Eternal Forest: Savage Rising (32 page)

Needing no further convincing, Sunrise grabbed the Grand Seryan by the waist and tumbled backwards out the window. They splashed down together in the water below. The others were already standing upon the shore at the north end of the bridge. With his leader in tow, Sunrise swam towards them. The Seryan’s elven soldiers were there, too, ready to lift their leader out of the water.

Sunrise stood as Firefly floated down from the sky. “Is everyone alright?” she asked.

The Grand Seryan was bent over with her hands on her knees. Each deep breath she took caused her entire upper body to rise and fall. Still weary, she lifted a shaking finger towards the former acolyte hovering before her. “You!” she said angrily. “You abandoned your path! You have forsaken the Lady’s calling! How do you wield Her power?!” Firefly was silent as she hovered in place. She showed no emotion in her face, and all the Grand Seryan could see in her eyes was proud defiance. “Dark magic! Dark magic!” she shouted. “Guards, seize this faerie!”

The elven soldiers reached to snatch Firefly before she could take off, but Sunrise leapt first. With arms outstretched, he held back the guards with all his might. “Firefly, go! Fly away!” he shouted. She started to move, but stopped to look back at him once more. “Go, now!” he commanded. With great reluctance, Firefly zipped through the air and disappeared into the trees.
 

~~\*/~~
 

High in the air, Azalea was making little progress. With each approach she made towards the Balisekt Lord, his massive demon was there to meet her with a swipe of its claws or a chomping of its teeth. Just a turn of its mountain-sized body was enough to block her attacks, and the burns and cuts covering her body were a testament to many failed attempts. She was growing exhausted, and the demon showed no signs of slowing down.

They were out over the water now. She could see the Temple down below out of the corner of her eye, but it was enough of a view to show her the scores of demons and balisekts pouring into the doors. What remained of the Lady’s army was in the water, drifting from exhaustion, or swimming for the far shore as fast as they could. On the shore, the demons crowded together. Amongst them, the balisekts cheered and hissed in celebration of their great victory.

“It is finished!” Killika shouted. “Tranquility is mine! Soon, the entire forest will be mine!”

Fueled by rage, Azalea charged through the air again. With her blades held high, she darted towards Killika as fast as she could. Before she even came close, the demon lifted its front leg and slashed through the air. The top of the creature’s claw clipped her in the leg, sending her tumbling end-over-end through the air.

She righted herself just as the creature stopped. Azalea followed the path of its flaming eyes right past her to the Temple below. The battle was over, and Killika now seemed intent on capping off his victory by destroying the House of the Lady. She was hovering between the beast and the Temple, where her friends were likely hold up, attempting to save the Seryan. She wasn’t sure if her beloved Zehlyr was inside those stone walls, but it was as likely a scenario as him already being dead.

Still, this was her one and only chance to stop him. If she were going to take him out, it would have to be with an attack he would never expect. High above her head, the creature opened its mouth wide. Fire and smoke bellowed from its throat as it prepared for the charge. Azalea took a deep breath and took up her swords. There was only one way.

The creature began its descent, diving towards the Temple with great speed. A deafening roar sounded through the flames engulfing its mouth. It was then that Azalea charged, but she didn’t attempt to go around. With blades held out and her eyes shut tight, the dryad sailed right between the creature’s jaws and into the flames within. Before Killika could react, her flaming body burst from the back of the creature’s neck in an explosion of ash and embers.

Azaleas swords glowed with a bright orange light as they pushed deep into Killika’s body. The force knocked him clean off his mount. Azalea released the blades, letting them and the Balisekt Lord tumble backwards down the demon’s body. Killika’s eyes were wide as his clawed hands reached up towards the sky. As his body crashed down into the lake below, his eyes shut forever and his last breath bubbled to the surface.

Up in the air, the dragon demon let out a deafening roar. Starting from the tip of its tail, the monster’s body began to fall apart like a brittle, burnt log. Chunks broke off, splashing down into the lake with a loud sizzle. Soon, the entirety of the
beast was broken and gone, leaving a cloud of ashes and smoke in the air.

On the shores of the lake, the demon army quickly suffered the same fate. They shrieked and cried in agony as their bodies crumbled into dust. In a matter of moments, only a long stretch of glowing embers covered the shore.

As the soldiers cheered in surprise and thanks, Zehlyr turned his worried eyes to the sky. He could see Azalea high above the forest. Her skin was blackened and bloodied. Her once majestic wings were reduced to smoldering, black sticks. Her body fell from the sky.

Zehlyr quickly jumped into the water, swimming out into the lake with all his might. She hit the water hard, splashing down several yards away from him, but he continued to power through.

The nearby soldiers held her up as he approached. Her eyes were closed and her body was limp. It didn’t look like she was breathing. Zehlyr took her up in his arms and held her head above the water’s surface. His fingers reached for her face, gently lifting one of her eyelids. What once shown a brilliant green was now dark and empty. “No!” he cried out as he shook her in his arms.

“You can’t die!” Zehlyr continued. “Come on, wake up! Please, wake up!” Tears came to his face as he pulled her close to him. The other soldiers looked on somberly as he wept over her lifeless
body. He lifted his head and ran his finger through her blackened, soot-filled hair. “You can’t leave me like this,” he said softly through his tears. “Not like this.”

He leaned down, planting a soft kiss upon her bloodied lips. Feeling no warmth returned to him, he buried his head in her neck and sobbed. As he cried, Azalea’s eyelids began to flutter slightly. A gasp was heard from the soldiers in the water as her green eyes slowly began to glow once again. She let out a tiny cough, causing Zehlyr raise his head and gasp.

“A…Azalea?” he said with a weak voice.

“Look…at that,” she said weakly but with a smile. “You saved me again.”

Zehlyr cried out for joy as he pulled her in close. Cheers and shouts filled Tranquility as they embraced each other. The Lady’s blessings were truly upon them. Killika was dead, his army was destroyed, and Tranquility was saved. Zehlyr looked deep into Azalea’s glowing eyes. He felt great joy, but also heartache. She was alive, but he knew they would still have to say goodbye.

Chapter 32

“How do we go on after losing such a friend and leader as Shimmer? Her love was as great as the Lady’s. Her courage could rival that of an entire army. There is not a soul here today, nor will there ever be, that doesn’t owe every breath they take to her.”

Grand Seryan Moonflower: eulogy given at Shimmer’s funeral.

              It took days to make the trek from Tranquility all the way back to Meadowgold. With each territory they passed through, they were met with cheers, songs, and thanks. Each stop found them plenty of food, warm beds, and more peace than they had felt in days. Though it was an easy journey, Azalea and Zehlyr spent it in quiet agony. Each step they took northward was another step towards their inevitable parting.

             
The fires north of Tranquility died out slowly, leaving behind a ruined forest, blackened and burned beyond recognition. However, even in such a destructive aftermath, there was hope. The Lady’s forest would revive, just as it always did with time and care. Time healed all and life moved on, but until Azalea was reunited with her section of the forest, it would remain barren.

             
They arrived back in Meadowgold in the evening. It filled Viyana’s heart with joy to see her village still standing. She’d witnessed the sacking of two cities and the siege of Tranquility. Having her people alive and her territory unharmed was the greatest blessing of all. Her people cheered and shouted for joy as she led her fellow weary travelers out of the trees and into the open, rolling hills of the human territory.

             
It was a triumphant return for others as well. Three years after being chased out as traitors; Zehlyr, Azalea, and Heeska reentered the city as heroes. Smiles and cheers were a welcome change from angry shouts and brandished weapons. Hand in hand, Zehlyr and Azalea took their final walk together through the streets of Meadowgold and into the Savage Lands to the north. Their journey through the trees didn’t last long, for soon they opened up again to the Viyanian Settlement.

             
The settlement was as Viyana had left it days ago. Rows of homes stood unfinished along a dusty road. Tools lay abandoned on the ground. She sighed. She could still remember finding Cherin lying alone in the road, covered in dust and dying of hunger. In her mind she said a prayer, asking the Lady to watch over his spirit, wherever he was.

Off to the north, dry rows of tilled earth lined all the way to the trees, marking all that remained of their failed farm. She looked up. Even with the storm days ago, no rain had fallen upon this land. It truly was cursed, but it would be no longer. Life would return here, but only after one last goodbye.

Zehlyr stepped from the tree line into the unnatural clearing, but Azalea did not. Feeling her hand slip from his, he turned to face her. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths as tears formed behind her eyes. Her bark-covered hand trembled, still reaching out from the point where it had let go of his hand. “What is it?” he asked.

“This is it,” she said. “Only one more step and the transformation will begin.” Eyes overflowing, her tears raced one another down her face. “This is where we have to say goodbye.”

Zehlyr sniffed hard as he nodded. Tears were filling his eyes as well. He’d known for days now that there was no avoiding this, and for days, he’d tried to prepare his soul to deal with the coming loss. He thought he could be strong, but no one could be strong enough for this. “I understand,” he said.

“Take care, Azalea,” Heeska said as he wrapped his scaly arms around her. His long chin rested on her head as he closed his eyes. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“We never would have survived without you,” she said in return.

“Azalea,” Viyana said. She put her hands on the dryad’s shoulders, gripping them lovingly. “Meadowgold and the rest of the forest are in your debt. We will never forget you, and our tribe will watch over your forest for all the days to come.”

“You are all welcome,” Azalea replied as she laughed through her tears. “I am glad we are able to part as friends.”

“Strong friends,” Viyana replied. She leaned in and gave her a strong hug. “Lady be with you.”

“And with you,” Azalea replied. She wished she could say goodbye to Sunrise and Firefly, but neither had made the trip back from Tranquility with them. With the threat of detainment, Firefly had escaped into the Wilds. Sunrise ran off after her without a word to anyone. No one knew where he went, but the Grand Seryan found his acolyte robes floating on the shore just before sunset. Wherever they were, she hoped they were well and safe.

Viyana stepped aside as Zehlyr stepped forward. His lips were quivering and his cheeks were wet, but he stood tall and sure before her. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“I…I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice high and raspy. “I don’t know if I can take that step.”

“Don’t worry,” Zehlyr said as he slipped his hand into his. “We’ll take it together.” He squeezed her hand tight as he took his place beside her.

“I love you,” she said through her tears.

“And I love you,” he replied. Together, Azalea and Zehlyr took a deep breath, and stepped off onto the barren ground. Side by side, they walked for several steps. Zehlyr’s eyes looked over to his beloved, opening wide in awe. His feet stopped moving and his hand slipped away, letting Azalea continue on alone. The sight took his breath away.

As Azalea marched on, her body began to radiate a beautiful, emerald light. The patches of bark on her skin spread out, covering her entire body from head to toe. Small branches full of leaves and flowers sprang from her shoulders and back as her hair became a beautiful cascade of bright, pink flowers. In a few moments, all signs of her human form vanished, revealing the form of a dryad not seen since the Great Blight.

She was the most beautiful creature Zehlyr had ever seen.

Azalea stopped and looked down at her body. She gasped as her wide, green eyes admired the miraculous transformation. She was herself again. With a smile on her face, she turned again to Zehlyr who walked slowly towards her. “So, now you see the real me,” she said.

“I always saw the real you,” Zehlyr replied. “This is just a shell. The Azalea I’ve always loved never left.”

“And she never will,” Azalea replied. “Thank you for saving me.”

Zehlyr laughed a bit. “I didn’t save you, remember? I tripped over you.”

“No,” Azalea insisted. Her leafy hands reached up to the sides of his head as she locked eyes with him one last time. “You saved me.” They came together in a passionate embrace. It was to be the last kiss they would ever share, and they wanted to remember every last detail of it. They held to one another, too afraid to let go. Their tear-soaked cheeks pressed against one another. Finally, yet reluctantly, their lips parted and Zehlyr stepped away.

He walked backwards a few steps, worried what he might do should he remain in arms reach. He loved her, and he always would, but she was of another world, and he couldn’t keep her to himself any longer.

As her beloved walked away, Azalea slowly lifted her arms up towards the clear, blue sky. The ground beneath their feet rumbled and shook like an earthquake. The dry ground split all around them in a thousand fractures, and from each one, a mighty tree sprang to life. The trees grew rapidly, towering over their heads in a matter of moments. The half-finished structures of the Viyanian Settlement were shattered to bits as the trees grew around them, snapping and popping loudly as they were reduced to splinters. High above, branches filled with lush, green leaves blocked the sun as shrubs and flowers carpeted the forest floor. In a breathtaking instant, the cursed forest was restored to its former glory.

At the center of it all, Azalea began to change yet again. From her tree-like body, tiny branches full of beautiful azalea blossoms began to spring forth. The branches grew rapidly, dividing in all directions and consuming her body. Zehlyr’s eyes went wide as he began racing back through the forest towards her. At every step, trees sprang from the ground and bushes grew in an instant, all blocking his path to her.

As the branches overtook her, Azalea reached out towards her beloved. Her body became lost in the sea of flowers until only her face and arms remained. Zehlyr ducked beneath a low branch and leapt over an exposed root, finally coming within reach of his beloved dryad, but it was too late. Her arms disappeared into the flowers as the branches overtook her face. Her glowing, green eyes were the last part of her he saw before they, too were taken where he would never see them again.

Zehlyr dropped to his knees. With Azalea gone, his eyes beheld a very familiar sight. The azalea bush before him was exactly as he remembered it from that fateful day many years ago, but that wasn’t all he recognized. There was also a familiar fear of the unknown, of what the future would bring.

His hands hit his knees as his eyes shut tightly. She was gone, out of his reach forever. He didn’t know how he would ever cope. Even with the humans of Meadowgold standing together off in the distance, he felt like the only person in the forest for a thousand miles. Then, he felt a phantom touch on his shoulder, and he knew that he wasn’t alone.

~~\THE END/~~