Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 86- Seen

Phoenix points up at the hills side and everyone follows its lead to the dark hole it presents. Blacker than space lacking stars, perhaps it's an optical illusion, but the darkness seemingly drags at the hills surface to try and suck it in, though the battle seems even and not harsh.

"I'll go check it out," Phoenix announces but I pull him mercilessly back down into the snow.

"No need, there is no blood trail up to it." I knock some sense into him, slightly irritated at his willingness to pointlessly jump into such a peril.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He seems disappointed but also speaks with disapproval of my way at stopping him.

"Let's go  and swiftly now." Aegis decides, we all bounce onto our feet and run after him.

The Luzumi are clearly pacing themselves so that Hester, Rin, and I can manage; though I can go harder than them both so the speed doesn't bother me at all. Genesis pounds away beside me and we go on in our trust of one another, into another danger so great and ominous.

 The tall mound of hill ends at last after we have discovered more tunnel entrances than I think we want to admit exist. The trail of stirring crimson unsettles me constantly no matter how long the drops have been passing consistently under me and the amounts of it I've seen before. 

Right in front of us an enormous hill sits patiently, yet with a looming shadow of secrecy.

"Let's go right," I decide when Aegis glances at me in question, everyone nods and we veer over, looping around the hill we just passed. The two lumps of dirt practically join at their feet, but we squeeze past the two almost vertical slopes and into an area encircled with the highest hills in this region, as none others can be seen from inside.

In the center is a sight we expected yet still dreaded.

Blaze lays in the snow, dark bloods spreading from him as a circle of death, Mortubrae stand as though having been awaiting us.

"Is it possible they took Blaze to lure us in?" I hesitantly question Aegis and he nods solemnly.

Danger presses in my ears as my adrenaline spikes, only a thin thread is holding back battle. I become overwhelmed by the knowledge of the Mortubrae, the fact I've never fought one and they are more difficult than any dragon, and, on top of all that, I have to win in order to save Blaze. There seem to be five of them here, but who knows how many are watching from elsewhere.

Aegis was accurate with his explanation of their appearance; slim beaming red eyes, no iris or pupil, just holes in their heads, ears high and pointed sharp, teeth long and poison, on four legs defeat us all in height easily, completely black with no light to show texture of fur, I can see spikes of what could be considered fur all over their bodies, pointing back as a normal dogs hair, along their spines are the longest points and their shadows are pure black, light absorbs into them.

Some have blood on them or around their mouths, Blaze's body lay in the snows shivering, probably not from the cold. Someone taps my shoulder, I rotate my head slightly to signal I am aware of their presence, but do not look at them, too mistrusting that war will erupt and I'll be slain if I dare to glance away.

"Look," I hear Rin's voice and a pang hits my heart that she has to see this, at the same time it is still hard towards her, no matter, I can't think about this right now. My eyes follow her pointing finger to see...to see an arm resting dreadfully on the snow a few meters from Blaze and know it is his.

"Phoenix, you go straight to Blaze and heal him, got it?" Aegis commands and Phoenix nods with a serious expression and anger in his eyes blazing in fury.

"I could call my Phoenix to search for Dagwood now that the storm's over." He suggests, having just found the idea.

"Alright, be swift, there is a great need for haste." We wait and growls low and heart pounding emit from the the Mortubrae, some shifting to get a better look at our group.

Phoenix sends out a long beautiful whistle so full and clear, a screech answers only seconds later, a peaceful loyal noise so perfect and smooth in your ears. A flash of fiery feather strikes over and lands on his shoulder. The gorgeous bird is now with us, Phoenix hurriedly giving it orders, it swoops away with magnificent wings and disappears, he turns back to us and confirms he's now ready.

"Everyone, we have to help Phoenix get to Blaze, if that means making them chase you or sticking to his side, do whatever it takes, or Blaze will surely perish." Again we all nod in understanding and wait for Phoenix to take his first stride into the waiting perils.

When he does I stay at his right side with Genesis and he pulls ahead as he is in fact a Luzumi and this is no time to slow for Humans. He goes off with Aegis and I signal to Genesis which one we will take on first. I have no weapon but my own body, so Genesis nips at its wide enormous legs and its face, distracting it from my presence.

Meanwhile I go and leap up on its back, spikes dig into my hands, but I still hold them, apparently they are sharper than blade all around, but I continue to make my way onto its neck, despite the awful pain. Stinging cuts cover my body already, I cannot see all of the spikes because the body  is too dark, but I grasp one of its ears.

The beast sways its head, howling long and low, piercing my ears. This way and that I am flung but hold on.

"Here!" Aegis shouts to me holding the dark sword of Kol in his hand, unraveled.

How am I supposed to catch that?

He tosses it and I manage just barely manage to hang onto the creature with one hand and catch the sword by handle in the other before striking the blade straight into the top of its head