Chapter 10

Duran kept a wandering eye on Remy as he rode the air currents overhead. It was easier for him to glide than to fly. Unfortunately, he wasn’t exactly a light thing to carry when he was tired so they were compromising. They were still finding their way between each other. Remy didn’t send images the way Iba could, so there was no way to know what he had to share unless he could be heard.

More trees swayed gently in a flowing breeze, and the sound of the world surrounding them seemed familiar, but was uniquely different as well. It was refreshingly comfortable, likely the end of winter or early spring if this world had similar seasons where the weather transitioned. It made the walking they had to do less tiring to not be overheated as well.

They followed the land, a gentle roll that wasn’t noticeable unless they looked over their shoulders to see the rise of the land behind. Nearing the river, the ground slope was more evident, time’s stamp of erosion and the movement of the soil’s shape. The views were gorgeous as they covered mile after mile. Bright turquoise green colors popped amid tall grasses in the sunlight. The shade from the trees added another level of color as the bright yellow leaves darkened to a rich umber closer to the trunk. It was unlike anything Duran had ever seen, much less imagined.

Duran gazed into the distance when a flicker of motion caught his attention, and his jaw fell open. “They are pegasi. They are beautiful.” A herd of at least a dozen grazed on the plains grass, with a few foals standing or lounging on the ground.

Wing spans wider than twice a man’s height when stretched out. Feathers at least an arm length long gleamed in the sunlight, like they were perpetually covered in dew. Immeasurable strength started at the shoulder and pushed the wings in and out as they lazed in their grazing. They weren’t close enough to see eyes or features, but the shine of their coats and their bold and unique colors were unlike anything Duran had ever seen on any horse. Bright yellows, like their home sun. Jewel blue, sapphire in depth. And like their horses at home, the colors blended with others, morphing to white socks or dark brown or black tips on their manes. They had to be larger as well to be so detailed at their distance, like a war horse yet delicate enough to fly. A mixture of strength and beauty that he would always remember.

Royce pointed, speaking close to his ear. A shiver was hard to suppress at his nearness. “That must be the herd stallion.” A large white and silver marbled beast stood in the distance, his head held high as he scented the incoming winds, his wings spread wide, alert, and stance watchful, ready to defend to move his herd in an instant. The silver of his mane and tail were breathtaking in the sunlight as they flowed and rippled around his length.

“They are stunning creatures,” Grayson agreed. There was no point in disturbing the animals so they maintained their wide berth, moving toward the river. Eventually the burble of water could be heard in the distance.

“Do we continue to the river? Follow it to the waterfall?” Rune asked when they paused for a brief water break.

Duran bowed his head, studying the map, sensing outward, trying to locate any of the natural energy of the world they were on for extra guidance. “With the river on our left we need to follow it to the falls. There is something there but it’s out of view yet.” He grimaced. No matter how he pushed at the image, nothing more would present itself. There was a limit to his view of the map details and not knowing bothered him. There was no way to prepare for what was waiting in the unseen distance.

“We’ll see where we are when we reach the falls. The sun has barely moved so a day for the sun’s cycle here could be longer than at home. That is to our benefit if it is true.” Rune dropped his hand from studying the solar placement overhead. “I’m not sure the sun’s orphan child moves. Best to be mindful of our time regardless.”

They followed the river, all four watchful and alert for any further life, but conscious of the reason they were there. Trees thickened the closer to the river they got, more like the ones on the plain, but others with red bark and tall, thin trunks stretching toward the sky with needle-like leaves on narrow branches were beginning to appear. The breezes were gentle, whispering through the tops of the trees while rustling the larger leaves and branches. At least that sounded familiar. The rumble of the river was soothing. It seemed water of any world sounded the same whether it was tumbling and roaring over rocks and around the bends of a riverbed or meandering its path endlessly.

They had all stopped as they got their first look at the river. “It’s huge,” Duran exclaimed. The river width was so broad from where they stood, they couldn’t see the other bank. At least it seemed to resemble water as they knew it. He hoped they didn’t have to cross it.

“If we’re lucky, it’s drinkable. Everything is so different here,” Grayson said. “I’m glad now we brought what we did.”

“Let’s see if we can reach the waterfall before our next break.” Rune kept the pace steady. Iba and Remy switched back and forth as overhead eyes. The sun beat down on them from a cloudless, silent sky. Light breezes occasionally tugged at clothing and hair but didn’t hinder them.

“I just realized what’s different, aside from the pegasi. There are no other animals.” Royce walked at Duran’s shoulder. “No animals, birds, or insects. There should be creatures like squirrels or rodents among the trees, and I haven’t seen a single bird aside from our own.”

“It could be survival forcing them to hide,” Grayson mentioned.

“Maybe. Their absence makes this world feel desolate. It’s too quiet.” He ducked his head, shuddering a little in wariness.

Duran made sure Iba and Remy were visible as the four trekked, concerned over the now noticeable lack of wildlife and seeing no reason for it. He agreed with Royce. Something was definitely off. Having started their journey on their home world in the early morning, they maintained a steady pace along the river for what felt to him like several hours. They used the birds as guides with the river on their left, following it upstream where hopefully the falls would be.

At a point, the group paused, Rune crouching to touch the ground. “I’ve never seen this.” Black sand drifted through his fingers. “It just changes from soil to this.” He stood, shaking his head, a frown tightening his lips. When the land should be fertile and filled with grasses and trees right next to the river like every other mile they’d trekked, the open plains suddenly morphed into a black sand bed. An arid desert courted by water. He studied the expanse with pensive tension. “Stay alert. I don’t like this.”

The oddity of the ground shifting from grassy flats to a fine sand confounded Duran, also. The black sand stretched beyond his view as their shadows moved around them. The river remained constant on their left. Duran had no way to gauge their distance but taking the differing sunlight into account and their pace, estimated they were several miles from their entry. The groups of standing trees they had passed faded to the background. The black sand was an unusual surface to be bordered by water on one side and grasslands on the other. It didn’t appear the river rolled onto the bank to cause the sand, but there were no observed differences in the sand, either. Nothing like shells or swell lines created by a tide. Their footfalls sank gently into the soft, black, nearly powdery surface, leaving light prints in their wake, a seemingly fleeting indication of their passing. Duran compared the surface to the beach below the Windwise cliffs. This sand reminded him of those sun heated beaches, but finer and silky to the touch when he tested it between his fingers.

There was no warning when a rumble vibrated the sand they walked on, and they all froze. The sand shifted slightly to settle. After several tense moments, it didn’t move further underfoot, and nothing appeared.

“Earthquake?” Duran wondered.

“I don’t know.” Rune lowered to the ground and splayed a palm, seeking for several seconds. “I can’t feel any root life. Let’s keep moving. Stay alert.”

“Have you been here before?” Grayson asked as Rune hurried their pace through the sand flats.

“A long time ago, as part of my Third circle trial.”

“You had the portal ability that young?” Duran asked, astonished. He’d never heard of any mage training for a portal skill so early. A youngling still in elven years. And only a few were known to have the ability to translocate at all.

“All part of that long story I mentioned.”

“I’d love to hear it,” Royce said.

The ground shook again, harder, as though disgruntled with the presence of their voices. Rune put a finger to his lips when the four paused again. They stood still, studying the ground surrounding them. The river remained running undisturbed, except for the ripples expanding from the bank into the deeper rushing waters being quickly washed away. Ripples that hadn’t existed before.

“Let’s keep moving,” Rune said in a hushed tone. “I don’t think we’re as alone as you believe.”

Royce and Grayson quickly nodded. Following Rune and Duran almost step for step, they hurried through the sand flats. They made it a few hundred feet when the sand behind them gurgled and blew outward, blasting fine, black sand everywhere, spreading it over hair and clothing.

Duran quickly whipped his tunic upward to cover his face, protecting his nose and mouth, blinking rapidly to see through the sheer curtain of sand floating down.

“Goddess,” Royce shouted. “What is that thing?”

Duran twisted to look through slitted eyes over a hunched shoulder. Armor-like exoskeleton scales slatted from the top of the animal’s flat, triangular head spreading downward, deep gray and dry as the black sand currently skimming like flowing water over its frame. The head itself melded into a compressed, sectional body with eight legs and two armored tails. Each ended with what appeared to be venomous tips, which waved and thrust menacingly, reaching taller than any of the men. Spikes several inches tall lined the scales from mid-shoulder all the way down the spine to the conjoined tails. Pincers snapped in front of its face as it swung around and targeted them.

“Run!” Rune shouted.

All four burst into a sprint, stumbling in the loose sand as they fought for their balance with their loads. A high-pitched shriek shattered the air. Another heaving mound in the sand was all the warning there was more than one. A second beast burst through the surface to their left, effectively pinning them with the water at their back. They skidded to a halt in a huddled group.

“Do we fight or risk the water?” Grayson demanded, bracing his feet in the sand, ready for either answer. Pincers lowered as the two creatures moved into position. They were trapped.

“We’re going to have to fight. We don’t know what’s in the water!” Whether the water was safe or if larger beasts of prey called it home, there was little choice for them. Rune dropped his pack, already building red heat in his hands.

Duran whipped around to catch Royce stripping like his clothes were on fire. “What are you doing?” he hissed.

“If I’m quick enough to separate them, you may have a better chance.”

Duran wrenched him close by the arm, his top half already bared as he reached for his trousers. “And if you’re not?” he growled, convinced Royce was out of his mind. Blue eyes met him unflinchingly.

“I’m not losing my chance for a real kiss by being slow,” he warned with steely determination. Then he loosened his pants and fluidly crouched, letting the fabric fall off his legs as his snow leopard bounded out of them, to slip from his boots in a single leap.

Duran snatched them up to slap over his pack, to not lose them in the sand while muttering at the skin shifter’s rashness.

“He’s insane,” Grayson pointed out.

Duran agreed, watching the fluff of his tail disappear as he ran wide behind their attackers. But his racing around was doing what he’d intended, pulling the focus of one of the beasts in his direction. Royce was dividing the overgrown scorpions’ attention away from them, taunting them then fleeing out of range.

“Now!” Rune shouted. “Iba! The eyes! The eyes!” The raven dived swiftly to attack the one on the left, the second to appear which was now the closer of the two. There were two sets of eyes Duran could distinguish from where he stood. If they could limit the creature’s vision, it would be a huge advantage. Remy didn’t have the grace of the raven, but he tried to do the same to the beast on the right, going for the eyes as it tried to track and follow Royce. The birds were able to cause enough of a distraction to allow the mages to make several swift attacks.

Duran and Rune both hurtled endless fireballs at swinging tails, attempting to either destroy the venomous tips or burn them to the point of uselessness. All while dodging clacking large pincers snapping at them, attempting to give Iba and Remy a fighting chance to maim the creatures. Sand sifted high into the air, spraying in arcs as the creatures swung around on armored legs with short claws at the ends, digging into the sand for purchase. Both creatures tried to evade the birds while reaching those attacking them. Duran and Rune continued to be moving targets, giving Grayson the best opportunity to use the ground against them. Grayson created sinkholes directly beneath the closest creature’s front half. It sank with an alarmed scream into the sand up to the patella of its front legs. It curled its body to swing its tail forward, trying to strike but there was no leverage. And nothing close enough to fall victim.

“Go for the head!” Rune shouted. While the beast was confused by the sand that wouldn’t budge, they concentrated fireball after fireball at the front of the beast. Their attacks did little damage to the frame of its body where the exoskeleton overlapped. The coverage was too thick. The head and tail were their best targets. Screams of anger sliced through the air as blasts exploded against the eyes and mouth.

Royce was tagging the other animal with sharp claws and drawing it away with a taunting tail, keeping its focus split, unable to help its partner. He drew it a distance away giving the others a chance to make a stronger attack. The larger beast chasing Royce turned and curled its deadly, dual aculeus outward, flexing almost into a ball. Focused as they were on the one they were fighting, Duran didn’t know how Royce was faring. The animal was still chasing him, so that had to mean Royce was still on his own paws. At least he hoped so.

“I don’t see Royce!” Grayson suddenly cried.

Duran froze, his skin chilling as the other scorpion spun their way again. “Royce!” His scream carried over the clicks and grunts of the scorpions as they communicated. There was no answer. Struggling to not run after where he last saw the cat, he fired another immense burst at the rushing creature. Stunned, it shook its head furiously, but barely slowed down. The one buried in the ground was battling against the sand climbing its legs. Every movement seemed to drag it deeper.

Remy dive bombed the beast stuck in the sand in tandem with Iba, clawing over its head, pulling back with determined beats of his wings. The scratch of talons was a sharp counter to the other sounds. A shudder shook the beast. As Remy pulled away, hollows appeared where there once had been an ocular orb. The pain seemed to be disorienting the creature.

“We have to take one down! I can’t control the sand for much longer!” Grayson was panting as he pushed and pulled on the sand to his will, heavy layers crawling up the creature’s legs over and over to keep it off center, sucking at appendages to stay buried. It was putting more effort in escaping the sand than attempting to attack. It was the only thing keeping them from being on the defensive between the two creatures. Or being pushed into the river.

Rune raised his hands and began to chant. The fire sparking from his fingers grew like lightning bolts, swarming with vibrant power outward, searching for a place to land.

Duran kept looking for Royce but couldn’t see him. He gritted his teeth refusing to believe anything had happened to him. He hoped the leopard managed to sprint out of range when the scorpion attacked. Losing Royce when he was starting to get to know the man, to understand him, and maybe to like him, was not something he wanted to dwell on.

Rune’s voice began to carry a bass tone that prompted goosebumps to Duran’s flesh. He knew the language. It was archaic and could be dangerous in the wrong hands. He’d always known Rune was a powerful mage. What he was witnessing confirmed it. He controlled the magic and the spell nearly effortlessly, and built on it. The more power he drew into himself, the stronger the red heat pulsated out of his hands. Bright red electrical currents of raw power sizzled at the tips of his fingers.

Duran did what he could to keep the creatures focused on him, to give Rune time to develop the spell he was working on, while Grayson continued to use the sand against them, to capture spindly legs and slow them down. The breeze began to gust stronger, nearly into a gale strength wind, with the increase of heat emanating outward from Rune’s spell.

Ear splitting screams from the beasts told them they were out of time.

“Down!”

Duran and Grayson hit the ground. There was a whoosh of sound and an impact explosion that rung Duran’s ears. A second one followed it almost instantly. Crackles and snaps of power sounded like dry lightning. It was fire built to such a high heat it could cut cleanly through stone if needed. He swung an arm over his head to protect it from sand and bits of debris. And he really didn’t want to know what kind of bits they were.

The seconds of silence that followed were bone rattling after the fight for their lives. Rune collapsed to his knees, his body trembling in staggered waves. Duran lurched to his feet to reach him. Grayson wasn’t doing much better, but he was slowly getting his feet under himself. Snatching a nearby water skin, he popped it open and held it to Rune’s lips. “Drink.” Once Rune was able to support the skin himself, he dared to look outward, quickly lowering his gaze from the decimation before them. They couldn’t stay there for long. If there were scavengers, they would be arriving soon to enjoy the feast.

Royce loped up and plopped down against Duran’s leg, panting.

“Where did you go?” Duran furrowed fingers into the coat at his shoulder, discovering the poor guy’s coat was soaked. “Oh, you’re all wet. Did you fall in the river?”

The cat grunted.

Grayson muttered, “Well, that answers that, at least. The water won’t harm us.”

Rune nodded. He spoke toward Royce. “Do you want to change back or wait?” He was sounding stronger as he caught his breath.

Royce hefted tiredly to his paws and stepped behind the trio. A quick peek revealed an exposed bare hip and upper torso as he slid into his clothes. His bare skin was sleek and the definition of his muscles made Duran’s mouth water. Losing the view as he dressed made him realize how much he wanted to simply stare at it. For a very long time.

“Are you okay?” Duran asked privately once Royce had rejoined them.

“Except for being tired and feeling foolish for diving the wrong way when that bastard tried to kill me, I’m all right. Fair warning, the current is very strong. I got swept down a bit.” He flipped soggy hair away from his face, but otherwise didn’t show any worse for wear after evading claws, tails, and experiencing a dunk in the river.

“Glad you’re okay,” Duran offered, meaning it.

“Your idea was good,” Grayson offered.

Royce shrugged. “I don’t have any magic, and I’m going to do what I must to protect you. To protect all of us.”

“Are you ready to move on?” Duran asked Rune. Fine lines of tension radiated from Rune’s eyes and mouth, pronouncing his exhaustion. But they couldn’t stay there. Duran knew the spell he’d cast had taken its toll but time wasn’t on their side to reach some place safer.

Rune nodded. “We need to get away from here if nothing else.”

Grayson slung straps over his shoulders, centering his pack. “We’ll stop soon. Hopefully we won’t run into any more of these beasts on the way.”

Duran shared the same hope, but didn’t know if they’d be that lucky.

“We’ll stop once we reach the falls, reevaluate our journey.” Rune struggled upward to reach his feet and steadied his own pack. Duran hoped he’d be able to see more of the map by then, as well.

Royce and Duran took over carrying the water skins, one apiece, to lighten Rune’s load.

“Iba says ahead is clear and the sands revert to grassland not much further on.”

“Is it possible this was a nest?” Royce wondered.

Rune took the lead again with Duran at his side. Duran didn’t rush his pace. The strain of his casting was apparent from the way his steps lacked the vigor of the previous pace. Duran would find a way to stop for a serious break soon. They all needed one, but they couldn’t afford for Rune to be depleted to the point of being unable to return them home.

“Considering the differences, possibly,” Grayson replied, eyeing their surroundings while avoiding the carcasses nearby. “Let’s get away from here. I don’t want to be among the dining choices.” He shuddered, and Duran couldn’t agree more. No one else spoke, all of them tired and ready to take a lengthy break.