Skylands Legends

12.1 Hunted

Pain. Pain and frustration was what Bushwhack had felt as the plan was blown to hell.

When he had dove out of the fountain's basin, the anhydroladium had expanded rapidly outwards, encasing his leg and stopping his leap short. And judging by the pain, most likely dislocating his knee.

Splat had then come over to offer to get some water to get him out of the anhydroladium mound, but Jet Vac had quickly shot that idea down to not risk freeing the beast. Half of Bushwhack understood that rationale. The other half wanted to call him a heartless bastard and tell Splat to ignore him and go get the water.

Unfortunately, his rational side had won.

The trapping process had begun for the beast and as time went on, something was feeling off to Bushwhack. The beast had let out a blood curdling roar and the wind had immediately shifted. It was a subtle difference, one that Bushwhack appeared to be the only one noticing.

That's where the frustration came in. He was stuck, unable to do anything, and was pretty sure something was coming. He had tried to call out to Jet Vac, but he was too caught up glaring at the beast to notice. That's when he turned to trying to get the other's attention.

It had been too late. Shadows rose from the ground and attacked the army from behind. Few saw it coming on others and had the forethought to check their own shadow. Others weren't so lucky. Dozens of mabu were stabbed through the back, surprise still splattered across their face as they fell to the ground, never to get up again.

Bushwhack had tried to help, but there was only so much he could do when stuck in his position. Everyone was fighting in such close range, his acorn grenades would only do more harm and he had no idea where his ax had ended up. He was forced to watch as the mabu army was slaughtered, unable to do anything.

He tried wriggling his way out of his black imprisonment but it only brought him more pain. He felt energy gathering above him and looked up to see the traptanium crystal beginning to crack. The power kept building and he realized what was going to happen.

Jet Vac had taken off into the sky and Bushwhack began gathering as much energy as he could from his life source to create a shield. He had done this a couple times before in his life, but only in a controlled area with his ax to use has a focus for the energy. He had no idea what would happen if the shield failed, but feeling the energy building from the crystal he knew it would be his only shot at survival.

Bushwhack closed his eyes and focused on the essence of life. He pictured a lush green forest with trees stretching miles into the sky. The quiet calm of a small breeze ruffling the leaves. The peace that comes from being in nature – being one with nature.

He let that feeling come over him and for a brief moment forgot all about his pain.

Somewhere outside his consciousness he saw the light flash from the traptanium crystal exploding. Calmly, he let the peaceful feeling take over him, and as the shock wave from the explosion rushed towards him – he felt nothing. A brief tug from serenity, but nothing strong enough to make his concentration waiver. It all rushed over him and soon after, he opened his eyes.

Green flecks of energy floated around him as his shield slowly dissipated. Beyond that he saw the town square was decimated. The buildings surrounding him were all reduced to rubble now. The sky had taken on a gray coloring as dust and smoke blotted out the sun. There wasn't a living thing in sight.

Bushwhack turned and looked back at the top of the mound of anhydroladium. At the top he could see bits of the beast's head slowly reforming together after apparently being incinerated by the blast.