//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Feathers for Scales // Story: The Last Man // by YoloSwagginz //------------------------------// The Last Man Chapter 9: Feathers for Scales By: YoloSwagginz The window was now thoroughly cracked, and the black bird would not let up. The initial thought that graced Jan's mind was the thought of the bird, it looked as if it were that same crow known as Sobel. Yulis' bird? This was almost certain, but why was it here? Jan slowly walked toward the window and looked at the crow through the ruined glass, and for a moment the bird stopped and started cawing at Jan. Applejack saw that he was going to open the window and quickly vocalized her dislike for crows, Jan ignored her and then unlatched the brown window frame, looking out into the now black atmosphere. The bird took flight immediately up and unto Jan's shoulder nipping at his ear in the process. An attempted was made to knock it off his shoulder, but the bird was persistent and flew onto his other shoulder. This thing was going to make a loud and most unbecoming companion, Jan could feel it. He tried to eat the dinner that Applejack had prepared only to be badgered by the crow, in fact the only time that his torment ceased was when he had walked out to the barn. The bird had leaped off his shoulder and went straight into the barn. Scootaloo was visibly afraid of the spooky dark building and kept close to her adopted mother. The hay was warm and the lantern was turned down almost to the point of choking, everyone was just about asleep when the sound of a crow's beak pecking steel started to irritably ring throughout the barn, Jan's eyes were bloodshot now and he was about to kill something. ---------- The musk of decay and mold filled Yulis' nose and by now the smell was normal. For the last 6 hours Yulis had been creeping around in the dark, dodging sounds and the immortals all while trying to keep a straight head. There was the sound of a hammer striking stone again, and again, and again, the sound of something scraping on a wall was not very far from Yulis' corner and then there was the two creatures that were constantly moving about the chambers. They never noticed Yulis at first but the third time the human corpse had stopped and began breathing in through it's face hole, it had almost followed his scent. It was cut off by a well placed rock, the sound had distracted it for now, but Yulis could not play hide and seek in a 1000 year old tomb for ever. He either had to start killing or attempt and escape, and as far as he could tell the place was now sealed thanks to the minotaur. A tight grip on the wood a small jolt of energy and the spear head poked easily through the dead humans face, it did not even struggle, it simply collapsed. The Pegasus was next and this had given a couple twitches. The adrenaline of killing something you can't see is hard to understand. A brutal mixture of nervousness and instinct was crawling it's way through every muscle in Yulis, the treasure that was previously thought of was now a possibility. About 45 minutes of searching and Yulis had found another hallway leading down into the sound of metal against rock. The sound was truly grueling and made a never ending droning noise. The descent was also not quite favorable as most of the stone stairs were worn down to nothing, making for slippery footing. The sound led into a small chamber and the smell of oil was overwhelming. Yulis knew was should be done here. Coming upon the chamber Yulis could smell and hear the dead smith inside, pounding away at nothing. He took his claws and clicked them together creating a spark, instantaneously breathing within and exhaling, letting the flame crawl down his throat and then back out into a warm ball of fire. The heat made Yulis' feathers stand on the back of his neck and he could feel the bile in his gullet burning. He opened his mouth and blew with great force, engulfing the entire chamber in flame, and for just a moment exposing the room to light. On the walls were countless carvings of symbols and drawings and in the middle of the room sat the smith pounding away at the bent stone anvil. The poor creature continued to pound into the rock though it was burning at full blaze, it was unaware of it's own death. After the spectacle died down Yulis searched the room landing his claw on exactly what he was looking for. The chest was small but sturdy and gave quite a fight. When he opened the chest finally and the smith had truly died Yulis gave a decent look at the findings. There was most of the things he had actually hoped for, transmute spell, human tools, some old bones, and of course, a book explaining the "Scales for Feathers" spell. If only he could read in the human language, it would be useful non the less. ---------- It could have easily been four in the morning, but it did not matter to the young sleepless knight, for the crow was like to make him bash his own head in if he did not follow it. At his heels was the rainbow colored mare and her daughter, and as they walked Jan shouldered his leather pack again and again, becoming more irritable with every step. Dash tried to voice her displeasure but Jan was having non of that. He walked solemnly through the dark thumbing his sword hilt. They walked for a good 6 hours. The group was now thoroughly exhausted even the crow was becoming quieter in it's loud musings. They had crossed the river and went far into the south cutting right through multiple forests and bogs. It was already dawn and Jan was now looking under a mighty oak tree deciding to break his fast, but on what? Smashing acorns or finding tea leaves was probably his only option. Of course, he could hunt a deer... With a crossbow. Jan thinking only of himself, had not realized that the ponies had been willing to follow him for six hours with little to no complaint. Dash finally spoke but with a tad of wrath underneath courtesy, "So Ser, what are we doing out here, in the middle of the woods?" Jan peered at her with blood shot eyes and said, "Unraveling the mysteries of mortality it would seem, this bloody crow is intent on killing us lot..." The crow answered with a loud caw and swooped down onto Jan. Jan picked up a rock and whipped it at the airborne bird and nearly hit it. He then preceded to follow it into the bushes feet away from the oak. Dash rolled her eyes in frustration, and turned to the tired Scoot. "You okay kiddo?" "You know I love adventure... Yawn..." Scootaloo gave a bored kick into the dirt. "Well, maybe we can just fly back we ca-..." She heard a distant grunt and looked in the direction of Jan. The look on her face made Scoot slightly nervous. Behind the brambles appeared a clearing where the young knight stood facing an eight foot tall minotaur. The creature readjusted one of his chains and looked intent on breaking the knight with it. Then the beast made a long swing for him, which was deftly avoided. Jan brought up his long sword in an arch which was put into the ribs. The minotaur gave a grunt and attempted another swing. This time Jan moved again more easily and dodged the clumsy swing. He brought the sword down onto the horned beast's shoulder once, then twice, and began furiously chopping, until there was nothing between arm and body. Rainbow Dash quickly averted Scootaloo's eyes and decided now was the best time to leave.