How come I'm not allowed to go hunting with my father?"
Peering down at her child, Arachet smiled at the flames dancing in his hazel eyes. "Because Samson you are still a child, and it is your father's right to protect you as it is mine to nurture and teach."
Bending over Samson's eyes shifted from left to right. "But I'm strong too."
"That is reality my love but right now you have no time for hunting for there is only one beast you need to conquer,"
"Really." Spinning around to face his mother, his hair broke free from her grasp. "What is it?" he asked with glittering eyes. "Is it big with sharp teeth and many eyes?"
"I don't know about sharp teeth and many eyes." Arachete giggled. "But it is definitely big." She said watching the spark in his eyes grow even larger. "And do you want to know what it is?"
"Tell me, tell me, tell me."
"It's…" Pausing Arachete glanced to the left then to the right. "Are you sure, because I don't think you're ready?"
"Tell me. Please!"
"Okay I will tell you only because you're my beloved child." Leaning forward in eagerness, Samson eyes marbled over. "This beast…this beast… is…called…the beast of stillness. No movement, sitting down, meditation." Laughing at her son's expression Arachet gently spun him around to continue his hair. "I understand." Kissing him on the top of head she gave him a hug. "Time to slay that monster."
Slumping over with a pout, Samson sat erect from the tug on his head. "That's not funny."
~Few Miles Away~
Owent, owent!
"What is it girl?" asked Ohr with a calm rub along his steeds neck. "What is it you detect?" Following the rotation of her ears his gaze slid over to a boulder, underneath the mountain edge. Creeping towards the edge, Ohr went stiff. "Barbary Lions."
Backing up slowly and turning his beast around, Ohr's gaze shot over to a land of trees not too far from where they resided. "We can make it to safety, all we need to do is stay calm and quiet."
Sniff, sniff. Sticking its nose in the air one of the lions rose from all fours becoming bipedal. "We have company!" He shouted, causing the rest of the pride to rise.
"Arcadian" said Ohr with a tug of his reigns and a command to move.
"And you are prey." Replied the were-lion with a toss of his head in Ohr's direction. "Panthera it seems that we have a hunt amongst us." Peering up at the mountain the Arcadian could detect every breath and step. "Alright hunter and huntresses capture that man and bring him to me. I want him alive."
"I have to distract them and get them far away." Thought Ohr with a whip of his reigns and a wave of his hand as his steed sped down the mountain leaping from one perch to the next like a goat.
"I can taste them already." Said one of the Arcadian's with a leap over the mountain's edge. You can run but you can't hide." Rotating his ears the Panthera began to block out all other noises focusing on one specific sound. The soft tap of padded feet hitting the earth and the tinker of nails scraping it's surface. Cyphering through the smells as well his head slung from left to right. "He ran that way."
Clambering down stone steps a quick tug from its master sent the cat-like creature swerving to the left through a crevice just large enough to squeeze both itself and rider onto its path.
Reaching the aperture two of the Arcadian's crept towards its opening with caution. "It appears he knows this land," said one. "There could be traps."
~.Back at the house~
"Samson" called Arachet with a rub of her tummy.
Hearing his mother soft, sweet within seconds Samson head was sticking through the door and his body was half in and half out. "Yes."
Smiling at her child a sparkle danced in Arachet milky brown eyes. "It is time for rest." laughing at her child's response the young woman rose out of her chair. "That trembling lip and those sad eyes won't rescue you." Rubbing her son's mocha face she gazed into his dazzling teary eyes then gave him a sad puppy dog expression. "Could you light mommy a fire, it is growing cold and I fear." Latching hold to Samson and shaking him, she said. "I fear your tiny body will not be sufficient enough to keep me warm."
Giggling with a wave of his hand, woosh, a fire danced in Samson's palm. "I can keep you warm mommy." He said before launching the flame into the fireplace.
~.In the caves ~
"There's nowhere to go."
Turning his beast around Ohr held tightly to his panicking Quintessence. "I'm just trying to go home."
"We are too."
"Yea trying to go home full."
Sighing Ohr's eyes slipped across his aggressors. "There's eight of them." Swinging his spear off his back and twirling it around he asked, "May you pardon me and allow me to pass.
"Great job." spoke the pride leader,stepping into the dark room. "You all will be rewarded properly."
"Nine" whispered Ohr to himself.
"You intend on fighting." Eyes glowing in pleasure the olive skinned man flipped his long tangled hair. "Playing with my food is not a standard I live by…but…" Rocking his head a fang revealing grin arose in regards of the alpha now human form. "Entertain me."
Nodding his head in response, swiiich, with a skid of he tip of his spear across the rugged cave floor, fawoosh, a stream of fire set aflame marking a divide between him and his enemy. "One." Firing an arrow thoop a second slid into its notch. "Two." Said Ohr with a second shot.
"Ha" slashing through an arrow one of the Arcadian's commenced to roar as greenish yellow gas began to leak out spraying her in the face.
"Ahhhhh" grabbing hold to his nose and mouth from the gas, tong, a second Panthera took an arrow to the head.
"Kurik" roared the alpha as a second member of his pride hit the ground. "Raaaa!" Shifting into his were-lion form the king shot forth and threw the flaming stream. "Where did you go?" Sniffing out his prey the leader shook his head in disgust. "What is that stench?"
"There sense of smell have been cut." Thought Ohr. "Hearing is next." Pondering his thought he asked himself, "How?" Peering down from his vantage point Ohr spun around. "We need to leave while they are discombobulated."
~. ~
I'm just trying to go home."
"We are too."
"Yea trying to go home full."
Sighing Ohr's eyes slipped across his aggressors. "There's eight of them." Swinging his spear off his back and twirling it around he asked, "May you pardon me and allow me to pass.
"Great job." spoke the pride leader,stepping into the dark room. "You all will be rewarded properly."
"Nine" whispered Ohr to himself.
"You intend on fighting." Eyes glowing in pleasure the olive skinned man flipped his long tangled hair. "Playing with my food is not a standard I live by…but…" Rocking his head a fang revealing grin arose in regards of the alpha now human form. "Entertain me."
Nodding his head in response, swiiich, with a skid of he tip of his spear across the rugged cave floor, fawoosh, a stream of fire set aflame marking a divide between him and his enemy.
"Samson…Arachete…I love you." Snapping awake with his heart pounding and sweat dripping the last thing Samson saw was a spark of flame before his body sat him up. Shaking from his dream the young man gaze swept the room. "Daddy." Slipping out of his mat then the house. "I'm coming Dadda." he whispered before throwing his nose to the wind and taking flight.
~Mountain Cave~
Tink the tapping of stone on the cave floor echoed throughout the chamber. Falling to a knee, Ohr's breath came out heavy and fast.
"Strong will." Spoke the Pride's leader. "Bit into your leg, tore at your tendons, clawed up your sides and ripped off an arm yet you still fight." Nodding his head at one of his members the king watched his subordinate weave a strike then slash through Ohr's torso causing blood to squirt out. Another nod left lashes on the prey's back. "Tell me why are you in these mountains?"
"Daddy!"
Swerving his head around at a child swooping down on black wings the king thought, "When did he get here? How did he find us?"
"Samson run!"
"Daddy!" Eyes glowing red Samson began to see everything in slow motion and his body began to shift until his round tear ridden face became that of a badger and his body grew an insect-like exoskeleton with fur covering his hands, forearms, feet and calves.
Grrr! Bolting forward to capture the child, zing, one of the Arcadian's found themself cut in half and laying on the ground leaking out.
Sinking his teeth into his aggressor Samson tore away flesh with ease. Grrr detecting another were-lion creeping on him with a spring of his grasshopper legs he snatched him off his feet and smashed him into a wall . "Raaaah" exhaling flames from his mouth Samson turned the Arcadian to crisp then slung him to the ground.
"Die!" Swinging at Samson with a giant cleaver kawich, a Panthera took a tusk through the gut.
Pushing his attacker off him Samson threw a final strike, an uppercut to the soft flesh between the neck and chin causing blood to trail down his claws.
"Damn you." Charging Samson three on one, pawish, three more of the hunters were decimated by thin strands of hair which ripped through their body like machine guns before returning to their stationary place on Samson's body.
"What…" shaking from the blood and gore left from the members of his pride the King stumbled backwards before turning tail and running.
Smelling the fear in the air black wings sprang from Samson back lifting him up and after the were-lion until his head was rolling on the cave floor.
Swooshing into the air with a roar Samson circled the area three times before coming to landing next to his father. Releasing a wail of despair a reddish orange glow began to emanate around him and Ohr as he laid his furry head on his father's chest.
~Nine days Later~
Blinking away darkness Samson's eyes woke to a vivid green pasture and a shadow standing over him. "Finally you have arrived, my lord."
Peering up at the shadows owner Samson gaze met pinkish red eyes behind the face of a badger. Sitting up and shaking himself awane, the wave of his guests' spotted cat tail caught his attention before his eyes slid up again in wonder. "What are you?"
"My name is Rogue and I am what your kind would call an ethereal being or spirit. We wander in between the fourth and third dimension unseen by the physical eye."
"Are we in the fourth dimension?" Asked Samson.
"We are not my Lord." replied Rogue.
"Then where are we?"
"We are in the Kingdom within you. We are in your consciousness."
"Kingdom how did you get here?" Staring at Rogue in confusion, Samson squinted his eyes. "I am a King."
"We were caught in your vortex." Spoke a voice from above. "And you are a god." Turning his head upward to observe his new guest, Samson stared up at a silhouette of a figure and a gleaming beak underneath the radiant sun. "You are in the universe as the universe is within you." Swooping down to his companion's side the speaker bowed. "I am Valkum."
"Vortex?'
"Yes it's the electrical field around you that keeps your material and ethereal forms unified. It's the reason you exist in the third dimension." Explained Rogue.
"Huh."
"You have the ability to use the talents, characteristics and traits of those you consume and absorb. All those devoured becomes one with you even those Arcadians you partook in currently resides in this inner plane."
Looking at his hands and feet Samson replied, "I don't feel different."
Laughing Rogue told Samson, "creation starts within then projects out of you into the physical reality. As of now your expansion has just begun."
Nodding his head Samson rose a finger to speak when his body began to phase in and out then slowly rise like a balloon. "What's going on?"
"You are returning to consciousness." Replied Rogue.
"Remember my lord to shine your light and return to your inner sanctum. Your kingdom."
Feeling a pressure pressing down on him Samson startled awake. Taking his first breath and blinking his eyes the world came in a blur before setting right. "Rogue…Valkum?"
"Samson!" Jolting out of her sleep Arachet head swung in the direction of her son sitting up on his mat. Rushing to his aid she hugged and kissed him. "Are you thirsty? Hungry?"
"My soul." Arising from his slumber Ohr's eyes bucked at the sight of his son. "Samson you awake it has been nine Maya's."
"Dadda." Catching a glimpse of his father Samson burst into tears. "You were hurt and bleeding and wouldn't move." Rubbing his son on the head Ohr gave him a tight hug. "Your arm."
"What's an arm compared to a life. I am grateful that you have saved my life."
"But…"
Shushing and consoling Samson, Ohr took a deep gaze into the eyes of his wife reading the same emotions swelling within him. "Remember always Samson, gratitude is a powerful source. Use it often."
Nodding his head Samson's
stomach began to grumble.