Sky Attributer 2: Path of Devastation

Chapter 10 - Hazards of Nature

As Spike knelt down on the ground, the glove laid in his hand almost like it was the corpse of beloved pet, he was watched from behind by his friends and the Pack. No one spoke; Paul and Laura stayed quiet because they knew that device was their way out but the pack was silent for no clear reason besides respecting Spike's mourning.

A few minutes pass and Paul ends up speaking up; he places his right hand on Spikes left shoulder, "perhaps we shouldn't waste time here? We might still be able to mend it at that city these guys are heading for."

"Terazone" Sam reminds him, "I can't promise anyone could fix whatever that is but you might find something."

Spike stands to his feet and begins wrapping the glove back onto his arm, his fingers sliding into their place and the straps becoming braided but because the glove wasn't working they didn't stay in place.

"This'll have to do" he said and straightened his back before turning to face everyone else, "which direction are we heading in?"

Mark pointed to a distant forest to Spikes current left-side. It was roughly two kilometres away from them but because of the practically hazardless terrain it was in clear view.

"Then we better get walking, are you up for it Laura?" Spike said, seeing the girl seeming to uncomfortably rub her thighs with her hands.

She looked up at him in surprise and just nods without a smile, "I should be fine, yeah."

Without a second word Spike led the walk onwards, his eyes checking the terrain around him in worry for Hunch's return but all that he saw was dirt, rocks, hills and the black sky above them that swirled like the brewing of a storm.

The city of Terazone wasn't industrial; unlike cities on Earth with their tall buildings, skyscrapers, tonnes of windows and more, the buildings in Terazone were simple. Houses that were barely three rooms, more like huts really, with merchant stands instead of dedicated stores. The only non-hut-like building was the larger, circular, two storey building of wood in the middle of the city with a tall, metal tower sticking out of the centre.

From the top of the tower, looking out of the large, round glass window that looked towards the nearby forest, an elderly man was rubbing his hand along the scruffy beard over his lips and chin. To his right stood a shaven middle aged man with short, black hair and a freshly washed outfit that made him look rather important but was no where near as formal as most people from thriving cities would wear.

The elderly man was named Oscar and his friend, keeper of the prisons and magical-master, was named Clan.

Their bodies were still but their eyes, Clan's a bright orange and Oscar's a menacing green, were focused on the forest.

"Are they working?" Oscar said in a calm, yet hesitant, tone.

Clan nodded his head, "They've been set with magically enhanced chemical batteries as to never run out of power as long as they're around the presence of strong life."

"Can you explain that better?" Oscar said.

"If they were surrounded by a group of people, or even animals, they would be able to last forever."

Oscar just softly nodded his head, then slowly he turned just his head to look at Clan, "I hope they'll be quick."

Clan didn't reply, he just stared into Oscar's eyes. Quickly, as if to avoid eye contact, Oscar looked away and back to the forest; his arms crossed over his chest, a light sigh leaving his lips, and his eyes glowed with a lighter green colour than they actually were.

The forest was vast, filled with over a hundred thickened trees and stretched out branches that hung low, often blocking view of what laid deeper in the forest itself.