Henry's heart continues to race as the hair on the back of his neck is raised in fear and caution, the golem keeps its eyes locked onto the wolf-like shadow beast that lies ahead. The shadow beast closes its mouth at once almost like it can't do whatever it was trying to do.
As Henry gulps he turns his head partially to the right looking to the golem for guidance and protection, the golem continues its silent but protective stance and the next move goes to the the shadow beast. The shadow beast continues growling from the field ahead and begins moving closer somewhat slowly but at an increasing rate keeping its eyes locked onto its prey.
Henry's heart races faster and faster feeling a loud and hard thumping in his chest as his legs become wobbly he stumbles back a couple of inches filled with fear and turns his head to the golem that stays ahead on his right. The golem begins slowly walking forward towards the beast in its protective stance showing no fear at all, the shadow beast growls louder as it nears now focusing only on the golem.
Once the shadow beast gets within less than a dozen feet from the beast it opens its mouth and a loud horrible noise emits from within, as if it's the raspy voices of the angry pained souls of the dead themselves the horrible noise continues and as it occurs the beast stops aiming its mouth at the golem as the golem begins to shake lightly and run at the beast knowing something Henry does not. The shadow beast lowers its stance at the sudden increase in speed from the golem but does not seem to fear the golem only very slowly walking back with the lowered stance, the golem continues charging and reaches the shadow beast going in for a swing with its decently hardened sandstone arms. Henry smiles lightly for a second feeling a slight warmth rise in his chest as he feels hopeful.
Just before the hit collides with the shadow beast's dark fur its body seems to become gas-like as if it's now just a very heavy black fog, the noise stops with its transformation, and the golem's arm descends right through the black fog moving through the air and it hits the grass and somewhat hard dirt below causing small chunks of sand to fall off of the golem. Henry's slight smile falters and he looks at the golem with a worried expression "You got this golem" he says not entirely believing his own words before the golem quickly turns around and runs back a few feet then returns to its protective stance trying to adapt to these strange events. The shadow beast then materializes again and begins emitting that horrible noise once again causing the golem to shake further making it go as far as to crouch down and rest an arm on the ground to help stabilize itself.
The golem charges at the beast again not fully understanding what's going on, Henry lets out a breath and keeps watching thinking that strange noise must be weakening the golem somehow "Get away from it it's draining you" he yells with a shaky voice. The golem goes in for another swing and this time the beast dashes to the left causing the golem to slam its arm into the ground again losing another few small chunks of sand and this time its body partially collapses under the strain. "No! Get up! quickly!" Henry says thinking this can't be how it ends, the beast roars momentarily and pounces on the collapsed golem's side sinking its sharp black teeth into the somewhat hard but quickly weakening sand ripping out a big chunk from its mid side causing the golem to fall onto its back to the right of its current position and swat at the shadow beast defensively with its right hand.
The shadow beast steps back a few inches observing the golem's weakness and begins planning its next move, Henry then lets out a breath of relief at the shadow beast's relent and looks at the golem with worry but doesn't dare approach it in fear he may be next. Henry tries thinking of what to do but can't yet decide, the golem drags itself backward using its arms on both sides feeling the hefty effects of its weakening and the bite.
The golem sees the shadow beast isn't attacking yet so it tries to stand up in hopes of gaining a better position, Henry lets out a breath and smiles lightly thinking maybe they can still win before his eyes suddenly light up as he thinks of an idea "Golem! Go for the water! We might have the advantage there cause you're taller!" Henry says with a smile in his a little less shaky and now more positive and confident voice. The golem nods and they both rush towards the water, Henry reaches it a couple of seconds before and begins swimming further as the golem quickly reaches him staying a bit behind and trying to keep its body turned a bit to observe the threat that lies behind them.
The shadow beast slowly approaches curiously as Henry lets out loud breaths of effort and stops swimming thinking they're now deep enough. His feet still touching the ground and the water being up to his shoulders. Henry's expression dims as he notices a lot of the golems sand is becoming dense and loose causing it to begin to fall off in almost every outer area and some now exposed inner areas. "Oh no," he says softly with a breath but the golem ignores its quickening demise and faces the beast with its arms raised trying to be ready and preserve whatever defense it can. The shadow beast does not enter the water and opens its mouth again and the horrible noise begins to emit from within it once again but it stops a few seconds later as it seems to be out of range. Henry lets out a heavy breath and turns to the golem thinking they're safe for now at least, but his worries do not completely vanish as he watches the golem lose its body chunk by chunk and collapse into the water turning to Henry once last time.
Henry watches the shadow beast for a moment before submerging himself when he thinks he's safe retrieving the metal object that served as the golems core and launching himself back up with many labored breathes "Okay" he says breathing hard and watching the shadow beast gripping the metal object tightly before his gaze turns to the metal object "you did good buddy" he says closing his eyes briefly. He keeps breathing hard and opens his eyes returning to watching the shadow beast starting to walk towards the right feeling somewhat uncomfortable in the water with the water level being right at his shoulders as he eyes the beast hoping his plan works.
The shadow beast watches Henry with persistence walking slowly along the shore causing Henry's anxiety to increase as he moves through the water praying it'll leave. As Henry keeps moving through the water he suddenly shudders as he sees something behind him in the water with the corner of his right eye "f*ck!" He says angrily as his legs tingle and he rushes out of the water towards the right hoping to outrun the beast but ultimately choosing that thing over what's probably the quick and deadly eels that almost killed him previously. The shadow beast starts running towards him almost galloping as Henry runs much faster getting out of the water and running straight to the right along the beach seeing only thick bushes and the thin trees of the forest on his left but choosing the open beach for now. His legs have lost the tingly sensation and he's breathing very heavily as he runs as fast as he can pushing off the beach strongly with each thrust of his legs feeling almost strong and prideful as he tilts his head back partially seeing the shadow beast catching up "stop!" He yells his voice shaky as he runs faster and harder his legs burning and he turns his sights back ahead his arms bouncing back and forth as his body pumps full of adrenaline and fear and anger his legs growing weaker and somewhat wobbly.
"No! I gotta make it!" He says as his legs burn and he feels an intense pain in his right midsection his body forces him to stop quickly falling onto his right side and looking back his heart racing and thumping heavily as the beast reaches him and stops, growling with fury. Henry's heart continues racing and thumping before slowing a bit as he closes his eyes for a few moments then opens them accepting his fate. The shadow beast then opens its mouth and the horrible noise emits from within it once again causing Henry to feel weak and nauseous as he collapses completely his eyes feeling heavy as he fights to stay away before finally closing them seconds later.
A little while later
Henry awakes feeling nothing at all in his body just a calm sense overall. He looks around seeing nothing but darkness until he lays his eyes upon an amazingly tall women wearing a long dark black cloak with a very bright white star-like crystal necklace on her chest. As his gaze moves higher he sees her long dark black hair extending onto her cloak seemingly disappearing, he sees her pale skin and blackened lips staring down at him with a look of disdain her eyes as dark as the area around him but within them bright white pupils exist like a guiding light in the otherwise dark world. "Are you... her?" Henry says softly but calmly as he stares up at her "Yes Henry" she says her voice booming around the area lacking any form of pleasantness or empathy, "you have avoided me too long, always finding some way to persistently.. live" she explains sounding not angry but slightly annoyed. "Now you will stay. And while you do you will watch." She says turning her gaze from him to a suddenly appearing quickly brightening light that Henry shields his eyes from before looking partially then fully.
The light seems to act as some kind of viewing device, almost like a screen it shows the sight of the beach where Henry died but further ahead the screen is somewhat shaky as the "cameraman" runs along the beach from a somewhat low view towards who knows where. Henry's eyes widen "Why?" He asks slightly shakily, his words almost make her smile the slightest bit of a smile creeping onto her face. "You must see as I correct things." She says
YOU ARE READING
The legend of Zaphratos
FantasyA story of a mythical place called Tafall, a massive land filled with creatures like no other in which creatures evolved in very different ways. Come with me and watch this legendary story!
