The PriZin of Zin (25 page)

Chapter 38: Reunite

re·u·nite
[ree-yoo-nahyt]
verb (used with object),
verb
(used without object),
re·u·nit·ed, re·u·nit·ing; to unite again, as after separation

The forest refused to move any more. Aeryn stood on the precipice, looking down at the dark valley below. Black rocks skittered across the valley floor by themselves.

Spatz
. She shook her head.
Not again.

Further beyond the rocks, leafless dead trees uprooted and walked. As if they could see her, a number of them turned toward her and replanted their roots. They were glaring at her. Menacing knot holes in the dead wood glowed red, daring her to set foot into their forbidden realm. The creek at their base flowed thick black sludge.

Aeryn shuddered. The wind gently rustled the trees behind her. She knew her friend was there. She still trusted that she would never be alone, but it did not mean that her senses weren’t sharp, her nerves raw, and her mind alert. Still, her feet refused to move. As if they had a mind of her own, Aeryn willed them to take the first step, but they did not, choosing instead to remain fully planted at the top of the cliff overlooking the living death below her.

Behind her, a piercing shriek cut through the air. Black vultures, giants for their kind, launched from the deadened tree limbs and dove toward her. She dove for cover.

“Aaaaawwwwwww!!!!!”

The scream wasn’t hers. Aeryn hit the ground, hiding beneath the branches of her guardian tree friends behind her. Her eyes darted for the source of the scream.

“Stop, ya mangy creature! STOPPPP!”

Scanning the forests, both living and dead, Aeryn’s eyes settled on a wave of water rushing toward her. Hoof beats shook the ground, as if a herd of wild horses were upon her. Aeryn hung low, watching the waves, and a red-headed young man riding them.

“Ian!”

“Aeryn! Stay back! It’s not safe.”

The waves rushed forward, sloshing to a stop at the edge of a cliff. Aeryn watched as the water churned inside the crystal clear shape of a horse.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s a water horse. Stay back! It’s dangerous.”

“Get off then!” The answer seemed so simple to her. The giant head turned toward her, waves raging inside its skull, menacing red glowing eyes staring her down. Nostrils flaring, the thing huffed, spewing heated breath, fighting for air against the darkening skyline.

“I can’t. I had to dive off before the thing smelled any water. Now it’s too late. I’m its prisoner forever.” The horse turned back toward the dark valley ahead, reared up, neighing into the darkness, and landed back on all fours. Furious waves crashed against its insides.

“Run, Aeryn! Run for your life!” Ian fought against the raging tide holding him captive on the water horse. Unable to move his legs, hands glued to the thing’s wet mane, he pulled and fought against the rising tide of panic.

“Ian,” she called, “maybe I can —”

“No, Aeryn! Run!” Sheer panic erupted in his voice. “You can’t touch it, or you’ll be its prisoner, too. Save yourself! Get to your dad before it’s too late.”

The horse turned toward the valley below. Rearing up one final time, it neighed at the darkness. The giant vultures answered back, welcoming them to the darkness. The horse came down, stomped its front feet, testing the cliff side, and took its first step down.

A loud whistle shook the floating leaves from behind. The rock shot from the tree cover like a bullet, striking the horse on the butt. The horse’s crystal casing cracked, circling like a spider’s web from the point of impact, but did not release its fluid insides. It backed up from the cliff side, turned to face the attack head on, snorting and neighing again. This time, it was not a typical horse sound. This was a battle cry. The eyes raged red with hatred. Nostrils flaring, the war horse stomped and prepared itself for battle. Facing the trees head-on, the horse lowered, Ian still holding on for dear life, and charged the forest.

One single rock struck squarely between the eyes, and the creature fell. Its crystal exterior exploded releasing his rider in a rushing wave of seawater. Ian flopped around like a stranded fish. Finding his hands and feet, he scampered toward Aeryn, covering her, protecting her as best he could.

“Relax guys. It’s just me.” Hunter stepped into the open, and smiled at his sister and friend.

Each step was chosen with precision and strategy. There was nothing random about the placement of their feet.

“Why are the rocks moving?”

“They’re not rocks,” Aeryn said.

“What are they?” Ian asked, “and why can’t we touch them?”

“Long story,” she whispered. “Just keep putting your feet exactly where mine are so we can get through this. Touch ONLY the real rocks, nothing else, or we all die.”

Ian followed her, eyes darting ahead at the moving shadows. He turned back to Hunter, bringing up the rear of the group. “Why are the trees moving?”

“They’re not trees.” His hand balled in a fist, he clenched a rock. Eyes following the movement of the shadows, he carefully trailed his sister and friend, stone doubling as a weapon at the ready. His strike would be instant and deadly. “Hey,” he looked at Ian, “what was that thing you were riding anyway.”

“A water horse.”             

“Where’d you find it?”

“Long story. Where’d you learn to hunt like that, man? That was awesome.”

“Long story,” Hunter whispered back, eyes still darting every direction. “Very long story.”

“So,” Ian’s flat, dry voice asked, “What now?”

The three stood on the outer edge of the dead forest. They had descended the cliff, and crossed the blackened creek. Now, all that awaited them was the black forest. Hunter’s eyes never stopped moving.

Aeryn scanned the blackened forest. “One wrong move and we’re toast, just like those trees,” she whispered.

“Too late.” The first rock struck with deadly accuracy, taking down the enemy. Hunter’s hand found another, and another, lobbing them toward the towering trees.

“Those aren’t branches,” Ian said, voice trembling slightly. “They look like - - “

“Antlers,” Hunter said, eyeing his next target. “The one thing I used to fear most.”

“Used to?” Ian swallowed hard. “That’s good. I guess.”

Deep, glowing red eyes blinked through the darkness. “What now?”

“Strike the leader and the rest will scatter.”

“Okay, so which one is the leader?”

“He’ll be a giant,”

Ian’s voice quaked again. “B-b-b-big-g-g-ger than them?” A single trembling finger reached forward.

“This feels like death.” Aeryn’s gaze never moved. Her eyes remained locked on the black mountain in the background, until it, too, started to move. “Hunter.”

“I see it.”

The ground shook as the mountain took its first step.

“Hunter.”

Rising to full height, eyes glistening red, fangs bared and dripping, enormous antlers scratched the sky as the mammoth head swung back and forth against the dark horizon. The tips of the antlers crackled and buzzed, a blue arc of electricity shooting back and forth between them.

“Don’t panic.” Hunter’s hand was steady and his gaze locked.

Saliva dripped from its mouth as giant silver fangs emerged.

“Hunter!”

“Trust me, Aeryn.”

She froze. Ian took her hand gently, pulling her back out of firing range.

“When I say ‘run’, head straight through the middle of those trees.”

“The trees that aren’t trees? Is that what you mean? The tree-monsters?”

“Yes. If we get separated, meet me at the mouth of the volcano.”

“You want us to run there?” Again, Ian squeaked a little.

“Yes. Right through the middle.”

“What are they, Hunter?” Aeryn whispered.

“My worst nightmare, Aeryn. That’s the monster my fear has created, and now I must defeat it.” Hunter clenched the rock harder. “If I can do this, I can do anything.”

Ian squeezed Aeryn’s hand harder. Her feathers ruffled, fear creeping over them.

“Don’t be afraid,” Hunter warned. “Keep your wits about you. Be ready.”

The earth shook in waves with each step. Hunter could feel the snorting breath now, rancid stench, warm and revolting. He wanted to wretch, but dared not take his eyes from his prey. Closer and closer the fear monger came, growing in size with each thundering step.

“Hunter.”

“Wait.”

“Hunter.”

“Wait.”

“Hunter!”

The rock shot like a bullet from his hand. “Now!” he screamed.

All three took off like a shot, never looking back.

The tree line tore open, each manifestation of evil turning toward their fallen leader, clearing a narrow path for escape. The ground rumbled beneath them. No longer watching their steps, they ran over Spatz after Spatz, causing a black cloud of frenzied flight over their heads.

Aeryn ran in the lead, Ian following, with Hunter bringing up the rear. Single file, they darted through the trees, antlers, or whatever these things were. Something very similar to branches slapped and grabbed at them, but the split second lead they had was enough to escape the enemy’s grasp. Bursting through the other side, all three slammed face-first into the base of the volcano.

Aeryn was the first back up on her feet. Getting her bearings again, she scanned the volcano for danger, and froze.  Shock set in. Tears filled her eyes as her legs gave way beneath her. Hunter and Ian kept her from collapsing.

“What’s wrong?” Hunter tried to sit her up again. “What is it, Aeryn?”

A small shaking finger pointed. “Dad.”

Puppet pup·pet:
Spelled [
puhp
-it]
noun

an artificial figure representing a human being or an animal, manipulated by the hand,

rods, wires, etc., as on a miniature stage