An Army of Good (15 page)

Leah and Lorenzo were determined to get to Zavier and raise the alarm this time. They ran, climbed, leaped and drifted faster than they ever had before. But once again their attempts were futile. The Nomeds rushed past them with furious excitement, leaving a mass of falling leaves and snapped branches in their wake. The soldiers were being led through the woodland canopy by Nicor, his harsh electric-blue eyes boring into the pinkness of twilight like a hunter's spear piercing the soft flesh of its victim.

Jock, the woodpecker, was the first of the woodland lookouts to spot the signs. He gave the signal to be on alert by loudly knocking against the tree trunk once. He watched closely as leaves rustled and branches sprang. Then, when he saw the unmistakable glowing of Nicor's eyes peering out from behind a leafy branch, he was in no doubt that this was it, the start of the battle, and so he gave the second signal of two knocks, indicating to the others to brace themselves for an imminent attack. The second signal travelled through the woodland via Francis, Tash, Hollie, and finally Joanney, whose close proximity meant that those in the front line on the beach could hear it.

Zavier stood facing the woodland, his ears directed forward and his eyes wide. When he heard the thumping signal, he reared up onto his hind legs and neighed loudly, alerting everyone on the beach to the Nomeds' arrival.

Abigail had only just made it to her nest when she saw Zavier rearing. She looked down on her nest in horror. The first few hatchlings had already broken through the surface of the sand, and they were desperately flapping their little flippers, trying to right themselves, so that they could begin their journey to the safety of the sea.

“Oh no, no, no. What's I gonna do? They shouldn't be a-hatching now, not whens the Nomeds is a-coming!” Abi muttered to herself, and then she did the only thing that she could think of, she pushed the hatchlings back into the concave nest and covered them with the plastron of her shell. But the tiny turtles were the first of more than a hundred to hatch and soon a tiny, peg-toothed beak broke out from underneath Abigail and wriggled free, then another, and another, and another, and another…

* * *

The Nomeds were nearing the beach, and were now practically on top of Jock. He ensured that he was well hidden amongst the tree's leaves before he raised the third alarm, three loud knocks signalling the Nomeds' position. The knocking noise was a clear sign to all. When the Nomeds reached Francis's location, he did the same, as did Tash, Hollie and Joanney. The first juvenile dropped down from the leafy canopy. Cara thumped her hind foot loudly, informing everyone that the Nomeds were now at ground level. As juvenile after juvenile began leaping from the trees and raining onto the woodland floor below, the rabbits pounded their feet furiously, before seeking safety underground. Cassey and Flo were shocked by the sight of the Nomeds. Overcome with fear, they made a run for it, leaving the woodland and racing back to the beach house.

Arthur and Lizzy were standing below a large oak tree, hidden against the tree's thick bark by Arthur's camouflage powers. They heard a loud crack above their heads and looked up and, as they did so, they felt a dull and sudden thud in the ground beneath their feet. They looked around, wondering what had caused the noise and vibration. There before them stood Nicor! Lizzy panicked and, forgetting that she was invisible, she tried to escape. Arthur grabbed hold of her and promptly held his hand across her mouth to keep her still and quiet.

Nicor couldn't see Arthur or Lizzy, but he was aware that something wasn't quite right. There was a strange and unfamiliar smell in the air. He leant forward, widening his nostrils to draw in their scent, and he flicked his tongue to taste the air. The pointed appendage almost licked at Lizzy's cheek. He was close enough for her to smell his rotten breath.

The poor grandma was traumatised. She hadn't expected to get this close to something so evil. As the stench of death wafted up her nose and Nicor's eyes burrowed unknowingly into hers, she collapsed with fear. Arthur couldn't help it, he made a loud grunting noise as he struggled to hold Lizzy up and maintain the camouflage around them both. Nicor heard the sound and curiously twisted his neck and started clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Then he raised a clawed hand and swiped out with it, slashing Arthur's cheek. He raised it again, about to lash out once more when he heard a shrieking noise. Francis swooped down from the oak tree and tore at the Nomed's head with his talons, then he purposely un-camouflaged himself so that Nicor could see him.

Francis flew deeper into the woods, leading the enraged Nomed away. Nicor leapt into the trees in pursuit of Francis, leaving Arthur and Lizzy safe for now. Arthur dropped to the ground, cradling his wife. He kissed her on the head and thanked God that neither of them had been killed during this very close and very scary encounter.

The first of the juveniles had made it onto the beach. The instant Dan got a glimpse of them, he remembered his previous encounter with the resilient soldiers, the day that Yas and Sharna had lost their lives. He could feel his blood raging as it rushed through his veins and then, like an erupting volcano, he exploded into his Meh-Teh form. Dan and Aurora shredded the first couple of Nomeds to pieces, but there were soon too many of them to handle. They were surrounded.

Zavier and the rest of his front line team joined the fight, kicking out and biting ferociously. More and more of Balam's young soldiers were emerging from within the woods. Pelagia and his Warriors' turbulent bodies swelled eager to create a large wave in order to push the Nomeds back. But Pelagia knew that he couldn't allow their furious water to surge forward, for risk of killing those that were hidden within the woods on signal duty. The commander calmed himself and, instead, used his energy to create a power orb. He launched the glowing ball of water at Aurora's head, ensuring that none of the Nomeds tearing at her fur-covered body were hit.

Further down the beach, Harry could see that things weren't going quite as planned. He looked out across the commotion and selected his target, sucked in a deep breath, took aim, and threw the transparent blue sphere with all of his might. The orb smashed into Pelagia's back, causing the commander's turbulent body to glow a clear and crystal blue. Pelagia's illuminated frame stormed across the beach toward Aurora, Dan, Zavier and the rest of the front line team. Then, waving his arms in a throwing frenzy, Pelagia hit each and every one of them with his super-powered orbs.

Zavier now had enough power to place a protective barrier around everyone at the beach, but he knew that they needed to be free from the constraints of a barrier in order to fight. If he were to use the barrier now, they wouldn't achieve anything. The Nomeds would eventually retreat back to the swamp, only to return and fight again another day. He decided there and then that he would only use his barrier as a last resort, and so the unprotected Halfse fought on.

Many more Nomeds emerged from within the woods. Zavier and the others on the front line defended themselves well. The good creatures of Liberty soon began to lead the attack, successfully killing many of the Nomeds and driving others away. Zavier and his army were winning the fight. The Nomeds hadn't even made it to the second line.

The sun had fully disappeared behind the trees, taking with it the last comforting light of day. Zavier and Aaron trampled what they thought to be the last of the dying Nomeds into the sand with their huge hooves, ensuring that the resilient soldiers were unable to rise again.

“Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be,” Aaron declared.

“Yes it was, wasn't it? Too easy!” Zavier agreed. “We mustn't get complacent. These Nomeds are juvenile and inexperienced,” he said, nudging one of the corpses with his hoof, “their skin appears to be more resilient to the salt air, but they aren't as physically strong as their seniors. If any of the more powerful Nomeds were to make it to the beach, then we would have a much more serious battle on our hands.”

Francis appeared as if from nowhere, his silhouette soaring towards them through the darkening sky. He landed before them. “Get ready for that serious fight, Nicor's here!” he gasped, looking back at the woodland in panic. “I tried to lead him away, but he gave up on chasing me and headed here.”

Zavier and Aaron turned their attention to the trees. Amongst the trunks and branches they could see many more Nomed soldiers and behind these soldiers shone two blue lights. The Nomeds stormed the beach and behind them the lights were glowing brighter and brighter, getting closer and closer. Pelagia and his Warriors had no choice. They formed a ten foot tall, thirty foot wide wall of water and ran at the oncoming soldiers, smashing into them and pushing them back to the edge of the woods. There were too many of them. At least sixty of the soldiers evaded the huge wall of water and managed to make their way to where Zavier and Aaron were.

“Ha, eht yerg esroh. S'eh eno fo eht dlohtreB. Raet tuo sih traeh!”
one of them spat as it and four others jumped on Zavier, gnawing and clawing at the Shire's muscly body.

Dan and Aurora peeled the frenzied creatures from Zavier, crushed them and tossed them aside. More and more screaming Nomeds appeared, overpowering the front line and breaking through to the second. The wolf pack sprang into action. Takoda stalked out individual Nomeds, rendering them paralysed, while Rian, Remus and Romulus encircled the helpless monsters before tearing them apart with their teeth in a frenzied tug-of-war.

Ice rushed through the air to Zavier. He was bleeding and in need of a healing enchantment after receiving multiple lacerations. Shannon, as Zavier had predicted, kept a cool head. She didn't allow herself to panic or get caught up in the furious battle. Instead, she studied the beach, watching and analysing everything that was going on around her. It was then that she noticed Abigail, across the beach, illuminated in the light of one of the starfish lanterns. Abigail was midway between the woodland and the ocean and with her she had a trail of tiny hatchlings. The baby turtles were scattered on the sand in front of and behind their mama.

Shannon turned to Harry. “We have to help Abigail! Her babies have hatched. We must get them to the safety of the ocean.”

“Leave it to me,” Harry replied, striding over to where the wood pigeons, George and Mable, were. “We have to get Abigail's hatchlings to the water. Gather as many of your feathered friends as you can and follow me.”

George and Mable quickly returned with a large plume of birds. Harry directed the flock to where Abigail and the hatchlings were, and the rescue mission began. Birds of the sea, meadow, mountain and woodland swooped out of the darkness, plucking the tiny turtles from the sand and flying them to the ocean. Mateo, still in the same spot, was showered with droplets of water, as numerous hatchlings plopped into the starfish-lit ocean all around him.

* * *

Nicor had stopped at the woodland's edge. He didn't want to get too close to the ocean as the corrosive salt air had already begun to dry his skin. He knew he must follow his king's orders and return with both the Heart of Gold and the heart of a Berthold, but how was he going to get them?
Eht traeh fo a dlohtreB lliw eb ysae,
he thought, knowing that there were another eighty soldiers travelling through the woodland to join the fight.
Tub eht yradnegel traeH fo dloG si gniog ot eb erom tluciffid.
The last time that Nicor had tried to get hold of the Heart of Gold for his master was more than one hundred years ago, when the Heart was taken to sea aboard the grand old ship. Now the ship was sunk, submerged in the flesh-eating water that had caused him to retreat all those years ago.
S'taht ti,
he realised.
I tsum hsup kcab eht naeco dna esopxe eht dlo kcerw neht ew nac hcraes eht pihs rof eht traeH fo dloG. Ti tsum eb ereht!

Groups of Juveniles gathered round Nicor.
“Og, llik sa ynam sa uoy nac. Raelc eht yaw, er'ew gniog ot eht pihs!”
Nicor yelled.

* * *

The violent war continued and the Nomeds made their way further down the beach. Poppy Paul, Noah and Kyle bravely ran into the face of danger, their shields and swords momentarily confusing the Nomeds, who were unfamiliar with such weaponry. But the confusion didn't last long and the Nomeds were soon ripping the weapons from the brave men's hands. Mad Mrs Potty Potts sprinted like a screaming banshee at the attacking Nomeds. Her teeth gritted and her face red with rage, she speared one of them through the eye.

Poppy Paul, still clinging to his shield, managed to fend off one of the snarling and biting beasts by punching it on the nose, its head forced back by the power of his fist. The angered Nomed was initially stunned, but then it sneered, opened its mouth and lunged forward, its jagged teeth snapping at the tattooed man's shaven head. Poppy Paul closed his eyes and expected the worst. There was a loud twang and a whoosh, swiftly followed by a squelching sound. Poppy Paul, afraid to fully open his eyes, squinted through partially closed lids to see the attacking Nomed's corpse falling to the sand with an arrow driven from ear to ear through its head. He had been saved by one of the Halfse men.

Kyle hadn't been so lucky. A savage Nomed had managed to disarm him, knocking him to the ground. Kyle lay on the sand. The Nomed crouched down beside him, grabbed him and prepared to bite into his abdomen. Christian could see that his father was in trouble, but he was far away and unsure if he would make it to his father in enough time to help. Christian stealthily and speedily weaved his way through the crowds of battling creatures. He got near enough to focus on the monster attacking his dad and paralysed it. Sadly, he was a little too late. The Nomed had its teeth partially embedded in his dad's side.

Kyle screamed out in pain. Poppy Paul, Noah and Mrs Potts raced to his aid.

“Help him. Please help him!” Christian pleaded.

Poppy Paul looked at Kyle and at the Nomed that was attached to him. “We have to get Kyle inside the house, but we're not going to be able to carry him with that thing latched onto his side. Christian, you'll have to release the Nomed from the paralysis,” he said.

“No, I can't. Look at it, it's mid bite. If I release it now it will take a chunk out of my dad. He might not survive!” Christian argued.

“Christian's right. If the Nomed bites into any major organs or blood vessels we could lose him. I know I usually treat patients of the furred and feathered variety, but that bite looks dangerously close to Kyle's intestines and right kidney to me!” Noah said.

Mrs Potts looked up the beach. The Nomeds had driven a wedge through the centre of the good creatures, creating a clear passage. At the top of the pathway she could see a larger, fiercer-looking Nomed, with chilling blue eyes. “No time to argue, we carry him to the house with that thing attached,” she asserted. “Paul, Noah, you carry the Nomed. Christian, do you think you can help me to carry your dad?”

“Yes, Mrs Potts.”

“Good boy, grab his feet.”

They struggled toward the house. The weight they were carrying made their feet sink into the soft sand and they frequently lost their footing. Kyle screamed out in pain as each stumble caused the Nomed's jagged teeth to saw into his flesh. The battle continued to rage on around them, but they had the protection of the good creatures. Halfses, in their human form, arrowed and speared oncoming Nomeds, allowing them to get Kyle to the house safely. The wooden steps up to the beach house entrance were a struggle but they made it. Paul pounded on the door with his fist. Jazmine rushed to let them in.

“Jazmine, wait!” Chester shouted. “It might not be safe!”

Ember shot down the chimney, out of the fireplace and into the lounge. She'd been outside and had seen everything that had happened to Kyle. “It's okay. It's Christian's father, he's injured. Let them in!” she blazed.

Jazmine opened the door and Kyle's exhausted rescuers almost fell on top of her. They dragged Kyle and the Nomed into the house, then Jazmine quickly closed the door behind them. She was just about to secure the lock when the door was flung open and Harry burst in.

“Things are getting really bad out there. I think we're losing,” he panted.

A rejuvenated Elsie rushed to Kyle's side.

“Oh, dearie me, looks like I need to put one of my healing enchantments to good use,” she said, looking at him.