Chapter 11
Donovan spent the next two weeks getting ready for his journey back to the civilized world. For the trip, the warrior gathered a supply pack containing different items from around the caves.
Included in the pack were some quick loaves of bread that he baked in the kitchen. His training in the family bakery paid off, and he welcomed the opportunity to cook again. The sensation of the dough between his hands and the scent of the long-missed bread warmed his heart. He would soon be able to enjoy three large saltbreads during his travels.
The warrior also planned to take several flasks of fresh water from the pantry, as well as an old compass that he was able to scrounge for. The outer rims of the tool were deteriorating, but the needle still seemed to point straight and true. He wasn't quite sure in which direction the nearest town was located, but he'd imagined that the pointing device would come in handy.
He spent two days looking for some basic spell books, and he searched for anything that might contain useful bits of magic. The apprentice mage was able to learn the floating light spell that Cernus's journal spoke, as well as a few other simple spells. The magics were nothing that would save his life should a problem arise, but they should be useful nonetheless.
He continued to search in vain for a weapon. The young warrior was unable to locate a single usable weapon at any time during his scans of the complex. However, he had decided to use a large bronze pan from the kitchen as a makeshift shield. Regardless of this new defense, he did not look forward to the idea of traveling in a strange forest without the use of a sword. "I suppose I can fall back on my defensive talents, and possibly some offensive magic should the need arise, but it will be a dangerous journey."
Once he felt he was ready, he left the great city of Ternail Dae. He hoped that he might one day be able to find the lost village again and learn more of its secrets.
Donovan spent the first few days wandering the forest aimlessly. He didn't quite know which direction to head, and he only had the ancient compass to aid with his bearings. Everything within this forest seemed odd and unsettling, which made him feel as if he were perpetually lost.
The larger than life trees seemed to reach endlessly towards the sky. He could barely see the sky through the canopy above the great wooden columns. The area he was in did not have any distinct paths nor any open areas, just rows and rows of extremely tall trees.
Suddenly, a large branch was torn from a tree and flung hard against the ground. The fallen branch broke into several pieces upon contact with the forest floor. Leaves and twigs below it snapped and crackled under the weight.
A terrible roar was heard echoing through the woods.
Donovan turned to see a slimy black mass walking towards him with its jaw completely unhinged. Its skin looked as though it was made of a soft tar, which oozed off of its body, and the beast shambled along with the step of a man. The creature appeared to have no eyes or discernable limbs. Where the creature had initially stood, black flames caused by its burning skin could be seen littering the floor. The beast roared again and a chill ran down the warrior's back.
The Pontia attacked.
The left arm of the creature flew through the air, almost extending threefold as it made its arcing swipe. Donovan just barely ducked in time for the slimy arm to pass over him. A great gust of air flew over the young warrior.
Due to the force of its attack, the beast's arm continued its arching swing until it made contact with a great tree on its left. The outstretched, ooze-covered arm wrapped around the tree's bark like the end of a leather whip. Black flame erupted along the tree's hull where the arm had made contact. The outer bark and the interior wood were being eaten away by the Pontia's skin.
Donovan quickly ran behind a tall tree in an attempt to hide. He tried to stay motionless in the hopes that the creature would not be able to locate him. The frightened young man hid there with his back towards the tree and the deadly Pontia.
The Pontia howled and uncoiled its long arm, which it then was able to retract back into its body. A great cracking was heard beside the beast; a noise similar to the sound of wood splintering under tremendous weight. The tree which the beast had unavoidably attacked began to topple over.
The upper branches of the tree landed with a great thud on the mossy floor next to Donovan's hiding spot. Thousands of tiny yellow and orange leaves flew into the air. They fluttered to the ground slowly like snowflakes.
He could still hear the heavy breathing of the creature behind him. He could still hear it advancing.
Donovan jumped from his temporary refuge just in time to miss an attack from the beast. An arm flew forward, straight past his previous hiding spot like a charging bull. The ground where he had originally sat was now nothing but burning leaves and moss. The black fire charred whatever it touched. The very floor of the forest seemed to be disintegrating due to the oozing skin.
The warrior raised his makeshift shield and prepared for a blow from the beast which still stood several paces away.
The Pontia attacked again, protruding its arm straight out in front of it. The tar covered limb hit the center of the shield and threw Donovan several yards back into the air. The warrior's backside slammed into the trunk of a tree behind him. An odd thud was heard and he slid down with his armor cutting grooves into the protective bark on his descent. Coils of stripped wood fell to his sides.
Donovan, temporarily out of breath, noticed that the tree he had landed against was not like the other trees of the forest. It was twice as wide and its bark was much whiter, almost fossilized. The noise that was created with his impact didn't lead him to believe that the tree was solid. It almost sounded like a great keg had been thumped, and he swore he could hear the sound of water splashing to and fro.
He turned his head towards the top of the tree and noticed that no canopy of branches or leaves covered the top of this strange tree. Instead, the upper trunk looked to flail out into the air as if a great explosion had torn up through the top of the tree. Large portions of the upper bark bent in an outwards fashion.
The warrior turned to see the Pontia make another attack with its battering ram-like arm. He shifted to his right, dodging the blow. The Pontia growled and retracted it arm yet again.
Donovan noticed that where the skin had made contact with the odd tree, no portion of its bark had been burned. The floor beneath it had, but not a single scorch mark lay upon the bleached bark. Again with the thud created by the attack, he swore he could hear the sound of liquid shifting.
In a bold move, Donovan repositioned himself in front of the great white tree again. With the dented bronze shield in front of him, he awaited another rush from the beast.
An ooze-covered arm came flying through the air again towards the young man and the tree. The warrior leapt out of the way just in time to miss the attack. The tip of the Pontia's arm penetrated the wooden column and the outer bark at the impact site shattered.
A tremendous rush of water flooded out from the fresh hole in the tree. The liquid spewed forth directly towards the Pontia. The beast was flung back several hundred paces due to the deluge of water.
Donovan stood up to see the beast writhing upon the ground. The water had washed away part of the burning black skin, and underneath the black mass appeared to be the remains of a freshly half-eaten man. Where the head used to be was the partially digested face of a man screaming at the top of his lungs. Both eyelids gone, teeth blaring, his bloodshot eyes looked out into the open air. Both muscle and bone could be seen in bloody patches where the ooze had washed away. The Pontia continued to writhe in apparent pain upon the ground. Donovan assumed that it would be some time before the monster could rise again.
The warrior turned to see the hole the creature had created within the great white tree. The opening was easily the size of a full grown man. Just as Donovan had thought, this tree was hollow and apparently had contained a tremendous amount of rainwater. With the impact, the water had a chance to escape and came flooding out with immense force.
Donovan climbed into the tree to get a better look. Looking up the tall trunk of the tree, the top was clearly open towards the sky above. The walls looked aged and waterlogged. At the base of the hollow cavity lay a long metallic object drenched in some mud.
The warrior reached down to grab the mystery object. His first attempt to remove it was futile as his wet hands slipped due to the muck. Upon a second try using both hands and his legs for support, he pried the object up from the base of the tree. Mud and water flew into the air.
In his muck covered hands lay a large sword. It was as tall as a standard long sword, but its blade was twice the width of a broadsword. Along the blade of the weapon, a long inch-wide and inch-deep groove ran from the hilt to the tip. The tip of the blade seemed to look like some sort of fork due to the channel that rose up the blade's center. The weapon looked to be made of a silvery metal and felt light in his hands. Finally, he had a weapon with which to fight with.
Outside of the tree, Donovan could heard the telltale scream of the Pontia. He stepped outside of the hollow tree just in time for the beast's arm to slam into his armored chest plate. Ooze spattered across his front and he was pushed back into the center of the tree. The monster retracted its arm yet again and advanced.
Not taking a moment to catch his breath from the blow, Donovan jumped from the trunk and ran along the mossy ground towards the Pontia. In his raised arms he held the great sword. He charged at the beast screaming.
With a quick downward swipe, he split the tarred creature into two. Both halves of the beast fell to the forest floor. Where the monster had been cut, a cross section of bone and muscle could be seen beneath the black oozing skin. The Pontia rolled in spasms along the mossy floor. Unable to right itself, it continued to spin and grasp at the air upon the soft, wet ground.
Not taking a moment to dawdle, Donovan fled away from the scene with his new sword in hand.
Continue to Chapter 12
Included in the pack were some quick loaves of bread that he baked in the kitchen. His training in the family bakery paid off, and he welcomed the opportunity to cook again. The sensation of the dough between his hands and the scent of the long-missed bread warmed his heart. He would soon be able to enjoy three large saltbreads during his travels.
The warrior also planned to take several flasks of fresh water from the pantry, as well as an old compass that he was able to scrounge for. The outer rims of the tool were deteriorating, but the needle still seemed to point straight and true. He wasn't quite sure in which direction the nearest town was located, but he'd imagined that the pointing device would come in handy.
He spent two days looking for some basic spell books, and he searched for anything that might contain useful bits of magic. The apprentice mage was able to learn the floating light spell that Cernus's journal spoke, as well as a few other simple spells. The magics were nothing that would save his life should a problem arise, but they should be useful nonetheless.
He continued to search in vain for a weapon. The young warrior was unable to locate a single usable weapon at any time during his scans of the complex. However, he had decided to use a large bronze pan from the kitchen as a makeshift shield. Regardless of this new defense, he did not look forward to the idea of traveling in a strange forest without the use of a sword. "I suppose I can fall back on my defensive talents, and possibly some offensive magic should the need arise, but it will be a dangerous journey."
Once he felt he was ready, he left the great city of Ternail Dae. He hoped that he might one day be able to find the lost village again and learn more of its secrets.
Donovan spent the first few days wandering the forest aimlessly. He didn't quite know which direction to head, and he only had the ancient compass to aid with his bearings. Everything within this forest seemed odd and unsettling, which made him feel as if he were perpetually lost.
The larger than life trees seemed to reach endlessly towards the sky. He could barely see the sky through the canopy above the great wooden columns. The area he was in did not have any distinct paths nor any open areas, just rows and rows of extremely tall trees.
Suddenly, a large branch was torn from a tree and flung hard against the ground. The fallen branch broke into several pieces upon contact with the forest floor. Leaves and twigs below it snapped and crackled under the weight.
A terrible roar was heard echoing through the woods.
Donovan turned to see a slimy black mass walking towards him with its jaw completely unhinged. Its skin looked as though it was made of a soft tar, which oozed off of its body, and the beast shambled along with the step of a man. The creature appeared to have no eyes or discernable limbs. Where the creature had initially stood, black flames caused by its burning skin could be seen littering the floor. The beast roared again and a chill ran down the warrior's back.
The Pontia attacked.
The left arm of the creature flew through the air, almost extending threefold as it made its arcing swipe. Donovan just barely ducked in time for the slimy arm to pass over him. A great gust of air flew over the young warrior.
Due to the force of its attack, the beast's arm continued its arching swing until it made contact with a great tree on its left. The outstretched, ooze-covered arm wrapped around the tree's bark like the end of a leather whip. Black flame erupted along the tree's hull where the arm had made contact. The outer bark and the interior wood were being eaten away by the Pontia's skin.
Donovan quickly ran behind a tall tree in an attempt to hide. He tried to stay motionless in the hopes that the creature would not be able to locate him. The frightened young man hid there with his back towards the tree and the deadly Pontia.
The Pontia howled and uncoiled its long arm, which it then was able to retract back into its body. A great cracking was heard beside the beast; a noise similar to the sound of wood splintering under tremendous weight. The tree which the beast had unavoidably attacked began to topple over.
The upper branches of the tree landed with a great thud on the mossy floor next to Donovan's hiding spot. Thousands of tiny yellow and orange leaves flew into the air. They fluttered to the ground slowly like snowflakes.
He could still hear the heavy breathing of the creature behind him. He could still hear it advancing.
Donovan jumped from his temporary refuge just in time to miss an attack from the beast. An arm flew forward, straight past his previous hiding spot like a charging bull. The ground where he had originally sat was now nothing but burning leaves and moss. The black fire charred whatever it touched. The very floor of the forest seemed to be disintegrating due to the oozing skin.
The warrior raised his makeshift shield and prepared for a blow from the beast which still stood several paces away.
The Pontia attacked again, protruding its arm straight out in front of it. The tar covered limb hit the center of the shield and threw Donovan several yards back into the air. The warrior's backside slammed into the trunk of a tree behind him. An odd thud was heard and he slid down with his armor cutting grooves into the protective bark on his descent. Coils of stripped wood fell to his sides.
Donovan, temporarily out of breath, noticed that the tree he had landed against was not like the other trees of the forest. It was twice as wide and its bark was much whiter, almost fossilized. The noise that was created with his impact didn't lead him to believe that the tree was solid. It almost sounded like a great keg had been thumped, and he swore he could hear the sound of water splashing to and fro.
He turned his head towards the top of the tree and noticed that no canopy of branches or leaves covered the top of this strange tree. Instead, the upper trunk looked to flail out into the air as if a great explosion had torn up through the top of the tree. Large portions of the upper bark bent in an outwards fashion.
The warrior turned to see the Pontia make another attack with its battering ram-like arm. He shifted to his right, dodging the blow. The Pontia growled and retracted it arm yet again.
Donovan noticed that where the skin had made contact with the odd tree, no portion of its bark had been burned. The floor beneath it had, but not a single scorch mark lay upon the bleached bark. Again with the thud created by the attack, he swore he could hear the sound of liquid shifting.
In a bold move, Donovan repositioned himself in front of the great white tree again. With the dented bronze shield in front of him, he awaited another rush from the beast.
An ooze-covered arm came flying through the air again towards the young man and the tree. The warrior leapt out of the way just in time to miss the attack. The tip of the Pontia's arm penetrated the wooden column and the outer bark at the impact site shattered.
A tremendous rush of water flooded out from the fresh hole in the tree. The liquid spewed forth directly towards the Pontia. The beast was flung back several hundred paces due to the deluge of water.
Donovan stood up to see the beast writhing upon the ground. The water had washed away part of the burning black skin, and underneath the black mass appeared to be the remains of a freshly half-eaten man. Where the head used to be was the partially digested face of a man screaming at the top of his lungs. Both eyelids gone, teeth blaring, his bloodshot eyes looked out into the open air. Both muscle and bone could be seen in bloody patches where the ooze had washed away. The Pontia continued to writhe in apparent pain upon the ground. Donovan assumed that it would be some time before the monster could rise again.
The warrior turned to see the hole the creature had created within the great white tree. The opening was easily the size of a full grown man. Just as Donovan had thought, this tree was hollow and apparently had contained a tremendous amount of rainwater. With the impact, the water had a chance to escape and came flooding out with immense force.
Donovan climbed into the tree to get a better look. Looking up the tall trunk of the tree, the top was clearly open towards the sky above. The walls looked aged and waterlogged. At the base of the hollow cavity lay a long metallic object drenched in some mud.
The warrior reached down to grab the mystery object. His first attempt to remove it was futile as his wet hands slipped due to the muck. Upon a second try using both hands and his legs for support, he pried the object up from the base of the tree. Mud and water flew into the air.
In his muck covered hands lay a large sword. It was as tall as a standard long sword, but its blade was twice the width of a broadsword. Along the blade of the weapon, a long inch-wide and inch-deep groove ran from the hilt to the tip. The tip of the blade seemed to look like some sort of fork due to the channel that rose up the blade's center. The weapon looked to be made of a silvery metal and felt light in his hands. Finally, he had a weapon with which to fight with.
Outside of the tree, Donovan could heard the telltale scream of the Pontia. He stepped outside of the hollow tree just in time for the beast's arm to slam into his armored chest plate. Ooze spattered across his front and he was pushed back into the center of the tree. The monster retracted its arm yet again and advanced.
Not taking a moment to catch his breath from the blow, Donovan jumped from the trunk and ran along the mossy ground towards the Pontia. In his raised arms he held the great sword. He charged at the beast screaming.
With a quick downward swipe, he split the tarred creature into two. Both halves of the beast fell to the forest floor. Where the monster had been cut, a cross section of bone and muscle could be seen beneath the black oozing skin. The Pontia rolled in spasms along the mossy floor. Unable to right itself, it continued to spin and grasp at the air upon the soft, wet ground.
Not taking a moment to dawdle, Donovan fled away from the scene with his new sword in hand.
Continue to Chapter 12
posted by The Floating Cat @ 4:21 PM
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