Chapter 21: Jakon
The moment Scarlet screamed Jakon turned right. Just in time. Toward a scarlet and black blur. One lunging from behind another craggy boulder. His heart jumped even faster. His neck and chest so bare. Despite his jerkin. It wasn’t armor. Not by far. Too much like another ambush by his mom. One he’d learned to survive. Almost. Jakon didn’t stumble back. That wouldn’t give him time. Not without throwing off his balance. Time slowed down. Drastically. The small-chested scarlet fox was crumbled and dying by one boulder beside Jakon. Her gasps and moans only roiled his blood more. No dodging...
Chapter 20: Ramsel
Ramsel cursed his luck thrice, and once again. The expected booms had rumbled the whole mountain, as they should, since both Frostine and Pearl were skilled vixen witches. Their lightning potent—when used right. Even the smell of shattered rock fumed through the cavern. Biting his breathe harsh, but not as harsh had he been in his beast form rather than his wood elf form. It tinged the air everywhere a dark gray. Clouding the light from the precious gemstones lining the ceiling. Blocking his sight of the other craters. But not the one in front of him. Giving Ramsel more...
Chapter 19: Jakon
Jakon bellowed again. Roaring louder than any boom from a lightning bolt. Roaring louder than any smithy hammer. Than any fire raging above. Charged faster than any arrow. Faster than any lesser blade. The boulders were there to be hopped across. The wide winding trails around them thick with orcs. Orcs dying by his blade. But with more and more replaced them. Their piggish sty stink curling his gut. His rage too great to make any comment. Or quip. Only bellow some more. But the orcs scattered? Charging past him? Under him. Trying to avoid him?! He cut down as...
Chapter 18: Jakon
BOOM! From nearby. The smell of more shattered rocks. A cloud of gray fumed from the wall. More orcish squeals of bloodthirsty glee. Yet Jakon held himself back from lunging off the ledge. For a moment. Access the situation for a moment. Just a moment. The air itself. The stink of orc. And worse. Of the awful burnt death he read about countless times in his dime dreadfuls. His heart raged. His grip on the magical short sword got tighter and tighter. The damage from the attack was clear. Below him the craggy jagged incline was too steep to charge...
Chapter 17: Sky
Sky crouched as close to the tall jagged boulder as she could dare. The surface of the rock here looked as sharp as the dagger strapped to her thigh. Mom had warned her about how sharp some of the boulders in back of Dirlop Mountain were. Warned her not to go off the road. But no. Sky risked it. Better some sharp rocks than some bandits ready for a fight. Or so she thought. A boom rumbled nearby. Enough to shake the very mountain itself. Like thunder, but the sky was as clear and blue as her hair. And the...
Chapter 16: Jakon
A boom rumbled the whole anvil of a kitchen? A boom from a distance? A good solid distance. Enough to wobble Jakon in his place as he stood by the heavy iron table and chair. His corned beef sandwich wobbled almost as much as him, but fell apart even quicker. That the boom’s rumble was so intense, it forced him to catch the heavy table to steady himself. Yet the table itself shook. Shook enough that it was hard to hold it. The smell of broken rock filled the room. A smell far too familiar from the mines. From exploring...