Crusaders Part 26

9.

Present

The ride into south western of the upper continent was a long tiring one with a steady diet of hard meat from reptile creatures and tacky dried meats. My companions were very accommodating with my mumblings on the trip. But we find the changing landscape from that of humid dark green thick jungles to that of mountains, mesas, high broad basins, plateaus, desert lands, and some plains. There is a wide variety of wildlife in the Southwestern including the Coyote and Bears. Snakes are also found all over the southwestern area including the vicious rattlesnake. Much of the southwest is an arid desert climate, but higher elevations in the mountains. The desert land generally sits at a very high elevation, much higher than the normal desert land, and can receive very cold temperatures at night in the winter. The quartet of traveler crossed the shallow wide river to reach the opposite side and then Micheal decided for us that he needed a break. So the place was selected for the camp that night. Its a wide open plain land with some sparse trees in singular growth at a distance from each other.  

"Gerard, we been traveling for days now, and I am wondering who are seeking here in his desolate land." Micheal has unsaddled his horse and was about to lay down his saddle bags. "My lower limbs felt as if I been soaked into vinegar and left to dry on the roof."

"Well, if that is the case, Micheal; your butt would be one one tough hide by now." I was trying to find some humor in our travel as I felt the same as Micheal. But we been told to find the Chief Light of Shadow as he would be able to tell me why the one we seek come here to seek the Dream Catcher. That evening as we all laid down to sleep our weariness off, my squire wants to run wild for a while. I allowed him that so he would be free of his human restraints. Our rest was not to last long as we heard sounds of horse hoofs. We took up our pistols and weapons as this is the wild land, and nothing can be taken for friendly at this late hour. Its a group of twelve men all dressed up as hunters and well armed with deadly weapons. They looked like they been riding for days and nights.

"Hello, strangers. My name is Emilio Marenz, of the Holy Freedom. We been holding the area free of demons and beasts. I answered the calls of the Holy ones where this beasts or demons appeared. But today we are answering a different call to assist in locating the Warriors of Light. Are you who we seek?" The man who speak is a gray haired old man dressed in the dressing of the continent. He did not wait for my answer as he dismount from his horse. He walked towards me and bow before me. "Welcome to Mexico."

A rider was seen coming towards us and the old man was looking earnestly for the person to dismount to report to him. Its a young man who rushed over.

"Father, I got news. The ones who suck human blood were seen in the nearby village. They are trapped in the mine by the villagers." The young man briefed the father as he checked his pistols.

"Miguel, how many are there?" The old man is mounting his horse to ride out. The you man shook his head before he answers back. The answer was in the region of numbers exceeding ten fingers.

"Can we come with you?" The old man nodded and instruct one of his riders to wait for us. We hastily saddled our mounts and leave to join the departed group. The mines were blocked by the villagers armed with all kind of weapon holding the mines entrance from being accessed or exit. We joined the old man who arrived earlier.

"Twenty of them inside. Not often we see such numbers but they are here now. We cannot attack them there as they would kill us in there. We need to find a way to get them out here." The old man looked at us and I smiled.

"Get us some long ropes and horses."

I walked in with Helmut to the tunnel, and as we walked in, I drag in a bale of twenty ropes that dangle from outside the tunnel. It was not far when we met the first of the blood suckers. This pair hung from the tunnel roof and flashed their fangs when we near them. They dropped themselves down and landed on their feet. Helmut withdrew his sword and faced the demons. One of them lunged at him and he knocked it to the ground with the hilt of his sword. Helmut did stop at that as he lassoed the demon neck with the rope. He pulled the rope to signal for them to pull the rope out. The rope went taut and the demon was hauled out fast. It was dragged by two horses who pulled the demon out and the awaiting villagers took their anger on the demon. The other demon jumped into the fray and I confront it with my rapier. I stabbed it and as its screams from my piercing of its heart. I threw the rope over the demon's head and pull the noose taut. Then I pulled the rope to tell them to pull it out.

We pulled four of them out before the demons retreated in deep before we saw all of them in one group congregated together to wish us. Helmut and myself stood there transfixed by this large group as they blocked the tunnel ahead of us.

"Warriors, we were told to find you but you found us instead. So we would like to cut short the running. There is a cavern behind us; we can fight there." We agreed but I wanted Micheal to join us. We fight as a team. I walked back part of the way to call upon Micheal. He was to join me with my squire. I brought them back to the open area in the tunnel.

"Warriors, we heard of your prowess and we want to best that." Many times we have been challenged but we won all to date. "But we won't do that for today. We know why you are here and we are to tell you that you been dupe by the Caribbean witch. The demon you seek did not come by here, instead took the portal to the upper part of the continent. He did not seek the Dream Catcher as you were told. It was the Dream Catcher who told him to go north into the Wendigo country."

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Ten years ago

"No, my son. You may not take over. The clan would select its new leader among the young ones but you are excluded. That is my decision as the Chief of the Clan." The young man looked at his father who now lies dying on the cot after returning from a hunt with the other elders. They were ambushed by some unknown clans and of the six who was in the hunt only three returned including the Chief. Since the day the young man had defeated the challenger from Xeno, there has been unrest among the six tribes. But of late the fighting had become more intense and personal with no need to hide their identity.

Among the six tribes, Xeno has come triumph in many of the clashes and now hold sway over two tribes. But not of the Mons as they lost many of their warriors to the infighting for the position to replace Mons. Today, their Chief lies dying and they know the time has come to replace the aging leader. There are six challengers to the position and they would carry out the trail immediately.

The Mons all gathered at the sacred place to witness the trials, including the aged and young. There were about sixty of them at that event and the elders call for a change of rules.

"The new rule means that the potential would compete in one bout. The winner of the bout or the last man standing would be the new leader." The trial started off with the six young creatures changing into their persona of the Wendigo' and fought it out. In the next hour, there was only two was standing and then they are already badly mauled. Just as everyone were focusing on the fight, no one noticed the new numbers added into the crowd. Just as soon as the numbers add up, the new people announced themselves.

"Members of the Mons, my name is Tomas of Xeno. I come here with a proposal. Merge with us or prepare to die like them." Tomas was hesitating as he transformed into his warrior persona and jumped into the fray. He swing out with his claws and severed one of the earlier Mons warrior at the neck. Then he kicked out to the last warrior standing with his right hind leg. The fallen warrior did not bother get up as he stayed there without moving.

":Members of Mons, do you see your new leader?" They all cheered and roared on the appointment of the new leader, Tomas of Mons. "Where is the one who fought me at the last challenge? Where is the challenger?"

"He has left the tribe." The man who walked out limped in with a cane. "You may kill me if you want. I am his father, the current leader of the Mons Clan. But I would not give you the pleasure of doing it." The man who was the current leader has put a pistol his head. He pulled the trigger and blew his own brains off.

"No!" The younger man leap into the place from his hidden place.As he leap he changed to become the warrior he is. He jumped onto the Xeno warrior and pushed him back with the leap. The young man lashed out at the newly self declared Chief with his claws. The frenzied attack caught the Xeno' creature with surprised and he could not stop the attack. He tried to save himself but the ferocity of the attack was quick and deadly. Within minutes, the new leader was dead.

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