16

CHAPTER 16

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“This shouldn’t be hard” said Elena looking at the dagger knot hills. The hills formed a natural barrier for the Ferodium territory. Elena elbowed Newark “You’ll have to climb all the way to the top, kid. Don’t make sudden movements in between. That will alert the Shaders”.

“I’d dreamt about a similar creature” said Newark trying to sound a little braver. Elena ignored him and continued her instructions “Our slow speed will be our camouflage against these things. One wrong move and we’re roasted in one single breath. Then we can join them for dinner”.

They began climbing the rocky terrain which became steep later on. Elena carefully placed her feet on the safer rock openings and kept climbing up. Newark followed her trail like a sniffer dog.

A piece of rock failed to take Newark’s weight and broke off. He let out a faint cry but managed to hold on. Elena looked down upon him and frowned. All of a sudden, a Shader appeared from the side of the hill. It let out a loud hiss, grabbed Newark like dead meat, and flew off. Elena heard Newark screaming for help and leaped away from the hill. She managed to clutch the Shader’s tail. The creature picked up speed and started soaring upwards as it tried shaking off Elena from its tail.

Elena took out her sword, slashed the shader’s tail and quickly caught its remaining half. The creature let out a painful hiss and started descending to the ground. It made a head on collision with a Sand dune and tumbled away like a giant toy. Elena got up, ran towards it and quickly stabbed its neck which sputtered out black colored blood on her face. The second Shader, looking at everything from a distance, flew back towards the hills. Elena looked at a giant gate in front of her. On its either sides, two Gargoyles had a flame lit in their open mouths.

Newark got up, dusted off the sand from his clothes and came running towards Elena. Elena looked at the gate “Here we are. Our people, our emerald and our glory are behind that gate” she said. Newark smiled at her.

Newark turned back and looked at the dead Shader “Thanks buddy, you saved us a climb”. It suddenly coughed out some fire from its mouth, which made Newark jump. Its lifeless body trembled for a few seconds and finally became motionless.

“Phew. That was close” Newark whispered.

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