Legend of Lacraan: Skylearth Rising

Chapter 3: Obligation

Home-- it was the first and last place Arjen wanted to be. Entering the house Arjen was surprised to see that his home was surprised to see the house had band ransacked. Tables and chairs lay on their side; pottery and broken glass lay all over the dirt floor as windows from the home had been smashed in with the assumption that the door had been locked. Arjen stepped carefully on the floor as glass crunched under his foot as he looked around the house.  Arjen sighed as he lifted up an old colored painting off the floor. The five-by-seven portrait was still rendered in tact  which was given to his family by his great aunt who had suffered a dismal fate from the plague. The once forgotten heirloom was held in Arjen's grasps--young faces frozen for eternity.

******

Weariness was all around, the soft rocking motion from R.J.'s rhythmic pace gave Arjen a soft sense of ease; a very therapeutic approach to a heavy burden that carried on the young lad's shoulders. A heavy discomfort sat in the pit of Arjen's stomach as the orphan sat miserably on the back of his mount.
Crown for your thoughts? R.J. asked softly. Arjen scoffed slightly as he thought long and hard about which memory he wanted to disclose. A vivid image of of the sadistic king sent a shiver down his spine. Arjen could clearly see the severed head of his mother, those horror-stuck pupils that would never yield to proper rest. Arjen exhaled softly and remained silent in protest. 
Sorry R.J. spoke softly sensing the ill-fate that his mother endured. 

"Don't worry about it," Arjen said quietly, "How about a game instead."

I like that idea! Shall I start? R.J. insisted.

"By all means." R.J. tousled his feathery mane as he scanned the broadened horizon of the dry brittle plains. Arjen leaned over and stroked the equine's velvety coat. 

I....spy....something......R.J. began as he continued to scan for something out of the ordinary. Something....grey.....large.....and ferocious. Arjen's eyes widened as he stared at the rather large grey blot seemed to run towards them as they were entering the vicinity of a small village. Muscular long legs carried the beast towards Arjen and his large companion. R.J. snorted with disgust as the beast continued to barrel towards the duo. It wasn't long before Arjen could make out a large canine-like creature which had escaped the commands of their owner. The figure whom was chasing after the beast was waving their arms frantically trying to capture the boys attention. 

Arjen this is for your own good! R.J. said softly as he stopped  walking. With a heavy kick of his back rear, Arjen was launched from his mount and landed on in the dry, brittle grass. Wind escaped his lips in a gasp as the earth sucker punched his lungs. Eyes widened in shock as bones snapped out of place. 

"R....J....," Arjen wheezed sitting up with a painful grunt, holding his left arm. Moments passed as Arjen watched his equine companion  stop just short of the village and the canine-like beast boldly stepped forward to challenge the stranger. The canine had a rich charcoal-grey tuft of hair which sat on the top of its head stood on end as the beasts short snout which resembled a dragon's maw menacingly raised a curled lip to show a dagger-like teeth that was caked with years of tartar and plaque. A silver pelt covered the almost-canine as a long flowing breast mane melded beautifully into the silver coat. 
The front paws were wrapped in blood-soaked bandages as sharp claws gripped the earth with a powerful stance. Latched on to the back legs of the creature were leather straps  with curved metal hooks; the tail which extended from its large muscular frame was was thin, but the end of the tail stood a tuft of fur in the shape of a sickle. Other opposite side of the almost-canine, stood its opponent, R.J.: A large muscular brown unicorn with a baby blue colored horn. The animal's front legs resembled that of an eagle with sharp talons. The equine's back legs were long and muscular with tufts of fur covering his feet much like a clydesdale would have. A rich mane composed of feathery texture was laced with brightly coated hues of orange and red. His tail was long and muscular with fine strands of feathers laced into the skirt of the dock of the tail. 

A large gasp of air escaped Arjen's lips as he struggled to catch his breath. 

"Wha.....wha.....has...." Arjen bent over and placed his hands on his knees coughing and wheezing. 

If you must know, Arjen, as your friend and your protector, I was not about to put you in harms way. I am ready to kill," The almost canine gave a fierce warning snarl as he glared at Arjen, turning its head towards the boy, ready to lunge at the unsuspecting victim. The beast lowered its head to the ground, pinning round ears against its skull as a pink tongue flickered through the animal's sharp canines. Arjen glared at the beast and stood his ground as he reached for a dagger that hid just in reach behind Arjen's cloak. The almost canine lunged at Arjen and R.J. reared onto his back legs waving his talons in the air instinctually as the sudden movement startled him. Arjen reached for his dagger but in a wake of confusion, heavy claws came crashing down on Arjen's face as the weight of the feet had rendered him unconscious. Deep and heavy claw marks raked across Arjen's face as part of the boy's face was ripped from his skull. 

A rich and warmth texture pressed against Arjen's face as soft cloth gently dabbed at his open wounds. A jolt of panic and surprise surged through the lad's body as he sat up startled as warm soapy water entered his freshly opened pores creating an unpleasant stinging sensation. He was pushed back into the soft sheets with a gentle hand and a reassuring him to relax with a soft tone. 

"Easy," a voice said softly, "You need to rest."

"Where is R.J.?" Arjen demanded wearily.

"Safe,"

"And the demon dog?" The voice gave Arjen a quizzical look and remained calm in a polite demeanor. 

"His name is Morocco, and he is doing just fine. He and R.J. got into a dominant scuffle, but both agreed to would not attack unless either owners were in danger. You see, Morocco is a Xali--a sort of hybrid between wolf and wyvern. Their genealogy is a long and complex story that would take eons to understand, but I will tell you that they are bred to take down Ronkonkites, and is very protective of our village. Until he knows you are not a threat, you wouldn't get within three feet without him ripping out your throat," the voice explained. Arjen exhaled slowly, and laid back down into the sheets keeping his eyes shut. 

"Where am I?" he asked tiredly, the lush softness of the pillows feeling more comfortable than ever before. 

"Safe, but you enough talk, you need to rest," 

"I need to see R.J.," Arjen demanded half-asleep 

"Impossible," 

"Nothing's....." Arjen yawned, covering his mouth with his hand, "Impossible, now take this bandage off my eye."

"Yeah, about that....I can't," the voice said softly.

"Can't or won't?"  Arjen questioned suspiciously. 

"Both," the voice murmured.

"And why not," Arjen demanded growing rather impatient with the silly games. The voice took a deep breath and inhaled a lung full of air and slowly let out the carbon dioxide. 

"Because when R.J. stamped a talon on your face, your eye popped out from the blunt force. When you were knocked out, we...were certain you'd be dead so we had to surgically remove the eyeball from the socket because it was grossly dangling out of place." Arjen's stomach gurgled uncomfortably as he leaned over the side of the bed and vomited on the floor, after Arjen finished retching his guts out, he sat up slowly and wiped his mouth with a damp cloth that hung next to his bedside table.

"So now what, I am supposed to lay here like a cripple?" Arjen asked.

"Oh, please, you're not crippled. You still have one eye! Besides, a lot of warriors have lost parts of their body and still had a story to tell," the voice chirped positively. Arjen's neck throbbed with disgust as he began to unravel his covers, throwing back bed sheets and pushing his legs to the side of the bed. 

"Where do you think you're going?" the voice asked pushing Arjen's legs back into bed. 

"To find my damned telepahorse, and give him a piece of my mind! Warriors aren't going to just lay in bed all day, you know," he growled softly. 

"Arjen, please!" the voice pleaded.

"Kailantha, let it go, Arjen's right, he will never get used to his sight if he doesn't get accustomed to his new vision," 

"But....Father," the voice whined. 

"No but's....just go!" the male voice instructed giving a stern but low growl.