Ar’Zul

The storm has arrived

The storm had arrived.

The first thunderclap shook the jungle.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The sound rolled across the treetops and into the valleys below.

Rain hammered against the roofs of the Gorilla and Panther settlements. Wind tore through the branches, bending the enormous trees until they groaned beneath the force of the storm.

WHOOOOOOOOOOSH!

Lightning split the sky.

KRAKOOOOOOM!

For a moment, the entire jungle became bright as day.

Then darkness returned.

The civilians of Ar’Zul huddled inside their homes and shelters.

Children cried.

Parents held them close.

Elders whispered prayers to the three gods.

The jungle trembled beneath the storm.

But beneath the thunder…

another sound moved through the darkness.

The quiet movement of warriors.

⸻

THE FIRST SHADOWS

Near the edge of Korrakai Crossing, a two-man patrol moved through the rain.

The two warriors carried spears and wore the mixed armor of the new Gorilla-Panther platoon.

One was a Gorilla.

The other was a Panther.

They moved carefully through the darkness.

“Can you see anything?” the Panther whispered.

The Gorilla shook his head.

“Nothing.”

Lightning flashed again.

KRAK!

For one brief moment, the jungle was illuminated.

Two Snake Clan warriors stood behind them.

Motionless.

Watching.

Waiting.

The Snake warriors had already raised their weapons.

The Gorilla warrior turned slightly.

The Snake warriors prepared to strike.

Then—

THWIP!

A knife flew through the darkness.

It struck one of the Snake warriors directly in the throat.

The warrior staggered backward.

The second Snake warrior turned.

A Panther warrior emerged from the shadows.

She had been watching from a nearby tree.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Not tonight.”

The remaining Snake warrior raised his weapon.

The Panther warrior attacked.

SHNK!

The Snake warrior fell into the mud.

The Panther warrior immediately turned and ran.

She sprinted through the rain toward the alarm tower.

BOOM!

Thunder shook the ground behind her.

She reached the alarm platform and grabbed the heavy rope.

Then she pulled.

GONG!

The alarm echoed through the merchant city.

GONG!

Again.

GONG! GONG! GONG!

The sound cut through the storm.

The attack had begun.

⸻

GORAK HEARS THE ALARM

Across the city, Gorak was helping a family reinforce their home.

A wooden beam was being secured across the front door.

Gorak drove the support into place with one hand.

THOOM!

“There,” he said.

The father looked at him.

“Thank you, Lord Gorak.”

Gorak shook his head.

“Tonight, I am just another pair of hands.”

Another flash of lightning illuminated the city.

Then the alarm sounded.

GONG! GONG! GONG!

Gorak froze.

His eyes turned toward the sound.

Doran’s alarm.

The city was under attack.

Gorak immediately reached for his weapon.

The father looked at him.

“What is happening?”

Gorak turned toward the family.

“Stay inside.”

“But—”

“Lock the door.”

The man nodded.

Gorak stepped into the rain.

He looked around.

The storm was already making movement difficult.

The civilians were afraid.

The warriors were spread throughout the city.

Gorak tightened his grip on his weapon.

He could call for help.

But he knew what the Snake King wanted.

A large response.

A concentrated group of warriors.

A chance to destroy as many of them as possible.

Gorak shook his head.

“No.”

He would not give the Snake King that opportunity.

He would go alone.

Gorak stepped into the darkness.

The rain poured across his face.

His one-handed weapon rested firmly in his grip.

He moved toward the merchant city.

⸻

THE CLIFFSIDE

High above the jungle, Kaela sat inside a shelter surrounded by children.

The storm raged beyond the walls.

BOOOOOOM!

Several children jumped.

Kaela smiled calmly.

“Do not be afraid.”

One young child looked up at her.

“But the storm is so loud.”

Kaela placed a hand gently on the child’s shoulder.

“The storm is loud.”

Another thunderclap shook the shelter.

KRAKOOOOOOM!

The children huddled closer together.

Kaela continued:

“But you are not alone.”

She looked around at them.

“Kal’Zar watches over the shadows.”

A flash of lightning illuminated the cliffs.

Kaela smiled.

“Our god protects those who protect one another.”

One child raised his hand.

Kaela looked at him.

“Yes?”

“Can Kal’Zar protect us from the Snake Clan too?”

Kaela opened her mouth to answer.

Then she heard it.

Far away.

GONG!

Kaela’s expression changed.

Another alarm followed.

GONG! GONG! GONG!

The children looked toward the sound.

Kaela stood.

“Stay here.”

One of the guards stepped forward.

“Leader?”

Kaela looked at him.

“Protect these children.”

The guard nodded.

“With my life.”

Kaela grabbed her weapon.

The children watched her.

“Are you going to fight?”

Kaela looked back.

“I am going to make sure you never have to.”

Then she stepped into the storm.

⸻

THE SERPENT KING WATCHES

Deep within the darkness surrounding Korrakai Crossing, the Serpent King watched.

Lightning illuminated his face.

The storm covered the movement of his warriors.

Rain washed away their footprints.

Thunder hid their footsteps.

This was exactly what he had planned.

His remaining forces had infiltrated the city.

They had been ordered to attack in small groups.

Destroy patrols.

Kill guards.

Create confusion.

Then, once the city responded…

the Snake warriors would strike at the central structures.

The Serpent King looked toward the merchant city.

“Begin.”

The Snake warriors moved.

But the Serpent King did not know that the first part of his plan had already failed.

The mixed platoon had been waiting.

⸻

THE PANTHER AND THE TWO SNAKES

Kaela moved through the storm.

Rain ran down her face.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Then she saw movement.

Two Snake warriors were moving between the buildings.

One whispered:

“The alarm has been raised.”

The other looked toward the center of the city.

“Then we move now.”

Kaela stepped from the shadows.

“No.”

The two Snake warriors turned.

The first raised his blade.

Kaela was already moving.

SHNK!

Her blade struck his weapon aside.

The second Snake warrior attacked from the opposite side.

Kaela ducked.

WHOOSH!

The weapon passed over her head.

She pivoted.

THUD!

Her elbow struck the warrior in the ribs.

The warrior staggered.

The first Snake warrior lunged.

Kaela stepped aside.

CRACK!

Her knee struck his stomach.

He collapsed.

The second warrior raised his weapon again.

Kaela caught his wrist.

Twisted.

CRK!

The weapon fell into the mud.

Kaela struck him once.

THOOM!

He fell beside his companion.

Kaela looked down at them.

“Two.”

She continued forward.

⸻

GORAK AND DORAN

Gorak reached the center of Korrakai Crossing.

Doran was already there.

The massive Gorilla warrior stood in the rain wearing his stone gauntlet.

Around him, the mixed platoon waited.

Panther warriors crouched on rooftops.

Gorilla warriors stood between the buildings.

Together, they formed a defensive network.

Gorak approached.

“Doran.”

Doran looked at him.

“Gorak.”

Gorak glanced around.

“You already have a plan.”

Doran nodded.

“We already have one in effect.”

Gorak looked toward the shadows.

“What is it?”

Doran grinned.

“Let them come to us.”

Gorak studied him.

Doran continued:

“The Panthers find them.”

He raised his stone gauntlet.

“Then the Gorillas finish the fight.”

Gorak looked at the warriors.

“They are ready?”

Doran looked toward the platoon.

“I believe in them.”

Gorak smiled.

It was the first time he had seen Doran speak with such confidence about a force made of two clans.

Gorak looked at him.

“Then where would you like me?”

Doran raised an eyebrow.

Gorak smiled.

“I will follow your lead…”

He stepped closer.

“…like old times, old friend.”

Doran stared at him for a moment.

Then he smiled.

“Try not to lose another arm.”

Gorak growled.

“No promises.”

⸻

THE NEW WARRIORS

A movement appeared on a rooftop.

A Panther warrior raised two fingers.

Two Snake warriors were moving below.

The Panther warrior disappeared.

A moment later—

THWIP!

A blade struck the ground beside one of the Snake warriors.

The Snake warrior turned.

Too late.

The Panther warrior dropped from above.

THUD!

The warrior was thrown toward the center of the street.

Waiting below were two Gorilla warriors.

They caught him.

One grabbed the warrior’s arm.

The other seized his body.

Together, they twisted.

CRACK!

The Snake warrior fell.

The Panther warrior landed beside them.

The three warriors exchanged a quick nod.

It was a move they had trained together.

The Panthers found the enemy.

The Gorillas finished the attack.

Across the city, the same thing happened again.

And again.

And again.

A Snake warrior emerged from an alley.

A Panther warrior appeared behind him.

THWIP!

The Snake warrior was driven toward a Gorilla warrior.

BOOM!

Another fell.

The mixed platoon moved with terrifying precision.

They were no longer two separate clans.

They were becoming one fighting force.

⸻

THE SERPENT KING’S PLAN COLLAPSES

From the shadows, the Serpent King watched.

One of his warriors fell.

Then another.

Then another.

His eyes narrowed.

“Why are they not panicking?”

Narek stood beside him.

“Because the city is ready.”

The Serpent King looked toward the rooftops.

Panther warriors moved like ghosts.

He looked toward the streets.

Gorilla warriors held the lines.

The two clans were working together.

The Serpent King’s expression darkened.

“Then change the plan.”

Narek looked at him.

“How?”

The Serpent King stared toward the eastern edge of the city.

The ancient tunnel.

The tunnel he had discovered through his research.

The tunnel that, according to the ancient markings, led deeper beneath the jungle.

Toward the Tide Stone.

The Serpent King looked at his remaining warriors.

“Keep them occupied.”

Narek’s expression changed.

“My king—”

“Keep them busy.”

The Serpent King turned away.

“I will find the stone.”

Narek stared at him.

“You will go alone?”

The Serpent King looked back.

“If I do not return…”

He looked toward the distant city.

“…then the Snake Clan is already dead.”

Then he disappeared into the darkness.

⸻

THE HIDDEN TUNNEL

The Serpent King moved through the storm.

He did not fight unless necessary.

He crawled through mud.

Moved beneath fallen trees.

Waited beneath the shadows of buildings.

He passed patrols.

He passed burning torches.

He passed within feet of Gorilla and Panther warriors.

But none saw him.

Finally, he reached the tunnel entrance.

A narrow opening beneath the roots of an ancient tree.

The Serpent King crouched.

He examined the markings.

The symbol of Zahkul was carved into the stone.

Below it was a second symbol.

The blue stone.

His eyes narrowed.

“This is it.”

He entered.

The tunnel descended.

Deeper.

And deeper.

The sounds of the storm began to disappear.

The thunder became distant.

The rain vanished.

The darkness swallowed him.

⸻

THE CAVE BELOW

The Serpent King descended into a vast underground cave.

The ceiling disappeared into darkness.

Tiny glow worms covered the walls.

They gave off a faint blue-green light.

The cave seemed alive.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Water fell from the ceiling.

Something crawled across the ground.

SKRRRRT.

The Serpent King looked down.

A large insect disappeared into a crack.

Above him—

FLAP! FLAP! FLAP!

A swarm of bats flew from the darkness.

The Serpent King did not move.

Cold air drifted through the cave.

A chill passed over his body.

He slowly looked toward the darkness ahead.

Something was breathing.

Or perhaps…

the cave itself was breathing.

The Serpent King moved toward the glow worms.

He carefully gathered several of them.

He placed them inside a hollow piece of bone.

The glow worms illuminated the chamber.

A crude torch.

A pale light.

The Serpent King raised it.

The cave stretched before him.

Ancient markings covered the walls.

He stepped closer.

His eyes widened.

A drawing showed a massive blue stone.

Beneath it was the image of the enormous creature from the ancient text.

The Deep One.

The Serpent King touched the marking.

“The Tide Stone…”

He followed the markings.

The symbols led deeper into the cave.

But then he noticed something.

A second carving.

A warning.

A serpent wrapped around a skull.

The Serpent King narrowed his eyes.

“What did you know?”

He continued forward.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The sound followed him.

Then something moved behind him.

The Serpent King turned.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

He continued walking.

But something had begun following him.

⸻

THE MERCHANT CITY FIGHTS BACK

Above the cave, the battle continued.

The mixed platoon moved through the city.

A Snake warrior attacked from a rooftop.

A Panther warrior spotted him.

“Above!”

A Gorilla warrior looked up.

The Snake warrior jumped.

The Gorilla warrior caught him.

THOOM!

The warrior was thrown into the mud.

Another Panther warrior landed beside the Gorilla.

“Good throw.”

The Gorilla warrior grinned.

“Good spotting.”

They moved together.

The alliance was becoming stronger with every battle.

The Snake Clan had once relied upon fear and shadows.

But now the shadows belonged to the Panthers.

And the streets belonged to the Gorillas.

⸻

GORAK AND KAELA

Near the edge of the city, Gorak and Kaela fought side by side.

A Snake warrior attacked Gorak.

Gorak stepped forward.

The warrior struck.

Gorak twisted.

He no longer tried to block the attack with a second arm.

Instead, he shifted his entire body.

The blade passed beside him.

Gorak turned.

His right foot planted firmly.

His shoulder rotated.

His weapon moved in a tight arc.

BOOM!

The Snake warrior was thrown backward.

Another attacked.

Gorak ducked.

The weapon passed above his head.

He stepped inside the attack.

CRACK!

His elbow struck the warrior’s chest.

Then he pivoted.

THUD!

The Snake warrior hit the ground.

Kaela watched.

For a moment, she stopped fighting.

Gorak moved differently now.

His old style had been powerful.

But his new style was something else.

More compact.

More efficient.

He had learned how to use his entire body as a weapon.

He had turned his weakness into something new.

Kaela watched him move.

She almost smiled.

He had worked for this.

Every day.

Every failure.

Every fall.

Every time he had been forced to stand again.

Gorak had rebuilt himself.

Kaela admired him.

Then she heard something behind him.

A Snake warrior emerged from the darkness.

His weapon was raised.

Kaela’s eyes widened.

“Gorak!”

But Gorak had already seen him.

He turned.

His weapon left his hand.

WHOOOOOSH!

The weapon struck the Snake warrior directly.

THOOM!

The warrior collapsed.

Gorak walked over and retrieved his weapon.

Then he looked at Kaela.

“You’re slipping.”

Kaela stared at him.

“I was distracted.”

Gorak raised an eyebrow.

“By what?”

Kaela narrowed her eyes.

“Do not start.”

Gorak smiled.

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

“Heh.”

Kaela shook her head.

“You are becoming annoying.”

Gorak lifted his weapon.

“You said that before.”

“And you were annoying before.”

Gorak laughed.

For a moment, the battle disappeared around them.

The thunder.

The rain.

The screams.

The darkness.

Everything faded.

There was only the two of them.

Kaela looked at him.

And Gorak looked back.

Something had changed between them.

Neither spoke about it.

Neither was ready to name it.

But it was there.

Growing quietly.

Like a flame protected from the wind.

Then a distant explosion shook the city.

BOOOOOOM!

Both leaders turned toward the sound.

Kaela’s expression hardened.

Gorak gripped his weapon.

The battle was not over.

⸻

THE SERPENT KING

Deep beneath the jungle, the Serpent King continued into the cave.

The glow worms flickered inside his bone torch.

The cold wind grew stronger.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

He reached a massive stone wall.

At its center was a carving.

A blue stone.

The Tide Stone.

The Serpent King stepped closer.

His hand reached toward the symbol.

Then he stopped.

A sound came from the darkness behind him.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMM.

The Serpent King slowly turned.

His eyes narrowed.

The glow worms illuminated only a small portion of the cave.

Beyond the light…

something moved.

The Serpent King tightened his grip on his weapon.

The darkness shifted.

The sound came again.

Closer.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMM.

The Serpent King stared into the blackness.

Then, slowly…

he smiled.

“Have you been waiting for me?”

The cave went silent.

Then two enormous blue eyes opened in the darkness.

The Serpent King’s smile disappeared.

The glow worms flickered.

And somewhere far above…

the storm continued to tear through Ar’Zul.

TO BE CONTINUED.