Chapter 1 Ray of Hope Pt. II

Sabah ran swiftly and silently through the darkness, she heard the cry of a tharashile nearby, the wolf like creatures were as large as lions, their fangs, silver, and sharp as knives, were long and deadly, and their fur was a bright white color, easily seen in the trees, giving its intended victim time to prepare to defend themselves against it…

Sabah walked without looking where her feet went, they led and she followed as she settled deep within her own mind. Her thoughts traversed the old legend of the Ray of Hope. It was in her present condition that she didn’t notice the tharashile until she was staring deep into its pale blue orbs. Sabah jumped back quickly; the beast stayed its ground, desperately trying to link with her mind.

You are the child born to raise the orb, are you not? It asked softly, looking her over carefully.

Y-yes… Sabah answered, then, What of it?

My people are tired of living in darkness, - the creature began, I wish to aid you in your quest.

What is your name? Sabah questioned, looking him over slowly, trying to depict as to whether or not he was lying to her.

I am known as Kokushibyou amongst my kin. The beast replied proudly, puffing out his gleaming chest.

Well, my name is Sabah, and I must know if that is the full reason you wish to help me, is there more, Kokushibyou of the Tharashile?

The elders wish to bask in the sun once more, as they did once, long ago. They want to show the younger generation, those that were born after the glory of the morning was taken from us, what it’s like not to starve, to be able to run through green fields and hunt wild game, not the sickly creatures that wander into our midst on occasion, we’ve been forced to resort to eating humans in our time of starvation, but there has been no hope… How you slipped around Daray’s defenses I will never know, up until now he has been able to kill every hope at receiving the sun again that this planet has had at birth, why were you able to slip through when none of the others could? That question will never be answered, but we must begin at once, for we have a long and perilous journey to the ends of the earth, where Aurora once pulled the sun across the sky, where you must now go and resurrect the dead goddess… Kokushibyou stopped and looked carefully at Sabah, I will protect you until the very end of this perilous journey, where you will have to continue alone, to the holy resting place of the goddess of the dawn…

Sabah nodded her understanding, slowly she mulled over the thought of a companion, I accept your help, my friend, with grace, and am glad that you proposed this to me now, at the beginning of my journey. I never wanted to travel alone, a companion is most welcome.

Kokushibyou nodded, Traveling alone is like shouting for death to come and find you, it is unwise to do so.

Sabah saw several figures go in and out of focus a small distance away, she squinted for a better view, to be sure of what she had seen, Kokushibyou … She whispered in a frightened voice, Did you come here alone, or did you bring someone with you?

I came alone of course, why? Kokushibyou looked at her face searchingly, What’s the matter?

Sabah nodded, You’ve confirmed my fears, there are several komakians surrounding us, I don’t think we have a chance, they are guised as your own kind, do not be fooled, I have seen their trail…

You can see the shimmer that the transformed Komakian leaves behind? Kokushibyou was impressed, Only a human with high spiritual powers can see them, though, I shouldn’t be surprised, you have the sun’s power after all…

Before either of them could do anything, several white beasts leapt out of the ragged brush, teeth bared. A few of them leapt at Kokushibyou, who growled and fought back viscously. Sabah pulled out her knife and held it out defensively, swinging it whenever one of the beasts drew too close. “Back off!” She cried, cutting one across the snout, he howled in pain and transformed, clutching at his bloody face.

The others redoubled their efforts. Sabah was suddenly grabbed from behind and her arms were pinned at her sides, the others changed to their original forms and looked at her coldly, “Feisty little girl ain’t she, Geraq?” One muttered, breathing heavily, “Makes you wonder if her spirit tastes better than those that we’ve had lately…”

The slightest of the group stepped forward, his pale green eyes looked Sabah over. After brushing back a lock of pale blue hair, he muttered, “She sure doesn’t look as though she’d be mankind’s last hope, after all, the last one we encountered was a rather large man, had a lot more to give than she did…” He spoke nonchalantly, and looked towards the battle with Black Death momentarily, “Though she is very pretty indeed.”

Sabah angrily turned her wrist and thrust the small blade into her captors upper thigh, she twisted it and pulled it out quickly, he collapsed as she jumped back, eyes flaming furiously. She took up a defensive pose and waited for one of them to make a move. The original speaker, a larger being with coal black hair and eyes to match, transformed into a tharashile again.

He snarled and leapt at her, Sabah in turn ducked and he sailed over her head. She took a deep breath and went after him as the others stood back and watched in amusement. His razor sharp claws raked across her back as he leapt again, and she in turn ducked. Sabah hurriedly turned her body while he was in midair and shoved the knife deep into the flesh just below the ribcage. He howled, blood soaked his fur and he collapsed, changing back into his original form, he lay writhing in pain. The leader smirked, “Well now,” He said, “This has gotten interesting.”

A long, thin sword appeared in his hand and he stepped forward, attacking Sabah with the blade. She held him off best she could with her dagger, ducking blows that would have beheaded her, and leaping backwards when he slashed at her stomach, she was determined to grant her mother’s wishes, she would reach the ends of the earth. No sound escaped her lips as his sword sank into her shoulder, she simply stepped backwards, a look of semi-surprise on her face, for she felt no pain.

The Komakian took advantage of her surprise and pinned her to the ground, her own dagger spun away from her. He lowered his lips to her ear, “And now,” He breathed, “You die.”

With that he bit into the tender flesh of her exposed throat. Sabah struggled fiercely as he began to draw the spirit from her body through her precious life blood. “No!” Kokushibyou cried out in horror, he ran to where they were, and swiped at Geraq with a clawed paw, who in turn was thrown across the clearing. Hurriedly Kokushibyou moved to push Sabah onto his back. The girl’s breathing was shallow, and her heart beat dreadfully slow. He then began to run through the trees in an attempt to get away from the Komakians. They let out cries of fury and transformed into a Vrateyle, a large birdlike creature with razor sharp claws, they swooped down, grabbing at Kokushibyou’s legs, and attempting to pull the girl from his back.

The screams of the Vrateyle hurt Kokushibyou’s sensitive ears, he longed to change forms, for in truth he too was a Komakian, although he was a rebel, against Daray’s cause. He, and many others, was tired of the continuous darkness, how he longed to feel the afternoon sun shine down upon his shoulders. This girl was the key, she was the only one who could save the planet from utter destruction. He saw the morning in his eyes, felt the warmth of a spring day. He had taken the form of a tharashile, so that he could gain her trust and protect her, he would eventually tell her, but not until she trusted him. “Come on Kokushibyou!” Screeched one of the birds. “Give up the girl and your treason shall be forgotten!”

“Never!” Kokushibyou called, “Daray was wrong in killing Aurora, taking the sun from this planet, he and everything else here will die! Sabah is the last hope for this planet, she must succeed in resurrecting the sun!”

They pulled back, heading for the demon Daray, he was their only hope in making sure that the sun never rose.

Kokushibyou knew that it would be only a matter of hours before Daray would find them… that is unless Kokushibyou could hide, and resurrect Sabah from the darkness that would, by now, be attempting to consume her light, he must work fast or she would be lost.

Quickly he transformed back into a Komakian and made his way into a dark cave.

Kokushibyou gathered some herbs and ground them together, chanting softly he encircled Sabah’s prone figure with the herbs and lit them on fire. A sweet song filled the chamber, bright lights danced happily around Sabah’s body, each in turn jumping happily back into her soul.