21 June 2012
I woke up, and the vixen was gone. Without warning, she had simply left. No thank-you, no apology, nothing. I checked outside. No sign of her.
I growled and kicked the tree in despair. How rude, I thought. I kicked the tree again. There was a cry and something humanlike fell from the branch above me. I stepped away and allowed its impact to be with the ground.
I grabbed the intruder by the neck and pushed the man against the tree.
"What have you seen?" I demanded.
The person was terrified and tried to claw his way out. I kept my grip firm.
"What have you seen?!" I demanded again, louder.
The person choked violently. I slightly loosened my grip so he could speak.
He pointed towards a mountain in the distance. "Vixen gijinka," he gasped, "asleep, carried away by some person with a diamond bow..."
I knew that person all too well. Not wanting to waste any time, I swiftly broke the man's neck with a neat twist and ran towards the mountain. If that diamond bow guy was involved, I had an even better reason to be spurred on. He's not going to get her.
But suddenly, I was stopped in my tracks as the ground began to shake vigorously. After 20 seconds, it stopped. I ran even faster, all the while looking for a lake. I hoped it wouldn't be distorted.
After running for a few minutes, I did come across a lake. And unfortunately, it was distorted - ripples randomly spread from the centre. Now was the time to panic slightly.
Most people who lived in Opussia didn't actually know the signs of the great SeaMonster's re-awakening. It seemed only the tourists researched enough to understand. Perhaps Opussians should look up on their world's history a bit more, I wondered.
I sighed and continued towards the mountain. No time to think about that, I thought. I have to get the vixen. What was her name...?
I struggled a bit through some complicated thought processes and eventually arrived. Nexa. I have to save Nexa.
Around half an hour later, I reached the foot of the mountain. From where I stood, the giant rock towered above me and pierced the low clouds.
Nice setting, I thought. I began to climb.
My limbs went on autodrive. They quickly found the right holes and grappled upwards.
As I continued, I began to see my target. His red coat flapped in the ever-increasing wind - that was the first thing I saw. Then came his body - leather boots with torn jeans and a brown t-shirt. His diamond bow was slung on his back, as well as Nexa. Her wrists had been tied behind her back, and her legs had been chained as well. She wasn't moving - she wasn't asleep. She was knocked out. He was carrying her in a fireman's lift.
Once again, we meet, I grinned. Hello, Carn.
Carn reached a ledge and stopped for a rest. This gave me much more time to catch up with him. I stayed pressed against the rock face, so he couldn't see me.
When he continued, I was a mere 10 metres below him. I tried to stay as quiet as I could, stalking him vertically up towards our goal - the mountain top.
The wind had become substantially more powerful the higher we climbed. As it began to tug hard at my fur, it suddenly burst into a hurricane.
Carn was blown to the side as I hung on for my life. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Carn had managed to grab onto a small outcrop. Using the wind's power - I let go.
It propelled me right on top of Carn. He didn't see me coming.
"Hello again," I snarled as I pinned him to the ground. The wind picked up speed.
"Nice to see you too," Carn said, flicking upwards and kicking me in the nose. I staggered back, reeling from the blow.
Carn stood up and dusted himself off. "Just like usual," he tutted.
I growled. "Give the vixen back," I said.
"She's my game," Carn retorted. "You can't have her."
I knocked into him and sent us all plummeting off the outcrop.
"What was that for?" Carn exclaimed.
I ripped Nexa out of Carn's grip and leapt to the mountain, managing to find a hold. I then used the ropes that bound her to tie her to me, so she wouldn't fall. Carn landed on the side around 50 metres down. He shouted something, but the growing wind whipped away his words. A good thing too.
I climbed as fast as I could, wanting to get away from Carn. He kept up his pace, unrelenting in his pursuit.
"She's mine!" he would keep yelling. "MINE!"
"In your dreams!" I would reply, again and again.
At last, I reached the top of the mountain. The wind was ferocious, tearing massive trees from the ground and flinging them like they were simple sheets of paper. I could feel salt spray being thrown up from the ocean. It cooled my face and tingled my senses, whereupon the wind drove those feelings away.
I saw a single man facing a crowd before him, his arms raised, as if summoning a power from deep within him.
Then the greatest opponent in all of Opussia rose from its slumber.
The sea behind the mountain exploded and a great sea serpent writhed its way above the water. The great monster boasted a full body of smooth emerald scales. Its magnificent tail swished as it rose up into the air. Its fins opened up and spread their widest. The wind was now at its fastest speed as the all-powerful SeaMonster graced all with his presence.
I gasped. I never thought such a godly character could have been as beautiful as what I saw. Then he roared.
The sound echoed the noises of the deep sea. It spoke of the great secrets hidden in underwater caves. It revealed the power of the submerged kingdoms. It sparked the feeling of the beginning of life itself floating in the air around.
I was captivated. But I knew, deep down, it was all over.
Someone grabbed my ankle.
I had completely forgotten about Carn. He used my leg to pull himself up, reaching for Nexa with pure desperation. "MINE!" he screamed.
I shook the leg he was holding onto. He slipped down and was left hanging on to me by my ankle. He grinned like a crazed maniac. "MINE!!!" he screeched.
I kicked my leg one more time. As his grip was lost, I saw his facial expression turn from determination to surprise, and finally, peace.
I didn't see him hit the ground - I was too high up. I hoped he had died from the fall.
The crowd at the top of the mountain were staring at the sea serpent with a mixed show of awe and fright. I watched as the great SeaMonster brought back his tail.
I jumped. There was no point in continuing. I angled towards the nearest lake and hoped for the best.
I hit the water with a comforting splash. I quickly untied Nexa and pumped down on her heart, bringing her into consciousness. She spluttered water and opened her eyes to my sadly smiling face.
She was panting. I took her up in my arms and hugged her close to me. She wrapped her arms around me, returning the gesture.
We kissed as SeaMonster's tidal wave engulfed us and washed us away. Together.
OBR - Legend Rising • Opuss № I