The crisp rustling of fallen foliage intensified as Akhashi ran for his life.
He quickly transformed into a wolf and leaped forward and after a few feet, he changed back into a fox galloping as fast as he could on all four of his limbs. The Akhashi tribe from Chemora had the ability to shift between canines. With repeated transformations,they were able to diffuse the scent left behind on their track.
But this particular Akhashi wasn't trying to do that. He was trying to shift into the fastest four legged canine because for him it was life and death.
He was a spy ,sent to the Xoron clan.
The Xorons were a shady tribe and nobody knew much about their territories or rulers. They never participated in inter-tribe dialogue either. A thick wall made of dense, thorny, carnivorous shrubs, marked the starting of their land. Nobody dared trespass because of two main reasons. First,they were monstrous, unruly creatures. And second, their territories were believed to be on waste lands, ancient graveyards which were long abandoned. They drew their powers from the dead.
The fox was now a hound and was tearing through the dark territories with all the might his paws could garner.
But he toppled over something and slid helping for miles, his paw caught in a trap, bleeding profusely.
" You thought you could outsmart a Xoron? "
A thunderous voice echoed through the dark forest.
" Give back what you have stolen, mutt! " The voice thundered again and Akhashi looked at the small shard of jewel that he had between his palm.
The pain had forced him to change back. He was now lying on his back , a naked human.
He quickly gobbled the shard. He was choking as it went down his food pipe.
He tried to crawl his way forward even though he knew there was no running away from the gigantic monster in front of him.
The pet Jinn, Azura, that the Akhashi King had was right with his information. The Xorons were indeed sitting on great treasure. The Akhashi spy could only get hold of a tiny sample as proof. He was trying to protect it, with all his life , waiting for backup to arrive.
A tentacle from Xoron's body pierced through his chest as he yelled in agony, vomiting a few drops of blood.
The Xoron picked him up and hung him midair ,
" Do you want me to tear you open and take it out? "
He repeated.
" Go on. Do it. What's stopping you? "
The Akashi spy was no ordinary person. He was the eldest son of the King. A very cunning, young lad whose younger brother, Braze was sent on a mission to another planet. A parallel world called Earth.
His name was Brian.
The Xoron's had many advantages but their only drawback was that they could not take the lives of others, who were not related or connected to them. Perhaps this was nature's way of balance. They drew their strength from the dead hence the source needed to be sustainable. Otherwise their power would have known no bounds.
Brian didn't particularly know about this weakness but guessee because the Xoron could have easily ripped his body apart and taken the shard, instead, he was threatening him so he would voluntarily hand it over.
Right at that moment a hundred poison darts lodged themselves along the skin of the Xoron.
He let go of Brian as he closed his eyes to contain the pain.
" Right on time boys, " Brian smirked as the Akhashis lunged themselves at the lone Xoron.
His entire body contracted and expanded, trying to avoid their bites and tentacles emerging from his back, slapped them hard, poked them and pierced them, in a desperate attempt to dislodge them from his body.
But those Akhashis were pestering bugs.
They were only a dozen in number. Brian's inner circle. A group of young and enthusiastic soldiers who feared nothing and were brave enough to walk against norms.
They cut through the never ending tentacles of the Xoron as it kept regrowing again, attacking them, again and again. It was gravely injuring all of them but none of its blows were fatal.
" Aim for the head... aim between his eyes. "Brian yelled, trying to get rid of the trap on his foot.
But then suddenly another Xoron came at them from nowhere.
Brian looked in horror as it stomped towards them like an elephant and grabbed all of them and tossed them away from its brother's body. The impact was great and the Akhashis struggled to get back on their feet.
It was at this moment when the pet Jinn, Azura, appeared beside Brian. This was followed with a hundred more howls in the background.
There was more back up.
" Quick get this trap off me, " Brian ordered Azura , " And take the jewel shard out of my stomach. "
Azura smiled.
" So you did find the treasure. " he said, freeing Brian's feet, " but I am sorry. I cannot touch it. It's forbidden treasure. You did bad swallowing it. We will need to surgically remove it as soon as possible. Let me take you back to the castle. "
Brian was able to get rid of the trap holding him down.
Azura was about to lift Brian up when suddenly they witnessed something that sent their guts wrenching.
The first Xoron grabbed the neck of the second Xoron and sucked the life force out of it, in front of their eyes.
Before they could understand what was happening, the first Xoron let out a tremendous war cry.
The sound wave was so strong, it sent all the Akhashis flying, several miles away from Xoron territory.
When they ran back to the spot, trying to finish what they had begun, they were stunned again.
What greeted them was a hundred fold taller and thicker, thorny, carnivorous bush. A barrier erected in seconds that was impenetrable.
As the Akhashis looked at the new boundary with awe , they had no idea that the monster they were fighting had transformed into a young human. He was bent over a young woman, yelling and crying over her loss.
Inconsolable tears were tripping down his face, knowing that he was the one who caused her end.
This was the norm in the Xoron lands but it never eased the pain.