Screams in the mountain part 1

As dawn broke, they embarked on their arduous trek to the mountains. It took them two days to reach the foot of the mountains. No signs of life were seen, only jagged rocks and trees.

The path was steep and unforgiving, strewn with rocks and sparse vegetation. Every step required effort, and Rufus kept a close eye on Suomi, who struggled but pushed forward with quiet determination.

As they ascended, the air grew thinner, making breathing more laborious. Amala's keen eyes scanned the horizon for any signs of danger, while Rufus supported Suomi, occasionally offering her water and the little food they had left.

"Look," Amala said and pointed to a structure. 

As they got closer, they saw a building built by placing flat rocks on top of one another. There was an entrance into the building. 

"Let's take a break there," Rufus said. 

The small stone shack was small, with barely the three of them fitting inside, but it gave cover as the weather had gotten treacherous. Strong gusts of winds had blown sand from the steppes high above and had mixed with the cold and dry mountain air. 

The ground was layered with sticks, that cracked as they walked inside. Old utensils, such as pots and wooden spoons also were found. 

"What do you think this was built for?" Rufus asked.

"We built similar structures around the mountains as well. They were rest points for travelers, to shelter from the elements, or for hunters to use when they left for long journeys to fetch game," Amala said while inspecting it.

"Looks run down," Rufus noted. 

Suomi then sat down exhausted, and the sticks cracked. Suomi then started to play her instrument, her fingers tired and cold, but with it, she was able to conjure a small light that illuminated the small stone shack. 

But with the light, they saw more than they had wished. The walls were covered in dry blood, scratch marks, and writing. They looked beneath, and they saw that the sticks were not what they first thought, but of bones. 

"What the hell is this place!" Amala yelled out. 

Then a scream was heard. A scream they had heard before in the world of Isra. A night screamer. A demon.

"We need to leave from here at once," Rufus yelled. 

Rufus rushed outside, but as he did, he was grabbed by something big and fast. Only a quick shadow was seen by Amala and Suomi, who quickly rushed out.

Rufus was grabbed by a tight grip and was flown high. His forehead was bleeding, as the claws had hit him hard. He looked and saw the skinny, dead-winged, and importantly, eyeless monster lifting him, high above the clouds. 

Rufus quickly composed himself and began using his divinity. He forced from his touch the demon to lose its grip, as its hand was about to blow apart. It was hard though, and Rufus felt like he had to try much harder this time.

Rufus fell, and the demon looked as he fell. Rufus didn't scream as he fell, but as the demon lost sight of him, spheres flew at it. It did, but they expanded, causing massive explosions in the air. As the demon tried to evade the attacks it saw that Rufus was flying at it. 

The demon, caught off guard by Rufus's sudden counterattack, not knowing the human could fly, struggled to react. Rufus, his divinity surging through him, propelled himself toward the demon with a fierce determination. The explosions in the air echoed like thunder, creating a cacophony of noise and light amidst the otherwise tranquil skies.

Rufus, now airborne, confronted the demon in a dance of aerial combat. He maneuvered with agility, his divine spheres orbiting him, ready to be unleashed.

On the ground, Amala and Suomi watched in horror and awe as Rufus battled the demon in the sky. Amala clutched her weapon tightly, her eyes tracking the movements above. 

Suomi felt helpless, but then saw how the hut was calling to her, She went back inside and crouched down, examining the markings on the wall more closely. "These are divine texts. Scriptures." 

The demon decided to fully commit to killing Rufus. It took out a large weapon, that had three blades, coming out from a single handle. Like a bouquet made from blades. 

The demon wielded its bizarre weapon with a ferocity that matched its grotesque form. The blades, arranged in a lethal formation, spun through the air, aiming to tear Rufus apart. Rufus, however, was not deterred. 

He dodged the blades, but he was slowly being cut. He then realized that this night screamer was different than the last one. This one was stronger and it showed. 

Rufus, despite his immense power, felt the strain of the battle against this strong night screamer. It was clear that this demon had somehow evolved or been strengthened, making it a much more formidable opponent than he had anticipated. Each of its attacks was precise and vicious, pushing Rufus to his limits.

As Rufus engaged the demon, he understood he was outmatched. 

He dodged an attack that was aimed at his neck and started to fly down. As he descended he saw Suomi and Amala yelling," Here come here!"

Rufus didn't understand what they wanted, but he turned and started to fly in their direction. As he did, the demon followed. It started to gain on him, but saw that Amala was ready. Just before Rufus was about to be cut apart, he dodged the attack, giving Amala a clear shot, shooting a large arrow, that stopped the demon, giving Rufus a chance to land safely.

"Rufus, in here!" Suomi yelled while inside the stone hut.

"What!" Rufus said, not understanding what protection the small structure would give. 

"Just move it!" Amala yelled and shoved him. 

Rufus stumbled into the small stone hut, still trying to catch his breath and process the situation. Inside Suomi was writing on the walls, like fixing empty slots. 

The night screamer, momentarily halted by Amala's powerful shot, recovered quickly and charged towards the hut. As the demon approached, it became clear that the small hut would not withstand a direct assault. 

Suomi then called upon the divine winds and the divine texts started to glow. As the demon tried to blow through the small stone hut, an invisible force stopped it. A large shockwave pushed it back, sending it flying away, with its wings smoking and it screaming in pain. 

The night screamer, reeling from the unexpected barrier and the intensity of the divine force that repelled it, retreated into the shadows of the mountain, its screeches echoing in the distance. The trio inside the hut remained alert, but it was clear that the immediate threat had passed.

Rufus, still catching his breath, looked at Suomi in amazement. "What did you do?"

Suomi, her face reflecting a mix of exhaustion and focus, replied, "The texts on these walls – they're not just scriptures. They're part of a protective spell. When I played my kantele and invoked the divine winds, it activated, creating a barrier."

Amala, still vigilant at the entrance, added, "This place must have been a sanctuary or a hidden refuge, protected against that thing."

"Or maybe one of the people here was a sorcerer," Amala said and looked around at the dead bodies. 

"Why did it then stay cooped in here?" Amala asked. 

They then heard the night screamer. It was still alive, angry, but very much not dead. 

"It couldn't go out. Because of that demon. Was able to protect itself, but forced to stay here and starve to death," Amala deduced. 

The realization of the sorcerer's fate within the stone hut added a layer of somber history to their temporary shelter. It was a stark reminder of the cruel realities of their journey and the world they were traversing.

"We should move on as soon as possible," Amala suggested. "We can't afford to stay in one place for too long, especially with that night screamer still out there."

Rufus nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should head out at first light. The demon knows where we are, but I don't sense it anymore, might have lost interest."

"Maybe it found other people in the mountains," Suomi said.

"Lucky for us," Amala said.

Suomi then found a book that had a hand grasping it. She took it and saw it was a journal or a diary. She tried to read, but only a few actual readable parts were left intact. It read.

"The cities of Parthava, you foolish and short-sighted, or so I thought. In my actions, I forged to end your rules but instead forged my own grave here. The demon doesn't let me leave. The laughing storm guided me and helped me, but a fool I was thought it would love me when I failed. So I will die here, knowing the pain I feel, is purely of my design."