The Sketch: The Voyage of Soal

A Stray Lamb

The camp was visible within plain sight, and the only hiding spot on the current area was a large pointed rock, so that's where Porter and a few others hid on their way back from Flameberg. Why were they hiding? Well, several Dark Soldiers had been scurrying up the mountain to the camp, spies of Articulus, and Porter knew they were there. When they found the group, none of them were surprised. Instead of taking anyone captive or asking questions, they armed their spears and surrounded them. Then, they started attacking; but Soal held out the Blade of Pure Light, and all of them but one fled. The last one was lionhearted enough to stay, but not for long. Soon it began to run away without making a sound.

But it was blocked by Soal's sword, who decided to keep it, in order to find out about Articulus. The others held their weapons and enclosed a wall so that the stray lamb could not escape. It struggled to escape, but soon accepted its fate as the group of daring soldiers and their generals escorted the Dark Soldier back to a special tent in the camp. When they brought him in, many kiwis were outraged or afraid, and some warned that it would contaminate the whole camp. But they did not listen. He was trapped in the tent and after a few minutes, Soal and Retna came to interview the bewildered monster. Retna couldn't wait to kill it; Soal felt a little sympathetic for this sad creature, because he felt he was hiding something.
Holding Sickle to its throat, they started. "Where did you come from and where is Articulus's troops now?" When it didn't say anything, Soal brought the sword closer and closer to its pulse. He knew these creatures could talk, he wanted to catch one in action. Finally it spoke, but both witnesses could hardly understand it.

"When our sssssssquad left, Articulussssssss'sssss troopsssssss were about thirty milesssss away. They sssssshould be closssssser by now. They sssssshould be arriving by tomorrow morning," it hissed. When it opened its jaws, they could see a green maw where the throat should have been. "They have a forcccccccce of about two millionnnnnnn. Your pathetic army will nevvvver ssssstand a chanccccccccce!"

Now Soal was on the verge of cutting the gloppy bird's neck, but it coughed out some smoke, and smiled as it seemed to be preparing to strike. And Soal asked a final question. "Where did you first become a Dark Soldier? And where is Articulus himself?"

Before it could answer, it opened its mouth, and Retna stole Sickle and stabbed its green throat! The poor Dark Soldier turned to smoke and flew away through the top of the tent, and left an oozing black puddle on the floor. "Why'd you do that?! He was our key to Articulus! We could have won the war if you didn't stab him!" Retna gave back Sickle in concern for Soal's good. He may be a good warrior, Retna thought, but he's too kindhearted to take the signs seriously!

Retna frowned, but then defended herself. "It was for your own good. It was about to attack you. You didn't see that??" Then she wiped up the puddle with a towel, and ran outside. Soal followed as Retna dumped the puddle on the smooth, but rocky ground, away from the camp. Then Soal went to Porter to warn him of the coming attack, and he immediately began preparations. But alas, the warning had come too late. They still didn't have enough time, even though many stayed up the entire night. But not Soal. He tossed and turned in his tent, and couldn't sleep. But the racket of the training soldiers outside somehow calmed him. Then he fell asleep and dreamed a terrible nightmare.