The Ancient Locket Part 09

The darks visions that claimed Aileen’s dreams flashed away making her start awake.
Big, ugly bearded men holding deadly weapons surrounded her.
Some had swords, guns, cross bolts. Most were just holding spears.
The brutes wore battle scars and broken noses, and jaws, they bared their mouths showing their missing teeth, making them more and more repulsing.

Who seemed to be their captain stepped forward dragging Aileen up by her hair.
Stifling a scream as she was forced to look at the hideously deformed man.
He had dark gray eyes, a straggly bearded with bits of his last meal hung in. He had only one eye. Parts of his ears where missing as well as his middle fingers.

He grinned showing his rotten teeth, wafting her with his stench.
"Good morning young lass." He greeted her. "What might you and your young friends be doing out this part of Veradecs?"
Still she couldn’t say a word.
The repulsive man signaled to another man with rope to bind her arms.
His grip was tight and demanding, he bound the ropes so tight Aileen could feel them cutting into her flesh. She let out a gasp.
The man who dragged Aileen up grinned even broader.
Walking back over to her he held out his hand. "The names Niko."
Seeing she wasn’t going to reply at his little joke, "Chuck her over with her friends."

The men parted and let the binder drag Aileen over to her friends, who were in terrible shape. Bo tried to smile comforting at her but failed miserably.
He had bruises forming all over his neck and up the side of his face. Blood streamed down his stomach. Blae looked in better condition, but not by much. She had a bloodline on her neck and a nasty gash on her forehead.
Aileen felt terrible. They must’ve woken up to find themselves surround and tried to protect themselves. While I just slept away uselessly she thought.

"What do you want with us?" she whispered to the man dragging her.
He gasped loudly in humor, turning to Niko. "She talks." He joked.
Niko looked un-amused and started shouting out orders.
He walked up to the three companions, "We march for Cristen."

(In part 8 I spelt it Christian - it was meant to be Cristen. Sorry)
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*
SANDRY;

"So how do I do this?" she asked the patient tiger in front of her.
"You must focus all your thoughts, and memories towards the locket. But you must your emotions to guide it. Just like how you used your emotions to destroy the fire demon that was attacking Risqué. What did you feel?" Luca asked.
"I felt the need to protect him. How he was able to protect me before. He was able to overcome his fears of humans to trust me, and show me his past."

They were still stuck in the cold windowless cell.
Sandry was sure it had been a good 12 hours since she had been sucked into the dangerous illusion. During that time Luca had told her of the past events that involved the Locket.

"Focus on the need to get out of here, to help your friends. Risqué, Ryka, Creena and Conylt." Luca whispered.
Aiming the locket at the wall Sandry concentrated all her thoughts, memories and feelings she could muster towards it.

Nothing happened.
"I don’t get it. I'm using every positive feeling, thought, and whatever else. It’s not working." She complained dropping her arms.
"Remember my light?" Luca asked becoming restless.
Sandry nodded, "Of course."
"Use it, use the feeling." She said pacing.

"What is it Luca?" Sandry could feel the anxiety rolling off of Luca.
"The Wanderer Kieran is approaching."
Sandry stomach rolled, "Did you say Kieran?"
Luca nodded.
"But, Creena and Conylt said- he was burned."
"Sandry, his power lies in illusions. He could make anything look like what ever he wants it to."
"So he’s been waiting all this time to get his hands on the locket?" glancing down at it.
"Yes, that is why it’s so important to get out of here."

Her hands shook as she lifted the Locket.
Kieran’s here, he didn’t die was all she could think about.
The light penetrated her thoughts, "Use your fears, and let it guide you."
Tears came to Sandry’s eyes so she closed them. Held on to her emotions letting them build, before finally releasing them to the Locket.
It began to glow softly.
Then the light grew stronger and bigger.
It illuminated the cell.
Luca jumped from her tiger to a foreign bird with huge metal wings.
"Steady now." Came Luca’s voice.
Sandry could feel the power of the Locket. It made her fear disappear and become replaced hope. The love for her friends strengthened.
The wall blew apart.
As Luca’s wings surrounded them, shielding her from the scattering debris.

Shaking her wings free from the dust and dirt, Luca glanced at the door seeing it open.
"Run Sandry, follow me." The bird flew to the ground and resumed its tiger form.
Trying not to trip, Sandry hurried after.

"YOU WON’T ESCAPE ME!!" roared a voice behind them as they disappeared back into the forest.
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*
RYKA:

They ran long and hard for two days straight. Only stopping for rest with one always on guard.
On the first night Ryka starved. She had no pack and no water. As hungry as her stomach reminded her, she felt if offered a bite she would be sick.
The Ahuizotl apologized many times and refused Ryka’s offer for them to go out and hunt while she remained hungry.

It was now day three, full from previously eating a hare (big rabbit) and having stopped at the lake for a drink. Ryka felt as refreshed as one could in her position.
The blue creature refused to talk, let alone look at Ryka.
Throughout the trip Ryka had attempted countless time to try and talk it out to the blue dog, which remained in its form to be as big a nuisance as it could possibly be thought Ryka. Even Asmund and Connaghyn attempted talking to the fussy thing.

Stopping at nightfall, Ryka ordered the Ahuizotl to hunt after previously commenting on how frail and thin looking the Ahuizotl were becoming. If they didn’t keep their strength up, the mission would surely fail.
Then who would help me on this reckless journey? She thought to herself.

"Reckless journey, very much so". Entered the creature’s mind.
Ryka looked up scowling.
"Who would help you once the Ahuizotl have finished tainting you?
You do know what they are right. The minute you try and step into Cristen you’ll be thrown in jail. While you’re spiky friends here get gutted and stuffed". It mocked.

"Oh, shut up!" Ryka almost screamed, "I are so sick of your taunts. I don’t care, I just want this nightmare to be over and go home."
Storm clouds began drawing overhead as the blue dog just sat there staring.
"What, all of a sudden you can’t get you mouth to work." Ryka was furious.

"Who really made my egg hatch?"
Ryka was gobbed-smacked with the sudden change of subject.
"What?"
"Who made my hatch? I already know it bloody wasn’t you". Its temper beginning to show.
"Of course it was me, who else would’ve been stupid enough."
It just stared.

"Well then if it wasn’t me, go find whoever you think it is." Ryka said in a deadly whisper looking at the creature straight on.
A mixed expression flashed across the dogs face for moment before resuming its blank expressionless face. Ryka could feel the contempt and anguish as well as deep loneliness coming from the blue dog.
She wondered if that was normal.

They both sat there not moving, as the sky drizzled.
Fog lifted from the ground as the Ahuizotl finally appeared.
Ryka felt the invisible burden lift as got up and ran over to them, not noticing the blue dog getting up and slinking away in the opposite direction, ears and tail down.

Approaching the Ahuizotl she saw they had fared well, smiling when Asmund produced another hare with his tail.
"Where is your friend going, Ryka?" asked Connaghyn looking past her.
Killing her smile as she looked back over her shoulder to see her dog’s last tail swish before vanishing into the fog.
"Wait." She called out and took off after it.
Connaghyn pounced on Ryka knocking her to the ground before she could take her third step.

"What are you doing Connaghyn, get off me." She cried squirming to get free.
She didn’t know why she wanted to run after the creature, but felt she must.
Connaghyn picked Ryka clean of the ground incase she tried to make another break for it.
"Let it go Ryka." Asmund said calmly. "It needs to be alone, it has adopted the thoughts its parents obviously had and needs time to think for itself."
Seeing her reluctantly nod Connaghyn put her down gently.
"Were is he going?" Ryka said to no one in particular.
"He?" asked Asmund cocking an eyebrow.
"I think it’s a He, don’t you?" she looked up at them both.
"Indeed." Spoke Connaghyn.

Walking back to their little clearing, Ryka sat down with a heavy heart.
She wanted to cry, but didn’t have the tears for it. She felt battered enough.
Thunder clashed as Ahuizotl came and sat by her.
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Okay, so I'm confusing myself, maybe you are too

Luca - is a girl.
Sandry hasn’t made the proper mental link to figure it out yet
Its main form will be a tiger, unless otherwise

Where as messed up as connection is with Ryka and the blue dog is.
HIS name is Finbar. Will find out how he knows that in chpt 10.

Chapter 10 will include Conylt this time.
Won't find out what happened with until Creena later on.
*pause for suspense*

READ ME;
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