Brian Anderson - Shadow of the Gods

“They don't,” said Pali. “There's something wrong. I have never heard of them preying on anything but a lone traveler. And even that is rare.”

“Do not fear,” said Aaliyah. She drew in the power of the air. A small ball of flame burst to life above her head. “I have faced fierce beasts in my lands, yet I still live.”

“They go for the throat,” warned Pali. “Stay low.”

No sooner did he speak than all six rushed up the hill at once. Their speed made a Vrykol seem slow by comparison, and their immense paws appeared to glide effortlessly across the sand. The flame above Aaliyah flew down and exploded, engulfing a wolf in white-hot fire. It let out a high-pitched cry, and tumbled down the dune. Gewey caused the sands beneath another to heave skyward, but to his dismay the wolf fell back, only stunned. Another jumped at his throat, and he just managed to duck away in time. The wolf slid to a halt and turned, its teeth gnashing. Gewey quickly glance over his shoulder. One wolf lay dead at Pali's feet, and he was keeping another at bay with his long scimitar.

A flash of light illuminated the dune, and Gewey heard another wolf cry out. By then the first wolf had recovered and reached him. It didn't go for his throat as had the first one, instead ran straight at him, its cruel teeth gleaming. Gewey brought down his blade in a narrow arc, splitting its skull in two. Its body slammed into him, knocking him from his feet. The other wolf was on him the second he landed, bring its deathly maw down hard at Gewey’s neck. He raised his sword and the sound of fangs on steel rang out. He pushed hard with the flow and sent the wolf sprawling. It landed a few feet down the side of the dune, turned and stopped. Gewey struggled to his feet. Aaliyah and Pali were already next to him. Pali's left shoulder hung loosely at his side, soaked with blood that poured off his fingertips. The beast’s black eyes suddenly glowed with an unnatural green light, then it slowly backed away and disappeared into the darkness.

Pali stumbled and collapsed. Gewey caught him and gently lower him to the ground.

Aaliyah knelt down and ripped away Pali's shirt. Blood poured from a vicious bite. The teeth had sunk deep and nearly pulled his shoulder from its socket. She closed her eyes and directed her power at the wound.

Pali tried to push her away. “No,” he protested. “You cannot.”

Aaliyah did not yield. “I swore an oath to your mother that you would return unharmed. I intend to keep it.” She looked up at Gewey. “You must help me.”

Gewey placed his hands on Aaliyah's and their spirits combined. The flow rushed through him, and for the first time he drew both air and earth together, as she guided his energy. Pali struggled at first, then gasped, arching his back. Gewey could feel the wound close as the flow surrounded it. He had healed before, but Aaliyah's skill astounded him. In less than a minute, the wound had closed.

“We must help him recover the blood he has lost,” she whispered. She sent the power deep inside Pali's body. It expanded and pulsed, saturating him completely. Finally, she lifted her hands and smiled. “It is done.”

Gewey stared at her in awe. He understood now, just how much he still had to learn.

Pali sat up, his face twisted in anger. “What you did is forbidden. You had no right-”

“I had every right,” snapped Aaliyah. “I made a promise to your mother, and even had I not, I would not allow another elf to suffer death if I have the power to prevent it.” She rose to her feet. “I need not justify myself to you. If you prefer death, seek it somewhere else. And if you must leave us, so be it.”

Pali glared for a long moment, then closed his eyes and lowered his head. “I will not leave you. I made a promise as well.” He looked up at Aaliyah and rose to his feet. “I will guide you. But we must leave this place before the scavengers catch the scent. They can be far deadlier than wolves.”

The heaping bulk of the slain wolves were scattered across the top and sides of the dune. The glow of the wolf's eyes still burned in Gewey’s mind. Pali led them east for about an hour before bringing them atop another dune. They all wrapped the blankets tightly around themselves, and stared into the darkness. Gewey reached out with the flow and to his great relief, heard nothing.

“I am sorry I was angry,” said Pali, after a time. “You saved my life. But you must understand how we feel about such things.”

“I do understand,” said Aaliyah. “And had there been another way, I would not have gone against your wishes. But I will not return your dead body to your mother if there is a way to prevent it.”

Pali smiled and chuckled softly. “No. I suppose I wouldn't want to do that either, if I were you. And if you knew her better, that feeling would become even stronger.”

“You said that you'd never seen wolves attack like that,” stated Gewey.

“No I have not.” He looked sideways at Gewey. “Nor have I seen their eyes glow green light. Something evil has entered the sands.” He pulled the blanket closer. “Perhaps the Creator had you save me to find out what it is…and destroy it.”

“Perhaps,” Aaliyah agreed. “Still, I will not have you go beyond the border of the Oasis. From there we go on without you.”

“I go where I please,” said Pali. “Besides, it seems to me that it is unwise to camp alone. If the wolves will attack the three of us, they would certainly attack a single elf.”

Aaliyah thought hard on this. “Perhaps you are right. But the dangers within the Black Oasis may be far worse, if what your mother says is true.”

“Whatever dangers are out there,” said Pali. “I would rather face them with friends at my side.” He smiled at Gewey. “Even if those friends are human. Though I must admit, you fight like no human I've ever seen. I am grateful the Soufis are not as fierce as you.”

“I was trained well,” said Gewey.

The rest of the night was quiet, though none slept, and they continued on an hour before dawn. Gewey flooded himself with the flow listening for any sign of danger.

“We will arrive at the Oasis by sundown,” said Pali. “I suggest we wait until tomorrow to enter. I would not want to brave the Black Oasis at night.”

“Agreed,” said Aaliyah.

By late afternoon, Gewey was becoming increasingly and inexplicably anxious. It was as if an aloof presence lurked just beyond his senses. From time to time he would glance over at Pali and Aaliyah. They seemed untroubled, although alert.

An hour before sundown the dunes began to flatten and Gewey noticed a jagged black stripe peaking over the horizon. It stretched for miles in either direction and even in the waning sun, heat radiated above it causing the air to ripple and twist. Gewey tried to use the flow to see it more clearly, but his vision was reflected off the surface, causing his sight to fail.

“We're here,” said Pali. “The Black Oasis.”

“Indeed,” remarked Aaliyah.

“It's enormous,” said Gewey.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Pali. “It is twice as deep as it is wide, and so thick with trees and brush, one can hardly move. A path exists, but we'll have to find it.”

“We should stop here.” Aaliyah eyed the Oasis warily. “This is as close as I want to be at night.”

“Then we rest here and look for the path in the morning,” said Pali.

That night Gewey's sleep was troubled by a dark presence. Several times he awoke hand reaching for his blade, and Aaliyah did not sleep at all. She sat hugging her knees close to her chest, peering into the blackness. Pali drifted off almost as soon as he lay down.

Finally, Gewey decided restful sleep was out of his grasp and he sat next to Aaliyah. The presence remained. “Do you feel it?” he asked.