Legends of Tyrium: Ixel's Hellish Nightmare: Chpt 9; Part 3

The three of them stared at Calalalith in disbelief. Ixel shivered, frozen and speechless. Cal had looked grim. Only moments after delivering the news he had blacked out in Jh'tarulash's arms. 

"Quick, put him on my waroth. I'll seek for help." Haraia took charge.

She assisted Jh'tarulash and carried Cal to her waroth and secured his unconscious body safely in place before taking the reigns. Jh'tarulash placed one of the torches into a holder on her waroth to give her light. 

"He's losing too much blood. I must make haste." She looked at Ixel who hadn't moved or said a word. "Take care of her, Jh'tarulash. Protect the Narkanai with your life."

He just nodded and gulped loudly. She clicked her tongue and kicked her heels and her waroth shot forward. Within moments, she was out of sight, leaving Jh'tarulash and Ixel behind. He turned to Ixel with uncertainty.

"Narkanai?" He hesitated, "Shall we prepare to return to the city? I fear this journey may no longer be safe."

Ixel continued to look at the dark stain in the sand. Her thoughts drowned out by fear, her body shook violently. The pounding of blood pumping in her ears tuned out all other sounds. She was momentarily paralyzed. 

"What..." she whispered, her teeth chattered, "what kind of..."

"Ixel?" Jh'tarulash could barely make out what she had said.

Concerned for her well being he insisted they move on and leave the site. Again, she ignored him. The remaining waroths shimmied nervously. The grunting waroths finally woke Ixel from her daze. She looked to see them dance restlessly in place, their antennae twitched wildly.  

"Ixel!"

The expression on his face had paled and his eyes widened. She slowly turned her head to see a massive creature making its way out of the darkness and into their camping site. This fiend was grotesque with three long legs, lumpy body, pointed teeth and long tongue that whipped around tasting everything it touched. It lacked eyes for sight, and ears for sound. It made a gurgling growl as it's tongue sapped up the blood left behind by Cal. For the first time, Ixel realized what true terror was like. A second fiend stumbled into the torch light. The waroths made a horrifying sound that shook Ixel to the bone. They bolted, Jh'tarulash shouting after them. 

The fiends finished lapping up the blood trail and gurgled as they bumped into each other. Jh'tarulash picked up a torch and shielded Ixel, his blade held high at the towering creatures. One of the monsters raised its body as it sensed their presence. Jh'tarulash lashed out at the legs of one then jumped back just in time to avoid getting knocked down. It had gone into a rage which sent the second one into a frenzy. Very thin tentacles covered in some sort of mucous oozed out from various places on their bodies. The tentacles whipped about dangerously as they wandered over towards Ixel and Jh'tarulash.

 "Run!" He shouted as he sheathed his sword and gripped her arm, pulling her along.

It was obvious that the creatures had picked up on their scent and were not going to be easy to lose. At the moment, all they could do was run. Her senses finally came back to her making her more aware of her surroundings. Jh'tarulash led her deeper into the desert forest without a thought of where they were actually running. Just a little ways away Ixel spotted a pile of rocks.

"There!" She shouted and pointed.

He changed his course and nearly dragged Ixel along. As they got closer it became clear it wasn't normal rocks, but ruins of an old watch tower. They climbed across the rubble and halted at the top. On the other side was a view that reached out over a large sandy valley full of the same things they were running from wandering around aimlessly. The one nearest the rubble had extended its mucous covered tentacles and waved it about as if it could smell or taste their scent on the night air; which caused a chain reaction to others nearby. Jh'tarulash and Ixel realized they had just stumbled upon the nesting grounds.

To be continued...

Exciting!

Please don't hate me for my negligence towards Legends of Tyrium. However, I have some really fun news to share with you. I have a couple of really cool people helping me come up with an original music piece to coincide with a scene in my novel. I can't wait for the finished version of it! Once that music is completed, I will make a video with it to promote my novel. Even though it isn't quite completed. I received a sample part of the song from my friend last night and I am so very excited at how it's turning out! I hope to share with you guys the finished song. So stick around a little while longer and I'll have it out to you once it's completed. Ciao!

Hello, Friends!

I have been on a roll with my novel today. Plus, kept busy with my foreign language studies. I'm working on getting my novel completed as soon as possible. It has been going through quite some changes. Don't worry, the story is still pretty much the same. I am quite eager to get it finished. I'll have a lot more work to do after the story is down. Getting it edited, critiqued, and querying it out to publishing companies will take a lot of my time also. As for now, the story must go on!!!! I will make another post for "Legends of Tyrium" as soon as I can. I promise. Perhaps, I just need to prioritize my schedule a little better. Thanks everyone for your support and for believing in me! The encouragement is great! Hope to see you all again soon.

Legends of Tyrium: Ixel's Dangerous Journey: Chapt. 8; Part 2

 

Days and nights have come and gone. Ixel was beginning to tire of the journey, yet she endured with determination. There was no turning back now. She came this far, and will finish what was started. Her waroth groaned, nervously side stepping before halting. She kicked it a few times with her heels and clicked her tongue to urge it forward. The waroth stubbornly refused her efforts to get it to continue any further.

"Move you stupid beast!" Ixel shouted, frustrated she threw her hands up, "Fine! We'll camp here tonight."

"Where exactly are we?" Jh'tarulash asked.

Ixel carefully examined her surroundings. The day had retired and it was now within the darkest hour of the night. The flames from the torches they carried with them cast a shadow upon the area around them. The dead trees' looked grotesque in the dim lighting, their limbs reaching out like claws and the trunks distorted into expressions of agony and terror.

"It doesn't matter, we will continue on our way come daylight." Ixel said hopping off of her waroth.

"This place is a bit creepy," Haraia mumbled.

The twins just glanced at each other without a word. The yellow sand kicked up beneath Ixel's feet as she breathlessly wandered over to an opening. The others followed and worked together to put up a covering to protect them from the night air. Temperatures were dangerously low, and the sky was dark. 

"Val and Cal, go fetch some bark for the fire pit." Haraia ordered.

"Why do we have to go fetch it?" Cal started.

"Why don't you send Jh'tarulash?" Val added.

"Just go and do it," Ixel snapped, wary and not in the mood for their bickering. 

"Fine," Val and Cal said simultaneously before wondering off into the dark together.

  

"Is my mat ready?" Ixel asked.

"Yes, Narkanai," Jh'tarulash replied as he had just finished putting down her last cushion.

"Good," she sighed as she plopped herself down, "I'm exhausted."

Haraia took her place next to Ixel when they heard it. Screams echoed back to their camp from the direction of the twins.

"That was Valulalith and Calalalith!" Haraia gasped.

Jh'tarulash jumped to his feet, nearly stumbling towards his waroth grabbing unsuccessfully for the weapons spilling them out across the sand. Ixel backed away from the opening of the shelter, squeezing a pillow to her chest. Seconds...minutes passed in silence with all three of them anticipating whatever comes next. Footsteps were heard trudging through the powdery sand towards them. Jh'tarulash gripped his sword anxiously, Haraia standing just a few paces behind him holding up the torch to give off light. CRACK! The crunching of twigs set Jh'tarulash on edge, his hands beginning to shake. Out from the darkness Calalalith emerged into the light falling to his hands and knees. His body was bloodied in some places, open wounds could be seen on his arms and hands. He even suffered a long cut across his face. Jh'tarulash dropped down beside him and wrapped an arm around him.

"Cal! What happened to you?"

"Where is Valulalith?" Haraia was the first to take notice of his absence.

"It grabbed him first," Cal choked on a sob, "I tried to save him....then it came after me....I got away, but Val...he-he's dead!"

To be continued...  

A Little Disappearing Act

Hello to all of my friends. Just a little notice, I will be flying out of state soon to visit family elsewhere. I'll only be gone for about two weeks. If all works out, and I have access to the internet, I may be able to keep the story alive for "Legends of Tyrium." We can only hope. However, there may be a chance you won't hear from me for those two weeks. Wish me luck and hope to see you again soon!

Legends of Tyrium: Shojak and the Escaped Narkanai: Chapt. 7; Part 1

The evening was warm and the air full of moisture. Shojak patiently stood in the long corridor of the palace. Narkanai Kalalii had ordered him to wait outside of her door and turn away anyone who sought her presence. Of course, he did as he was told. It was his job as an itsalii to protect her from harm and to be sure he met all of her needs. It was quiet as he stood alone in the hallway. He only nodded to a few servants and soldiers that simultaneously passed. The night wore on and many of the residence of Sondast and the staff of the palace would be retiring to their sleeping quarters soon. The silence became to be too painful for him to bear. Two night guards, Lyyel and Exonaeth, arrived to relieve Shojak for the remainder of the night.

"Rest well tonight, Sir Shojak," Lyyel wished him.

"Thank you, Lyyel... Exonaeth," Shojak nodded to each of them.

Exonaeth bowed his head without a word and took to his post. Shojak decided that he would check upon the Narkanai before taking his night to his resting area that was connected to her room. As he entered the room and called out for Kalalii he found that she was no longer there. His heartbeat began to race as he searched her room and noted that the doors to the terrace were left ajar. Without wasting time to call out to Lyyel and Exonaeth, he bolted out of the room in search for the missing Narkanai.

As he ran through the palace gardens he exhausted all of the possible places to look for her first. As if on queue, he recalled the brief exchanging of words between Kalalii and Svyyn right after their history lessons. During that time he wasn't close enough to hear what was said but he managed to catch the very last word, 'tree'. It wasn't hard to figure out what tree she was talking about as the ancient tree was quite popular in Sondast. He changed directions and headed for the ancient tree. His feeling was that Kalalii snuck out to rendezvous with Svyyn there for some secret meeting. At least, he hoped he was right. In any case, that would be the best place to start looking. Shojak quickened his pace so that he would appear to be a blur to anyone who would see him. 

As he neared the designated location he noticed two figures glowing near the base of the tree. He instantly recognized Kalalii. He slowed his pace, quietly and swiftly hiding in the shadows. Shojak made sure to get within ear range of their conversation.

"Are you sure you're up for it?" Svyyn asked.

"How did you find it? We're not supposed to leave the walls of Sondast," Kalalii said with concern and disbelief.

"Where is your sense of adventure, cousin?" Svyyn sighed, "Honestly, don't you feel like you need to have some self deserved freedom? Aren't you at least a little bit curious?"

"What if you're wrong and we get caught?" Kalalii asked.

"Look, if you're too scared to take a walk outside of the city walls for just a short while and be back before the suns' rise then just say so," Svyyn started to walk away.

"No, wait," Kalalii said after a short pause, "I-I want to go."

"I knew you would come to your senses," Svyyn smirked, "my friend is waiting for us."

"I thought it was just between us. "

"Well, how else are we going to get there without a guide? Besides, we don't know the way...but he does."

"I see," Kalalii said nervously. "Okay, let's go." 

Shojak didn't like what had just transpired, but he decided to follow them in secret. If he exposed himself now and foiled their plans she would only find a way to sneak out again. She may be more careful to evade him next time. If she was planning on escaping beyond the walls of Sondast, she will need protection. He will watch over her in secret for now.

"What are you thinking, Narkanai?" He whispered to himself.

To be continued... 

Legends of Tyrium: Ajak's Mission: Chpt. 6; Part 1

In the desert of Bitomal the temperature was dangerously cold as a double lunar eclipse took place upon the two moons. Nark Ajak immediately gathered his curved sword that was gifted to him when he completed his warrior training by his father, the Shinjara of Bitomal. He wore a set of unique armor to distinguish his high ranking status as a nark and commander of his own squadron of soldiers. They had prepared to set out after his sister, Ixel, and her friends. Ajak always thought of Ixel as bothersome and immature. She was always looking to cause trouble and since she was a narkanai not one citizen dared to speak against her. Thus giving her the sense that she could get away with anything without paying the consequences. Ajak, being a leading commander of Bitomal's guards, had a job to enforce the laws of the Shinjara; which is partly why he was always following behind Ixel cleaning up her messes. He also carried a great responsibility for the city's protection from intrusions and outsider attacks. He worked hard to earn this position as to make his father proud of his accomplishments and to prove that he was not a useless son. 

He assigned a few of his loyal subjects to assist him in the retrieval of the runaways leaving the commanding position of the guards temporarily to his right hand man, Gatorm. Just outside the city gates, Ajak and his men wrapped themselves up with a special cloth that protected them from the chilling air. As he mounted his waroth, Gatorm filled him in on a bit of information.

"Commander, the Narkanai and the other fledglings took the low road to the west. They were last spotted entering the Dead Lands before disappearing from our sight. It is a less traveled road because of the possible threats of the varmints that lurk in that part of the domain. So be prepared for attacks of any kind."  

"Thank you, Gatorm," Ajak spoke authoritatively, "we will handle the rest from here."

Gatorm pounded his chest with his fist and gave a sharp bow before backing up a few paces. He wished Ajak a safe journey and reiterated a common Jorkoe phrase, "May strength and power be with you." With a series of clicking sounds from his tongue and a tug on the reigns his waroth shot forward in a rapid dash. He could hear the pounding steps of soldiers following suit behind him on their own mounts. The tugging sensation in Ajak's gut instinctively warned him that his journey may not go as smoothly as he hoped.

To be continued... 

Apologies For My Disappearance

Please forgive me as I have been busy these past few months. I have disappeared without a word to you guys/gals. My deepest apologies. I have been dealing with moving to a new home. Good news is that I'm finally in my new home and am working on getting settled. I will also be gone on July 16th through to August 1st as I will be making a trip out of state for family business. Once my chaotic life calms down a bit and things get back in order I should be able to pick up where I have left off with this blog. For now, everything is on hold. Once I can get back to normalcy we can get serious again with the many stories I have planned for you. Take care and hope to see you all soon. Ciao!

Legends of Tyrium: The Caith Chpt 5; Part 1

The suns were setting, the temperature gradually cooling off in this desert wasteland the Jorkoes called home. Laenesh prepared her tools neatly into her leather pack. She also made sure to secure hidden weapons throughout her armor in case of emergencies. After making sure she had everything, she crawled out of the hole in the mountain side that she had lived in for years. She made her home on the outside of the hollowed mountain that held the city of Bitomal. She kept a secret passageway into the city as to not have her existence acknowledged. As far as anyone knew, she did not exist, she was no one. Only the Shinjara and Shuenja knew of her along with their itsaliis.   

Laenesh was specially trained in stealth and tracking since she was a young hybrid. Of course, she never knew her parents as she was orphaned at an early age. Instead, the secret organization, Aedaisuru, found her and raised her to be a tool. . . a trained killer. This is the life of Laenesh. This is all she knew. 

From the ledge of her cave she could already see the evidence left by Ixel and her friends. They wouldn't be hard to find as they had taken a straightforward path to the West. From the looks of the prints left in the sand they're traveling by waroth.  Laenesh quickly saddled her aeicko named Ailo. Ailo is a slender, black creature with two large ears and two small; leathery wings with three sharp fingers sprouting from each wing, strong hind legs and sharp claws, a split tail, and a body covered with needle-like fur.  She and Ailo would travel by air. As soon as the remaining light from the suns were completely gone they will make their move. Hidden by the night's darkness, flight was the quickest way to travel unnoticed. This was a mission she would not fail. 

"Are you ready, Ailo?" she whispered to her pet, "It is time."