Feldora

The Wooden Serpent

Alzius stepped onto the raft last, giving everyone else enough time to get the best spot. He, Lestra and a strange boy with twigs all through his hair were squished onto the side. The sail filled with wind and the raft slowly began to inch forwards. Alzius looked over at Lestra. Her chocolate brown hair waved gently in the breeze and her eyes were a beautiful green that sparkled with intelligence.

Lestra looked Alzius' way and he felt his insides shrivel up nervously. His breath came faster, his heart pounded and his face burned. Stop it, he silently scolded his face. Lestra could notice him blushing.

Alzius had begun to have this silly crush on Lestra when she'd first began to show him how to rediscover happiness. She was just so perfect. She was funny, kind, generous, charming, beautiful. . . Stop it! Alzius thought.

Suddenly, a high pitched wailing noise filled the air. The water parted to reveal something spiky before it dove back beneath the surface.

"Oh no," breathed the boy with twigs in his hair. Suddenly a huge beast reared out of the water. It was a huge snake made out of what looked like wood. The serpent's eyes were carved delecately into its face and its huge mouth was filled with sticks whittled into sharp points.

The serpent hissed and struck forwards, hitting the raft. It shook and Alzius struggled to hold on. Suddenly, their was a horrible shriek. Alzius turned to see Lestra bobbing around in the water behind them.

Before he knew what he was doing, Alzius leapt into the water. The water was freezing and, strangely, was completely black. Alzius swam quickly towards Lestra. The serpent had dove back down into the depths.

Suddenly a long brown tail wrapped around Lestra. Alzius struggled through the water towards her. The serpent resurfaced and looked at Alzius. It lunged towards him. Alzius clumsily drew a knife from his belt and slashed at the serpent's face. The knife lightly chipped the wood serpent's face. The serpent reared backwards.

"It has a weapon. It is an enemy," the serpent rasped. It lunged towards Alzius again, releasing Lestra. Alzius brought the knife upwards and hit the beast in its carved eye. The serpent wailed loudly before diving back under the water.

"Lestra!" Alzius shouted. She swam towards him. Alzius grabbed Lestra and boosted her forwards. She was a very slow swimmer. The raft had lowered its sail and the people were frantically trying to paddle towards them but the wind pushed them away.

"Lestra!" the boy with twigs in his hair shouted. He was waving something small and wooden over his head. The other boy then threw it. It hit the water near Alzius and bobbed there. Alzius prepared to swim past it.

"What are you doing, go and get it!" Lestra shouted from up ahead. Alzius sighed and veered off course to grab it. The thing was a small wooden carving of a horse that glowed with golden light. It was a rune. Alzius had never seen one up close.

"How do I use this thing?!" Alzius shrieked. He felt the serpent brush his leg.

"You can't cast runes!" Lestra shouted. "Just throw it upwards!" she ordered. Alzius felt something hard slap his leg.

Alzius held the rune and threw it upwards about three metres. The rune spun through the air and glowed orange as it caught the sunlight. Suddeny golden light flooded across the water.

Alzius looked back to see a creature that filled him with fear. He heard Lestra scream. It was a golden dragon made out of light. The dragon was two metres long and about one metre tall. An orange saddle sat on its back.

"You have to ride it to the boat!" the other boy shouted across the water.

"I'm not getting on that thing, I'd rather die by a serpent than ride a monster like that to safety!" Lestra shouted.

"Lestra, we have to get on!" Alzius screamed. He felt sharpened wood spikes puncture his leg. Pain blinded Alzius and he screamed out. The dragon leapt forwards towards Alzius and he leapt onto its back. The dragon spread its wings and flew upwards.

"Get Lestra!" Alzius commanded it. He cried out as the dragon plunged straight down. He hovered beside the princess.

"Lestra, you have to get on or you'll die," said Alzius.

"Never. Dragons killed Rani!" Lestra spat. The serpent reared up behind her.

"Lestra, get on now," Alzius growled. Her eyes filled with fear but determination.

"NO!" Lestra shouted just as the serpent's head came downwards. Alzius reached out and grabbed Lestra before pulling her towards the dragon. The dragon swung her onto its back before flying upwards. The dragon skimmed over the water before striking the back of the raft. The raft powered forwards and into the reeds on the other side of the river. Alzius felt the dragon vanish from beneath him and he and Lestra tumbled onto deck.

Lestra turned and glared at him before storming off and leaving Alzius gaping in her wake.