The Protector and the Peacemaker

Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty Two

(Porter)

Black clouds formed out of nowhere to make a halo around Uthas Drall's head, spreading outward to block out the sun and leave the forest in darkness. Lightning crackled in them, thunder boomed, and the Fear Feeder laughed at the tiny people looking up at him in horror.

"Yes," he crooned, lifting his massive foot and bringing it down hard enough to shake the ground. "Fear me, all of you! Feed me!"

The humans that had congregated to watch the battle shrieked in terror, and ran for cover. Uthas Drall turned to look down at Porter, who was standing still, his feet frozen to the ground in fear as he was forced to look into the monster's glowing red eyes.

"I should thank you," the Fear Feeder said. "That potion was exactly what I needed to be freed!"

With a roar, Uthas Drall leaned down and swung his arm at Porter, his new claws digging grave-sized trenches into the ground.

"Porter!" Sarah's voice shouted into his heart. "Move!"

The sound of her voice snapped Porter out of his stupor, and he managed to dive out of the way just in time. Above him, Uthas Drall chuckled.

"Yes, child, run from me like the prey you are!"

Porter did as he was commanded and ran, fighting to keep his brain from surrendering itself to blind panic. Uthas Drall came after him, shaking the earth with every step.

"I told you that you had no chance!" the monster roared as it swiped its claws at Porter again, missing him by mere feet. Porter knew the Fear Feeder was enjoying this. It was just a game to him.

I have to banish my fear, he thought desperately. He's feeding off of it!

"Porter, where are you?" Sarah cried out to him, and he could feel the terror burning in her chest. He looked around, and spotted her twenty feet away, staring at the monster in horror.

"Sarah, you have to get out of here!" he told her. "He's coming after me right now. Escape before he remembers you're there!"

"I'm not leaving you!" she argued. She followed the direction she felt his emotions coming from, and finally spotted him just as he rolled to keep from being crushed by the monster's foot.

"Sarah, it's over!" he shouted at her. "There's no way we can fight this thing!"

Uthas Drall's foot came down behind him again, the force throwing him into the air. He landed on his back, and could do nothing except watch as the Fear Feeder's foot rose above him, preparing to crush him like an insect.

"Porter!" Sarah screamed in terror, but able to do nothing to help him.

The monster's heel slowly descended, Uthas Drall relishing the suspense. The stench of rotting carcasses radiated from his skin and Porter raised his hand, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to stop it, and closed his eyes...

Suddenly, there was a flash of blue bright enough for Porter to see through his eyelids. He opened his eyes and saw Azkular standing above him, his knives buried in Uthas Drall's foot.

"Get away from my friend!" the djinn yelled. Blue fire exploded from his body, and Uthas Drall took a step backwards. Azkular yanked his blades out as the monster retreated, and took a deep breath. There was smoke curling off of his skin.

"So, you're the Fear Feeder that used to rule the world, huh?" the djinn said, and twirled his knives. "I'm not impressed."

After the initial shock that somebody was willing to challenge him wore off, Uthas Drall regained his composure and towered over his new opponent.