WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
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"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"
A massive, human-like thing stood up and let forth an ear-piercing screech. The air immediately grew dense as the scream became louder and louder. Alinta had to cover her lips to keep from spitting blood. She had no idea what was going on with the others and didn't care. She was having a terrible time herself and needed to get away from here! She could already feel her gut striving to jump out of her mouth!
Alinta's wish was soon granted as someone whisked her away. They immediately left the vicinity, fleeing from the massive human monster. And as soon as she was perched on someone's shoulder, she tried to take a peek at the giant's appearance. It didn't have skin; only tissues and muscles covered its skeleton. It had large eyes and a gushing mouth, and blood was pouring out of its body.
Argh!
That was a dumb move. She should have just kept staring at the ground. She may now vomit not only blood but also the food she has been eating for three years!
Alinta heard another soul-pounding scream followed by a tremendous crash. Seconds later, she found herself falling down an extremely rough route, her back almost colliding with a pointy rock. Fortunately, she was able to manoeuvre! Then she dashed to her right to avoid a boulder that was heading her way.
"What are you doing? Stay close to me!"
Alinta was swept up once more, but this time she was carried on her stomach with only one arm.
"It's not my fault!" she shouted angrily. "And I can move on my own! Release me this moment!"
What exactly was going on? Everything happened so fast that she failed to figure out what was happening!
"Stay still," Severino instructed. His grasp on her stomach became tighter. The ground was cracked, and the monster's strikes earlier made it much more so. Trees were uprooted, and steam began to emerge from the ground. He had to concentrate in order to escape those impediments! "If you can keep up with my speed one day, I'll let you run with me."
"Where are the others?" Alinta asked, holding her forehead. She wanted to look back, but she feared seeing the monster again. That monster's appearance was killing her insides!
"I don't know."
When the monster emerged unexpectedly and started to smash the summit, all he could think about was getting Alinta out of there. As for the rest...
They were old enough to look after themselves. Luke was not an average werewolf. He, like him and Cross, did not come from the elders or Luna. It would be a disgrace if he died just like that. As for his brother, Cross's blood connection with him was still intact; that guy was still alive. But he couldn't tell if the blonde and Lila were still alive. And he didn't give a damn.
Alinta raised her head briefly to see Severino's appearance before lowering it again. "That woman said she needed me," she started. "I'm sure she'd look for me no matter what."
"And?"
Severino swiftly moved right to avoid boulders approaching from behind.
"We'd definitely keep running," the thought already drained Alinta, even though it wasn't her doing the running.
Severino scowled. "You don't have to doubt my words; I'll keep you safe, even if it kills me."
"I'm not questioning your loyalty or how you'd carry out your words," Alinta rolled her eyes. "I'm only telling you that because I'm curious about Morrigan."
Severino came to a complete stop. He almost went down a cliff, but landed on the ground thanks to his quick reflexes.
"Be careful!" Alinta berated.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why are you interested in Morrigan?"
Alinta's face turned doubtful but she still replied, "Luna wanted to resurrect her. I am thinking that the monster might be that Morrigan." But if the creature was Morrigan, doesn't that mean Luna didn't need her in the first place? Luna has already resurrected the monster; what else is there for Alinta to do?
Severino landed on a tree branch and looked back. They were now three mountains away from the summit, and he could see the monster wreaking havoc. It looked like it was... It is consuming something while destroying everything in its path.
"I don't recall my mother having such a monstrous appearance and being male."
Alinta was perplexed. "What?"
Severino gazed down, his cold stare locked on Alinta's. "Morrigan is my mother, the world's priestess."
Alinta's eyes widened in shock. "Really? Then," she asked, pointing to the monster, "who is that?"
"That monster, if I'm not mistaken, is Vasta."
"Vasta?"
Severino's eyes grew colder. "Vasta, the destroyer, lived a thousand years before my mother and died days before the realms were created."
"How could he have lived for a thousand years without destroying everything?"
Alinta returned her gaze to the monster, who kept pounding the ground. He didn't appear to be the type of creature that could sit still.
"He hasn't reached his full form yet; Vasta walked this world in human form and lived as a human."
Suddenly, the corner of Severino's eye twitched. Something came to his mind, and it made him uneasy. "You have this dark aura around you," he said worriedly, his attention shifting to Alinta.
"Dark aura?" Alinta said again, puzzled as to why they were suddenly changing the subject.
"We must leave!"
Severino rushed away. His speed is now faster than before. It caused Alinta's stomach to churn.
"Wait! Bagh--- wait, bag--- do not hasten!"
"Vasta was created at the same time the world was created," Severino stated through his teeth. "He was formed through darkness, and the only way he could be resurrected is through darkness as well."
Alinta's eyes widened as she realized how crucial she was to Luna's plan.
"Luna desired your power; more specifically, she desired Vasta to suck you out of your dark power so that Vasta could finally be revived!"
Alinta groaned.
Hah!
Too much for promising her something in exchange for her services. Wouldn't she perish if her power was drained from her body? So, how in the world was she going to receive that return gift?!
This world's creatures are really untrustworthy!