Okay, so even though I have exams and oral defense for my research proposal next week, I took time to edit and post here. It's the only thing that calms my nerves. So, wish me good luck and I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Oh yeah, Imma gonna edit the 3rd or second chapter when I have the time. If you read the edited version, it would make more sense now...
The next day, the three left Aether Terranum and set out for Helei Terranum, the underground city. They set up camp when night came. All went as usual and they woke up early the next day.
They started to fix the encampment when suddenly they heard sounds. They hid their equinas in the brush and investigated where the sounds were coming from.
From behind the brush, they could see two foot soldiers clad in heavy, rust red armor, armed to the teeth. They came out of a ship as big as a van.
“They’re scouts.” said Kala after observing them.
Milhad started to fidget and started to stutter. Kala and Joshua shushed him but he kept going on.
“But… but… there are… they are going to… eep.” stuttered Milhad as Kala and Joshua observed the enemy.
“Shut up Milhad!” Joshua spat out.
Kala took out her satchel and got a string of small, round stones. She picked out the red ones and gave some to Joshua.
“Don’t swallow.” she said quietly. She then put some in her mouth.
They resembled the ones given to him when he first got to Pelianor. He couldn’t ask what they were because Milhad interrupted.
“Umm… Kala, Joshua…we--” Kala and Joshua couldn’t make out the last words but were so irritated by Milhad’s noise and were about to wring his neck when a deep voice spoke.
“Put your hands above your head and turn around to face me. Quickly!”
Then, they turned backs carefully, they saw a soldier holding Milhad by his shirt. He was pointing a gun at them.
Kala glanced at Joshua, he wasn’t able to swallow the stones. He was still clutching them in his left hand which means he was defenseless. The soldier caught Kala’s quick eye.
“You! Drop whatever it is you’re holding!”
Joshua dropped the stones. The soldier took a look at this and this minor distraction was enough for Kala. She punched the air then a fireball erupted from her fist. It hit the soldier and he was knocked out. His armor was singed but he himself seemed untouched. Joshua picked up the fallen stones.
“Put them in your mouth.” ordered Kala. “There are more and they must have heard the blast, so be alert.”They took his weapons and tied him up to a tree.
“Uh, I think I’ll stay here and make sure that he doesn’t escape.” Milhad said shakily.
Kala and Joshua spotted the two other soldiers guarding their ship. Kala and Josh ambushed them and they didn’t stand a chance. But before Kala and Joshua could look inside the ship, one of the foot soldiers hit a button on his arm band and it started beeping.
“Joshua.” she glanced at the arm band “A bomb!”
Joshua and Kala hauled the tied up soldiers as fast as they possibly could. They had just reached the tree line when the ship exploded. Debris, smoke and charred ship pieces were the only things left. Luckily, they got far enough away from the explosion.
“What was that?!?” asked a worried Milhad.
“Don’t worry” Kala spoke as she shoved one of the soldiers against the tree. “It was just a bomb.”
“It was JUST a bomb?” asked Milhad astounded.
“This smarty-pants over here set it off” said Joshua looking at the soldier he was dragging towards the tree.
“Smarty pants?” asked Milhad.
“It means he’s not so smart … but… he’s smart… and uh… in an irritating sort of way.” said Joshua in a futile attempt to explain it.
“I don’t get it.” replied Milhad while scratching his head.
“Never mind! It’s just another expression.” said Joshua.
Meanwhile, Kala was busy. She tightened the soldiers’ bounds and made sure they could not escape, checking for hidden knives and guns. Both of the soldiers were in a daze. Kala threw some water from a nearby spring at the soldiers to wake them up. The other soldier, the first to be caught, tried to dodge the water.
“What are you doing here?” asked Kala.
“Our masters will conquer you,” said one of the soldiers “they will enslave you.” continued the other. “They will destroy you.” said the last one. They sounded monotonous and as if they were under mind-control.
Kala punched one of them. “Were you sending out information?”
Yet again, they said the same things.
“Let’s face it; they’re not going to tell us anything.” Joshua said.
“Fine.” she said backing up from the soldiers. “At noon, villagers trek up this path to the mountains to collect herbs. They will deal with these three.” she said with a scowling face as she turned away from them.
They started back to their equinas. They were surprised, for when they got back they discovered that their equinas were wounded, slashed in their knees. The equina were all bleeding profusely.
“I should have known!” said Kala in a frustrated tone, she furiously punched a tree.
“Why are you so frustrated?” asked Joshua, the concern in his tone was very discernable.
Milhad merely put his hand on Joshua’s shoulder and when Joshua looked back Milhad just shook his head implying not to push the subject.
“Leave me.” Kala said. Joshua and Milhad walked away to find some shade and water.
Kala took out her satchel and got violet stones. She put them in her mouth and knelt beside the wounded equina who were whinnying. She put her hand on the wounds and they healed. She did the same to the other two equina. She then put them back in the satchel.
“Shh Reyta, I’m here girl. I’m sorry they hurt you.” she patted the white equina. “Dulin, brave one, you fought courageously. I’m proud of you.” she whispered to the brown one with stab marks on its sides. “Teta, you will get better. They will not hurt you again.” She kissed the palomino.
After a while, Joshua and Milhad returned, canteens filled with water.
“They have lost too much blood. We cannot fly today, we must go tomorrow.” she said in a serious tone.
She did not talk for the rest of the day except to say when she would go off hunting for their meal or to get water for the equinas. Joshua and Milhad both steered clear of Kala. She seemed out of it right after the attack but she was sober by the end of the day.
