The Ruins

Jaqavious

Lanai was taken aback by his kindness. He seemed sincere. “If you had Zombie blood, then why aren’t you one of them?” She asked him, poking at what he had given her.

He furrowed his brow and tried to think of the words. “ Have herbs. Make fix. Zombie blood make me stupid. Not kill me. Not make me bad.” He replied slowly. “Chains off, eat, then rest.” He leaned back against the wall and tried to doze off.

Lanai grabbed a handful of the fat. She smelled it. She wanted to identify the plants that were used. A cure for being a Zombie! Yeah right! She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She could take the chains off and then run, but he did save her. Didn’t he? There is no way she would’ve made it this far by herself. She could use some food, and could definitely use some rest. Could she trust him? She smelled mainly lilacs, frankincense and rose hips. It smelled good. She rubbed it along her cuffs until they slid off from her hands. She sighed in relief. It felt wonderful to have them off. She rubbed her wrists some more. The metal had dug into her skin. She was pulling them around in filth. She didn’t want to be contaminated or turn into a Zombie. She looked at Jakombie. He was kind of sweet, but could she really trust him? She didn’t want to become dumb either. She ate some of the remedy she was given. It felt wonderful to have food in her system. She didn’t remember when she had actually eaten. She didn’t embellish in the whole thing that he had given her. She wrapped some in a piece of cloth in her pocket and put it away for later. Lanai stretched out her legs on the floor of the cave. She rubbed her calves absentmindedly. She wondered if she would be able to move the rock, in her weakened state. She looked at Jakombie. She listened to his breathing, that told her he was slumbering, and went to sleep in a fetal position on the ground.

RAMAL

Ramal was completely as ease with a full stomach and supplies. The fresh venison was amazing. She was ready to head back into the mountain and kill some monsters. She had her homemade straps, to hold on to her homemade weapons. She made furs and a dwelling away. She had meat drying for jerky. She had also made a canteen of sorts. The mountain provided everything she needed. Though it took her longer than she had wanted. She was well rested and calm.

She went to the edge of the cliff. On her stomach she cautiously stuck her head over the edge to look downward. She had traveled quite a distance from where she had disemboweled her last target. Those bodies were gone. She could see where they were dragged, in which direction, and into which cave opening. This gave her the intel that she needed. She had missed her opportunity to strike as they came for it. Fresh meat went to the Orcs. The Zombies ate what was left, and what neither of them would touch went to their mutant offspring. If it became too slimy to carry, then it went into the sloop bucket.

Ramal had been watching this for a while from the opposite side of the mountain. She knew their eating process and how they hunted. What she didn’t know was what went on inside of the caves. She heard bellowing, and commands being yelled across the caves. She figured out that they had one leader, though she had never seen him.

A small bug crawled up Ramal’s face. She slid backwards and shook it off. She sat up and looked at the mountain behind her. She could live here quite happily for a long time. She debated on giving up on her thirst for vengeance and just staying in the mountain. She thought of her family. The feelings of hatred, betrayal, and disgust for the creatures came rushing back. “No,” she told herself, aloud. “I will not rest and live happily, until every one of them is dead.”

Laughter surrounded her, from small voices that were barely audible. The trees seemed to glow. Ramal jumped to her feet. “What the hell!”

The laughter grew. “What are you? Where are you? Why are you laughing at me?“ Ramal asked the air around her. She was looking raptly everywhere around her.

The laughter grew louder. It was coming closer. Ramal couldn’t see it. She pulled her sword from its sheath. She was rotating in small circles. She saw small creatures that resembles humming birds. Fast, small beating wings approached her. “You are small, even for a human,” one said to her. “There is great evil upon this valley,” said another. “And you are completely alone. “

“Leave her be, Tyrants,” Another came from a different direction. This one came to rest on Ramal’s right shoulder. “You have a great strength.” It told her. “But it is not in your sword. “ The tiny creature laughed, as it flew to the others.

Ramal put her sword away. She was mystified at what was happening right now. She thought that she was going crazy. There was no way these little creatures were talking to her. “I must have hit my head.”

Again, the laughter surrounded her. “Nope. Hahahahaha.”

“Ramal so beautiful, Ramal so kind. She is surely sweet but blind.” One fairy rhymed, swarming around her head.

“I don’t understand.” Ramal said. “What are you? What is going on?” She was turning her head around trying to keep up with them. “How do you know my name?” She flung her hands into the air.

“We are the ones that sing you to sleep. We are the ones that your dreams keep. We are the fairies to help you along. We are the ones who sing your song. “ They began singing the tune that she had sang to the deer.

Ramal was beyond freaked out. “How do you know that song?” She threw her hands back down thrust herself to the earth. “And that doesn’t explain anything.” She was shaking.

“We knew your mother. We taught her the ways of the mountains.” They were getting closer as they spoke and flew further away when they were done. In and out of her view, and range of hearing.

Ramal’s head was spinning. “My mother?” Her thoughts went back to the farm that they had. Her mother had taught her the herbs and the roots. She sang as she gardened, and gathered. Ramal had followed her and sang the songs too. From a very young child, she learned these ways.

There had been a special aura surrounding her mother. No one knew quite what it was. But fairies? Mountain creatures? What else was going to come about? Ramal didn’t know whether to be anxious, or sad, happy, or angry. These creatures could’ve helped them. She sat perplexed staring at the ground.

“Do not worry, little one. Help is on the way.” The fairies left her in a whir. She remained where she was, wondering about any other family secrets that she may have not known about.

GNORK

Gnork awoke in a foul mood. “Slave! Get me some food.” He demanded. He looked around for the chain to yank, that led to his prisoner. It was gone. He growled and bellowed an awful roar . “Where is she?” He jumped to his feet and stormed the cave, his arms swinging. He glared at everyone that he saw along the way to the front entrance. “Where is she?” He bellowed again.

“The chain mount is gone.” Jaqavious answered. “We were sleeping, same as you.” This full grown Zomborc stated cautiously. He had the features of a dead humanoid, handsome but pale. The Orc ears, hands and feet that adorned him made him a bit distorted. He even had a slight mohawk of yellow hair.

“Find her!.” Gnork commanded.

Jaqavious rallied some of the Orcs and Zomborcs into action. They made a beeline for the cave entrance. The sunlight hurt their eyes. The sun would go down soon, making it easier for them to see but harder to follow a trail. They walked into the rocks where their last meal came from. Jaqavious smelled the air. There was nothing to go on.

He looked for trail markers. There were no signs of dragging chains. There was no human blood scent to follow. They didn’t want to go back to Gnork empty handed. They went down the mountain side, shading their eyes. It would make sense for the escaped human to go back to her village. They had a long way to go. They didn’t know how long of a head start she had.

The demon train was clumsy and loud. They scared away anything that was remaining, from the wildlife in the fields. Their big feet thumped loudly against the dirt. They swayed their arms as they walked knocking over wheat tares and crops. They came to a village that was closest to the mountain. It had been set on fire. There was ash still floating in the air. “Who done this?” One of the minions asked.

“I don’t know,” answered Jaqavious. “Someone left alive, or someone that has returned.” He scowled at the remains. “Not our kind.” He looked around at the burning ash and embers. “Search the fields, and cellars. “ He ordered them.

The demons ran through everywhere that they could find. Rocks flew through the air as they tried to reach the cellars under the burned homes. “She’s not here.” They told him.

“Then on to the next one.” He flung his long arm forward. He led them away further into the valley.