Static Shores - Short Story Part 6

A towering piton rose from the sea, stretching high into the sky before vanishing into a mass of storm clouds, lightning crackling violently through them. Avisa slowed her approach, allowing me to take in what loomed before us.

Green and red Decadyls crawled across the smaller boulders lining the piton’s base. Their geometric bodies were covered in sharp edges, antennae-like eyes twisting rapidly as eight long legs held them high above the stone. When waves crashed against the rocks, the Decadyls leapt in perfectly timed arcs, fluttering their translucent wings until the water receded, then settling back onto the boulders.

Each time they jumped, a streak of light blue and yellow shot from the storm clouds above like lightning. A Static Elderkaw swooped down, snatching a Decadyl in its long beak. Latching onto the piton wall with its massive talons, the Elderkaw cracked the beast open and swallowed it whole, loose limbs tumbling into the raging sea below.

Was the Static Elderkaw carrying Meadow going to eat her?

“We need to get up there and help Meadow,” I said, staring into the swirling storm above.

With a sharp chirp, Avisa launched from the water without warning. I clutched her tightly as a cloud of purple mist wrapped around us, streaking behind while Decadyls leapt wildly at our sides.

The Static Elderkaws clinging to the piton released their holds and rose to meet us. More emerged as we entered the storm clouds. Lightning zipped toward us, but Avisa dodged each strike with precision. The higher we climbed, the more violent the storm became. I couldn’t see anything ahead and held fast to Avisa, trusting her completely.

Breaking through one final bolt of lightning, we burst into clear sky. Daylight blinded me for a moment as the storm churned below. One by one, Static Elderkaws launched out of the clouds around us—ten beasts to my right, nine to my left—their wings snapping with tiny arcs of electricity.

Then I saw it.

Just ahead, a larger Static Elderkaw gripped my partner beast Bondu in its massive talons.

“Meadow…” I reached out with my Aura, but felt nothing—no response at all. My fear hardened into fury as I locked onto the Elderkaw holding her. “Let go of her!”

The beast shrieked, glancing left and right as the Elderkaws beside it surged forward.

Without hesitation, Avisa dropped into a freefall. My stomach lurched so violently I thought I might empty myself into the storm below. Just before we plunged back into the clouds, Avisa halted midair, sending me flying from her back before I managed to wrap myself around her dorsal fin again.

Avisa surged forward.

Twenty Static Elderkaws gave chase.

To be continued…