Chapter Eight

Sweat trickled down his neck, “This day just had to be long,” studying the actions of the wolves.  He tried looking for a way out, but could not think critically because of the chaos in his mind, “My only way out is asking help from the dragon.”  He fell to his knees and said in a low voice, “Dragonlord I need your help,” and immediately he was teleported to where he had met him.

       The dragon came nearer to him and asked, “Have you now realized that the only way is to kill in order to survive?”

     Zeomora looked to the ground and said, “No, I am sorry, but I believe there is a world that exists with ought having to choose war.”

  The dragon laughed, “I used to picture life that way, till the day life taught me that a place like that never exists,” flying away, “but I shall help you.  I have provided you with the sword, but you’ll have to use your skills.”

     He came back to reality and a description appeared before him.  ‘You can now use portal storage.  This allows you to store things in another dimension, saving on space.’  A portal opened, and Zeomora dipped his hand inside removing the dragon sword, then put his sword ready for battle, while looking for a means of escape.

       A wolf charged forward trying to bite his leg, but Zeomora kicked it sending it backwards.  The wolf became angry, charging again and this made the other wolves attack in unison.  He raised his sword preparing to attack, but a wolf bit his leg making him groan in pain and another bit his arm while another bit his other leg.  He watched as the wolves slowly ripped him into pieces while pain rushed through his entire body.

     He said, ‘I have to do something before the monsters rip me into shreds.’  He used all his energy to release a loud yell while pushing the wolves aside.  He ran out through the entrance and a wolf quickly followed him while the others slowly collected themselves.  When the wolf was about to reach him, he dived down and the wolf jumped forward, having missed him.  While still in the air, Zeomora stabbed it in the belly killing it.  He continued running, while the wolves quickly gained nearer and nearer.

               They momentarily froze on reaching the dead wolf howling as a way of grieving, then continued chasing their prey now with a pumped rage, that made them move faster.  Zeomora tripped on the ground and as he hurriedly collected himself, a wolf bit him on the hand which created a surge of pain nearly rendering him unconscious.  He looked behind and so the other wolves were about to reach him, ‘If they get to me this time, I don’t think I’ll survive.’

           He looked in another direction and so there was a cliff.  He then looked at the wolves, then to the cliff and with a final decision he decided to jump down the cliff.  He pushed himself and the wolf down the cliff, using its body as protection, while it continued biting his arm.  They hit the ground with a thud!  And everything became quiet.  Zeomora had already used too much energy and he released a sign of relief on seeing the wolf was dead, but for some reason, he couldn’t stand on his feet.  He decided to close his eyes and rest for a bit.

    He was awoken hours later by a nightmare of a person who was about to pierce him in the neck.  By now it was nightfall, he was breathing fast, his body was sweating and he had a high temperature.  His body was numb especially where he was bitten earlier.  He tried raising to his feet but he realized great amounts of pain were being released from the bitten arm.  He said while looking at the bite mark, ‘Why on earth would the pain increase even after resting, could the wolf’s teeth be having some sort of poison?”

      He pulled his clothing downwards to expose the bite mark of the wolf.  He was shocked to find slight amounts of vapour being produced at the wound.  He again groaned in pain then said, “So it must have poisoned me after it bit me.”  He looked at his environment and said, “I have to look for some sort of town, where this wound can be treated.”  He found a trail which was heading towards the upper side of the mountain while the other led to the lower side.  “Which way should I take,” groaning again in pain, “I’d better head down the mountain to avoid another encounter with those monsters.”

      After walking for some time, he reached a town which had only a few people outside while the rest were inside.  He reached a man and asked him, “Is there an inn where you can get medication?”  The man nodded and pointed to a house which was just ahead.  He entered the building which had several numbers of lamps and candles, with an old man picking something on the table.  Zeomora asked him, “Is this where people come in search of medication.”

      The man nodded and said while adjusting his eyeglasses, “Yes my son, you are at the right place.”  Zeomora went closer and showed him the bite mark which had now turned black.  

             The old man shook in pain and said, “Oh my, this is bad,” beginning to look for something on the table, “this is really bad.”  He looked at Zeomora and said, “I have to contact ……….,” but paused and walked towards the shelf.

         Zeomora asked confused, “You have to do what?”

      “Nothing, sometimes I talk to myself when in panic".

    “Why have you started panicking suddenly?  Is there something wrong?”

  Walking out of the building, “Nothing’s wrong, I just have to get something, then I’ll be back.”

Moments later, the old man returned with soldiers.  A soldier asked him, “Have you been bitten by wolves from the mountain?”

     Zeomora answered, ‘Yes, well is there a problem?”

 The four soldiers nodded to one another then one said, “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with us,” pulling Zeomora towards the door.

      Zeomora broke the grip and moved backwards, “I am going nowhere!”

   The soldier said, “Then will have to use force, removing a sword.”

Zeomora said, “Fine with me,” removing the dragon sword from the portal.

The soldiers moved behind and one said, “He must be one of those strong adventurers, no wonder he survived the Alpha wolf’s bite,” they ran out of the building closing the door behind them.

         Zeomora looked behind and said, “That was strange, what’s so scary about being bitten by a wolf?”

     Suddenly he was shot in his stomach by a bullet from outside, which made him lower his body in pain.  He quickly ran towards a table and kicked it to the ground, using it as a shield.  He touched the wound in his belly and saw he was bleeding severely.  More gunshots erupted from the outside and as some flammable potions leaked from the broken glasses, a fire started.

       Then he had residents from outside chanted in unison, “Burn!  Burn!  Burn!  Burn!”

           He closed his eyes and he remembered what the dragon said, ‘Life proved me wrong.’  He remembered all the evil things people did to him without him ever being at fault.  He had his mother’s words echoing in his ears, ‘Sometimes, no matter how much light we try to shine, it will never be enough to light all the dark places.  Even when the light shines, some places remain in darkness.’

        He opened his eyes and said, “Then um done helping people and seeing the good in that which cannot be adored,” and he shouted, “ENOUGH!”  Appearing where he had met the dragon. 

     The dragon flew to him and asked, “So, what have you seen of the world?”

He looked at the dragon with deathly eyes and he said, “Make me my fears.”

      “Then, so shall you be.”