Warriors Within (continue)


11

High above the ground and all that inhabited, it flew a dragon on a mission. Anguis watched as people went about their duties of selling and harvesting goods upon each landscape that appeared before him. Villages of brick and straw houses changed to thick forests and then thinned out into meadows where animals grazed or hunted. Such wonders of nature were never seen from the eyes of humans for they resided on the ground and not the air.
Some of the animals herded together to get out the fall of the dragon’s shadow as it crossed the yellowed meadows while others ignored the sudden darkness. Anguis had no cause to alarm the animals about, but his size terrified them and he left them be.
The scenery changed again to this of sand and then water that seemed to stretch the length of the world. Waves crashed upon waves as the dragon soared over them and onward in his journey. Sunlight glazed off the blue of the ocean as he flew on drifts from the waves themselves. He knew that the light would soon be gone and that he was not even half way to his haven. Worst was the knowledge that exhaustion was catching up with him and would soon stop him completely. Yet, once over the ocean’s body there were no stopping to rest his wings and all that he had to push him on was will power. But that too will fail him soon.
Glancing behind him, Anguis could see that a chance of returning to the land for a rest was already a lost choice. He was too far now to waste more energy fighting the up drifts from the water to return. Sighing he turned back to what was ahead and pushed on while holding the little body close to his body so that it would not be touched by waves when he came close to caught an up drift.
Creatures of all shapes and colors rallied under the waters surface in schools near his shadows edge as he passed upon them. Suddenly a large drift came and lifted his large frame of body. While high in the air, Anguis noticed a large shadow of a fish the size of his own body hover close near the waters surface. Not understanding such a site he was amazed when the whale surfaced and blew water from it head. Totally confused of why the fish did such a feat the dragon moved on and away from the strange beast.
He was far ahead the whale when exhaustion came back full forced and cramped his left wing so suddenly that he tumbled and struck the ocean’s surface. The force of his body on the calm surface had his neck snapping backwards and his body sinking with the shock of the moment. Once the water passed his eyes he reacted immediately and flapped his wings in unit with each other while breaking the surface in a wave the size of his body.
Gulping loss air while at the same time paddling three legs so as not to sink again, Anguis held one claw above the surface of the water with his tiny master’s body still clamped safely inside. Curling his wings out to keep what he could of his weight afloat, he waited as the cramp in his wing slowly resided. It was during the wait that something happened.
The world went quiet of all sounds and actions. The waves were no longer dancing upon each other and the schools of fish were gone from the water’s surface and on back down to its dark depths. Anguis searched about for what was causing such a wonder when the rumbling begun. He looked up and stared with wide eyes.
What was once a clear blue sky was quickly filling with clouds of dark illusions. Thunder hammered the tops of the clouds as lightening skidded around in bright colors at the bottom. An odd green mist seemed to be herding the clouds together as it snaked its way through the sky.
At once Anguis knew that this was the doings of Sahaia’s spell. It was opening the gates for the warriors while calling a warning to all. He watched as the clouds made there way above him while at the same time casting a dark ribbon across the sky and ocean. He floated on a sea of darkness and knew he had to move to follow the magic.
With renewed strength, he took to flight once again as water dripped from his body. Staying as low as he could from the clouds, he watched as they formed and danced with one another while heading towards an island not far ahead.
Anguis knew the island as his home and understood that the warriors will be arriving there. He just had to be there when they came. He promised Sahaia that he would be there to protect them and he shall keep that promise no matter what.
** ** **



12

After searching the house for more flashlights or any way of fixing the lights, the friends gave up and sat with the single light coming from the first flashlight in the living room. No one bothered to start the fire again for fear of the mist coming back. Sammy sat on the floor while reading the books on Latin in the dim light of the room. Beside him laid his book bag and some cookies Adam had brought from the kitchen to snack on while waiting out the storm.
Josh sat with his head resting on the seat of the love seat beside Tashia who was searching through her purse. Codi sighed and sprawled full out on the couch with her feet on the arm rest as she watched the light dance on the ceiling. Adam suddenly appeared from the hall after searching the house for the breakers for the lights while discovering that they would not work. He sighed a pitiful sound and sat in a lone chair near the front door.
Silence filled the room except for the thunder outside and the ever present sound of a page turning. Then through the silence came a separate sound that was so strange from the others that it pierced through the others and stood out. At first everyone ignored it, but then it got louder and louder.
"What is that?" Adam said with frustration when it came again.
He looked about the room as if to try and find it inside. Josh stood and slowly stalked to the window. The noise got louder and Sammy looked up from his reading with an Oreo in his mouth, but said nothing. Codi sat up from her position on the couch as the sound suddenly registered in her mind as a squeak of an animal. She looked to Josh to see if he would confirm it.
"All I see is rain, rain, and oh look, more rain." Josh announced and turned to the others. "Its too dark outside to make anything out. I can’t even see the street!"
This had everyone moving to window to see if this was true. Codi went to the window with Josh and was amazed of the darkness outside. There were no lights from anywhere down the street on up. The lightening had taken care of all working electricity. Not even a car could be seen!
Squinting her eyes to peer out into the storm, Codi could barely make out the outline of the old oak tree in her yard when the squeak came again, so she paned her eyes up into the tree branches.
At that exact moment lightening lit the yard and she could see what was making all that racket. Her blue eyes went wide and she gasped. Then turning quickly she took off for the door while praying silently that nothing would happen until she got there.
All her friends were asking what was going on when she finally reached the door and gripped the handle. She twisted the knob and ignored the question, so when nothing happened with the door she let out a small whimper of fear. She was slowly crumbling to her knees with despair when she noticed the lock was on. She straightened quickly and unlocked the door just as her friends came upon her.
"Where...what are you doing!" Someone called right behind her as she opened the door wide and started to run out into the storm. But someone grabbed her and pulled her back inside.
"No! Let go!" Tears were falling down her face as she looked out into the rain. "Elvis!"
The small whimper had everyone looking into the rain themselves for the small creature that held such a name.
"Where is he?" Adam asked, but never took his eyes away from the outside. "The tree, he’s in the tree." Codi cried with fear. Her beloved cat was out in this storm and was up a tree. Fear iced her blood as she watched Adam rush out into the storm. "Adam!"
"Get back here you nut!" Josh called just as Codi yelled for their friend. All watched as one of their own disappeared out into the darkness to get another. No one understood why he did it, but all knew he was risking getting struck by lightening when he did. They waited in silence for him to return and hoped he would return soon.




13

Patience is a virtue except when friends are waiting for a comrade of theirs to return from danger. Minutes passed, but to the ones waiting it was forever until Adam finally returned to the door soaking wet holding something small in his arms.
Everyone greeted his return with relief and pure joy that he was back. Codi stood from where she had slide to the floor with Tashia holding her back when realization had hit her of what Adam was doing for her. Now that he was back and with what he had went out into the storm for, had Codi giving a small laugh before she wrapped Adam in a hug of pure joy.
Between them, Elvis made it known to all that he was not enjoying this sudden closeness. Adam and Codi shared a smile before she took the cat from his arms and walked to the nearest towel in the room. The three-legged calico cat purred it’s relief once he was safely in his master’s arms and soon to be dry.
Sammy came over and curled close to his sister as she sat cross legged on the couch with her pet safely wrapped in a towel of warmth. Adam walked over with a towel himself as he dried his hair and glasses once again. He smiled at the little creature as it started to clean itself where the towel had touched him.
Josh and Tashia were locking the door once again before coming over and sitting on the floor in front of the others.
"Adam, I’m proud to call you friend. For I know that whenever there is a storm and I am somehow stuck in a tree you will always be there to come get my stupid behind down." Josh said then tried to purr like the cat as he rubbed his face against Adam’s shin.
Everyone laughed at the joke as Adam pushed Josh away from him while both tried to hide a smile.
"If I ever have to get you out of a tree for whatever reasons, I’m leaving you there." Adam announced to one and all.
Codi shook her head at her friends kookiness then went about drying her cat when something ruff and spike-like crossed her arm. She stiffened at the feel, but slowly relaxed when she realized what it was. She turned her eyes onto her brother.
"Sammy, you know how much I hate that lizard. So put it away, now." She told him, just as her friends came closer to see what was going on.
"Sorry sis. Kurbi likes you even if you don’t. She’s afraid of the storm so I brought her in here with us so she wouldn’t be scared." Sammy said in his child-like manner. When he noticed that everyone was looking at his pet, he smiled and lifted the lizard so that all could see her. "This is Kurbi, she’s an Iguana." He announced to the small group.
"Leave them alone about the thing. Its a lizard." Codi said, but was secretly glad that Sammy was going to let the others view the little beast. She hide a smile when Tashia touched the spiked body and then suddenly pulled her hand away as she shivered with disgust. Adam and Josh smiled and patted the lizard as well as the cat as they sat upon the floor.
"I don’t have a pet. So let’s share, little man." Josh said to Sammy as he watched the little iguana swish her tail at him.
"Okay, but she stays here." Sammy informed him and the two shook hands as if in a deal. Codi smiled and ruffled her brother’s hair, then just because she could, she did the same to Josh’s, but his hair folded back into its normal condition. He smiled at her effort and understood that she was just playing with him.
As for that, there were no other eruptions and all were settled. The boys started up a discussion of pets while the girls helped to feed the little cat who’s voice was a squeak each time they did something wrong. The storm outside was almost forgotten.
** ** **



14

Clouds ran the skies as lightening and thunder danced between them. A dragon flew with them yet stayed low enough to not be in danger of they’re powers. The shadow of the storm pressed on as it covered the ocean and creature of flight in a shade of gray. An strange show sparked the waters as shadows of the animals within its depths flashed with the lightening in the sky.
Anguis pressed on as he watched the air fill thick with magic. The small prize that was his burden was held close to his warm body as water washed away in his flight. The body was a shell of someone special to him and he would never let it be harmed.
He was crossing the last of the water then onto lush land of green when the beginning trail of the storm turned and begun to twirl about the island known as the Isle of Volucris for its inhabitants having the ability to fly. Two water falls toppled on top of each other in a glow of a rainbow just as the last of the sunlight crossed it out with the clouds of the storm.
The forestry of the island suddenly came alive with birds as the sudden change in weather took them from their hidden areas to flight. Large ivory ones crossed before Anguis and he lifted higher to avoid the small creatures. He watched as the cranes swished their wings in moment with each other in their escape of the rising darkness.
The beauty of these sacred birds could take his breath away, but his coming home was that of sorry times. He was bringing home the dead.
Bowing his head in the respect of the passing as well as the birds, he was startled when he saw the lights in the coming darkness following him from below.
The tiny sparkles danced in different colors through the leaves and pass animals that were racing away from the larger danger. Anguis snarled at the little glitters that were spirits of the forest itself. He knew that they were trouble makers and he did not want them to bother his coming here.
He gather his strength and pressed onward in his flight to his lair.
Wind blared out its fury as the clouds swirled in a circle above the island yet not touch it. Lightening spiraled out the sky in ripples of colors as a strange green mist twirled through each cloud. A sudden flash lit the dragon in a glow of blue before striking the ground below in a mighty clash.
Anguis flew harder to dodge any danger to himself and his bounty. Though cloaked in darkness the ground slowly died out of green forests into molted rocks of red fire. Volcanic lava spurred out in orange and yellow heat upon the island’s inland as it marked the home of the dragons.
An area of black rock smoothed out with lava spurts like run lights as Anguis made his way from high depths of the air. It was a run way for those that could use the rock for landing. Claws scraped the rock into dirt clumps as the dragon gained ground in a slow slide to stop. His body rippled with each muscles as his feet took on the weight of his body as he finally grounded.
Three legs touched the rock while his other held the body of his sorceress safely from the fumes of the lava. The large wings at his back folded before curling up beside his body as he begun to walk about his surroundings. He could still see the edge of the forest and decided to return to its shadowy haven.
At that moment the rain begun. Tiny droplets sizzled in the fires of the earth and about the dragon’s body as it cooled him of his discharged energy. Anguis shook his mighty frame when the wetness crossed his eyes in a slight sting, but he kept on walking so that the body he held would not become soaked.
Ironic that this small death of a body would be the first of the human species to cross on this Isle, though doubted to be the last.
Emotions that the dragon could not swallow closed his long throat as he walked on into his home land. He would make a place of safe keeping so that no creature of human alike could touch his precious master in her sleeping death. He roared to the Heavens with this vow as his emotions took habit of his body and he stood on his back legs as he made this vow.
The ground rocked when he slammed his claw down so that he could move on. Tears could fill his dark eyes, but the rain washed his bitter sorrows with its cold bearings. His pain would be forever, but his hatred would feed on his body until he too would be released from this world of endless suffering. But first a vow of warriors had to be fulfilled. He had promised his love to protect them and he would.




15

Streaks of green and purple colored the clouds that pulsated and rushed across the Heavens. Magic danced wild through the sky as lightening while drumming out different beats as thunder. They twirled and pulled each other into flight right throughout the earth and time. The lights were the magic as it called forth the hope of a single sorceress and a dragon’s vow.
Rain cried down the magic so that it embedded itself within the sweet ground asking for help from Mother Earth herself. The wind suddenly picked up in a tempo as it breezed through the branches of the forest while sending a blanket of leaves into the sky. Each leaf swirled in the sky and twinkled a different color before spinning in a whirlwind among themselves above a small case of crystal makings.
A body resided within its clear glass upon an alter of stone and flowers. Two flames burned at her side about the alter casting shadows upon the gentle sorceress inside. The dragon walked from the shadows of the forest trees and stood before the grave stone while placing a single wild flower upon the casket of glass that he had burned into shape with his breath and claws.
He watched the leaves in their wild dance as they twirled in mid air just above the dead. They seemed to be paying the respect given to one death that should never have been. Light bounced off their bodies in patterns then upon the alter of flowers. Anguis held his breathe at the beauty of the magic and the wonder of the leaves. They danced on before suddenly falling softly upon the casket and swallowing it whole except the face of the body within to all that viewed the dead.
Lightening from above struck out onto the ground and lit the scene before it as well as the tiny human within the leaves box. This was a sacred ground for the dead of the first human to this isle and the Heavens were just giving her the blessing to carry on in this land as one of the sacred ones.
Anguis turned his eyes away from this death to swallow his emotions. His black eyes searched the sky for the calling of the magic as well as peace. It was there he saw the tiny strands of time splitting the sky as if opening the pass to another dimension. The beast within him was rejoicing yet what was to come from the portal was a mystery to him.
He searched on within the sky and paused when he saw a single color that was not apart of the magic he had viewed so far. A red streak among the green and purple sky.
He followed the travel of the red mist as it circled the lightening from cloud to cloud. Then it was suddenly swallowed within a cloud of purple, but the cloud turned red from then on before joining with the other clouds.
Anguis was confused at this small changing. Something within him knew it meant trouble and more likely disaster. But he didn’t know what to do. He turned his eyes back to the alter and it was then he heard the lights.
The sound was coming from the forest as a buzzing hymn before they broke loose of the trees and rushed out into the air. Glitters of sprites and spirits were they as the circled one another in different colors then begun to play about the air around Anguis. He snorted and swatted the foul beings, but they dodged his attempts of destroying them.
They left him to his own doings and flew towards the alter as they joined and bonded with each other. They circled the case that held the sorceress with colors that begun to blend into one bright halo of white as they flew faster and faster around the alter of the dead.
The light grew stronger and brighter with the sound of the little beings singing a song that was vaguely familiar. Anguis could hear the sprites in their metallic voices humming as the spirits moaned and cried the same rhythm. The dragon wanted to push the little nuisances away, but their singing stopped him.
The spell, Sahaia’s spell!
They were adding their own bodies of power to the spell as if protecting what was meant to be. Anguis was beginning to view the small critters in a new light and was amazed with himself when he too begun to hum with the song.
His voice was a deep rumble that softened so as not to drown out the others of the magic. He could not figure out why he joined in, but carried on with his own throat changing to fit each verse of the spell. They were coming upon the last of the hymn when he glanced up and saw the sky slowly open up in a pool of color as lightening gathered into the largest of the clouds. Thunder slowly rumbled the sky as well as the earth before Anguis turned away from the sky magic and back to the ground one.
The lights were now a ring of one blaze, but quickly exploded into tiny blast of lights before being thrown upward into the sky and turning into flames as the sky opened it’s mouth and released a lightening streak towards the ground full of magic glowing purple and red.
** ** **



16

The storm raged on outside while the friends waited it out inside the house. Each sat within the living room as close as they could to the only light source in the entire building. The girls sat together on the couch with the small calico cat between them sleeping. Josh and Sammy sat on the love seat while entertaining themselves with the little iguana. Adam was pacing before the fire place with his hands behind his back while lost in thought.
"Not to make a situation more frightening, but I think there’s something in the yard."
Josh was the one to break the silence of the room while holding everyone’s attention. He was staring out the window behind him at something outside that was not really clear through the rain.
Codi stood slowly and inched her way over to her brother and stared out into the storm. Sure enough there was movement beyond her house right beside the large oak tree. She squinted her eyes to observe more of the object through the pouring rain. She watched it run in circles around the base of the tree then towards the house only to be pulled back to circle the tree once again.
Confusion at what this thing could be and what it was doing ran over her face that she turned to ask someone to go to the door and see what it was when something reached her ears through the glass and house. A sharp drumming sound that was running off in rapid session. Then a whimper and understanding came to her as swiftly as it had before with the others.
She quickly turned her dark eyes to Adam and saw that he had heard it too. He turned and started to the door along with everyone else right behind him before thought of what they were doing settled in. She knew how he was feeling at the moment and knew they could do nothing to stop him as they did her.
"Adam…wait!" Josh tried to slow his friend’s actions, but his attempt was futile. Adam rushed on until he had the door open and rain was already brushing him back inside.
He shielded his eyes from the stinging droplets as he walked out onto the porch. Codi reached out and gripped his shirt before he could go on.
"Adam! Get your tail back in here right this minute!" Tashia’s sharp command had all stopping to her calling. It only stopped Adam for a second and it was used to turn around and glare at his friend.
"You know who is out there and you also know what I’m going to do. You can’t stop me, Tash." Adam was being brave even when everyone knew he was afraid of what would happen to his pet husky that whimpered through the howling wind to their hearing. "I’ll be back…with Frank."
"Be careful." Tashia’s whisper was almost unheard above the sudden thunder roll in the sky. Lightening lit the street and friends as they watched Adam make his way once again into the storm to rescue a fellow pet. Only this time it was his own.
Codi released his shirt to let him go, but she couldn’t take it again and ran out to walk with Adam should he need help. She held her arm to block some of the rain from her eyes as her hair plastered itself to her face and head. Adam saw her and gripped her arm so as not to lose her.
"You should have stayed with the others, Codi." He said close to her ear so that he could be heard. Codi had never been this close to him before and she shivered without knowing why.
"Stop taking the world on alone and let someone else help you." Codi yelled back so she did not have to get closer than necessary. Adam seemed to ignore what she said or he didn’t hear. She hoped he did while at the same time praying he didn’t take it the wrong way.
They were silent as the two fought the weather and walked on together towards the tree. What should have taken seconds seemed to take forever. Since the electricity was out, Codi could just make out the tree with its branches shaking in the wind where the husky waited impatiently for them. The storm was making viewing difficult and more mysterious than before.
Praying that they will be able to find Frank and return safely back to the house was upon Codi’s mind as she and Adam walked on and disappeared from the house and their friend’s vision into the pit of darkness.





MORE TO COME!!!! SOON!