Encounter (Page 6)

"You won't catch me, Arte!"

"We'll see about that!"

Me and Arte were spending most of our days sparring, playing and spending time together in general.

We enjoyed running around in the forest and exploring different places, father said that it is dangerous in the woods so we had to be careful and if were in danger run back home.

"Bryn, do you see that, is it a cave?"

We were standing atop a hill with one big tree, it was our spot to relax and spend time together, and the view was stunning, from the hill you can see the huge lake, you can see the big forest, and can spy on people in the village.

"Where?"

Arte pointed in a direction but I couldn't see trough the trees, I know that Arte has amazing sight, but to this extent.

"Let's go check it out, Bryn, maybe we'll find treasure!"

Yeah, thats if we don't find the end of the road before the treasure.

"Fine, I'm curios, but let's be cautios, if we sense any danger we run."

I had a bad feeling, but it might just be my imagination, After all, there aren't many beasts around here.

Forest life here is abundant, from innocent herbivores to carnivourous beasts, main predator here which roams in the forest is horned wolves, they hunt in packs and have higher intelect than most animals, they can take on even bigger pray, my father was boasting how he took a whole pack by himself, but I have my doubts.

"Arne! Wait up!"

I got lost in tought.

We neared the cave and from it's suroundings it seemed abandoned, wolves might have lived here, but I hope that hey don't anymore.

We went into the cave and with hand gestures signaled to be quiet. The cave was quite dark, shimers of light barely came trought the crystal stalagmites, as we went deeper it got brighter, and finally we arrived at the end of the cave, it was a straight path leading from one end to the other.

At the end of the cave stalagmites illuminated our surroundings, it was beautiful! We looked around and it seemed safe, we were amazed how spacious it felt, after some more time we decided that it's okay to make noise.

"Bryn isn't this place amazing, my father told me that stalagmites are sometimes put into metal and made into armour to illuminate light and blind their foes."

"Hey, Arte, amm... There's a skeleton here."

Because of stalagmites illuminating light we failed to notice a skeleton, holding a sword and a stone in his hand, with a letter on it, the stone was pretty and was faintly glowing.

I wanted to get a closer look at the stone and tried to grab it, the skeleton was holding it tightly, but I managed to rip it out of his hand. The stone started to shine more as if it was alive and was trying it's hardest.

While I was inspecting the stone, Arte tapped my sholder.

"Bryn, why is it a-alive?!

"What are you talkng about it's just..."

I was not able to finish my sentance as a crackling of chains took my attention, when I looked up there it was the living skeleton standing in front of me ready to take a swing. I got scared and my knees went weak, my only tought was how to survive this, the despair and fear of facing an already dead foe was terrifying. My father told me that if I come face to face with a living undead I should run, they aren't particulary strong, but killing them is not easy.

As it was holding it's sword above it's head it was coming closer and closer while I was crawling back while looking straight at it, I was scared.

As I reached my roads end, I tought that this was the last seconds of my life, I didn't have any regrets, I made a friend, had a loving family, it was fullfiling. I closed my eyes and accepted it, but my body didn't agree it was shivering like it had a mind of it's own.

"BRYYNN!"

Arte, I thought he ran, what is he doing!"

I opened my eyes just to notice Arte sprinting at the skeleton with a stalagmite in his hand taking a swing, even the skeleton was taken by surprise!

Arte's fierce and determined look in his eyes, but that is not enought, as the skeletons attention was away I quickly stood up and in order to distract it I took a swing, I didn't expect it to do any damage but if it's enough to distract it for a couple of second I'll take it.

My distraction worked and now it's up to Arne, I believed in him, as the skeletons attention came to me Arne had an opening to hit it, the stalagmite is hard and solid even enough to break bones.

"Take this you bloody skeleton!"

Arte hit the skeleton in his head and it got knocked over, it was still moving so running away is the best and safest option.

"Arte let's get out and run back to the village."

Arte nodded and we ran, after reaching the hill were we were relaxing we took a break from running. It didn't follow us so we felt safe and made our way back to the village.

As we were walking I remembered having the stone in my pocket, I pulled it out to look at it put it in my palm and admired it's unique features.

I should ask my father about it, anyways, I'am tired so is Arte.