Chapter 4

THWUMP! Something huge landed behind Masadorraed and Saroheed as they followed the others towards the forest. Was it a monster, a moderator… or both? It pursed them on foot briefly before it leapt overtop, landing in front of everyone with such force that the ground shook and snow flung into the air. It was a dragon, emerald as a forest in the night. 

“You! What are you doing here!?” Izifaris ran forward and spat out; somehow she knew this... creature.

“I’m sure you already know that, Hacker!” The dragon called out over the wind. 

“I do indeed. But your plan will not succeed because I have a better one.” Izifaris challenged the dragon with a raised fist.

“Is it possible that you and I are here for a common purpose Izifaris? I am not here on my father’s business.” The dragon took a step closer and lowered her head level with the pirate girl.

“You don’t fool me Aluria. You helped you father program this game. You are both a moderator and a deceiver.” Izifaris turned to face away from the she-dragon.

“There is much you don’t know Izifaris. Perhaps you should ask the one you sought after.” Aluria turned her head towards Masadorraed.

It felt strange having a dragon stare at him like that. It was like she could see right through him and knew EXACTLY who he was and everything he’d ever done. “Markus, care to explain what you saw to Izifaris?” Aluria’s spoke in a calm, low voice.

“Well... I would prefer not...” The dragon glared at him, annoyed. “All right, all right! But how does everyone know my name?!?” He glanced between Izifaris and Aluria. What’s the point of a character name if everyone calls you by your real one? He asked himself. “I saw a girl running through a forest. She was pursued by a man on a horse, and was carrying a green stone, egg like thing. She eventually tossed it on the snow, in some random light beam, while the man on the horse held her by her hair. She managed to escape the man on the horse and then jumped off, I believe, the Shacolren Cliffs. Then...” Markus stopped abruptly, everyone was staring at him. “You! That was you?” He was staring right at Aluria. She was the only one who appeared calm.

“Yes, Markus, I was the girl who jumped. My father was on the horse chasing me. I stole that green stone from him but unfortunately, he had a plan B. I should have guessed he would. I ran into him on my way here. He tried to keep me on his side, but I couldn’t, ever. He has been taken over by greed and a lust for power.”

Everyone looked at Aluria. There was silence as they thought about what had just been said. Masadorraed looked around. He couldn’t see any lumpy slugs in this area, however he spied a few yellow eyes piercing through the forest. They seemed to grow larger… as if approaching...

“Uh, guys... What are those?” He pointed at the eyes, bobbing up and down slowly as they grew in size. He heard growling and the occasional howl. “Are those wolves?” Masadorraed’s voice rose with a faint taint of fear. Aluria turned her scaly head; she knew exactly what they were.

“So Aluria, you told your dad where to send his welcome party huh?” Izifaris patronised, tilting her head and put her hands on her hips.

Aluria withdrew herself further from the forest. “I didn’t tell anyone. They found us.” She let loose a tongue of flame towards the eyes, momentarily lighting the surrounding area.

TWANG! Izifaris had her bow in her hands and had just let loose an arrow. It shot towards the wolves, narrowly missing the leader of the pack. She shot again, Bulls-eye... Or so Masadorraed thought. Her aim was perfect but the arrow bounced off an invisible bubble that appeared when struck. The wolves must have some kind of force field to protect them from long-ranged attacks. Izifaris ducked under her returning arrow and caught it directly above her head. I thought that kind of stuff was impossible! Masadorraed thought, Then again, this is a computer game... in a sense.

Izifaris unsheathed her sword and stood at the ready for the wolves pounce. She positioned herself protectively in front of Karisia who, with only long range attack abilities, would be helpless. Saroheed pulled a dagger from his pocket, its blade looked rugged and blunt. The howling was getting much louder; they’re so close!

Aluria was to the right of Masadorraed, while the others were to his left. He had better get himself ready. Something tells me these will be a bit more difficult than slugs. He raised his sword, holding it slightly to the right, not so far as to leave his left exposed. The first of the wolves sprang from the forest, his gleaming teeth open, ready to strike and he was headed straight for him.

“Look out Masadorraed!” Karisia shouted, but it was already at him. He pulled himself to the right.

“So, you fancy yourself a knight do you?” The wolf let loose a menacing laugh. “Well, let’s see if the squire will become a knight or my dinner,” he toyed. “Is that fear I see in your eyes?” The wolf paced in a circle around Masadorraed. Karisia let out a shriek. More wolves emerged from the forest and were heading towards the rest of them.

“I won’t be your dinner. You don’t scare me. You’ll have to come and get me if you want me... I’m not a coward!” Masadorraed couldn’t believe what he was saying. Here he was, stuck inside a game in a real life-or-death situation, taunting a talking wolf and trying to use a sword when he hadn’t the slightest clue on how to. NOW I feel like an idiot. That was probably the worst thing to say. His eyes remained locked on the wolf, its yellow eyes beamed of pure evil. Help me, anyone! I can’t do this alone! The wolf pounced. Masadorraed lifted his left arm and swung it to the side. The wolf slammed to the ground from the deflection, but quickly rolled back onto to his feet.

Masadorraed took a step back to make some space between them; the wolf used the opportunity to rear up and attempted to claw Masadorraed’s face. The boy stumbled backwards, tripping and falling onto the white snow. The wolf pounced on him, its front paws pinned Masadorraed in place by his torso. “Any last words human?” The wolf’s snarl was filled with hate.

Please don’t let him kill me. If anyone can read my thoughts, please help me! Masadorraed was breathing heavily, exhaling white puffs of mist when he heard a voice speak into his heart.

Raise your sword, it is a weapon of light
Use it and you will not be alone
Trust me and together we will do great things
I have a plan, I will show it to you
But for now, trust me
Raise your sword!

Inspiration struck. “Only that a coward would slaughter a helpless child,” Masadorraed accused the wolf. “Let me up so we can battle on even grounds.” Would it work?

The Wolf lightened its hold and opened its mouth. “This is your last chance. I will not spare you again - nor anyone else. Ready yourself, human, for my strike!” Again the wolf reared and as Masadorraed realised the full size of the monster before him, fear took over his mind. But the voice spoke again:

Trust me and together we will do great things
Raise your sword!

A single sword strike against a thing this size? Inconceivable! Masadorraed shut his eyes, preparing for the wolf to crash down and break every bone in his body. However, he obediently began to raise his sword. A warm feeling came over him as he obeyed and it felt like someone was helping. Warmth flowed through his arms, renewing his strength. Now, with the sword in position, the wolf came crashing downward - its stomach directly on the point.

Trust me and together we will do great things
I have a plan, I will show it to you
But for now, trust me
Raise your sword!

The words were true. He was safe. But who had said them and where did they come from? I don’t think I’ll tell the others about it just yet.... The others!  How are they?

Masadorraed rolled the wolf’s dead body off of himself, withdrawing his sword. Saroheed was on the ground, his right arm bleeding and panic all over his face. Aluria had killed one of the wolves that attacked her and continued to battle the other two. Izifaris was only just holding off the two from her and Karisia, but she was getting tired.

Masadorraed sprinted to Saroheed, still feeling the warm strength inside. It was comforting and eased any pain that he may have in his body. The wolf was about to claw Saroheed’s face when Masadorraed leapt at it, pushing it to the ground. The wolf turned and locked onto its new opponent. However this wolf was smaller and did not talk, it only snarled. Masadorraed jumped over it with his sword pointed downwards, cutting along its spine and causing it to collapse sideways. Masadorraed turned and drove his sword through its side, assuring that it would hunt no more. Saroheed still lay in the snow, in shock.

A wolf jumped up and tore the left sleeve of Izifaris’ shirt, cutting her shoulder and leaving a bloody wound. She yelped in pain. The other wolf pried the sword from her hand, knocking her to the ground and leaving both girls defenceless. Masadorraed ran as fast as he could. Izifaris appeared unconscious. Meanwhile, Karisia tried to run towards Saroheed but the wolves pursued her.

Masadorraed jumped between them, blocking their path. One darted around his right, but when he turned and slashed his sword on its flank, the other leapt, knocking him to the ground. It clawed at his back, tearing his potato sack shirt, cutting his flesh and releasing blood to stain the ground. Masadorraed rolled in the snow to cool the burning sensation before returning to his feet. As he got up, a wolf swiped his leg, sending him in circles. When the wolf tried to strike again, Masadorraed’s spinning blade cut its side, sending it flying into a pile of snow.

Only one wolf remained, it was on Aluria. Her tail thrashed wildly, knocking the powdery snow this way and that. Karisia, weak and tired, was on her knees. She steadied her bow and let loose a single arrow. With most of the wolves dead, the force field was weakened. Karisia’s arrow pierced the beast and killed it.

Masadorraed looked around to assess how everyone fared and felt his energy drain. Izifaris, unconscious, her sword lying in the snow not far from where she fell. Saroheed too, lay in the snow, in shock with his eyes wide open. Karisia, also in shock, huddled by Saroheed. And Aluria, she appeared to be doing the same thing as Masadorraed.

Aluria looked at Masadorraed with serious eyes. “We must leave here. It will not be long before more wolves come and I don’t think that they could handle another attack at the moment.”

“Where do we go?” Masadorraed cleaned his sword in the snow and stepped towards the dragon. “If we’re going into the woods, how are we gonna take the others with us?”

Aluria looked toward the trees then back to the others. “I will take Saroheed and Karisia; you find a way to take Izifaris.” Aluria glanced at Saroheed and Karisia before taking a couple of steps towards them. Karisia, though in shock, nodded and helped Saroheed up onto Aluria’s back before she mounted herself. As the dragon leaped into the air, her two passengers almost fell. They would have, in fact, if it was not for them holding onto her spines. Masadorraed watched the dragon fly as she disappeared over the forest and the trees got in the way.

He turned to face Izifaris; she was still laying there, sword in the snow, left sleeve torn off and a blood red shoulder. He looked around as he approached her. Just the howling of the wind and small puffs of white snow. Until now, he hadn’t noticed that it was snowing.

Masadorraed bent down, picked up her sword and put it in its sheath. Wouldn’t want to leave this behind, he thought as he grabbed hold of her right arm and began to pull. This isn’t going work... He dropped her arm, letting it flop into the snow and send more white sparkles into the air. He looked around, Snow, snow, snow, trees, trees, broken branch, tr- broken branch!

He ran over to the branch and hacked away at its remaining hold until it released. Then he pulled the branch across the snow and managed to roll Izifaris onto it. He wiped his hands on his pants, Nothing better than a scratchy surface to clean blood off, grabbed the end of the branch and began to pull. It was much easier this way. His feet crunched in the snow, compressing it as he trod. At least it wasn’t slippery. Snow kept falling and began to pile up on his head, making a cold make-shift hat that he shook off every few minutes.

Trees surrounded Masadorraed and shadows were thrown in every direction. Light seemed to come from multiple angles. The forest took on a darker shade as the moon hid behind clouds. The sound of bats screeched and fluttered in the darkness. Probably a monster that only comes out at night. He pulled the branch onwards; if he stopped, more wolves might find him. He had to keep going. The bats sounded like they were only just out of his sight. I wish I knew where I was headed; it feels like I’m going in circles. 

Masadorraed looked to his sides. When he looked behind, he noticed that his footprints had been obscured by dragging the branch and fallen snow. Once again he looked forward. All directions seamed the same. This is hopeless! I’m wandering through a never-ending forest, dragging an unconscious person, it’s almost pitch-black, and there’s more than one thing after me. Am I doomed to eternal wandering or something?

Masadorraed rolled his eyes as he plonked himself down in the snow. His sack clothing soaking in moisture, freezing him to the bone; he couldn’t continue. Dropping his head back in the snow, Masadorraed’s mind wandered, They won’t find me anyway... He closed his eyes and fell asleep. 

 --- ooo ---

Aluria landed in a clearing and the snow crunched under her weight, crackling and scrunching until it compressed to ice. Karisia helped Saroheed slide down Aluria’s back, avoiding her leg, wings and spines. They landed on soft snow. Aluria began to push snow around, forming a large bump in the middle of a clear patch that was now only muddy ice.

“What are you doing?” Karisia asked as soon as she had Saroheed settled on the ground. The dragon didn’t respond; she was too busy making the mound.

“Aluria? Can you even hear me?” Karisia walked over to the edge of the slippery ice. Aluria raised her head and looked directly at Karisia, giving her an uneasy feeling.

“What?” The dragon shifted away from the mound and plonked herself next to her; shaking the ground around them. Karisia bent her knees to absorb the vibrations, hoping they weren’t noticeably knocking.

“What were you doing?” Karisia gestured her head towards the mound. It was large but not quite the size of Aluria, it just looked like a shiny snow pile. Aluria got up and walked over to the pile and began pushing into the centre of it, denting it in the front. Karisia carefully stepped across the ice, slipping every now and then but quickly re-gained her footing. Once she made it over to the mound, she noticed that Aluria had made a hollow in it.

“You’ll find it will be much warmer inside; it’s sort of like a half igloo.” Aluria extended her neck inside the hollow and swayed it from side to side, using her head to push the snow out far enough for there to be enough space for all of them to fit inside. All her pushing and rubbing caused the walls to harden and become solid.

Aluria pulled her head out, allowing Karisia to enter the snow cave. Once inside, Karisia sat down, hugging her knees to trap some of her warmth. Meanwhile, Aluria used her tail to carefully pull Saroheed over to the igloo and place him inside with Karisia. Then, the dragon turned to the woods and walked towards the edge of the clearing, stopping as she reached the tree line. A look of concern spread on her face. Masadorraed hadn’t found them yet. The dragon ripped one of the branches off a tree with her mouth and crunched it into smaller pieces. Using her wing, she scooped up the wood and carried it back to the make-shift igloo.

The opening was just large enough for her to squeeze through. Ducking inside, Aluria dropped the branches on the ground in near the middle and used her breath to set them alight. Fire danced, twirled and cracked in the still air. The inside of their shelter was bathed in a faint golden glow. The heat of the fire caused patches of the snow to melt slightly before hardening into ice. Light reflected on the icy surface and illuminated the interior further.

Karisia looked at the fire, it was mesmerising, but now she was somewhat sceptic about this game... She knew something was wrong. She could actually feel the warmth of the fire, the cold of the ice, the warm air slowly drifting upwards... Stupid, thought Karisia, this is impossible. It’s only a video game. Karisia looked at Aluria. The dragon lay on the ground resting, taking in the fire’s heat and warming her scales. She looked back to the fire. The possibility of all this actually happening was so farfetched that it confused her. I’m too tired to be thinking about this kind of thing... If I’m right... it really is night time... Karisia yawned and looked around; Saroheed and Aluria were both asleep. The rhythmic sounds of the dragon breathing, the curling, fading tongues of flame, and the warm air made her light headed. She fell asleep.

-Back-