The Final Storm (Part 3)

Mind Poisoned

The cat hissed, twisting to punch him in the face, blowing him back. Hardly deterred, Ralem used the wind to push him back, dealing a fierce upper-cut to its jaw, and a tooth was knocked loose, turning from human to fangs mid-air. Jaydon, go back and help Fraylon and Daemon out! Ralem commanded as he was nailed in the jaw. Don't leave them without backup. I can take care of myself!

Jaydon hesitated. Then he was gone.

The cat took the chance to dig its claws into his chest and he cried out as the wickedly curved talons slid between his rib cage. "You weak humans," it spat, morphing into its huge cat form. "You all will die..."

"Last time I checked, big kittens like you die too," Ralem replied back, his voice choppy as he kneed the cat in the stomach. The cat growled, ripping through his flesh like butter. Ralem could hear Jaydon's roar echo through the battle field. By now the forest was getting terrifyingly close, they had only thirty seconds before impact. He could see the cat morphing, struggling against the wind to unfurl its wings.

Ralem smiled at an idea even as blood dribbled from his lips and flew in the creature's face in thick red stripes that streaked through its rippling fur.

"Why are you smiling?" It hissed. "The others are holding your dragon back, in a few seconds you will be nothing but a mess of blood and guts on the ground. And then, I'll be the one smiling. "

"You forgot one ... thing," Ralem choked as he grabbed the creature's meaty wrist and inch by inch pulled its claws out of his chest. "I am the Rider of the.. wind king!" And with that he kicked the creature with both legs like a kangaroo, thrusting himself away from it.

It snarled and spread obsidian black wings, which quickly ballooned with air. Ralem twisted mid-air, calling the wind to his aid to keep himself airborne and jerk the wind upwards like a geyser under the cat's wings. It shrieked as a loud snap filled the air when both of its wings broke like a cheap umbrella.

Ralem stretched out his arms as he stood, still suspended in the air. His palms faced the sky as he propelled the struggling cat higher and higher.... Then he twisted his wrist.

Several thousand tons of pure force crashed into the cat, sending it reeling into the forest, its body making a racket as it was smashed into tree after tree.

Ralem realized he had been holding his breath and started breathing again, heavily, looking down at his callused hands. Had he really just done that? His eyes lit up as he realized that he had. With a cocky, un-Ralem-ish smile he started walking, still a hundred feet over the ground to were the battle was raging full force. He looked down at them from his lofty perch, so tiny, so powerless. He could feel Jaydon's power coursing through his veins, electrifying his being with breathtaking energy. All of Jaydon's power was available, ready for him to take. He could feel it in his fingertips like a solid object, spinning in his hands and caressing his palms. He could feel the breeze all around him, ruffling his hair, whispering in his ear. He closed his eyes, letting the wind swirl faster and faster around him. Out of his mouth poured the words of an ancient song in the language spoken by Adam and Eve to God. The language of names.

A curling smile lit upon his face as he twisted his wrist so that his palms were facing upwards. Slowly but surely the Vulnairians and Felinus alike were lifted into the air as if they were but puppets on a string.

Jaydon threw his head through the swarm of Felinus Draconis like a crazed bull. He could hardly see through the haze of beating wings and snarling faces, sharp talons tearing anywhere where he didn't have his plates of armor. His limbs flailed, his tail swiping back and forth as he belched fire. Gobs of black spit dribbled down his gorgeous green armor, melting scales and flesh before his healing mechanism could catch up.