Streams - Book 1

Chapter 7

Under attack

Jenni pulled herself up, and peered over the edge of the desk, hoping to see what had crashed through the window. Lying amid the broken glass was a strange creature that looked like a small horse wrapped in a semi-transparent cocoon. "What is that," she asked.

"It's a Leather-Wing." Aakil replied. "They wrap themselves up in their wings for protection. Usually, their wings are very durable and keep them from injury. This one must have hit the glass harder than he expected and knocked himself out." Aakil jotted down a few notes into a note pad he pulled from one of the pockets on his robe, while he watched the creature shift and twitch as it tried to regain consciousness.

"Now is not the time for conducting research," Lilly said in a low voice, as she pulled Jenni over to her laboratory equipment by the hand. "Remember-- yellow is for pain, green is for healing." She gathered several vials of both colors and shoved them into a cloth pouch. She handed it over to Jenni, who slung the strap over her head and let the pouch rest against her right hip. Jenni's eyes turned toward the Leatherwing as it twitched and shifted around as it grew closer to waking up.

"We need to get out of here before it regains consciousness," Lilly whispered, motioning for the two to follow her towards the library.

"My book," Aakil said in a low panicked tone, as he spotted it laying underneath one end of the cocooned Leatherwing, where it had fallen when Jenni dove for cover.

"Leave it, we can come back for it later," Lilly snapped.

"I'm not leaving it here to be torn to shreds." Aakil cursed. Turning on his heels with a determined sigh, he tipptoed toward the Leatherwing, which was grunting and wiggling, reminding Jenni of a dog who was dreaming of chasing a rabbit.

Jenni held her breath as she watched Aakil creep closer and closer to the unconscious Leatherwing. He carefully bent down and slowly pulled the book from under the being's hoof.

"Don't make a sound," Lilly mouthed. Just then, two gnomes dressed in all black bolted into the room. They both did several flips and twists that ended with them landing a few steps from Lilly. To Jenni's surprise, the two were female; though they were dressed in guard uniforms that were molded to fit a more male looking body.

"The leather wings have broken through the outer barrier your highness," the two shouted in unison.

"We know!" Aakil squeaked, as he turned around to see the Leatherwing unfolding his wings and rising to his feet

"Get down," the guards yelled, as they rushed towards Aakil. He dropped to the floor as the guards drew their swords. They became a whirlwind of black armor and gleaming swords as they leapt into battle. The three combatant weaved back and forth, striking and blocking, their movements a flawless dance of savagery. Though still dazed by the collision with the window, the Leatherwing was able to deflect the guards' blows with the hardened edge of its wings. It was striking back with its sharp, pointed tail that looked as if it was able to pierce the gnomes' armor like a knife through soft butter.

"Who are they?" Jenni asked in a tone of amazement.

"Mia and Ava Gravelton, the only twins the gnome race has ever been blessed with," Lilly said.

"And the deadliest warriors as well," Aakil added. The twins paused from the battle and struck a pose, glancing over at Jenni for a moment.

That distraction was what the Leatherwing was waiting for; spinning with its wings out from its sides, it struck the twins several times against the sides of there heads, knocking them to the ground, where they lay dazed and confused.