¡±


    I looked at Tuma, halted, grabbing his chest, breathing heavy. ¡°Come on, Tuma ¡­ stop being lazy, will you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a pain deep within me,¡± he frowned, ¡°an ache down in my spirit.¡±


    Shade tossed another rock, ¡°you¡¯re feeling spirit sensations.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    She rolled another stone with her snout. ¡°When you can feel your guardians emotions ¡­ it¡¯s good to know how they feel, but it can zap your spirit energy.¡±


    Tuma grabbed another stone, and with much effort, heaved it. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why I feel so tired ¡­¡±


    Mowak rolled her eyes, ¡°you feel tired because you¡¯re lazy.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Shade shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s probably right. The longer Sqakron is being chased, the more his energy is waning. He needs to call him back to hibernate or I¡¯m afraid Tuma will become useless.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he already?¡±


    I picked up two more boulders and threw them, ¡°Tuma, take a break ¡­¡±


    He nodded and wiped his forehead, ¡°Gladly.¡±


    From on the other side of the wall, I heard the sound of grunts and groans. Some beastly, and some of a young girl.


    ¡°Panchu?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here, Kai!¡± Onwae¡¯s voice sounded muffled, but I was thankful to hear it. ¡°We are coming!¡±


    Tuma shouted, ¡°Get us out of here, quick! I¡¯m starting to feel faint! Might be because of this skugars stink!¡±


    ¡°Quiet!¡± I snapped. I then called, ¡°keep digging! We can do this!¡±


    From the pool, a blur shot into the air and tumbled on the ground. Gobble. Gobble. ¡°He¡¯s coming!¡± Sqakron shouted, running like he was deranged. ¡°Run!¡±


    Water expelled from the pool as the enormous head shot out, the giant beak coming towards us, coming towards the wall.


    ¡°Jump!¡± I yelled, diving to my left.


    Mowak and shade dove to the right while Tuma collapsed and rolled, just in time. Rakuu¡¯s head slammed into the wall, causing the cavern to shake. The creature roared and hissed, collapsing. It then slid backwards and disappearing back into the pool, unconscious.


    ¡°It knocked itself out!¡± Tuma grinned, looking at Sqakron shivering by the wall. ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes, master¡ª¡±


    From the pool, a black appendage shot out and hissed, flinging forward, snatching onto the cockatrice. Sqakron screeched. Together they slipped back into the pool with only a single ripple.


    Tuma raised his hand and grabbed his chest, ¡°Sqakron!¡± He groaned.


    Mowak pointed her hand, ¡°look there! Rakuu has blasted a hole in the wall!¡±


    I turned my head and saw light pouring through the stone. It was a hole large enough to fit my head through. Onwae¡¯s face peeked inside, ¡°what was that?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know,¡± Mowak said, ¡°Trust me on that.¡±


    Panchu Roared, ¡°move!¡±


    Onwae stepped aside and his large paws came down on the stone wall. It collapsed, opening the wall up for us to get through. ¡°Hurry! This way!¡±


    I waved a hand, ¡°you two first!¡±


    Shade nodded. Mowak said, ¡°You''d don¡¯t have to tell me twice.¡± And they both climbed through the passage to the other side.


    I ran over to Tuma, still lying on the ground, gazing upon the pool. ¡°I can¡¯t leave him ¡­¡±


    ¡°You must!¡±


    He shook his head and frowned. ¡°He was so scared,¡± Tuma teared, ¡°I could feel him ¡­ his fear ¡­ and when he ¡­ died.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not dead,¡± I patted his shoulder, ¡°he is only weakened ¡ª¡±


    Tuma¡¯s eyes grew. A purple glint of light casted amongst us. I turned my chin over my shoulder to find a purple orb floating from the pool towards us ¡­ no ¡­ towards Tuma. The boy quickly jumped to his feet and reached out a hand, ¡°Sqakron?¡±


    The orb halted in front of him, no more bigger than a coconut. It spun, while a misty smoke slithered around it. Suddenly it brightened, and in a blur, shot forward, drilling through Tuma¡¯s chest. He collapsed and cried out. Rolling and grabbing his chest, faced twisted in agony.


    Tuma screamed, ¡°It burns!¡±


    A popping sound drew my attention back to the pool. Bubbles met the surface and exploded. Few at first, then many, popping like the water began to boil.


    Rakuu, I thought, he¡¯s coming back ¡­


    I knelt down. ¡°Tuma we have to go!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± He gasped, his face reddened, but not by anger. ¡°The pain is too severe.¡±


    ¡°Rakuu is almost here!¡± I shouted, eyeing the bubbling water. ¡°We must go!¡±


    Mowak stuck her head back into the chamber, ¡°Come on, Tuma! You¡¯re strong! Be strong for Sqakron!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± tears rolled down his cheeks, ¡°I¡¯m not strong. I¡¯m afraid. And I feel like I am going to die ¡­¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to die,¡± I said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you!¡± I reached out a hand. ¡°But if you stay here then that thing will kill us both. Come Tuma. Or if you stay, I stay, and we''ll be taken together.¡±


    "No you won''t!" Panchu growled. "Tuma! Get your tail moving now, before I rip your head off!"


    Tuma looked at Panchu and winced than turned his eyes on me. ¡°You¡¯d stay for me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d stay for my friend, yes.¡±


    The boy grabbed his chest and sighed in pain. He gave a weak smile. ¡°And I¡¯ll fight for my friend.¡± He grabbed my hand and together we got him to his feet. He groaned, breathing heavy. I threw his arm around my shoulder. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    We walked towards the breach in the wall, ¡°thank me when we¡¯re out of this place.¡±


    Our steps were slow and took much effort, but we were moving, and that was all that mattered. Foot after foot, getting closer to our way out.


    Onwae and Mowak waved their hands both shouting, ¡°hurry!¡± and ¡°Be strong!¡± And when we finally reached them, I placed Tuma into their hands, as they guided him through the wall.


    Pool water exploded, wetting the inside of the cave. The creature''s head raised and slammed against the floor. ¡°You will not escape me!¡± Rakku beak opened up. I turned and dove.


    I heard the slick sound before I felt something cling onto my leg, tugging on me, pulling me backward. I grabbed onto sharp stone, fighting from being retracted into the monster''s mouth.


    Onwae screamed, ¡°Kai!¡± And with my spear in her hand, hoisted it above her head, then downward, bringing the speartip into the red appendage. The tongue tore in two, blood squirting as it seperated. The end stuck on my leg. The other part retracted back into Rakuu¡¯s beak. He released a high, earpiericing screech. Hissing and huffing in agony.


    I pulled the sticky ball from my leg then climbed through the breach.


    Panchu yelled, ¡°Get behind me,¡± and once we had, he stood on his two back paws. And with his front paws, grabbed the rocky ceiling. He roared and pulled until the rocks collapsed, closing off the passage once again.

 Chapter 10

    We made it out of the cave alive but that didn¡¯t mean we were all alright ¡­


    Beneath the gray, cloudy sky, we watched Tuma. His face moist and red. Holding his chest. Breathing heavy.


    Onwae¡¯s lip trembled, ¡°what¡¯s wrong with him?¡±


    ¡°Sqakron has fallen,¡± Shade replied, ¡°and that leaves a scar on a spirit''s shaman.¡±


    ¡°A scar?¡± I pondered ¡°What kind of scar?¡±


    Shade lowered her snout. ¡°Guardians can not be killed unless their shaman dies. But they can fall ¡­ and when a guardian falls it leaves a scar on their shaman''s spirit.¡± She sighed. ¡°And if a shaman''s spirit has too many scars then it can die, killing the host.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why it is important guardians never fall,¡± Panchu said grimly. He sniffed the boy. ¡°We need to do something for his pain and fever.¡±


    Sapphire sat on a tree branch, antennas dancing. ¡°I can heal him with the right rune.¡±


    Onwae looked up at her butterfly. ¡°What kind of rune?¡±


    ¡°An herb rune found in the roots of a Kabuku plant.¡±


    I looked around the forest, squinting. ¡°And where can we find that?¡±


    ¡°They say they grow inside waterfalls.¡±


    I rubbed my chin and turned towards Panchu. ¡°Do you know where any waterfalls are around here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Panchu shook his head. ¡°I knew my way through the cave and to Spirit Ridge, but have no idea where a waterfall may be.¡±


    ¡°I thought bears could smell water from miles away,¡± Mowak crossed her arms. ¡°I mean you are the one that got us in this mess ¡­ Now look what¡¯s become of Tuma.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for what happened to the boy!¡± Pachu snapped, glaring at her with glossy white eyes. ¡°It was not my fault his bird woke that monster!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to get anywhere bickering ¡­¡± I shouted, driving my spear tip into the dirt.


    Onwae¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°oh, look there!¡± She smiled pointing to the orange orb that peaked out from behind the cave wall. She took a step forward and waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s ok, little thing, you can come out now.¡±


    Panchu said, ¡°you shouldn¡¯t trust orbs that you can¡¯t identify ¡­ there¡¯s something odd about this one ¡­ it¡¯s been following you since we were in the cave.¡±


    Onwae giggled, ¡°that¡¯s because it likes me.¡± She waved a hand, ¡°come on out, little one, I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±


    The orange orb slid out from behind the wall slowly, hesitated, then slowly floated over to her. It stopped a few feet away.


    ¡°You¡¯re free now,¡± Onwae said, pointing up to the sky. ¡°You can return to the life force.¡±


    Panchu¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°it¡¯s stuck here. Something''s keeping it from moving on.¡±


    Sapphire asked, ¡°How can you be certain?¡±


    Panchu turned his snout on her. ¡°Because I know what it feels like not to return back into the life force, as should you, and all guardians for that matter.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Onwae turned and walked towards Panchu. The orb followed close behind. ¡°And why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because all guardians are stuck spirits.¡± He said smugly. ¡°We can only move on by completing the will of our Shaman.¡± He looked between the three of us. ¡°That is why you four triblings need to get to Spirit Ridge. You need to strengthen your spirit energy. And learn to use it properly. ¡± He looked upon me. ¡°I can feel you¡¯re still weary from using spirit focus.¡±


    I tried to keep it hidden, and for a time it worked, but I did feel a strange fatigue that was neither physical nor mental. But a fatigue deep within that made my body lack the will to do much more than sit.


    I lied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± Panchu said. ¡°But if your spirit energy does not return in time, you will not have the will to help when needed.¡±


    ¡°If we can find the herb rune it can help replenish both Tuma and Kai¡¯s spirit energy.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s settled then. We must find it! we must locate a waterfall nearby. This is a great, vast mountain. There has to be one around here somewhere.¡±


    Panchu grumbled, walking beneath a tree to cool off in the shade. ¡°Our best bet is to make for Spirit Ridge. They¡¯ll have herb runes there.¡±


    Shade¡¯s antennas waved, ¡°I wouldn''t recommend that you move him in his weakened condition. It could make his spirit scar larger.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Panchu guffawed. ¡°And what do you know, little butterfly?¡±


    ¡°I know that you¡¯re a rude one,¡± her eyes blackened, ¡°and that I am a healer guardian. And as a healer guardian, I say we must let the boy rest.¡±


    Panchu shrugged and plopped down in the grass. ¡°Then rest we shall.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t rest,¡± my eyebrows furrowed, ¡°not all of us ¡­ Panchu and I will go find the herb rune.¡±


    Panchu grumbled, ¡°no we will not. I¡¯m starting to think Sapphire is right. We all just need a little rest.¡±


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Onwae said, watching the orange orb do figure eights in the air. ¡°You know where a fall is?¡± The orb went up and down. ¡°And you¡¯ll show us where it is?¡± Again the orb went up and down. ¡°You see, we¡¯ve got a guide right here!¡±


    Panchu shook his head and grumbled, ¡°I told you not to trust that thing. We don¡¯t know what kind of spirit that is ¡­ it could be trouble.¡±


    ¡°Could be,¡± Onwae nodded, ¡°or it could be trying to help us for showing it the way out.¡±


    I smiled at her, ¡°right. We should give it a chance! Allow it to be our guide.¡±


    Panchu said, ¡°I vote no.¡±


    ¡°As do I,¡± Mowak replied. Shade nodded beside her.


    ¡°Well, I vote we go.¡±


    Onwae batted her eyes at me then looked at Sapphire. The butterfly nodded. ¡°Sapphire and I vote we go too.¡±


    ¡°That''s three to three,¡± Panchu rested his chin on the ground, ¡°guess we¡¯re staying.¡±


    The orb went up and down. ¡°You vote we go too, orange? Looks like that¡¯s four to three! We win!¡± Onwae raised a hand and her lips, showing off her bright white teeth.


    Panchu sat up in a hurry, ¡°that things vote doesn¡¯t count!¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I yanked my spear from the dirt and hit it against the tree until the spearhead was cleaned. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s part of our party.¡±


    ¡°Is not,¡± Panchu said, ¡°it¡¯s just a pesky little bug orb that won¡¯t leave us alone.¡±


    Sapphire fluttered her wings with anger. ¡°I take offense to that, you know!¡± She flew over to the orb. ¡°I say he is one of us!¡±


    ¡°And your opinion matters to nobody ¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me put you to sleep permanently!¡±


    I glared at Panchu. "We need a few of us to stay behind and watch Tuma ¡­ why don¡¯t you, Mowak, and Shade stay. The rest of us will search for herb runes.¡±


    Panchu rubbed his chin on his paws, ¡°Fine by mem¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Mohawk said, resting her head on Shade.


    Onwae squinted as she smiled, ¡°you hear that, orange? We¡¯re going to follow you to the waterfall. Go ahead and show us the way.¡± The orb spun in a loop and zipped off towards the north. ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± Onwae and Sapphire chased after.


    ¡°Panchu!¡± I said, pointing my spear in his direction. ¡°You and I need to have another talk.¡± The old bear snored loudly. I frowned. A long talk ¡­


    The four of us walked along the mountain side, ascending a rocky trail. It rose higher and higher. Above the trees, allowing us to see to the horizon. I pointed to the mountains off in the distance, ¡°that¡¯s where Spirit Ridge is at.¡±


    Onwae¡¯s eyes glowed, ¡°really?¡± She said with that sweet tone of hers. The wind caused her hair to wave and whip. ¡°I bet it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Just like you, I thought but only managed to say. ¡°I bet.¡± She grinned in my direction and I tried to keep my cheeks from reddening. Suddenly I stepped and felt my foot sink, my leg buckled. I caught myself before tripping. Onwae giggled. I looked over my shoulder. ¡°What was that¡ª¡± I felt my eyelids stretch and my stomach turn. There on the ground was a print with five knuckles and five claws. ¡°Look there!¡±


    Onwae raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the tracks. ¡°Are those what I think they are?¡±


    I nodded glancing up the trail. ¡°They¡¯re leading towards the falls.¡±


    Sapphire said nervously, ¡°maybe we should go back.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I tightened my grip on my spear. ¡°Tuma is counting on us. If it wasn¡¯t for Sqakron we¡¯d all be dead.¡±


    ¡°Onwae,¡± Sapphire¡¯s antenna twitched.


    The orb hovered twenty feet away, then spun in loops, causing my eyes to look upon it. I glanced at Onwae who was rubbing her chin.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know how old these tracks are ¡­ and the creature could¡¯ve moved on.¡±


    Sapphire sighed. ¡°Or we could fall into its lair like Kai did with that lizard creature, Rakuu.¡±


    ¡°It could be the chief and the others,¡± I said. ¡°And if it is them, they could help us with Tuma.¡±


    ¡°But wouldn¡¯t there be more tracks?¡± Onwae asked, putting her hand down in one. ¡°They¡¯re not warm.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out.¡± I pressed my chest out then carried on towards the orb. ¡°Lets see where this trail leads.¡±


    The four of us climbed the hillside carefully. Each step taken lightly. Our eyes whipped from side to side, trying to catch something before it caught us by surprise. Above us, the midday heat was beginning to cause our skin to cook. And the air was thickening with each breath. I ignored the fearful ache in my chest, trying to be strong for the others.  Onwae stayed behind with me while the orb led the way and Sapphire watched our tail.


    She whispered, ¡°I¡¯m scared ... ¡°


    ¡°I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    ¡°I know you will ¡­ but it¡¯s not that.¡±  She lowered her eyes and watched her feet. ¡°I can sense that Sapphire is afraid too. I worry she can sense my fear as I do hers.¡±


    I corked my head, ¡°why does that bother you?¡±


    ¡°Because I ¡­ Because I want to be like you.¡± Onwae said, twiddling her thumbs. ¡°You¡¯re brave. You don¡¯t seem to have an ounce of fear in you.¡±


    I grinned at her kind words. ¡°I do have fears. Even now I am afraid ¡­ and though I may not show it, my fear is no less different than yours.¡±


    Onwae giggled, ¡°so how do you hide it so well?¡±


    I scratched the back of my head, ¡°um, I don¡¯t know ¡­ ignore it, I guess.¡±


    ¡°I have tried that. Doesn¡¯t seem to work for me too well.¡±


    We walked silently for a time while I searched for the right words to say. What could I say? Her fear was much different than my own, and how we precieve and deal with it was different. And she might not see it, butP Panchu felt it before he even knew I was there.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give into your fear, but don¡¯t be afraid to know you¡¯re afraid.¡± I said, placing a hand on her back. ¡°Fear is a part of us ¡­ and in the right times, can be used as a weapon.¡±


    She nodded and smiled. ¡°So you don¡¯t think Sapphire knowing I¡¯m afraid is a bad thing?¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°Not at all ¡­ she knows how strong your heart is. And if you¡¯re strong in heart, all fear can do is slow you down for a time ¡­ but it¡¯ll never break you.¡± I looked upon the blue, enormous butterfly. ¡°She knows who you are and why she chose you. Guardians choose the host that they believe in.¡±


    ¡°Even Panchu?¡±


    I stopped and she turned and giggled. ¡°I was only kidding ¡­"


    We started again and I held onto that question, allowing it to sink deep in my head. ¡°Even Panchu,¡± I whispered, wondering if he truly believed in me. If not, what I said to her meant nothing. I finally replied, ¡°Panchu believes in Panchu,¡± We laughed and I hoped that would be the end of it. Thankfully it was.


    Up ahead the sound of trickling water drew both of our eyes. Onwae smiled then ran ahead to the orb, skipping as she did so. It caused my lips to curl. She always had that effect on me.


    ¡°Orange, you¡¯ve done it!¡± The orb spun around in loops several times, then around Onwae¡¯s head like a halo. ¡°I knew you could do it!¡±


    Sapphire flapped and caught up to us. ¡°I hear it too. We are nearly there!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t take too long thanks to Orange.¡± She smiled and patted the orb on the top. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the best?¡±


    Sapphires antennas flicked, ¡°nothing I couldn¡¯t have done. All you would¡¯ve had to do is send me ahead and I would¡¯ve found it.¡±


    Onwae frowned, gazing upon her guardian. ¡°I know, Sapphire. No need to sound jealous ¡­ You¡¯re both my number one helpers. And without you two I''d be nothing but a little girl again.¡±


    The orb brightened like the wings of Sapphire, a vibrant orange, causing me to lift my arm to shield my eyes. I squinted. ¡°Don¡¯t get them too excited ¡­ we don¡¯t want whatever made those tracks to be attracted to the light.¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Onwae nodded, ¡°you¡¯re right.¡±


    We came to the last bend until we found the great waterfall amongst us. Big and beautiful. The water fell from over a hundred feet high, sparkling like diamonds. Our eyes lightened and sparkled. We smiled at the beauty as the mist rained droplets against our skin, cooling us off on this very hot day.


    ¡°This is it,¡± I said, sniffing the tiny droplet air, and tasting its freshness. ¡°We¡¯ve made it!¡±


    Onwae waved her hands, ¡°it¡¯s beautiful!¡±


    I looked around at the pool, the cliff edges, the trail that led further north, then over the cliff to the vast green treetops below. Nothing. ¡°Keep an eye out ¡­¡±


    Onwae pointed to the sky, ¡°Sapphire, be our eyes.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my Lady!¡± Three flaps and Sapphire was soaring twenty feet above, doing loops over the perimeter.


    Over the pool, the orb was doing loops of his own, glowing brightly. It must''ve really missed the falls. I wonder why?


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve made orange happy.¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°No. It looks like you¡¯ve made it very happy.¡±


    Onwae concealed her smile. She grabbed my hand and pulled, ¡°come on! Let¡¯s go behind the falls!¡±


    ¡°Woah!¡± I said, my feet moving quicker than I was ready for. The wind whistled in my ears, the mist cooling my face. I couldn¡¯t hold my lips from rising. ¡°Slow down!¡±


    At the rocks, Onwae slowed to make sure she stayed sure footed.  We ascend them, jumping from one to another, doing our best to keep from the slippery ones. I only slipped once or twice until we found the top. She pulled me along as we passed beneath the water, our robes soaked. We laughed and for a moment I forgot about Tuma.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this place magical?¡±


    With her, everything was magical. I nodded. ¡°It is.¡±


    Onwae gave me that warm smile I loved and then she searched the ground. ¡°Look there!¡±


    I found what made her eyes glow blue. Sprouting from the ground was a vibrant bluish-green flower.  She released my hand, leaving it warm, and kneeled down. ¡°Sapphire told me it¡¯s the runes that make them glow.¡±


    I knelt beside her. ¡°But I thought runes were made of stone.¡±


    ¡°They are,¡± she grabbed the flower. ¡°But these are rune flowers. Sapphire told me that rune flowers grow their roots around runestones.¡± Onwae leaned back and tugged, pulling it like a loose tooth. It tore in one, long heave. Dirt sprinkling everywhere. She frowned, ¡°Sorry, little fella ¡­¡±


    I coughed and waved my hand, riding away the dust. My nostrils flaring. ¡°This stuff is going to make me sneeze.¡±


    Onwae sneezed then giggled. ¡°It¡¯s tickling my nose.¡± She lifted the flower above her head, until her eyes were level with the roots. With a swipe of her hand, dirt showered from the roots, exposing a glowing bluish-green stone beneath. ¡°The herb rune!¡±


    She pulled and when it didn¡¯t break free she handed it to me. No matter how many times I tugged and yanked the roots didn¡¯t give. I put my speartip to use and hacked at the root until they gave and the rune was freed. It was a heavy thing that caused my arm to strain.


    ¡°How do we use it?¡±


    Onwae took it in both hands, wiping and blowing away the dirt. ¡°They can be used with Guardians, but I don¡¯t know how to either.¡± She jumped up. ¡°Let¡¯s find out!¡±


    In a blink, she took my hand and we were out from beneath the waterfall, climbing down the slippery stones. I slipped five times on the way down, whereas she was perfect yet again. When we reached solid ground, Onwae waved the rune in the air, getting Sapphire¡¯s attention.


    She soared down and waved her antennas gleefully. ¡°You¡¯ve done it!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Onwae nodded. ¡°With a little help.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything ¡­ it was all her ¡­ now how do we use it?"


    Sapphire corked her head, ¡°you mean you¡¯ve never used a runestone before?¡± Onwae and I shook our heads. ¡°Neither have I ¡­ I just know that you can use them to enchant guardians.¡±


    I sighed, ¡°so we came here for nothing?¡± and shook my head. ¡°What are we going to do with it now?¡±


    ¡°Give it to us!¡± A high, sweet voice rang.


    I looked down the path where I found a girl in a hide robe staring upon us. Her hair was long, hanging down below her waist, and her eyes were a green only found in the brightest forests. Lips twisted. Eyebrows furrowed. A beautiful girl with a wicked expression.


    What was she doing here? The chief''s daughter ¡­


    ¡­ "Meeka?"

 Chapter 11

    Behind Meeka stood four others who were as old as she was. In their hands, they each held a totem staff. Four beast heads sat on top: a racoon, a boar, a badger, and a wolverine A staff only earned when you¡¯ve gone through your training at Spirit Ridge.


    Meeka raised her hand, ¡°give it here, Kai. We need it.¡±


    Onwae¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°why are you not with the rest of the group?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for questions.¡± Meeka¡¯s nostrils flared. ¡°Now give it here!¡±


    Sapphire swooped down, flapping just above Onwae¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This is ours ¡­ go find your own!¡±


    Meeka crossed her arms, ¡°you¡¯re a guardian. You¡¯re not to speak to us humans. Only be used to do our will!¡±


    Onwae shouted, ¡°she can speak freely!¡±


    Meeka rolled her eyes, ¡°you all got a lot to learn about guardians. You can¡¯t let them think freely ¡­ it is how they go rogue, much like Panchu had with Kawah.¡±


    ¡°Leave him out of this.¡± I shouted, pointing my spear at each one of them, ¡°or I¡¯ll make you wish you had.¡±


    Meeka giggled cruely. ¡°Careless fools ¡­ the two of you can¡¯t do anything against the five of us.¡± She looked around. ¡°And where is your pet? That beastly bear of yours? Has he already abandoned you?¡±


    I clenched my teeth trying to hold back my inner anger. ¡°He is here so don¡¯t piss him off or he¡¯ll be sure to rip your head off.¡±


    ¡°Threatening the Chief''s daughter is not very smart." The four others behind her snickered, their eyes cold. ¡°Now give us the rune and we¡¯ll leave you alone.¡±


    Onwae said sharply, "What happened to you? Since you went to Spirit Ridge you''ve changed ¡­"


    Meeka waved a hand, "we grew up. Now. Give. Us. The. Runestone."


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to take it from us." Onwae said in a  tone I''d never heard before. "Kill us even. This runestone is to help save one of our own. Tuma. He is injured and we need it to heal his spirit.¡±


    ¡°Tuma?¡± Meeka hung on the word for a time. ¡°Oh yes, that boy who is always quick to anger ¡­ well I¡¯m sure his life is expendable.¡±


    ¡°You dirty witch. You were one of us not too long ago,¡± I shouted. My arms trembled. ¡°And you would sacrifice somebody''s life just for a runestone?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Meeka snapped. ¡°I would sacrifice a life to save my father, your chief.¡±


    I took a breath, ¡°What¡¯s become of him?¡±


    Meeka glared at me deciding if I could be trusted, or worthy of the information.. ¡°He was attacked ¡­ by some creature. We need that herb rune to heal him. Now what¡¯s more important, Tuma or your Chief?¡±


    I stood stunned, my body unable to move. Without our chief our village could fall to greater tribes. But why does a chief''s life mean more than a boys? More than my friends? More than Tuma¡¯s? ¡°It doesn¡¯t," I whispered.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    I took a step forward and pressed out my chest. ¡°The chief¡¯s life is no more important than Tuma''s. This is our runestone. You must find your own.¡±


    Meeka tilted her chin downward. ¡°You¡¯ve grown to become more of a fool than I thought, Kai.¡±


    I shrugged, ¡°ya, well, you¡¯re no peach yourself.¡±


    Meeka grinned. She reached for the totem on her throat and yanked, then held it out in front of her. I made out the pointed ears, snout, and rounded eyes.


    ¡°I call upon you, Vessian! Come! Awaken!¡± An orb whirled with fire casting to the ground, forming into the pointed ears and snout of a fox. It¡¯s eyes black. Fur red as flames. With three tails that whipped upright.


    ¡°You¡¯ve called, my chieftess?¡± Vessian said in a devilish tone. ¡°How may I serve you?¡±


    ¡°Bring me that rune!¡±


    Sapphire flew in front of Onwae, ¡°you¡¯ll have to defeat me first.¡±


    Meeka raised her chin and let out a long, mocking laugh. ¡°You¡¯re no fighter, butterfly spirit. You¡¯re a healer. Stay out of this!¡±


    Onwae swiped her arm. ¡°She is as much a fighter as your fox spirit is!¡±


    Behind Meeka the other four of her followers grabbed at the totems on their necks. She waved a hand, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this one.¡± She said, then spun her staff. ¡°If I have to leave her spirit scarred.¡±


    I looked down at the foxes feet and pointed. ¡°Onwae ¡­ look!¡±


    She drew her eyes downward on the five-toed paws.. ¡°It was her ¡­ that fox is the one that left the tracks ¡­ which means ...¡±


    ¡°She caused the fire that blocked our path!¡±


    Meeka raised an eyebrow, ¡°whatever do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to us!¡±


    I felt my flesh burn. I¡¯ll show them, I thought, closing my eyes. I steadied my breath, trying to return to the void. Nothing. Only silence. Had I run out of spirit energy? Why couldn¡¯t I call upon Panchu? ¡°My spirit energy must be low,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Why?¡± Onwae asked.


    ¡°Because I can¡¯t call upon Panchu.¡±


    Sapphire looked back, ¡°or he maybe sleeping ¡­ if a guardian is sleeping you can not use spirit focus to connect with him.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± I groaned. ¡°that old bear is always causing me problems.¡±


    Onwae gave me one of those smiles I loved. ¡°I can handle this!¡± She then turned towards Meeka, crouching, her face twisting into a determined expression. She was ready to battle. ¡°Sapphire air strike!¡±


    The butterfly shot into the sky and out of sight. We all lifted our chins, narrowing our eyes, trying to find the creature. She¡¯d disappeared.


    Sapphire twirled towards the ground, quicker and quicker, building momentum as she fell. Vessix sat patiently.


    Meeka watched the sky as her lips slowly curled, ¡°vessix ¡­ dodge!¡±


    Sapphire became a blur. Vessix leaped right. The butterfly met the Earth, slamming head first. She shrieked and bounced to a halt. Lifeless.


    Meeka laughed, ¡°Stupid girl ¡­ don¡¯t you know anything about your guardian? This is why you must go to Spirit Ridge to learn how to use them.¡±


    Onwae eyes trembled, looking upon Sapphire.  Still. Antennas bent. Wings twitching.


    ¡°Air strike is only used as a finishing move, because if it misses it leaves your guardian useless.¡±


    She¡¯s right, I thought, dropping my head. We¡¯re defeated.


    Onwae placed a hand to her lips and giggled.


    Meeka raised an eyebrow, ¡°what''s so funny?¡±


    ¡°You still have a lot to learn, little chieftess.¡± Onwae pointed at her guardian. ¡°Sapphire heal!¡±


    From the ground the butterfly glowed a vibrant bluish-green that pulsed with each of my heartbeats.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Meeka¡¯s mouth hung open. She yelled, ¡°vessix, use your finisher ¡­ Deep fang!¡±


    The foxes lips raised exposing the large, white fangs beneath. She lunged forward, jaws open, attacking Sapphire¡¯s neck.


    My eyes widened and I held my breath.


    ¡°Sapphire, now¡¯s your chance!¡± Onwae said, ¡°Stun gleam!¡±


    A ball of bright light shot across the field. We squinted our eyes, placing our arms up to shield against it. Vessix yelped as she tumbled across the ground. Shaking her head and blinking. In the air, Sapphire spun, and flapped her wings. Unwounded.


    ¡°Wow!¡± I smirked at Onwae. ¡°Great job!¡±


    She smiled warmly at me. Wobbling, she gasped, leaning over, hands resting on her knees. Onewae clutched her chest, breathing heavy.


    ¡°Onwae!¡± I placed a hand on her back. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    She took to more breaths then swallowed. ¡°Fine ¡­ I just feel ¡­ weak.¡±


    Meeka chuckled, kneeling over and patting her three-tailed foxes head. ¡°Good girl,¡± she whispered, then glared at Onwae. ¡°You need training ¡­ you¡¯ve already used up most of your spirit energy.¡± She reached into a pouch on her hip, yanking out a glowing red stone. ¡°And you need some of these.¡±


    I raised my eyebrows, ¡°Is that a fire rune?¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Meeka¡¯s wicked grin deepened. ¡°You can use these to enchant your pets to keep from using too much of your spirit energy ¡­ or were you not even aware of that?¡±


    I nodded, ¡°we are aware ¡­ we are just not as well equipped as you are..¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad!¡± Meeka held out the totem and the runestone. ¡°Now let me show you true power! Vessix, spirit form!¡±


    The fox nodded. The red furs on her body and head began to fade as she became a red, fox-shaped silhouette. Meeka looked upon the rune. The hard stone softened into a ball of flame, and in one motion, she brought it upon the totem. Vessix lifted her snout and howled. Flames danced around her silhouette.


    ¡°Flesh form!¡± Meeka said in a fierce tone.


    The red hairs faded back around the fox until she was made of flesh once again. Flames dance in her eyes. She crouched, ready to strike.


    Meeka raised her hand, ¡°Vessix! Bring that butterfly to the ground. Torchfire!¡±


    ¡°Yes, my chieftess!¡±


    Onwae lifted her chin, ¡°No! Sapphire ¡­ dodge!¡±


    It was too late. A ring of flames spun through the air, igniting the butterfly. She screeched and fell, slamming against the ground. Her body blackened, wings fluttering and slowing with each beat.


    ¡°Sapphire,¡± Onwae cried.


    Meeka grabbed her chest and trembled. ¡°we¡¯ve done it.¡± Then looked upon the wounded guardian. ¡°Vessix¡ª¡±


    ¡°My young chieftess," A round boy with a mole on his cheek said.¡°You don¡¯t want to use all your spirit energy.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± A tall boy with a half bitten ear replied, ¡°And you don¡¯t want to leave a scar on the girl''s spirit.¡±


    Meeka waved a hand. ¡°Out of my way, Gornak and Juk! This is not your fight!¡±


    ¡°But Meeka,¡± Gornak, the bigger one said, ¡°you could really injury you both.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± She laughed heinously, clutching the totem with all her might. ¡°Vessix! Deep Fang, now!¡±


    Suddenly from the falls, the orange orb flew into the face of the fox, flashing yellows, reds, and oranges. Vessix¡¯s snout wrinkled.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Meeka yelled. ¡°Vessix torch it!¡±


    She nodded and spewed a ring of fire, engulfing the orb. It shot up and down, looping and spinning, trying to rid away the flames. The orb hovered over the pool and dropped into the water.


    Onwae cried, ¡°orange ¡­¡±


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Meeka said, shaking her head. ¡°Now, Vessix, finish her ¡­ Deep fang!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I shouted, raising my spear over my shoulder. I reeled back then slung my arm forward. The spear whistled as it spun. A perfect throw. It pierced the flesh of the firy fox. It yelped then exploded into a red orb. The orb spun then shot back, slamming into Meeka¡¯s chest. She screamed, her feet leaving the earth. Airborne, she flew back ten feet and slammed on the ground with an "oof".


    Juk kneeled to the ground and cried, ¡°Young chieftess!¡±


    Meeka screamed. She rolled  in agony, clutching her chest.


    Garnak¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°You¡¯ve made her guardian fall ¡­ that¡¯ll leave her spirit scarred!¡±


    The four boys took a step forward, glaring at me. They reached for their necks and yanked the totems from their necklace. Eyes red with rage.


    ¡°Now you will all pay for injuring our young chieffess!¡± Juk snapped, holding out the head of a Racoon totem.


    ¡°Yes they will!¡± Garnak smirked, holding a boar''s head totem between two fingers.


    The four boys shouted, ¡°Spirits Awaken!¡±


    Four purple orbs shot out from each totem. They expanded and shaped into four beasts: One was a large badger-like creature that moved with the speed of a sloth. The second was a fanged creature with the face of a wolverine and the body of a coyote. Garnaks was a boar as large as Panchu while Juks was a racoon the size of a bear cub.


    Juk chuckled, ¡°now we will leave you both scarred for hurting our chieftess!¡±


    Onwae grabbed my hand and I could feel her trembling, eyes widened, watching the creatures drool and snap. ¡°I¡¯m scared, Kai ¡­¡±


    I pushed against her, ¡°stay behind me.¡±


    Garnak pat the boar and it squealed. He looked upon Sapphire. ¡°First things first ¡­ Meaty ¡­ do your charge attack¡ª¡±


    Behind us the pool splashed upward. Droplets fell rained around us, some the size of small boulders. Exploding against the earth. The water settled. Standing in the pool was an apparition. It shimmered blue and white, twenty foot tall. Made of liquid, not flesh.


    We all gasped!


    Juk swallowed, ¡°what is that thing?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Garnak shook his head. Eyes wide as his boars. ¡°Looks to be some kind of spirit.¡±


    A bubbling voice replied, ¡°leave my friends alone!¡±


    ¡°Friends?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What friends?¡±


    Onwae¡¯s eyes beamed of light. ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ it¡¯s orange! He¡¯s an elemental ¡­  water spirit.¡±


    Juk and Garnak turned to one another and exchanged worried looks. ¡°A water spirit?¡± All four of them shouted.


    ¡°I am Gygus, the water spirit of these falls, and I thank your chieftess for freeing me from my orb imprisonment.¡± His voice bubbled. ¡°Only fire could break the spell.¡±


    Onwae nodded. ¡°Yes. I remember now ¡­ only the opposite element can break the orb form of elemental spirits.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The apparition nodded. ¡°That and your kindness, young Onwae. And for your help, I shall wash away your enemies.¡±


    Juk found his courage, ¡°stop meddling in our business.¡±


    ¡°Ya!¡± Garnak nodded, raising a fist. ¡°Before we turn you into droplets!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be a fool to threaten an elemental spirit!¡± His body shimmered from blue to black then to blue again. ¡°I will make an example of you all!¡±


    ¡°No if we do it first!¡± Garnak yelled. ¡°Meaty! Tusk attack!¡±


    The giant boar turned his snout towards the apparition, opened his mouth and squealed. A cloud of dust swirled behind him. His hoofs beat the ground. Gygus laughed, raising his hands. His fingers and palms whirling into a funnel. He jerked his elbows back then flung his arms forward. A burst of water shot and splashed against the boar. Meaty squealed, flew, and slammed against the stone.


    The boys eyes widened and they took a step back.


    Juk pointed to Onwae and I, ¡°take them out! If we get them the spirit will fall!¡±


    ¡°Wrong!¡± Onwae snapped. ¡°Gygus is not bound to either of us ¡­ hurting us will do nothing to him but make him angry.¡±


    The boys turned towards each other, faces twisted. Garnak said, ¡°What should we do? That thing is insanely strong.¡±


    Juk yanked a crimson runestone from his robe. ¡°We set it ablaze!¡±


    Each boy nodded and did the same. ¡°Spirit form,¡± they yelled. In a flash, their beasts were spirits surrounded by fire. ¡°Flesh form!¡± They then said.


    ¡°Could it work?¡± Onwae whispered, a tremble in her voice. ¡°Could they really hurt him?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°elemental spirits are said to be stronger than both beast and grim spirits ¡­ and if that is true, it would take several experienced shaman to bring him down.¡±


    Juk looked between the four boys, ¡°Together now, triblings! Fireblast!¡±


    The fire boar, wolverine, racoon, and badger beasts positioned, then together roared. Four beams of flames arched together, forming one giant beam that blasted forward, tearing a hole through the apparition. Gygus flashed blue and black, groaning. The spirit split in half. His lower half liquified and collapsed. The top half fell and splashed into the pool.


    Onwae screamed.


    I shook my head in disbelief.  ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I grabbed Onwae and pulled her into my chest. ¡°Orange was a good spirit.¡±


    She teared. ¡°Why are they so cruel ¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know ¡­ but look there.¡± The four boys stood panting, sweat pouring from their faces. Each of their beasts collapsed on the ground as lifeless as Sapphire. ¡°Looks like they¡¯ve used all of their spirit energy.¡±


    ¡°But I thought Meeka said that using runes doesn¡¯t drain as much spirit energy.¡±


    I nodded, ¡°She did ¡­ but it seems she still has a lot to learn herself.¡± I rubbed her back. ¡°I think enchanting them while the beast is in spirit form drained a lot of their energy.¡±


    Juk wiped his face then took a step towards us. ¡°Come on, fellow shaman,¡± he gasped, ¡°let¡¯s finish them off.¡±


    The other three boys looked up at us grimly. Their faces twisted in agony. Gronak said, ¡°together we can still take them.¡±


    Onwae whispered, ¡°I feel weak too, Kai ¡­ too weak to run.¡±


    I sat her down on a rock, ¡°I know you are. You¡¯ve done well. Let me handle them.¡± She gave me a smile and I felt more confident. I turned and faced the four boys, standing tall, appearing unafraid. ¡°Listen. We need not go any further. Please. Let¡¯s end this.¡±


    Juk looked down upon Meeka who past out from the pain. ¡°We are going to end this,¡± he said, ¡°with you and that girl paying for what you did to the young chieftess. Then we will take that runestone!¡±


    I clenched my hands into fists, ¡°looks like this will come down to fists seeing how our guardians have been weakened.¡±


    I will try one last time, I thought, closing my eyes and taking three long breaths. The darkness did not return and Panchu was nowhere to be found. I could not call him. I could not use my spirit focus. I reopened them and glared.


    ¡°Who¡¯s first¡ª¡±


    Behind me was a low, deep laugh that made my neck hairs stand. I peered over my shoulder. The pool churned and churned, as I watched the water rise, shimmer blue and black as before.


    ¡°Fools!¡± Gygus said, laughing. ¡°It¡¯s take more than that to put me into orb form!¡±


    The four boys looked upon the shimmering apparition, trembling. Garnak mumbled, ¡°I-I thought we killed it.¡±


    Juk shook his head, ¡°you thought wrong ¡­¡±


    Garnak fell to his knees. The other two followed. ¡°We yield!¡±


    ¡°No we don¡¯t!¡± Juk snapped. ¡°We need to get that runestone. The chief is counting on us.¡±


    Garnak¡¯s lip trembled, ¡°but we¡¯ll die!¡±


    ¡°So be it ¡­¡±


    ¡°But i don¡¯t want to die ¡­¡±


    ¡°Me neither!¡±


    ¡°Nor I!¡±


    Juk narrowed his eyes, ¡°wimps ¡­¡± He then turned to the apparition, to Onwae and I then to ¡­ Sapphire. His beamed open. ¡°Rocco ¡­ Jaw grip!¡±


    Spent, the racoon-like creature jumped to all fours.


    Orange watched, his hands whirling. Suddenly they were balls of water. He brought his arms back then forward, firing droplets the size of watermelons.


    ¡°Rocco ¡­ Dodge!¡±


    The giant coon nodded eyeing each ball of water. He leapt and dove, ducked and dodged each ball of water as they splashed around him. A final jump carried the beast to sapphire. He opened his mouth and snapped his jaws around the butterfly''s neck, preparing for the kill.

 Chapter 12

    ¡°Wait!¡± Onwae raised bother her hands, one at Juk and one at Gygus. ¡°Please stop.¡± They both halted. ¡°No more ¡­ I beg of you.¡±


    Juk frowned, ¡°then call off your pet or whatever it is to you. If you don''t, I¡¯ll cause Sapphire to fall and leave your spirit scarred.¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°No!¡±


    Onwae patted my chest then looked up at Gygus, nodding her head. The apparition blinked blue and black, then lowered his hands, nodding. ¡°Only for you, Onwae.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She looked at Juk, brows  furrowed. ¡°Now you release her!¡±


    Juk shook his head, ¡°it¡¯s only fair to cause your pet to fall as you did Meeka.¡±


    I stepped forward and yelled. ¡°It was I who threw the spear. I who struck the fox. If you want to blame somebody, or wound a spirit, wound mine.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Onwae snapped, shaking her head. ¡°We must not wound anybody anymore. We were all friends not so long ago, or have you all forgotten?¡± She grabbed the runestone and tossed it over to them. ¡°Here!¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I whispered, shaking my head. ¡°What about Tuma.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± She said, looking into my eyes and smiling. Then turned back to Juk. ¡°We are from the same tribe, and though we have our differences, we must work together. Heal the chief if you must. We¡¯ll find another way to recover our own.¡±


    ¡°Wise choice,¡± Juk nodded, picking up the runestone. He handed it to Gronak. ¡°Here ¡­ why don¡¯t you be useful for once.¡±


    Gronak took the stone and grumbled, "I am useful."


    Juk waved a hand, ¡°Rocco release.¡± The coon nodded and did as he was told. He took a breath then collapsed next to sapphire. Juk raised the totem in his hand, ¡°Rest!¡± The coon materialized into an orb and floated back into the totem. The other boys did the same with their guardians. Juk frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t think the chief won¡¯t hear about what happened here.¡± He gazed at the other to boys. ¡°Tykka! Rymka! Pick up the young chieftess and rest her on Meaty¡¯s back. He¡¯ll need to carry her back to Mid mountain village.¡±


    Gronak groaned, ¡°but he needs rest ¡­¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯ll get rest when the chieftess has returned.¡± They did as they were told. Juk glared at us one more time then they headed back the way they came.


    Gygus crossed his arms, ¡°you should¡¯ve let me take care of them.¡±


    Onwae looked up and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d do anything to help you, Onwae.¡± Gygus¡¯s voice bubbled. ¡°Your spirit is strong ¡­ and when it¡¯s strong enough, come back and I¡¯ll bind to you.¡±


    Her eyes glowed. ¡°You¡¯ll bind to me?¡±


    I raised my head and smiled, ¡°why not now?¡±


    Gygus shook his head spraying water to his right and left. ¡°Her spirit needs to grow ¡­ and only a guardian can help that. If you try to bind to a spirit, and you¡¯re too weak, you will die.¡± He looked at the falls at his back. ¡°For now, I will do what I was meant to do, and that is to protect the falls until you return.¡±


    Onwae was glowing, ¡°I look forward to it.¡± She studied the spirit, ¡°may I ask how you got stuck in the cave?¡±


    Gygus lowered himself down until his enormous head was only feet away. ¡°Certainly.¡± He said ponderously. ¡°Rakku and I, like many spirits, are at war with each other.¡±


    We both raised our eyebrows. Onwae asked, ¡°what kind of war?¡±


    ¡°The war to please The Great Spirit ¡­¡±


    Onwae and I exchanged a look of confusion. I asked, ¡°There is a war between the spirits?¡± Gygus nodded, sending huge droplets in our direction. Onwae and I stepped to the side, dodging, our feet getting wet. ¡°What kind of war?¡±


    ¡°For the next spirit to take his place.¡± Gygrus replied gravely. "There are dark spirits who are trying to become the next Great Spirit."


    My stomach churned. ¡°But there is only one Great Spirit ¡­ the one who has built this world.¡±


    ¡°The Great Spirit is a God, yes, but he is also a shepard. One for all the spirits of this world.¡± Gygus¡¯s sighed and his tone lowered. ¡°All God¡¯s must die. And sadly his time is coming to an end.¡± He reflected on the question. ¡°Rakuu attacked me because he, like many spirits, wants to become the next Great Spirit ¡­ so they will kill any that come within their path to prove they''re worthy.¡±


    Onwae corked her head, ¡°but isn¡¯t Rakuu trapped in the cave?¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± Gyrgru said, ¡°trapped to his fossils ... like I am trapped to the falls. But like me, Rakku wants to bind to a strong spirit. And one day he may find one ¡­ hopefully that day won¡¯t be before the Great Spirit has fallen.¡± Gygrus looked down at the pool. ¡°Now. Before you go, I have a gift.¡±


    In a blink, he liquified and sunk into the water.


    I looked at Onwae, "I wonder what kind of gift he has?¡±


    She smiled, ¡°I am sure it¡¯ll be a good one.¡±


    The pool funneled upward and formed into the silhouette of the creature. The apparition shimmered blue and black as he held out his arm. A glowing green light in his palm. One-by-one, He opened his fingers on his enormous hand, revealing three herbal runestones. Our eyes glowed and we smiled.


    ¡°Those are for us?¡± Onwae asked.


    ¡°They are!¡± Gygus replied. ¡°You said you needed them to help one of your friends.¡±


    Onwae nodded, ¡°yes.¡± Then turned towards Sapphire. ¡°Though she¡¯s very wounded. It maybe a bit before she can help heal them.¡± Onwae looked at the butterfly totem in her hand, raised it, and said, ¡°Sapphire ¡­ rest!¡± The butterfly faded into an orb and back into the totem. Sne snapped it onto her necklace.


    I grinned at Gygus. ¡°Thank you for your help, Great Water Spirit. We would¡¯ve lost without you.¡±


    The apparition shimmered. ¡°And thank you ¡­ I was lost without you ¡­ Now, I must return to protecting the falls. Do come back and see me soon.¡±


    ¡°We will,¡± Onwae promised. ¡°And you keep from harm while we¡¯re gone ¡­ no more problems with Rakuu, ok?¡±


    He chuckled and nodded his head, splashing water. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    We waved goodbye, and then the apparition liquified into drops, sinking into the pool. With the runestone in hand, Onwae and I headed back down the path hopeful that we would be in time to help Tuma.


    Just hold on, my friend. I thought. We are coming.


    ¡°You see,¡± Onwae grinned, ¡°everything works out in the end.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°If Gygus had all these the whole time, he could¡¯ve saved us a lot of trouble by giving us some. Meeka and the others too.¡±


    Onwae giggled, ¡°ya, but then he wouldn¡¯t have seen how strong we were.¡±


    I looked at my spear then back to her. ¡°You mean how strong you were. Without you and Sapphire we wouldn¡¯t of had a chance.¡±


    ¡°You helped me feel strong.¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°no. That was all you ¡­ your bravery was all because of that big heart you have.¡±


    Her cheeks reddened.


    ¡°No!¡± A voice carried over the mountains. ¡°You can¡¯t take her!¡±


    Onwae and I raised our ears. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Sounded like ¡­¡±


    We both looked upon each other wide-eyed and said, ¡°Juk!¡±


    She grabbed my hand and together we sprinted down the mountain path. Trees zipped by us. The wind swearing in our ears. We came around the bend and found three boys. A pool of blood. And no Meeka.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    We ran to juk and kneeled to help him get up. He screamed, ¡°Get off me! I can get up myself ¡­¡±


    ¡°Can you?¡± We watched him wobble up, legs trembling and giving under his weight. He collapsed and groaned. ¡°Cause it looks to me like you need some assistance.¡±


    Garnak sat trembling, gazing upon the pool of blood. He frowned. ¡°It was that creature. The one that attacked the chief. It took her. It took Meeka.¡±


    Onwae looked from shoulder to shoulder. ¡°Where was the other boy you were with? The one with the wolverine guardian?¡±


    ¡°Eaten.¡± Garnak¡¯s lip trembled. ¡°The beast was hungry and ripped through his flesh right in front of us. We wanted to help but our spirit energy was too low. We could do nothing.¡±


    I glanced at the crimson pool and felt my skin crawl. ¡°What does this creature want with Meeka?¡±


    Juk furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°isn¡¯t it obvious? It needs another snack for later ¡­ and if we don¡¯t find it soon we¡¯ll be too late.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head and rubbed my chin. ¡°There is something strange about this ¡­ I can feel it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Onwae asked. ¡°What do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Who cares,¡± Juk tried to stand again only find himself back on his rump. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you meddling in our affairs we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡±


    Onwae crossed her arms and glared. ¡°You were the one who attacked us ¡­ or are you too weak to remember?¡±


    ¡°There is no time for this now,¡± I said looking at both of them. ¡°We have to know where it¡¯s going.¡± But how?


    Garnak pointed, ¡°all you have to do is follow those tracks ¡±


    Onwae and I brought our eyes down to the familiar five toe and five clawed footprints. She gasped. ¡°Kai! Are those what I think they are?¡±


    I knelt down and touched them. They were still warm. Freshly made. I nodded, ¡°it wasn¡¯t vessix or Meeka who started that rune fire.¡±


    Juk raised his head suddenly, ¡°rune fire? What are you talking about?¡±


    Onwae replied calmly. ¡°We fell behind the tribe because Panchu was sleeping ¡­¡±


    ¡°Figures,¡± Juk snapped. ¡°That guardian is useless.¡±


    I clenched my fist, ¡°Only I can call him that! And he¡¯s not useless ¡­ he was taken a nap because he stayed up all night gathering the fish that you all consumed.¡±


    Garnak corked his head, ¡°you mean the fish The Great Spirit left us?¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t The Great Spirit. It was Panchu. The reason he didn¡¯t help clear the path is because he wanted to save his energy for the hunt.¡± I lowered my head. ¡°So I let him rest.¡±


    ¡°Touching story, but I don¡¯t know what this has to do with us.¡±


    Onwae replied, ¡°our party stayed behind, and rested as Panchu had m¡±


    ¡°That was foolish,¡± Juk said, ¡°you should always keep a lookout.¡±


    ¡°We had one!¡± Onwae¡¯s tone grew sharp. ¡°But he too fell asleep. And when we awoke we found paw prints all around us. These same paw prints that are here now.¡±


    Juk and Garnak stared at one another, their mouths hung, eyes wide.


    Juk shrugged, ¡°so ¡­¡±


    I jabbed my spear into the print, ¡°so when we tried to catch up to you the path had been set to blaze by a fire runestone ¡­ the same one you all carried.¡± I jabbed again. ¡°At first I thought it was Vessix''s print and Meeka was behind it.¡±


    ¡°She would never,¡± Juk waved a hand, ¡°to think the chieftess would do such a thing ¡­ it''s foolish.¡±


    I furrowed my eyebrows then said, ¡°but now I am realizing that somebody was trying to keep us away ¡­ trying to split the group.¡±


    Garnak rubbed the mole on his cheek, ¡°and why would anybody wanna do that?¡±


    Onwae eyes filled with light, ¡°maybe they want to attack the chief. Less people means less threat.¡±


    Garnak sat up, ¡°yes ¡­ yes ¡­ we fell into a trap with fire runes ¡­ and it cut the main group off from the chief. He was hit by something and fell ¡­ and by the time we got to him he was nearly dead.¡±


    ¡°Whomever attacked us had a sure plan,¡± Juk said. ¡°They even took all the herbal runes.¡± He rubbed his half-bitten ear. ¡°And when Meeka saw what happened she took action ¡­ she gathered us together to save her father ¡­ save the chief.¡±


    ¡°Save?¡± I wrinkled my forehead. ¡°But if they went through all that trouble ¡­ why didn¡¯t they just kill the chief? Why only wound him?¡±


    Garnak pounded his chest, ¡°the chief is strong. He would not easily fall.¡±


    Juk looked upon me and pondered on my question. ¡°They were never after the Chief ¡­ they were alway after Meeka.¡±


    ¡°But of course!¡± Onwae said, twiddling her thumbs. ¡°Whomever attacked the chief knew Meeka would do anything to save her father ¡­ so they baited her out here for the herbal stone.¡±


    Juk yanked a knife from his hip and pointed it at us. ¡°It was you ¡­ you set the trap ¡­ you weakened our spirit energy so that thing ¡­ that paley, red-eyed monster could take her from us!¡±


    The inside of my body grew numb and my throat tightened. I could hardly breath. I stared off blankly, remembering that night ¡­ the raspy hiss in the darkness ¡­ and those red eyes. Xukai.


    ¡°You said it was a red-eyed monster?¡± I grabbed Juk by the robe and shook. ¡°With pale flesh?¡±


    The kid dropped the knife and winced, ¡°Take it easy ¡­ yes ¡­ why?¡±


    I looked upon the pool again, ¡°and it ate that poor boy? There¡¯s only one creature with the hunger for flesh ¡­ and that¡¯s a grim ¡­  a wendigo.¡±


    They exchanged terrified looks.


    ¡°A wendingo?¡± Garnak shuttered. ¡°W-whats a grim doing out here?¡±


    I stood to my feet and clutched my spear tightly, ¡°grims come to take those who were unworthy of The Great Spirit ¡­ unworthy of having a guardian ¡­ and I know this because Xukai tried to bind his spirit with mine."


    "Xukai?" Juk crossed his arms, ¡°the guardians did not want you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not even Panchu.¡±


    Onwae frowned, ¡°You¡¯ve never told me this ¡­¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t,¡± I replied. ¡°The night of the spirit ceremony I was angered that I was not chosen. I went into the woods, like many of the others, trying to beg Panchu to accept me as his shaman.¡±


    Juk chuckled, ¡°and he said no.¡±


    ¡°He did. And then he left. And that creature ¡­ that monster that took Meeka ¡­ he was there trying to bind his spirit to mine ¡­ but I wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It was powerful. Too strong. It would¡¯ve forced me if Panchu wouldn¡¯t have come back to save my life.¡±


    Juk glared, ¡°that¡¯s cause you¡¯re weak ¡­ and full of fear.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I nodded, ¡°I am. But I am also aware of my weakness. Is Meeka aware of hers?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean that she has been weakened and that creature is looking to bind with a spirit. He¡¯s going to take hers!¡±


    Garnak gulped. Onwae gasped. Juk dropped his head.


    ¡°This is all my fault,¡± Juk said sadly. ¡°I should¡¯ve protected her ¡­ and now that she has a spirit scar she can be easily bound to.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Juk nose flared, ¡°well don¡¯t you know? Grim and Beast spirits will scar a human spirit in order to bind to them ¡­ that¡¯s how they do it ¡­ they hurt you until your spirits too weak to fight back. Then they take you.¡±


    ¡°Come on!¡± I stood. ¡°We have to get back to camp.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡± Juk screamed. ¡°But we have to go after the chieftess ¡­¡±


    I nodded, ¡°and we will ¡­ but I can¡¯t do it without my guardian. And you all are too weak to pursue anything. Now lets go before time runs out.¡±


    The hike down was mostly a silent one, except when Garnak groaned, and Juk swore saying how we should go after the chieftess. The third boy, who I later found out was named Tykka was quiet, still upset over his brother''s death.


    When we reached the camp I found Mowak and Shade tending to Tuma, and the old bear snoring beneath the tree, right where we left him. I wondered if he¡¯d even moved. Probably not  ¡­ and if he had it wasn¡¯t far or likely to get a bite to eat.


    Mowak raised her eyebrows suspiciously, ¡°What are they doing here? And what happened to you? You look terrible.¡±


    I replied, ¡°there¡¯s no time to explain.¡± I walked over to the old bear and kicked him. ¡°Hey! Wake up!¡± He continued to snore as I clenched my teeth.


    Juk said in a nasty tone, ¡°that guardian of yours is trouble ¡­ why don¡¯t you just blow into your totem to wake him?¡±


    ¡°Because that doesn¡¯t work.¡± I walked over to my bag and pulled out a comb of honey then waved it by his snout. ¡°I said get up!¡±


    Panchu snout twitched, and his eyelids ripped open. He growled. ¡°Get that nasty stuff away from me, Kai!¡±


    Mowak crossed her arms, ¡°a bear who hates honey ¡­ I never thought I¡¯d see the day.¡±


    Panchu groaned as he rolled over, ¡°I¡¯m only part bear I¡¯ll have you know.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s the other part,¡± Juk snapped, ¡°sloth?¡±


    Panchu blinked several times, ¡°who¡¯re these guys? And what smells like bacon?¡± He turned towards Garnak. The boy gulped. ¡°Is it you?¡±


    ¡°Please stay away from my g-guardian,"  Garnak said, rubbing his hog-head totem.


    I waved a hand, ¡°We need to go after Meeka ¡­ a creature has taken her.¡±


    ¡°You mean that girl from the table? The one who got mad at me for eating? The chief''s daughter?¡± He rubbed his head on the tree. ¡°Forget it!¡±


    I prodded the flat end of the spear in his belly. Panchu yawned. ¡°Get up. This is serious. You¡¯re the only guardian that has his strength.¡±


    Juk grumbled, ¡°ya, because he¡¯s been sleeping all day.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I missed,¡± Panchu yawned, ¡°but I don¡¯t care¡ª¡±


    ¡°She was taken by the wendigo! By Xukai.¡±


    Panchu¡¯s snout lifted and he sat silent. He shook his head, ¡°by the time we¡¯d reach her ¡­ she¡¯ll already be dead.¡±


    ¡°We still got a chance¡ª¡±


    ¡°No we don¡¯t!¡± Panchu snapped. ¡°Wendigos only take people for two reason ¡­ to eat them later or to bind their souls ¡­ that is it.¡±


    Shade glared, ¡°and you¡¯d let him do that to a young shaman without even trying to help? And you call yourself a guardian. You¡¯re pathetic.¡±


    ¡°I never called myself that,¡± he shrugged. ¡°So what ¡­ the little brat gets what she deserves¡­ that''s  no quills off my back.¡±


    Juk stood up, ¡°that brat is our young chieftess!¡± He wobbled and fell back down.


    Panchu let out a low chuckle, ¡°And? I¡¯m sure you only want to save her because you¡¯re in love with her.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Juk raised a finger, his cheeks reddening. ¡°I¡¯d be a fool to love somebody of her stature.¡±


    ¡°Well you do look the part,¡± Panchu guffawed, patting his tummy. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going to grab some grub.¡±


    ¡°No you¡¯re not,¡± I said, driving my spear into the ground. ¡°You¡¯re going to help us find her!¡±


    His snout wrinkled, ¡°and why should I do a thing like that?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± I shook my head, ¡°you¡¯re the only one who can defeat him ¡­ you did it to save me, now I¡¯m asking you, in front of all of them, please, help us.¡±


    Panchu looked between the many faces in the crowd. Each one twisted with a pleading expression. Eyes trembling. He shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m no guardian, kid ¡­¡±


    Tykka Leaped to his feet and screamed. ¡°That creature ¡­ t-that thing ¡­ it grabbed my brother and bit off his head!¡± His lips trembled. ¡°And then it chewed, mocking me as I cried and screamed ¡­ I don¡¯t know what Meeka has done to you, but she doesn¡¯t deserve that same fate.¡± He teared. ¡°Nobody deserves a fate like that.¡±


    Panchu looked upon the boy and sighed. ¡°No ¡­ no they don¡¯t.¡± He looked upon me. ¡°Your spirit energy is still low.¡±


    ¡°I know. And Sapphire is too weak to help rejuvenate it.¡±


    ¡°Even if you were full,¡± The bear spoke softly, ¡°even then it¡¯d be a challenge we could hardly face.¡±


    I nodded, ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to have to attack quickly. Over power the creature before he has the time to react.¡±


    The old bear scraped his fangs together, "I¡¯m a big beast ¡­ It¡¯ll be hard to stay hidden.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t,¡± I said, picking up my spear. ¡°when you get eyes on him ¡­ charge.¡± I looked at the others. ¡°The rest of you will have to stay here.¡±


    Juk shook his head, ¡°I go where the chieftess goes.¡±


    Garnak nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine to stay.¡±


    ¡°Coward ¡­¡±


    Tykka looked upon me, ¡°I¡¯m going to go too. That thing killed my brother. I want my revenge.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°What about us?¡± Onwae asked, ¡°Mowak, Shad, and I can be of use.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You need to allow Sapphire to rest. When she has regained her strength, try and figure out how to use those herbal runes. We may need them when we return.¡±


    Garnak raised his hand, ¡°I could show you ¡­ It¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He grinned and turned towards Juk, ¡°told you I wasn¡¯t useless ¡­¡±


    ¡°Still makes you a coward.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡± I looked up the trail. ¡°Let¡¯s find Meeka ¡­ and let''s go kill that beast.¡±

 Chapter 13

    The four of us found the paw prints leading through the forest and disappearing into the thicket. How far they went and how far ahead the creature was was unknown. But with four of us we¡¯d be slower ¡­ My only hoped the Wendingo would need to stop to rest at some point.


    Panchu lifted his snout and took three breaths. ¡°The trail is growing cold ¡­ we need to make haste.¡±


    Juk nodded, ¡°I bet you can smell him for miles.¡±


    ¡°Do I look like a dog,¡± Panchu snapped. ¡°Keep attentive. This thing will know we¡¯re coming ¡­ and it may have set traps.¡±


    ¡°Traps,¡± Tykka raised his eyebrows. ¡°What kind of traps?  It¡¯s just a grim ¡­ it¡¯s not a human.¡±


    ¡°And I suppose I¡¯m just a guardian.¡± Panchu chuckled, stepping over a log. He pushed between two bushes and we followed close behind. ¡°That grim was able to take care of you lot.¡±


    Juk glared at me. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that creature ¡­ it was this one here ... he and his water spirit.¡±


    ¡°Water spirit?¡± Panchu looked between them. ¡°What¡¯d I miss?¡±


    ¡°Too much,¡± I replied irritated. ¡°If you weren¡¯t hibernating all day you would¡¯ve heard.¡±


    ¡°Hibernating?¡± Panchu lifted his snout and chuckled. ¡°If only ¡­¡±


    I pulled the bear-head totem from my neck. ¡°You hibernate all you want.¡±


    ¡°Urgh!¡± The old bear groaned and shook his head. ¡°Never liked being trapped in a totem.¡±


    Juk asked obnoxiously, ¡°Why not?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Do you get nightmares?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he shook his head. ¡°I just fear I''ll be left to sleep and forgotten.¡±


    Tykka asked, ¡°how long would you hibernate?¡±


    ¡°If forgotten, until whomever I was bound to died.¡±


    My lips curled. ¡°Best not make me upset then ¡­ or it might be a long sleep.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be a fool to threaten me, boy.¡± Panchu snapped. ¡°Besides, It¡¯d take a tribe to get me to hibernate. Now what happened between all of you?¡±


    I glared at Juk. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it ¡­¡±


    ¡°Why not? We¡¯ve got time.¡±


    He had a point. And it was better to have him aware of the situation then be left in the dark. I told him about the falls. The herbal runestone. Gygus. And the battle between us. Panchu chuckled and shook his head, and I sensed he was less than impressed.


    ¡°Fools. ¡° Panchu guffawed. ¡°You all did the work for him ¡­ you fell right into his trap time and time again.¡±


    Juk lips sunk, ¡°we didn¡¯t know we were going to be attacked by your party. The chief is more important than Tuma. The fact that you didn¡¯t give us the herbal rune was unacceptable.¡±


    ¡°It was ours.¡± I snapped. ¡°The chief wasn¡¯t the only one who was injured.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but if Tuma had¡¯ve known, he would¡¯ve made the sacrifice. As would you.¡±


    The fact that Juk thought he knew what I''d do made my blood boil. I glared. What would I have done? If it were me who''d been injured would I have wanted to heal myself or heal the chief? Who was more valuable to the tribe? I mean, I wasn''t even chosen by a guardian. The Great Spirit didn''t deem me worthy.


    "Maybe," I said at last. "But it wasn''t me who had been injured. It was my friend. And his life was important to us. To our party."


    "We can''t change the past." Tykka replied kicking a stone with such might it shot into the air and got lost in a grove of trees twenty feet away. "We all acted hastefully ¡­ and not how The Great Spirit would''ve wanted. We are from the same tribe. We should be allies, not enemies."


    "Here! Here!" Panchu guffawed loudly. "Finally. There is somebody amongst us, like me, who makes a bit of sense."


    Tykka hadn''t smiled since his brother passed. But the compliment made his face brighten. Maybe that is all we needed ¡­ to talk. To work things out without acting in haste. And acting in anger. We were from the same tribe. We may be different in motives and our thoughts, but that doesn''t mean our goals are not the same.


    "We are all here for our tribe." I looked at each one of them. "This we all agree upon. And if we can find what brings us together, and not what separates us, then we will be much more successful."


    I wish I had said this to the others: To Tuma, Onwae, Mowak, Sqakron, Shade, and Sapphire. Maybe then we wouldn''t have been in the circumstance we were in. Maybe then we could''ve defeated Rakku instead of run like frightened triblings. And maybe then we''d all still be together.


    "Not you too," Juk said with a hint of sarcasm. "I will never be one of you. Worthless. Unchosen. A boy who''d rather save another tribling then his own chief. You''re pathetic and unworthy of being a Spirit Shaman." He lifted his chin and threw back his robe,  "Hhmp!" and stormed off in the direction of the tracks.


    I took a step after him.


    "Let him go," Panchu said. "Don''t waste your breath trying to convince somebody who doesn''t want convincing. He needs to discover things on his own."


    "But we must stay together!"


    "He''ll be fine. I''m sure he just needs to blow off some steam¡ª"


    A loud, daunting holler came through the trees, causing a nest of blue bird''s to awaken and take flight. The forest then grew silent. And we stood looking at one another.


    Tykka said what we were all thinking. "Juk!"


    All together, we sprinted southward where the noise had come from. I kept my arms up, shielding my face from the swinging branches while trees blurred past me. My hope was that the weindgo hadn''t gotten to him first. And hadn''t tore his head from his body. The woods were now silent, except our light steps, and heavy breaths.


    We came around a bend and there was a shrill, "Stop!"


    I locked my leg and turned my feet sideways. My momentum caused me to slide. Rocks and dirt leaving a trail from my moccasins. We stopped, and just in time too. Juk''s skinny chin was only inches above the ground. The rest of his body was swallowed by black dirt.


    "Quicksand," Tykka said, taking a step back. "We''ve got to get him out of there."


    "This is no quicksand," Panchu shook his head, "this is something else ¡­ one of those traps I was telling you about."


    I asked, "how can you be certain?"


    Panchu turned towards me and wrinkled his snout.  "Have you ever heard of quicksand in these forests? And look at it." I took my eyes off of him and gazed upon the black, oozing liquid. "He''s in the middle ¡­ it was probably hard before he fell in."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Juk tried to keep still, but that didn''t keep his jaws from snapping, "will you stop talking and get me out of here!"


    "Relax, Juk." Tykka said, holding up his hands. If you fight it you''ll only succumb to it''s pull."


    "If you don''t shut up and help you''re going to succumb to my pull when I get out of here!"


    Tykka looked at Panchu and I, "maybe we should just leave him ¡­"


    We chuckled.


    "That''s not funny¡ª" His lips went under and came back up. He spat and swore. "Hurry up!"


    Panchu stopped at the edge of the black pool and extended his neck. "You''ve got to ask nicely."


    Juk''s brows sunk as slowly as he was. "You''re all a bunch of triblings!" The black liquid bubbled by his cheek. "What was that?"


    Panchu''s curled lips flattened. He gazed upon the liquid, studying the bubbles. "Oh, no ¡­" He whispered. "This is not quicksand ¡­ it''s ¡­ tar."


    Juk squealed, "please ¡­ help ¡­ it''s getting hot."


    My eyes widened and I said, "It''s not meant to drown him." Tykka and Panchu looked upon me, their faces twisted with worry. "It''s meant to boil him. Hurry! We have to help him!"


    Tykka and I each grabbed a branch and tore it from the tree then hurried to the edge of the stiff earth. We knelt down, extending our arms and limb.


    Tykka groaned, "Grab it!"


    Juk waved his arms like a wild man. "I can''t reach!"


    Panchu whipped his snout right and left, up and down. "I''ll be right back." He darted off into the thicket.


    "Where are you going?"


    "Useless!" Juk said grimly. Black bubbles expanding and erupting all around him. "You must hurry ¡­ I''m being cooked alive!"


    Both Tykka and I swung our arms and I stretched. My shoulder screamed and I felt like it''d tear. "Just a little further." I clenched my teeth. "We can do it."Bubbles exploded around my hands and I felt steam on my flesh, reddening my skin.


    Panchu bursted through the bush, rear facing us. "Move," he grumbled. His mouth full. Tykka and I took a step back while Panchu tugged and pulled, tearing a thin fallen tree through the brush. He jerked his rear left, pulling his snout right, slamming the branch into the tar. "Grab ahold."


    Juk swung his arms, missing. After two more misses, he grabbed two nubs of the branch. He shrieked. "I got it! Pull!"


    Tykka and I scurried to our left while the enormous old bear reared. Grunting and growling, retreating further and further away from the blackness.  In a blur, Juk went from the boiling black pool to solid ground. He panted and groaned. His robe steaming, legs reddened. Sweat rolling down his face. The old bear grunted then dropped the log.


    Tykka ran over to him and knelt to one leg, placing a hand on Juk''s head. "Are you ok?"


    Juk waved a hand, "don''t touch me!" His eyes red and tearing, from the heat, and the burns his skin obtained. He looked down at his legs and groaned. "You all took too long."


    Panchu''s lips sunk, "he needs hex ointment for his wounds ¡­"


    "No one asked you!"


    "This is not just tar." He sniffed, gazing upon the thick black liquid. "This is cursed tar."


    Juk furrowed brows raised to his forehead. "What do you mean?"


    Panchu brought his snout closer, took a sniff, then shook. "Yup ¡­ this is not good."


    I studied the boys blackened flesh. The tar was no long liquid, but shaping. Creating a shell around the boy''s flesh. "It''s hardening ¡­"


    Juk shrugged, "so what."


    "You''ve got a lot to learn, tribling." Panchu shook his head. "I''ve seen this before ¡­ in a village outside the shadow region. They were attacked by Shadow Shaman who''d cursed them with this tar ¡­ what it does is it keeps harden until eventually it''ll cause your bones to snap." He sighed. "If the boiling doesn''t get you, the hardening will."


    "And the hex ointment?" Tykka asked. "What does it do?"


    "It breaks down the tar, making it easy to wipe off. That''s how we were able to save many of the villagers."


    I stood to my feet. "What do we need to make it?"


    "Earth Grubs ¡­ and lots of them." Panchu said. "Their insides are full of goupy liquids and acids that can break down the tar."


    "Hmm." I rubbed my chin and looked around the forests. "Where are we going to find those around here?"


    Tykka tore his badger-head totem from his neck. "He can be of some use. Madgy. Awaken!"


    Suddenly there was a flash as an orb shot to the ground and formed into flesh and fur. The creature wrinkled his snout and looked upon each one of us. Madgy snapped, teething rattling.  "Why''d you wake me? And who might you be?"


    "We need your help ¡­"


    "Of course you do," He snapped glaring at us then to the old bear. "Panchu? Well there''s a face for weary eyes." His lips curled displaying fangs.


    I asked, "You know each other?"


    "Course we do." Madgy chuckled, teeth rattling. "He and I go way back. You''ve gotten fat."


    Panchu guffawed. "Madgy ¡­ it''s been too long ¡­ I heard you were eaten by that albino gator in the swamplands."


    "Nope!" His teeth rattled. "Only lies told by frogs and toads. "


    "What were you doing out in the swamplands, no how?"


    "What you think? Eating frogs and toads ¡­ why you think they made up them lies about me."


    Panchu raised his snout and let out a long, high growling laugh. "I should''ve figured this much."


    Madgy turned towards Juk and shook his head. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. "What''s become of you now, boy?"


    Juk raised a finger and snapped, "I don''t want to hear it from you, Badge. I''m fine."


    "You''re not fine," he squinted and sniffed. "You''ve been swimming in cursed tar, or what?"


    Tykka gasped. "So it is?"


    "Of course it is," He winced and chuckled. "That there curse tar will harden and break every bone in his body ¡­ painful way to go ¡­ seen it happen to a friend. Never heard somebody howl in such agony in all my life."


    Juk''s face paled. He gulped. "What are you all waiting for? You have to help me!"


    Madgy walked around the boy then peered out over the tar. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. "What were you doing playing out there anyway? Anybody with two keen eyes could see it was a trap."


    Juk frowned. "If you must know, I was following wendigo footprints."


    "Wendigo?" He chuckled absurdly. "There''s no wendigo out in these woods."


    Panchu nodded. "My spirit brother ¡­ there is." The old bear then took the time to get the badger up to speed. The beast lips sinking with each and every word.


    "Fools!" Madgy shook his head. "The lot of you ¡­" He then looked upon Tykka. "Sorry to hear about your brother. He was a fine kid. Nasty. Not like you. And that''s what I liked about him."


    Tykka''s lip trembled. "T-thank you ¡­"


    Madgy heckled. "After meeting him, I always thought I made the wrong decision binding my spirit to yours." He and Panchu roared with laughter, only to silence at our unamused expression. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. "Guess it''s not the time for jokes like that." He glanced at Tykka. "I don''t know how much use we''ll be ¡­ your Spirit Energy is still low."


    "I know," Tykka nodded. "But we need you to help us find Earth Grubs."


    "Earth grubs?" The badger face twisted. He looked down upon Juk. "Oh, yes ¡­ the Queen Grub has fluids and acids that can remove that tar. But finding her colony won''t be easy ¡­ and baiting her out will be even harder with all the workers ¡­ But if we do get her out, she won''t be easy to take down." He shook his head. "Queen Grubs are nasty creatures ¡­ as large as I am ¡­ and just as easily tempered."


    Tykka said confidently. "With you and Panchu here, that shouldn''t be a problem."


    Panchu yawned and plopped down. "I''m going to have to stay behind."


    "Coward." Juk stuck out his tongue.


    Not this again. I pointed my speartip at him. "We can''t afford you to sit this one out ¡­"


    "I''m not sitting this out." He looked at Juk. "Somebody is going to have to stay behind with this one. That tar is going to harden and soon he won''t be able to walk ¡­ and unless he wants to rest on my quill, I say we are going to have to stay behind."


    Madgy nodded. "He''s right. And the more he moves the quicker it''ll stiffen."


    Juk eyes widened and he held still. Panchu guffawed. "Stay just like that ¡­ and it''s best you not make a peep." The boy''s face reddened but he held his tongue.


    My brows furrowed, "we need you. There could be more traps out there. And the last few times you haven''t been around I nearly was killed."


    Panchu shrugged and rested his chin on his paws. "You''ll be fine ¡­ besides, you''ve got Madgy here and he''s as mean as they come."


    Juk mumbled, "I''ll say."


    The badger waved his head. "Come on. The old bear will only slow us down and stir up the grubs nest no how."


    "Don''t leave me with him!" Juk yanked the coon-head totem from his neck. "I''ll have Rocco stay and protect me. I don''t want that monster here." His voice trembled. "He might eat me."


    Panchu opened one eye, glaring. "Please. You''d be the last thing I''d want to eat. Besides, I can sense your Spirit Energy. You''re too weak."


    "I don''t care!" Juk screamed. "Rocco, Awaken!"


    The totem glowed and then shot an orb to the ground. It shimmered blue and purple. In an instant, it formed, shaping into the black and gray furred beast. Rocco opened his jaws and yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.


    "Juk. What''s the deal?" He yawned, smacking his lips, and flopping his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He raised his paw. "It''s too bright out here ¡­ don''t you know a coon needs his sleep?"


    "Sorry to bother you, Rocco." There was a kindness in Juk''s voice I hadn''t heard before. "I need you to stay out here and keep a lookout."


    "I diggy." Rocco nodded, rubbing his eyes. He blinked twice and jerked. "Woah! What happend to you? Looks like you were swimming in mud."


    "It wasn''t mud," Juk crossed his arms. "It was tar ¡­ cursed tar."


    "Didn''t know there was such a thing." He looked at Mudgy and then to Panchu." Hey! Badge and Grizzy. Give me some paw." He held it out. Mudgy and Panchu glared at him. "No? That''s fine too."


    "You didn''t tell me the coon was in your party," Panchu whispered.


    Mudgy rubbed his temples. "I was trying to forget."


    Rocco looked around. "Where''s my beast wolver?"


    Tykka lowered his head. "That creature ¡­ the wendigo took his totem."


    "He did?" Rocco shook. "Tragedy ¡­ a straight tragedy. We''ll have to get him back."


    "We''ll come to that path later." Madgy snapped. "For now we need to find the Queen Grub before your master ends up becoming a statue."


    Panchu stood to all four paws. I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren''t coming ¡­"


    "And stay alone with them two?" Panchu shook his head and guffawed. "Forget it."


    My lips curled. Good to know we''ll have him with us this time. Hopefully this will improve our odds, and make this a very quick trip. "Juk. Do your best to stay hidden while we''re gone. We don''t want anybody seeing you."


    Juk forehead wrinkled, "you all just get back quickly ¡­ Meeka is counting on us."

 Chapter 14

    Madgy raised his snout and looked eastward, deciding that the nearest colony was somewhere in the thicket off in that direction. Off trail, everything was even more overgrown, making it near impossible to know which direction was which. And the deeper we ventured, the more overgrown it became. Blocking out the sun and causing shadows to spawn when normally they''d be hiding at this time.


    Even with the robe on, branches found a way to mark my flesh. Leaving red gashes across the top of my skin like somebody dragged their fingernails across it. It didn''t sting much. It was just more of an annoyance than anything.


    The trail snaked down and down into a herd of trees with enormous trunks, weathered bark, that told of its age, and rose high as the eyes could make out. I squinted trying to find the top, but it was hidden by the oversized limbs that staggered to the tippy top.


    Madgy closed his eyes and took a long breath. "We''re close ¡­ You see these trees here? They''re ancient trees of the forest. Beneath them, in soils of the earth is where they reside ¡­ we just have to find their cavern entrance."


    Tykka raised his eyes.  "These trees are enormous. What if the grubs are bigger here?"


    Madgy winced while he laughed. "Not a chance. I''ve hunted in the woods for nearly a hundred years."


    "You''re that old?" Tykka eyebrows raised.


    "Older," he nodded, "though I feel as scrappy as ever. Anywho. Like I said, the Queen is what you have to worry about. She''s as large as I am."


    Panchu rolled his eyes. "Don''t lie to the tribling, badge ¡­ you''re no good at it. You as well as I do know that you bound to him because time was running out for you."


    Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Madgy teeth rattled. He wrinkled his snout, "don''t be speaking nonsense in the ears of my shaman or I''ll have to give you a whippin like I had done in the good-ol-days."


    I raised an eyebrow. "But I thought Guardians can never die."


    "We can''t." Panchu said confidently. "But that doesn''t mean we don''t age. And if we get too old we become weaker spirits ¡­ but if we become too old we become something else entirely."


    "What?"


    "Ancients." Madgy grimaced. "The shepards of The Great Spirit himself."


    An ancient?


    I heard of them before but never had seen one. And as far as I knew, nobody in our village had either. They were supposedly the largest and the strongest of the ancients. Ones taller than the trees who were to be the shepards of the lands.


    "Some spirits want to be Ancients. Others failed to do the will of The Great Spirit." Panchu stared at me intensely. "But as one you''re a slave to The Great Spirit ¡­ until he too has fallen."


    "So it''s true." I mumbled. "Even a God can die."


    Panchu nodded, "yes. And I have heard in the wind, the songs of the birds, and the whispers of the forests that The Great Spirits time is coming. And many of the Spirits are fighting to become the next one."


    Madgy''s voice weakened. "And if a grim or a beast is chosen ¡­ then the world can be covered in darkness like the Age of the Black Forest.


    "Mmhmm." Panchu nodded. "A grizzly time indeed."


    Tykka raised his ear. "I''ve heard of that ¡­ when the world was covered in dead, black trees. And nothing grew cause the ground was like tar."


    "Things grew ¡­ dark things ¡­ like the grim and the beast spirits." Madgy rattled his teeth. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. "So the guardians had to fight ¡­ had to come together and kill The Great Dark Spirit. And killed we had." He stared off like he''d seen those days. His lips sunk. "And there is still an evil out there that wants to blacken the world once more, but this time, for the last time." He moved his snout from left to right, taking a breath. Gazing east, he said, "this way!"


    We roamed eastward around the enormous, ancient, until we came to one with twice the girth as the others. A tree that''d seen centuries of seasons. And would see centuries more. At the base was a breach that was black and surrounded by roots thick as my body. How deep the cavern went was anybody''s guess, but I wasn''t waiting to find out. I sensed the darkness. And the hairs on my neck stood.


    "We have to go down there," Tykka''s voice trembled. I was thankful he''d done the asking. "Maybe that''s not a good idea."


    "Man up, Shaman." Madgy heckled. "You''re going to have to face your fears one day." Panchu and I looked at him curiously. "The boy doesn''t like the dark."


    Tykka shook his head. "It''s not that I don''t like the dark ¡­ I just don''t like what resides within the dark."


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to worry about that now,¡± Panchu said, ¡°we¡¯ve got company.¡±


    I drew my eyes over to the tree. Four slimy, pale bodies that were as long as the limb of trees scooted from the breach. Red-rounded eyes on their heads. And several red nubs, at least two dozen, made up their feet. They scooted out of the darkness. Arching and stretching their bodies. Two enormous mandibles snapping beneath their eyes.


    ¡°Do they have four queens?¡± Tykka asked.


    Madgy shook his head. ¡°Nope. Those are just patrol grubs.¡± He blinked and squinted. ¡°Never seen them so big ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say,¡± Boy gulped. ¡°They¡¯re the size of you.¡±


    Madgy nodded. ¡°This might be a bit more difficult than first anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Nah!¡± Panchu shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll take two, you can take one, and the boys can manage the other. Right Kai?¡±


    I clutched my spear, ¡°I guess ¡­ yes.¡±


    ¡°Wait ¡­ what?"  Tykka shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not how Spirit Shaman fight. We are to command the guardians.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t always work like that, kid.¡± Madgy snapped. ¡°And you¡¯re not fighting shaman ¡­ you¡¯re fighting grubs ¡­ creatures that are just trying to survive.¡±


    Panchu nodded. ¡°Right.¡±


    One of the grubs whipped at the other. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± It¡¯s mandibles snapped. ¡°There¡¯s something out there.¡±


    The four creatures stretched half their elongated bodies, weaving from side to side, looking in our direction.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing out there.¡±


    ¡°Ya ¡­ you¡¯re just hearing things ¡­ get back to work.¡± One of them snapped. ¡°The Queen wants to make sure everything is ready for the wendigo¡¯s ceremony.¡±


    We looked amongst each other. ¡°What do they mean by that?¡±


    Panchu turned his head. ¡°Seems these grubs have aligned with our friend Xukai.¡±


    ¡°Good thing we¡¯ve learned that now.¡± I replied. ¡°Taking care of the Queen benefits us even more.¡±


    Tykka''s brows furrowed. ¡°If they¡¯re aligned with that creature then not even darkness can stop me.¡±


    Madgy¡¯s lips curled. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit¡ª¡±


    Tykka stomped out from his hiding place, rolling up his sleeves. He pointed his badger totem staff. ¡°Hey! Grubs ¡­ I¡¯ve got a bone to pick with you.¡±


    ¡°What is he doing?¡± Madgy snapped. ¡°These shaman these days know nothing about the element of surprise ¡­¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Look there!¡± One of the grubs snapped. ¡°I told you I sensed something.¡±


    Panchu sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll ¡­ looks like we¡¯ll have to go out and help him.¡±


    The grubs Mandible''s snapped together as they moved towards the boy. Inching. Not very fast, but they didn¡¯t look like they were trying to get too close.


    ¡°Now!¡± One of them said. ¡°Silk string!¡±


    All four of them elongated their bodies and tilted their heads. From a red mark on their foreheads shot a white string. It hit the boy. He screamed, ¡°help!¡± as his limbs began to stick to his torso.


    Panchu looked at me. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to take one by yourself.¡± I nodded feeling my heart beat like a war drum.  "They are distracted. We still have the element of surprise. Attack!¡±


    Together we bursted from the bushes. Roaring. Hissing. Yelling. The old bear and badgers fangs out, and my spear tip readied. We charged. The grubs rounded eyes grew. They halted their string attacks and turned towards us. Boy collapsed, tangled.


    ¡°There!¡± One snapped. ¡°There¡¯s more of them¡ª¡±


    They were too slow to respond. And we were much too quick on our assault. Panchu leaped between all four, drawing their attention. Madgy grabbed one from the rear, whipping his head back and forth. His fangs tearing into the squishy flesh, white goop poured out. I speared the one next to it. They both raised their heads and snapped their mandibles. When they turned them on us, lunging our way, I rolled then found my feet. The creature dove head first into a stone. Dazed, I leaped up then drove my spearhead downward. It pierced through the shell of the grubs head, finding dirt on the other side.


    I turned to Madgy, who was devouring his own: head, mandibles, and everything. Panchu took his paws and slammed the other two grubs heads together with enough force to have them explode. Red shell, sticky string, and white goope covered the earth. Afterward he too feasted.


    I grimaced watching them take chunk after chunk into their mouth. ¡°Disgusting ¡­¡±


    Panchu guffawed, ¡°that¡¯s cause you¡¯ve never tried it, kid.¡± He pointed his snout. It was covered in the white goope. ¡°Go on. Help yourself.¡±


    I gagged. ¡°I¡¯ll pass, thank you.¡±


    ¡°A little help, please?¡± Tykka fought the sticky webbing, but the more he fought the more his body contoured; his heels at his butt, and his arms behind his back. ¡°This really hurts ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± I said, ripping my spear from the grubs head. The carcass rolled into a ring, lifeless.


    I stood over Tykka and began slashing right and then left. Each hack removed the binds around him. It only took a minute to get through them, and after a few tugs, the boy was freed. It took another twenty to get the webbing off, and by that time the grubs were gone, and Panchu and Madgy¡¯s bellies were full. They laid on their backs, paws up, grinning.


    ¡°That was sure good eaten,¡± Madgy said, licking the last of the goope from his snout.


    Panchu belched. ¡°I¡¯ll say ¡­ the best I¡¯d had in years.¡±


    They both let out a snarling laugh then bumped paws.


    I frowned. ¡°So glad you¡¯ve all enjoyed yourselves, but we¡¯ve got work to finish. If you¡¯ve forgotten, Juk is about to become a statue and Meeka is about to become bound to a grim.¡±


    They both shrugged and laughed, pounding paws once more. I drove the flat end into their bellies hard enough to make them both glare and growl.


    ¡°Get up!¡±


    ¡°Kai, we need thirty minutes,¡± Panchu said. ¡°It¡¯s not good to battle on a full stomach.¡±


    Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Madgy wrinkled his snout. ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Well you should¡¯ve thought about that before you both indulged ¡­ there will be plenty of grub eating if you do as you¡¯re told. Now get up and let''s go.¡±


    Panchu and Madgy rolled onto their bellies, both groaning like the old beast they were. Tykka came behind us as the four of us looked down into the blackness wondering what awaits.


    "How''re we going to see in there?"


    "We badgers are nocturnal." Madgy said, lips curled. "I''ll lead the way!"


    "That doesn''t help us though." Tykka replied, pulling a red runestone from his satchel. "But we have this."


    I raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do with that?"


    "Ignite Madgy, of course." He grinned. "He can stay in spirit form and lighten our path."


    Both the old bear and badger shook their heads. "Not a good idea," Panchu said.


    "Light will draw the grubs to us," Madgy replied. "It''ll also drain your spirit energy, and while in spirit form I cannot be of any use. Only in flesh form can we Guardians attack."


    Panchu nodded his head several times. "What he said."


    I sighed, knowing I''d have to be the voice of reason. "We have no other choice. We have no torches or a lantern to light our way. We''ll have to do this and take our chances."


    "But they''re already low on Spirit Energy," Panchu whispered for only my ears. "If we drain them, who will we have to fight the Queen,  and worse, the Wendigo when it comes to it? Me."


    "Enough!" Tykka''s furrowed his eyebrows. "I respect your guardians opinion, but this is the only way. We waste too much time in discussion. We need to take action. And if this is the wrong course, it''ll fall upon me."


    "But it is the wrong course," Madgy snapped. "Don''t let what happened to your brother anger you and be your downfall¡ª"


    "Stop! Don''t speak of him," Tykka''s eyes watered and voice trembled. "I command you into Spirit Form!"


    Madgy looked up at Panchu who shook his head, defiant as ever. Madgy sighed then looked at Tykku and said, "this will be your funeral."


    In a flash, the bader''s flesh and fur became a green energy, still shaped like the beast. The runestone in Tykka''s hand burst into a fiery orb. Boy drew his arm back then forward. In a flash of flames and vibrant red light, the spirit guardian stood a vibrant, flaming red and orange.


    Madgy floated an inch off the ground. Legs dangling. Then took the lead, illuminating everything in a ten foot perimeter. He flew to the breach below the giant tree. The light chasing away shadows. He floated there for a second then turned and looked upon us.


    Tykka said, "he wants us to follow him. Let''s go."


    "I didn''t hear him say anything ¡­"


    "That''s because he''s in spirit form." Tykka tapped a digit to his temple. "But we can still communicate through here ¡­ our mind."


    Panchu nodded at me "Same thing happens when you''re in Spirit Focus. That''s how we communicated in the caves. Remember?"


    "I do."


    We passed through the threshold between the outside and the cave beneath the tree. The tunnels were rounded as the grubs, and large enough to fit a second Panchu inside. Normally the cave''s I''d been in were damp and cool, but my skin was greeted by a warm, thick air that reeked of earthy pus. I gagged, trying to keep whatever was in my stomach inside.


    The three of us hung a little back from Madgy to keep our eyes from the bright light he was expelling. And I kept my hand raised to shield my eyes, helping me to see much better. Patrols of grubs came and went through the tunnels. Everytime they did, we ducked into a side cave or between roots, using Panchu''s enormous frame to conceal Madgy as he glowed.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Panchu asked. ¡°There are too many tunnels we can go down.¡±


    ¡°No, Madgy.¡± Tykka shook his head. ¡°We need your light.¡±


    I asked, ¡°what¡¯d he say?¡±


    ¡°That he wants to return to flesh form ¡­ he thinks it¡¯s the only way we¡¯ll find the queen.¡±


    Panchu nodded, ¡°he is the only one with the snout for it.¡±


    ¡°I agree. You enchanted him with a fire rune. How long will it last while he¡¯s in flesh form?¡±


    ¡°The enchantment can last for hours in spirit form.¡± Tyjka said, looking upon the badger. ¡°In flesh form, only a couple of minutes.¡±


    ¡°We must be getting close.¡± Panchu said sternly. He looked down the cave. ¡°I can smell something.¡±


    Tykka lowered his head, defeated. He looked to Madgy. ¡°Flesh form.¡±


    In a blink, the badger was flesh and fur again. An aura of fire around him, though no heat was expelling off of his body. He looked between all of us as his lips curled downward. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m going to have to do all the heavy lifting here.¡±


    Panchu guffawed, ¡°good thing too ¡­ my belly is as full as it can get.¡±


    ¡°Mine is too.¡± Madgy snapped. ¡°I need a nap after this. Our spirit energy is too low.¡±


    Tykka yawned and rubbed his eyes, ¡°this is no time to talk about sleep.¡±


    ¡°No matter what, don¡¯t use Madgy¡¯s enchantment. You¡¯ll use up all your energy. Only claws and teeth.¡± I said. ¡°Do you understand?¡±


    Panchu nodded, ¡°The boy does make a point.¡±


    Madgy looked to Tykka curiously. ¡°I think he¡¯s right ¡­ no matter how sticky things get, don¡¯t cast a fire spell. Let the enchantment burn out.¡±


    Tykka looked between our faces then took a step down the tunnel. ¡°Sure,¡± He frowned. ¡°Whatever you all say.¡±


    When he was out of ears reach, Madgy said softly, ¡°the boy¡¯s been through a lot, losing his brother and all. Be patient with him.¡±


    Boy¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°Are you all coming or not?¡±


    Madgy¡¯s eyes drooped. ¡°Very patient ¡­¡±


    ¡°Seems like you two are a great fit.¡± Panchu guffawed. ¡°Both angry and both unwilling to use your heads.¡±


    Madgy¡¯s snout wrinkled, ¡°don¡¯t get me mad, Panchu. Best you shut up before I make you, yet again.¡±


    He followed after the boy. Panchu and I tailed him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°He never told you?¡± Madgy winced and laughed. ¡°The time I whipped him? That was before we was friends ¡­¡±


    ¡°I was only a cub then,¡± Panchu sighed. ¡°And you didn¡¯t whip mem¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to your boy. You were whipped. Got what was coming to you too. A well deserved whipping.¡± He curled his lips displaying his fangs. ¡°One I¡¯d be happy to give you again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m much bigger and you¡¯re much older.¡± Panchu contested. ¡°It¡¯ll be a much different brawl this time.¡±


    Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. ¡°I''m just as ferocious as I was when I was young. Don¡¯t test me old bear. I warn you.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow, ¡°what happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing that doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±


    ¡°It don¡¯t,¡± Madgy nodded, ¡°but it¡¯s sure funny to tell ¡­ you see, back in the day Panchu believed he was the toughest guardian in all of the forest. Even greater than the three-eyed eagle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been stronger than that bird ¡­¡±


    ¡°Quiet!¡± Madgy snapped at the old bear. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I am trying to tell a story?¡± He rattled his teeth. ¡°Anywho, Panchu threw around his weight to anything that looked at him the wrong way, expanding his territory, defeating one beast spirit after another.¡±


    I glanced over at the old bear and he made certain not to catch my eyes.


    ¡°But then he came to my territory, bared his fangs, and bullied me into a fight.¡± He winced with laughter, wiping his eyes with a paw. ¡°It didn¡¯t take long for him to be running the other way.¡±


    ¡°If I recall, I knocked you over twice.¡±


    Madgy rattled his teeth laughing. ¡°You knocked me over once when I tripped over a log backing up, but even then I regained my footing.¡± He curled his lips and showed his fangs. ¡°It only took a few hisses, and to charge you without any fear, and you were off scampering in the bush.¡± He whispered at me. ¡°You see, bears can be mean and scary, but if you act big, mean and scarier they tend to retreat.¡± Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.


    ¡°Enough of this,¡± Tykka said, waving his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve found something.¡±


    Panchu, Madgy, and I ran over to him. We stayed hidden behind a pile of dirt, gazing down into the cavern. It opened up into a large cavern with several entrances. At the center of the cavern were hundreds of white pulsing eggs. Glowing. Throbbing. Slushing. Black creatures moving inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s the nest,¡± I said, squinting my eyes. "We found it."

 Chapter 15

    A reek of sweaty, earthy pus filled my nostrils. Stronger than before. A smell that trailed down my nostrils and left a foul taste on my tongue.


    Tykka grabbed his nostrils. ¡°Disgusting ¡­¡±


    Panchu and Madgy smirked. Their eyes as big as moons. ¡°Beautiful,¡± Madgy said.


    Panchu nodded, lips rising. ¡°And smells lovely. Let¡¯s eat¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not here to eat!¡± Tykka crossed his arms. ¡°And you¡¯ve all already had your fair share. Can you focus ¡­ or you might get us killed.¡±


    I tightened my grip on my spear, ¡°there¡¯s something moving.¡±


    In the center of the nest, a large, white, body jiggled. It elongated upward. Each segment the size of a boulder. At the front of the body, a giant, round, red-headed creature with four mandibles. It looked around the cavern. Rounded, blood red eyes, the size of watermelons, scanning the tunnels.


    The creature''s mandibles rattled. It looked at it¡¯s eggs then snapped, delightfully.


    ¡°There it is ¡­ the queen.¡± Tykka said, face twisted with intrigue. He pointed his badger-head totem staff. ¡°Let¡¯s attack!¡±


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Badger raised a paw, ¡°or do you want what happened last time to happen again?¡±


    He rubbed his chin. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°Right now she¡¯s alone,¡± Badger said. ¡°We have the element of surprise. If we time this right, we can attack all at once. Catch her of guard before she warns the rest of her grubs.¡±


    Panchu growled, ¡°we need a distraction ¡­¡±


    ¡°What kind of distraction?¡±


    The old bear looked at Tykka. ¡°We could use somebody as bait ¡­¡±


    Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. The badger shook his head. ¡°She¡¯ll never fall for that.¡± He said, the aura of flames dancing over his back. ¡°We need something to frighten her.¡± He scratched under his chin. Suddenly he noticed our eyes upon him and the sinister grins upon our face.s ¡°What? Oh, no. I¡¯m not going out there.¡±


    ¡°You have to!¡± Tykka said, eyebrows furrowed. ¡°If you catch those eggs on fire you¡¯ll anger her ¡­ but if you make it out like you¡¯re going to, she¡¯ll listen to reason.¡±


    ¡°And what reason is that?¡± Madgy asked. ¡°That we¡¯re here to kill her?¡±


    ¡°Make up something,¡± Tykka replied. ¡°But while she¡¯s distracted we¡¯ll attack from the rear.¡±


    Panchu nodded. ¡°Sounds like a good plan to me.¡±


    Madgy glanced at me. I shrugged. ¡°You did say you were able to bring fear to Panchu ¡­  why don¡¯t you give us a demonstration.¡±


    Panchu chuckled. ¡°Yes. Show us.¡±


    The old badger glared at each one of us, swearing beneath his breath. He pointed his snout at the creature and curled his lips. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. ¡°I¡¯ll show you all how it¡¯s done.¡±


    In a blur, Madgy bolted down the tunnel into the cavern, his body waving of flames. A loud, hissing growl came from deep in his stomach. Eyes black and deadly. He ran around the outer edge of the group of eggs.  The queen¡¯s head panned, watching. Eyes red as fire.


    Madgy dug his paws into the dirt. Dust rising behind him. He slid ten feet and came to a halt. Then looked up at the queen, her mandibles rattling.


    ¡°You¡¯re one ugly grub ¡­¡±


    The creature turned her head and snapped her mandibles. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we were having guests for dinner.¡±


    Madgy winced and laughed. ¡°No guest. You¡¯re what¡¯s on the menu.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Panchu said, taking a step forward.


    I held out a hand. ¡°Wait.¡±


    Tykla pointed his totem staff. ¡°What are we waiting for ¡­ let¡¯s attack!¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. Inside my body ached a warning that made my head spin. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel right ¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a big grub,¡± Panchu said confidently. ¡°Madgy and I have faced worse. Now come on.¡±


    The creature rattled her mandibles. ¡°Do you know whose lair you¡¯ve invaded?¡±


    Madgy looked at the eggs and many of the cavern tunnels, then back to the Queen. ¡°Seems like any other nest to me.¡±


    ¡°Fool!¡± The Queen quivered. Her head raised towards the ceiling. Higher and higher. Rising into the shadows at the top. Her white, segmented body expanded. ¡°I am the Queen of soil ¡­ the grower of trees ¡­ and the guardian of the massive forest.¡±


    Panchu¡¯s eyes grew, ¡°oh, no ¡­¡±


    ¡°What?" I asked.


    The Queen snapped her mandible, ¡°I am Queen Nakuba! The Great Earth Spirit. A demigod!¡±


    ¡°A demigod?¡±


    Madgy¡¯s teeth rattled. ¡°The Queen of the forest?¡± I could hear the worry in his tone. ¡°My apologies. Wrong lair.¡±


    Tykka raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Let¡¯s attack!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Panchu shook his head. ¡°A threat to a demigod spirit is a threat to The Great Spirit. And there can be many consequences ¡­¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked. ¡°What makes them so important?¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± Panchu said, gazing upon the creature. ¡°Because the demigod was hand picked by The Great Spirit himself.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Boy and I said together.


    ¡°What would happen if we were to attack her?¡± I asked, looking upon the creature more intrigued than ever. ¡°We could take her.¡±


    ¡°No. We can¡¯t.¡± Panchu said grimly. ¡°Her powers are much stronger than our own.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± Boy stomped out towards the queen. ¡°Hey ¡­ you  ¡­ demigod!¡± He waved his staff wildly. ¡°I¡¯ve got some words for you.¡±


    The creature whipped her head at the boy. ¡°Two for dinner,¡± her mandibles rattled. ¡°Even better.¡±


    Behind us came a rattle that echoed down the tunnel. Panchu and I looked over our shoulders. Eyes widening. Deep in the tunnel stood several large grubs, each snapping, and scooting forward.


    ¡°Stand behind me,¡± Panchu growled, wrinkling his snout. He snapped. The mandibles snapped back. ¡°Keep your distance or I¡¯ll tear all of you into pieces.¡±


    Further and further back we walked until we stepped up to Tykla. From every tunnel, mandibles appeared from the shadows. Snapping. The pale segmented bodies extending and pulling, scooting towards us.


    ¡°My children are hungry,¡± She snapped. ¡°The wendigo and his spiders have left little for us to eat. You¡¯ll all make a fine meal for my babies.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°This is not good,¡± Panchu whispered.


    Tykka glanced at Madgy. The flames dancing on his body. There was only minutes until the enchantment would burn away. They had to take advantage of it while there was still time.


    Boy raised his hand, ¡°Madgy! Fire ring¡ª¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I yelled. My mind stuck on the words of the creature. ¡°You mustn¡¯t.¡±


    Panchu looked around at the grubs swarming from the cavern tunnels. Some crawling towards us while others crawled on top the wall. Their mandibles drawing near, snapping, drooling.


    I turned towards the Queen and waved my spear until her giant red eyes fell upon me. ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°And who are you, tribling, to demand from a demigod?¡±


    ¡°I am Kai of the forest tribe Tocagee.¡± I said, my forehead wrinkled. ¡°And I am not demanding you ¡­ I am asking you.¡±


    Panchu whispered, ¡°what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± I grumbled.


    ¡°You all are the one who invaded my lair.¡± The Queen grub hissed, rattling her mandibles. She stretched out her body and lowered head, coming only feet away. ¡°Why have you come? To attack and kill me?¡±


    ¡°One of our friends have fallen into cursed tar ¡­ we need your saliva to rid away before it hardens and kills him.¡±


    The creature hissed. ¡°And why would I help you? You¡¯ve come here to kill me and take my saliva ¡­¡±


    ¡°That did cross our minds,¡± I nodded, ¡°But that was before we found out you were a demigod.¡±


    She snapped her mandibles and bobbed her head, ¡°So instead you would¡¯ve killed one of my Queen cousins, if not me?¡± One of the grubs hissed and rattled his mandibles. The Queen glanced at him and responded with a rattle of her own then turned back towards me. ¡°Is it true? Did you slain my patrol grubs?¡±


    I felt my body grow cold. Skin crawling. Hands trembling. I pressed out my chest and said, ¡°we had, yes. But that was before we knew which side you were on.¡±


    ¡°KIll them!¡± The Queen hissed. ¡°And then we¡¯ll feast on their corpses.¡±


    At once, the grubs extended their bodies, raising their mandibles. They snapped and rattled then began to inch forward.


    ¡°Well, now you¡¯ve done it,¡± Panchu shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re dead.¡±


    Madgy said, ¡°The flame is burning  out ¡­ I think this is a good time to use it.¡±


    Tykka opened his mouth and I waved my hand for him to keep silent. I then furrowed my eyebrows and yelled at the demigod. ¡°You can kill us, Great Earth Spirit, but then you¡¯d still have to deal with the wendigo and the spiders.¡±


    She stared at me for a moment. Her red rounded eyes burnt a hole in my spirit. ¡°What do you know? Are you one of his minions?¡±


    The loud snaps of mandibles drawing near made me shudder.


    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°We were on the hunt to kill the wendigo.¡±


    ¡°Halt!¡± The Queen snapped. her grubs stayed frozen in place. Breathing foul, hot breath. ¡°Kill the Wendigo?¡± She raised her mandibles and let out a high, gurgling, hissy heckle. My skin crawled from my neck to my tailbone. ¡°You¡¯re no match for that monster.¡±


    ¡°No match?"  I asked with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°I am the perfect match ¡­ that is why the wendigo wanted to attach his spirit to mine.¡±


    She hissed and I raised a hand. ¡°But I didn¡¯t allow him to ¡­ I fought back ¡­ and this Guardian saved my life.¡±


    She turned her enormous head towards Panchu. ¡°And who might this one be?¡±


    He shook his head, ¡°Nobody. Just an old spirit.¡±


    ¡°Panchu.¡± I said, pointing my spear at him. I raised it over my head. ¡°My guardian.¡±


    ¡°Panchu?¡± Her mandibles rattled. She drew her head down towards him, and just her head alone dwarfed him. ¡°I know of whom you are ¡­ I have heard your name carry over the wind ¡­ You are the great spirit that protects the forest on the western side of the mountain.¡± She looked at me then to Panchu. ¡°And you¡¯ve bound yourself to a boy?¡± She hissed and heckled. ¡°Does he even know what you truly are? Does he know your true power?¡±


    Panchu¡¯s quills raised like hackles. ¡°Keep your mandible shut, Queen ¡­ if you¡¯ve heard my name then you know what I am capable of.¡±


    Oddly, the demigod pulled away from the bear. Her eyes found light. ¡°I know of your strength, yes, but you don¡¯t fully know mine.¡± She hissed then looked at me. ¡°Tribling, you agreed to bind your spirit with his, knowing the sacrifice you¡¯d taken?¡±


    I corked my head, ¡°what do you mean? What sacrifice?¡± I glanced over at the old bear, and he turned his head, keeping his eyes off of me. ¡°What is she talking about?¡±


    The Queen hissed and heckled. ¡°Yes, Panchu. Whatever do I mean?¡±


    Panchu¡¯s lips curled and he positioned himself low, attacking position. ¡°Stay out of my affairs!¡±


    ¡°Tell me! I have the right to know what binding my spirit to yours includes.¡±


    When the old bear stayed quiet, the Queen rattled her mandibles. ¡°You¡¯re not bound to a guardian, tribling. You¡¯re bound to the chief of forest ¡ª as I am queen of soil ¡ª Panchu is a demigod.¡± She hissed and heckled.


    Tykka, Madgy, and I turned towards him. I couldn¡¯t find my breath. A demigod? But how? How can this be?


    Madgy lowered his snout, ¡°my Chief?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I had no idea ¡­ now I feel foolish for ever attacking you all those years ago.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go changing who you are on my account,¡± Panchu snapped. ¡°Last thing I need is you to be acting strange around me.¡±


    ¡°A demigod?¡± I grabbed my knees and took another breath. ¡°But that means you''re even more powerful than a guardian.¡± I grinned at him. ¡°This is great! You¡¯re even stronger than I thought.¡±


    ¡°You know nothing of Demi-Gods, do you, tribling,¡± She hissed. ¡°He is not bound to your spirit ¡­ you¡¯re bound to his.¡±


    I shifted at her words. ¡°Meaning what?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re to do his will,¡± she hissed, ¡°not for he to do the will of yours. Has he ever listened to you? Guardian''s must listen to their shaman ¡­ but shaman must listen to their Demigods. That is why many spirit shaman loathe us ¡­ they lose all control ¡­ That''s why I¡¯m surprised you agreed to bind with him. And survived to tell about it.¡±


    ¡°I am bound to you?¡±


    Panchu snapped, ¡°I told you that I didn¡¯t want to, tribling ¡­ for you to go away ¡­ but when you were dying, the only way I could save you is to get you to agree to bind spirits.¡± He sighed. ¡°You may not remember, but I asked you to bind our spirits together. And I told you by doing so, you¡¯d be mine forever. You agreed.¡±


    I shook my head, my skin on fire, nostrils flaring. ¡°How ¡­ how could you do this to me?¡±


    ¡°It was only trying to save your life¡ª¡±


    ¡°Being a slave to you is no less different then being a slave to that grim!¡± I clenched my teeth. ¡°Why didn¡¯t our elders tell us? Why did they keep what you are a secret?¡± I looked at him and glared. ¡°Is that why they think you corrupted Kawah? Because you took him on the path you wanted?¡±


    ¡°Your people don¡¯t want any other demigods in their tribe besides the three-eyed eagle.¡± Panchu replied coldly. ¡°They think of us as a threat ¡­ a threat to the chief ¡­ and so they hate anybody whom has bound to a demigod. Your people sent Kawah away, not I."


    I shook. Too angry to understand his words. ¡°You should¡¯ve just let me die ¡­¡±


    The grub nodded her head. ¡°That can still be arranged. My children are very hungry.¡± She heckled and snapped. ¡°But if you want to live I am willing to make an alliance.¡± Several of the grubs snapped in defiance. The queen looked around the cavern and hissed. They grew silent. She then turned towards us and said, ¡°my apologies for their behavior. Like I said, they¡¯re hungry. The spiders and wendigo have eaten everything.¡±


    ¡°Except you. Why?¡±


    ¡°To help their cause,¡± The Queen said. ¡°The Wendigo is trying to take over these forests. And he seeks the help of the other demigods. Right now he has Akrachs, the great spider demigod of the shadow forest.¡± She shook her head and every segment of her body followed. ¡°And he and his spiderlings have destroyed my forest. We must convert to their ways or die with the rest.¡± She looked to Panchu. ¡°I called upon you for  assistance? Did you not hear my call?¡±


    ¡°Had better things to do.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been that way, or so I heard. A demigod who has no respect for The Great Spirit.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°That does not concern you. Only her and I.¡±


    Madgy shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve had all this power. You could¡¯ve called upon the armies of the forest at any time yet you never have. Why?¡± His snout wrinkled. ¡°I recall conversations between us ¡­ you and I spoke about how the forest Chief was a coward. You agreed. And you said nothing.¡±


    Panchu turned towards the badger whose flame had diminished. ¡°I asked to be a Demigod, nor the protector of the forest, so I gave the role up.¡±


    ¡°But you must,¡± The Queen hissed. ¡°Going against the will of The Great Spirit will only leave her angry and you turning into an ancient. And then you are truly a slave.¡±


    Tykka frowned, ¡°we are wasting time here. We need to help Juk, find Meeka, and kill the wendigo!¡±


    The Queen rattled her mandible. ¡°The boy''s right. With two demigods against two demigods, we could stand a chance.¡±


    I rubbed my chin, ¡°what do you mean, two demigods? Whom else does the wendigo have?¡± The queen heckled and hissed, and I knew what that meant. ¡°So the wendigo is a demigod too?¡± I glared at Panchu. ¡°Anything else I should know about?¡± He looked at me with those large black eyes, and I knew they held more secrets.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on him,¡± The Queen hissed. ¡°Most of us Demi¡¯s don¡¯t like to tell others of whom we are. We all have our secrets and tend to keep them, including me.¡± The way she hissed made me shiver.


    ¡°So we align with you and kill the Wendigo.¡± I said, ¡°and you help us save our friends.¡±


    ¡°Done!¡± The Queen hissed, glancing at Tykka. ¡°Come here, tribling.¡± He pointed at himself and she nodded. ¡°That¡¯s it. You can trust me.¡± He walked over slowly, halting just below her mandibles. ¡°Now hold out your hands.¡± Boy put them together and raised them. The Queen made a low, hacking sound then plopped a whitish, goopy ball in his hands. Tykka frowned. ¡°That should be enough to take the tar off of him.¡±


    I looked at Madgy and then to Tykka. ¡°You two go and help Juk. Panchu and I will help the Queen to defeat the spiders and the wendigo.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± Tykka shook his head, ¡°we need to stick together.¡±


    Madgy nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t know what other traps could be ahead.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re losing time,¡± Panchu said in a deep, chiefly tone. ¡°You can join the fight later. Besides, you both are low on spirit energy. You wouldn¡¯t be much use to us right now.¡±


    Boy shook angirly, the goop in his hands jiggling. ¡°But I have to be there. I need to be the one who kills that creature for what he did to my brother.¡±


    ¡°And you will,¡± I promised, uncertain if I could keep it. ¡°Now go ¡­ and hurry.¡±


    Boy and Madgy nodded then were escorted out of the tunnel by a group of grubs.


    Panchu sighed and shook his head. ¡°Well, Kai, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re ready for fighting demigods, and though I am in control, I am not one to stop you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Keep quiet,¡± I snapped. ¡°Just because I am yours, doesn¡¯t mean that I am.¡± I raised my spear towards the Queen. ¡°Show us the way, Queen of soil, we are ready."

 Chapter 16

    Queen Nakuba seemed to know every tunnel in her lair. It only took an hour to break from the gloomy, hot tunnels, out into the fresh, cold night air. And I took more than my share of breaths, trying to rid the reek away, and the fungusy taste on my tongue.


    ¡°You came on the right night.¡± She said, extending her body high enough to see through the trees. ¡°There seems to be a ceremony of some kind.¡±


    ¡°A ceremony?¡± I looked at Panch. Both our faces twisted in anguish. ¡°What do you think it could be?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s begun. The wendigo is trying to bound his spirit to your young chieftess.¡±


    ¡°We need to hurry!¡±


    The Queen heckled and hissed. ¡°Have you ever seen a grub make haste? We take our time, young shaman. It allows us to be better prepared.¡±


    ¡°Prepared? Prepared for what?¡±


    ¡°For what lies ahead, of course.¡± She began to shuffle down the hillside. ¡°It¡¯s easier to see traps that way.¡±


    Panchu said grimly. ¡°I still don¡¯t know why we¡¯ve come here ¡­ I say we forget the girl altogether.¡±


    ¡°Girl?¡± The Queen scooted forward, up and over a trunk with the same girth as one of her body segments. She looked upon me. ¡°One that you fancy?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I clenched my teeth and clutched my spear. ¡°Not for a long time now. I loathe her.¡±


    ¡°Loathe? Funny way of showing it.¡±


    ¡°We''re here to kill that Wendigo," I pointed the speartip downward. "Saving the chief''s daughter means nothing to me."


    "If you say so." The creature lifted her head and followed black orbs with an electric, blue ring around them. They soared towards the ceremony. "Looks like the grim orbs have come to pay tribute."


    Panchu must''ve felt their energy. He trailed them with his snout. "They come at the call of chaos."


    Me, two demi-gods, and a horde of thirty grub strong inched our say down the mountain. I kept praying to The Great Spirit that the ceremony wouldn''t be over by the time we got there, and thankfully it hadn''t. In fact, it hadn''t even begun.


    In a clearing of the trees sat a rounded stone stage, with pillars extending, evenly spaced apart. Each pillar was ten-foot tall. Grayish-white. And beat from centuries of storms. At the center of the stage sat a stone altar. On the altar laid a girl who was as still as the dead, yet there was still a lightness about her flesh that told me she was still alive and breathing. I was happy to know that.


    I gazed upon her longer than I should have. Never really laying her much attention. Not since she''d returned. But I recalled our younger days. When we were close. And when she treated me like ¡­ I shook my head. My eyes have always belonged to Onwae. But for a moment I let them stray, looking upon the olive-skinned girl whose hair was a black only found on ravens feathers. The robe that covered her was thick and tan, shielding her from the cool night air that seemed to only get colder while the temperature dropped.


    The Queen leaned half of her many tiny feet against an enormous tree. She leaned outward. Red eyes upon the girl. Mandibles rattling. "Well, now, " She hissed. "The girl is quite the beauty."


    Panchu let out a low, mocking laugh. "Ya. Who can even give a demigod a headache."


    "If you''d like, after we''ve killed the grim, I could take the girl and feed her to my grubs." She looked back at them and they quietly rattled their mandibles. "They still haven''t had a proper meal. And though there is not much meat on her, we''ll be sure to pick her bones clean."


    "No!" I shook my head. "She''s the chief''s daughter. We have to ensure her safe return."


    "I wouldn''t have opposed of it." Panchu sighed. "But I''m just the side-kick."


    "Are you, now?" The Queen hissed and heckled. "You say this much, but I can see in your eyes that you have plans for this boy. What they are, I''d be interested to learn one day."


    I glared at both Panchu and the Queen. "Nobody has plans for me but me, got it?" I squinted, looking upon the stage. "Where are all the spiders? I thought you said they aligned with Xukai."


    "In the shadows, perhaps." The Queen pulled away from the tree and scooted further down the mountain. "Let''s move out!"


    From behind me, I felt a jerk that pushed me closer towards the stoned stage. My body moved forward, aching for me to turn around and run. It would''ve been the smart thing to do, but I never seemed to listen to my head. Always more focused on what my heart said. And it said to kill that nasty beast before it would gain control of Meeka.


    "Nobody move until we see the wendigo¡ª" the Queen took a low, hissing breath. "There he is. Right on time."


    From the shadow I saw the familiar red eyes. Wicked. Haunting. And as crimson as blood. My heart skipped in my chest. I wanted to run. Where? Who''d come with me? And all I''d be is a coward. I am stronger than that ¡­


    The eyes shifted right and left, slowly growing as they walked to where they girl lay. Torches around the stone stage cast enough to brighten the creature as he met it. Palish-blue, twisted skin from his shoulders to his hooves. Some places drooped. Others were tight, revealing his ribs, arms and leg bones beneath.


    Knock. Knock. Knock. The creature''s hooves beat against the stone.


    Even from in the woods, I could smell the carrion reeking off the rotting flesh. It carried even without that wind. A smell that burned my nostrils, and rid away the stink of the grubs surrounding me.


    The creature''s head bobbed into the light. First the pale, white haired snout, and the red eyes. Then the sharp, rat-like ears, and satin-black antlers that extended from his head, with several broken and sharpened points. Now fully in the light, I saw it was hunched. That it''s legs and arms were as thin as a childs, yet long and dangling.  And hands large, with four fingers that came to daggered points.


    He walked with a hunch. Bobbing. Knock. Knock. Knock. And halted. Standing over the girl. The red in his eyes blackening. His snouts frothing and dripping yellowish-white saliva. A creature out of nightmares ¡­ but this time I was hoping the young girl wouldn''t wake up.


    The black orbs danced over his head, spinning around. Their electric blue rings pulsing, brightening the forest. The night fell silent.


    ¡°We need to strike!¡±


    ¡°And we will.¡± The Queen nodded. ¡°Now!¡±


    I felt a knock on the back of my head that sent me to my knees. Warm liquid ran down the back of my head. Dizzy. Light fading in and out. What happened? Where did I go wrong? Panchu¡¯s growls and roars were all around me. ¡°Get up, Kai! Be strong! Run!¡± But no matter how hard I tried, my limbs betrayed me. Muscles constricted. Eyes fading. Light. Black. Light. Black. Darkness finally swept over me to the chorus of Panchu¡¯s roars.


    When I came to, I was still surrounded in darkness. I fought my eyelids open. Each stuck. I blinked several times. Tears running down my cheeks. What happened? Where am? Above me, blurry black and blue lights danced. I blinked again. And again. And again. My eyes slowly cleared. Rounded, black orbs with blue electric rings hoovered twenty feet above me. I struggled, shifting from side to side. Why can¡¯t I move?


    ¡°Better not to squirm,¡± A harsh, shrieking voice said. The one that invaded my dreams, and conjured up my nightmares. ¡°I¡¯m glad I found you ¡­¡±


    I blinked three more times. Each time a pale, twisted, and droopy fleshed form came more and more into view. The reek was unbearable and I gagged. Decaying flesh. Rotting fish. Dead rats. A mix of everything. A carrion reek that suffocated the air, and took away my breath with each breath.


    The creature looked down at me gazing into my spirit with those crimson red eyes. Terror made me tremble. Fear made me struggle. And pain made me groan. ¡°What is going on?¡± I yelled, bringing my chin to my chest. I saw the tight web that held me still. ¡°Release us!¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Release you?¡± The wendigo hissed. ¡°But you¡¯ve only just arrived.¡±


    I tilted my head left, resting my cheek on the cold stone. I shivered. Next to me the black-haired, olive skinned young chieftess. Her eyes closed. Breathing lightly. Beautiful. At least I had her to look upon before the creature did what he wanted with me.  No matter the pain, I wouldn¡¯t cry out. I wouldn¡¯t allow him that pleasure.


    ¡°Why have you not killed me?¡±


    The wendigo made a snorting, grunting noise. Froth falling from his snout. It dripped on the sides of me, nearly making its mark on my face. ¡°I can¡¯t kill you ¡­ no ¡­ not yet.¡± His jaws opened and snapped closed. Rotting, black teeth, riddled with white spongy bugs inside. ¡°Not when we are still bound to one another.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°We were never bound. Panchu defeated you. I am bound to him.¡±


    ¡°Yyyesss.¡± The creature nodded and snorted. ¡°You are. It was the only way to keep you alive. Do you think he picked you, boy, to save your life?¡± He shook his head. ¡°He bound to you to eliminate the part of me that¡¯s inside of you.¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand.¡° I felt dizzy and sick. Nothing made sense. How could he be bound to my spirit? He was defeated ¡­ wasn¡¯t he? ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡±


    ¡°Can my grubs eat the bearpine now?¡± Queen Nakuba asked. ¡°They¡¯re hungry. They need the provisions you promised us.¡±


    The wendigo turned his snout and snapped. Glaring. The Queen looked away from the beast. How could a grim bring her that much fear? She is a demigod. Why is she submitting to him? ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward,¡± I said. ¡°Help us! He is only stealing your home ¡­ and your nest.¡±


    ¡°Fool!¡± The Queen rattled. ¡°That was not our nest. That was the nest of the spiders Chief Acrach. We cleared him out. All we had to do is capture his nest, and threaten to kill them all, and the spiders left until our work would be done.¡± She let out a low, hissing laugh. ¡°We are from the dark forest in the shadow territory ¡­ and are loyal to only one ¡­ Lord Xukai.


    The wending raised a four-fingered hand. She silenced. He then looked upon me, gazing into me, and bringing more fear into my heart. ¡°I almost had you, boy. But while our spirits were binding, Panchu attacked me and bound his spirit to yours.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand ¡­¡±


    ¡°Because he hates grims.¡± The creature gruffed.  ¡°It was a grim that took his last shaman, or were you unaware? Of course you were. He never told you. He never told you how the grim forced his spirit out, and took over his shaman.¡± He chuckled and hissed. ¡°That¡¯s why he saved you, not cause he cared, because he hates us. And wants all of us dead.¡±


    I hated the creature, but his words rang true. Why else had a demigod chosen me? He wouldn¡¯t. Not a boy who was passed by every guardian. One who was scared even though he pretended to be strong. Why choose me? He wouldn¡¯t. He would avoid me like I had some kind of spirit plague.


    ¡°This was always about revenge for your Panchu.¡± He snapped, brushing the white hairs beneath his snout. ¡°To kill us all ¡­ and now the three of us our bound as one.¡±


    ¡°Three?¡±


    The creature walked around the stone bed we rested on. ¡°Yes. Our three spirits are bound. Tied in a knot until the host dies, and that host is you, boy.¡± I trembled. ¡°Or until we are powerful enough to knock out the other spirit.¡±


    I lifted my head, ¡°As I told you before, I will never allow you to bind to me!¡±


    "You?" He laughed. Warm, sticky froth dripped on my face. "Who said anything about you? You''ve had your chance ¡­ I am binding to her." He brought his snout down, breathing in Meeka''s smell, and strands of her hair.


    "Leave her alone," I screamed, my skin burning. "Take me. I''ll get Panchu to unbind from my spirit. You can have me instead. I beg of you. I won''t fight it this time."


    The creature raised an obsidian blade above his head. And in the light, I saw their edges were jagged and keen. A knife that''d been beaten by a stone to perfection. Would this be my last memory? Of him, bringing that blade down upon me?


    Suddenly, something caught my eye. A rustle in the trees behind him. I squinted, watching as a black blur descended from the treetops. Not fast. Not slow either. But at a speed that kept whatever it was silent.


    As it approached the orbs, hairy, eight-legged appendages came into the light. It''s exoskeleton black. No green. Though the darkness made it look as black as the night sky above. Two hairy mandibles crept open, while eight black eyes, dancing with torchlight, watched. Hunted. Ready to come down upon its unsuspecting prey.


    The wendigo brought the knife downward. I felt the tip touch my throat. Was I dead? No. A sting nagged at where it nicked me. Above, the wendingo flew, embraced in the archnids, limbs. Tugging. Fighting. Slicing. Green ooze and crimson liquid showered the ground.


    The Queen let out a shrilled hiss. "Archnids!"


    Blurs of white segmented bodies and black eight-legged bodies danced around me. Mandibles clamping. Strange shrieks, and eerie snaps  interrupting the beat of my heart. I took a slow breath. "I''ve got to get out of here." Then pushed with my elbows. It stretched my webbing bondage. Stretched again and again. It was spongier than any rope, but much stronger. I needed help ¡­ I needed ¡­


    Panchu!


    I closed my eyes and focused my breathing. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. My lungs lifted and fell. Shells crunched. Mandibles snapped. The sounds drew away my focus. "Breath." Air drew through my nostrils slowly filling every empty cavity in my chest. "Breath," I whispered. "Focus and breath."


    Darkness swept around me. One that brought the eerie. A cloak thick enough to hide the chaos ensuing around me. My protective cloak. I stepped right, turning around in a circle. Only a sea of black around me. The kind of sea that''ll drown you in sorrow if you stay too long. My world now silent.


    "Panchu?" My voice echoed off in every direction of the void. I looked back. To my right. Over my left shoulder. Forward, where forward maybe. "Panchu!" Again my voice trailed into a chilling tone. Lost. Afraid. Alone. I placed my hands to my lips. "Panchu!" This time I hung on his name and it carried longer and further then before, echoing off for several seconds.


    "I''m alone." I lowered my chin to my chest. "He''s nowhere to be found."


    Strange ideas began to crawl through my head. Wicked things. Ideas that made me shiver. What if they''ve torn him from me? What if I would never feel his spirit again? Hear his smug voice, or his constant sarcasm? What if he were gone forever? Lost in his own void?


    What if ¡­ what if Panchu is dead?


    Alone, I spun around in circles. I looked for the horizon. No where. Up. Down. East. West. Front. Back. Every direction was just cold blackness. I closed my eyes and reopened them. Again. Again. And again. Nothing. Only the void. I blinked several times. Rubbed my knuckles in my eyes. Covered them with my palms. Held my eyelids tightly closed. Everything led me back to the void. To nowhere. To the empty, blackness that seemed to be slowly swallowing me.


    Had he done it? Had the Wendigo taking control of me?


    Fear crawled through my body like grubs. Inching across my body. Picking at my skin. I scratched. I pulled hair. I rubbed myself down. Nothing. The crawling never left. The silence ¡­ that strange, deafening silence never left. Only reminding me what it meant to be alone. I was alone. And I was trapped.


    My heart pounded. I lifted my chin to the blackness above. Filled my chest with air. And with all my might, and the last bit of courage, I expelled the air from my lungs. I found the voice deep inside me. The voice that rests within my spirit. And now found, I screamed.


    "Panchu!"


    A snort and grunt came at my back. I spun around eyeing the orange apparition sitting only twenty feet away. Fading in and out, then glowing. Two rounded ears. One rounded head. And an even rounder body. The apparition turned, revealing a long orange snout.


    A low, grizzly voice echoed, "Kai?"


    "Panchu!" I felt lighter. I tried to move my legs, move in his direction, but my body failed to respond. "You''re alive?"


    The apparition shifted from side-to-side, grunting. Growling. He snapped, "I''m trapped ¡­"


    "As am I."


    "What is this ¡­ where are we?"


    "We''re in the void." My voice carried to him. "The Queen has betrayed us ¡­ bound us with her web ¡­ so I had to find you. And I have using spirit focus."


    "You used that and you used a focus call ¡­ that''s how you were able to wake me up." He shook his head. "I feel ¡­ dizzy ¡­ the Queen must''ve used a paralysis toxin on me."


    "She has that power?"


    Panchu chuckled, "she''s a demigod ... she has many powers."


    I frowned and shivered. What other powers could she muster? What powers did the wendigo have? I was afraid to find out. I stood tall. "You can break your binds? You''re not an ordinary bear. You''re a bearpine. A guardian. A demi-god. Use your quill and tear through them.


    "You''re right!"


    The orange apparition glowed brightly. Flashing bright oranges then a vibrate red. Orange. Red. Orange. Red. Each shift in color came a grunt or a growl. He lifted his snout and roared, glowing bright as a setting sun. The apparition jerked side to side then stopped.


    Panchu growled, "nothing. We''re expending too much spirit energy. We need to leave the void. I can only break free in flesh form."


    I raised my fist while curling my lips. "Let''s do this!" Panchu gave a single nod. I closed my eyes tightly. Took three steady breaths. And opened my eyes.


    Crunching shells and snapping mandibles sang their horror song in my ears. Blurs darted past me. Giant shadows of eight-legged creatures and mammoth worms danced to the flames that flickered. A cruel dance. A fateful dance for some. And a victorious dance for others.


    "Panchu!" I yelled, leaning my face to my right. I squinted, trying to locate him.


    A soft, sweet grunt caused me to glance left. Next to me the young chieftess moved her head. Eyes fluttering, but staying locked. "Hmmm?" She mumbled, delicately. Sweetly. Unaware of the chaos around us. "What''s happening?"


    I replied calmly. "Go back to sleep, little one. Everything will be alright¡ª"


    Her eyelids snapped open. Pupil shrank, revealing the brownish-gold iris beneath. They glowed brightly in torchlight. Beautifully. Much too perfect for the chaos ensuing around us. They trembled and the girl breathed heavy.


    "What is that?" She said, wiggling like a butterfly trying to break free from her cocoon. "What''s going on? What have you done to me?"


    "Me?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "I was here trying to rescue you!"


    She looked down at the webbing that bound me. "Seems like you''ve done a great job!"


    My lip quivered. If only she knew what we''d been through. If only she knew who was around us. If only she knew what was going to become of her. Then she''d have at least a single decent thing to say ¡­ wouldn''t she?


    "Are you going to get me out of here or not?" She said in a tone that made my veins throb. "Or are you just going to lie there?"


    "I''m working on it!" I turned my head right. A black and white blob rolled past me. I followed it, watching as a grub and spider slammed into a tree. Their mandibles sunken in each other''s shell and cuticle. I called out, "Panchu!" I looked back to her. "He''ll be here shortly¡ª"


    "Where''s the others? Where''s Garnak and Juk?"


    "It''s a long story," I said sharply. "But can''t you be a little grateful I am here?"


    "Grateful?" Her daggered tone cut through mine. "What is there to be grateful about? You''re a captive just like me¡ª" Her eyes widened and mouth fell open. "There''s a giant bug behind you ¡­"


    A hiss and a haunting flutter caused me to turn and look upon curved, sharp black pinchers, protruding from a pale-white, rounded head. Red-rounded eyes gazed upon me. Pus dripping down an orifice with jagged teeth. The mandibles snapped.


    "Hungry ¡­ So Hungry!"

 Chapter 17

    The grub moved his head towards me, pinchers expanded. He lowered them around my head. One quick snip and it''d taken off. The creature hissed. Pus flowing. I held my breath. Every muscle in my body tightened. And then I closed my eyes, embracing for the pain. For the pull. For the crack of my bones as the creature tore me limb from limb. I said a prayer to The Great Soirit that it''d be quick and painless.


    The creature hissed, "So hungry¡ª"


    A roar followed by a crunch caused my eyelids to stretch. Fur and fangs, shell and mandibles fought above me. A hissing shriek. A loud grunt. And a shrill of claws against shell caused my ears to ring. Blood droplets and white ooze projected around me. Painting the ground and the stone. A reek of mutilated flesh in the air.


    I blinked.


    A large, brown-furry head popped into view as black, warm eyes looked upon me. His head was the size of a small boulder. Snout nearly long as my forearm. Bloodied. Torn. And familiar. It''s fangs were familiar too. Long white fangs, that were stained with red and held spungy-white flesh between most of them.


    "Are you all right?"


    His voice was low, grizzly and music to my ears. But I gagged on the hot reek that followed. "I was until I caught the smell of your breath."


    The old bear guffawed and said, "let''s get you out of here."


    "What about me?"


    Panchu looked across me at the chief''s young daughter. The fur in his forehead wrinkled. "I''ll think about it." She soured. He chucked. Then bit into the webbing delicate enough not to tear through my flesh. A great tug nearly sent me to the stone ground, but I felt a sigh, as my limbs and arms freed.


    Instantly, I sat up, yanking and pulling myself free from the webbing that held onto me. It didn''t give with much ease. I tugged my legs free. First my right, then my left, until I was liberated and could stand. The constriction left me weak. That and using Spirit Focus. And after wobbling and shaking the dizzy spell from my head, I''d found my footing.


    I looked around at the chaos. Tens of black, hairy spiders were dragging grub carcasses into the trees while grubs were dragging twisted spider carcasses underground. Pools of green and white liquids glimmered in the torchlight. Droplets everywhere. More twisted and withered corpses rested on the ground. Tangled in white and red webbing. Shell and exoskeletons torn and splintered. Their deaths all painful ones


    A crunch caused me to turn right. Madgy bit into the spungy segment behind the head of a grub. Tylla grabbed the creature''s mandibles, and with a tug and a pull, it popped. Pus drenched them both. They chuckled. And turned, looking for another target.


    "We''ve got this," Tykka said, giving me a thumbs up. I smiled back and nodded.


    "My Cheiftess!" A whiny voice sang. Footsteps knocked against the stone. A thin boy with a chewed right ear came from the shadow. A large, gray-furred beast, with a black stripe over his eyes and stripes around his fluffy tail followed. Juk halted at the stone alter. "I''m here!"


    "About time! Get me out of here¡ª"


    "No!" A haunting voice said.


    A long white appendage swung. It connected. Juk left the ground, twirling. Across the stone stage he flew, smacking into a pillar. Bones cracked. Rocco turned his snout on the pale, red-eyed wendigo. He pounced twice. Leapt onto the altar, and with momentum, lunged at the creature''s throat. A second appendage blurred past me, snatching the coon by the throat. Rocco shrieks quickly faded. A snap followed.


    "Juk!" Meeka screamed. "Rocco!"


    The coon was tossed aside. His lifeless body bouncing and sliding to a halt. It was only there for a second, then vanished, morphing into an orange orb. Juk wobbled to his feet, wiping blood, only to fall to his knees. Crying out as the orb flew through his chest. It hid away in his chest. In his spirit. Where it could rest. Heal. And leave a scar. Juk cried out. Wobbled. He collapsed.


    Madgy and Tykka looked at Xukai.  The boy furrowed his eyebrows. "You will pay for this!"


    Panchu and I looked upon him, following his erratic movement.


    Meeka shook her head. "No, Tykka! Wait!"


    Revenge in his heart, the boy charged at the creature. The Wendigo turned to meet him. Madgy''s roar chased him, "No, boy, no!" His words trailing off into the night. Words too important to ignore, yet ignore them Tykka had.


    We all watched in horror as he withdrew the stoned dagger from its sheath. A dagger that was as young as the boy was. Hard as the boy was. And unused as the boy was. A dagger that only just begun it''s journey into the world ¡­ with the boy who made it ¡­ though their journey was never a journey meant to be.


    Tykka ducked as the creature''s first appendage whipped, trying to take him off his feet. The second appendage came around from behind him, snatching him behind the neck. Tykka lifted his chin and yelled. The creature carried him close his snout, dripping of froth. Eyes red. Dead. And haunting.


    Dangling, Tykka kicked his feet, slashing his young blade, trying to get a lucky blow on the beast''s throat. "You killed my brother, you monster!"


    The wendigo opened his snout, and from the depths of his frail gut, released a mocking laugh. "I did." His lips curled. "And the same fate belongs to you."


    Tykka swiped one last time. And before his head disappeared into the wendingo''s mouth, I witnessed the look of terror in his eyes. The creature clamped down upon his neck. Pulled downward on the boy''s leg. And with pop. Took his head.


    Madgy yelled, "Tykka!" His body flashed and he vanished, leaving a badger-head totem teetering to a stop on the ground.


    The wendigo swallowed. He clutched the ankle, and raised the headless body above his head. Xukai opened his snout wide and drank the crimson liquid flooding from the torn throat. When it was dry, he tossed the body aside. Wiped his mouth and laughed. "Ooohhhh!" He heckled. "That hit the spot!"


    Meeka paled then her eyes rolled and closed. Her body fell limp.


    I stood frozen in place.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Panchu tilted his snout downward, lifting his eyes. Trembling. Breath heavy. Each breath growing heavier until they became a harsh growl.


    "He was a boy!" Panchu snapped in a tone only reserved for a forest chief. "And you ¡­ you dismembered him like a lesser beast!"


    The creature whipped his head at him. Red eyes darkening. "And? Have you forgotten? We are not guardians ¡­ we are demigods  ¡­ humans are lesser beasts to us."


    Panchu turned his snout upon me, and I looked upon him. My brows furrowed; his snout wrinkled. My fingers rolled into fists; his claws stretched from his paws. My neck hairs stood; his quill raised. We trembled ¡­ not alone ¡­ but as one spirit. We nodded and then we turned and glared at the beast.


    "I am a demigod." Panchu said, lips curling downward. "But I am also a guardian ¡­ and as a guardian, I do as my shaman asks of me."


    "Touching!" The creature hissed and gruffed. "But giving him control only makes you weak!"


    "We''ll see!" I yelled and raised a finger. "Panchu! Grizzly rage!"


    He dug his claws into the stone and charged.


    The paled creature tilted his snout downward. Antlers raised. Hoofing the stone with his right hoof. He breathed heavy, steam curling from his nostrils.  The grim shrieked and charged. Arms dangling at his side. Each swinging wildly. Faster and faster with each turn of his legs.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    The paws and hooves beat a rhythm that followed my heart. Our spirits interconnected. Somehow. All drawn together to end it. End our suffering. If it be ours, or it be his. Tonight was the night we''d end it all.


    Ten paces away. Seven paces away. Five paces away. I held my breath. Eyes widening. My arms rattled like a snake''s tail. Three paces away. Two paces away. One.


    Panchu raised his snout and roared. The Wendigo raised his own and gruffed.


    The beasts collided with a thud that shook the stone stage. I coughed and dropped to my knees. Blood splattered on the ground. On all fours, I tilted my chin upward, watching the beasts dance. One of horror. One of terror. One of nightmares.


    Panchu snapped. The Wendigo shifted back, dodging. He countered with his right arm; a wide, arcing swing. The old bear saw it coming. Not in time. Bracing, he took the impact to his chin. Grunted. The bear''s head whipped. Fur wrinkling from the force.


    I coughed and clutched my chest.


    Panchu shook off the daze and glared. The wendigo retreated, giving them space. He stood wide-legged, shifting from side-to-side. Both beasts positioning themselves for a second attack.


    I shouted, "Panchu!  Allied aggression!" I leapt to my feet, feeling a rush of energy pass from my heart to my head. I teetered from foot-to-foot. Blinked. Then found my equilibrium.


    Panchu mirrored me and stood on two legs; the beasts now even in height. The Wendigos lips curled, displaying his black, maggoty teeth. We all stepped forward and raised our limbs. The beasts came together, locking paws and hands to shoulders. They pushed against each other''s weight, spinning around and around, unable to match the other.


    I felt my spirit waning. Weary, I pounded my chest and threw my arms back. "Grizzy toss!" the words came out weak and forced.


    Impressively, Panchu crouched, keeping his legs wide. He shifted at his hips, and in one beautiful motion, grabbed the beast and wrenched him over his right shoulder. The wendigos hoofs left stone. He tumbled through the air, landing on all fours, and sliding to a halt.


    Panchu stood out of position, his belly wide. The wendigo countered, springing forward, antlers tilted downward. They drove into Panchu''s gut. He roared and flew back, smashing through stone and pillars. Tumbling. He bashed into a tree. Belly up. Chin down upon his chest.


    I spat blood and screamed. "No ¡­ panchu!"


    The wendigo stood tall and smirked. Red liquid streamed down his snout. Droplets falling with the white froth. He brushed himself clean and then looked upon the blood on his palm. "Looks to me like you''re dying boy ¡­ If we continue this I''ll fall too ¡­ your spirit is still too weak to carry demigods. Especially a full one and piece of me."


    I glared at him, panting. A sharp pain in my chest caused my knees to buckle.  I fell hard onto the stone. Beaten, I gazed upon the black, blue-ringed orbs dancing above us.


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    The smell of carrion burned my nostrils and made my stomach churn.


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    Foul, horrid grunts and gruffs grew louder and louder as he neared.


    Knock. Knock ¡­


    ¡­ Knock.


    The beast brought his snout downward, froth dripping. Foam droplets bubbling around my head. His red eyes gazed beyond my own. Into my spirit.


    "You''ve lost, boy." The creature hacked and spat a  glob of blood. "But I wasn''t wrong in choosing you ¡­ you were strong as I thought you were ¡­ a shame you have to die¡ª"


    "No ¡­ Xukai." Panchu stood tall ten paces away. "You''re going to di¡ª" He collapsed on the stone.


    "Pathetic." The Wendigo shook his head. "For a demigod you''ve always been pathetic ¡­ even when I took your first boy."


    I looked into Panchu''s eyes as he found mine. He raised his quill. Ours lips curled upward. I nodded.


    "Rest in horror, boy!"


    "Panchu!" I gasped. "Quill ¡­ Volley ¡­"


    The Wendigo tilted his head then turned towards panchu. His body exposed. Panchu gave him a crooked grin.


    Thoosh!


    The sound was like a whistling wind. Hundreds of brownish white quills darted through the air. The Wendigo''s eyes widened as he raised his arms. Thiff. Thiff. Thiff. They darted into his flesh. Blood projected. He groaned. Ten to the chest. Eight to each leg. Three and five through his arms. And a dozen more in his head. He hissed and screamed, grabbing the one protruding from his right eye.


    The force sent him stumbling backwards. He collapsed against the altar, using it to hold himself up. Breathing heavy. He looked at Meeka then turned to me and smiled. "You cannot ¡­ truly ¡­ die ¡­ if you''re ¡­ a demigod." He gasped, placing a hand on Meeka''s chest.


    He closed his eyes and mumbled, "ma ku ma kay!"


    Blackish light flashed from the altar. I squinted. The creature began fading until it vanished, leaving only a black deer-head totem spinning on the stone surface. I watched it until it fell, wobbled, and halted ...


    ¡­ and then I allowed darkness to overtake me.


    I sat up hastefully. Much too hastefully. A sharp pain coursed through my body, starting spirit deep.  I groaned.


    ¡°Settle down.¡± A deep voice said from across the teepee. ¡°You''re safe now.¡±


    I followed the voice. In the corner, I found a large, brown blob. Shadows concealed most of his body, but even still I felt his presence. I looked into his rounded, black eyes and smiled. ¡°We did it, old bear.¡±


    ¡°We did.¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°And we couldn''t have done it unless we did it together.¡±


    I laughed and winced, placing a hand against my chest. ¡°Ohh ¡­ Did I get scarred?¡±


    ¡°Demigods are harder to kill than guardians.¡±  He chuckled softly. ¡°But even still, even a small part of them attached to your spirit can leave a scar. And that''s what Xulai left with you.¡±


    I rubbed my chest and looked around. The teepee was large and filled with hanging furs, a furred bed that I rested upon, and totems and wooden trinkets that sat all throughout the room. The smell of sweet cinnamon was in the air. And the sound of flutes and drums rang outside.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± I asked, looking at the bear. ¡°And what happened to the others?¡±


    ¡°We are at Mid Mountain Village. The halfway point to Spirit Ridge.¡± Panchu replied. ¡°The forest spiders helped us get here after we defeated the wendigo. Onwae, and Mowak are here too. They were able to use the herbal runes to heal Tuma, Meeka, and Juk. We should really be thanking Garnak .... He showed them how to use the rune magic with the guardians.¡±


    I said bitterly, ¡°That¡¯s fantastic ...¡±


    It seemed everybody was aware of how to use rune magic but me and Tuma. Last thing I wanted was to fall behind as a spirit shaman. There was no time to wait around and heal up. I need to get back to work if I want to become an elder.


    I grunted and raised to my feet. On an antler, hung my robe. I grabbed it and threw it over my shoulders, then wrapped it around my torso. I walked over to the entrance and grabbed the hide blanket that shielded away the light on the outside.


    ¡°I should warn you ¡­ you may want to brace yourself.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°How come?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± he sighed. ¡°They¡¯re calling you a savior for what you did for the young chieftess.¡±


    ¡°They are?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing ¡­¡±


    Panchu grumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±


    I laughed, grabbed the curtain and pulled. Light flooded into the room. My eyelids pinched close. Before I could open them, a loud, victorious chant caught my ears. It rose and rose and rose. And when it became clear I realized what they were saying ¡­


    ¡­ Kai.


    END OF SEASON 1


    Season 2 will be


    posted once completed.