Chapter Eight: "SALRAHNS"

The Salrahn was gliding over the desert. The wind seared into the holes in his wings, though he was used to it by now. He flapped his wings, struggling to maintain his altitude. Salrahn were terrible fliers.

Two blue and black eyes stared out of the darkness, catching the attention of the other Salrahn. He knew it was Skell, though it was still scary. Chaos landed near Skell. “Uh, Skell? I have news for Firefly.” Skell nodded. “Firefly is by the Tunn cave.” Chaos flew off to the cave.

The oasis was a sandy area, covered in sandstone and rocks. The pool in the middle was dry and cold, but still was the only water there. The waterfall coming from the top of oasis had dried up, and the lush plants around the ponds were withered and dead.

To the right of the pool if you came by the Meat-spawner path was Tunn cave. Chaos glided into the tunnel, walking the rest of the way. He stopped as Firefly turned around. Firefly was a Vetemortem, a canine-like creature. With a face like Anubis, the creature had four red eyes. Many yellow, orange and red tassels and patterns decorated his body. Sharp white teeth lined his jaw, making either a horrifying grimace or a creepy smile.

The mouth at the end of his tail snapped at the air, the tassels on its “neck” jangling around. “Yesss Chaosss? What newsss have you brought for me today? Anything on that prrrropheccccy?” The Vetemortem spoke in a raspy, slithering voice. Chaos gulped. “Yes sir. I saw four creatures, and Aereis, Ghibli, Ura and Norskogg all flying towards Flier’s Rock. Or, “Loopy Mountain” as they call it. Anyways, they had the colors in the prophecy. It seemed they didn’t know where they were, and I just watched them.”

Firefly frowned. “Hmmm…interesssting. Thought they would be…more familiar with the dessssert. Weird.” Firefly smiled. “Well, off you go now. I have work to do here…” He showed his teeth and raised his tail up, it snapping wildly. Chaos winced and ran away. He went over to Skell. “Hey uh Skell. Can you go out and see if you can find them? Bring ‘em alive, please.” Skell nodded. He saluted and walked away, then took a leap into the air, kicking his legs for liftoff. Skell had been traveling for a day now. His wings were weary with exhaustion. He half crash-landed and half dived into a Salt Flats cave, immediately shutting his eyes and curling up.

Nighttime. He awoke. Skell yawned and looked around. He heard talking. Salrahn’s had very sharp hearing. He flapped his wings and began to glide, circling around the blood-stricken area. He saw five creatures sitting near a fire, telling stories. Oddly enough, one was an Ani. Weren’t the Salt Flats Ani all killed in the Battle of the Salt?

He landed silently. First, he needed to take out the Aereis, that gold breath could damage his sight. The Ghibli would hammer him with toxin, though he could take of bit of poison breath. The Ura would no doubt try to protect the Norskogg. Come in from behind, knock out the Norskogg and do the same with the Ura as its distracted by its friend. He crept up. With the blink of an eye, the fire was out. He pinned down the Aereis, covering her mouth before she had a chance to open it. Silently he slipped to the Ghibli, grabbing her from behind and tying her mouth shut and legs together. He got over to the Ura and jumped on her.

The Norskogg wailed. “Don’t hurt her!” It pounced on him, but he flicked it away with his tail. The creature landed on her side, panting. “Stop! What are you doing?” It looked at him with tears in its eyes. “Kidnapping you.” He replied “Why? What do we matter to you?” He thought. “Well, for one you are the prophecy creatures. Two, you are trespassing. Three, I need to attack something to cheer me up.”

It blinked. “Well stop!” He looked at it. It began to explain the whole story since they met, including Visteria. Skell felt a weird feeling go over him. What was this? Was this a feeling of “pity”? It felt so wrong and out of place in his body. It desperately tried to vanquish the feeling, ultimately failing. Ugh, he did not like this. Go away, go away feeling! Skell shook his head in confusion. Then he felt a happiness? Ew, gross. Ewwwww, that is absolutely disgusting! He roared out loud. “Augh!” He grimaced at the thought of him being happy. He stared at them once more. He carefully untied them, carried the tiny Ani out of hiding, and flicked his eyes over them. “Well uh, bye I guess.” He looked back, and fell off the platform. Midfall he opened his wings and flipped over. Flying away, he thought. “Hmmm...I’ll say I didn’t find them.” He rolled in sand, and then took a bath in the cold water of the ocean, gliding back to the oasis.

“So no, I didn’t find them. Only a golden and red Ani hiding in the ruins of the Salt Flats Ani home. I did find their smell though it disappeared later on.” Firefly nodded. “Well then, if thatssss all you have to sssay, pleassse leavvvvve.” SunDrop blinked. She felt that…that Salrahn suddenly changed. The Zofs agreed to talk about it, as it made SunDrop embarrassed.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nine: "MESSAGES OF THE DARK"

Previous Chapter: Chapter Seven: "VISTERIA"