Ch. 9: The Storm

A gentle breeze swept the countryside, gliding softly and swiftly over lush hills and flowing through the manes of the aetyrim around me.

The meadow was a bare yet peaceful terrain, and the only thing I could see beyond the ocean of green was the God's Headrest rising in the distance, looming ominously.

We had left the Capital far behind us, and since we were traveling uphill, it was out of view from where we were standing.

The land around us was bathed in a deep, fiery orange light as the sun neared the West Horizon, and I saw Illesior talking earnestly with Unydae before raising his paw to the air, signaling us to come to a halt.

"Do you see the sun before us, my fellow Aetyrim?" He said, pointing to the God's Headrest. "It is nearing night, and we need to decide whether or not we will trek on through the darkness. Although we are not in imminent danger as of now, there is still the chance that we will get attacked by a rogue Consumed."

While the others murmured around me, I sniffed the air. Off to the north, coming from the God's Headrest was a blanket of rolling clouds, and I could scent rain.

Shefaris finally answered, the elegant Sorcerer sweeping her black mane out of her noble velvet face. "It may not seem likely to you, my Lord, but a storm is coming from over the mountains." She pointed her nose to the northwest, then continued. "If we are caught in such terrible weather in an open space like this, then we'll catch a sickness- or worse. I say we head on until we reach the forest."

Before Illesior could answer, the other Sorcerer from Unydae's party, Iras, added, "Besides, the forest is only just over this hill. It wouldn't be wise to just camp here."

The prince nodded after a moment. "Very well. We'll head to the forest and camp there." He waved his paw. "Onward, now."

As we continued uphill, a cold breeze suddenly ruffled my fur, and I shivered as I turned to face the storm. Thunder rumbled off in the distance, echoing down to the plains we were trekking.

I fell back quietly until I was level with Arius and Strubin. They were talking with the two other warriors in Illesior's party, and Strubin gave me a welcome hello as I drew near.

I nodded to him. "How's it going?"

He shrugged. "It's alright." Then he nudged one of the warriors. "Guys, this is Aven. She's a magicless aetyr who came with us from Gatesborn, and she's also Arius' sister."

The two warriors, one being a fiery orange female and the other a slate-furred male, waved.

"Aven, the orange aetyr is Sophi, and the male is Kirune. They're from Rivermouth, and they came to the Capital about a few days before we did," Strubin added.

"It's nice to meet you, Aven," Sophi greeted me happily, shaking my paw. Kirune dipped his head respectfully.

"Hey," I returned the friendly gesture. "What are your positions? Outside of being warriors on this expedition, anyways."

"I'm a hunter." Sophi puffed out her chest proudly. "Lately I've been hunting wild boars in the forests around here. I've gotten to travel outside the Capital multiple times!"

"And I'm a Sorcerer apprentice," Kirune chimed in. "But since I don't know enough outside magic, I don't quite qualify yet as an official. So I got to come along on this quest so I can prove myself."

"Neat." I eyed them closely. "What's your birth magic?"

Sophi's eyes glittered. "I have pyrokinesis! Fire doesn't hurt me like it hurts other aetyrim. And I've gotten quite good at using it, I must say," She added smugly, rubbing her paw against her nose.

Kirune looked at her doubtfully. "Didn't you burn down the loom that Ezin was making? I thought you got in a lot of trouble for that."

"That's not relevant," Sophi growled, her face turning beet red. "Besides, you never answered the albino's question."

"Right, right," He muttered. "My birth magic was telekinesis. I can lift light things with my mind. Part of the reason I became an apprentice to K'heali was so I could strengthen it. But ever since I started my training, I also began to learn Compression Cannon. I'm not super great with it, however."

"I'm sure you'll get the hang of it," I assured him hopefully. Kirune blinked at me gratefully as Arius suddenly flicked his ears.

"I just felt rain," He muttered. I shot him a shocked glance. "Not good, guys," I said. "We were supposed to get to the forest before the storm hits."

I whipped around and raced off to the head of the party, eager to warn Illesior. "Sir! Sir!" I panted as I approached him. 

I guess the others already knew, but instead of bolting, Illesior sniffed the air after giving me an acknowledging look. Suddenly his eyes grew dark.

A low rumble descended across the plains, and I felt a growing dread fill me. But why? A simple rain wouldn't do something like this. But as I looked around, I couldn't find anything that explained my growing horror.

Do you feel that? Dukalis suddenly asked. 

"What is it?" I whispered.

It's an aura. The taste of dark magic resonates across the plains. He shuddered. But… that's impossible. They couldn't have come here… could they?

"Who?" I asked him, before suddenly one of the resident Sorcerers screamed. I whipped around to find Shefaris the Windcaller on her knees, hissing and wailing uncontrollably. Black fumes poured out of her gaping mouth and her eyes glazed over in indescribable horror.

The others had stopped and all raced towards her, save for a few of the warriors, who hung behind in shock. One of the other Sorcerers yelled, "We're being attacked!"

Illesior stared in bewilderment, before seeming to gather his wits and lifting his hands, muttering a flurry of chants. He glanced over his shoulder at me as he did, his face in a horrified scowl, his long black mane streaming out behind him wildly in the wind.

"Aven!" He yelled. "Run to the forest, and don't stop! Warriors, go with her!"

"What about Shefaris?" I asked after a moment, looking around at the plains in terror.

His eyes were dark, narrowed with fear. "Just go! I can't afford to lose you, too."

I stared at him for a moment longer, then nodded and raced up the hillside, towards the coming storm.

I didn't stop to see if my friends were following me, but within a few agonizing moments I could feel them racing beside me, their tails streaming out behind them and their eyes wild with fear. "Aven!" Strubin called. "What's happening?"

I tried to reply, but my heart was pounding and my lungs screamed for air. "I don't know!" I gasped. "But we need to get to the forest! The prince said we would be safe there! Come on!"

It seemed like the hilltop was in sight, and I reached it, panting heavily. In front of us the plains suddenly dropped away off a steep cliff, and the forest was all around, filling the vast ravine with lush green. A lake shimmered at the bottom, the size of my hand from this height.

I looked around wildly and reached out my arm just as Strubin came barreling through, and it took all I had to keep him from falling off the edge.

"Ahh!" He shrieked, scrabbling on the cliffside before regaining his composure. Behind us, Kirune, Sophi and Arius finally arrived, panting and their sides heaving with the run.

Kirune's eyes widened. "We're trapped!"

"What do we do? There's no way down!" Sophi flicked her ears back with despair, blinking away the raindrops that landed on her snout.

I looked around. "Are any of us skilled at mountain climbing, by any chance?" It was worth a shot, after all.

Kirune and Sophi shook their heads, and Strubin sagged his shoulders. Arius glared at me, anger in his eyes.

"I'll bet a moon's worth of pay that it's your fault that we're going to die, Aven," He suddenly spat venomously.

My eyes widened. "WHAT! My fault?! I don't even know what's going on!"

He shoved me with an outstretched claw. "It's that book of yours, isn't it? All that magic… I'll bet it possessed Shefaris."

"No, it didn't!" My mind reeled with the accusation. "And where did you learn that from, anyway?"

Before my brother could reply, Strubin pushed in between us. "Calm down, you two!" He said gruffly. "Arius, what is wrong with you?! This isn't Aven's fault- none of it is!"

Arius scowled and looked away.

"Aven…" Sophi suddenly asked, brushing her paw on my shoulder warily. "What's this about your book? Why would Arius say that?"

I pushed her away. "That's not the point! We need to figure out how to get off this cliff!"

Behind us, a scream sounded, and I dared to look back. My heart caught in my throat when I saw what was happening. Where we had left the Sorcerers and party leaders behind, there was a huge, shadowy form among them, screeching and roaring with an otherworldly voice, echoing throughout the plains. It took the shape of a huge lizard, resembling what the stories told of the dragons who roamed Dragon's Reach. Beneath its claws was Shefaris, seemingly unconscious.

"Leave her!" I could hear someone yell. "There's nothing more we can do!"

Suddenly I could faintly see Illesior look up to where we were, and his eyes widened. His mouth opened in a soundless scream: Jump!

Jump?

I turned back to my friends standing there, watching me. "I have an idea," I panted.

"Anything is better than being stuck up here," Kirune muttered gratefully.

I turned to all of them in turn, then took a breath.

"Do you trust me?" I asked softly.

Strubin nodded eagerly. Kirune and Sophi agreed after a moment, their voices quiet against the onslaught of rain. Finally I turned to Arius.

"Arius." His eyes burned into mine, a malevolent violet hue. "Do you trust me?"

He growled after a moment. "You're stupid, you know that? A hard-headed, fluff-brained fool."

I waited for his real answer, my face burning from his insults.

"But I suppose we have no other choice but to go with you."

I nodded at last, suddenly bringing them all close to me. "Then let's hope this works."

I spun, and leaped off the cliff, bringing them with me, their screams of surprise echoing in my ears as we fell down into the abyss below.