by Solidad13

Having defeated most of the Lupes and tied them up along with help from other Shoyrus that had joined the cause they journeyed to the place where Jaquel should be found. They didn’t let anyone else come with for it was a destiny only for them. Following the map they soon cam to large hill. Around one side of the hill was a large pool of water. Scum floated on the top and when they were just about to fly across a huge crocodile like animal jumps up and snaps just barely missing the tail of Azzi.

“Yikes!” She yelps uncontrollably as the mouth of the animal closes within inches of the end of her tail.

“Let’s try another way.” On the other side is a wall of rock that leans over the top of this strange hill. They sigh and sit down.

“Let’s look at the map again.” Hopefully they lay the bracelet in front of them. They look at it carefully.

“Look!” Azzi jumps up excitedly, “It shows the hill and pond and wall here but the red ‘X’ is over here, in the woods!” She points out the little ‘x’ in the green.

“It looks like a rock!” Rushing into the woods Celad follows at her heels.

“There it is! Look!” Celad points to the large rock lying beside a tree.

“Shush, there might be guards.” She whispers and holds Celad’s mouth. They duck into a bush waiting. Soon they see two orange painted Lupes with green capes over their backs coming out of hiding. Looking around they turn and whisper to themselves. Jumping suddenly out of the brush Azzi and Celad jump onto the backs of the heavily armored Lupe. The clanging of swords echo through the wood as they fight. They are trained unlike the amateurs attacking the villages in the wood. All heaving at the stress the Lupes are beaten down. They do not have the will of the Shoyru fighting for their kind. Tied up the Lupes are dragged away helplessly, and hidden. Azzi and Celad take their capes and go to find the orange Lana berries. Their faces painted their capes in place and the Lupes securely hidden and tied up they prepare to enter the cave.

But a thought occurs to Azzi: “How will we find Jaquel once inside?” Shaking her head she slips off her bracelet and as she sets it down she notices a picture on the back of the bracelet.

“No?!” Turning the bracelet inside out a map is revealed, a confusing picture of rooms and halls.

“What?” Celad leans curiously over Azzi’s shoulder and sees the picture.

“A map of the inside! Azzi you genius!” Smiling they push aside the rock and enter the cave.

Through the Maze Following the walls of the dark cave they slyly sneak up to guards and silently knock them out with the flat of their blades. As they near the room of Jaquel the more heavy the guards and the harder they have to fight for now the Lupes are armed with swords and shields. Fighting bravely against five Lupes Azzi’s arm is cut. Bandaging it up with a scrap of cloth they continue. Adrenaline rising they approach the room of Jaquel. Knocking an arrow on her bow, she readies herself. Bursting the door down everything is flashing.

Releasing her arrow she hits two Lupes guarding Jaquel. Her arm throbs as she fights against the strong Lupes. Swords clashing and sword noise fills the room. The servant Lupes run in terror from the candle lit room. Jaquel is pushed to the back of the room. The slits of his eyes glow fiercely as he picks up a sword in his hand. Celad closes the door behind him tightly.

“I must do this.” Azzi speaks to Celad and looks into his eyes pleading. Nodding he stands back. Jaquel wastes no time, he jumps at Azzi swinging his sword. It hits the dirt floor with a thud as she leaps up and strikes at him slicing his whiskers and part of his striped fur around his muzzle. His eyes flash coldly at Azzi and stands laughing. But his laughter lasts momentarily and his sword hits hard against Azzi’s which blocks her neck. Strength against strength they stare at each other pushing hard. A quick glance at Celad and Jaquel is overthrown. On the ground Azzi places her sword at his neck. Suddenly he kicks and sends her flying hitting the ground hard. She doesn’t get up. Jaquel stands at her feet smiling evilly. Slowly Azzi reaches for the Nimmo figure. In disbelief Jaquel stares at the ground where Azzi had lain. Spinning around he yells, “Cowards hide!”

“No, cowards kill innocent animals!” A shout from behind has the Lupe spinning to face her as she slashes him in the back and simultaneously punching him hard in the jaw. He falls to the hard dirt floor with a thud and does not get up. A small glass marble of metallic grey rolls out from his cape as he lay there. Azzi smashes it with her foot grinding it into the ground.

“Who knows what evil things you did with this!” She yells. Then collapses, as there is no strength left in her. Recovering a day later the Shoyru pair are applauded admired and awarded. They destroy the hill and wall. Later they find that the Lupes they were fighting in the woods were under a spell and were not truly evil so they were released. A week later Celad and Azzi were married and announced as the new rulers of the wood. A new happier wood began and the pair and their several children visited the Great Nimmo Bouli often. All ended well and even though the wood is not always peaceful for there is still evil out there they enjoy life everyday.