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    Dobrynia's Path 4: The Search For Loam
    Dobrynia's Path 4: The Search For Loam
    Dobrynia's Path 4: The Search For Loam
    Ebook394 pages6 hours

    Dobrynia's Path 4: The Search For Loam

    By Raymond Towers

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    About this ebook

    The return to Loam will be no easy task. Worlds will stand in the way, worlds full of blood, rage and battle. On Muru, we will find the curse of the red planet, while on Akina, the Asian barons send their armies to destroy any villages who stand in their way. Into this tumult falls the brave Dobrynia, to defend the weak and vanquish evil wherever she might find it. Rating: MEDIUM controversy.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRaymond Towers
    Release dateApr 1, 2017
    ISBN9781370696123
    Dobrynia's Path 4: The Search For Loam
    Author

    Raymond Towers

    Raymond Towers is an author of fantasy, horror and science fiction that strays away from the mainstream, plus a little in the way of true paranormal and other genres. He has written and independently published over forty titles, most of them full-length novels and collections, with several more on the way. The author has been a lifelong resident of warm and sunny southern California, a location that pops up frequently in his writing. At the moment, the author is looking for ways to reach new readers all over the world, in addition to pursuing his great love of writing and taking it to the next level.

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      Book preview

      Dobrynia's Path 4 - Raymond Towers

      Dobrynia’s Path 4

      The Search For Loam

      Raymond Towers

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2017 Raymond Towers

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Content Rating: All of the characters in this e-book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental. All characters depicted in sexual acts in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older. This e-book contains a MEDIUM amount of controversial subject matter.

      About the cover: The image is titled beautiful dark woman in a desert landscape. It was produced by Captblack76 and acquired through Dreamstime.

      #####

      Table Of Contents

      Book I: Finding Muru

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Book II: Finding Akina

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      About The Author

      Author Website

      #####

      Book 1: Finding Muru

      Chapter 1

      It had started off as a simple question, one evening while Dobrynia and her lover rested in their lavish, rustic-colored bedroom. They were hiding out in Young Diego’s hacienda in Mexico at that time, as ‘the heat’ was still turned up their neighborhood in nearby San Diego to the north.

      Victor, do you remember how we left Loam? The Valkyrie had asked.

      Her handsome Hispanic suitor gave his version, which did not match hers. The overall memories were similar but too many details did not correlate. In Dobrynia’s version, the heroes had won a great battle to liberate the Keltoi people. Later, they gave their farewells and were whisked off the planet all at once, each smaller group to their own home world. In Victor’s account, the heroes were taken to the Crossroads first, where the magicians delivered them home one group at a time.

      That makes no sense to me, Victor. Why do we not remember the same events? Something has happened to us!

      Young Diego’s home was full of people the two adventurers could trust, but they did not rouse up the entire household. The dwarf Tekkin was summoned; he’d been in the dining room enjoying Mexican beer and thoroughly drunk, until the Valkyrie absorbed half of his stupor away from his little body. The alcohol inebriated her, but she still carried her wits enough to dissipate the drunkenness into the ether. This would have been very easy, had she been on a world with more magic than Earth. In the end, she felt a bit ‘buzzed,’ as Victor would say it, but at least her mind was still nimble. Also in their presence was Eva, the small and agile Hispanic woman who’d been craving to travel to other worlds ever since she’d learned this was possible.

      Well, it’s easy to figure that shit out. Tekkin’s hand waved around as he spoke, as he was still in his artificial daze. Ya see, you’ve both been charmed. The reason you don’t remember the same story is because more than one person was doing the charming. Whoever did this to ya, they had a general idea in mind, which was to get youse heroes all off the planet, right? They made up a story, but they musta been in a real hurry cuz the stories didn’t match. You’ve been duped, toots, an’ that’s all there is to it.

      This is an untruth. Doby realized, as she glanced at her lover. I don’t know what memories are real and what are fabricated.

      That’s easy, too. The dwarf made a knowing face at them, his head wiggling slightly as he spoke. All youse have ta do is compare notes. When your memories match, that was the real deal. When your memories don’t match, that’s when somebody went and fiddled with your heads. He held his hand up, where a fresh bottle of beer appeared a second later. You mind if I have another one?

      The battle, we won that battle. Victor said. Everything was real up to the point when you spoke with that goddess bitch. After that, things start to get weird.

      The Valkyrie realized her lover was right.

      I think we should go back to Loam. Victor said, an instant before she did. If the bad guys did this to us, who knows what else they did to that world!

      This time, you’re taking us with you. Eva demanded. You promised!

      Dobrynia glanced at the small but capable woman, and at the smaller but half-drunk dwarf. She said, There will be danger.

      Lots of danger. Victor nodded. Trust me. We’ve seen it.

      Defiantly, Eva set her hands on her hips and looked back at them. On the couch, Tekkin let out a fierce and odorous burp.

      There must be easier ways to travel through worlds than this, thought the brave Valkyrie. The Chaos Rift had been breached. At the first, this specific portal had seemed much like any other doorway between dimensions that she’d entered before, many times before. Only when she had gone through, and with her friends at her back, did Dobrynia discover the unexpected.

      They seemed to be immersed in some form of viscous liquid, instead of the air they had hoped to find on the opposite side. The fluid was thick as molasses; so dark she could not see within it. The Valkyrie, an expert swimmer, had much trouble moving through the liquid. She wondered how her friends were faring. Neither Victor nor Eva had been taught to swim, despite that they lived on the coast of a great ocean on their world. The dwarf, he could move around much better than the rest with his ability to teleport. It might be up to Tekkin to save them all.

      The black syrup was a vile thing. It soaked her clothing and clung to her skin. It began to cause an irritation on her fair flesh, enough that Dobrynia felt like tearing at her clothes and scratching at her body to make the sensation go away. She floundered within that deep black liquid, wondering what sort of being would set such a trap to instantly capture any travelers into whatever world they were now on. Perhaps they were meant to die here, the Valkyrie thought, in a black abyss where no one would ever find them.

      Then, as unexpectedly as they’d fallen into it, the vile fluid released them. Doby felt a slight fall, before her shoulder and back struck a rough surface. The wetness all over her body caused her impact to produce a strange and sloshing sound. Rivulets of the black stuff ran from her body onto whatever sort of ground she was now lying on.

      Instantly, the warrior scrambled into a defensive crouch, gauging her surroundings. Her friends were there, all three of them, as covered in the dark red bile as she was. They were in a large clearing at the edge of a copse. Next, the Valkyrie quickly assessed that her weapons were still in place. Her short sword rested secure in its sheath. Her modern composite bow was folded compactly for easier carrying and strapped to her back. That was good, thought the Valkyrie, as the abrupt fall might have damaged the bow if it had been fully extended.

      Dobrynia took in a breath of air, finding it dusty and humid. Around her, she heard her fellow fighters coughing, almost gagging. The Valkyrie assumed they had opened their mouths during the abrupt move through the portal, and unwittingly swallowed whatever evil liquid had been found there.

      Call out your names! Doby ordered. How is your readiness?

      The coughing continued around her. The Valkyrie turned, searching for signs of potential threats, not yet finding any.

      Call out your names! She repeated.

      I’m here. Dude, that was some rank shit... Victor’s words strained from his mouth, before he went back to coughing. A few seconds later, he was vomiting into the grass.

      Eva? Doby turned her head. Are you well?

      She’s alive but not really kicking all that good. The dwarf Tekkin replied. She’s about to spew just like Victor’s doing. Hey, toots, we ain’t got a whole lot of magic here, wherever we are. I’m having trouble concentrating enough to teleport.

      Eva crumpled to her knees and retched loudly.

      Doby’s wet flesh began to itch. She considered her arms and legs, observing how the dark red liquid clung to her clothing and skin. Her sight and senses warned her that the ugly liquid might be a combination of blood and magic. The substance seemed to be doing something to their bodies. Apparently Victor and Eva had swallowed some of it.

      Fall into the trees. Doby directed the rest.

      She grabbed at Victor’s arm until she half walked and half dragged him out of the clearing, leaving a red smear of a trail behind them. Tekkin did the same for Eva.

      The red liquid was stinging her now, Doby noticed. Again, she looked at her friends, seeing the two Earthlings still huddled close to the ground and clutching tightly at their stomachs. They were all stained in red, she saw, from their clothing to their packs to their bodies. Tekkin’s face was colored blood red, as he glanced at the Valkyrie.

      There’s somethin’ really screwed up about that portal we went through, toots. The dwarf was seen shaking his head.

      We must cleanse our bodies from whatever this evil magic is. Doby decided, scrambling for her backpack. Quickly, all of you remove your clothing. Tekkin, we will douse our towels with water and wipe as much of this filth off as we can.

      You think its some kind of poison? Tekkin asked.

      It feels like a poison, or a curse.

      Well, jumpin’ junipers. The dwarf replied, as he quickly stripped his clothes.

      Eva and Victor did the best they could, but they were both so dazed and troubled they could hardly stand up. Eva in particular didn’t like anyone ogling her short, petite frame, but there was no other way around it. In the end, all four adventurers were nude and wiping themselves off with the two hand towels Doby always carried on her person. They carried modern canteens as well, and ended up using nearly two of them in getting the red fluid off their flesh. Another full canteen went into wringing the vile stuff from their clothes and in wiping down their equipment.

      At the end of it, all four travelers sat in a tight circle, nude, while they waited for their items to dry.

      So the portal was booby-trapped. Tekkin considered. It had to be, right? Any dummy that pops into this world ends up gettin’ smeared. If they don’t get that junk off right away, who knows what’ll happen? Doby, didja notice that the Chaos Rift is gone? We can’t leave this place even if we wanted to.

      I had noticed that. The Valkyrie replied. Victor, Eva, how are you faring?

      I’m at eighty percent. Victor said. I think I can fight, but once I start moving around I might get dizzy.

      Same here. Eva said. The petite woman covered her small breasts with her arms, and crossed her legs carefully so her lower half wouldn’t be seen.

      Is this even Loam? Tekkin wondered.

      Of the four of them, only Doby and Victor had been on that world before.

      I can’t tell. Victor said.

      The Valkyrie frowned, as she couldn’t be sure either.

      So’s we walk up to the first dummy we see, Tekkin postulated. And we’ll say, hey bub, what planet are we on? Cuz we made a left when we shoulda made a right, and all of a sudden our GPS ain’t workin’ so good.

      It is my fault. Doby admitted. I don’t know how to read the workings of the Chaos Rift very well. I thought I found the path that would lead us to Loam, but I am not certain if we have arrived there or not.

      If this is Loam, we stay. Eva said, as practical as ever. If it isn’t, we find the rift and we get the hell out of here. Simple.

      Doby glanced up at the sky, finding that it looked very much like the sky of Earth, or of her old home in Asgard. The grass beneath her rump, and the trees, they were all Earth-like. Even the insects she saw were familiar.

      Hey, babe, Victor spoke up. I don’t feel that strong anymore.

      Doby glanced at her lover, watching as he performed a nude push-up, and then a second.

      Yeah, my extra strength is gone. Victor assessed, as he sat back down on the ground. I’m at regular human strength now.

      This alarmed the Valkyrie, as she could always count on her and Victor’s gifted strength to get them out of jams against normal opponents, and to put up a good fight against heavy-duty enemies. She went to do her own push-up, discovering that she now had the strength of an athletic human woman, instead of the strength of three mighty warriors that Odin had blessed her with. Doby scrambled to her feet, trying to will her body to morph into raven form, finding it a fruitless endeavor.

      The entry into this world is truly cursed. She admitted. Whatever that liquid was that covered us, it has dampened my magic. I cannot change into my animal forms.

      So we adjust the way we fight a little. Victor said. We don’t jump into the middle of a rumble; we stay back to back and hold our ground. We play defense.

      Hey, Victor, Eva flirted. I wanna wrestle you later. I bet you won’t toss me around this time like you always do. As a matter of fact, I wanna wrestle Doby, too.

      Anybody wanna wrestle me? Tekkin asked, before he started snickering.

      When their clothes dried out, the adventurers suited up and went on the prowl.

      Our clothes smell funny. Eva said.

      It was true, Doby noticed. Her clothes were still discolored thanks to the red liquid, and had acquired a noticeable stink to them. "We’ll wash everything thoroughly, once we come to a source of water.

      Later, they came to a brook, finding the water in it black and smelling worse than they did.

      I guess we aren’t washing up? Victor asked.

      Doby shook her head.

      So what do we do now? Tekkin piped up. We follow the stream?

      Do we have a choice? Eva replied.

      Not really, shrimp.

      Eva’s temper flared. I’m taller than you are!

      Not for a human. Tekkin teased her. For a human, you’re a shrimp. On the other hand, for a dwarf I’m just about the perfect size.

      Eva made a face at him.

      You wanna wrestle me, shrimp? Tekkin smirked. Ya think you can take me?

      Let us follow the brook for a time. Doby said. She walked off before Eva could catch her grin, as Doby usually found the dwarf’s theatrics amusing. The others trailed closely after her.

      This can’t be Loam because there is no magic here. Tekkin theorized, a short while later. Unless the bad guys figured out a way to take magic away from a person by booby-trappin’ entry into this world.

      I don’t think we’re on Loam. Victor shook his head. This place doesn’t feel like Loam. I can’t tell you exactly why I feel that way, but I do.

      It’s called a hunch. Tekkin said. That’s okay. Hunches can be good things to follow. The next question is, did we end up here by accident, or were weze detoured and brought here on poipose? The reason I’m bringing this up is because what a coincidence that we went through a pool of blood magic to get here, and now Doby an’ me don’t have any magistical abilities.

      We went through a pool of regular water the first time we entered Loam. Victor recalled. The water was in like a five-gallon bucket and we just jumped right out of it.

      That’s how magic works, bub.

      When the demons sent us to the Usurper world, we fell through air. Doby said.

      Well, yeah, but those demons pushed us in, without knowing what lay on the other side. Tekkin reminded the rest of them. Only Eva had not gone into the Usurper world. This is a different situation. We came here on our own, or at least we thought we knew where we were going. And then, blammo, we end up somewheres else and our magic is gone. I don’t know about on your world, but where I come from that would be called a set-up.

      The four came to a small bridge made of stone and wood. The bridge went over the brook, spanning about fifteen feet from one end to the other, even though the brook was only a thin trickle underneath it. The bridge was wide enough for a wagon to cross over it, Doby noticed.

      We got ruts right here. Tekkin pointed out the tracks on the ground, before he scanned in both directions. So we got bridges and vehiculars, which means some kind of advanced civilization. Which way should we go, toots?

      Doby frowned. If she could turn into a raven, it would be easy for her to soar the sky and look for structures or dwellings. As it was, perhaps they were five or fifty miles from the nearest population. A town could lie ten minutes away, but if she chose the wrong direction they might not see another town for days.

      We’ll have a vote. The Valkyrie resolved, as she noted the position of the sun. I believe the time is afternoon, but who can tell in a strange world? We will take one direction today before we make camp for the night. If we find nothing, we will return here tomorrow and cross the bridge in the other direction. The vote will decide for us what direction we will go in first.

      The vote was taken, with three of the four choosing to go east and away from the sun. The only dissenting vote was Tekkin’s, but the dwarf simply shrugged it off and went along with the crowd.

      Over the next hour of walking, the travelers left the vegetation and came to a long expanse of dried ground with very little greenery. The road sloped down, as narrow as ever, leading the group with no cover on either side. The broad plain was flat and barren, and while the climate was warm and the distance sizzled with rising heat, the walk was not too difficult to manage.

      We’re coming into a valley. Tekkin said, pointing out large rolling hills in the distance and a ridge of mountains to the northeast and east. You’d think we would have some run-off from all these higher elevations, but look over there. That was a river once. Now its all dust and pebbles an’ shit.

      Victor diverted his walk over to the river’s old bank. Doby went to join him. They stood there and stared into the old riverbed for a short duration.

      I could really use a bath right now. Victor joked, before they got moving again.

      They came to a new bridge, also made of stone and wood. It crossed over the old river with a length of perhaps one hundred feet, with strong columns in the center to keep it up. Once they had crossed it, they saw the road widening enough to allow two wagons abreast. To the north were more hills, with the ruins of old large houses peppered on it. To the south they saw chaparral and sporadic trees, along with scattered small houses. Off in the distance, to the east, they witnessed the beginnings of a town or city.

      Doby, you need to call a huddle right now. Eva said.

      The Valkyrie had been studying the path of the sun, calculating that it might set slower here than the sun of Earth, but not able to tell by how much. She looked back at her apprentice. Are you well, Eva?

      Yeah, but call a huddle anyway.

      Soon, all four were standing together in the center of the road.

      Report to me, Eva. Doby said.

      When we first started seeing houses, I thought I saw somebody peeking out of a window. The smaller woman revealed. I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure. My head isn’t all the way back on after whatever that crap was I swallowed. Well, I just saw somebody running from west to east, along that row of big yellow grass down that way. I saw multiple shapes from where the person started running. I think they’re trying to box us in, with a bunch coming up from behind us, and somebody heading off to warn another bunch up ahead.

      How come I didn’t see nothing? Tekkin asked.

      Because you’re little, Tekkin. Doby replied. Did you see any weapons, Eva?

      Eva’s first instinct was to shake her head, but Doby had taught her the importance of not giving things away to potential spies. She said simply, No weapons. I estimate three or four people in the first bunch, plus the runner, plus who knows how many up head.

      Good report. Doby said, casually scanning the southern landscape.

      In the tall reeds of grass Eva pointed out, she saw a person standing and visible only from the chest and higher. The Valkyrie could not tell if the person was male or female, as their entire form including the head was covered over in a brown hood and cloak. The person was a lookout, a distraction, she knew. His or her cohorts were probably creeping in from either side even then.

      We need a place for cover. She said, turning toward the slope of the hill to the north and surveying the old ruins found there.

      I’ve got two good spots. Victor pointed, no longer concerned with stealth. You see that first house? We can defend from there if you want to move right away, or we can go to that second house. I’d go with the second one, because it’s higher and will give us a better view of whoever is out here.

      The second house. Doby agreed. Eva, Tekkin, start your walk toward the first house. When you near it, run to the second. We will stand our ground here until we see you run.

      Eva nodded and marched away, while Tekkin made a glum face.

      I wish I still had my teleportin’ power. The dwarf said, before he too walked off.

      The house was made of adobe and wood, covered over with plaster colored beige. It had two levels to it, and many large windows. The bottom floor had three large rooms, which must have been for socializing or storage at one time. The second floor was larger than the first, with half a dozen smaller rooms that surely served as bedrooms. There was no plumbing or electric lightning, but the residents were savvy enough to build a crude chimney within the wall, from the first floor up to the roof.

      Dobrynia looked at the large, open windows, and also at the empty door frames. The apertures looked as if hides or tapestries had once been hung over the open spaces, but none of these were in evidence. In fact, the residence looked as if its original owners had emptied it out first, before squatters had come in for a time. They found old rags, broken ceramic jars and dried excrement in a few of the bedrooms. When the rest of the group joined her in the biggest of the rooms which faced to the south, the Valkyrie ceased her inspection of the dwelling and when to her fellows.

      Report. She said.

      Victor went first. The roof is the best spot to keep watch, but for whatever reason our clothes start itching if we stay up there too long. The second floor is no good. The windows up there are as big as these, but the chances are we’ll get cornered in one of the rooms and not be able to fight out way out.

      Doby glanced at Eva. Her pupil had been taught not to speak unless she had something useful to add to the conversation. Eva’s silence caused the Valkyrie to turn next to the dwarf.

      I got nuthin. Tekkin grumbled. I’m a pancake without my magic.

      Doby studied the room they were in. It was wide with two large doorways. One path led outside, while the other led deeper into the house. Three large windows spanned the south wall, allowing a good view of the valley below where the potential threats were hiding.

      We will begin a rotating watch. She decided. Two of us will stay on guard while the other two rest. Each pairing will have one tall person and one short person. Victor, Tekkin, you can go first. Eva, we can sit here and rest for now.

      Eva sighed, before she went to the appointed spot and took a seat on the floor.

      Doby watched as the two men delegated duties to each other. Tekkin would stand on a window ledge and keep a lookout, while Victor would walk the perimeter of the room. The arrangement was satisfactory to her, and so she went to sit beside the other woman. They chatted for a time, before most of the adventurers simply stopped talking. Only the dwarf kept up a droning monologue of observations.

      I got a lizard in the bushes. Tekkin said. Nine o’clock position. It’s black and about as long as my hand an’ half as wide. The lizard thinks its a little rhino, cuz it has a horn on its head. Hey, Vic, come take a look at this thing!

      Later, the dwarf spotted a trail of ants. These were about the same size as Earth ants, but colored brownish yellow to blend in with the terrain.

      I got movement down on the road! Tekkin called out excitedly, some time after. We’ve got cloaks scamperin’ around out there!

      The dwarf’s excitement prompted the others to gather around him. Among their supplies, they carried a single pair of binoculars, which they passed around and used to survey the landscape. The adventurers saw at least ten cloaked figures moving around in the low brush. Some were furtive, while others ambled about uncaring if they were seen. One of these figures went to set an upright stick into the road, with a strip of red cloth tied on the end. After this was done, the figures were seen traveling east toward whatever town lay in that direction.

      They marked us, didn’t they? Victor asked. In case they forget where we are for when they come back tomorrow?

      No, you ninny. Tekkin replied. They marked us for somebody else. Maybe those are regular folk. Maybe the ones that are coming next are the hunters or warriors. That would explain why these dummies have been keepin’ their distance from us.

      What’s keeping us from moving the marker? Eva wondered.

      I’ll do it. Victor volunteered.

      Are you sure they ain’t waiting for you in the bushes? Tekkin asked.

      They might be. Victor shrugged. But from what I saw, none of those guys was carrying any large weapons.

      True dat. Tekkin nodded.

      Doby glanced up at the sky. The sun should be setting soon. Victor, go and remove the marker. You don’t have to move it anywhere else, only hide it somewhere. Come back quickly. Tekkin, gather kindling together and make a pile of it here in this room. I haven’t yet decided if we should start a fire or not.

      Maybe we should. Victor said. It will let whoever is out there know that we aren’t afraid of them.

      Let’s try an’ figure out what they’re capable of first. Tekkin replied. Before we start advertising to them.

      Once the men completed their tasks, the women took over in keeping watch. Doby’s first idea was to go up to the roof, so they could scan the region one last time before it got dark. Both Eva and her were intrigued, when they saw not the advent of night, but a reddish glow coming from the north.

      What is that? Eva wondered.

      A second sun. Doby marveled. A red sun.

      The women stayed on the roof for a time, until their skin began to itch and they went back indoors. They reported their findings to the others.

      So what have we got? Tekkin contemplated. A yeller sun during the day and a redder sun during the night.

      Perhaps the red sun is always in place. Doby conjectured. Perhaps it cannot be seen until the normal sun has moved out of the way.

      That might explain why all those people were wearing hoods. Victor added. Maybe the combination of both suns is what makes our skin itch?

      No, Victor. Eva denied. The pool of blood we came through is making our skin itch. The suns are aggravating that.

      So we find some water and we give ourselves a good scrubbing. Tekkin said.

      Except Eva and I drank that nasty shit. Victor groaned.

      Where did the Chaos Rift go? Eva questioned. How can it just disappear like that?

      That thing has a mind of its own sometimes. Tekkin made a face. I’ve been tellin’ you, haven’t I, about how I jumped into that thing and then I couldn’t find my way back home?

      That’s because you’re a dumb-ass. Victor teased.

      Bite me, Vicky.

      Victor laughed.

      It is certain that we must wash ourselves. Doby spoke up. That will be our highest priority for tomorrow.

      Why can’t we move now? Victor asked. I mean, if we’ve got a red sun in the sky, we might still be able to see, right?

      We won’t know how dark it will get until the yellow sun is gone. Eva said.

      Victor shrugged. So we’ll wait a couple of hours.

      We could be left in the open if we leave this house. Doby replied. Against enemies who are better adapted to the conditions of this world. Let us, how do you say...

      Hunker down. Tekkin said.

      Yes. She nodded. Let us stay here and see what a red night will bring to us.

      The red night brought chaos with it. As the shadows of the crimson sun took over, sharp and bloodcurdling screeches were heard in the far distance. It sounded as if a wave of horror was sweeping across the land, for the screeches were spread out and always loud. At times, whatever made those unholy sounds seemed to be responding to other screeches, but for the most part they were individual terrors.

      Maybe it is a herd of bleepin’ red cows. Tekkin offered, although none of them believed it. Tell them to cut the chatter, Vic, so’s I can get me some shut-eye.

      I can’t see anything out there. Victor replied. He’d taken a spot under a window opening. After the screeching started up, he’d gotten to his feet. Victor’s back was tight against the wall, in case whatever was out there had some sort of night vision.

      Doby stood beside the doorway leading out, also maintaining a slight profile to the outside. Sit down and rest, Victor. We might need your strength later. Eva, report.

      The shorter woman was posted next to the doorway leading to the remainder of the house. Nothing to report, chief.

      The tension was palpable even hours later, as the screeches were heard to come closer to their position.

      They are on the road now. Doby stated. Eva, wake the men.

      Dutifully, the other woman went to kick at the legs of the sleepers until they were roused up. It didn’t take long for Victor or Tekkin to clear their heads, as a screech was heard that was much too close for comfort.

      I guess they’re here, huh? Tekkin rubbed his eyes. Robbin’ a guy’s snooze time. Geez, this world really sucks.

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