Day 9 Prompt

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By Angelzrulez


"Tell us more about the Beyond Lands." Zima demanded.

"Very well, if you insist on this foolish journey I have something to show you first." The Hunter replied firmly.

The pair looked at each other and began following the Hunter. She guided the young Sylesties towards the top of the mountain that housed the Lunemara village. From the top of the mountain they could see the vast landscapes of Umbra Forest and Viridian Meadows.

Zima turned to the Hunter. "What was it that you wanted to show us?" She inquired.
"First, let me give you some history about the Blood Cascade Coven." The Hunter explained.

Zima nodded and the Hunter began her story.

"The Blood Cascade Coven is an ancient group that has been around for centuries. They have a history associated with slaughter and sacrifices, including their own members." She paused, gazing off into the distance. Zima looked over to Yae, who was trembling with fear.

"See that volcano over there?" She pointed a fuzzy finger to the south. Zima nodded.
"The Coven is based in the Beyond Lands and the volcano is on the far side of it." The Hunter explained.
Zimas eyes widened. "I must go there immediately; I need to find my sister!" She exclaimed.

"Not so fast young one, I do know someone who can help you on your journey. He's a fierce warrior and you'll find him in the mountains by the river on the way to the Beyond Lands."

Volcano!!


Zima and Yae looked at each other, and back to the Hunter. ``Could you guide us?`` Zima asked her, her eyes bright with curiosity. The Hunter nodded. ``He rests there, but be careful, and do not annoy him. Now, we'd best be off before sun-down. I will aid you until you are half way to him.``

They walked and flew for about an hour before the Hunter left them alone. Another silent hour went by before the reached the cavern. Yae looked up at Zima and gulped, ``I guess lets go..``
The walked into the cavern, a small flicker of light coming from the end of the short tunnel. The tunnel had been cold but also warm, like a fire was swirling through the walls, giving Zima and Yae a sense of calm. But this.. This was like standing in a fire, their feet burned and lava trickled down from the walls, around a brown and beige scaled body. Finally, their head was uncovered from a wing, showing a scarred eye, and a broken tooth that stuck out from their mouth.


``Welcome, I've been waiting for your arrival.`` A deep voice rumbled as they watched the arising body come up from the floor.

Volcano

"Right! What's his name?" Zima asked.

"He is known as Rohe." The hunter responded. "You'll have no problem finding him, he knows everything that goes on in those mountains. He's likely to find you."

"Right! Thank you!" Zima said as she leaped towards the exit, with Yae trailing behind her. "Yae get on." She said to the small lunemara, beckoning her onto her back.

Yae had no issue clambering onto the vulynx's back and clutching onto her fur. As soon as Zima felt Yae's weight on her, she slipped through the entrance of the village and re-entered the grotto. However, this time she knew she had to be more careful.

"Alright Yae," Zima whispered. "We need to be extra quiet this time, the trolls might still here."

"Ok." Yae whispered back. "Keep to the ground and move slowly, perhaps this time they won't notice us."

Volcano

Zima looked at the Hunter. "Thank you?" she said, confused at why after all this, someone'd call it foolish. "Well, anyway, let's go. We have a long way to travel." Zima said. She let Yae climb onto her back, and then they started. It felt like an hour, that was really just five minutes, when they were finally down. Zima looked at Yae.
"Do you remember the direction?" she asked, helplessly. Yae nodded.
"It's that way." she said, pointing. Zima's eyes followed the finger.
"Um," she said. "Isn't that back up the hill? Are we lost?" she asked, voice pitching higher. Yae looked down sheepishly. She nodded. Zima sighed. "Five minutes, and we're lost." she sighed again, and dropped her head. Yae patted her ear. Suddenly Zima perked her head up. "What's that?" she asked. There was a humming noise. Yae looked up at the forest, then way up. Into the sky.
"Hello, Zima." the griffi said. "I heard you needed help. My kind doesn't always help hatchlings, but I see this is an emergency. My name is Asem, I will help you." With that, the Griffi lowered himself, and lowered his wing. "Climb on, It'll be a long journey."



_{Just 202 words.}

I like how the story is coming together c:

Volcano.

Zima started to pace, her footsteps echoing. "Who is this warrior you speak of?"

"His name is Ajax. He is the only one who has ever come back from the Beyond Lands alive." replied the Hunter.

"The only one??" squeaked Yae fearfully.

"I'm afraid so. I'll be able to take you near the mountain, but the rest you'll have to do yourselves."

With that, they left the safety of the village and began the journey to the mountains. After what seemed like hours, they reached the bottom of the mountain. Looking upwards, Zima appreciated just how tall it was.

"This is where I must leave you," stated the Hunter gravely. "I wish you the best of luck on your journey." She floated into the trees and was gone in an instant.

With a glance at each other, Zima and Yae began the arduous trek up the mountain. But they didn't get far before Yae got stuck.

"Zima, help me!" she cried.

Zima turned and saw Yae trying to get past a rock.

"Get on my back," she ordered impatiently.

Yae complied and they started moving again. Sweat stung Zima's eyes as she struggled endlessly up. Many times, she was close to giving in and curling up in despair. But thoughts of her sister kept her going.

At last she looked up and they were there, at the mouth of a humongous cave.

"Hello?" she called hesitantly.

A giant figure appeared in the shadows.

"Welcome, young ones. I have been waiting for you."



I think that's exactly 250.
Whoops, was I supposed to ping you? Because I did.

Volcano

"What's his name?" Zima asked, but the Hunter shook her head. "He has many names, but only one true name. Those who learn it do not tell, so you must learn his name for yourselves, if you can." The Hunter replied, before nodding down the rugged mountain slopes. "Go. Time may prove precious." The Hunter said.

Zima nodded and knelt to let Yae climb upon her back, before making her way down the slopes. As they went, Yae glanced back and her eyes widened slightly. The Hunter was gone, just like that! Just as if she'd vanished into smoke.

She said nothing about it though, as Zima painstakingly picked her way down the mountain, until they came to a river. As Zima stopped for a moment to catch her breath, a low, menacing growl echoed from nearby that made Zima's fur stand on end and Yae tremble...

Zima took a deep breath, "I will do whatever it takes to rescue my sister." She looked at Yae.
The little lunemara munched on her leaf, "I don't know how much help I will be, but I will go with you because you are my friend."
Zima smiled at her little friend. "Thank you Yae."
The hunter looked at the small lunemara caterpillar, "You might find that you have far more power than you know."
Yae looked up sharply, "What do you mean?"
The hunter, however, had turned away, "I wish you both well, though I doubt we will meet again".
Zima sighed, "Well we'd better get going. Come on Yae climb on my back." Zima crouched as Yae climbed on her back, and then set off down the trail to find the cave.

Volcano

"Oh" Zima said, a little disappointed they couldn't leave immediately. "Alright we'll get going then."
"Wait Zima," Yae said, "maybe it's better if we could have the Hunter guide us." Yae turned to the hunter, "right?"
The hunter sniffed "Yes, of course. I'll be able to find him much faster than you can. Come along now though, I need to fix you up a pack for your journey" She floated down a side passageway.
Zima and Yae tumbled along after her. Eventually they came into an open cavern, with a stream running though it. "This stream, we'll keep following it upstream until we get to the mountains. From there, you'll be in the care of the great warrior Naikus, as I cannot follow you into the beyond lands." The hunter floated over to a far wall and grabbed some herbs and potions off the wall. She came back to them with all these in a small leather bag, and handed them a map. "Hopefully, you'll never need the map yourself. But if you get lost, it'll be helpful. As I said, you follow the stream, and then the river. You'll eventually reach a bridge, continue north into the high mountains. There is a village there and Naikus shouldn't be far. He'll have to explain the next leg of the trip for you. Come, let's make haste."
Zima and Yae looked at each other. Then, Zima shouldered the pack, and followed the hunter, floating along a little ways ahead.

Zima shivered with anticipation. "He can help us find Zuri? We need to go find him now!" Zima turned to Yae, and then the Hunter. "Can you help us find this great warrior?"

The Lunemara shook her head sadly. "I am afraid that this is not a task I can partake in. I am bound to this village by my ancestral duties. However, he is fairly easy to find if you just remember, follow the Eble River downstream until you come across a mountain range. If you stay there for a night, he will find you." She smiled at them. "Stay safe. I do hope you can find your sister."

She gestured with her claw and two brightly colored Lunemara flew over, bringing Zima and Yae small satchels filled with what the Hunter described as, "survival essentials." Zima swung the satchel over her back and helped Yae climb onto her shoulder. She smiled at the Hunter.

"Thank you so much for all of your help! We'll come back when we find Zuri!" The Hunter smiled slightly at them before Zima turned and began picking her way down the mountainside, Yae perched on her shoulder blade.