The Princess Quest

Chapter 11: Xida

Roya jolted awake in the middle of the night. She sat up and got a look at her surroundings. The stars shone bright, and the moonlight sent beams of silvery light through the treetops. Her eyes focused on something in the distance. Three pairs of huge, green eyes.

"Calypso," she whispered, shaking her friend gently. Calypso stirred. "Mmm-what?" 

"There are things watching us."

"What sorts of things?" Calypso asked warily.

"Three pairs of green eyes," said Roya, now aware of her fast beating heart.

Calypso sighed in relief and layed back down. "It's squirrelbats," she said. "Insectivores. They're quite cute."

Roya let out a breath of relief, and layed down. Her eyes flew open again when a gurgling, growling sound came from the bushes. She sat up with a start. She had to get out of here, something wasn't right. Suddenly, there were hands on her. 

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Roya screamed. 

"Chill out, it's just me," Arawn said.

"Do you hear that?" Roya whispered.

"Yeah. We have to go. Those are creatures not of this Earth."

"What are those things!?" Roya exclaimed.

"Creatures of the infection," replied Andrel, who had sprung to his feet, and was making toward the horses. "I encountered some, after my banishment."

"Why were you banished?" Arawn asked, as they ran towards the horses.

Andrel hesitated. "Um-I'd prefer not to say," he said trying not to make eye contact with Arawn.

Oof. Andrel crashed into Fafnir, by accident. The horse whinnied and reared, and brought his hoofs down, slashing Andrel's chest.

Andrel collapsed to the ground and Calypso screamed, and ran for him. The zombie-like infection creatures, staggered towards them. They were all skeleton, but their bones were black, and covered with dirt. Roots and plants hung off them, and they walked hunched over, and leaning a bit to the left. Arawn and Calypso lifted Andrel onto Fafnir, while Roya climbed onto him. Calypso mounted Diamond. 

"Arawn look out!" Calypso yelled. "Behind you!"

Arawn drew his sword, and turned around in time to cut the head off one of the infection zombies. He then scooped up the ansthesia salve, and with one huge jump, leaped onto Diamond. 

"Where to?" Calypso asked, calm as ever and acting like a jaunty carriage director.

"I'm not sure, just go! Forward!" He yelled, and Calypso flicked the reins. The horses tore wildly through the forest. Roya's breath caught when she saw more green eyes, all around them. Behind her, Andrel moaned, and to Roya's dismay, she saw more and more blood dripping down the side of Fafnir. Andrel's blood. 

"We must get him help, or he'll die!" 

The horses whinnied and jolted to a stop. They were surrounded. Zombies staggered in at all sides. Roya knocked an arrow on her bow, and drew back. Her heart was beating, and she could barely focus, yet took out one zombie after another. But there were more coming. At least fifty. It was like a beast Roya had only heard in stories. The hydra, a beast with a thousand heads. Cut off one head, two more grew in its place.

Suddenly, a hooded figure appeared, and beckoned for them to follow. Without hesitation, Calypso galloped on out of there, and Roya followed, as zombies staggered out of the brush.