Vaehandre: Where The Stars Fall [Under Revision]

Chapter 19: Food for Thought

[Photo by ...amoebae on flickr]
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As the sun rose above the canyons the next day, Hector continued to soar through the air with Browbeat. The wind brushed his hair as he maneuvered them through valleys and evaded towering peaks. They swerved and glided by the many crevasses.

Once they soared out in the open, Browbeat spread out his wings and let the wind carry him.

The area was vast with little to no greenery.

The wyvern was obedient, and their bond was strong.

Meanwhile, Kade had organized an evacuation plan for his people and hid stockpiles of food and water just in case they needed to flee from the dark creatures.

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At the training grounds of the North Castle, Brum sparred with Henry.

"Let's see what you've got, skinny boy!" cried out Brum.

"I'm not that skinny!"

"I'm egging you on, Henry. Now unleash your fury."

Henry whirled his sword. CLANG. The metals met.

"Good lunge, but drawing power from your feet leaves the rest of your body vulnerable," said Brum after Henry barely blocked his blow.

"Thought you were a spearman?" said Henry pushing back Brum's blade.

"If I used my primary weapon, Henry, this would have ended much quicker. This was your proclivity before you were let go correct?"

"Swordsmanship, yes." Henry turned his back, he heard the whistle of a blade as it cut through the air. He dodged Brum's sneak attack easily.

Brum raised his brow.

Despite the inexperience, Henry held his own against Brum.

"Ey Henry," Brum said curiously as they stopped for a breather. "Have you ever been in beast form?"

At the mention of this, Henry looked around uneasily.

"They won't do anything to you here. You are a guest ... You're safe."

"I almost did once—the night I was made a hybrid. I've kept this pendant since." He held it out. "It stops the transformations during full moons."

"But do you reckon, if you had to or wanted to—when you transformed, could you control yourself? In theory?"

"That is what they fear, that we turn into mindless beasts. The thing children see in their nightmares..."

"Powerful monstrous beast, rumored to be stronger than the Elite," put in Brum.

Henry stared at him after the praise. "Mmm—I don't know, and I don't plan to find out. I won't allow myself to become a monster."

"It would be really something thou if you could control it."