Grievous Cry

‘What’s wrong with Elijah?’ Destinie asked breaking the silence.
‘Even the innocent nature of a child can still be tainted with darkness and greed and power’ Striker said, ‘we must get him to the Eaven Catlons quickly or we shall loss Elijah.’
‘Eaven Catlons?’ Jennifer questioned.
‘You don’t think your tribe is the only Catlon tribe do you?’ Striker asked, ‘you have the same beliefs and language yet you never met,’ then Striker spoke to Jennifer in her own tongue, ‘jnal wiy du jnu urh ej mnu dey.’
‘Mnur xu lneovh vuiku’ Jennifer said.
‘Nay’ Striker responded, ‘for I have made an oath to Galatians the Wise to assist Elijah until I can no longer help him.’
Eaven Forest now stood in front of them. They gazed in wonder at the mighty forest with trees standing taller then any tree they seen. The bark was brown and lively and leaves covered the floor. With Elijah in his arms, Striker entered…

Chapter X
Eaven Forest

The woods were silent even for Jennifer. Not a sound emitted through the woods. Striker walked without a sound carrying Elijah with Sheldon close behind him. Finally like thunder they heard cheering. Cheering and drums echoed through the trees. Finally the saw movement further ahead.
The came upon the Catlon Village but here most of their hair was black hair where as further south they mostly had blonde hair. Striker stepped forward with Elijah in arms and the fairest of the Catlons their greeted him. She was this tribe’s Catlon Princess and she knew Striker very well for he spent most of his time with the Catlons.
‘Greetings Princess Stacy of Eaven Forest’ Striker said lowing his head and then lifting it.
‘I see the great ranger has returned’ she said, ‘and with a group. Not like you to travel with so many or with two kids and a Catlon? I have not seen this one before. What is your name?’
‘I am Princess Jennifer of Silence Woods’ Jennifer said proudly, ‘it is a shall are paths have never crossed before because up until a few moments ago I had no clue other Catlons were out in the world.’
‘I too thought my tribe were the only Catlons’ Stacy replied, ‘but alas I now know that we have allies in the south where Silence Woods sits north of Gravince. Come tell me the adventures of your quest and I will assist you best I can.’
Destinie and Bradon told most of the story with Jennifer and Alextor adding in a few details. Stacy did not move through the tale and once they finished she stood and said, ‘I shall help Elijah best of my abilities but sadly you need to go further north to Horsebred Ranch and have the maiden of white mage, Kendra heal him but I should be able to delay the affects of Celestial for a few days.’
‘Thank you’ Striker said giving Stacy Elijah who still gasped for air. Stacy took him into the back room with herbs and other medicines. Striker did not stay and left at once to find a clear path north along with Jennifer. Sheldon looked around the village with Destinie trying to keep his mind of his ill friend and cousin.
‘Have you been here before?’ Sheldon asked Destinie.
‘Not here’ Destinie said, ‘but at the Catlon Village in the south but they look completely different. Most of the northern houses are made into the trees while the southern villages are built high on the treetops with platforms and rope.’
‘I would love to see it some day’ Sheldon said.
‘I’ll take you there one day’ Destinie said, ‘and Elijah too for he went their but his visit was cut short as of ours and so we can visit and learn much of the Catlons together.’

Destinie and Sheldon ate with a group of Catlons that welcomed them and told them much of their ways of life. They enjoyed telling each other great tales of far away places and even of tales that happened not to long ago. Finally after about an hour has passed Stacy came for the four and brought them to where Elijah was resting in her home. Elijah was resting peacefully.

Striker and Jennifer entered. Striker spoke to Stacy, ‘will he be alright till we reach Horsebred or was I too late?’
‘He shall be fine for a week’ Stacy said, ‘so please stay a little long Titus.’
‘Striker’ he responded, ‘I mustn’t be called my real name until I can trust these people with my life for there is still doubt in my mind.’
‘What doubt is their?’ Stacy asked.
‘They are only people’ Striker said, ‘and not everyone is evil and not hide it. I mustn’t let my guard down for a moment.’
‘Why help them then?’ Stacy questioned.
‘Because I made an oath with Galatians’ he responded taking her hands, ‘and I have never broken an oath yet. I promise that I shall not die without returning here to you. You have my word just like you have my heart.’
‘I will give you food and water before you leave’ Stacy said. Striker gave her a soft kiss and left the room. Elijah slowly started to wake.
‘Elijah!’ Sheldon shouted with joy.
‘Sheldon?’ Elijah said confused.
‘Alas!’ Sheldon shouted, ‘my dear friend and cousin has finally awakened! I thought for a second you wouldn’t wake but you are safe now.’
‘Tear not my Sheldon’ Elijah said sitting up, ‘I won’t leave you unattended without your Elijah now would I?’
‘Aye’ Sheldon said, ‘you never leave without a word or two. Will you not say at least a word to ease myself?’
‘I will’ Elijah said, ‘I am Elijah Diadem son of Elisah. Like my father I shall not be defeated nor kept down as long as I have a task ahead.’
‘Well then Elijah Diadem son of Elisah’ Striker said walking in, ‘your task isn’t over yet so I will hold you by your word. Rest tonight for tomorrow we head north to Horsebred Ranch.’
‘Horsebred Ranch?’ Sheldon asked, ‘why are we going to a ranch?’
‘It is a city more then a ranch’ Striker said, ‘it is known as Horsebred Ranch for all the horses it holds. We shall go find Kendra the great healer and borrow some horses and head at once to Port Town in the west.’
‘Alright’ Elijah said, ‘tomorrow it is then.’

A horn echoed through the village. Striker, Elijah, and Sheldon stepped outside and a blue banner could be seen with a golden sword with white angel wings flew in the air. Soldiers in blue and silver armor and mail entered the village. Their were maybe sixty soldiers each with swords in their stealth and a shield on their arm. Their shields too had a gold sword with white angel wings on it. In the front of the soldiers stood Joran.
‘Joran!’ Alextor yelled walking to him, ‘what brings you hear?’
‘The war’ Joran responded sadly.
‘The war is not here’ Stacy said, ‘unless you brought it with you.’
‘I’m sad to say that about forty or maybe fifty Dai-orks broke through are lines at Trece and fled east. We believe they ran into the woods.’ The captain said.
‘Well Prince of Gandrian’ Stacy said, ‘you may search the woods.’
‘Prince?’ Bradon asked.
‘I am son of the king of Gandrian’ Joran replied.

‘Prince Joran’ Alextor said softly, ‘I never knew you were a prince.’
‘Little in the south do’ Joran exclaimed, ‘but alas! tell me of your quest since we departed a few nights ago. How goes what you seek for?’
Alextor and Bradon gave Joran an update while the soldiers broke off into three groups of twenty and searched the woods.
‘Alas’ Bradon said after the tale, ‘we know little of this pendent and its purpose for all we know is that it has a lot of power.’
‘I have studied the pendent’ Joran said…

Chapter XI
Tales of Igros

Striker, Elijah, Sheldon, Destinie, Jennifer, Stacy, Alextor, Bradon, and Joran gathered in the house of the princess to hear the tale behind the pendent. ‘Well shall you start?’ Destinie asked, ‘I want to learn about this pendent.’
‘Very well’ Joran said. ‘In the year 2424, Serrago, One of the Six Grand Sages acquired a pendent called Celestial and took it to the Land of Darkice. But how did the pendent come into this world? During the dawn of are world, God created the heavens and Igros with but a word. He made that land and the seas but wanted to keep it in peace and so he made a pendent and God put into this pendent his power.’
‘God then sent his mighty Angel, Balkan to Igros to put the pendent away and make sure only the purest of heart may claim it. Balkan took Celestial into Sole Mountain and built their the Tower of Celestial. Balkan needed to keep people knowledgeable of Celestial and so he gave six men power greater then any other man and they became the Six Sages.’
‘One was Serrago who made his lair in Ethian along with the other five sages but he wanted more so he traveled to take the Trials of Celestial. Each trial was harder then the next but Balkan gave Serrago too much energy and he easily took Celestial and went west to the land of Darkice which is the only place to destroy it is deep within Mount Vovlian. Deep in the mountains sits a vortex that will cast anything into an endless abyss.’
‘Threw Celestial in and the vortex will close and nothing again will be able to go in or out. Serrago made a fortress on and around the mountain to make sure he held the power that he thought was rightfully his. Soon he made deals and pacts with Dai-orks, Belves, and Agres. Soon he held nearly twenty thousand soldiers to do his every command and that was to invade the east.’
‘Before any soldier made it to Rubian or Trece, Gandrian and Hyland mobilized their forces and countered attacked quickly and swiftly whipping out much of their forces. The Dai-orks held them back outside the Ring of Shadows, the dark mountains which surrounds Darkice for days and days until at last their forces were too weak to hold back the soldiers of the east any longer and so they retreated into Darkice.’
‘King Greta and King Rand led their forces into Darkice along with the five sages to reclaim Celestial and cast Serrago away. The siege of the fortress lasted many days and many lives were lost. Finally the gate was breached and they stormed the fortress. The Dai-orks knowing their defeat fled along with the Belves and Agres.’
‘Serrago used Celestial to cast a spell but the five sages cast Serrago into the vortex where they thought he never finished casting his spell. But he did and the five sages became the Six Reapers.’
‘Wait’ Sheldon said, ‘but how can their be Six Reapers if they were the five sages?’
‘Because one is neither a sage nor a person’ Joran continued, ‘he is Serrago’s shadow and strongest warrior. Lord of Diablen and King of the Shadows. His very darkness makes the Grand Sages of this day look like mere children but we shall discuss that maybe later.’

Special Second Edition coming 10/1/2005 with added scenes and a different plot and twist

YOU SERIOUSLY ARE ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEM IN MY LIFE!!!
((warning, pay no attention to me...I'm just a madman who enjoys giving pointers to others, and reading what they write. It helps me so i can push myself harder in my writing.))