Broken Earth: Unveiling the Secrets of the Worlds

Majestic Crow

The three created a diversion and burn three colored leaf that attracts other monsters that use to reside near the portal. Orcs, goblins, great lizards and other creatures are drawn to its scent and will try to smell it until the fumes disappear. They did it so that the other and new monster that decided to stay in that part will be tempted and will try to attack the other monsters. And it proved to be effective as they can hear the screeching sound of the monsters fighting in the same place that they have light the leaves.

“I did not expect for it to be so effective. I did not know that having this many kind of monsters will be useful. I still have a lot more to learn.” Rupert say while running at full speed. “Well, if it didn’t work then we could have just used another method. Not that it’s a good thing though.” Rupert and Ramirez agreed deliberately without hesitation.

If their plan of burning the three colored leaves weren’t effective, they plan to burn the dead bodies of the monsters that they encountered. Something that they have not done in the past since even the corpses of monsters are considered to be things of value so burning them would be wasteful but this time that is not their goal, they wait for an hour before they let the horse run back inside the portal, carrying all the bodies of dead orcs.

A few minutes in after carrying a huge load of weapons on their backs, they felt the exhaustion kicking in. “Lets just stop here for now. The shelter is just after that mountain. A little rest will not kill.” Xerxes said while Ramirez secure the area. He turns to look at the direction where they burned the leaves and saw that only a little smoke remains.

‘’By the time that smoke completely disappears, we need to get out of here fast.  Once its gone, monsters will run back to their nest and we can be completely overrun by then. Carrying this much load, we will definitely be easy targets.’

RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE!

The three point their weapons in the bushes in front of them but to their surprise, Yusaf appears along with the other elves. “I knew it was your doing. So you finally used our way to lure monsters in huh?” he said proudly but his brother sweep away the smug on his face knowing that their situation is not as good as he think it is.

“Sorry about my little brother’s behavior. His free spirit sometimes gets out of hand.” Flugar ask for forgiveness and tells the other elves to help carry the bulking things ok their backs. Flugar and the other elves turn to the direction when Xerxes burned the leaves and he did so as well. The smoke has disappeared and the flames had already died. Telling them to leave and get to a safe place already. “We don’t have much time, lets go.”

Their little break is over and now they are racing against time before monsters sees their location and targets them. But with an even lighter load on their backs. The group sprint through the mountain like horses and reach the shelter where other elves and natives humans kept watch. “They are here, open the door-!” the elf orders when he sees that the trees behind the group are shaking, something big is running behind them. Flugar and the others can almost see the shelter when all of the sudden he is alerted by the gesture that the elf gave him, he slightly turns his head to look behind them and saw the trees swaying like something big is following them.

FWEET!

A simple yet common sound alerted the elves and the humans. ‘I did not think they would be that fast.’ Did the leaves perhaps did not affect them?’ he thinks to himself without looking behind him knowing that he might just be disappointed and afraid. They made a little detour to see if it really was after them, they pocked the route to travel across the mountain, mid way through, Flugar turns back and sees that the swaying of the trees had stopped and no monster are going after them.

The elf leader sighs in relief and the rest of them then felt relived but amidst the relief that they are feeling, Xerxes’ eyes got fixed on the floor below him as a shadow grew larger and larger. He immediately ordered everyone to jump away from their current position.

FLAP! FLAP! FLAP! FLAP! FLAP!

They can already hear the indistinct flapping of wings from a distance when Xerxes orders them to jump. Fortunately, none of them were injured but their mind are blown away by the sight they saw.

A huge crow’s talon pierced the ground just a few meters away from them. The crow even has an arm of a beetle hanging from its beak. Telling them that it feed on the monsters that were attracted by the leaves.

“I was expecting a large bird but I did not expect it to be that huge. No wonder the beetles did not stand a chance.” Xerxes mutters when the crow flew back to the skies and a huge wave of wind pushed them back a little. “This is no time to be in awe because of the beauty of that creature. It certainly is beautiful but its just as deadly as well.” Xerxes says as the others stares in daze.

‘The swaying of the trees must have been it’s work as well. If a bird that huge flew just above the trees, they will definitely swap, a single flap of its wings was able to push a back. They look like they are on the dame size as a jet fighter but a lot more intelligent and agile compared to a jet fighter. What a privilege would it be to tame one. Not that I think it would be possible though.’ Xerxes and the others hide and run under the protection of small trees where the crow might not be able to snatch them easily.

Something that proved to be true when they no longer hear the flapping of the crow’s wings. They reach the shelter a few seconds later where both humans and elves open the door for them. “That was a huge crow. Do they grow that large?” the elf watching them said.

“I don’t know, we only saw a rather smaller ones so I can’t really say that its origins.” One of the elves responds with an exhausted face. “Rather, it was amazing that we were able to evade that attack. We could have died there if it weren’t for you Mr. Xerxes.” One elf said

“There’s no need to thank me, its concerns us and I only did what is best for us. But that was a really intense situation. I saw how the talons pierce the dry and hard ground like it was nothing. I don’t think we’ll survive if we get caught by chance. The talons alone are enough to pierce our body.”

Xerxes mutters those words and almost immediately, they imagine what would happen to them if they ever get caught by that thing. Dread and horror filled their faces. “I don’t think that is a good thing to picture out. Just thinking about it is making my body tingle. And did you see those eyes? Its as if it’s gaze are piercing through my soul.” Yusaf says while rubbing his arms.

“What a terrifying yet thrilling experience indeed but I don’t want to meet it again next time if I can help it. I don’t want to end up like bird food.” Flugar even felt the fear that everyone is experiencing. Something that doesn’t comes by so often.

“So what do you plan to do?” Flugar ask Xerxes who then turns to look outside. “If we don’t want to encounter such a thing on our journey, we should move during the night. Most birds don’t see well at night except for a certain kind of bird. That way we can move safely but compromises some things as well. We will not also be able to see much at night but that is better than being bird food.” Xerxes says with a convincing tone.

“We can also travel right now. The compromises of traveling at night are erased and the only problem is the crow, but I don’t think that is the only problem, there are also the other monsters besides the crow. But its even more comfortable to travel if you can see your way right?” the group is not in a difficult position on where they should chose the best time to travel.

Yusaf raise his hand and votes to travel while there is still light. “I think its better if we can see the road ahead and the creatures. It would be difficult to tell from a friend of foe once the night blankets the sky. Torches will also reveal our positions to those creatures, a really risky thing to do once the night falls.”

Yusaf’s opinion of walking during the night is on point. Even the elves themselves did not do this when this part of the world is a bit less chaotic than the other part of earth but its even less of an option to consider now that it has become much more dangerous than it once was.

“Yes, I agree with Yusaf. If our only goal is to evade the talons of the deadly crow then the best choice would be to travel at night. While traveling at night, the crow will be eliminated, but the chances of encountering monsters of the same level will be higher than usual.  If we use to bait the other monsters again using the three colored leaves. Would it make a difference?”  

The elves almost drop their jaws when they heard Xerxes. “That would actually make a difference. It would even be better if we light a torch on the burning leaves. That way, other monsters will be attracted to the light. And will focus on much less dimmer lights.” One of the veteran elves said.

Xerxes then takes out something from their bags, a cloak that is covered in dry leaves. “This can also be used.” Yusaf’s eyes glitter in excitement when he saw the cloaks that almost camouflage in the dark of the night and blend in with the trees.

“We made these ourselves during the dead of the night when we have nothing else to do.” Xerxes distributed them a single cloak each but they are a cloak short an elf. “Take this. I can let the other elves have one and you don’t.” the elf hesitantly accepts the cloak and wants to return it but Xerxes refuse to accept it.

“What is the first destination?” Xerxes asked to stop anyone from complaining with his decision. “We are going to the human settlement first. Our chief is there and would like to talk to you in person. It is a good thing that both chiefs are there, that way we can plan the next steps ahead in order to survive in this new world.” Flugar said when Xerxes asked.

“How about your tribe, who is overlooking everything there?” Yusaf smiles and answers proudly. “Our younger sister is there, she is the only person that our chief trusts if she is not around the tribe or did something that needs her attention. She is quite reliable when she the stand in chief.” Xerxes don’t know what do to if he should be happy or sad about what Yusaf said.

‘It looks to me that your sister is more reliable than you Yusaf. I don’t even know that you are proud to say those words. I know I wouldn’t say that proudly myself.’ Xerxes is certain that Flugar and some of the others also felt the same by what Yusaf said. They all felt pity for him, the only troublesome elf of their tribe.

“What are you all looking at? Hey, don’t look at me like that. I feel like you have lost faith in me. I’m a great leader you know.” Yusaf protested. Carleon pat his back and sympathizes with him with pity written all over his face which completely threw Yusaf off.