The Death Bridge

Raven walked towards the lake, eager to reach the clear water.

She dropped her weapons on the luscious grass, followed by her boots and Axil's bag. She stood still for a moment, allowing herself to appreciate the softness of the grass.

She sighed before running into the water. With a swift leap and a graceful movement, she dived into the cool water; feeling the mud and dirt lifting from her skin as the water carried it away. She poked her head up from the water at the same time a whisper drifted to her ears.

Raven frowned, her eyes darting around. "I can almost swear I heard something..."

She dismissed the thought and tilted her head back into the water, but the frown lingered on her face.

She finished cleaning herself up and left the water to sit in the shade of a tree. She rested her head on the rough bark and looked up to the clear sky. She felt the tiredness stalking her like a predator stalks its prey, ready to attack and devour her. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She tried her best to fight it but she couldn't. Her head slid to the side and fell forward.

She jolted awake.

"Raven"

Raven was now fully awake again and the frown returned on her face. She reached for her sword beside her and stilled.

The wind softly tickled her cheek and ċȧrėssed her hair, birds singing in the distance and insects debating in the grass. Everything was well and calm.

"But...could it be my imagination?"

She listened for a while to the sounds around her. But to no avail. "This place is playing with my mind", she mumbled to herself, standing up and grabbing her things.

She walked further into the valley. "Who knew that the Death Swamp had such an amazing part? It's almost as if it is another world."

"Follow us."

Raven stopped dead in her tracks. "That was definitely not my imagination!", she thought, glancing around.

"Follow us, child."

Raven swirled around, looking for the source of the whisper that was so close to her but, there was nothing. "Why?", she asked, her hand resting on her sword.

"We will show you the way."

"We? Who are you?"

"We are the Whispering Winds."

Confusion flashed across Raven's face and she tilted her head to the side. "Uh, the what now?" .

The wind whistled softly, laughing. Raven hesitated. Suddenly, the whisper sounded from right beside her.

"We are the Whispering Winds. We are untouched by the foul darkness from within this forest. And we know who you are. They call you, Ljòsauki - Light Descendant. You are the one from the prophecy."

"And why should I believe you? Everything evil seems to know that. So how should I know you are not?"

The wind whirled around her angrily.

"You are Raven Reytris, born on the 4th of Srecruss in the year 217, daughter of Saerwyn and John Reytris. You were born one year after the plague and in your veins, the ancient power flows that will destroy the evil", the wind said in a loud whisper. "But you need the sword in order to achieve this. The sword that was forged from the same magic as your own. And it calls to you."

"Yes, thank you. I know who I am, what I have and what I must do, no need to remind me..."

The wind's whisper turned soft. "Child, your heart is pure and true but...it is troubled. You are suspicious. Of the creature. And the woman in black. You know, don't you?"

"Know what?", Raven asked with a frown.

"Ah. You are still blind. But you will see. And when you do, remember: you are Ljòsauki."

"I don't-"

"Follow us, child. We know where it is, we can show you the way. But to reach it is up to you."

"I...wha- you..." Raven stood, confused. She rubbed her brows. "This day keeps getting stranger and stranger."

"Quit squirming like a worm!", Axil said indignantly.

"You're not the one danglin' hundreds of feet above th' ground for the first time in yer life!"

"Hundreds of feet!?", Axil cried out. "When was the last time you looked down?

"I can nae remember!", Brongr yelled back, his voice slightly pitched.

Axil swerved left, avoiding a tree. "If you don't stop your squirming now, we are going to walk the rest of the way."

"I don't care! I hate flyin'!", Brongr said, adjusting his grip.

Axil glanced down for a moment, shaking his head. "You'd rather walk through the mud?"

Brongr glanced up. "Jist fly straight...", he said through gritted teeth.

Axil chuckled. "I will if you stop pulling me in every direction." He glanced around. "This place seems like it could live up to its name."

"Aye. And it seems like everythin' is dead 'ere...Includin' that...snake?"

Axil came to a halt, his wings flapping loudly. "Raven did that", he said, his eyes gliding over the snake's body.

"Does 'at mean we are close?"

"Perhaps", he said. He looked at the snake one last time before pulling away and continuing on.

After a while, Axil spoke again. "The air feels different."

"Whit are ye talkin' abit?"

Axil frowned, feeling warm air gliding through his feathers. "Warm air. From across that ridge."

Brongr suddenly screamed. "Aah! It's on my leg! Get it off!", he yelled as he kicked through the air, trying to get the small creature off of his leg.

Axil struggled and lost his balance. "You're dragging us down!"

"Get thes thin' off! Whit are ye!?"

"Axil! Thes thin' is nae- ah! Tree!"

"I can see it!", Axil bellowed. He swerved to the right, bȧrėly missing the tree. "I'm dropping you!"

"What!?", Brong exclaimed.

Axil released the big man before crashing into another tree. They both tumbled to the ground, landing loudly on the rough ground.

The creature jumped onto Brongr's face and he screamed, desperately trying to get it off. A powerful claw closed around the creature's antelope- like body before it was yanked away from Brongr's face. He glanced up and saw the surprise on its flat reptilian face as Axil carried it up into the sky.

Axil broke through the trees and pulled himself into the clear sky with powerful strokes. He tossed the creature into the air and swirled, his wing crashing into the creature and sending it flying with a squeak. He watched as it sailed through the air and disappeared into the trees.

The warm air reached him again and he turned around, his eyes landing on the cliff appearing between the trees. He saw the disturbed ground and a frown appeared on his face. He pulled his eyes away and descended.

"I think Raven fell down a cliff", he said as he landed beside the big man.

"Down a cliff?!"

"Just behind this ridge. We're going to have to be careful, we have no idea what is down there."

"Is there another way down?"

Axil sighed. "You can travel the same way Raven did. Or you can save yourself the trouble and jump down out of your own free will. Whichever is easier for you."

Brongr gave Axil a dirty look.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind. He glanced at Axil, a frown between his brows. "Do ye think 'at there's a reason Raven didnae want us tae go with 'er?", he asked.

Axil rubbed his brows. "It is simple, Brongr. She wants to protect us. She doesn't want history to repeat itself, which it won't...She thinks that by doing this alone she'll...make up for something that isn't her fault. Something that she never had control over. Something that...", he sighed. "She'll end up getting herself killed if we don't find her soon", he continued, weariness seeping through his voice.

"Aye." Brongr pointed a finger at the white-haired man, "Ye know, she keeps remindin' me of 'at lass I told ye abit", he said.

Axil frowned. "The healer?"

"Aye. They both have so much in common. Have ye seen the fire in 'er eyes? The lassie had the same fire...the same determination. She'd probably do something' similar. And their features...same hair colour, same mouth, same fierce posture...It's strange..."

"It is..." His frown deepened.

"What was the healer's name?"

"Oh, it's one of those names ye don't forget. Saerwynn Reytris. That's 'er name...."