~ The Misadventures of the Twins - Short Story - Part 2 ~

Chapter 6 – Giant’s pass.

Tiffaniel rode on Hendosfyre’s back as they reached the clearing where the griffin had seen the beast that made the enormous thudding noises. Tiffaniel looked around from the griffin’s back, the breath catching in the back of her throat. Groyven stood atop a fallen tree, a freshly fallen tree, its roots torn clean out of the ground. He stood, struck dumb by what he saw. This wasn’t a natural clearing in the forest, it was a corridor of uprooted and crushed trees. Trees that were hundreds of years old snapped like toothpicks.

“What in this world?” Tiffaniel said as she looked at the flattened trees in awe.

Then she saw it. A depression in the ground. “Groyven, do you see it?”

“See what?”

Tiffaniel pointed to a place fifty strides away. “Over there, it looks like… Like a footprint!”

Groyven walked along the trunk of a felled tree to get a better look.

“That is, I cannot believe it! That’s a human footprint!” he ran along the tree and dropped to the ground. Running, his robe fluttering behind him, he came to a stop at the edge of the hole.

“That footprint is deeper than I am high!” he yelled excitedly. Looking up he allowed his eyes to follow the wreckage of trees, until his sight met a chain of mountains. He held his breath and pointed. Tiffaniel looked to where he was pointing. She saw mountains.

“Mountains, I see mountains, Groyv…” her voice trailed off. Her eyes slowly widened in surprise, for there, in the mountains was something moving. Something enormous, a giant, a giant of gigantic proportions. She watched it disappear from sight. Looking back to her brother she noticed that he had taken out the map and compass, and was hastily drawing and marking their travels.

“I think I shall call it Giant’s Pass.” Said Groyven.

Tiffaniel got down from Hendosfyre’s back and looked in the hole. She heard her brother talking to himself about the fact that North seemed to be in a different direction to where it was normally, and that the sun was rising in the West instead of the East.

Unbeknown to the twins, from the cover of the trees a creature was watching, listening to the two children. It’s black fur bristled as the griffin came once again into view. Saliva dripped from its long teeth. Its eyes gleamed red. It had been following them since daybreak.

“I think I can hear a waterfall.” It heard the young girl say.

Dropping once again from sight it waited patiently in the shadows.

Chapter 7 - Afternoon

Later that afternoon, the twins stumbled through the ancient trees. Moss and lichen hung from branches. Their trunks so wide that even ten sets of twins couldn’t hold hands and make a ring around their bases. Some leaves fluttered down to the forest floor as a light breeze rustled through the tops of the trees.

“I’m so thirsty.” Said Tiffaneil.

“You’re not the only one.” Remarked Groyven under his breath.

“It’s a shame that we couldn’t ride Hendosfyre.” Said Tiffaniel as she stepped over a branch lying on the ground. Groyven pulled his hood up and made faces to himself.

“He had been watching over us all night, he also needs his rest.” He said.

Groyven heard a sigh from behind him.

“Do you think Selera will be mad?” said Tiffaniel.

Groyven’s eyebrows raised, “Yes, and no.”

“It was my fault, I used the device.” Said Tiffaniel. “It is my fault.”

Groyven waited until his sister caught up and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked. “You did what you did because you had to. Selera will find a way to get here, she will come for us.” He slid a small silver pendant from his robe. “Remember what she said when she gave us these, after mum and dad died?”

Tiffaniel nodded. “That she could track us through time and space, that she would be led to us.” She slid a finger along the fine chain at her own neck. A tear came to her eye.

“She is a powerful witch, sister, just like you will be someday. Hey, I think we are getting closer to the waterfall.”

Through the trees danced a reflection of the late afternoon sun off rippling water.

From a safe distance the black furred creature watched, waiting for darkness, as the children stepped out onto the banks of the river.

The twins immediately drank from the waters that rushed by. The top of the falls but a few steps away to their left. No longer thirsty, Tiffaniel explored while Groyven charted their journey on his map.

“Why don’t we stay here tonight?” he heard his twin ask in the distance.

“I suppose we could. Could you gather some sticks for a fire?”

He heard what he thought sounded like a ‘yes’ in the distance. He turned and looked suspiciously at the tree-line. He had this uncanny feeling that something was watching them. But, when he turned, there was nothing.

Tiffaniel sat on the riverbank looking into the water, staring at her broken reflection. Dipping her finger into the water she turned her reflection to ripples, blowing gently on the water, ice started to form around her finger. She smiled, humming to herself as the sun touched the horizon.

Chapter 8 – Eclipse and danger

Night quickly stole over the land, with such suddenness that one could only liken to the snuffing of a candle. The twins looked around in awe. Huddled together they looked at the night sky. Crystalline stars shone in the blackness, like a tiara on the mantle of the universe.

“Wasn’t the moon out last night, when we arrived?” Groyven asked his sibling.

Tiffaniel looked to the horizon, where the sun had been but a few short moments before. Eyes wide, she tugged at Groyven’s sleeve. Standing, she moved to get a better view. A halo of light shone over the mountains in the distance. The sun had been covered by the moon as it was setting. An eclipse shadowed the land in its early darkness. The twins stood, staring at the eclipse, as the sun, hidden behind the moon, disappeared below the horizon. The moon, a silver coin in the night sky slowly started its long journey across the heavens.

“An eclipse. Groyven, I have heard of them, but never seen one, isn’t it beautiful?”

Groyven nodded as the water of the river rushed past their campsite. The cry of a wolf tore through the cool night air, breaking the stillness. Tiffaniel heard a snap of fingers and a warm flicker of light grew behind her. She shivered as she pulled her robes closer around her. That cry was a lot closer than last night.

Sitting near the fire she watched Groyven through the flames as he looked at the map.

“Do you… Do you think Selera is on her way?” she asked.

Groyven looked up, his eyes meeting hers. “I think she is doing everything she can to get here.” He left the rest of his thoughts unspoken. That it would take days, maybe weeks for her to get to the enclave and another device of plane shifting to find them. And then the search, trying to find them in this wilderness. He fished about in one of his pockets, producing a fruit he passed it to his sister. They would have to find shelter, and soon. The hairs prickled on the back of his neck. Turning he looked around. Was that movement in the shadows?

“What is it?” said Tiffaniel.

“I don’t know, I just keep getting the feeling that something is watching us. But whenever I look, it is gone.”

Again the lone cry of a wolf echoed through the forest.

“That was close, Tiffaniel!” he stood. Looking into the forest, straining his eyes, searching the shadows. Tiffaniel stood at his side, her hand raised, ready to strike. His eyes closed, he concentrated, reciting a spell in his mind.

Chapter 9 – Attack at water's edge

A silent form loped through the shadows, its black fur bristling. Breaking from the cover of the trees it came from behind. Leaping through the fire it attacked.

Both Groyven and Tiffaniel were knocked to the ground. Tiffaniel rolled away, quickly getting to her feet she turned to see Groyven fending off a black wolf with a stick. Her hood thrown back black hair flying she started making intricate motions with her hands and then gestured at the lone wolf. Little balls of ice flew from her hands. They assaulted the wolf, striking it like hail. Knocking it back and away from Groyven. Dropping her hand, the spell was spent. She readied the next one as Groyven reached into his robe, and threw a small figurine to her.

The wolf stood at the edge of the fire light, snarling.

“Summon Hendosfyre, Tiffaniel, summon him!” he said as he stepped away, he could feel the heat of the flames at his back. Leaping forward, the wolf attacked again. Groyven jumped out of the way. Cinders flew as the wolf barrelled into the fire, yelping in pain.

Standing, singed, the wolf howled, calling into the night. But unlike before, many voices rose in return, answering the call. The wolf slinked into the woods, watching and waiting. Tiffaniel searched around the clearing, she felt Groyven’s hand in hers and they ran along the bank of the river. Tiffaniel stumbled only to be pulled back up, as they continued to run. Again the call of the wolf.

Stumbling, exhausted in the moonlight they stood, the water of the river lapping at their shoes. Panting, they stood, listening. Groyven readied his hands.

“Where’s Hendosfyre? Did you summon him?” said Groyven.

“Yes, he’ll just have to find us.”

Groyven nodded. “Let’s just hope that is sooner, rather than later.”

The clouds passed out of the path of the moon, brightening the shoreline, revealing dark lupine forms slinking towards them. “We’re trapped!” said Groyven. The wolves moved closer, he could see their eyes. Narrowing his own, he gestured in a circular motion, spreading his fingers and then clenched his fist. Fire ignited around them, a wall of flame as tall as he was formed a wide semi-circle around them. Creating a protective curtain of flame.

“Think of something sister! It won’t burn for long, it only has sand to feed it!” he said as he watched the wolves standing, pacing back and forth beyond the flames’ heat, their dark eyes reflecting the orange flickers. She looked at the dark water of the river. Swimming it would be impossible. “We are running out of time, sister!” She heard a loud explosion and wolves yelping in pain as he released a fireball. The sound of wings and the screeching of an eagle reached her ears as Hendosfyre attacked the wolves, then another explosion. She saw the reflection of the moon in the water, she knew what she must do.

She knelt in the water her hands spread, fingers fanned. Ice started to form on the bank, the air grew cold, chill against her skin despite the inferno behind her. A path of ice started to grow across the river, a bridge of frozen water. The sound of water freezing and expanding in the warmer water took over the night amidst the booms of fireballs and the shriek of the griffin.

“Tiffaniel, behind you!” she heard her brother say before she was knocked to the bridge, her cheek meeting the ice. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder and concentrating on the spell, she heard a deafening shriek over her and then the weight was lifted off her, a splash sounded in the water a little way off. Once again on her knees, a roaring noise was building in her head. Her vision narrowed, as she used every last shred of her energy to build the bridge.

Chapter 10 – The arctic bridge and escape

Groyven looked over his shoulder to see his sister slumped over, laying sprawled on a wondrous, single span, bridge of ice. A wolf jumped through the dwindling wall of fire right in front of him. Stumbling backwards, he blasted the wolf back through the curtain of flame. Continuing to back away to the bridge, he started when Hendosfyre landed in a bluster of wind beside him. The griffin pointed with its head towards the bridge and turned, standing guard. Groyven gave one quick look back, as the wolves gathered again beyond the fire, waiting. He ran. Reaching his sister’s side he slid to a stop. Putting his arms under hers he half-lifted, half dragged her along the icy bridge. Shrieks of rage could be heard from the shore as the griffin defended the bridge.

Slipping from his feet, he quickly got up again. Looking at the shoreline he noticed that the fire had died down. He could see the wolves waiting to attack Hendosfyre. Waiting for an opening. Scrambling back into movement he once again continued across the bridge. Reaching the other side he pulled his sister up to safety and called to the griffin, his voice barely making the distance. Hearing the howls of anger from the wolves as the griffin took to the skies, Groyven started weaving his hands through the air. Gesturing to the heavens, a speck of fiery light started to grow in the distance, growing larger by the second.

The wolves were on the bridge, he could make out their dark forms on the icy span. A deep rumble of thunder was in the air. Again he looked to the spec of light, except that now it was growing at an alarming speed. He ran, gathering his sister he scrambled into the trees. The earth shook beneath them, throwing him from his feet, as the small meteor crashed through the bridge. The sound of ice shattering, wolves howling, the thunder of the meteor and then the hissing of the molten rock drowning in the river assaulted his ears.

Ears ringing he continued into the forest. Stumbling, exhausted. The magic he had used had drained him. The noise of something crashing through the trees made him turn, raising his hand with the only spell he had the strength to cast on his lips he waited. Hendosfyre appeared through the underbrush in front of him. Dropping to his knees he nodded as the great griffin picked up the groaning form of Tiffaniel and draped her across his back. Groyven climbed up onto Hendosfyre’s back behind his sister and held onto her as the griffin reared, wings dragging at the air, and launched itself from the ground.

Chapter 11 – Safety and Selera

Groyven looked out at the pale grey colours of dawn, tired, he had barely slept. Hendosfyre had found a cave in the mountains for them to hide. A small fire crackled behind him, lending little warmth to the damp air of the cave. The griffin sat quietly at the entrance preening himself, he had found food for them in the early hours before dawn. Groyven sat beside his sister, she had saved them with her bridge of ice. She had woken a few times during the night, she had seemed fevered, but had eaten. He watched her fitful sleep. Once again looking out the cave entrance he watched the dawn. Blinking back the urge to sleep he tried to remain awake. Finally he slumped against the cave wall. Hendosfyre watched over them, lifting Groyven by the cloak he laid the boy on the ground beside his sister. The griffin’s intelligent eyes noticed Tiffaniel’s hand moving unconsciously to her neck, his eyes saw the scratches the wolf had given her. He quietly laid down beside them, curling around their sleeping forms, keeping them warm.

Groyven mumbled in his sleep.

“Selera. Save us.”

* * *

Midnight hair tumbled to shoulders as Selera sat bolt-upright, she had fallen asleep over the captain’s desk, maps laid out on the table, a vial of ink spilled on the floor. She looked around. She had seen them, they were in a cave. The griffin watched over them. Something was wrong with Tiffaniel, Groyven’s voice had woke her. The words of her young brother echoed in her head, “Selera, save us.”

Selera stood. Her eyes misted. They would reach port the next day. Then she could talk to the Enclave and travel to that place and find them.

“Hold on my young brother and sister, I shall find you.” She said to herself, running her hands through her long hair as she walked from the room.

The End.