Fear, Fanatics and Fighting - The Order: Part 2

Fear, Fanatics and Fighting
The Order: Part 2

   The deafening silence didn’t last for long. Behind the ominous gates, voices started to whisper something. It gradually grew louder, injecting more fear and panic into Meline and Roihiran while Aethone refused to admit she probably wasn’t ready for what headed their way. Cailu had spoken of Shira, was that the one they were waiting for? This question was answered shortly by the whispering voices, which had grown into chanting of Shira’s name, repeating it over and over again with a bloodthirsty tone to it. Together with the chanting, a set of heavy footsteps appeared, getting louder as they got closer to the massive gate. The group that had escorted them here and the chained Haedians patrolling the gate pulled back in the shadows while quietly chanting Shira’s name together with the rest of them while their eyes glimmered with maleficent excitement in the dark.

   Cailu was clearly afraid for the topsiders’ wellbeing but as he had requested this Shira, he had to stay put where he stood. Meline took a couple steps back till she bumped into Aethone. Feeling her strong friend behind her didn’t offer her even a slightest bit of security while she also didn’t notice how her long fluffy tail instinctively curled around Aethone’s front leg, looking for some hope to hold onto. Roihiran was back at his mission to slip behind Aethone, but despite the Puller’s massive size she wouldn’t cover him from the view completely. But hey, having some shield is better than having none at all, right?

   The footsteps abruptly stopped right behind the gate, and so did the unison chanting. Heavy silence took over once more, before scraping sounds started heading up along the wall right next to the gate. Aethone realized with horror that Shira was climbing the solid rock with no effort while everyone’s hearts dropped as soon as a massive head with antlers stuck out behind the wall, followed by a big and muscular body, all paws equipped with ridiculously long sharp claws and the most prominent feature was the sinister-looking Haedian’s burning eyes. The eyes weren’t glowing, but literally smoldering from the annoyance clearly displayed on this monster’s face as she heaved her whole body to the wall’s ledge before pushing herself off, gliding straight at the defenseless group. Meline wanted to scream and run, but fear had completely paralyzed her, leaving her to watch how Shira approached them at great speed. Aethone was busy processing Shira’s size as so far, all the Haedians had been smaller than her but this one was something new, making Aethone question her abilities of potentially facing her in a bloody brawl. Roihiran was also stunned and his Scorpion tail dropped on the cave floor, indicating that every bit of willingness in him to fight even the biggest opponents had made an exception in Shira’s case.

   The cavern echoed in a heavy thud and the ground beneath the Reoseans shook as Shira landed. She raised her antler-crowned head, soul-piercing gaze locked at the shocked beings in front of her. She measured them from head to toe, trying to figure out what they even were before Cailu stepped up, all his legs shaking slightly as he greeted her.

“Shira, greetings to your clan and mighty victories to your God, may I speak with you?”

   Cailu bowed down deeply, not letting Shira see his terrified expression as he waited for her next move. Shira took her time to study the topsiders before she reacted to Cailu’s presence.

“Cailu, you better have a damn good explanation for this.”

   There wasn’t a single gram of friendliness in her tone, it reeked of power and hunger for violence. Only Aethone was capable of giving Shira a slight polite bow to greet her as the Empyrians looking for safety and comfort from here had turned into statues from the amount of adrenaline rushing through their veins.

“They are guests from the Above, they seek an audience with the Matriarch and they’ve been accepted by the other clans. Please, let us pass through your territory.”

   Shira stared at Cailu in disbelief before she bursted into chilling laughter.

“And what about the Order’s approval? Currently it’s looking like they don’t even respect us, and you expect to drag them through our grounds? Get lost, Cailu, before I have you for breakfast.”

   She snapped at the smaller Haedian, but Cailu knew very well Shira’s threats about eating him were empty, but that didn’t apply to the foreigners.

“Uhm, please excuse me for a moment.”

   Having said that, Cailu swiftly turned around and quickly approached the quivering Empyrians and frightened Puller.

“Okay, guys, here’s the deal - I’ll make Shira vow not to touch you, as I have to leave you here to get someone with more power to help us. I won’t be gone for long, so please, hang tight and don’t agitate them any further.”

   Cailu gave Roihiran a reproving glance, before Meline’s sobbing and desperate pleading made his expression soften.

“Cailu, please, no, don’t leave us here.”

   The Empyrian was in tears as this was possibly the most horrifying experience in her life so far. She desperately reached towards Cailu’s forepaw to hold onto it so that the only friendly face in the current situation wouldn’t run away. Cailu’s heart ached for Meline, but temporarily abandoning them was the only way to help them. He leaned on for a comforting hug, letting Meline hide her face in his soft chest fur while Aethone and Roihiran observed the desolate scene before them with sadness lingering in their eyes as well. Shira was impatiently tapping one of her elongated claws against the stone floor, fortunately she had enough decency to let Cailu say his last words to his companions, not that she’d take any joy in that.

“In order to help you, I have to go. I promise I’ll do my best and you will be fine.”

   Meline inhaled sharply as she pulled her head away and nodded with closed eyes. There was nothing she could do, and to support her, Aethone placed her free huge paw on her shoulder without saying a word. Meline understood this gesture and was extremely grateful to the big girl, while Roihiran decided to keep still and quiet to see what would happen next.

   Having given Meline and Aethone a couple of encouraging pats, Cailu smiled weakly, then turned around and went back to Shira. He had to convince Shira for a little while not to harm them, to which she finally agreed, face deformed in a deep grimace as she wasn’t fond of that at all. Cailu also arranged so that they could stay within the Order’s territory till he’s back, so Shira, with extreme reluctance, escorted them through the gates to the heart of the Order clan. Giving quick goodbyes and a promise to be back, Cailu took his leave, running between the numerous tents, carved cave holes and nests till he was out of sight. The trio was now on their own, all eyes of the crazed members of the Order on them. Shira also turned around, and with main attention on Aethone she seemed to grin as she got an idea.

“Well, while we wait for dear daddy to get back, why won’t we play a fun little game, kids?”

This definitely didn’t sound good.