Fan Fiction ❯ Esthenia II ❯ Part Three- Lost in Ceair ( Chapter 3 )

Part 3, Lost in Ceair

Betrayal

"Are you okay?" Mona asked me when Pagasis and I returned to the village.

I nodded with a smile.

"I'm just a little tired." I said.

I was extremely exhausted. So many things happened to me that night it completely wore me out. I was glad that Pagasis and I finally had an understanding of our problem, although we had to go through a lot of trouble going through with it. I still couldn't believe he kissed me. It made me wonder if he actually meant it or did it to make me shut up. Either way, he still did it. I knew that the memory would linger in the back of my mind for quite some time. I wanted to forget about it but my mind wouldn't let me. It was like emotional torture. I was glad that Pagasis didn't apologize for it though. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. I knew that an apology would only mean that he felt sorry for me and wanted to make me feel better by saying it. I didn't want others to worry about me. I knew that it was enough to spoil everyone's good time.

"I think I'm going to bed." I said with a sleepy smile.

"Okay." Mona said. She then turned to Pagasis. "I guess you'll have to be my dance partner."

Pagasis gulped.

"Hey," I said with humor. "Better her than Canis."

"Good point." said Mona. "Where is that witch anyway?"

I looked back at the blanket were Kovu and Neara sat. They had been joined by Rinoa and Aslynn. I could see Niegie sitting there too, but Canis was nowhere in sight.

"I don't know…" I said with curiosity. "I'm kind of afraid to go to sleep now."

"We can ask mom where she went if that'll make you feel better." Mona said.

"Okay. Let's go." I said.

We went up to the blanket. Mona walked up to Neara and whispered in her ear.

Neara just shook her head.

"I'm sorry dear." she said. "I don't know."

Mona just looked at me and shrugged.

Neara looked at me too.

"Oh, Esthenia." she said. "Congrats on the performance. We all loved it."

"That takes a lot of guts." Kovu said with a grin. "It's a good thing you didn't embarrass yourself because I would have laughed."

I giggled and shrugged.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." I said.

Just then, Aquita ran up behind us.

"Sir!" he exclaimed to Kovu. "We have a 10-45!"

Kovu leapt up.

"Let's go check it out!" he said with a serious tone.

He and Aquita disappeared into the crowd.

"What the heck is a 10-45?" Neara asked.

Everyone shrugged except for Rinoa.

"I heard him say that it meant that a woman has taken her top off and is dancing on one of the roofs." she said calmly. "By the way… you didn't hear that from me."

Neara bolted up.

"What!" she exclaimed. She then turned and ran into the crowd yelling, "Get back here you perverted morons!"

We all laughed. I looked up at Rinoa, my thoughts trailed back to what she had said earlier. I couldn't believe that she knew about my secret power. It made me wonder how she figured it out. I didn't stick around to ask though. I said my good nights and went to my hut. I was so tired my eyelids could barley stay open. I passed Kovu and Neara on the way. Neara was scolding him and Kovu was pretending to look like a sad puppy dog or something. I just rolled my eyes and stepped into the hut.

The room was lit with dim coals that were in the fire pit. The room was warm and cozy. It made me feel relaxed and even more willing to sleep. I took off the jewelry and nice clothes and slipped on a pair of shorts and tee-shirt that I had brought with me.

"I'll never wear that again." I promised myself as I folded the skirt and top.

I then took off the head band. I looked at it and smiled. I then hung it next to one of the dream catchers above my bed. It was there to remind me of that crazy night.

"Keeping it safe are you?" a voice from behind me asked.

I gasped and turned around, and there, in front of the door stood Canis.

"What… what are you doing in here?" I asked.

She chuckled. Her cold voice sent a chill down my spine.

"I'm here to collect something." she said.

"Yeah? What's that?" I asked bravely.

She pointed to my chest. I looked down to were she was pointing to and saw the necklace. The silver heart with wings. The one that Pagasis gave me long ago.

"This?" I marveled. "Are you out of your mind?"

Canis chuckled again.

"Yes." she said as she raised her hand. "I'm in yours."

Suddenly, my own hand started moving. It reached up and grabbed the necklace.

"What are you doing?!" I yelled as I tried to let go, but I had no control over my body. I couldn't move at all.

"It's a controlling spell." Canis said with a wicked grin. "Now. Hand it over."

Once more, my hand moved. This time it pulled on the charm and broke the chain link that held it around my neck. Right away, I felt my body change. My skin tone changed back into flesh, my paws and claws vanished, and my fangs disappeared. All of my sphinx-like features melted away, and I was a human once more. I then walked over and handed it to Canis in her out stretched hand.

"Thank you." she said cooly.

"Are you insane!" I yelled. "Do you have any idea what you just did? The human hunters will be here any moment and-"

"I know." Canis interrupted. Her eyes were shiny and merciless.

I gasped.

"That was the point." Canis said as she pocketed the necklace. "Now, what shall I do with you?"

"You traitor…" I growled. "You won't get away with this!"

"You're feisty aren't you?" Canis said sweetly. "Oh, I know! Instead of being eaten alive by the human hunters, how about something much worse?"

I felt useless. I couldn't move my body at all. I was about to yell for help when Canis levitated me and made my mouth numb so I couldn't speak.

"Say hello to the Feilodrakes for me." she said.

All I could remember after that was a flash of light and Canis' voice.

Wake Up Call

I opened my eyes. A warm gust of wind picked up, bringing sand into them and my nose. I coughed and sat up. I had been lying on my side on the sandy ground and my whole body ached. The bright morning sun shone overhead, heating my skin and the sand around me. I looked down at myself, hoping that what happened the night before was just some cruel dream. I looked at my human hands and feet and groaned. It was real. Canis had taken my necklace. I was human again, and vulnerable as well. Wondering where I was, I stood up. I looked around at the new scenery. I definitely wasn't on my island anymore.

It appeared to be a desert. There was a lot of sand and rocks. The air was dry and dusty. There were shrubs and a few tall trees. In many places there seemed to be mountains. I looked to the left and saw the blue ocean and a few islands. I was still in the Dream world, but on a different island. I racked my brain for any hint of were I was. I then remembered what Canis said before she teleported me. She had mentioned the word "Filodrakes". I was in Ceair. My sister's island. I had bigger problems than the human hunters. The Filodrakes were very moody and territorial. If I was seen or found, they'd kill me for sure.

I ran for cover as quick as I could. I crouched down behind of the shrubs and began to think.

"Okay, I have to find a way back and warn everyone that Canis is bad news." I thought to myself. "Maybe if I find Castirio, she'd give me a ride back, but how do I find her without being turned into breakfast…"

I remembered that Castirio's territory was on the eastern side of the island right on the shoreline. I looked up at the sky. The sun rose from the east and set in the west, and since it was morning, the sun would be in the east. I looked to where the sun was. It was on the other side of the island. I was all the way on the western shore. I judged that the walk all the way to the eastern shore would be about fifty miles. That was a major problem. It would take me about a day to walk that far and I had to be back in my world by nightfall.

I had no other choice but to walk. The landscape was hot and muggy. I tried to stay as hidden as possible. I didn't want to be seen by anyone. About twenty minutes later, I stopped to take a break. My stomach was growling now and my feet really hurt from walking on the rocks and sand. I also stepped on some burs, and those didn't feel too good either. That's when I heard it. A loud thunderous roar. I froze on the spot. I peeked over the bush and saw a frightening sight.

Two Filodrakes, a dark yellow one about fourteen feet tall, and a brown one about twelve feet tall, both appeared to be females and were fighting. They roared and hissed as they circled one another. The larger one let out a terrible roar and leapt onto the smaller one's back, pinning her to the ground with her gigantic feet. She then raised her talons and made the final blow to the small one's head.

The small one let out a shrieking yawl. Gallons of blood stained the ground.

I ducked back behind the bush. All was quiet, the battle was over. My heart was pounding like a drum. I then heard this crunching sound from behind the bush. My stomach turned. She was eating her! The Filodrakes were cannibals. I felt sick to my stomach. I looked around and saw another way around a large pile of rocks. I dropped to my hands and knees and crawled through the shrubs over to the rocks. As I stood up and ran behind them, I caught a glimpse of the Filodrake standing over the other with a bloody chunk of meat in her mouth. Growling with pleasure as she chewed.

Knowing that I just viewed one of the grossest things I'd ever seen in my life, I followed another path up the rocks and onto a steep hill. I then continued on the ridge, wondering if things could get any worse. I climbed higher and higher. The sun blazed overhead, beating the back of my neck. My legs began to cramp up really bad and I began to feel very thirsty. I didn't want to stop though. I figured that when I made it to the top I could see how much further I had to go.

I wondered about what Pagasis said when he found out I wasn't there. I didn't know what I'd do if Canis did something to him too. She was very powerful, but could she really hurt a half-god? I didn't want to wait any longer to find out.

I climbed up over a large rock and stood up. I was at the very top, and I could see everything. I could see the ocean surrounding the island on all sides. The island was as large as I had predicted. I still had quite a long way to go. I looked off into the distance. I could see my island as well. It didn't look to far away, but there was definitely no way I could get over to it without Castirio's help. I looked down at the land to see if I could catch a glimpse of her, but there where trees blocking the view. It looked like a small forest. I was afraid to walk through it, but I knew I had to do it. I was about to continue on when I heard a screech from above, and I knew I had to run for it.

The Human Hunters

I ran as fast as I could down the rocks. Since I didn't have any shoes on, I couldn't go as fast. I didn't dare look behind me. I didn't know exactly how many there where, but one was still a big problem. I knew that they must have been closing in though. I could still hear their horrible cries Even if I did look for them, I wouldn't have been able to see them. They could blend into any background like chameleons. They were scary and fierce guardians. Their jobs were to get rid of any humans if they were ever to arrive in the Dream world because humans weren't aloud. I was an exception by Pagasis, but the human hunters didn't know that.

I slipped and fell on a large slippery rock, scraping my knees when I tried to keep myself from falling off. I pulled myself up and looked above me. I couldn't see anything, but I could hear their growls and the flaps of their enormous, leathery wings. I stood up and continued down the slope. I was extremely frightened. Any moment they'd make a grab for my shoulders and carry me off. I finally made it off the slope. I was on flat land once again. Hoping to lose them in the trees, I bolted for the forest. Then, another problem had occurred to me. I was in the open where anything could see me. Not paying attention to where I was running, I stumbled over a sharp rock and tumbled to the ground. I rolled and scraped my shoulders and sides on the ground. My whole body was bleeding and in pain. I tensely sat up and gasped. I heard another screech and was lifted from the ground. I could feel the monster's grip painfully on my shoulders.

"NO!" I began to sob. "Let me down!!! My friends need me!!"

I was about fifty feet in the air now. We were flying so fast the wind was blowing hard in my eyes, making them burn. We flew above the forest and rocks. I didn't care how high I was. I began to thrash my body around to loosen the monster's grip, but it was like trying to open the "jaws of life". It was impossible, but I was still far from giving up. I continued to yell and thrash around just to give it a hard time. I was going to make sure I would be hard to swallow.

Moments later, we descended. I looked down and saw a huge tree. The trunk had to be about seven feet wide and the branches where like pythons. It hovered over one of the branches for a moment and sat me down. I grabbed the branch as the monster flew up and away. Wondering what that was all about I looked around. I had no idea where I was at that point. I looked down. I wasn't too far from the ground. Directly below the tree, was the carcass of a Filodrake. It had hairy skin hanging off its ribs and its wings. I looked around for any sign of the human hunter. I then realized that it was coming back for me. I could just barley see it but I knew it was heading right for me. It must have dropped me off so it could land and eat me. I scrambled down the tree. Slipping off its huge branches and grabbing the lower ones and swinging off of them. I knew I wouldn't be any match for it when it landed. I had my eye on the Filodrake carcass below me. I made it to the bottom branch and looked down. I was still about twenty feet from the ground but I didn't care. I grabbed the branch and hung from it. Then taking a deep breath I let go.

I hit the ground with a hard thud. The soles of my feet felt like they were going to crack, but I was all right. I looked at the carcass and searched around for one of its claws. I knew that the human hunter was coming for me, and I wasn't going to die without a fight. I heard a screech just above me. I reached down and grabbed one of the claws on the Filodrake's bony hand. The claw was about as large as my hand and as sharp as a razor. I pried on it until it made a sick cracking sound and ripped off. I held it out in front of me, ready to defend myself. I waited a moment. All was quiet. Sweat started dripping down my forehead. I was shaking from head to toe. Just then, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

Instinctively, I thrust the claw upward. Right away, blood was streaming down my arm and head. The human hunter screeched and I could feel it flail around. I didn't move though, I stood there with the claw still in my hand, pushing it further upward. Suddenly, something struck me hard in the back and I was thrown forward. Covered in blood and dirt, I sat up right away as the monster's real image appeared.

The camouflage must have lost its effect when they died because the human hunter was now lying there dead and in plain sight. Its skin was a greenish gray color. It had small, beady black eyes that were open and glassy. It resembled a dragon to me. Mostly because of its large, leathery wings and long horns on its head. Its mouth was hanging open showing dozens of sharp teeth.

I grinned after a moment of silence.

"I did it…" I said, astounded.

"You did what?" a cold voice asked from behind me.

Torrik

I froze. A feeling of dread washed over me. I didn't want to turn around. I didn't even want to move. I could hear a loud breathing from behind me. It sounded like a quiet roll of thunder. I had this feeling that something was looking over the top of me. I then turned around. I was staring at a large pair of feet. They were a tannish color with an olive tint to them. Each toe had huge shiny, black claw on it. I looked up.

The cat-like face of a Filodrake was staring down at me. This one wasn't like the rest I'd seen before. It had scales going down its nose and incredibly long fangs like a saber tooth tiger. Judging by it's masculine form, it was a male. That would explain why it didn't look the same. I've never seen a male before.

He was an appalling creature. His ears had several tares in them and his body was scared all over. He was also missing an eye and his fangs glowed with yellow. He reminded me of a pirate.

"Uh… Hi?" I said nervously.

"Aren't you stupid." he said.

"What?" I gasped.

"Shut up." he hissed.

He then let out a terrible screech. He lifted his foot and before he slammed it to the ground I ran out of the way. He turned on me again and tried to crush me again.

"Come back here you little pest!" he roared.

I was headed for the rocks. There was a small cave just large enough for me to squeeze into and escape his grasp, but he grabbed me around my navel and lifted me up. I was face-to-face with him now. Just staring into his bright yellow eye. I could smell his fowl breath as he opened his mouth and drew me closer to it. I screamed.

"How many times have I told you to stay away from here Bakara?" a cool voice asked.

The Filodrake halted. He turned his head away from me and looked around.

I turned my head and looked too.

There was another Filodrake standing in front of us. This one was definitely a male as well. He was about seventeen feet tall and a orangeish brown with light tan stripes. His brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail and he had about seven gold studs in his left ear. His wings and eyes were also brown. He was actually pretty handsome considering he was probably going to kill the ugly one and eat me anyway if I told him that.

"What do you want?" Bakara asked.

"You happen to be in my territory you cretin." the other said.

"What did you call me?"

"Don't be stupid. I warned you once. Now I'll have to kill you."

"Feh, yeah right!" Bakara laughed, nearly drooling on me.

He then set me down and said, "You stay here okay."

"Pathetic… Do you actually think she'll do that?" the other said. "You are stupid."

Bakara was growling and hissing, but the other just did nothing. He just stood there as Bakara circled him, not taking his eyes off of him. Suddenly, Bakara charged. He stopped in an empty cloud of dust. Bakara looked around for a moment. Then turned. The other one was standing right there in his face. Bakara panicked and jumped back.

"It's you!" he cried. "Your the brother of that…"

"What of it?" the other asked him. He then moved forward with his claws raised.

Bakara held out his claws and slashed, but hit nothing as the other leapt out of the way.

I just stood there and watched. I didn't know why I was still standing there. I could have ran off, but there was something about that unknown Filodrake that made me want to stay. Anyway, it wouldn't be any safer even if I did leave. I was very surprised how fast he was. He seemed to move like he wasn't even using his legs at all.

Bakara shot a fire ball at him through his mouth.

As expected, the other one dodged it, but then I realized that he had been standing in front of me. Now the yellow ball of flame was headed for me! I jumped out of the way as it blew the rock apart I had been standing on.

"Be careful you idiot!" I shouted as I jumped on another rock. "You won't be able to eat me if I'm blown apart!"

The stranger looked at me with a grin. He didn't see Bakara sneaking up behind him.

"Look out!" I cried.

Just when Bakara charged at him, he turned and punched him in the face.

Bakara stumbled backward. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth and his jaw was crooked. It was broken.

The other one cracked his knuckles. He then turned and sliced with his hand. Slicing Bakara's head clean off his shoulders.

My eyes were wide. The larger one had won. Now I had to get away from him, and I had this feeling it wasn't going to be easy. I decided to try and sneak off before he saw me.

"Hold it." the stranger said in a calm voice. He turned and looked at me with his brown eyes. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Uh… me?" I stammered.

He nodded and closed his eyes. He then took a step forward and crushed Bakara's decapitated head with a sickening crack.

I take back what I said earlier about what was the grossest thing I've ever seen.

He suddenly appeared right in front of me.

I gasped.

"What are you?" he asked.

"I'm human." I said, trying to stop my voice from quivering from cowardice.

"Human?" he said curiously.

"Yeah." I said. "My name's Christy."

"I'm Torrik." he said. "My sister wasn't hallucinating when she told me Esthenia was in this world."

"Castirio is your sister!?" I marveled.

He nodded.

"She told me you were a sphinx. How is it that you are human?" he asked while kneeling so he was level with me.

I told him the story of what happened about Canis. He seemed very fascinated by everything. I didn't think he would ever be the type to ask questions first. It wasn't natural for a Filodrake. When I finished telling him he chuckled.

"It's a wonder another Filodrake isn't picking you out of their teeth." he said.

He then stood up and peered down at me.

"As a dream Guardian, it is a deed to help with other people's islands." he said. "In your case, I will help you."

I felt like giving him a hug, but instead I said,

"That would be nice."

"Hop on." he said as he placed his large hand in front of me.

I grabbed a hold of his claws and stepped onto his hand. He then lifted me up and sat me on his shoulder.

"Hold on." he said as he spread his wings. He then jumped high into the air.

"You aren't like your sister." I said to him over the wind.

"That's true." he said with a monotone voice. "She's so irate all the time. We're pretty well known though. Being the strongest on the island and all..."

We flew over the island and were heading for the sea. In the distance I could see my island. I was surprised to see it in one piece. I was afraid of the condition of the village and my friends. Canis was definitely no good. It also made me wonder if Niegie was also bad. He didn't seem too bad to me. Either way, it was still bad.

"Hold on!" Torrik called over his shoulder.

I tightly held his wings as the wind blurred past me with lightning speed. It took us less than five minutes to get there. We landed in the meadow. I hopped off his back.

"Thank you so much!" I said.

"It's not that big of a deal." he said. "Anyway, I hope you can save everyone. You seem brave enough to do it Esthenia."

"Yeah… right." I stammered.

Torrik turned and walked away. Just when he was about to take off he peered over his shoulder at me.

"By the way." he said. "If you need anything, just call my name. I'll be able to hear you."

"O-okay…" I said.

Torrik smiled. He then spread his wings and flew away.

I watched him until the sun blinded his image. I then turned and looked at the forest. Glad to be alive, I started to run. There was a path that was the fastest way to the village. I didn't know what Canis' plot was. I hopped that Pagasis or the other villagers had nothing to do with it. I found the path and began to run down it. My whole body hurt. I had sores and bruises all over and my back hurt. Not to mention that my stomach was really starting to kill me. I kept on running though.

I then began to think.

"Canis wanted me dead." I thought to myself. "That would mean…"

I slowed down. I was panting and sweat was dripping down my face. I was now at a slow jog.

"She want's the island to die!!"

There was no other explanation for it. The only way to completely get rid of an island is to kill the person. I've heard of demons that had gotten rid of islands. They gave the person so many terrible nightmares that they killed themselves. The thought gave me the chills.

"What if Canis is a demon? She didn't show any sign of being one but then again…"

I sped up again. I remembered what Pagasis and I talked about.

"She's a sorceress." his voice repeated in my mind.

"Aren't sorceresses bad?" I heard myself say.

Sorceresses are bad. Canis was bad. She wasn't a demon but yet she was so evil. Then a vital thought came to mind, "What if she want's to be a demon? Well if that's the case I'd better hurry up before it's too late"