Paracosm

A War Cry

Magda

Magda and the others wait patiently the next morning. Waiting for the bunker to open, hoping Hayes would keep his promise.

Magda isn't sure she knows Hayes anymore. What he's capable of. She knows he's a coward, but she doesn't know the extent of what he'll do to keep himself safe. She loved that bunker, she loved the people, but the more time she spends above ground the more she begins to realise the corruption.
He could've come up to the surface, he didn't need to sacrifice four young people, and God only knows what happened to Fionn. At least she knows the other two are safe.

A loud rumble vibrates the ground as the bunker door begins to open. Magda smiles to herself, a smile of relief. She can see the relief in Lenka and Joe's faces too.

Hayes and a few guards with guns raised appear at the entrance, he doesn't step forward.
"Hayes?" Magda makes her way towards him, Dolag and Maon following closely behind her.

She can see Hayes eyeing the people behind them, almost looking at them in disgust. But then his eyes fix on Magda, and there's nearly more disgust in them.

"This is Maon Murphy and Dolag Cole," Magda introduces them, Hayes eyes fall on Dolag and rest on them for several minutes "they are here to propose a deal".
"What kind of deal?" He asks.

"When your people open the bunker there will be an army waiting to slaughter all of you," Dolag begins "they want the bunker for themselves because they plan on destroying the world again, so they can be the ones to rebuild life. We plan on taking them down before they can do that, but we will need your support".
"Our bunker is running out of oxygen, they will not survive in there," Hayes says.

"They do not care about any of that, they will slaughter you all, detonate another atomic bomb and then kill themselves in your bunker, there will be no civilisation left," Maon says "but we need to stop this".
"And what is it you want from us?" Hayes asks.

"Your guards, your weapons, anything you have that will benefit us," Dolag says.
"And what do we get in return?".
"To live".

Hayes looks back at his guards, they've their guns lowered "we will come above ground in a month".
"My men will be waiting to send you to the Fire Island where you'll be safe," Maon says.
Dolag nods "I will ensure my men bring you to safety once you've reached the island, and then we will discuss it further".

Magda watches as Hayes and his men walk away, not a word spoken to her and the others, not an offer to return to the bunker, nothing. She feels her heart drop, as if someone has put a knife into it. Everything she's done for him, everything they've all done for him and he turns his back on them.

"Your friends are welcome back with me," Maon smiles slightly at her, noticing the hurt in her eyes.

"I will send one of my brothers to meet you at the bunker," Dolag says "he will escort you to the island, Gealach is wiser and will not attack unless it is necessary".
Maon nods "I will send a raven on our journey back".
"You will not have to," she says "I will feel it when Gealach is there".

Night has fallen, Dolag and her people returned to their island before dusk. Magda sits with Joe and Lenka in her tent. They haven't gotten a chance to speak, Dolag and Maon spent the evening planning, Magda was there to help them. She wasn't really listening to them, all she could think about was Hayes. Perhaps her mother was right when she said not to go.

"Do ye think Hayes will go through with all of this?" Joe asks.
"He's a coward," Lenka spits "of course he will".
"I just don't get how they're going to bring seventy-six people across these lands and not get caught," Joe says.
"Dolag's brother is a dragon," Magda speaks up.
The two of them look at her and simultaneously say "excuse me?".

"I don't know what animal, or whatever, they mutated from but they're dragons," she says "they're not going to send men to fight a giant that breathes fire".
"I wouldn't be surprised with these people," Lenka says.
"The plan will work," Magda says, trying to convince herself".

Sliabh

"We'll provide support from up here if Annalise attacks," Sliabh says to Seán who reads out a letter from Maon, explaining the plan for the bunker people.

"You attack you're showing your alliance," Seán puts the letter on the table.
"I've a good feeling about this," Sliabh gets up and walks towards a small window in his castle "the snow isn't as heavy, we'll have good view of below, my men's arrows are stronger than anything Annalise is prepared for".

"We would be outnumbered," Seán says.
Sliabh turns to him "yes our numbers are small, but together are numbers are bigger than Annalise would ever expect".
"And what is your plan if they infiltrate our walls?" Seán asks.
"You know that will not happen," Sliabh laughs.
   "The Mamochs have been out of war for years now, some haven't even been ridden".

"The Mamochs are always awaiting war and will always allow the mountain people to ride," Sliabh says "come with me".

The two walk along the cold corridors of the castle. Snow coming in through the gaps in the walls. The wind whistling as they walk by.

Men with giant sticks line the walls of the cave. The cave is carved into the giant mountain, filled with darkness and terror.
The gates open slowly, men escort Sliabh and Seán along the dark tunnel until they reach an opening.

"The creatures on this Earth understand the same common tongue, like Ollphéist and Dogda's brothers," Sliabh explains to Seán, who has never encountered a Mamoch up close "they thrive off fear, disrespect them and you are dead".
The men begin to sing in a low tone, in a language only the creatures understand.

Low rumbles begin to fill the opened space. Followed by chirps and squeaks. The ground begins to shake as the beasts approach.

Sliabh speaks in their language, asking them to approach. The beasts begin to trumpet as they make their way into the dim light.
Their tusks shine in the light of the fires on the wall. Their tusks are long and spike at the end. Their hair is long to protect them from the cold.

"Saor," Sliabh smiles as one of the Mamochs approach him, her giant ears flapping as she picks up speed once she sees him, the others stay behind.
The ground trembles, knocking Seán to the floor. Saor wraps her trunk tightly around Sliabh as he laughs.
"Come on," Sliabh picks up Seán "she doesn't bite".

  Sliabh watches as Seán puts his hand out to rub her, his hand is shaking violently. He places it on her tusk. She trumpets before knocking him over, she shrieks and picks him up with her trunk.
"Stop messing old girl," Sliabh laughs and pats her.

"I have fifty Mamochs," Sliabh says "I never lost any in war, and I do not plan on losing any, they are our family and they are the mountain. But they will not protect us if we chose the wrong side, why do you think they've stayed hidden away from us since Annalise has been in power?".

  "Perhaps them showing themselves now is a sign we're choosing the right side this time," Seán says.

"It is," Sliabh smiles at Saor.