Spirit Animals: The Keeper's Book

Chapter Fifteen: The Wyrm Battle

The Redcloaks, the remaining Greencloaks, and the originally Marked kids were getting ready for the battle. By sharpening their weapons to heading out towards their respective battle lines and positions. They're unsure if it's going to work, but Kirat's leadership and battle strategies might help save them all.
There was the sound of a conch shell came from one of the lookouts. Jenna and her gathered team all rushed to the window and peered out over the frozen sea. Zerif's fleet was fast approaching: six ships surrounding by a swirling cloud of white fog. The cloud lifted up from the boats and moved closer to them — growing larger and larger.
"What's that?" Emilia asked Worry.
Worry narrowed his eyes. "That's not fog."
They soon heard Howl's hollering voice from the other tower. "INCOMING! Everyone! Back from the windows!"
As everyone stepped back, Jenna's heart ached when she gazed at the wind to see that the cloud was really thousands of birds — all flying towards them at deadly speed. She ducked to one side as three snowy terns darted into the window, each one hurtling toward a different target. There were screams all through the camp as the birds swept into the mountains, attacking the Redcloaks. They weren't hard to beat away, but there were so many of them that it was nearly impossible to see.
But in three flashes of light, Jenna had already freed the three snowy terns.
The earth shuddered as she heard cannon fire from the Expiator. The Greencloaks and Jolt had started to fight. The war had begun.
Jenna saw Talon running to the archway and shouted a command into the tunnel. The order echoed down the mountain until it reached Stead's ears. A moment later, a vent of simmering lava spilled out from the side of the rock, directly onto a pile of loosely packed snow at the base of the mountain. The snow hissed and melted to a create a huge cloud of billowing vapor. The cloud was enough to blind the incoming birds, which suddenly were unable to navigate. Pained squawks rang out as the soaring flock missed their targets and instead crashed into against the outside wall of the mountain.
The ground shook as two mortar shells from the incoming fleet struck the side of the mountain — Zerif's fleet was now in firing range. There was the sound of an explosion near the port, and Jenna watched as the Expiator burst into splinters and sank into the cold water.
"There goes our ride home," remarked Nico dryly.
"If we survive this mess," Desta added.
Jenna stared at the approaching fleet, half shrouded in smoke from the cannon fire, searching for a sight of Zerif's dark tunic. "I'll get my arrows ready." At that, the small team paired off with each other and the Redcloaks whilst summoning their spirit animals for the battle. She drew back her red cloak (she decided to wear the gift for the occasion) and removed a single arrow from her full quiver. The white point glinted in the light of the setting sun — it was sharpened marble. She had spent most of her voyage honing them to razor points — sharp enough to cut through any armor or shield Zerif might use. She nocked it into the string of her bow, steadying her aim.
The icy tower in the middle of the volcano was slowly rotating, dropping huge chunks of ice onto the floor. She feared the ice might crush the Redcloaks, but when she looked farther down, she saw that the floor was gone. The wedge-shaped sections of the stone around the tower had begun to slide away from one another-pulling apart like the folds of an iris. "Um, what's happening to your base?"
Worthy stepped beside her and shrugged. "No clue. It must have something to do with what your friends were up to."
The shaking stopped as abruptly as it had started. The panels in the floor had pulled a few feet from one another, revealing gaps that led to a hollow chamber deep below — how deep, it was impossible to tell. The tower in the middle groaned and shuddered, unable to turn any farther.
"Whatever that tower is supposed to do, I think it's broken," Jenna noted. "The ice must be jamming it from fully opening the floor."
Once, Devin had been a guide and friend to her. Maybe the first true friend she ever had. He had been the one who taught Jenna that she could find family wher ever she was and encouraged her to find it in Destiny. There was another rumbling sound-much louder than the mortar shots. Jenna placed her hand on the ledge to keep herself from falling. She could feel the entire mountain shaking from the vibrations. "Sounds like they found a bigger cannon."
"Not a cannon," said Nico.
Jenna didn't have time to consider Nico's words, because the next moment a mortar shell from Zerif's fleet crashedo jolt the entire ledge, nearleir keep.
The impact seemed to jolt the entire ledge, nearly knocking Jenna into the abyss below. She and Worthy both ran back into the keep and resumed their positions, just as another cannon fired — it had knocked the archers backward, impact of the shell shards of ice down from above and knocked it doven from abeward, raining rubble and chunks of rocks. Jenna blinked up at a huge chunk have been easily crushed her if it weren't for Worthy, who was staring at her with his expression unreadable.
"Thanks Worthy." Jenna's voice shook a bit, feeling the warmth of Worthy's chest on her back.
Worthy nodded and pulled himself off her. "Sure thing." He dusted off his red cloak and picked up his fallen sword.
Jenna sat up, smiling a bit. When it came to her and Worthy/Devin, there was nothing simple about it. "If Zerif keeps up this cannon fire, we won't live to see the landing party."
Worthy nodded and helped her to her feet. "I agree."
Jenna and Worthy rushed to the ledge and looked out toward the fleet. White foam sprayed against the choppy waves. Shouts from the possessed Greencloaks rang over the water. The largest ship in Zerif's fleet was keeling heavily to one side-nearly capsized. Jenna searched the waters for a reason. Was something attacking the ship from below? Then she spotted it.
At the helm, three long tentacles with opalescent skin were wrapped around the ship's wheel. The other slive were presently engaged in grappling the helmswoman, dragging her away from the steering.
"Mulop!" Jenna said. "He's attacking the fleet."
Another ship sloshed to one side as the first boat rammed into it. There was an earsplitting crack that rang out over even the sounds of birds and waves and cannons — the mast snapping in two. It crashed down onto the deck of the second ship, shattering wood and sending it careening to the side. The cannons that had a moment before been pointing straight at the mountain were now ripped from their stows and flung into the water.
Mulop was single-handedly disarming the entire fleet.
"So much for the cannons!" Worthy said, relieved.
But the celebration was cut short before it had even fully begun, for the next moment, Jenna saw the tentacles spasm in pain and grow limp-sliding from the Greencloak and wheel. The octopus's iridescent skin seemed to change before her eyes, turning to a dull, pale color.
"Mulop," Jenna said. "He's been infected." She soon remembered meeting Niri, she could imagine how much pain and grief she must be in that cavern she was hidden in.
"Fire!" At Shane's order, two dozen arrows soared out from the keep and plunged down to the ice below-lodging into Greencloaks. Screams rang out through the air as six men staggered to their knees, their animal companions faltering beside them. The remaining Greencloak forces veered to one side to avoid the assault.
"Fire!" Another volley, this one more successful than the first. A group of fifty or so Greencloaks had splintered off from the main group and was moving closer to the shelf. Jenna and the other archers reloaded and shot again, pushing the invading group to the edge of the ice.
"Release the flue!" Shane cried into the tunnel.
Jenna heard the sound of gears moving deep within the rock and the next moment a burst of searing lava erupted from the side of the mountain. It filled one of the icy trenches, which hissed and steamed, dividing the approaching forces in half.
The lava continued down its path until it reached the fifty Greencloaks huddled on the eastern shelf. Here the trench branched into two smaller streams, which surrounded the group. The ice at this point was thinner, and as soon as the lava made contact, it burned right through and plummeted into the freezing water. The entire shelf splashed into the ocean. Greencloaks and beasts screamed and splashed, trying to swim to shore in the cold sea.
Jenna only frowned, turning back to the window. Cheers could be heard echoing up from the chambers below. The Redcloaks hadn't defeated Zerif's forces, of course, but they had reduced its numbers by a quarter. Still, the battle was far from over. Already another wave of Greencloaks had descended from the ships. And the possesses had fallen. He was using his tentace the Greencloaks had fallen. He was using his tentacles to catch and drag them back to shore-freezing cold, but still alive.
The Redcloaks released another two gates, filling trenches with lava to drive back the incoming forces. The flow created a molten perimeter around the mountain. There was a shout below as another gate opened at the base of the volcano.
This time, instead of lava, there was a flutter of red fabric as a troop of Redcloaks slid down the icy slope, swords in hands. These Redcloaks were not ordinary fighters, for they all possessed traits of the animal companions that they had merged with. They were faster, stronger, fiercer than any human could hope to be. They met the approaching Greencloaks head-on, pushing Zerif's forces back toward the water.
"Fire!" Shane cried, and another volley rained down on the Greencloaks. Abeke crouched beside him, lending her arrows to the cause. Shane and his Redcloaks were fine shots, but none half as good as her. When she let fly an arrow — it always found her mark.
The ground shook beneath her, violently enough that she had to steady herself against Worthy's arm. Chunks of rock and ice fell from the walls around her. There was a huge cracking sound and the entire island shuddered. Redcloaks and Greencloaks alike cried out as the impact threw them all to the ground. A huge crack formed up the side of the volcano wall, showering rubble down on the fighters below.
"What's going on down there?" Jolt shouted, joining them. "It feels like the mountain's being torn apart."
The stone panels at the base of the tower had been smashed apart, creating a larger hole. From somewhere deep below, a gargling shriek rang out, curdling the air. Jenna felt a prickly nausea stutter up her spine. She inched closer to the edge of the path for a better look. The broken floor revealed a deep steaming hole that seemed to disappear straight into the heart of Erdas. Streams of hot lava trickled from the edges, bathing it in a dark orange light. And slithering out from that hole was a hideous creature made of slick black tentacles and glowing red eyes.
"The Wyrm," Jenna whispered. "It's here."
This creature was more disturbing than anything she had ever conceived-and the light of the cavern only served to expose its horror. The Wyrm was a roiling, slithering nightmare that coated whatever it touched in black ooze. It perched itself on the edge of the chasm from which it had crawled, peering around at the ruins with glowing red eyes. It opened its mouth to reveal row after row of razor-sharp teeth, and screeched.
Its cry had made all of the possessed Greencloaks and creatures become stronger, which made all of the Redcloaks and the unpossessed Greencloaks become involved with the fight. With a slight nod, the two partners both ran towards the infected scorpion together. That's when a fierce battle has begun between the bonded partners and the infected army. The infected army against the young Keeper, the army is enforced by the parasites while the other is bonded by Nectar. The army were a fierce opponents, but so was Jenna and Destiny. Her weapon clashed against the infected army, fiery powers against power and enemy against enemy. Destiny's agility and strength is a strong match against the infected army's abilities. Jenna had used her skills and powers to get out of trouble more than once from the infected army's attempted attacks at her and Destiny. After a few more hits, there was multiple white flashes and many of the original possessed Greencloaks and spirit animals were freed from their forceful possessions.
But in the midst of the battle, an onyx arrow could be seen flying overhead. Finally it sliced up through the high bannister railing and struck the edge of the bell with a light ting! The sound was barely a whisper, but it echoed through the whole cavern. Everyone around Jenna seemed to be holding their collective breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Even the Thing dropped its prey and was watching the bell.
The ringing of the bell finally gave way to another sound — a deep rumbling that shook the entire mountain. The tower in the middle of the ruins trembled and then shifted, slowly rotating on its axis. Rubble and ice fell from the walls of the volcano, crashing to the cavern floor around Jenna. There was a ripping sound as part of the bottom wall broke loose — letting a flood of cold water gush in from the ocean outside.
The biggest change, however, was in the hole. The panels of the cavern floor retreated into the walls of the mountain, revealing a huge chasm that went straight down into the heart of Erdas. Redcloaks and Greencloaks alike scrambled to find stable ground around the perimeter. The Thing had also moved, stranding itself on the front steps of the bell tower, which was now surrounded by yawning darkness on all sides.
The bell tower continued rotating. Its foundation seemed to go down as far as the chasm. Stone buttresses secured the lower tower to the inside walls of the tunnel, and as these moved, giant cracks appeared in the hole. Bubbling magma from deep within the earth spewed out, filling the hole to the very brim. The magma churned and frothed-creating a hissing whirlpool around the spinning tower.
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For Jenna, it was like waking from a startling dream. Dreams were something Jenna was good at — and more than once she had experienced dreams that showed her own past, present, and future. But all of those were nothing compared to this. She had been inside her own body for so long.
But then she opened her eyes and knew that something had suddenly shifted in Erdas. Jenna soon saw a puddle in front of her. Unsure of where it had came from, she stared into her reflection. Amber eyes as bright as the sun. It was the face of Destiny.
She soon saw her transformed companions joining her. They turned to look back at the battle. One by one, she let out a great howl that was followed by Kirat's earthshaking roar and Tasha's fierce battle cry.
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Everyone saw as Zerif wrestled with the Thing with Abeke's unheard encouragement. They all watched as the Thing that was Zerif disappeared beneath the fiery surface of the magma. Once the Marked kids returned to their bodies and their spirit animals returned to their bodies, they all heard voices behind them.
Not just a dozen, but hundreds of voices. Men and women, speaking to one another in baffled tones. Jenna turned around to see her beloved family of Greencloaks, many of them kneeling on the floor of the cavern, some in shock and tears. Those who could walk had rushed to the sides of the Redcloaks to help them. The Greencloaks' faces were battered and bruised from the fight, but their eyes showed the clear glint of humanity.
But Jenna's heart launched when she saw Worthy laid motionless onto the ground, exhausted from the sudden ring of the bell and was being snuggled by Dawson.
"Worthy!" He managed to get up when he heard Jenna's worried voice. Without a warning, Jenna was pulled into a warm embrace by Worthy and she felt him purring against her neck. She smiled softly as she returned Worthy's embrace and felt Destiny leaning against them, giving them her own embrace.
They're finally rescue everyone from the Wyrm.