Alliance-Cockatrice Plague

Chapter 3- Home Away from Home

Chapter 3- Home Away from Home

Thinking I could evade this being bound to this human from this Alliance, I first tried to remove the arm band. It was stuck, seemingly to my skin, and bashing it with a rock yielded no results. I decided that since I couldn't remove the band, I would remove the human. I lashed out with my tail, a swift attack that would hit his face and leave him with at least a concussion. However, the attack never connected with my target.

Before my tail could even close half the distance between us, the gravity around my body seemed to increase exponentially. My tail sank to the ground, unable to move another inch. My entire body followed soon after, feeling like I was pinned under the largest tree in the forest. I was immobile, growling as I continued my motionless struggle

With a smug look on his face, Gabriel held his hand close to his face and spoke to his ring, a language which even with the aid of the contract I could not comprehend. I soon realized it to be an incantation, for the band on my arm issued a black substance that expanded to my size and hovered in front of me. I recognized it as a portal, though only after the Manticore promptly barged me into it.

It felt strange, like I was moving incredibly fast, at a speed I could never have imagined possible before. I also noted an absence of light. Everything was just black. I had little time to mull over this, however, for I was quite suddenly thrown out back into the regular world only seconds after entry of the portal.

I landed on dry, dusty ground in a crumpled mess as Gabriel, his companions, Amber, Raphael and the Manticore hopped out of the same portal, landing nimbly on their feet. I felt the pressure of the contract lift from my body, and my limbs were free again. Picking myself up, I first noticed that though it was still night, it was not raining. We must have moved a long distance to have evaded the range of the storm.

"Welcome to the headquarters of The Alliance." Gabriel said to me, spreading his arms wide.

The Alliance headquarters was a rather strange place. The ground under us was a hard, dry dirt path that led to a peculiar house. It was large for a hut, able to fit about 6 people easily, albeit with slight space constraints. It was constructed crudely of old, beaten up wood, making me wonder how it survived the beatings of Mother Nature. Despite the parched ground, the house was wet, as though it had been through a deluge recently. More surprising, though, was the four appendages protruding from the corners of the house like a set of legs. They even had three toed talons. The house looked familiar, like I had seen it a long time ago.

A short distance from the hut, the dry plains was abruptly interrupted by a patch of forest. I could also sense the presence of several other environments in close proximity, though I was unable to see them in the dark.

"We'll introduce you to the rest in the morning, so get some rest tonight." Gabriel broke the silence. "The forest is your territory, your home now." He pointed to the patch of lush greenery I had been looking at before.

"You too, Bruno." It was the female, Amber, who spoke, ruffling the Manticore's mane as she did.

With that, the trio of humans started toward the hut as the Manticore bounded off into the darkness, presumably to sleep. Not wanting to incur the punishments of the contract again, I went to the forest. The paralyzing power of the contract made me feel vulnerable, helpless.

As I stepped on the earth of the forest, all was silent. The songs of night birds and crickets were absent. This was not the forest in which I belonged. In here, I was an alien. Grunting in irritation and displeasure, I sprinted to the heart of the forest, the strain of my muscles nicely familiar amidst the muted surroundings. I curled up into a ball, cursing the turn of events that forced me to be here. Eventually, exhaustion won out and I could curse no longer, as I slipped into sleep.