The Beginning of it All

Chapter Fifteen The mountains of fire.

Days and weeks have passed since they had slain the Great leviathan and had Life join their group. They had started their crossing of the mountain. They seemed to know what they were doing. When the sky began to snow. Everyone was happy. They haven't seen snow since they were just children. They had found a nice spot in a cave to make camp.

"So this is what snow is huh?" Xiu said with a questioning glare. He watched it pile up and fall apart. They couldn't believe how much there was.

"Yeah. This is snow. We haven't seen it snow in the kingdom since we were just children. But something doesn't feel right about it. It is falling too fast. Maybe it's just heavier snow. We should continue though. It doesn't seem like that much of a problem." Hydra said with a soft and warm smile. She seemed to want to continue on with the journey. So that's what the group did. They kept marching. Until the sky grew darker and the "Snow" fell faster. Dracin looked up at the darkening clouds. So did Hydra. Her joyous expression turned into a dire and worrisome one. Xiu's jaw dropped in what was unfolding. Ehecatl looked away. Because it wasn't snow they were happy about. It was ashes. Falling. The smoke rising from somewhere off in the distance. From the mountain they stood. Looking for the source of a great fire in order to cause it to rain ashes all the way over there.

They finally saw the source. It was the kingdom they swore to protect. They witnessed the last tower falling. It crumbled as the fire settled but the ashes did not stop falling. Everyone was in disbelief. Life and Death bowed their heads in respect. Dracin looked down. Through his mind raced the idea. Whoever did this will pay. No matter what happens. They will pay. He looked at the group. They were all standing in shock still. He called out "Everyone. We have to keep moving forward. We must not let our journey be in vain. We must do it for all of the dead." He said loudly and clearly as everyone just nodded and kept moving. The had finally reached the peak where on the other side of the mountain it was a beautiful valley. Ashes weren't raining down. There wasn't anything wrong with this side. The plain was only a few hundred feet down from where they were at. Hydra smiled as she ran down the side of the mountain not believing it for one second. Xiu and Ehecatl ran after her to make sure she was safe. Lily stood by dracins side. She leaned in close to him and she was crying. Even though she wasn't apart of the Dragon kingdom she was still sad about the amount of lives lost that day. Life and Death floated down to the plain. They had wings that were like the stories told. Death having pitch black raven wings and Life having Pure angel wings. Dracin motioned for Lily to go down the mountain before him. Hydra smiled as she landed on the soft grass. The wild flowers colors were well blended into the beautiful and lively green ocean. Lily, of course, Slid down the smooth side of the mountain. She landed in the grass without any harm done to herself.

Dracin looked down at the valley as he walked down. He seemed to wear a smile. To hide the true pain held within himself. He couldn't find what was wrong. He just knew something was wrong. The sky was clear. He knew what was behind them was the last thing they ever wanted to happen. He finally touched the grass with his feet. He walked towards the others. The sky turning to a orange and red painting. The group set up camp. The fire was raging. Dracin was propped up against one of the logs they dragged to sit on. Xiu and Ehecatl were on the same log. Hydra was sitting in between two of the logs. Ragneer was laying on one and so was lily. They all had conversations about how they viewed the problems and this journey as a whole. Not before long, they all went to their tents. Dracin laid on his back. He looked down at his arm. His right one had the etchings of a demon. And the left one had the markings of an angel. He sighed as he looked at them. They vaguely looked like a man and woman. He heard the voices.

"You mustn't give up Dracin. Do it for everyone that has died. For everyone standing by your side. Do it to find yourself deep within the enemy. You don't know how scared they are of you." The voice sounded like it was a symphony of millions upon millions of voices. Dracin looked ou. He felt something within his chest. He couldn't tell what that feeling was. He fell asleep. Morning came with a warm and bright light. He got up and walked out of his tent. Everybody else was asleep still. So he went over to the lake and he sat by the water. Pulling out a line and hook. He tossed it in the water. He easily caught a few five-pound fishes. He started to walk back to the camp site to start the fire only to see Lily already up and starting it for him.

"What are you doing up this early? I mean thank you for starting the fire. But what has gotten you up so early?" Dracin asked as he set the fish down on a slab of stone to start to gut them with the hunting knife he had on him.

"I'm always up this early. I just wanted to make everybody some breakfast. These past few days haven't been the best for any one. How are you feeling?" Lily asked handing him some rope and sticks to cook the fish

Dracin took the sticks and rope and prepared the fish to put over the open flame. He slowly cooked each of them carefully. "Well. I am okay for all I know. All of this doesn't make the most sense but still it is something I am getting used to. So how are you doing?" Dracin asked while looking right at her.

"I'm doing great. Woke up and felt amazing. Looked out saw a beautiful bird." Lily was very happy at this new land. It was closer to the forbidden land than the other kingdoms. Everyone else woke up and ate. After they ate they packed up their tents. The ground started to shake. Ragneer stepped forward. There was an army coming straight for them. Two people were in the lead. They were Ivy and Violet. They were both females just like Rose. Death and Life stood by the group and got into defensive positions. Ragneer looked back at the group and his look had changed as the other two walked up beside him. The massive army right behind them. Hydra, Xiu, Ehecatl, Life, Death, and Dracin looked forward to the traitor among their group.

Ragneer laughed and said. "After all this time and you trusted me with everything. You listened to me. So you will all die and let this world perish." He pulled out a blade. The evil knight Roluth had stepped forward covered in battle scars. He grabbed the blade from Ragneer as the army readied themselves. Ivy held up her hand high.

Dracin turned towards the group. He smiled. "Thank you all for this journey. It has been my pleasure." The armor slowly engulfed him again. "Now let's go out in a blaze of blood and glory." The armor engulfed his head finally as everyone else was already. Ivy swiped her hand down as the army swarmed the group. Death and life were dancing with scythes. The way they danced it was together as anything that got close to them seemed to die. Hydra was jumping from enemy to enemy putting a magical arrow deep within their skulls. Xiu was slicing them at their waists. Ehecatl was slicing their necks and chests Killing a lot of people. Dracin was fighting through like he normally did. His blade started to chip and break. He was fighting with effort as he was lunged at by Roluth.

"Well look at the knight who had his life flushed away with one action." Roluth said with a deep and distorted voice. "You are about to lose everything." Roluth started to fight harder. Dracin's blade was chipping more. As it broke, Roluth's blade dug into his shoulder. Dracin looked around to see Each of his friends and allies die. Hydra was littered with arrows. Xiu arms were cut from his body as one of the enemies sliced his head off in a clean motion. Ehecatl was sliced by his own blades. Life and Death were stabbed and pinned together by the same spear. Lily was tied up and thrown into a large flame, Her screams filled the air. Then dracin heard silence. Sweet, sweet silence. His eyes fluttered closed he felt the warmth of his blood cover his chest and back. This is the last thing he had felt before passing out. Through his mind went. Peace comes to those who fight hard and for a reason.