Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 148- Shield

Every so often I lift my eyes and each time the tree is closer and taller. I need a break from this. This whole journey to peril cliche. Although no other book dares to involve words of the Luzumi since the government would kill an author for it, and I haven't heard of a journey like this before I guess. But still, cliche or not, it's mentally tiring, it would be nice to get away sometimes you know or just to reverse or be able to immediately repair what has been done with Rin, I wish it could be done knowing it is impossible, and that our friendship can never be the same ever again. Unfortunate as it is, it's also true. And I accept fully that it's true I'm not going to try and deny it.

I just want to get to the wizards already, to get this sick feeling from my gut by the awe of the depicted meadow and 'treehouse'.

"What are the wizards names again?" I inquire before we reach the sight.

"Ralph and Heath are the twins and Eve is the friend, she's a witch but she's one of the 'legendary' that stopped Siron." Phoenix buts into my space immediately with an arm around my shoulders. The touch of him is sweet but my mind thinks I am in immediate danger and my hand slaps him before I can stop myself even after I've processed what I am about to do.

"I-I'm so sorry!" I gasp and cover my mouth in my shame.

Phoenix just laughs and his eyes are still warm and bright when he glances at me, removing his arm, having had no intention of scaring me.

"No Claire you don't need to apologize, I'm sorry for scaring you, are you alright?" he checks my face and I nod. "Well then everything's still bright and fair isn't it!" Phoenix declares and skips about before stopping and chatting with Blaze and Dagwood.

Images of my strikes on Hester come and go, the feelings and the sensations are restless to release themselves over and over in my blood. Each time I shake it away and each time I feel more and more weary. The trees break away but I run into Dagwood's back when he stops abruptly and Nichele into Blaze and them into Aegis.

"Sorry!" I hastily apologize as we all recover.

"Why'd we stop?" Phoenix goes up and inquires Aegis immediately.

"There are Yelmetes trying to get through the barrier, we are going to need to fight, Phoenix, Dagwood, and Nichele escort Blaze through, Nichele knows this area and any other little tricks there may be, make a dash for and we will cover you best we can. We don't have much time before they are upon us, ready! Go!" And with that, we absorb that the giant, long, thick snakes surround us as we come into the open.

They strike with heads reaching higher than five men stacked and are continually repelled, hissing and shimmer in anger and frustration. I can see many deer, caribou, moose, birds, bears, and many other creatures filling where the shield covers. My entire head needs to slant greatly to see the heads of any of the Yelmetes. Soon the sharp eyes turn right as I am getting Kol out and my body ready, Aegis gets strict and solid, Dagwood carries Blaze because no way is Dagwood letting go if Blaze gets hurt or taken again. Nichele pulls out two daggers just for simple defense and no other purpose, Rin utilizes the staff and they scurry along in the middle.

A face flashes towards Rin's back, I pull the blade along the face and the monster screeches and pulls away before coming again at a different angle. I am putting my open spots in the others care. Genesis barks and howls to annoy the creature and they hiss loudly back. One goes for her and I send my blade through its eye and pull out again. The others have gone ahead and are almost there but this one won't stop attacking me or them so I must stay and draw its attention from them.

I swivel and leap a few paces, noting that my back is now open too. Genesis knows what to do as I leap high, stabbing Kol through the thick scales, swinging from the handle now. Now, if I time this perfectly, I can push off upwards and land on its head or perhaps better. The plan is tricky and risky, but I've been training for this all my life.

Genesis understands when I motion where she should go, she nips and howls and the snake falls right to the trap. With all my energy I shove off and high into the sky as the neck moves up and high so I get more momentum. Blood is cruel and gleams on the blade as I come down starring at the head. The blade crunches through and I fall with the body before skipping off and away. Now the monsters are all filled with animosity and come at me.

Seeing everyone else is through I sprint with Genesis right at my side, feet, and heart pounding, breath patient and steady, we are two in one. Aegis stands out waiting for me, using a boulder and air bending to crush many serpents and flames to form a safe path for us.

A tail flashes startlingly right amoung our legs and we both stumble in attempts to stay up and fumble from our last minute and hopeless attempts at avoidance, a head lunges at me from behind and I dodge last second and put the blade in its mouth to cut its mouth wide. It recoils in pain and we keep going again and finally, I snatch Aegis's hood and drag him in with us. Fire boils my heart and heats my mind.

The three of us lay on the ground for a few more moments panting and recovering from the waves of released adrenaline. Even knowing we are safe it is hard to not flinch right as they hit the blue tinted surface. I can't help but feel slightly like one of those crafted characters in a snowglobe and gaze about, seeing that the shield reaches quite high above the tall Pine before us all.