COTN House of Canaan Part 15

15. Red Dawn

"Where did they come from? There was only twenty of them who came with the Elder." Medi is helping him to barricade the door. Cedi moved anything that can be moved onto the door. The Hall is circular in shape as what they saw earlier in the illusion but now he can see the real hall. The ceiling is higher than the illusion, but one thing puzzled me.

How did they move the flooring without them knowing and how can they held our balance. What is worse is they are back to normal elevation and the door is leveled with the floor. Those were his thoughts then.

Cedi remembered seeing the tower as high but he do not see anything that resemble a stairs to climbed up. He was looking around and yet he could not see the unit which control the flooring nor the stairs. He saw then the chest that he could not move. He went back to it and looked inside it. It has a some levers beneath the cover. He moved the levers and he see not the floor moving but the walls.

They were moving away from the flooring upwards, or downwards depending on where you are looking. Cedi keep on moving the walls until it stopped at a certain angle.The doorway is missing but they saw one other doorway that resemble a tunnel hole.

Cedi ran to it and saw it lead to another room. Its a short tunnel and he signaled Medi to follow him. They crawled in past the tunnel to come to a narrow passage that run along the wall. They followed the passage until he saw the stairs that climbed up. Its narrow but its run spiral along the wall.

It was not a long climb when they find ourselves in the upper level of the tower. Its another round hall without a window but this one has a flat ceiling height of twice his height. There is another set of stairs which seems to lead upstairs. They took that too and saw the Man sitting there.

He is dressed as in priest clothing and he holds a cane similar to the one that Medi threw to me.

"Hello Elder Kane." The Man stared at him and smiled.

"Dark Elf, we meet again. If you are here then you have killed my twin brother down stairs. He likes to dressed like me when I am here. I would exchange clothes with him so that I could wear this simple frock. He is the head of this place as he took over the faith while I took on the diplomat works. Every year I come here to advice him on the secrets of the court, and he help me cleanse out my sins. It also the time for me to shed my new skin and re-emerge the new self. That is why I come here every year." The Man walked forth to Cedi.

"Now that you kill them, there would be no one to assist me in my new skin. Such a pity." The Man dressed in the priest frock then walked to the stairs and then mount up the stairs.

"Stop him, Medi' but the priest is already up the stairs and on the upper level.

They followed suit up the stairs but there is no one up there. The upper level is also empty but its larger than the one they were in before. The place is empty, and the other Elder Kane is not to be seen. Medi ran into the hall and swing her spear around as Cedi stood by the stairs to avoid the Man escaping. She keep on swinging her spear but she came into no contact with the Elder.

"He is not here.I cannot feel his presence anywhere."

Then she screamed out in pain. Her left forearm is bleeding from a cut that was not there before.

"The elder just cut me. He is here but he cannot be seen with our eyes. We are blind to him."

She screamed again and this time its is her right leg was cut. She jumped away and joined with her shoulder next to Cedi.

"He is here and we need to searched him out."

Cedi told her and then he reached to his belt and removed it. He tied an end of his belt to the sword and used it to swing the sword above his head. Cedi learned this from the Elite Guards.

"Excab would cut anything including magical shield."

He move forward and swing the sword on his belt like stone, but this stone cuts into any flesh it can come in contact.

It did not take long for me to hit the Elder in his disguise but he was not prepared for the sight. The sight that unveiled before his sight is a half man and snake. The upper body is Man but his body from below his torso is that of a large snake that trails behind him twice his height.

But that was not the sight Cedi was shocked at but the Elder Kane has two heads; one of Man and the other of a serpent.

"You are surprised at our looks. Meet my mate, Set Toh; he is a High priest of the Serpent People. He saved me once from dead by the Orcs and since then we have been friends."

The Elder Kane has a set of swords in each hand.

"We merged together when we took the oath to conquer all including my own people." The twin headed evil speaks out.

"Its the only way we can gain power over the followers of the Serpent Clans. There are two types; the real serpents and the believers of these serpents. We are the only dual in the Council and we command both."

Cedi have heard of the Serpent Clans but they were destroyed before they could be all too powerful by an alliance with Man and Elves.

The Serpent Man Clan were earlier a obscure clan of serpent worshiper who lived isolation but one being led them to war against the rest. Its name was not known but it known as the Serpent King. The new crowned King attacked Man and the Elves. Their idol followed suit but the war was short because of the strength of both in the alliance. The alliance defeated the Serpent worshipers and their idol, while the King is dead from wounds inflicted by Man. They were not seen for many decades although there been rumors of them re-emerging again.

"One of the powers of our joining is the ability not to be seen by Man or Elfling. Your sword broke our magic. Now we would fight you on equal terms."

The half Man Serpent lunged forward on its long body and swing away with the swords. I blocked the swing with the shield while trying to find an opening with my sword, but the half man serpent is very strong as he pushes me back. That is not all as his tail strike at Medi causing her to somersault in the opposite direction. The tail end has a sting like that of a scorpion.

"Both of you may run but we are strong and agile too." The man serpent spoke out again before it strike at us again.

Cedi find standing next to Medi and he whispered his plan to her. She nodded on his plan and leap out to challenge the creature.

Meantime, he also attacked the creature at its front; blocking and slashing away at the creature. He heard the crashing sound and saw the snake tail sting has hit a hole in the wall. Medi also thrust its spear into the creature tail but the spear could only cut a small wound.

It was enough for it to recoiled back and Medi stood at where the wall was breached. The tail strike again with a more powerful swing and again Medi jumped cleared. This time the strike broke open a hole large enough for Medi to put her head out.

"Cedi, its open." She hollered out to him when he was exchanging slashes with the Man hands'. Cedi ran towards her and stood by the hole. He whistled out loud into the coming dawn light for the Gryphon.

Then he took hold of his sword and swing at the weakened wall to create a bigger opening while Medi holds the creature at bay. He saw the Gryphon flying at the hole created.

"Leoni, blow your fire in here." Cedi then pulled Medi to jumped aside.

The Gryphon on hearing the request, blew in a long flow of flame into the hall here. The flame hit the man serpent creature on its body as it slitter further away but the flame is spreading out fast. Cedi told Medi to joined him in breaking the wall wider. Soon they have the wall wide enough for them to climb out.

"Jump onto the Gryphon."

Cedi told Medi and she did, while he looked back at the half man serpent creature.

The stairs to the bottom levels is burning today and the half man serpent is coiled at the other end. Its afraid of burning flames of fire. Cedi took out the arrows and placed them on the open fire at the floor. He heated up the arrow head and fire them at the half man serpent into its head.

"Cedi, they are shooting at us." Medi cautioned him on the danger below with the Red Guards.

"Fly around until I call you back." Cedi shouted back to her while shooting another arrow at the half man serpent. The creature is in pain and now coiled up to attack him.

Cedi taunt it with another arrow at the Serpent head and this time it did.

The Serpent lunged at blindly striking several times while Cedi stepped back to avoid them. The last strike was as per Cedi' expectation; it missed him and went towards the hole that have widen up. The half man serpent upper body was partially out of the hole in full display to the guards below. Cedi raised up the shield and bring its edge on the man serpent body and then pushed it out towards the hole. The cut and the push by Cedi caused the Man serpent body to lurched out and over the edge.

It fell down among the Red Guards.

Cedi whistled to the Gryphon who came flying over.

Medi is not on the Gryphon but on the ground level with the Red Guards. She is facing them and the newly arrived Man Serpent. The Red Guards are surrounding the creature as they tried to understand what is happening. Cedi landed next to Medi and shout out to the guards.

"There is the Man you have sworn to guard; a serpent in disguise under the Man. See him for your own eyes. You are all fools. Do you remember the last war with the Serpents? It was called the Death of Man. Thousands died then, and all for what? So that you and I can lived in freedom from these serpents." Cedi looked around him and can see the Man' Guards are starting to question their judgment and loyalty now.

The half man serpent named Kane made that conclusive.

"Fools! You are all fools to deny their kind. They are more superior to all of you." The half man serpent raised its hands and shout out. "Come forth, the army of the Serpent. Show yourselves to these fools."

Cedi turned around him to see from the ground and the forest edge; there comes the slithering reptiles they knew as serpents. They come in all colors and sizes but they are all slithering on the ground with their fangs bared to attack the guards. There is a few which are as large as the half man serpent but these ones are all serpent in looks.

He could recognise some of the kinds as these are seen in the Dark Valley but they are ignore unless it has bitten someone in the Dark Valley.

The guards retreated out of fear on seeing so many of these serpents, and their commanders are stump for decision to react. Cedi whistled for the Gryphon and it came flying above them.

"Burn those serpents." He shout to the Gryphon.

The Gryphon flew up and then swoop down in an arc towards the serpents. When it nears the ground, the Gryphon let off a long streaming flame onto the serpents; setting them on fire and burning at their scales into their flesh.

"Red Guards, for Man. Kill those serpents." Cedi shouted out aloud and charged at the serpents.

Cedi find himself not alone as the Red Guards now out of their dazed looks took up their arms and followed him. He blocked himself from a striking venomous serpent who was wounded by the fire. The fangs of the serpent hit the shield when his sword cut it in the body.

Its body cut into two writhe on the ground before it was stepped on by an advancing guard. Cedi then remembered the half man serpent who was Elder Kane. He seek out the creature and soon find it in the near distance confronted by some Red Guards alongside with Medi.

It has been wounded but it still fights.

"Archers, to me." Cedi saw six archers who was grouped nearby. They are shooting at the serpents and hearing him call them, they came forward to his side. He nocked in an arrow and then said; "aim for the upper torso."

They fired off six successive arrows before one of them had the fatal shot into the left eye of the serpent head.

The creature shot up it body upright in pain and Cedi took his shot at the creature with an aim at the throat of the Man Serpent. The arrow pierced the soft flesh there and went up to its brain. The Man Serpent died and the upper torso stopped by itself.

Another Red Guard on seeing the opening, rushed forward to thrust his pike into the creature torso and then twist the pike to exit at the side of the creature body.

"No!" Medi shouted out before rushing to thrust her spear into the dying half man serpent in the shoulder between the two heads.

"Die, Elder Kane." She shouted out as she turned her spear head side ways and removed the Man head of the creature. The creature fell down on its front dead and Medi fell down to her knees crying out in tears.

After they flew off the hill, Cedi could see below them a sea of blood and dead bodies with many more serpents pieces lying around. Medi held onto his back as he pat the Gryphon. If he is without the Gryphon, they would had been dead by now.

The morning sun now shines higher than the tree tops gave the place a coat of red below.

"Cedi, what now? We know who is the real enemy, so do we pursue Man still or looked for the Serpents?"

"The Serpents would pay one day, but the enemies also include the traitors in Judas, and also the Man who led the attack. We would make all of them pay."

Fall Winter ...Do they know it?

I was reading about the changeover of the season and then about the next celebrated events of Thanksgiving. It was also then there was a contest on Fall Winter and how we relate to it. I thought to myself, some of us don't even remember when its Fall or Winter as we lived on the Equator. Here we only know sun and rain with the calendar flipping to a New Year. Most of have never seen snow (maybe we had seen fake snow ) . Then it occured to me, I should not 'grumble' on the seasons. I could on my freewill move to where the seasons matter.

But there are some of us who would not have that freewill. They would also not worry about the dates except the day when they can live life like many of us. Most times, they lived in hunger, fear and also in desperation. We should extend our hands out to them on this day or everyday in the year so they would know we hear and feel their pain.

This is my tale to those who are living on the verge of starvation or in fear due to stupid acts that others do onto their own in the name of power. Be it today, yesterday or tomorrow, no one deserve this in their journey of life. 

I leaned over the corner wall and peeked round it. I can see nobody on the street and looked okay at the windows on the opposite side too. I pulled back and looked across the street where Aris was standing. He's done the same as myself; peeking at the windows and the street. I gave him the thumbs up and he responded back. I looked to Lati who was standing there holding the basket. I signaled to her to stay there and await my return. She is only five and is shivering from hunger than fright. I turned back to looked for Aris but he is not there. I peeked over the corner wall and saw him running between covers. He was not at the bombed out car and getting ready to move. I turned my body to move when I saw the glint in the descending sun of the last day of the month. It was November and by tomorrow we would be in December of the current year.

"Aris," I hissed out loud but the other did not hear me as he sprint for the open distance between the car and the bakery. He managed two strides before the shot came. The bullet did not had to aimed at head as he was only ten years old. Any bullet reaching him at that high velocity was sufficient to kill him. The bullet pierced his chest and exit at the rear.

Lati did not wait for my command but she was already running back to the shelter. She was crying aloud as she ran; forgetting all about her hunger. I turned once more to looked at my younger brother who was now writhing in pain as he lies there on the cobbled street. The shooter came out of his hiding; a man dressed in casual jeans and shirt with a scarf around his neck. He was no local as I can tell from his complexion but he wears the same look as the others who had come into my country months ago. They are claiming to fight a war for the nation when they lined their pockets with our money; looted or paid as mercenaries. The shooter was joined by three others; all armed and laughing at the dying boy.

I looked down at the half brick on the ground and was tempted to picked it up. I would had done it if not for the amputation that took off my right one. I was foolish to reached for the last brick which a soldier shot at my wrist to stopped my act. Was it his aim or my sudden move but does it matter anymore as that part of my hand laid now in the dust on the streets of my city. I would had died if not my mother who treated me with natural herbs and made up medicine.

Suddenly I heard the firing and then more firing were exchanged. I was afraid so I crouched down and cover my ears. It was a brief fight and soon the the place was quiet again. I was still there when a hand reached out for me. I jerked in my body but it was a man in uniform. The badge tells me he's from the peacekeeping forces. He crouched down next to me and motioned me to stay still. Others dressed like him came after him and ran out to the street. I wanted to warn him but he was not paying attention to me.

"All cleared." I heard the words; I know my language. I studied them in school too. The uniformed man then pulled me up to go with him. I would had resisted but he's holding a gun. He took me across the street and I saw the dead men; the three mercenaries all dead on the street like Aris. We stopped at the other side while the uniformed man speaks to his friends. There are seven of them and they are standing there chatting like there was no war here. One of them took out a pouch and passed it to me.

"Here, kid. Its December tomorrow. If we are at home, we would be celebrating Thanksgiving." I accepted the pouch and placed it in my shirt. "Go home, kid. We need to move on. And stay off the streets."

"Hey Sarge, here's a bakery. Do you think we can get some flour?" The soldier laughed and opened the door. The soldier was not laughing anymore when the trip wire pulled the grenade pin. I did not stay to see the aftermath as I ran back to the shelter. It was not far but its safe. My family' there with four others but we do not share our food. I passed the pouch to my mother who would distribute it among ourselves. I walked over to my bedding and pulled out the book. I remembered the word 'thanksgiving'. Its said there; a day of celebration for thanks at the end of November. Then I read the extra paragraphs; its also to mark the end of Fall and to welcome the new Winter season.

I looked at the setting sun, and wondered what's it like to see real snow. Here we have twelve months of sun and some rains but never snow. Guess, I would never know.. Mother is calling me to take my small share of the delicacy in the pouch. I took it from her hands and said to her; 'Thanks'.

10,000 hits done...... Bring on the band...

Yup, all of you done it. Thank you.

For an exclusive preview of the latest I am dabbling in.....ooh, it oozes with blood and adventure. ( pardon me if it does not wink back like the previous tale I posted.....lol. ).

Crusaders II; The Legion of the Damned.

Miles and Kruger stepped out of the cavern and looked from behind the army stone wall filled with rotary cannons and mortars. The landscape looks like the Grand Canyon but this one have a number of mini volcanoes and streaming lava. The sky is red and the sun a bright orange up there. But what was more amazing was the excavation works below the cavern mouth; a series of digging and drilling into the ground before the materials are placed on the moving buckets escalator; the materials look like dull silver.

"That's Uranium. We also found a few more rare metals here in abundance; Rhodium, and including Rhenium. Those metals are used for making bombs and aircraft. Maybe even space age weapons. We need them and the place to get it easily is here. Its a mining world, but we have a catch. Its not hospitable for human." Major Chapman sighed. "We are greedy for the metals, but we are losing men everyday for our effort."

"Gentlemen, this place is Hell, as we named it. Its the Biblical version of the Underworld." Major Chapman looked at the gentlemen. "The Boom gate is the entrance to Hell or the door to our Earthly dimension. Every time we opened it, we released a score of these devils to our dimension."

"I don't understand." Kruger asked the Major. "How can that be?"

"We have monitored the movement of the elements from the gates when its opened; magnetic resonance tracking, ultraviolet imaging, sound emission and also thermal aura imaging. Our equipment are very delicate and more advanced than the commercial ones. We have seen them filtering out when the gates are opened." Major Chapman looked at Kruger. "We could had released more than a hundred thousand or more. We don't really know."

"Why didn't you stop it? You are a man of God. For heaven sake's, why not." Miles grabbed the Major. "Do you know the implications?"

"Yes, I do. But the greater of the Nation needs these." The Major point to the metals. "Its a military game; we would hunt them down."

"But you could not. That's why you had us called in. You contacted the Vatican to fight your war. The one you created." Kruger spoke out to the Major. "I read the files; the ones that was copied by the werewolves. When you allowed me to access your server when we en route to here, it was a cinch to get it. The Crusaders were brought in fight your war, but they died valiantly for your cause. The Vatican called us in as we had the unique skills.This is the production house, and we have to shut it down."

Porn Star confesses.... (Need I expose more?)

This is for above 18 only. So check your ID before you proceed. If you are 81, then read with caution too; pace makers not guaranteed....lol


"Mon Dieu! Je vais chier sur son visage..." Michelle screeched out her feeling as she was being pounded by the guy. Then the sound of the Director came above her moans.

"Cut! Cut!" The director of the porn flick stood up and adjust his trousers front. He walked towards Michelle who was still laying there panting with her legs spread open. The actor who was fragging her had walked off stage to get a rub down on his groaning muscles while an assistant place some balm on his schlong to keep it warm. They also do that in the Grand Prix but it was for the tyres they wrapped in it in a electrical warm blanket. Here a simple rub wit the balm would numbed those senses.

"Michelle, you are supposed to moan and not cursed in French." Andre Muhler; part German and Italian descent raised up his glasses to speak to the porn actress. He also knows some French words as he spent time there during his early studio days.

"But Andre, the man is a .....how you would put it; a sledge hammer. He pounds and pinned without finesse." Michelle complained while motioning to her assistant to place some lotion on her 'chatte' ( cunt ).

"Its ....very sore if he keeps at it. So I tell him if he goes on, I would 'Je vais chier sur son visage' ( I would shit on his face ). But I am sure he would not like the ....shit on him."

"Oui, Michelle. Thats' not in the script. You are supposed to said 'Suce moi et fais moi jouir' ( suck me and make me cum. )." Andre correct her speech but Michelle complained back.

"Va te faire enculer! ( Go and fuck yourself. ) He is a load of shit." Michelle was upset and since she is the star, she can afford to do so but Andre is not screwing to that shit.

"You do not do that. It would spoil my film and above all, he is Mike 'Sledge' Hammer. That's what his schlong does." Andre points out to the jutting tool that is now down on a retraction mode.

"Il doit le faire avec un cadavre...." ( He should do it with a cadaver. ) Michelle spoke out her mind and left the set leaving Andre without his sex starlet.

"C'est une blague ou quoi? ( Is this some kind of joke? ) Andre shouted out at the star but she ignored him. He threw the script onto the floor and went for the coffee machine.

I knew it all as I was standing at the side in my toga. I was supposed to be fucked up maid but now I am going for my opportunity.

I walked in to Mike and whisper to him. In normal times, you would had grabbed his weiner but on these sets, you don't do it. Instead you need to turned on more than sex appeal; I leaned over to him with my mamaries drooping downwards to his weiner and smooched him on the chin. I can tell assure you porn actors seen enough of mamaries to last beyond their sex life; but a smooch on the chin is a rarity. I know that applies to Mike as everyone have errogenous zones, and Mike's one right there under the chin. 

"Mike, I am sure I can play the part well. No weiner have ever wore me out yet." I am placing my musical box to be tune by the piano master. That is a risk of me walking like worn out rodeo buckler but heck a fucking chance to get being the a star in the main fuck.

"Sammy, I am not sure you can take it. My schlong can be large fit for you." Mike's concern was understandable. He's being in the industry longer than my three weeks sojourn into spreading cheeks but I am willing to inched it all in.

"Mike, I am sure with you guiding me; the fuck would be whoosh in the cunt. Don't worry on it, as I did a stint with Bent 'Jackson' Trunk. You heard of his reputation as the hardest trunk in town." I did a round with Jackson and he near gagged me on an asphyxiated orgasm. I don't know which was more fulfilling; the near death outcome or the multiple squirter I had to endure. Well, both left me smiling to kingdom come.

"You dunked it with Jackson? Wow! Audrey, not many of them could take him. He's got the length while I got the circumferences. We are a pair; one of depth and the other of width." Mike was fucking to my wishes. He held me up with his stong arms and smooched me on my lips. That's a rarity among porn stars; you never know where we been munching on.

Now that I got Mike onto the 'haystacks' as the saying goes, but now it was to convince Andre; after he is the one paying us for the screws here. And the haystacks.

"Audrey, you are not ready for that." Andre ruled me flat out. "Mike's a monster there. If he gets you on the twirl, I can assure you would need a new gasket soon."

Wow! The though of that reminded me of my old boyfriend when we first dunk it. He told me I got a leaking gasket that needed to removed. I knew then I was wet with sloshing away earnestly there, but a gasket. That was a real gag then, but I was in seventh heaven when he placed the pipe wrench into me. I was sure I let it all out; drenching him from tip to hilt. Jed did tell me, he felt like the river boat on the Mississippi pushing against the down current. I would had reply but he had then his wrench in my throat. I guess when he pushes my head to and fro, that means he understood my reply.

Back to Andre.

"Mr.Andre, all of us need a break in this industry. More so when I am you only starlet here now." The rest of the girls are in the SPA with Michelle for a cold cream session. Andre looked around and then at his watch. He still got an hour rental on the studio set and a film to complete. He gave me the head to toe stare and it was then I recalled my audition here.

I walked in and as a courtesy shook Andre's hand. He just completed a preview of the previous girls and i could tell he was nervous; his palms was all sticky gluey. I did come in shaded green for the role of "She-Hulk" and my adventures into sex was rather limited to the stash of Daddy's DVD in the drawers. My physical role play was with Jed my boyfriend then who taught me the difference from a mule, a donkey and an ass. I humped them all like on the DVD. Andre asked me on my experiences and I told him all my roles; I was Scarlet O'Hara once, Jane of Tarzan, and even once the Frontier Woman tied to a cherry tree. I done it all, and raised up more times on my skirt than my blouse. In the end, he told I was too naive for the industry. I turned my back to him and bend down to picked up my dress when he sparkled up. Andre told me to hold that pose. I knew I got him then, as that was how I garbled up Jed the first time. I drew the face of the donkey on my cheeks with the words "Ass' me". Like Jed, Andre did the same. Who wouldn't when you can twitch those muscles there to pout like budding roses.

Back to Andre.

"Okay, you got the role." Andre told me to get into position and called on Mike. The rest was history in the making. They never got my face on the screen, but I can assure you my ass cleared the screens of any doubt on my ability. I am now into my new role as Jane of Tarzan.

I am the main star now and that mean I can complained on the performance.

"Andre, please tell the chimp to do it right; its cunninglus and not flea picking at my pubic hair.....Ouch, there he go again."

COTN House of Canaan Part 14

14. Elder Kane 

The Red Guards are protecting the Elder in his annual pilgrimage to the Red Dawn Temple for his annual faith refreshing and cleaning of his sins. The temple is maintained by a set of twelve priests alongside with twenty four apprentices who would understudy under to replace the dying or dead masters. This has been going on for decades and if need be, they would open their doors open for capable new apprentices. The temple itself is placed on a hill with a steep ascent made mostly of stones and some sparse vegetation on the hillside. This was why the road to the temple need to snaked up in a coiled like design. But the road is well protected with four gates that is manned by the two priests or their apprentices. No guards are allowed beyond the first gate where a camp has been built to house the guards. No one actually seen the temple but its rumored to be large and filled with treasures.

They were in the foot of the hill watching the Elder arriving at the first gate with his personal group of twenty guards. The Elder stopped before the gate as his guards all rode to the camp nearby. They saw the gate opened and a priest came out to greet the Elder. The Elder was then invited inside and then the gate closed again. That was the last Cedi could see the Elder for now.

Cedi and Medi crawled back to the deep forest and then they convened their discussion on the next move. It was nightfall when they move out of the trees to a nearby clearing. He whistled out and the Gryphon crawled out of its hiding place. Both of them mounted the Gryphon and it took off for the night skies.

It was a moonless night and their shadow would not be seen by those below.

It flew up along the steep hillside till we were near the top. The Gryphon then land them at what may appear to be a garden. They got off and he sent the Gryphon back to the forest. They were gathering their things to move on when he find himself approached by a priest holding a short stick. The priest is a shorter man dressed in a simple gray cloak and wooden sandals. Cedi recognised the headgear with the red emblem of the snake coiled around the hill.

"I am Sadai. I am a priest of the Red Dawn Temple. Welcome and please follow me." The priest turned his back to them and walked to from where he came from. They find ourselves walking towards a large and tall white tower that can be seen now but not from the foot of the hill. The tower is high to topple some tall trees yet there are no windows on it. At the top of it is a rounded structure that resemble an egg resting on the pole. The priest led them to the high doorway in the tower side and the door opened by itself.

The priest stopped at the doorway and asked that they proceed inside.

"Please go in. The Elder waits you."

The priest walked back the same way he came with them. Medi hesitated on going in but a voice was heard from inside.

"Come in, Dark Elf. I been waiting for you. There is no trap here but a quiet abode of a man who seek to relinquish his sins." The voice was very inviting and they found ourselves convinced to walk through the doorway.

Once in the doorway, they find themselves drawn into a long tunnel that sink down instead of going up. Their steps were slow but the journey seems to be fast as they find themselves sliding on the flooring.

"Hold my hand", Cedi reached out to Medi with his left hand while his right hand draw out out the Elven sword Excab to stab into the flooring but he find the sword sink in without any resistance as if he am on stabbing at nothing. He raised up the sword and swing it at the sides but still nothing could be felt.

"Medi, your bow. Shoot an arrow out now."

Medi did as asked but the arrow shot into the wall and went missing. Then they themselves stop sliding and all movement came to an end as they seem to be near an opening at the end of the tunnel.

"Come in, Dark Elf." The voice again.

They stepped out to find themselves in a hall with a circular ceiling that reached down on all sides. In the middle of the hall is a round table that looks like a mushroom head that grew out out from the flooring. There seated facing him is the same man he met years ago in the creek.

"Which one of you is with the wolf? It can't be you, Dark Elf, as I do not see how your kind can associate with a wolf. I know of the Jhitai from the House of Genoe who associate with the creatures. So then I guess its you, young female one." He point to Medi and she nodded.

"You stole from Lord Netsu and I can see why. The Guardians are not known for their protective nature but their stealth are also equally formidable. So tell me, Dark Elf; was that a Gryphon I saw tonight." The Elder glared at him.

Cedi nodded at him.

"A rare creature thought to be extinct. They used to occupied the world with dragons and large serpents. Now I am seeing one again, and that is a wonderful feeling. Dark one, would he come again if you called it?"

Cedi shook his head and the Elder sighed in regret. He then stood up and spread his hands out wide.

"Twice you mocked me. Not many could had that opportunity. You asked me not why, but I would show you now."

The Man who stood up now grew taller as his body elongated into a narrow strip and soon his clothing was laid crumpled on the flooring. What Cedi is seeing is not a Man anymore but a magical serpent creature which stood twice twice his height but the body is longer than that with more twice or more in length behind. More to it, the creature opened its jaw and show its set of long fangs.

"I am <hiss> the Master of this Sanctuary. The Man you knew < hiss> as Elder Kane has perished years ago and I have been standing in for me. I am the <hiss>few of my kind who has influenced these wars between Man and the other creatures. <hiss> Now its time for you to die." The serpent strike forward with its fangs but Cedi had stepped back pulling Medi with him.

The serpent body coiled in its head and posed to strike again.

"You are fast <hiss>, Guardian. I may need some <hiss> reinforcement." The serpent hissed its long tongue out above it head and then looked at him. "They <hiss> will come."

They did, as Cedi counted twelve more large serpents slithering in. They are not as large as the one he just encountered; but they are still twice his size. They surrounded him and Medi looked nervous although she is holding her spear but her hands are trembling. Then he remember that she feared snakes as one bit her once when she was in his care. She almost died from that bite but the healers pull her through the sickness.

"Its okay, Medi. If they come at you, use your spear like a club. I would be there with you." As I was talking to her, I was removing my shield from my back. I am facing magical creatures and the best way to kill them is by using the shield. The Challenge Shield can block any magical creatures and these looked like one. 

They did but not in singular attack but a concentrated attack formation. Cedi swing his shield in an arc and that stopped the attack. He grabbed Medi' hand and pulled her with him again. They ran past the startled serpents and went for the tunnel doorway. But now the doorway is disappearing into a wall like that in the hall. They both ran around the wall while been chased by these serpents except for the Main One.

"Stopped!<hiss> Elves, there are no exits from here. I created his hall and I know how it works." The twelve serpents stopped their pursuit and slitter back to their master side.

"Is that the Challenge Shield? <hiss> I heard of it from your Council. I take it that you got it from the Spirit Guardians. <hiss> They gave it to you. What did you promised them?"

Cedi did not answer it as he slowly inched his way around with Medi at the walls. It was then Medi whispered into his ear.

"I think I know a way out. This place is an illusion. The doorway is not moved but the room has moved. We have tilted by a few feet down. The door is above us at the original spot. I marked the doorway when I came in." She did not wait for him and this time pulled him along.

"They are escaping. They found the doorway. Move the flooring." They were running and then Medi jumped up and grabbed at something. She is hanging on the wall and she shouted back.

"Hit your shield with the wall." Cedi did as she said. Cedi used the shield and slammed the edge of it against the wall.

The whole wall dissipate and the real wall reveal itself. They were standing on a tilted floor and Medi is holding the bottom of the doorway. Everything is showing the real thing and even the serpents are now gone.

Cedi can see Elder Kane standing in front of a large statue of a serpent with a long stick in his hand. He is controlling the illusion. The other twelve serpents are still the priests but now they are holding a long handed sword each.

Medi jumped down and withdraw her spear to faced the priests. There are no more snakes now, so she is back to her normal self. She ran towards them and leap up into a somersault into the priests with her spear coming down hard on one of them. They are good as they took first blood on her also; she had her left thigh cut.

Cedi was charging at the Elder as the one he want.

A priest came to block his way, and lunged at him with the long handed sword. Cedi block the attack with the shield and placed his sword into priest' lower chest. Cedi drew out the sword and stepped over the dead priest.

There was two more who came at me, but he had his sword cleared a way towards the Elder. Elder Kane still stand there in defiance holding his long cane.

Cedi stand before him and he tapped his cane on the floor. The statue behind him vibrate and then it came alive. Its alive like a real serpent and its large like the one which we saw earlier as an illusion of the Elder.

"Meet my real self. Or shall I say my other self. We share some lifeline together but I can assured you that the Serpent is very powerful." The Serpent lunged at Cedi with its fangs and he had to used the shield to block it. Cedi swing with the Elven sword Excab, but the sword could not cut into the serpent.

"The Serpent is coated with a special powder on its scales that even your magical Elven sword cannot cut. I taken special consideration. It fear your shield as I did not anticipate that. But the serpent would kill you first." The serpent strike again and Cedi used the shield again.

"I taken care of the priests, and now I am here to help." Medi limped over on her injured leg using her spear as a clutch. "Remember my request."

Cedi charged forth at the serpent with his sword swinging at the head. The serpent recoiled back with every slash when the sword is near its jaw but it did not stopped when the sword hit the head or the body. Each strike he hit had not penetrated the scales. Then he went for the head again but he slipped on the floor; his swing hit at the jaw of the Serpent and it coiled back in pain.

This time he could see the blood seeping out.

Medi is fighting the Elder but he is quite a fighter for his age. His cane is more than for tapping; it has now a long thin blade at the edge now. The Elder is not swinging it like myself but he is using it like a rapier. Medi is younger and more agile. She jumped and somersault over the Man and then swing her spear backwards between her legs. The spear caught the Man in the back of his neck.

Medi dropped down next to the dead Man and picked up the cane.

"Cedi, the cane is poisoned. Use it against the Serpent." She threw the cane sword at me but instead of picking it up; Cedi kicked out his leg to push the cane towards the serpent. The cane sword hit at the serpent at the opening of the jaw and sticked itself to the inside of its mouth. It hissed out in extreme pain and coiled further back.

This time he followed up with his sword but he keep on slashing at it until he got it into a corner. The serpent now tired out or weaken by the poison fell down on the floor with its jaw open. He walked up to it and pulled the cane out. He drew his sword and thrust it into the mouth of the serpent then pushing it up to what he perceived was the brain.

He stepped back to see the dead serpent.

"Cedi, its time to leave."

Medi pulled him away. They walked to the doorway, and then they heard the clanging of the bells. The alarm has been raised and we stopped at the doorway. He peek out and saw the place outside is swamped with Red Guards. There are about a hundred of them.

Their escape route is blocked.

Save the Tree Campaign ( Disney Style )

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
( Excerpts from the song 'Bare Necessities'; Jungle Book )

"I tell you, it ain't fun without Mowgli. I mean I used to like the song; sang it when I am happy or needed to be, but now I find I lacked the tempo to do it." I moaned my lack of enthusiasm to Bagheera and Shere Khan.

Shere Khan? Fear not. Since the last antics with Mowgli, he has reformed; he is now one good Tiger. He plays galf on weekends.

Did I say galf? Yes, Galf is played one or more players. It involves hitting a round fruit off the tree with the tail. Well, I could not joined so I get to judge. Shere and Bagheera plays it and most times neither gets to win until the monkeys got fed up watching them prancing on their paws trying to somersault. In the end, the monkeys threw the the fruits. The happy ending was they never liked it so

I had the full share but they came back for the tournament. It was not long until Bagheera sprained her back.

"Bah! I had enough. These silly jumping is back for my back." Bagheera stop playing and Shere lost his mood for it. That was when I resumed singing but there were no takers to join me. I meant there were, but Shere has too loud a bass and Bagheera mights as well moan on his back pain.

I took my leave of them to seek out Mowgli. I saw him at the village. I could pick him up from the song he was singing.

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride
A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
( Excerpts from the song 'A Whole New World'; Aladdin )

He is also holding a baby. Guess he did not mean me there. Okay, I can take a no. I walked back to the inner jungle. I met the Jungle Patrol and they are silent in their march. I ran up to the Colonel.

"What's up, Colonel? Rat got your voice."

"Hush, Baloo. We are on a silent march to protest on the deforestation. So back off and don't stop our parade."

Ooh, he is in a foul mood. I made my way on and met the Vultures perching on the main tree branch.

"Hi, Fab. Outta desert for a holiday or you are lost?" I asked as I stood below them. That was a wrong spot; I got drenched with leftover fishes.

"I tell ya, dead meat and dead fish ain't the same. One's a delicacy but the other is just smell." Paul the Vulture complained with a hoarse voice. "Sure drowned up my voice. Dinna believe me. Watch me sing this chorus."

For a long time we've been marching off to battle
In a thundering herd we feel a lot like cattle
Like the pounding beat,
Our aching feet aren't easy to ignore,
Hey! Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for!
Huh?

That's what I said, a girl worth fighting for!
I want her paler than the moon,
With eyes that shine like stars
My girl will marvel at my strength,
Adore my battle scars
I couldn't care less what she'll wear,
Or what she looks like,
It all depends on what she cooks like:
Beef,
Pork,
Chicken,
Mmmm....
( Excerpts from Mulan. )

I nodded as he sounded horrific and I smell terrible I excused myself to get a bath. Guess there is no old days anymore. That was what I thought of as I laid in the pond freed of my stench. I looked up at skies and then the trees. And then to hills and the mountains behind it. I started singing these lines.

You think I'm just an ignorant bear
And you've been so many places; I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see, if the bear-able one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know...
You think you own whatever land you land on
The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name.
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
( Adapted from Colors of the Wind; Pocahontas.)

Soon the whole forest sang with me. I know what is needed to done. If King Kong won't do it, then Baloo the Bear would. I am going stop the deforestation.

I should had seen to Bagheera' concern; 'Please tell me the crazy bear is not going to start a new epic. I am just too old for another epic.....oh, my back hurts'.
There is a saying in the jungle, and its sung as below:

Hakuna matata!
What a wonderful phrase!
Hakuna matata!
Ain't no passin? craze.
It means no worries for the rest of your days.
It's our problem-free philosophy.
So save our forest for the next generations.......
( adapted from Hakuna Matata;Lion King. )

9956 hits done, and we are just round the corner ..

9956 hits done, and we are just round the corner  to another milestone..... Thank you for all who made an effort to come back and add to my hits.

Well, in my library are a few completed tales;

Chronicles of the Nation: Short Tales of the Heroes 
A compilation of the exploits of the heroes prior to them meeting in Book 1.
< Done >

Dorothy of OZ
Did it for NANOWRIMO
A blend of original and new write with a backdrop of the future.
< Done >

Tawa Incident
This was a adhoc satire piece on James Bond. Short but sexy, sassy, and surely to add the pitches to the vocal chords. After all, JB is all about SEX and ACTION. Or was it vice versa.
< Done >

 On the working desk

Crusaders II
Hissing at page 25 now. No preview as the plot has not been defined.

1914; The German Inside Tale
Gee, this one ha been on the pipe burner for sometime. Will come back to it. Its the link to the historical events that was slowing it down.

The Grass is always greener over there
The story of an Eunuch during the reign of Empress Cixi. It was to be for NANOWRIMO, but I side stepped at 30,000 words when hit by the needs to research more. A blend of authentic and flavored ingredients to bring out the aroma of life then without the balls.

The Circle within the Empire III; The Young Lords.
Did about 150 pages and got diverted off to do the other tales. Will come back to complete the trilogy. and end the conflict.

New Pangaea II; Pangaea War.
Its back to the colony with the Olympians. Its half done with some heavy paper weigh to keep the page there.

The Migrant.
This one's personal; inspired by someone close and added in the bits to make it exciting.
A tale of a young man who left Mainland China for the Federated Straits then.
( First draft ready, but would expand to make it more readable. )

So that's on the Editor Desk now. I guess the next milestone would be 20,000 hits.

Cheers.