The Huntress Race

Chapter Eight: Bring It On

The war started at mid day. You want to know how it started?

I looked up at the sky as my barrier became visible. The sky was filled with airships, the symbol of my father was plastered all over them. I grinned and spread my hands, the sky filled with rainclouds and lightning blasted the air. Rain splashed all over me and I grinned wildly, this was my terrain, no enemy ship got through without me knowing about it. I heard a choking sound from Iris who was clawing at her chest. My barrier was been attacked by enemy ships. I had been told that I couldn't help her now, I had to let it happen. I was joined on the hill by my pack friends. They lined up next to me and Silver Frost spoke.
" The survivors of the forest are here, we have brought every animal to your aid," Silver Frost said.
I grinned at her. " This is our time, this is the day we take back our home from my father's clutches. This is the beginning of a new age. When I am done here everyone will see that I am not a danger to them," I said.
She nodded to me and I knew that this was my battle, these soldiers were at my command. Silver Frost howled and every animal of the forest answered her call to battle. They poured out of the trees to join us, united in their eagerness to protect their home. I faced the sky and saw the sky speckled with every bird of the region. " Come down here and face me!" I screamed towards the enemy ships. I saw the barrier begin to fade as the invaders were allowed in. The airships swarmed the sky and were flying towards us. I leaped on to Silver Frost's back and Iris jumped on to Tall Oak's back.
" Hold steady!" I yelled.
" God, please protect us from harm," I added in desperation.
" You will die," Boomed a deep voice of anger from a loud speaker on one of the airships. My father.
" G'day mate, nice of you to show up," I said to the ship sarcastically.
" Never say G'day in my prescience ever again," Iris snapped at me.
" Do you have a problem withAustralians?" I asked.
" No, I just hate it when people say that. Barely anyone in Australia says it anyway," Iris answered defensively.
" Okay then," I answered. The plan that Iris and I had come up with was brilliant. brilliantly awful. If this plan didn't work I would be burnt toast. We got ready as the ground around us was puckered by bullets. Iris stared in annoyance at the ship that had used them.
" Let's do this," Iris said eagerly. That was when the war exploded in to action. Birds dived at the airships, land animals fought with the soldiers foolish enough to stray on to the ground. Pretty much everyone. One airship remained in the air and was bigger than the others. It was made of black steel and had bleach white wings.
" I'm home," I said icily.
With all I had I focused on that airship. Instantly a rope came down from above and trailed to the ground. Iris looked at me expectantly. I nudged Silver Frost and with a guttural snarl we raced in the direction of the airship. Iris followed us, she and Tall Oak came up on our side. Bullets sprayed at us but we just kept going, blinded by the terror gripping us. " Faster, we need to get to the rope," I yelled over the wind.
" I'm trying!" Silver Frost snapped. We raced even closer to the rope as I shakily stood up on the her back. Iris was doing the same and we both screamed as we almost collided. I grasped for the rope but it was just out of my reach. I focused on the rope and it swung towards us. I grabbed Iris' hand and jumped. We were flung through the air and I wildly grabbed for the rope. I almost missed it. Almost. We both clung to the rope and took a moment to study our breaths. With a deep breath we started to shimmy up the rope and forced ourselves not to look at the ground. A gust of wind made the rope swing wildly and Iris let go with one hand. She instantly gripped harder and got back in control. Then I noticed something, we were gaining altitude, moving further upwards until we were swinging wildly all over the place. I forced myself to keep climbing even though I knew if I let go like Iris did, I would fall. We kept going until the top was in sight. I made the mistake of looking down. I'm not afraid of heights but I was afraid of what I saw below. I saw archers and snipers taking aim at us as we climbed the dangling rope. " Oh no, we are so dead. Can this day get any worse?" I snapped at the empty air. Why had I agreed to the plan? why had I inspired it? I was near the top of the rope when I noticed that I was perched right in the view of a large window. A man with a gun was staring at me, mid sip of his coffee. " G'day mate, just dropping in," I yelled with a wild grin. He just stared, I suppose he was still staring when Iris passed him. Then I saw the rim of the entrance and I sighed with relief. With one last effort I dragged myself in to the ship and groaned with relief. Iris pulled herself in after me and grabbed the door to steady herself. A young man with dark brown hair, and brown eyes was standing there. He was watching us with a smile on his face. I just looked at him. Iris shoved me from behind, " Are you going to introduce me?" Iris prompted with a glare at me. I nodded.
" Allow me, I am Caleb. My sister here hasn't told me about you yet," Caleb introduced.
" I am Iris, from race four," Iris answered.
" Sister, you have changed. What happened to your arm?" Caleb fretted.
I looked at him strangely, what was that about my arm? I rolled up the sleeve of my battle gear and saw something I had forgotten completely. I had a long red scar running from my shoulder to my middle finger tip. I can't believe I forgot.
" Oh, it doesn't hurt. It's nice of you to be here Caleb," I said awkwardly.
" Come on sister, who doesn't despise our father?" Caleb answered with amusement.
" Where is he?" Iris asked.
" He's looking for you, standing at the prow of the ship and watching the battle field for you," Caleb answered.
I smiled, the element of surprise was still mine.
" Let's go and say hello to daddy," I said with ice in my voice.
The three of us crept along the hallways and corridors of the air ship, guards who came across us were soon struck down. We kept to the shadows, just like I was used to.
" How much further?" Iris asked.
" Just around the corner," Caleb whispered in reply.
" Good, now you need to prove to father just how good you are. You need to pretend we are your prisoners," I answered.
Caleb nodded and grasped our arms tightly. I gulped as I was marched towards the door.
" Where are the guards?" Iris asked.
" They're all fighting," Caleb answered.
" Didn't dad leave himself any protection?" I asked.
" Not all of us have had the same experiences and knowledge of survival as you, Alex," Caleb stated bluntly.
" Gold star for you," I muttered sarcastically.
When we walked through that door my reality shattered. A young man was leaning against a window, his skin was as white as milk. He had oily black hair and blood red eyes.
" Father, look who I found wandering around on board," Caleb addressed him.
" My precious daughter. At least the company you keep has changed over the past few days. From wolves to humans, how pitiful," the man stated coldly.
" It's better than the company you keep, soldiers and yourself, how amazing," Iris said to match his tone.