Chapter 15
The four earthlings ride fast and hard through the dense forests in the night. Fortunately the lizards seem to have a sixth sense about how to best navigate them in the dark. Perhaps that is why they use them, John thinks to himself as he tries to get his mind off of Milenas. It is useless however, the pain in his heart is too great. All he can do is soldier on like he always has. On the plus side they have definitely put some good distance between them and the castle but they aren’t sure how much is enough so they have decided to keep riding on through the night with the three tri-colored moons and the stars all the light to guide them.
Suddenly before any of the four of them can comprehend what they are witnessing a feathered figure appears out of nowhere from the treetops. She descends down with a long spear which stabs right through the head of the lizard Karen and John are riding. The lizard instantly dies and comes to a halt with it’s head pinned to the ground tossing Karen and John several feet in the air as they crash to the ground a few yards in front of their former stead. The feathered figure then pulls the spear out of the ground and somersaults over to where Sal and Michael has brought their lizard to a grinding halt. With one deft three hundred and sixty degree swing the spear knocks Michael and Sal off their lizard and to the ground with a hard thud. The lizard then scampers off into the dark forest.
“Oww! What’s the big idea asshole!”, yells Sal as he rubs his shoulder.
The foursome regain their bearings and stand up and group together as they look around they see coming out of the woods all around them many feathered warrior like beings. They look almost like humanoid birds. All carrying weapon like objects.
“Why can’t people just leave us alone?”, says John in exasperation. He is too depressed after having to leave Milenas and everything that happened. He is no mood for more drama.
“Do you think these are Briccxon warriors that pursued us?”, asks Karen.
“Whoever they are they better watch themselves. I am through playing nice”, says Michael.
A spear is thrown and lands right beside Sal almost hitting him as he jumps out of the way to dodge it. “Looks like they don’t intend to play nice either.” Sal unslings his gun and aims it where the spear came from. He then unlocks its firing mechanism and presses the button to activate it. Much to his relief a blast of energy explodes where he aimed it knocking over several warriors and sending others flying into the air. “Sweeeet! Let’s rock and roll people.”
With that the four earthlings fan out weapons drawn ready for a fight. John takes his staff in one hand and pulls the spear that landed near Sal out of the ground with his other hand. If they want a fight he is going to give them one hell of a one. It would not be the first time he used combat to get his mind off his broken heart. John moves on instinctive reflexes pouring all his anguish out on the hapless warriors. He uses the two poles in his hands like giant nunchucks deflecting blows and using the offensive attacks of his opponents against them smashing them to the ground. Warriors fall all around him. All his martial arts training from all those years ago is on full display. His instructor would be proud. But he is doing it not for his old sensei but for him and Milenas who were not allowed to live in peace and happiness.
While John is wailing in one corner getting out all his frustrations, Karen is in the opposite corner doing her own damage. Despite the spears and arrows whizzing by her she is spinning and flipping like a bouncing ball gone wild all over the place. All those gymnast medals she won in her youth being proven once again. She is a ball of fury with boomerangs flying out from that ball and knocking down warriors left and right and then returning to her to be thrown out once again. Her Uncle Jim who taught her juggling as well as how to use the boomerang would be very pleased with her right now.
Meanwhile Sal and Michael are crouched on opposite sides of the dead lizard like cowboys in old westerns. They are using it for cover in between them firing their respective weapons. “Hey I am running out of people to shoot over here”, yells Sal.
“Fine we can both take my side.” With that Michael and Sal charge towards where Michael was shooting. Sal uses his gun like a bat swinging into oncoming bird warriors while Michael uses his bow like a bat to do the same thing. Michael then stops grabs spears from fallen warriors around him and breaks them and uses them as make shift arrows.
Suddenly a voice rings out in the air, “Magplits stand down now!” The decimated bird warriors upon hearing this stop their fighting and crouch down to the ground bowing their heads.
The four earthlings stop fighting upon seeing this and cluster together once more. “Who said that. And what are Magplits?”
A bird warrior wearing many beads around his neck steps out of the forest and walks towards the four earthlings. “You do not fight like any warrior we have seen. You use magic we do not know of. Tell me who are you? Where do you hail from?”
“We hail from Earth you asshat”, says Sal.
“Where is this Earth and what is an asshat?”
“Earth is a far off world and look in a mirror if you want to know what an asshat is.”
“Look we aren’t involved in any of your wars we are just passing through. But if you try to stop us we will not hesitate to destroy you”, says John.
“So you are the strangers we have heard whispers about. We did not hear you were such fierce warriors. Who do your loyalties lie with?”
“Ourselves”, Michael coldly replies.
The feathered man with the beads seems to understand this answer and silently evaluates it. It almost appears like he respects it. “I am Utawa, leader of the Magplits, please join us in our struggles against Briccxon and Wataman. With your skills our people can finally live in peace on this land.”
“We appreciate the offer and show of respect but we aren’t getting involved in any fighting. We wish only to be left alone.”
“Your struggles are not our struggles at this time”, says John.
“But they will one day be. Conflict draws all in to it’s fold”, says Utawa.
John is impressed with Utawa’s wisdom. He knows from experience he speaks truth. He fears that they have already made an enemy here and Briccxon will pursue them. But regardless them joining a side has never worked out for them in the past and their best shot of peace he still believes is to find a land away from these groups locked in eternal combat. There must be one like that somewhere in the universe. John just has to believe there is. “We know that all too well which is why we are running from it. Perhaps one day your struggle will engulf us but for now let us pass before more blood is shed.”
Utawa thinks on this and then orders his warriors to step aside and let them pass. “Wise move my man”, remarks Sal as the four earthlings walk away deeper into the forests in the direction they were heading.
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