Ember Gods

Chapter 3

Nothing happened—at first. Then everyone gasped when hundreds of long, thick, snake-like arms started to appear—zipping quickly through the trees. The hands latched onto trunks and other solid objects. Seconds later, the trunks bent away, as if they were being pulled. Several were ripped from the ground and disappeared in the forest.

The sharp whip of leather reached Jacob's ears. The ground trembled again. With a roar, huge, magnificent beasts crashed through the trees, propelled forward by the strength of their grip on the trunks near the entrance. Their legs seemed to struggle to keep up. Hundreds of much smaller creatures clung to the scales on their sides. Molgs rode on top, bearing bull whips, which they flicked at the beasts, causing more ear-splitting roars and ground tremors as the beasts reared up on their hind legs and landed again.

"Sindons!" one of the Makalo men shouted. "Kenji, they're here!"

The Sindons pulled themselves to a location only twenty yards from the canyon wall. The beasts were amazing. Thirty feet tall, at least, they resembled hippos—their jaws stretching as they roared, with teeth at least four feet long flashing in the light. Their four thick legs were sturdy, and they each had at least ten of the long arms on their chests.

The army holding onto the sides of the Sindons jumped to the ground and formed around a Molg who appeared to be the leader.

This Molg was incredibly large—over six feet tall, maybe seven, with swords strapped to his back. He had six-inch-long teeth growing downward and out from his jawbone. His face had bright red paint in diagonal streaks across it. He pulled out a sword, lifted it in the air, and the army around him roared in excitement.

"There's no time to finish!" Kenji called. "Put the planks on top of each other. Jacob, seal them together!"

The group of Makalos ran to Kenji's side and lifted one slab on top of the other. Jacob jumped forward and sealed the edges of the wood, finishing right as the first line of the army charged, passing the huge Molg and the Sindons.

"Everyone, carry the wood over to the entrance!"

With much grunting, the group raised the boards, pulling them to the mouth and covering the tunnel just as several of the Molgs reached the other side of the tunnel. The creatures raced forward and pushed, trying to get through. The wood shuddered and shifted several inches.

"We can't hold them, Kenji!" one of the Makalos yelled.

"There's no choice. Use your Rezend!"

The Makalos' left ring fingers began glowing blue and the wood shook. Jacob prayed his work wouldn't be undone. Matt joined the Makalos in holding up the sheets of wood, and Jacob watched helplessly, not knowing what to do. The panel started to tremble violently as forces from both sides pushed against it.

With a grunt, a huge Molg, at least six feet tall and much, much bigger than the one Jacob had fought in the cave, squeezed through. He fell to the ground in his rush, and the Makalos slammed the wood back into place before more could come through.

Jacob's jaw dropped when the Molg got to its feet and stared him in the eye. It roared, lifted a huge ax, and rushed forward. Jumping back against the canyon wall, Jacob searched for something to defend himself with, finding only a stick. Right before the Molg could swing his ax, two Makalo men stepped into the path of the Molg, holding their own large sticks, joining the fight.

Kenji yelled through the noise, pointing at each Makalo as he commanded them: "You, stop the Molg! You, hold the board down. Jacob, get over here! Seal the panels!"