Leatherwing ... Chapter 5

5.

Vrik was so happy to see his mother he almost forgot about the pain in his own body. And as she raced over to him and K’trina, he knew everything would be alright. His mother looked at him first.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” he lied “but the lizard threw her hard against the tree, and I can’t get her to wake.”

He then watched as his mother went to work. She knelt down beside the girl and quickly scanned her body, touching her forehead as she muttered strange words. Vrik could see that his mother was scouling, but he did not disturb her with questions about K’trina’s condition. His mother would save her if she could.

“What happened here?”

It was Tal’ik who spoke, a powerful hunter who stood closer to two feet than to one.

Vrik gritted his teeth and turned from K’trina as a soft blue glow began to encompass her and his mother. If his mother was using that much magic, her injuries were serious.

“I spotted the lizard as it leaped from the tree. I yelled for the others to run, but K’trina didn’t listen. It had me, but she didn’t run.” Vrik looked back to his mother and the girl. The glow was brighter now and sweat beaded on his mothers brow. He had never seen her use this much magic.

“And?”

Vrik again looked at the large hunter. “I couldn’t see what she did, but the lizard turned from me and I heard her scream. I think it tossed her into the tree. It was my fault.”

Tal’ik frowned, but it was Vrik’s father who spoke next. “We will deal with that later. For now it is enough that you are all safe.”

“Indeed, but you still have not explained yourself,” Tal’ik said. “How did you kill the creature?”

Vrik shook his head, “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Tal’ik asked “What happened after K’trina fell?”

Again Vrik shook his head. “I don’t know what happened. I saw her lying there, not moving, the lizard standing over her, and I knew she was going to die. She had stayed to save me, and had no way to save her.

“I don’t know what happened next. It’s a blur. I drew my knife and attacked. And then the lizard was dead, and you all arrived.”

Tal’ik looked skeptical, but again Vrik’s father cut in first. “We can discuss this later. It looks as though Tyrana has finished.”

Indeed, Vrik’s mother rocked back on her heals and looked thoroughly exhausted. Vrik however was focused wholly on K’trina. The girl who had saved him. He didn’t even breath as he watched her for signs of life. Her dark hair was wet with sweat and she looked pale, but her eyes began to flutter and suddenly shot open, momentarily filled with terror. Gasping in air, she sought to sit up, but quickly relaxed as she saw Vrik and his mother looking down at her.

“You killed it.”

Her voice was a whisper, she still needed to rest, but her words were not a question.

Vrik nodded. “You saved me. You didn’t run.”

“No.”

“You could have been killed.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you run?”

K’trina smiled, “I would never do that.”

Vrik nodded and smiled, and they said no more. They both understood. She had stayed and they had survived because of that. She had given him what he needed to kill the creature. She had given him something stronger than a knife or spear. Her staying had meant that he fought for more than just himself. His death would mean her dead, and so death was no longer an option. She had stayed and she had given him a reason to survive.

Vrik didn’t fully understand what had happened that day between him and K’trina, but he understood that they had formed a bond, and he understood that he would never let her be harmed if he could stop it, and from that day one they were rarely apart. The others would still join them when they explored the forest, once they were allowed out again, which was not soon and would have been never if Vrik’s mother had had her way, but for Vrik there was only he and K’trina as they moved through the trees. K’trina, the one who stayed. The one who he would give his life for.


* * * *

K’trina woke again to the sound of Vrik’s mother’s voice. She was upset and K’trina soon realized why. Vrik had claimed he was uninjured so that she would tend to K’trina first, but the truth was that he had suffered serious injuries himself. Several ribs were cracked and his left arm was dislocated. And he could not support is weight on his right leg, it would be a dark purple by now.

K’trina couldn’t help but smile. He had hidden his own pain to protect her.

Vrik’s mother was too drained to do much for him, and so the group made ready to leave. Several hunters would stay at the site, but she and Vrik were quickly scooped up into to be carried home. Vrik’s father carried his son, and K’trian didn’t know the name of the hunter who carried her, but as he spread his massive wings and took to the air, she knew he could bare her without difficulty.

Like the hunter who carried her, Vrik’s father also had the large feathered wings like those of a great eagle, and K’trina felt a ting of jealousy. It was not unheard of for a girl to gain feathered wings, but it was not common. She knew that she was still years away from the swelling, the time in a yougling’s life when she would go through the transition to adulthood and her body would transform, but she still dreamed of the day she could soar above the trees. Then how she and Vrik could see the world!

Vrik. The thought of him pulled her gaze from the strong feathered wings that carried her. Vrik had refused to answer Tal’ik’s questions about how he had killed the Onyta. Did Vrik really not remember? Well K’trina remembered.

* * * *

K’trina knew that her body was broken as she fought to stay conscious. She had seen the lizard grab hold of Vrik and acted without thinking. Vrik had called out for the others to run and they had scattered. They had actually ran!

K’trina had done the only thing she knew would stop the lizard from killing Vrik. She had thrown herself onto it, wrapping her arms around its tail and pulling with all her strength. She had been far from strong enough to halt the beast, but her tactic had worked all the same. With her locked onto its tail, the lizard had begun thrashing to free itself from he grip. And K’trina had paid a heavy price for her foolheadedness. The much larger creature had slammed her into root, rock and tree before her body had failed her and she felt herself slipping from Onyta’s tail. Time had slowed then. The soft breeze blowing her hair across her face, the distant call of an owl out a little early for the night hunt, the red rays of the sun through the trees, and then the sudden contact with the earth. She was broken.

She fought to stay conscious as the shadow of the Onyta fell over her. Maybe she would rather not be awake for this!

And then she saw Vrik rise out of the brush where he had fallen, and what she saw took what little breath she had left away. His eyes burned with an inner fire that she could see even from across the clearing, and the lizard turned from her, seeming to sense the new threat.

At first she wanted Vrik to flee, to save himself, but that was because she did not yet understand.

Vrik had no intension of fleeing and instead he launched himself at the creature, his small blade his only apparent weapon. What K’trina saw next was unbelievable. Vrik’s eyes blazed with the fire she had seen and it seemed he felt no pain. The lizard continuously slammed him, crushed him and tore at him, but somehow his stayed on his feet. Stayed on his feet and kept fighting.

K’trina felt consciousness slipping and prayed that Vrik’s strength would hold out. She knew she would likely not wake again, but she smiled as the darkness took her. She had stayed when the others had run. She had stayed and Vrik would live even if she did not.

* * * *

K’trina smiled again as Vrik looked over to her. He fought to hide his pain even now, but K’trina understood. The fire was gone from his eyes now and he felt his wounds as acutely as anyone would. The fire was gone, but he still had an inner strength that was not common in one his age, and K’trina understood he would not complain about his wounds or ask for healing. She could not see the fire in his eyes anymore but she could see that he was happy.

In pain yes, but happy. For that pain was the price of her safety and he would pay that price without question. He had paid that price, and for that K’trina would keep his secret for as long as he wished. She would keep his secret and try to repay him for everything he had done.

to be continued...

Doomsday.

It has now been 36 days since Brent proposed and good news, the ring is still on my finger. The band is brilliant and the rocks are still in place. Sweet.

Brent asked if I was sure this is what I wanted. Seeing as he has an awesome entertainment system, two professional cameras AND a boogie board, how could I say no?

So it is official, the date has been set.

On the eleventh day of August, two thousand and seven, the world will bow down and witness two powerful beings join as one.

Prepare for battle.

That means you Brent.


Bless.

Lovesick

My nose is plugged, my throat is sore, and my chest is congested. I should feel crummy but I can't seem to shrug off this elated feeling. Despite of Brent's opinion, I love him every day and last night felt like I had fallen in love all over again. I love it when he does that to me.

Last night, I opted to stay home -- normally I’d be at dance but my body ached and I was just too tired. I’ve been sick since Sunday and as much as I wanted to go out, my body wouldn’t let me. Instead, I plopped myself in front of the television and watched “So You Think You Can Dance”. I dozed on and off until the doorbell rang.

It was Brent! He was supposed to be at camp with his students but he decided to drop by. Even though he has only been gone for a couple of days, I’ve missed him like crazy. And oh goodness, he looked so cute in his shorts and t-shirt. His shirt was a little dirty and his hair looked kind of funny.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at camp!”

“I wanted to see you and make you feel better.”

He gave me a little package that contained everything I needed to get better: orange juice, vitamins, cough drops and a sleeping potion for those restless nights. Hugs and kisses included.

He stayed a while and watched the rest of the show with me. He held me close and that’s when I fell in love all over again. I can’t describe the feeling because I am ESL, but let me assure you that it was fine.

It was time for him to go. After all, he's supposed to be chaparoning the kids. He bade me farewell and off he galloped into the sunset.

*Swoon*

I am still feeling the effects of the euphoria right now, but I'm thinking maybe it’s the meds.


Bless.

Leatherwing... Chapter 4

4.

The next decision Vrik’s mother needed to make was perhaps the hardest she had ever made. Vrik was lost, hurt, and maybe worse, but she had no idea where to even begin looking. And others were missing as well; scattered and lost. Vrik had gone out this morning with four friends. She needed to get help if they were to be found.

And so, with a last look to the trees, she turned from the now darkening forest and took T’ra into her arms. The sooner she returned, the sooner she would find her son.

* * * *

Vrik’s mother was relieved to see her husband already organizing a group of hunters when she arrived home, apparently one of the other children had found his way back and alerted the village.

“Tyrana,” he called when he spotted her, but stopped when he saw the girl in her arms. She obviously knew what was going on. “Two of the boys returned. They have told us where to look.”

Tyrana dropped the girl to the ground and joined her husband. “I’m coming with you.”

Vrik’s father nodded and the hunters took to the trees. They stayed close as a group, moving fast. There was still one girl missing, as well as Vrik, but they knew the fastest way to find the children was to get to the attack site and spread out from there. They also knew that they would need every hunter if they were to kill the lizard quickly and start the search. From what the boys who had made it back to the village had said, it was large – an Onyta if their description was accurate, and that did not bode well for his son. Big and fast, an Onyta could kill with bite or claw, and worse still was the poisonous saliva it spit upon its prey. The poison did not often kill, but it caused incredible pain and left the victim’s body scarred as if burned.

Vrik’s father prayed he would find his son in time.

* * * *

As fast as the group moved, it seemed to Tyrana that it had been hours since she had first found T’ra. Kal’il had shouted to her where to boys had placed the attack, and she could see in her husband’s eyes that he was worried. She had called for him not to slow for her, she would follow.

And so, she moved through the trees as fast as she could, recklessly, as the hunters pulled farther and farther away from her. She knew her son would need her if he was alive. Kal’il and the hunters would kill the Onyta, but it was Tyrana’s healing magic that would save her son.

* * * *

Kal’il gripped his spear tightly as he crested the hill. This was the spot. His heart pounded, but he forced his breathing to slow. He was a hunter and as much as he feared the scene he was about to see, he also knew that he needed to deal with the Onyta first. And to do that he needed to focus. And so, Vrik’s father gritted his teeth and prepared himself for battle.

And then he stopped.

The other hunters froze along with him, as if hitting an unseen wall. What had stopped them was no wall though. It was the scene that lay before them.

They had found the attack site.

* * * *

Tyrana sped through the trees, hoping she had not lost the hunters. They had only been out of site for a few minutes, but she rarely came out this far and she did not know the area well. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted her husband and the hunters, but that relief was short lived as she realized they were not moving.

Why are they not moving! Please let Vrik be alive!

She got her answer only a moment later as she too crested the ridge and saw what lay below. The lizard was no less impressive than the children had described. Two feet long with inch long claws, it was a creature made for killing. But instead of finding it eating her son, it lay twisted and still, its back arched awkwardly over the roots of the tree it had obviously sprung from. It showed no sign of being hurt, but all two feet of it was unmoving. It was dead.

“Mother!”

The voice shocked Tyrana and pulled her attention away from the Onyta. There was her son, across the clearing. His face and hair were matted with blood, but he was alive; alive and waving to her. The next words out of his mouth though filled her with dread.

“Hurry, she’s hurt.”



To be continued...

Leatherwing... Chapters 2 & 3

2.

Vrik was a growing boy and as he grew he learned that there were others who lived in the forest around his home. And some of those others were of his age. And some of those, if not to the same degree, shared his adventurous spirit. And he soon learned that his mother would let him explore a little further if he was with others, even if they were only children like himself.

And so, Vrik learned about friendship. And he thought friends were a good thing indeed.

Like all growing boys, Vrik liked to watch his father and admired how strong the man was. He was a hunter and a protector, and he would explain to Vrik about what the world was like even beyond the trees. Vrik couldn’t wait to see that. A world beyond the trees!

Vrik’s father answered all of Vrik’s questions, even when his mother disagreed.

“He’s still young. He shouldn’t know of such things!”

But Vrik’s father disagreed. “He needs to know. If I do not return one day, I want him to remember my words.”

But this would upset Vrik’s mother and she would simply say, “Don’t talk like that.” And then Vrik would ask more questions.

Vrik was always curious about the hunt as well. His father would talk about respect for the forest and thanking the spirits for what they took, but death was not something Vrik yet understood. And so he liked to pretend he was a hunter and he listened extra hard when his father taught him how to use a spear and a knife.

Vrik was too young to have a spear, of this his mother was quite firm, but his father still showed him. He would use a stick and practice the movements his father taught him every day. He liked it when his father watched him and smiled. And even though she still said he was too young, Vrik also saw his mother smile when she thought he could not see.

For his eleventh birthday, much to his mother’s chagrin, Vrik’s father gave him a small knife. And it instantly became his most prized possession.

“Every hunter needs a good knife. It can save your life, so take good care of it” his father would say.

And take care of it he did. And he never went anywhere without it.

3.

Vrik’s mother understood that her son was a growing boy, and that growing boys needed to have some freedom from their mothers. And so, when Vrik and his friends would go off into the forest to explore, she would worry, but she would also trust that they had listened. Listened to her when she told them to stay close, and not go too far.

“There are dangers even in these trees. And lizards and snakes, and spiders,” she would say, “are not least among them.”

“Yes mother” Vrik would reply with a smile. For he did not yet know these creatures, and to him they were exciting; prizes that his father and the other hunters returned with after days of being gone.

And Vrik wanted nothing more than to be a hunter. To explore beyond the trees, to track, fight and kill the dangerous creatures that threatened the people. These were things that Vrik wanted.

“Can I come father? I’m not afraid” Vrik would say when his father talked of the next hunt.

“You are not old enough yet,” his father would reply.

Vrik knew it was pointless to argue. This was the one area in which his father agreed totally with his mother. And by custom, a boy was not even allowed to learn the ways of the hunt until he was considered a man. And a boy did not become a man until after the swelling.

And so, in the spring, just before Vrik’s twelf birthday, Vrik’s mother was not worried when she called for her son and he did not answer. He had been wandering in the forest with some friends and she knew that he often pushed the limits of how far he was to wander. She called again, louder, but again there was no response.

They were playing to the south she thought, and took to the trees, the added height allowing her to see further and her voice to carry. She called again.

Nothing.

Worried, she began moving, first slowly, but gaining speed as she continued, her calls still unanswered.

Where could they be!

Her answer came moments latter when she heard a faint sound still further into the trees.

Was someone crying?

Moving through the trees faster than she thought possible, Vrik’s mother raced towards the sound, pushed to even greater speeds the closer she came to the sound.

It was someone crying.

She almost went straight past the source of the sound, she was racing so fast. Luckily she did spot the small huddled form, hiding in the roots of a great elm. It was T’ra, one of Vrik’s friends!

Moving quickly to the girl's side, Vrik’s mother grabbed at the child. She was a little older than Vrik, but she was over an inch shorter than her son, and she looked even smaller, crouched as she was on the ground, blond hair matted to her head and covered with dirt.

“Its alright child. Its all right” Vrik’s mother said as she took the girl into her arms.

But T’ra shook free. “No, its not alright… the lizard,” she trailed off, weeping once again.

“Lizard? What lizard?”

T’ra began to sob.

Vrik’s mother took the girl by the shoulders. “What lizard? Where is Vrik?”

T’ra fought back the tears and looked Vrik’s mother in the eyes. “He wanted to see the land beyond the forest. He said we could make it back before dark. He said we’d be safe.”

“What happened T’ra? Where is my son?”

“We were hiking. Vrik was in the lead, showing us the way. He always shows us the places he’s gone.” T’ra whipped her nose. “He was only a little ahead of us. It happened so fast.”

“What? What happened so fast?”

“Vrik yelled for us to get back. He yelled and then the lizard was on top of him.” T’ra shook her head and tears once again came to her eyes. “It was so big, moved so fast. I didn’t know what to do. I was so scared.”

Vrik’s mother stood as the girl’s body was once again wracked with sobbing. Looking to the forest around her, a vein hope coursed through her that she would see her son somewhere in amonst the trees. “Where? Where did this happen?”

T’ra shook her head, “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? Where is my son?”

Choking back tears, she shook here head. “I don’t know. The lizard came, Vrik yelled, and I ran.”

Vrik’s mother looked to the forest, listening. Hoping.

“I ran. We all ran.”

To be continued...

End of Yogurt War

I was supposed to bring an army today but I forgot to ask my parents to buy some yogurt when they went to Superstore. And this morning, I found Legolas' head in the shred bin. Apparently, scissors are stronger than paper.


Bless.

Something I learned...

Hello all,

So some startling news today. Apparently Bless is part fairy and may or may not have used black magic to ensorce me! I know, I know, you never think its going to happen to you, but then bam! Out of no where you get blindsided. Dam pixy magic!

On the plus side however, it appears I can now levitate. Havn't figured out if the two are connected yet. I'll keep you updated.

Also, for those that are interested, and don't mind a bit of a drive, I found out that Bless's work offers free yogurt! Its just in the fridge. I've been driving down at lunch for the past little while and no one has said to stop, so I figure its just the company working on good karma! And they need it... what with running a lotto scam and all.

So back to this "under a spell" stuff. I figure its a pretty good thing, so even tho I've shaken off her magic, I think I'll pretend that I'm still under it. She is pretty cute after all... and now that I know those are wings and not back hair, well that just makes it all the better!

Praise be to Xenu,
Brent.

PS - the story "Leatherwing" may or may not be fiction from the mind of Brent, so feel free to comment and I'll keep posting as I write more. Thanks.

My Father The Hero

My dad is leaving for Russia on Wednesday in search of a cure for my brother. The doctors couldn't remove the magic vine.

I will not lose hope.

When my dad returns in six weeks, I hope he will bring me a set of matreshkas. They're so cute.


Bless.

Yogurt War

I brought four yogurts to work on Monday and ate none during the week. Yesterday, I noticed there was only one yogurt left. Somebody has been eating my yogurt.

Sigh. I specifically wrote my name on the lids but apparently no one cares. I confronted my suspects this morning, and their response was, “Don’t buy the same brand.”

I was too lazy to jumpkick them in the head so instead, I grabbed my last yogurt and made sure my name was written all over it.

Just a few minutes ago, when I went to grab my yogurt, I found it at the back of the fridge behind all the rotten food.

Whatev.

I've just finished making a cut-out of Legolas and attached it to my yogurt. On Monday, I will bring 6 yogurts and start an army.


Bless.

Just an update...

Hello all,

I just wanted everyone to know that I havn't forgotten about you!!! The past few weeks have been very busy with mundane things that didn't warrent posts... and we still havn't raised enough money for the treasure hunt. And bad news about the yarn fundraiser too... it turns out that some of the "yarn" donated was actually just colored string!!! So we're back to being 3 feet short of our goal... so keep that yarn coming!

Also, Bless's brother ended up eating some of the yellow beans, and I won't go into details, but lets just say that it requires a trip to the ER to remove a magic vine once it starts growing inside you... and apparently magic vines grow in both directions... who knew?

Anyway, I'll try to keep up with post more often.

Later,
Brent.

A little walk...

While Brent was busy playing with pirates and treasure maps, I decided to go for a walk. Since I'm going to be with him for the rest of my life, I thought a couple of hours without him shouldn't be too bad. Plus, I have been so busy in the past couple of weeks, I really needed time for myself.

As I was walking, something on the ground caught my attention. I walked passed it but immediately turned around. On the ground, were 3 yellow beans! I picked them up carefully and remembered a dream I once had with my great-great-great-aunt in it. In the dream, she talked about some beans and that if I ever come across 3 particular yellow beans, something magical will happen. "How would I know that they aren't regular beans," I asked my great-great-great-aunt. "You will know.... you will know... you will know..." and then she turned into a jellyfish.

I picked up the three yellow beans and examined them carefully. They looked like normal beans to me but then I noticed a spot of grey fuzz. I couldn't believe it! I've got the magical beans!!! First the proposal, then the successful Yarn Fundraiser Event, then the Hot Dog Eating Contest... and now this? Such wonderful turn of events!!

Before getting up, I carefully looked around to see if anybody saw me picked up the magical beans. If anyone knew about them, who knows what greed would lead them to. You know, like what happened to Gollum. Just when I thought the coast was clear, I noticed a shadow approaching from behind. I can't describe how fast my heart was going.

"Blessilda." I knew I was in deep trouble. It was my mom. She never calls me by my full name ...only when she knows I'm up to something.

I quickly hid the three beans in my pocket, turned around, got up and faced her. I was hoping she didn't see anything.

"What's that in your pocket?" She asked.

"Nothing."

But two seconds later, I found myself reaching into my pocket, opening my palm infront of her, and showing her the 3 magical beans. She must have used her Fairy powers on me. There was nothing I could do! I'm still a beginner. For those who don't know, my great-great-great-uncle married a fairy. It's true, ask my mom!

She looked at the beans, grabbed them and threw them out. "Bless, stop playing with that, that's dirty. When was the last time you cleaned the kitchen floor?".

I rolled my eyes and went to my room.

Treasure awaits!!!

Hello all,

So I was up in the attic over the weekend going through some of grand-pa's old stuff and I found an interesting picture of him from his youth. I unfortunately dropped the framed picture and the glass and frame broke. I was of course upset at this, but when I began to clean up I discovered that behind the picture, hidden, was a very old map... a treasure map! And it outlined the exact location of a fortune in pirate gold! Now I am of course very excited about this and I am putting together a team to go and recover the gold. I have an inventor, a cool guy who doesn't really want to go, a smart ass, a cute girl, and a fat kid, so I'm all set!

Now I know it seems incredible that this could be real and you're asking yourself, "why didn't his grandfather just go and get it if its this easy?" And the answer is that the technology didn't exist back then to do this safely. We can bet to find layer upon layer of booby-traps and no doubt some criminals will hear about our plans and try to foil us, but with today's high tech tools it shouldn't be a problem. So now the problem is getting those high tech tools. And in short, we need money.

Now there is a slight possibility that we don't succeed, but I can't see that happening, so if we raise the funds, we'll all get a big payout. Your share will be equal to the amount you contribute. So please send as much as you can*. ($10 minimum)

I look forward to hearing from you,
Brent.

*In the event that no treasure is found, or that there is in fact no map at all, all moneys will not be returned and instead will be spent on chips and dip.