Flash Fiction #677 -- Forgotten/11

 

Gargoyles began swirling through the sky, and it was difficult to tell which way they would come at the group. Cita drew her weapon, which was just a reflex to danger. There might be hundreds of the gargoyles above them, and it wouldn't be long before they began picking up the humans and their companions.

Farlyn had a different idea. If he shared it with Tennon, the rest of them didn't know it. All Cita saw was the Dragon scrambling up rocks and then throwing himself over the edge of a cliff. She let out an involuntary cry of surprise and shock just as the Dragon caught the updraft of a breeze and used it to propel himself toward the attackers. He soon spiraled his way into the mass, sending gargoyles tumbling through the air and either far down the cliff or onto the trail near the group.

I finally gave Cita something to fight, and Urdo quickly joined her. She wanted to see what the others were doing, but gargoyles kept tumbling in around her, and some of them were not nearly as stunned as she would hope.

If Cita had been fighting at the side of just humans, they never would have survived, let alone won the battle. She never saw quite what Lady Kerinis did, but there were times when the sky lit in a bright yellow light and dozens of gargoyles tumbled lifelessly to the ground. All that she'd heard in the past said that the Fae were dangerous enemies and fierce warriors. Cita wondered, given her background, if she shouldn't update some of those tales because they were far too mild. Even quiet Tennon had let go of some of his inhibitions and attacked anything that came near them with a fierceness she had not expected.

Cita had also not expected to win. Only a handful of gargoyles survived to circle high in the air and then disappear into the shadows. Most of the creatures had been destroyed by magic, but the three humans had done their part as well. Now, with the immediate danger past, Cita felt as if all energy had abandoned her. She staggered back against the boulders only to find that she had wounded her shoulder, and her arm certainly didn't want to work.
Cita had not expected Tennon to join her, sitting on the ground. The battle was all but won, and no one needed their help. Cita thought the fae lady enjoyed the challenge.

"Why did I think I was forgotten?" Tennon asked as if Cita knew how such things worked.

Maybe she did. Spite with something they all understood.

"You believed it because someone wanted you to believe it. Someone was jealous of your status as the Fae and a Godling."

Two dead gargoyles tumbled past them, but Tennon never noticed.  "How is this so obvious to you, who hardly knows me?"

"I have an outside view. I can guess at the wider picture.  I might not be right.  Be open to other answers."

He nodded, but she suspected he thought he had the answer already. Pieces of the puzzle had begun to fall into place, and they were not pieces of myth, either.  They could all understand jealousy, especially of someone who remained so polite.

Despite the bad timing, Cita decided to press on with her questions.  She was only stopped because Urdo and Atora scrambled down to where they were sitting.

"No, no.  Don't get up. We took care of the problem.  You two just rest," Urdo said as he leaned against the cliffside.

Atora shook her head and went to work on tending wounds. Cita was glad to see nothing more than Farlyn in the air. Nothing would take them by surprise.

Lady Kerinis had scouted ahead on the trail. She came back looking worried.  "There is a new trail up ahead of us.  Rock troll built and leading into the wilderness.  This is Dragonland,lderness.  This is dragonland and I fear to know what they may have found and are trying to guard for themselves."

"Nesting grounds," Tennon said with a worried look at Farlyn.  "Do the dragons know?"

"Farlyn wouldn't be here if they did," Atora answered.

"And now I do know."

Cita looked up. Farlyn made remarkably little noise for something so large. He also floated well.

"My friend," Tennon said as he started to stand.

"No. Atora and I will go to find the other dragons.  You stay with these fine people.  There are Dragons involved, Tennon.  You are the only one with a chance of helping the dragons understand that they are not enemies.  And you dare not go on without them; don't even think it.  This is a dangerous magical problem.  Neither of us could name the enemy."

"Why Atora?" Cita asked.

"The same as before. She has a naturally calm disposition.  Now go.  Find the nesting grounds and save the eggs.  We will join you soon."

Atora calmly grabbed a wing and pulled herself up to the neck.  They flew away.

Tennon stood.  He looked unsteady.

"I guess we have our orders. Let's find the troll trail and hope for the best."

Cita didn't want to consider what might be the worst.

Flash Fiction #676 -- Forgotten/10

 

What they did was walk.  It was a long way to the mountains -- but they had a shortcut.

"Fae anchors,"Tennon explained. "Lady Kerinis -- my mother -- locks onto the next link and pulls us there. That is why the scenery changes and how we can hope to not draw attention. Otherwise, we would be most of the year just to get to the base of the mountains."

"And what will find there?" Sita asked.

Tennon started to say something, and from the frown on his face, she wasn't going to like what he said.

"Sita --"

"If you are about to tell me that the rest of us should stay behind, be aware that if I hear that one more time I am going to start thinking we don't need to take you along on the rest of this adventure."

Tennon looked startled. His mother gave an amused laugh and stepped back beside them. "This is where you learn you cannot do everything alone, my son. I have to admit, it is a lesson a long time coming."

"I work with others!" he protested. "Farlyn --"

"And even  with him, you managed to get him posted far from you."

"That worked best for both of us," he answered.  "At least until now."

"It may be that it was a good choice even now," she answered. "The two of you not being caught together may be our best hope. Let us see what happens."

Then with a slight nod, they moved on again. This time Sita could tell they were much closer to the mountains. 

"Matters will get far more dangerous in the mountains," the lady said. "We must go to the highest spot to find the Dragon nests. What we find there will affect everything we do afterward."

Cita noted that she did not sound as if she expected to find anything good. That attitude was noted by everyone and even Faarlyn glanced her way with growing despair. Tennon just marched onward as though he would take the next leap without them. All of their conflicting emotions seem to be caught by the wind dancing around them. Cita wondered if that might not be literally true. She traveled with fae, godlings, and dragons on this strange journey. Who knew what magic did with their emotions?

That thought turned her to her own emotional outburst. She could feel a surge of anger beneath all the other emotions and expectations. She. All that beneath the feeling of relief that the travel was going so well. Almost immediately, Cita could pick out some of the worst emotions from others.

"Urdo, please calm your temper," she suggested. When he turned her glare in her direction, she shook her head and kept her place."fae, my friend. Our emotions are getting out of hand because of the magic. We need calm. All of us need calm."

Lady Kerines turned to her with a slight look of confusion. "You seem to know a lot about Fae. Is that more common in humans these days? They never seemed much interested in the Fae back when I still spend time among them. They certainly never try to understand us."

Cita could see that everyone wanted a break before they tackled the mountains. She wasn't certain why she was anxious to get going and find out what happened to the dragons. It could not have been anything good, not with this ongoing mess that they dropped into. On the other hand, the lady had a point about humans understanding Fae. Besides, it might help that they understood each other little better.

"My reality is a long ways from this one and even farther from the one where my team and I joined up with Tennon.  When I was in my teens, I accidentally stepped through what I later found out was a male between two realities or realms as they're known here. If I had stepped right back out, I would've still been home. However..."

"Home was boring," Tennon finished for her.

"Exactly. Once I was over the line, I realized I'd never been made for middle-class family the most exciting event was settling down to watch our favorite movie together. Yes, I do miss that sometimes. Just the same, I am living the life of those movies rather than just watching them and I long ago decided I couldn't give that up. I walked away from the veil and I never went back. However, I didn't exactly fit in either. As soon as I got my head in order, I started doing my best to learn about the people around me."  
"And you done well from all I can tell," Lady Kerinis replied. She seemed to take the story well unlike Cita's two startled companions "what about you, my son? What reason did you have to leave home?"

Tennon made a slow turn to face his mother. His face had slightly paled in his eyes grown large as though he looked at something he didn't understand that all. The expression unsettled lady as well she started to stand but he waved her back down.

"I left because I had no choice. I was Forgotten."

"Never!" Lady Kerinis leapt to her feet and lightening flashed out of the clear sky. "How could you think such a thing?"

"Yona took me aside an told me," Tennon said. 

"Yona!  that sniveling little coward -- I'll make him wish he was Forgotten."

"Something we can discuss later," Tennon replied.  He looked upward.   "I fear I may have been wrong about the gargoyles."

They were launching themselves off the mountain and heading down toward the group. There were so many that Cita couldn't begin to count them. She wanted answers and this was just another delay along the road. She wasn't the only one who looked more annoyed than worried. 

Flash Fiction #675 -- Forgotten/9

 

Cita had questions.  By this point, she had so many questions that she had begun dividing them up into groups along with secondary lists.  She said nothing as they followed the fae an her army.  At least the trolls had quickly turned away and fled. When Urdo moved to walk with her, she almost suggested they head off into the wilderness with the trolls.

Then she caught site of the dragon as he gave Tennon, who was still unconscious, a worried look. She went back to mentally arranging her questions. Urdo said nothing and Atora walked beside her new friend, the dragon.

She didn't have enough questions to ask.

"I am sorry I couldn't stop to tell you what was going on when I left," Atora admitted and looked nervous. "Tennon said I was the best to go since I was the least upset. I suppose he was right. I was worried but I figured we'd handle it like everything else."

"You did the right thing. The rock trolls were not going to listen to reason until you and the Dragon arrived."

"I thought I should be scared about riding a Dragon, but by the time we got to that point I think I was just too emotionally exhausted to care. Besides, Farlyn was anxious to get back to his friend. I think he was worried enough for both of us."

"They make legends out of things like you did," Urdo added.

That won an appalled look from their companion and a laugh from Cita.

"By the time we're done, we might all be legends. I don't think that will really help with our work."

She doubted the others understood what she meant. Cita had never searched out the greater quests, happy to do searches for lost cities and ancient relics.  Temple leaders loved them, but could rarely pay well.   Her team had a reputation for solid work, though.

Would people expect legendary work now? 

Cita tried not to think about such a future.  She reminded herself that she didn't have a clue about how to get back home.  Cita had to trust Tennon to get them back where they belonged.  At least he was on his feet again.

Urdo was mumbling something.  It didn't sound like curses this time. He looked around with growing distrust.

Cita felt much the same way, and that wasn't helped when things began to change. In one step she went from scrubby grasslands to pine forest. Glancing back showed only forest.  The dragon soared over them, apparently oblivious to the changes. Or maybe he made them. Anything seemed possible.

Real and unreal no longer mattered.

Nothing mattered.

Cita slowed and stopped.  She noted that Tennon had moved to stand beside her as he waved the others to join them. Cita started to protest, but Tennon sat on the ground and signaled her to do the same.  Even the dragon found a place to land and joined them.


Tennon didn't waste time. Cita appreciated that about him, though she wondered what they were about to get into for him to be worried enough to stop them on the trail. The Dragon flopped down behind him, unsettling a layer of dust and bugs.

"Farlyn has told me some bothersome news," he admitted. "My friend can find no other dragons in this realm, although there should be hundreds of them."

"I thought they were just ignoring us," Tennon's mother answered with a look of embarrassment on her face. "Farlyn --"

"Gone," the Dragon whispered with such sorrow that everyone felt it. "They are not here. I must learn what happened to them."

"I am again offering to get three of you home," Tennon said.  "No, listen to me first. This is something far beyond the quest on which we started. I knew what we were looking for when we started. It's one thing to go looking for a fairly tame Dragon, and quite another to go hunting for the entire Dragon clan. There's no telling where they went and if they went at the urging of some enemy. Anything that could force dragons out of their lands has got to be very dangerous."

"Could they have retreated to another place?" Cita asked.

"Those mountains are our homeland," Farlyn said with a nod toward a distant line of darkness. "It is not a place we would journey away from and abandon everything we've become. Something dangerous has happened. I must search out the answer to why I can't find them. If they left on their own, the reason could be dangerous. If something forced them away, it is even worse. "

"Be wise and go your own way," Tennon said, but he looked at his mother this time.

"You need me," she said.  "You need all of us, but especially me."

"All of us," Cita said. She finally had a question to ask. "What do we do?" 

Flash Fiction #674 -- Forgotten/8

 

A waft of hot, dry air passed over Cita in the dark, and she could hear shouts from others. If this were death, it would pass quickly,

Then the darkness cleared.

She had forgotten the dragon.

No, she thought, her feelings still confused.  It was not possible that she had forgotten the very reason they were here. For a moment, she looked up and doubted the huge green creature she saw soaring above them. She doubted everything they had done to get here.

Tennon suddenly put a hand on her arm, and she felt an odd little sting. It did not clarify her thoughts, at least not at first. However, looking at Tennon brought new thoughts to her mind that helped to clear the way for others.

"Mage," she said, and hoped that made sense.

"It was clear from the start that they had some magic, or else they wouldn't be able to take Faylyn's stone.  I had to clear all thoughts of the Dragon from your minds or else he'd realize that Atora was not just escaping with the pretty babble."

"And she saved the Dragon and came back to us," Urdo said with a shake of his head.  

Cita understood that reaction. Until now, Atora had done little more than what was required of her during their journey. She was steady but unimaginative. Looking upward, Cita could see her companion riding the Dragon as it swept down on panicked rock trolls and sent them running again.

"This is madness," Cita decided. "But I think this means we have won?"

"I have one last matter to settle," Tennon replied. "And here comes Faylyn with just the one I wanted to talk to."

The Dragon circled once and then settled with a ground-shaking thump. It reached out with huge talons and daintily dropped a rock troll that landed face down on the ground before them.

"Mage Strongstone,"  Tennon said with a nudge of his foot.

The rock troll muttered something into the ground. Then he rolled over and slowly sat up.  Unlike the other trolls, he wore jewels and scarves and had a symbol of power etched into his forehead.  It glowed with changing colors, shifting from blue to green to red and back again.

He spoke before Tennon could. "I had no idea it was a dragon stone. Do I look that human? Let me rephrase that one.  Do I look that stupid?"

"And yet here you are, fighting us for it."

"King Orcsmitter sent us," Mage Strongstone said as he struggled to his feet. Cita realized he was not young. "My apprentice sensed something strong in this area.  The king gave me guards and told me to get here.  We had no idea we were dealing with dragons."

"That makes me wonder who set this up as bait and what they intended to catch," Cita added.
That stopped Tennon. He must have been ready to say something but he suddenly turned to the sky and shouted to Farlyn to land.

"I would guess it was set for the Godling," Urdo replied.  "The rest of us  are unimportant."

No one argued.  They were all watching for trouble, though. Cita Thought all the clouds look like strange creatures preparing to attack them. Forcing herself away from that fancy, Cita focused on the land around them instead. It did not help. Shadows appeared to move for no reason and she feared they were gathering at the base of some trees. She had been in dangerous situations before and could not figure out why this one so bothered her that she would imagine it to be worse.

It was the magic, she supposed. She had never dealt with mages very much, let alone dragons and Godlings. What good was Tennon, if all he did was bring them to this trouble? Cita turned to snarl some words at him, but realized in time that it would not help. Then she thought of the one question that might give them some answers.

"Is there something else that we have forgotten?" she asked.

"We have forgotten that this is home," Tennon replied.  He signaled Farlyn to him.  "And even I have allies here. I just have to draw their attention."

Before Cita could ask what that meant, Tennon dropped to his knees and put both hands to the ground.  "Blood calls to clan.  I request help."

He started to stand, but in that moment an army appeared, all of them with swords in hand.  Friend? Foe? Cita couldn't tell, especially since both Tennon and Farlyn both looked startled and worried.

A woman stepped forward. Unlike the others, her sword glowed blue with power. Cita stepped back from such power, even though the woman didn't come near her.

"So," the woman said. Se rested her sword on the ground like a walking stick and a circle of blue spread across the ground.  "At least you and Farlyn are still together."

"Mother," he began, but then faltered and stated to fall. She had to drop the sword to catch him.  

"I hate dramatics," she admitted as she gently lifted Tennon into her arms.  "Come along. Trouble will be on the way by now."

Flash Fiction #673 -- Forgotten/7

 

Mounds of dirt grew into small hills covered in rock and the sharp-edged stubble of long-dead plants. Cita could see no clear path, but Tennon pressed onward to higher hills.  Soon, they all had cuts on their legs and hands.

Atora had walked with Tennon for a few miles, but now she slowed until she was at the end of the line with Cita. They continued in silence for a while, but Cita thought her companion looked bothered.

"Is there something wrong?" Cita asked and then gave a slight laugh.  "Other than the obvious."

Atora looked amused.  "Tennon knows what he is doing."

"It is good to know one of us does."

Atora's face grew somber again.  "I don't want to fail.  That's all."

Before Cita could reply, Atora moved off to join Urdo for a while.

Was she making her farewells?  This coming battle would be the worst they had fought so far.  Some of them might not survive.  Cita wondered if she should do the same and apologize for bringing them here.

No. They could have walked away many times, even before Tennon suggested it. Now, with that green light shining brighter, it was not the time to abandon the work.

They walked on.  Closer.  Tennon looked back at them, but he said nothing.  She had expected one more attempt to dissuade them, but maybe it was too late. Cita began to hear a high-pitched buzzing noise, but it did not come from the crystal orb that held the stone. That multi-faceted ball hovered over a black pedestal, and Cita had the impression of invisible chains holding it there.

The area was barren except for the crystal and stand, and piles of dark rocks that might have marked some boundary. Atora and Urdo crossed to the display, but a flicker of lightning played along an invisible wall that held them from getting any closer.

The buzzing got louder, and something the size of her hand swept in front of her face.  Another followed.

Giant bees.

She swept one aside and down and prepared to slice it in half. 

Tennon caught her arm.  "While I appreciate your enthusiasm, maybe you could turn it to our enemies rather than allies."

She pulled back in haste. That's when she noticed the piles of rocks coming to life.  They faced rock trolls, and the giant bees were already in battle with them.

Urdo moved to her side, and they had downed two trolls before she realized that neither Atora nor Tennon was helping.  Tennon put his hands on the magic wall and destroyed it, and then quickly did the same to the crystal covering. Atora grabbed the stone as it tumbled. 

"Go!" Tennon shouted.

Atora started out at a run, the wave of Tennon's hand Center up into the air and flying. She not only moved quickly, but she was also soon out of reach of the rock trolls.

If those rock trolls hadn't then turned on Cita and Urdo, she might have watched with delight. Atora looked as if she might have been born to fly.

Tennon, she saw, was face down on the ground and in danger of being trampled. She still had questions for the Godling, so she went to stand over and protect him. Urdo, as always, kept to her side and fought off two trolls. It was hard to battle rock with metal, but they both slashed at vulnerable spots around the joints.

Eventually, trolls began to fall. Unfortunately, Urdo and Cita had both suffered from serious injuries by then. Their only hope came when Tennon struggled back to his feet with the long shard of crystal in his hand. He drove that makeshift weapon straight into the back of the troll's head, and it fell dead without a sound. Another troll charged him and won the crystal straight through his heart. By then, Tennon had bad cuts on both his hands. That didn't stop him from charging toward the next group of ten trolls.

Cita and Urdo joined him. The bees swarmed in behind them, and the trolls didn't like bees either. That was probably because they headed straight for the creatures' eyes. Tennon took advantage of the blinded trolls and killed two more. Then the mage went back down to his knees, and it was all Cita and Urdo could do to keep them safe. None of them would last much longer. Except for the bees, there was no sign of any other allies. However, Cita could see more trolls coming at a run across the grasslands.

"Urdo, you should --"

"If you say one more thing about leaving -- drop!"

Cita threw herself flat on the ground as Urdo stabbed. The rock troll granted and maybe cursed before he fell and landed on Cita.  It twitched once and then became a dead weight. Dead rock troll weight.

"Urdo --"

"Busy here."

Cita gasped out a curse and tried to pull herself out from under the body. She desperately tried to ignore the pain in her side. She had clawed about a hand's breadth forward when Urdo yelled a curse and fell over her and the dead troll.

And then the world went black.