torn
15-04-2006, 12:40 AM
Here it is, if you likes the first one, then the story continues here.
ANGEL FALLS PART 2
It wasn?t even light when Toral woke up. He was excited and nervous at the prospect of setting off on the journey of a lifetime. The messengers only appeared once per generation and it was very lucky if you were of the right age, between fifteen and twenty years old. Any older and their bodies would not adapt to what the sky warriors wanted. Any younger and they would have no chance in the trials. Toral sat up in his bed and brushed the sleep from his eyes, although it wasn?t as if he had a good nights rest. He couldn?t get to sleep for hours thinking of the days to come.
Toral was glad his brother Grator was old enough to come along. He knew he needed someone he could trust on the journey, and in the trials. The fact Gray was coming too made things a lot easier for them. At the dinner the night before Waltar Wyte, Gray?s father had told them that he would do all he could to help.
?I will give you boys all the equipment you need, and don?t worry my son, for I will look after your wife Lanoer and her unborn child as if she was my own.? Waltar had been sincere in his words. Although it was a great loss to the tribe to have three of its most promising fighters gone, the family bond between the Wytes and the Vadens had secured their spot as one of the most respected tribes around.
Toral took out the oilcloth from under his pillow. In it was wrapped a silver knife, engraved with a winding lightning bolt pattern, it was as long as his forearm, and as sharp as a razor. The knife had been a gift from his father, handed down from generation to generation from father to son for centuries. It had always gone to the eldest son, and by coincidence none of the eldest sons in the Vaden family tree had left for the journey to Angel Falls before.
He picked up the blade, still wrapped in oilcloth and put it in his pack. He put on his plasticloth combat pants. They were more useful than fashionable, having many pockets and holsters sewn into them. He then put on his mantle of black fur. The furs were the sign of a respected house. It somewhat shamed him to be wearing the furs of the Wyte household, much like a retainer would wear the colours of his lord. Still the fact he had furs to wear gave him pride, even though his own family had long lost the right to claim lord-like status on Baal Secundus.
The furs were tied around his neck with a silver brooch, and went halfway down his back like a short cloak. The matched the colour of his jet-black hair, which hung loosely onto his shoulders.
Toral went into the main living area of the mech-home. Nobody else was awake yet it seemed. He picked up his boots from near the door. These also had storage areas hidden around them in all places. He slipped a knife into the hidden sheathe and strapped his boots on.
He then picked up a brace of throwing knives from on the wall and strapped them around his chest. Toral didn?t know much of the challenges but he did know that they were a test for great warriors, and he had better be prepared. He found a rad breather and put that into his pack, as well as enough dry food to last him two weeks. Grator?s pack was out in the living area, so he kindly filled his brothers the same. There was no point waking him to deprive him of some much-needed sleep.
It wasn?t long until Grator finally woke. Grator was dressed similarly to Toral, in that he wore the common plasticloth combat pants and was bare topped apart from the black furs. Grator put on his boots and thanked Toral for filling his pack. The bond between brothers is a strong one, but when you live on a world as harsh as this you need the bond to be unbreakable. Toral and Grator knew what each other were thinking at all times. Inseparable from childhood they had always looked out for each other. ?What weapons are you bringing? Toral Asked Grator.
?I think I might bring my sword. I don?t see the need for an axe, and im better with the sword. I think ill take a crossbow as well? Grator eyed up the weapons rack. There were plenty of weapons to choose from. A household couldn?t live in peace if it didn?t have the means to defend itself.
?The sword is a good choice.? Toral Replied, still wondering what he should take. Grator picked up a long sword with serrated edges. It was a nasty looking thing and had seen much blood over its lifetime. ?Your ability with a crossbow should surely help us get there in time.?
?And you? What are you taking?? Grator replied. He saw that Toral already had the throwing knifes, and probably many more knives hidden on his body just in case.
?I think I shall take a short spear, the one with the steel haft. It has served me well before and shall do so again.? Toral?s ability with the spear was good, although he didn?t show the same flair for weapons or have the same strength as his brother; he made up for it with his cunning.
?Between my spear and your sword we should be safe. Who knows what weapons Gray will bring. He is to meet us here at daybreak in a rover buggy. Then we are to set off for Angel Falls.?
?Gray will probably bring some archeotech junk.? Grator sneered. The wealth of the Wyte family meant they could get their hands on weapons of which the use has long been forgotten. ?Remember the time he tried to use that gun? Yes, that gun on those mutants. All it did was cover them in more slime. He paid for that with the meat of ten wild beasts. What a waste!?
?Its not like they needed the meat.? Toral picked up the short spear, it was heavy, as to give it a good balance, and the steel haft could be used for blocking the blows of swords and axes. ?And I am glad that Gray is coming along. For a start his buggy will give us all a great advantage, and secondly, he might actually bring something along that will help in the fight. Here, pack this sword in case he doesn?t bring one.? Toral picked up a regular long sword and tossed it to Grator, who attached its scabbard to the other side of his belt. As his own sword was hanging.
?This piece of junk? It more chance to snap than to pierce flesh! Still, we cant let our family be left with nothing.?
The roar of an engine could be heard from down the street. Toral and Grator stepped outside. It was a cool morning but the twin sons were in hot season and as the day got on it would be as hot as fire. The air was as harsh and dry as ever, dusty and scented with the tang of pollution. The two brothers pulled their rad breathers from their packs and strapped them on. They were just small, covering their noses and mouths, so as to still give them good vision and hearing by not covering any more of their face than they had to.
The rover buggy came speeding round the corner. The wild blonde hair of the driver flowing up above the windshield in long streams. It was definitely Gray. He was wearing a rad breather of his own, and big round dust goggles. His black pelt hung across his shoulders, but he was not bare bodied. He was strapped into an armour plate vest, one big piece of steel that covered his upper body from harm. Toral thought this was over the top in this weather, but he did not think it was unlike Gray. Gray could on every occasion be predicted to be unpredictable. Not in any situation could you know what Gray was thinking.
The buggy skidded to a halt in a plume of dust, which Toral and Grator wiped from their eyes. ?See boys that?s why I wear my goggles.? Gray laughed. ?Jump in quick and lets be off.?
Toral jumped into the front passenger seat of the four-seat buggy, whilst Grator climbed into the back. There was just enough room for him in the back with his and Toral?s pack and the large sack that Gray had brought along. ?What is in there?? he asked.
?Just stuff? Gray replied, as inconspicuous as ever. Grator didn?t want to look through it, just in case there was something in there that would set him off. Grator had a fine ability to be angered by what he called useless junk. He could take any piece of archeotech and destroy it with his words alone, shouting into the heavens why the piece of junk was not worth the value of a good sword. Toral usually kept silent, finding it amusing how most people slunk away from Grator when he was in one of those moods.
Toral opened the compartment just below his knees. He pulled out a piece of parchment. It looked to him like a map. ?I copied it from a book in my father house? Gray told Toral before he could ask. ?It?s a map to Angel Falls?
?Do you know if it is right?? Grator asked from the back seat, fidgeting to get comfortable surrounded by junk. It seemed that Gray must have used the bag seat of his buggy for nothing than to keep tech parts. ?How do you know which way we are going??
Gray, insulted by Grator?s question informed Toral to look in the storage compartment again. Toral pulled out a black sphere. It had a ridge around its circumference like an equator on a globe. ?Twist it? Said Gray.
Toral twisted the globe and it came apart into two equal pieces. In one half there was an arrow that spun as he moved it, and four equidistant letters; N, W, S and E. Toral looked at the map again and the letters corresponded to points on the map. ?The arrow points towards the letter on the map we are heading to.? informed Gray, although Toral had figured that out already. ?We want to go to the S, but it could take us a few days?
?Then lets get going? Toral shouted, and with that Gray put his foot down and the three men were screaming through the desert on their way to an unknown future.
Post edited by: torn, at: 2006/04/15 01:43
ANGEL FALLS PART 2
It wasn?t even light when Toral woke up. He was excited and nervous at the prospect of setting off on the journey of a lifetime. The messengers only appeared once per generation and it was very lucky if you were of the right age, between fifteen and twenty years old. Any older and their bodies would not adapt to what the sky warriors wanted. Any younger and they would have no chance in the trials. Toral sat up in his bed and brushed the sleep from his eyes, although it wasn?t as if he had a good nights rest. He couldn?t get to sleep for hours thinking of the days to come.
Toral was glad his brother Grator was old enough to come along. He knew he needed someone he could trust on the journey, and in the trials. The fact Gray was coming too made things a lot easier for them. At the dinner the night before Waltar Wyte, Gray?s father had told them that he would do all he could to help.
?I will give you boys all the equipment you need, and don?t worry my son, for I will look after your wife Lanoer and her unborn child as if she was my own.? Waltar had been sincere in his words. Although it was a great loss to the tribe to have three of its most promising fighters gone, the family bond between the Wytes and the Vadens had secured their spot as one of the most respected tribes around.
Toral took out the oilcloth from under his pillow. In it was wrapped a silver knife, engraved with a winding lightning bolt pattern, it was as long as his forearm, and as sharp as a razor. The knife had been a gift from his father, handed down from generation to generation from father to son for centuries. It had always gone to the eldest son, and by coincidence none of the eldest sons in the Vaden family tree had left for the journey to Angel Falls before.
He picked up the blade, still wrapped in oilcloth and put it in his pack. He put on his plasticloth combat pants. They were more useful than fashionable, having many pockets and holsters sewn into them. He then put on his mantle of black fur. The furs were the sign of a respected house. It somewhat shamed him to be wearing the furs of the Wyte household, much like a retainer would wear the colours of his lord. Still the fact he had furs to wear gave him pride, even though his own family had long lost the right to claim lord-like status on Baal Secundus.
The furs were tied around his neck with a silver brooch, and went halfway down his back like a short cloak. The matched the colour of his jet-black hair, which hung loosely onto his shoulders.
Toral went into the main living area of the mech-home. Nobody else was awake yet it seemed. He picked up his boots from near the door. These also had storage areas hidden around them in all places. He slipped a knife into the hidden sheathe and strapped his boots on.
He then picked up a brace of throwing knives from on the wall and strapped them around his chest. Toral didn?t know much of the challenges but he did know that they were a test for great warriors, and he had better be prepared. He found a rad breather and put that into his pack, as well as enough dry food to last him two weeks. Grator?s pack was out in the living area, so he kindly filled his brothers the same. There was no point waking him to deprive him of some much-needed sleep.
It wasn?t long until Grator finally woke. Grator was dressed similarly to Toral, in that he wore the common plasticloth combat pants and was bare topped apart from the black furs. Grator put on his boots and thanked Toral for filling his pack. The bond between brothers is a strong one, but when you live on a world as harsh as this you need the bond to be unbreakable. Toral and Grator knew what each other were thinking at all times. Inseparable from childhood they had always looked out for each other. ?What weapons are you bringing? Toral Asked Grator.
?I think I might bring my sword. I don?t see the need for an axe, and im better with the sword. I think ill take a crossbow as well? Grator eyed up the weapons rack. There were plenty of weapons to choose from. A household couldn?t live in peace if it didn?t have the means to defend itself.
?The sword is a good choice.? Toral Replied, still wondering what he should take. Grator picked up a long sword with serrated edges. It was a nasty looking thing and had seen much blood over its lifetime. ?Your ability with a crossbow should surely help us get there in time.?
?And you? What are you taking?? Grator replied. He saw that Toral already had the throwing knifes, and probably many more knives hidden on his body just in case.
?I think I shall take a short spear, the one with the steel haft. It has served me well before and shall do so again.? Toral?s ability with the spear was good, although he didn?t show the same flair for weapons or have the same strength as his brother; he made up for it with his cunning.
?Between my spear and your sword we should be safe. Who knows what weapons Gray will bring. He is to meet us here at daybreak in a rover buggy. Then we are to set off for Angel Falls.?
?Gray will probably bring some archeotech junk.? Grator sneered. The wealth of the Wyte family meant they could get their hands on weapons of which the use has long been forgotten. ?Remember the time he tried to use that gun? Yes, that gun on those mutants. All it did was cover them in more slime. He paid for that with the meat of ten wild beasts. What a waste!?
?Its not like they needed the meat.? Toral picked up the short spear, it was heavy, as to give it a good balance, and the steel haft could be used for blocking the blows of swords and axes. ?And I am glad that Gray is coming along. For a start his buggy will give us all a great advantage, and secondly, he might actually bring something along that will help in the fight. Here, pack this sword in case he doesn?t bring one.? Toral picked up a regular long sword and tossed it to Grator, who attached its scabbard to the other side of his belt. As his own sword was hanging.
?This piece of junk? It more chance to snap than to pierce flesh! Still, we cant let our family be left with nothing.?
The roar of an engine could be heard from down the street. Toral and Grator stepped outside. It was a cool morning but the twin sons were in hot season and as the day got on it would be as hot as fire. The air was as harsh and dry as ever, dusty and scented with the tang of pollution. The two brothers pulled their rad breathers from their packs and strapped them on. They were just small, covering their noses and mouths, so as to still give them good vision and hearing by not covering any more of their face than they had to.
The rover buggy came speeding round the corner. The wild blonde hair of the driver flowing up above the windshield in long streams. It was definitely Gray. He was wearing a rad breather of his own, and big round dust goggles. His black pelt hung across his shoulders, but he was not bare bodied. He was strapped into an armour plate vest, one big piece of steel that covered his upper body from harm. Toral thought this was over the top in this weather, but he did not think it was unlike Gray. Gray could on every occasion be predicted to be unpredictable. Not in any situation could you know what Gray was thinking.
The buggy skidded to a halt in a plume of dust, which Toral and Grator wiped from their eyes. ?See boys that?s why I wear my goggles.? Gray laughed. ?Jump in quick and lets be off.?
Toral jumped into the front passenger seat of the four-seat buggy, whilst Grator climbed into the back. There was just enough room for him in the back with his and Toral?s pack and the large sack that Gray had brought along. ?What is in there?? he asked.
?Just stuff? Gray replied, as inconspicuous as ever. Grator didn?t want to look through it, just in case there was something in there that would set him off. Grator had a fine ability to be angered by what he called useless junk. He could take any piece of archeotech and destroy it with his words alone, shouting into the heavens why the piece of junk was not worth the value of a good sword. Toral usually kept silent, finding it amusing how most people slunk away from Grator when he was in one of those moods.
Toral opened the compartment just below his knees. He pulled out a piece of parchment. It looked to him like a map. ?I copied it from a book in my father house? Gray told Toral before he could ask. ?It?s a map to Angel Falls?
?Do you know if it is right?? Grator asked from the back seat, fidgeting to get comfortable surrounded by junk. It seemed that Gray must have used the bag seat of his buggy for nothing than to keep tech parts. ?How do you know which way we are going??
Gray, insulted by Grator?s question informed Toral to look in the storage compartment again. Toral pulled out a black sphere. It had a ridge around its circumference like an equator on a globe. ?Twist it? Said Gray.
Toral twisted the globe and it came apart into two equal pieces. In one half there was an arrow that spun as he moved it, and four equidistant letters; N, W, S and E. Toral looked at the map again and the letters corresponded to points on the map. ?The arrow points towards the letter on the map we are heading to.? informed Gray, although Toral had figured that out already. ?We want to go to the S, but it could take us a few days?
?Then lets get going? Toral shouted, and with that Gray put his foot down and the three men were screaming through the desert on their way to an unknown future.
Post edited by: torn, at: 2006/04/15 01:43