Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (6 page)

The wolf rubbed the side of his furry head against Lian’s and pulled away.  He licked the tears from Lian’s cheeks, then simply nodded his head at Lian and gripped his shirt with his teeth, tugging him back toward the mountain path. Lian stood and looked to the other four wolves surrounding him.  They all nodded their heads at him as well.

Lian closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. “Alright.  Let’s get out of here then.”

The wolves howled and yapped in agreement, ready to set off along the mountain path.

Lian and the wolves journeyed up the mountain path quickly.

Lian looked back to the forest to see it all ablaze. “It’s all going to be destroyed…” he said quietly before raising his voice to a shout, “They are burning it all!”

The pack leader whimpered and howled as they ran farther along the path.  The skies grew darker.  The green hue from the clouds and the glow from the fires below lit the valley.  Lian looked to the village, seeing the green orb and the bright lights clashing within it.  The path began to narrow the farther up they climbed.  The temperature began to drop as well. 

Lian took note of the narrowed path and cooler air.
“We’re nearing the cave,”
he thought.

Lian and his unlikely companions heard a deafening boom that vibrated the mountains themselves.  The ground quivered beneath their feet.  Lian looked back to the village to see the barrier completely dispersed.  A beastly roar from the village echoed throughout the valley.  Dreathous was free.

Lian and the wolves reached the crack in the mountain wall that led to the ancient chamber.  The leader stopped at the entrance and turned to face Lian and his protectors.  He snapped and snarled, then let out a whimper as if he was commanding them for the last time and saying goodbye.  Nodding their furry heads, they all let out a whine and turned to face back down the mountain path.  They trotted a short way back down the path and laid down, watching the path for signs of any who would pursue Lian.  The pack leader trotted over to the crevice in the wall and started squeeze in.  Lian waited patiently for his protector to enter.  In the distance, faint howls could be heard.  Lian looked down the path.  The wolves at the base of the mountain were about to engage an enemy.  Lian stared into the distance, straining to see.  He heard a snap and a growl.  The pack leader was motioning for him to enter the cave.  Lian nodded and squeezed into the crevice.

He emerged into darkness, unable to see anything.  The pack leader brushed his long, bushy tail against Lian’s hand and let out a yap. 

Lian slowly gripped the wolf’s tail. “Do you want me to hold onto your tail?”

The wolf barked briefly in agreement.

Lian smiled slightly.  “I understand. You can see in here.  Alright.  I trust you.”

The wolf walked slowly, leading Lian through the darkness.  His long, razor-like claws clicked against the rock floor of the cave.  The wolf slowly led Lian onto the narrow stone bridge.  A cool breeze traveled up from the pits of the chasm, caressing Lian’s skin.

Lian stopped as a cold chill paralyzed his body. “We…” he stuttered.  “We are over the bottomless pit, aren’t we?” 

The wolf whined a bit and stepped forward, tugging at Lian.

Lian stood still. “I’m scared, I can’t see.”

The wolf howled and tugged again.  Lian slowly took a step, feeling the rock beneath his boots.

Lian slowly continued walking
“I can do this…”
he thought.

Finally, they reached the other side.  The wolf jumped up and rested his front paws against the wall of the cave.  He whimpered and tapped his paw against the rock.

Lian nodded. “Ok… I gotta find that switch.”

Lian ran his hands across the cold, damp rock until he found the plate.  He pushed it in, causing a satisfying click to echo through the cave.  Once again, the cave walls began to tremble as the door to the chamber slid open.

Lian entered the chamber with the wolf following behind closely. “I can’t see anything.  If only I had a torch, then I could light the room like Elder Marrow did…” Lian’s words trailed off into silence as he remembered Marrow’s fate. “Elder Marrow, you didn’t deserve that.”

The wolf let out a bark and ran off.

Lian turned toward the sound of the wolf’s steps. “Where are you going?” he shouted.

A few moments later, Lian heard the click of the wolf’s claws drawing near.  He dropped a stick at the boy’s feet.  The sound of the stick bouncing against the rock floor echoed slightly through the chamber.

Lian smiled slightly. “Now, I need a rock or something.”  Lian knelt down and started feeling around on the floor.  “If only it wasn’t so dark!” He felt a small stone on the tips of his fingertips. “Yes! This might work!”

Lian struck the stone against the floor.  Sparks bounced with each strike but the stick refused to ignite.

Lian paused for a moment. “I have an idea.”

The wolf walked to Lian and pressed his damp nose against Lian’s hand.

“There are torches on the wall with oil all around them,” said Lian.  “Lead me to one of the torches, and I can dampen this stick with oil.”

The wolf yapped and ran to the torch at the entrance to the chamber.  He jumped up against the wall and started tapping his claws against the rock allowing Lian to follow the sound.  Lian carefully walked toward the sound carrying the rock and stick.  He reached the chamber wall and ran the stick along it.

Lian felt a splash of oil hit his hand, “Yes!” said Lian.  He knelt down and began striking the rock once more.  “Come on, come on!”

The wolf remained silent and watched with anticipation.  With another strike, the stick caught fire.  Lian quickly raised it to the path of oil.  They watched as the room lit up with flames.  The wolf dashed to the statue holding the sword.  He barked and howled for Lian to retrieve it.  Lian walked over to the sword and reached his hands forward slowly.  He trembled, nervous about picking up the ancient weapon.  He placed a hand on the battered sheath and wrapped his fingers around it.  Then, he slowly began to remove the sword from its age old resting place.  Lian stopped trembling, a strange sensation filling his body.

Lian felt a sudden surge of strength and empowerment. “What is this?” he said to himself.

The wolf yapped and barked as he ran to the entrance of the chamber. He looked back at Lian and moved his head toward the outside of the chamber.

Lian quickly nodded. “You’re right! We gotta go!”

Lian walked toward the chamber’s entrance.  He grabbed a torch from the wall, holding the sword in his other hand.  The wolf darted across the chasm with Lian close behind.  They came to the crack in the cave wall and the wolf slipped through.  Lian tossed the torch on the ground and started to squeeze through the crack after him.

Lian emerged from the cave to see his wolf companion crouched down, growling and snarling with his ears slanted back.  He looked down the path to see the four other wolves ready to attack.  Enforcers were closing in on them quickly.  Lian watched wolves leap to attack the Enforcers.  They each latched on with their mighty fangs in a vain attempt to stop them.  Thunder shook the valley.  A green lightning bolt struck the path where the Enforcers and wolves were battling.  The mountain trembled, and the path crumbled beneath them.  Rock began breaking away from the mountains and sliding toward the Enforcers.  An avalanche of rocks and dust swept the wolves, Enforcers and lower part of the mountain path away.

Dust rose from the rock slide as Lian gazed in astonishment.
“What just happened?”
he thought.

Eva’s voice once again seeped into Lian’s mind. 
“Go. That will only slow them down,”
it whispered.
  “I have done all I can.  Follow Kane, he will lead you through the pass and protect you.”

Lian looked to the wolf. “You… You’re Kane?”

Kane nodded his head and grabbed Lian’s shirt.  He tugged him to continue along the path.  Lian wrapped the sword in his arms and held it against his chest tightly as they continued their journey.

The temperature continued to drop.  Lian was now able to see each breath he took in the cold air.  Soon, snow began to blow in the air.  Lian noticed the ice frozen along the sides of the mountain as they approached the entrance to Shana’s Pass, a large opening in the mountain with a path leading in.  Kane walked in then looked back to Lian.

“I’m coming, boy.” said Lian.

Kane continued on with Lian close behind.  Lian looked around as darkness surrounded them.  Strangely enough, the pass had just enough light for him to see.

Lian noticed multiple paths breaking away from each side of the path.  “We are going the right way?  Aren’t we?”

Kane barked and continued on.

Lian followed Kane.
“I trust him,”
he thought.
“His pack saved me. He wouldn’t hurt me now.”

Lian clutched the sword tightly.  They journeyed deeper into Shana’s Pass.  The path narrowed.  The cave wall to the left of the path began to separate and the cave opened up into a ravine.

Lian peered over the edge of the path and saw a large body of water at the bottom. “That must be hundreds of feet high.”

Kane stopped and looked back.  He began to growl and slanted his ears back.

Lian turned and looked as well.  “What is it, boy?”

Kane’s green eyes stared in the direction from which they had just come.  Then, he jumped into Lian, pushing the boy with his front paws.  Lian fell over the edge of the path.  Kane quickly jumped after the boy.  Lian held the sword tightly as he fell.  He was terrified so deeply that he was unable to even cry out.  He watched the path he had been pushed from shrink in the distance.  Lian could see Kane falling right above him.  Lian crashed into the dark freezing water and sank deeper and deeper into the darkness.  He looked around for Kane in the dark water but could no longer see anything.  Lian took the sword in his left hand and began to kick and stroke.  He ascended toward the surface quickly, his head emerging from the water as he gasped for air.

Lian peered up at the ledge to see five pairs of glowing red eyes.
“Kane saved me again,”
he thought. 
“Where is he?”
Lian repeated those thoughts in his head over and over as he looked around for his protector.

Finally, Lian heard Kane emerge from the water.  Kane paddled over to Lian and pushed against him.

“Where now, boy?” he whispered.

Kane paddled away and Lian followed slowly behind him.  They swam across the icy body of water until they reached a shoreline.  Kane trotted out of the water and onto the rocky floor of the cave, shaking the water from his fur.  Lian waded out of the water, still clutching the sword tightly.

Shivering, Lian placed his hand on Kane’s head. “Thank you, Kane.  You saved me again.”

Kane lowered his head and playfully licked the boy’s hand.

Lian smiled. “Alright, do you know where to go, now?”

Kane started trotting deeper into the cave.  Lian followed quickly.

Kane continued leading Lian farther along the path.  Suddenly, the wolf stopped in his tracks.

Lian stopped beside Kane. “What is it?”

Before Kane could issue any kind of reply, a deep voice echoed around them. “Who dares trespass in my lair?”

Lian heard the footsteps of something large approach him.  A tall, wide figure began to emerge into visibility.  It drew closer, revealing a beast that stood ten feet tall.  The beast’s skin was pasty white, and its muscles appeared as if they were cut from stone.  It carried a club chiseled from stone.  The only piece of clothing it wore was a large piece of fur wrapped around its waist.  Fangs protruded from the beast’s mouth, and it had coal black eyes and long matted black hair covering its head and back.

The beast glared toward Lian and Kane. “Answer me now!” the beast demanded.  “Why should I not enjoy you and your mangy friend as a snack?”

Lian gripped the sword tightly. Kane crouched down and began to snarl.

The beast noticed the sword. “Why do you have that?  Have they…” the beast broke off into silence.   “Yes, that must be it.”  The beast lowered his club and crouched down to the duo with Kane still snarling him. “Calm yourself, wolf. No harm will come to the boy.”

Kane began to relax, still eyeing the beast with caution.

The beast looked to Lian. “I am Bagra-Shuk,” he said, “leader of this tribe of ogres.  Shana’s Pass has been our home for nearly a thousand years.”  Bagra-Shuk pointed to the sword. “We have guarded that since it was placed in its chamber.  Now tell me, have they returned?”

Lian slowly nodded, trembling.

Bagra-Shuk let out a sigh. “I see.  What of the forest and the village?”

“Dead,” Lian answered.  “The forest burns.”

Bagra-shuk lowered his head and closed his eyes. “Did they follow you?”

Lian nodded.

The ogre stood. “Come.  We don’t have much time, but you can warm yourself in our lair.  Then, I will show you the way out of the pass.”

Bagra-shuk turned and walked toward the ogres’ lair.  Lian looked toward Kane and the wolf nodded.  Lian hesitantly followed the ogre with Kane beside him.  He could see fire in the distance.  Lian saw that there were more ogres watching him as he entered their lair.  They were different from Bagra-shuk.  They did not speak, but rather grunted amongst each other.  And their skin was a dark green.