The Last Tree

Chapter twelve

They were flying through the air at a break necking speed. Brother squid would be going faster but he didn’t want to kill the other two. The horse was passed out and Emily had her self curled into a ball. They slowed down as they neared the city. “This is where I’ll leave you two. Do what you want when Roscoe awakens.” Brother squid gently sets them down.

“Brother squid!” Emily grabs his arm and brings him into a hug. “If I never see you again, I’m really glad to have met you.”

“And I, you. But I must go now. Make sure you seek shelter because I am bringing the sky down on the emperors head.” He smirks before turning back into a squid and flying high into the sky and speed towards the building Adam is. The storm he has been feeling reflects on the sky as lightning and wind shoot across the sky. Lightning breaks the roof open and people stare in awe and confusion as a lone squid transcends from the sky. They shake as they hear a voice in their head. ‘Leave this city if you don’t want to die!’

Emily fights against the people fleeing the sister trying to get to the guard barracks her brother and father normally stay. “Emily! What are you doing here!” Derek a cadet she graduated with stops her and pulls her aside. “Everyone is fleeing, and why are you even here?”

“My dad and brother are here. I have to find them!” She rushes to push past him only for him to stop her in a hug.

“The emperor killed them.” He squeezed her harder as she stops moving in shock. “He said they could have a break when they die and to remember that if we want one too.”

“No,” she whimpers, “no, no, no, no! They were loyal, always doing what he said! Even when they didn’t agree! Why! Why would he kill them!?!” Her cry’s were drowned out by the fleeing and screaming people. She fell apart as the emperor’s palace burned a few blocks away.

Brother squids heart hurt for the girl as he came across Adam lying in a soft bed with blood streaks from his mouth, nose, ears and eyes. His breathing was ragged, and he was shaking from the pain.

“The only way to save him now is to put him in his mother’s body.” Brother squid has the emperor suspended in the air, he was by Adam’s side digging out his sliver with a knife. “He won’t make it other wise. I know the stories, he’s not supposed to leave his tree’s side for very long. His body is going to die anyway. Why not take the body I prepared for him.” He floats Adam’s body up, ignoring the emperor as he takes both of them to the other stones. There in the center of the stones floats a woman’s body without a brain and a beating heart. “The brain continued to decay no matter how much I persevered the rest. But that won’t matter when you transfer him into her body. You can have you Adam alive and I can have my sister back.” He laughs madly, “come on it’s a win win.”

‘You’re wrong, Adam does not need that body to survive. And as soon as her body touches the air she will turn to dust.’ Cracks started to form on the tank and soon she was hanging from the wires as liquid poured out.

“No! No! Sister!” The emperor screamed and sobbed as she turned to dust. “You will pay squid! And watch as Adam dies!” He swings his fist in the air but nothing will work.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll follow your sister in death.’ Brother squid watches as Adam’s wounds get transferred to the emperor. He begins to cough up blood and bleed from every hole in his body. Soon a gaping wound opens on his chest and he slumps in the air as he bleeds out. Brother squid throws him to the side with a flick of his tentacles. He watches as Adam stops bleeding and his wound closes. This will buy him enough time to get him to Adam’s tree. The stones float in a circle around the two as they make their way out of the building. The city has been destroyed and abandoned as he fly the two of them towards Emily. She stops and looks at the sky, he could see tear tracks on her dirty cheeks. But he could feel her resolve as she led the refugees towards the next town over. Guards form a circle around her and the others as he flys forward. ‘Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm.’

Emily watched as a big unknown to most animal fly towards them with Adam’s unconscious body and The Stones. It was intimidating, people were crying and scared. But she knew better than to fear him. He had saved the world and all these scared people. “Brother squid, I don’t think they would be as scared if they saw your human form.” She watch as people went from horror to scarily amazed. They were in awe as this being of immense power and beauty came before them to land softly before a woman that led them to safety. “My brother and father were killed by the emperor.” She stated softly as she checked on Adam.

“I know, I was with you when you found out.”

“But-“ he pulled her into a hug.

“Not physically no, I was raiding the castle, but I kept one eye on you. You have made it into one of the humans I like. There’s not many, well you and Adam.” She chuckled wetly into the crook of his neck. “I killed all the evil guards but you should watch out for human greed as you go back. Many of the people wish to be with you. That Derek guy is so impressed with you, I kinda get this warm fuzzy feeling when he looks at you.”

“What, you think he likes me?” She glared up at him through tears. Emily knew he was trying to distract her from her grief. This wasn’t the place to break down. She pushes brother squid away. “I’m guessing that means you aren’t going back with me.”

“No they need you here, and I have to get Adam back as soon as possible.” He looked at the circling stones floating above their head. “Plus I do not trust the other humans to not l**t after these guys.” He motions towards them. “I can already feel a few.” He glances back at the crowd. “Roscoe is coming with you, he’s just around the corner. When you get back to tree haven city let him lead you to the sacred tree, we will be waiting for you there.” He kisses her forehead as he floats towards the sky. “We shall see you in half a year. You should find the environment improving by the day. Only you are aloud into the sacred forest.” He warned as he flew higher. Suddenly they zoomed across the sky to disappear into the horizon.