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Tribal Arcana - Tome 2
The rock-beast's fist slammed into the cobblestone path with a deafening crunch, barely missing Nalerenn's foot as he leapt out of the way. Lucien and Nalerenn had been fighting for a while now, but neither could get close to the fiend. Every time they got close, it would strike with it's fists. Leaping around was the only way to avoid being hit by the giant's blows.
"I can't get close to it!" spat Nalerenn, having to duck to avoid another hit.
"Concentrate, Nalerenn, concentrate!"
The beast slammed both fists down on the ground, forcing Lucien to jump further away to avoid harm. The shockwaves made Nalerenn lose his balance and fall over backwards. He sprang back up just in time, as the beast had swung one arm around to strike Nalerenn. As he leapt, he grabbed hold of the fiend's arm and held on as the beast flailed wildly. Lucien stood back and admired Nalerenn's courage.
"Impressive. I don't know if it's courage or stupidity that made you do that, Nalerenn"
"I just though about giving this monster a slap on the wrist"
The beast brought its other fist down to hit Nalerenn again, but he was out of the way before the beast knew it and ended up hitting itself. The force of the blow smashed both fists into the ground and threw the fiend onto it's front.
"Now, Nalerenn! Strike it now!"
Nalerenn didn't need telling twice. With his daggers drawn, he sprinted towards the fiend. He brought both blades scraping across the fiend's thickskin before leaping back with surprise. This fiend didn't just look like a rock. It was a rock. The beast struggled back onto its feet and roared loudly.
"Lucien. I think we're in trouble"
"Move!"
Nalerenn wasn't as fast as he usually was. Lucien had dived into the bushed to avoid the rock-fiend's charge, but Nalerenn hadn't noticed until it was too late. The impact sent him flying through the air before skidding across the rough ground to a halt. He didn't get up.
"Nalerenn! NALERENN!"
Still no response. Lucien turned around to face the fiend once more.
"You!" he spat, lunging forward with his lance pointed ahead. "You will pay for that!"
The beast swung wildly at Lucien, who either ducked or leapt over its attacks. A particularly low attack forced Lucien to vault over it using his lance. Another swing hit Lucien and knocked him away, but instead of slamming into the nearest tree, he kicked off from it and drove his lance towards the creature's head, where it cut deep. Lucien hit the ground running, but slightly injured. He stood back as the fend flailed wildly. Lucien's lance had hit one of its eyes, blinding it on one side. He readied his lance and glanced over to Nalerenn, lying face-down on the ground.
"This fiend shall not claim you as a victim, Nalerenn. Not with me here"
Lucien leapt forward with his lance pointed directly at the fiend's head. He cried out loud with anger as he soared through the air, closing the gap between the fiend's head and the point of his lance. His determination left him blind to a surprise attack. The fiend slammed its fists together, with Lucien between them. His lance fell harmlessly to the ground as he screamed in agony. The fiend then grabbed him and threw him at a large rock nearby, where he slumped down. He was still alive. Barely. The fiend lumbered up, raising an arm to strike the final blow. All Lucien could do was watch on, bloodied and bruised, as the attack threatened to crush him once and for all.
Suddenly, a grey streak shot past the fiend's face. Somehow, the streak had slashed the fiend's other eye, rendering it completely blind. Lucien watched on in surprise, before an unfamiliar female tiger plopped down next to him. She wore only a blue robe with white lining and gold crucifix pendant and carried with her a white staff. The parts of her that did show were covered in orange fur with black stripes.
"Stay still" came the tiger's young voice. "This'll put you right"
Her hands began to glow white as she concentrated hard on something. Lucien was surrounded by white sparkles and his pain ebbed away a little. Some of his wounds also closed up.
"Th-Thank you" said Lucien, slightly confused.
"You can thank me later. Right now, you're friend's in a spot of trouble"
"Nalerenn! He..."
Lucien stood up and spun around. It was then he noticed that Nalerenn wansn't on the ground. There was no sign of where he went.
"Lucien!" Shouted Nalerenn's voice. "I could use your help!"
Lucien spun around again and realised that the grey streak was Nalerenn saving his life. The fiend was flailing wildly in all directions, making it difficult to get in close to attack. The tiger in the robe had grabbed Lucien's lance and tossed it over to him.
"Here! Use this. I'll back you up from here"
Lucien nodded and ran over to Nalerenn's side, his lance aimed at the fiend again. Nalerenn had his daggers at the ready, waiting for a chance to dash in and strike safely.
"Nalerenn, I found the weak point. Strike its head"
"But how can we get in with it thrashing like this? It's too dangerous"
"Leave it to me!" said the tiger.
She held out her arms again, but there was no glow this time. Instead, the fiend's flailing slowed to a snail's pace, making them much easier to dodge.
"I'll hold it like this! You two hit it and hit it hard!"
"Okay! Lucien! Leave this to me!"
"Revenge, Nalerenn?"
Nalerenn gave a single laugh before leaping onto the fiend's fists. He leapt again onto it's head and buried both his daggers into it's face, causing it to scream out in pain. He wrenched them out, ripping more of the fiend's fragile skin. Everything has it's Achile's heel, if Lucien's words were true. This fiend's head was that weakness, proving to be its downfall. Nalerenn had stabbed it once more before it fell to the ground, shaking the nearby oak trees and rocks. Thanks to the tiger's arrival, both men had been saved as well as supported. The tiger knelt down on the ground and let out a large sigh.
"Phew! It's finally over. I was getting exhausted"
Nalerenn wiped his daggers clean and sheathed them. Lucien stepped up to check if the fiend was really dead. It didn't respond when he prodded it with his lance. It was dead.
"You outdone yourself, Nalerenn. Not many have taken on this fiend"
Nalerenn grinned and walked over to the tiger.
"Thank you for your help. What is your name?"
The tiger jumped to her feet and smiled, clasping her hands behind her.
"I'm Wakret Karnuk. Nice to meet you both"
Nalerenn couldn't help but think about how pretty Wakret looked, now that he had a chance to get a good look at her.
"The pleasure's all mine. I'm Nalerenn. Nalerenn Brokken. The one over there is Lucien Dakard, my mentor. We both came from the Ludagh tribe t-"
"Enough, Nalerenn" interrupted Lucien. "You've said too much as it is"
"Oh no. It's fine. I'm with the Dotarne. I don't mind who you're with"
Lucien sighed and crossed his arms, looking over at Nalerenn.
"Never tell anyone what tribe your with. Not everyone are on pleasant terms with our tribe. This time, you were lucky"
"My apologies"
Lucien walked onwards, following the path ahead, leaving Wakret and Nalerenn to catch up.
"He's strict" said Wakret. "Is he like this often?"
"Yes. He has to be. He is a mentor"
"What does he teach?"
"Mostly fighting skills. He knows the fiend's way of fighting and teaches it to others in our tribe. Not many can do it well, though"
"He's teaching you to fight? You don't seem to need it. You fought well with that fiend"
"That was what I had learned from him. I put it to use. This is our last time as teacher and pupil"
"Oh. Bet it brings back memories"
It did. He could remember when Lucien had given him his daggers. When he had taught him how to dodge expertly. When he taught him how to find a fiend's weak point. There was also another memory, but it was faint. He remembered when he had first met Lucien. Only a select few are taught by him and they have to prove themselves first. They did so through a tournament of sorts. Though faintly, he could remember the last fight he had to win. Nalerenn against a teenage wolf similar to himself who used some sort of orange wheel as a weapon. Whenever the trigger on the wheel was pulled, flames would shoot out of it, forming a ring around the user's hand. The rest was too unclear to remember. He tried hard to remember who it was. So hard that it showed on the outside.
"Uuh, are you okay?"
Nalerenn stopped trying to remember and nodded.
"I'm fine. We should move on. Thank you again"
"Where are you heading, anyway?"
"To your tribe's camp. We need a healer for our journey"
Wakret swayed slowly from side to side, smiling greatly with her eyes closed.
"You're in luck! I'm a healer, in case you hadn't noticed"
She stoped suddenly and opened her eyes, jabbing her chest with her thumb.
"I'm a pretty good one, too"
Nalerenn smiled broadly.
"It seems our good fortune continues. Would you be willing to come with us? It will be a long trip"
"Where you headed?"
"The Karnolic" interrupted Lucien, who had backtracked to see what was taking the two so long. "We won't tell you any more unless you wish to come with us"
"Sure, I'll come along. I haven't been outside of our tribal grounds at all. It should be nice"
"This isn't a game" groaned Lucien. "This is important to out tribe. I will not allow you to slack off on our journey"
"Lucien, don't you think you're being too strict?"
Lucien walked off again, saying nothing.
"He didn't have to say it like that" said Wakret, kneeling down again.
"He is very strict, but I have the feeling he only wants to keep you safe"
Wakret stood up and stomped her feet.
"You're on his side?"
"Not totally. I see your point about it being a nice change"
"Well, we'd better hurry. It'll be dusk soon. My camp isn't too far from here, anyway"
Wakret ran off down the path, hurrying to catch up with Lucien. Nalerenn shook his head and smiled to himself.
"She's young, but she might change Lucien for the better. He needs to take things less seriously"
Nalerenn broke into a sprint and chased after Wakret and Lucien.
"Lucien! Wakret! Wait for me!"
In the undergrowth, a pair of yellow eyes watched the trio run past, before darting over to the defeated fiend.
"They defeated Rouken?" said a deep, oily voice. "They may be ones to keep a watch on. They could upset my plans greatly. Well, as long as they don't reach the Karnolic Sejut-Karr before I do, everything will be fine. Everything will go just as planned"
The eyes vanished in a flash, leaving no trace of them being there at all. Things had taken an interesting turn for the worse.
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