The Storm Roars

Avalar

I held onto the little girl and turn to where the point of impact would be my back. I tried to teleport us to somewhere else but it failed. My back hit the ground hard and it knocked the breath out of me. The girl climbed off and I felt her hands get warm. I felt blood pool under me as I looked at her. She started crying as the wound on my arm healed and I sat up. I stood up a little wobbly as I started to catch my breath and I looked at her.

“Are… are you alright, little one?” I asked her as I looked up toward the top of the gorge.

“Th… Thank you, brother. I am fine. We need to get up there before the water rises any further.” The little girl said as the water started to rise from the bottom of her hooves to the middle of her leg.

I picked her up and started running down the gorge until I got to the thicker path. I started climbing up as the girl started to squirm. I tapped her head a little bit and she froze like a statue. I started climbing again as the rain started to pour down. The river started to rise quickly as I ran up the path. Halfway up the path, I ran into something, more like someone. I was breathing hard as I made my shield and put it above me and the little girl. The rain was pouring down so much that it was hard to see. The lightning lit things up temporarily and the thunder kept rolling and crackling.

“Put the blind one in the basket and we will hoist her up.” The figure said as it lifted a finger of bones and pointed at a slightly visible basket nearby.

“No, madam or sir. I cannot accept that offer. I have to carry her up the gorge myself. It is the Shelldor way.” I told the figure as I walked passed him slowly but surely.

My feet kept slipping but would grip as I would step on the muddy path. The rain let up a little as water started to lap at my feet. I looked back and saw the water rise and fall. I wave came through and caught me and the little girl as I tried to climb. I put her on my back and swam for the edge gorge. There!! A cave, dead ahead. I heard the mighty black steed neigh and he jumped in after me. He got to us quickly and I stepped on. I pointed toward the cave and he swam to it. He climbed in and I climbed off of him. I put my jacket on the girl as I could see she was shivering.

“What about you? Aren’t you gonna get cold? Is the rain coming back? Is it gonna come in here? Where is Maynard and Sleek Foot?” She asked.

“Slow down on the questions, little one. I am already cold as it is. The rain has slowed down temporarily. No, it won’t follow us inside. Who is Maynard and Sleek Foot?” I said as I touched her shoulder.

“Maynard is a Draginucous friend of mine and Sleek Foot is a friend from school.” She said with a yawn toward the end.

“Sleep, little one. I will keep watch over you and my steed as you guys sleep.” I said as I walked to the entrance of the cave.

‘Aria Damn it!! I sound a lot like Brother Smoke when I rhyme!! Are you testing me for something? Oh well, I guess.’ I thought to myself as I heard the thunder roll and watched the lightning strike.

I stood as I heard the mighty steed and the little girl sleep. I yawned as I watched the rain pour down as I could see 2 figures in the sky. The lightning lit the sky and I could see a small Draginucous and a small elf. The lightning struck the ground and the two of them were scared beyond belief. I whistled at them and they saw the cave. They came toward the cave and landed square on my chest as I fell onto my back from the impact.

“Sorry, mister!! We are lost and we can’t find our friend Sharrow Shrale.” The Golden Draginucous said as they both climbed off of me.

“It is fine. Maynard Freedom, isn’t it?” I asked the Golden Draginucous.

“Y… yes, sir. I am she. This is Sleek Foot, an Elf.” The Draginucous said with a stammer.

“Must be Killer’s kid and you must be Celia’s kid. Great!! Now, I have 3 little ones to look after while the storm passes through. Why must you test me, Aria?” I snapped as I stomped around angrily.

“Chill near fire since you must easily tire. Sit, and enjoy the treat of sweet. Cold you must be, you lot of three.” A strange voice said as something lit up the cave.

I looked and saw an old and raggly looking guy sitting at the edge of the cave.

“Invade my home, now do you have a comb? No? Oh well, I guess I must go. Soon to meet with Aria, fighting in her arena.” The old man said.

“Don’t go, sir. I have a comb, right here.” I said as I fumbled around in my pocket and found the black slick comb.

I offered it to him and he gestured for us to sit by the fire. He took the comb and started to comb his hair. He wore a toothy grin as we sat by the fire.

“Are they your children or are you guardian?” He asked me as we could hear the rain slow down.

“Neither sir. I found the little girl that is sleeping and was helping her when I found the cave for us to get in before the rising water was an issue.” I explained as the heat dried the water and mud onto my legs.

“Need not to say more, for I shall open for you a door.” The old man said as I could see he had a couple of feathers behind his ear.

“What is with the feathers, if I may ask?” I asked with curiosity.

“Have you never heard of a Song Bird, of the tales are true if ever heard.” He rhymed with ease.

“I have heard of them. I thought all Song Birds were female. My father told me that Song Birds were female and all the males either migrated away or was killed.” I said as I stood up.

“Settle, settle. No need to be a hot kettle. Not to be a bother, who is your father?” He asked with a toothy smile as the two kids had fallen asleep.

I took my shirt off and covered both of them. I sighed and looked at the old man.

“My father is a Shelldor known as Sinbad of the Seven Forests. What is your name?” I said proudly.

“My, my. No patience means no maintenance. Manners is right while you have no reason to be beguiled. Importance of my name is no longer a game. My name is Raphael of the Caves.” He said as he bowed and his form shifted to a younger version of him with wings.

“What the? How old are you?” I asked him in curiosity.

“My age is as old as a newly sprung sage. I am only 17 years old. As old as the miss you call Iris. Is she with you so cows can go moo?” He said as he sprung back up and smiled at me.

“Stop rhyming all the time!! It is annoying and you sound like Smokey Road!!” I yelled at him and the flames bursted toward the ceiling.

He looked at me surprised as my horse walked over toward me. I put the three kids on his back. I nodded and he walked them out of the cave and into the pouring rain.

Killer

“Where is Maynard, Forma?” I asked as I looked into my little girl’s room.

“She was playing in her room!! Why are looking for her?” Forma, a Silver Draginucous, yelled from in the kitchen.

“She’s not in here or anywhere in the house. Where is that little brat?” I growled as I got angrier by the minute.

“Let me call Celia and Amilia. Let me see if they have their kids.” She snarled back at me.

I rolled my eyes and sat down in my chair at the breakfast bar. She picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Mrs. Diera? Yes this is Forma. I was wondering if your kid was with you at all… No? Well, our kid is missing too… Amilia called you and was panicking because she lost her two children?!? Oh, thank you my dear. Talk to you soon. Bye-bye.” She said as she talked on the phone.

Her smile went from happy to worry then to anger. I stood up as she started to cry. I walked over to her and hugged her. I soothed her until her tears stopped flowing.

“Why are you crying, my beautiful piece of silver?” I asked her with a gentle smile.

“Amilia is missing her two kids, Celia is missing hers and we are missing ours.” She said with a sob.

“I will go look for them. I need you to stay here and wait for her if she returns here.” I said as I walked toward the entrance of the cave we called home.

Forma nodded and I transformed into my Draginucous form and took off, looking for the three kids in the pouring rain.

Will he find the three kids or will he give up?