Attack on Callan School (unedited)

I ran to the top level of the mountain to look out the windows. My legs ached from the effort. Electricity filled my veins as I focused on one thought. What if we're surrounded? I had to see if I could see anyone advancing on us from the North.

Roland, Mafic, Graban and I had overheard some people talking in Callaway Village about an attack on the school in the morning. 8 ships were in the harbor and two were docked. That could hold a lot of fighting men. Just how big is this attack going to be? 

I reached the top level of the mountain and peered out the window. From this vantage point I can see all around the school for miles. I looked to the North. Usually it's empty and I don't see anyone except mayhap a haggle pushing his wagon. Going or coming to trade his wares. What I saw shocked me. 

Many camp fires were in the Blue Mountains and Brides Beach. Ships were in the water outside of Brides Beach. Giants and men shared the fires on the beach. Since when do Giants and men work together? I was wondering why Roland and I hadn't seen any giants on our outing. We usually do. There were three days ago when we set out. Now that I think about it, it was oddly quiet yesterday and today. Not even many animals about. They were hiding. We be in BIG trouble! And with all the Magistrates away at a summit! They're not due back fer two more days! How much could our Rockies take?

I ran through the school and yelled. "Attack coming! Meet in the Library!" I continued to yell this as I ran through the halls. Many of the rooms were empty because of the break. Very few people were here. I had to admit, the attack be well timed. I met some people in the hall already panicked. Their Rockies had filled them in. I told them to go to the library. They looked down at me and shook their heads yes. I ran down more steps to the next level. I yelled again as loud as I could for everyone to go to the library. 

Could this really be happening? What are we gonna do? I thought to myself. Graban said in me head, "Calm down Netri. I can feel your panic. Have some faith." I took a deep breath in and out. "How can I calm down? We're gonna be under attack!!" I said back to him in me head. He said the other Rockies and him will be fine. What I needed to do was calm down. Then he said I had to get the others to pray together. We needed to pray for the Phoenix to come. 

Oh yah! The Phoenix! They will come. Two mighty Phoenix exist to keep man safe. They have the head of a bird, and the body of a lion. Clawed hands with three fingers and a thumb are incredibly strong. No giant can stand against them. I've seen one in action before.  Hopefully their senses already know somethin be wrong. They're even stronger with prayer. 

When I was midway down the stairs, I was so out of breath. I had to stop to rest. Roland approached me and said he covered the lower levels and everyone be headed to the library. He saw what I was doin and took the initiative. I had to sit down on the floor and take a break. I leaned against the stone wall and breathed.  My friend waited fer me to recover.

After a bit I was calmer and we were able to go to the library. 

In the library there were about 150 students. The school usually has about 300. Not good. No one was takin charge. They were all just standin around. I could hear a lot of people sayin, "What's going on?" Roland looked down at me and told me I need to  talk to everyone. 

"Me?" 

"Yes you." Roland answered with a smirk. "Didn't you just call everybody together?"

I guess I did. I just reacted. I did it without thinkin. So I took a hesitant step but didn't know where to go. Roland motioned fer me to get up on a table.

"Just tell them." He said. So I did. I climbed up on the stone table and looked around the large library filled with many stone tables and chairs. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling all around. Carved Alabaster and marbled pillars marked entrances to other rooms with more books. I could see Scoria and Joktan several tables away. They turned to look up at me. Some people nearby stopped talkin and looked up at little me on top of the table. I felt so tiny. Who am I to be in charge? I thought to meself. I heard Graban chuckle inside me head.  I cleared my throat.

"Ahem. Excuse me." More students looked up at me. The room got quiet. Most of the student body knows me as the small first year student who got the Red Diamond in the Freshman Challenge. (blog post named 'The Test'.) A feat most don't attempt or even complete their first try. I completed the task  easily when all others thought I couldn't do it.  I got a Red Diamond as my prize. I am famous fer that. 

"There is going to be an attack on Callan School." I began. 

"What are you talking about!" Someone shouted. I din't know who it was. 

"Roland and I were in Callaway Village and we overheard some people talkin about attacking the school in the morning." I tried to explain. "There be 10 ships in the harbor. When I got back here I looked out the windows to the North and saw many camp fires in the Blue Mountains and Brides Beach. Men and Giants be there together!" 

"No way!" Some one shouted. Several people ran out of the room. Probably to go take a look. I tried to steady my nerves. I don't like being in front of people like this. I shuffled my feet nervously.

"It's true!" Some one yelled. "My Rockie just told me."

"Mine too."

"Me too." Others chimed in. The room got very quiet as many others communicated with their Rockies in their heads. I waited. I knew what they were doin. The folks that ran out of the room came back breathless.

"It's true!" A tall, lean fellow with two gold braids touchin his shoulders yelled. "I saw giants and men together! Many campfires are in the Blue Mountains and Brides Beach!" Others flooded out of the room to go see fer themselves.

"What do we do?" Someone yelled. 

This be a lot directed at me. I trembled inside, unsure of myself. 

"We pray." I tried to say. But I wasn't loud enough. The room didn't hear me. They were now having their own conversations. I took a deep breath and looked down at Roland. He nodded an encouraging nod up at me.  So I took another deep breath to steady my nerves and tried again.

"WE PRAY." I shouted. "We pray to the Phoenix to come. They will answer." I could see some nod their heads in agreement, but others looked confused. I didn't really understand the  confusion. After all, aren't we all attending the same school? The same school that teaches about the guardians. I don't understand the unbelief I felt from many of them. I personally have seen one of the Phoenix. Actually, I spoke to it, and it spoke to me and my Uncail. 

"Really? That's it? We Pray?" This came from a red headed girl standin next to the table I stood on. I looked down at her expectant green eyes. 

"Well, no. Not just that, though that's most important as far as I'm concerned." I gained confidence in meself. I know what's true. I know what I have been taught me whole life by Uncail Anwan and now here at school. 

"Who here can use a bow and arrow? Or a crossbow? Is anyone good with long range weapons?"

"I am." Said a short portly fellow with black hair and eyes to match.

"I can use a bow and arrow." A girl shouted from way in the back.  Her red hair was cropped short against her head.

"Come on! There has to be more!" I said impatiently. "The Games,  you know, the Battle Games? Haven't any of you participated?" I questioned. "I'm sure this is why we have them. To practice fer just this event." Could people really not have put it together? (refer to blog post named Battle Games and Classes at Callan School)   

"Many are gone fer the break."  I looked down to my left at the older lady who said that. She was wearing a green leather jacket covering a purple dress. Her white, wavy hair trailed loose down her back to her waist. She looked old, but fit. I put my hands on my hips and asked again.

"Anybody that can throw or shoot anything accurately position yourself at the windows." I asserted myself. "How many of you can do that?" About a dozen people raised their hands. I pointed at them with my arm stretched out, "You, you and you, man the platform.  The rest of you disperse along the lower windows, be ready to shoot anything you see coming up the path. We secure the doors from the inside. Ok, who can fight?" I asked. About 30 people raised their hands. I nodded my head at them. " Good. Those of you who can fight, position yerselves  inside all the entrances. The rest of you back them up." There were only two entrances. The main one at the top of the mountain with the Ancient Giant's Skull.  I'm sure that's where most attackers would be headed. Then there's a secret entrance at the base of the mountain in back, facing North. But it's hidden from the outside. A person would have to know it was there. Locked from the inside, anyone with knowledge of the door shouldn't be able to get in. This mountain is built fer this.  I touched my chin while I thought. "Everyone must be ready to fight if they get past the Rockies. All of us must be guarding the entrances from inside." 

I thought some more, I be very surprised they're all listening to me. "Who can keep a lookout at the top windows?" A group of 6 girls raised their hands. I nodded at them. "Ok, you need to assign two of you to run messages on the progress of their advance." I contunued, "Everyone, tell yer Rockies to split up and guard each entrance from the outside. They must do their best to keep the attackers from gettin in." I knew they would instinctively do this anyway. But I was just conveying the strategy. Many of the faces I saw looked scared. "It's time to pray." I said. Many of them closed their eyes. I boldly spoke a prayer to Cara Mor askin him fer help. This was the first time I had ever prayed in front of such a large group. Public prayer, never my thing. But I did well, I think.  Then I shouted at the roof to the Phoenix.

"WE NEED YOU PHOENIX! Mighty protectors of the sky! We need you now! Please come and save us!" Many others did the same thing. They shouted in unison fer the Phoenix to come. 

It got real quiet then. I didn't quite know what else to say or do.  I just stood there. "Erm."

"To your positions!" Roland, piped in then. The library cleared out. I sat down on the table that had been my platform and watched them leave. Roland stayed at my side. Scoria and Joktan came over to me. Joktan patted me on the shoulder. Scoria had terror in her eyes. She gave me a hug. Then she ran out of the room. Joktan stayed. The two men looked at me expectantly. Roland's mouth turned to a smirk. Silently making fun of me. He knows how I feel about attention. 

I stared down at the floor. "Well, somebody had to take charge." I said without moving my head, and waiving my hand in his direction. "I know the Phoenix will come. Hopefully both of them, but one will be a big help. We don't have a whole lot of defenses on our own, but luckily the mountain be fortified well. It should keep them out. Hopefully, we can hold until the Phoenix come. Our Rock Monsters be very strong but how long can they last on their own? I'm not sure how big the attack will be." 

"Are ya just going to sit here mumbling?" Joktan asked. Joktan Graywacke is a Folksy or small person. He's the only one at the school. Folksy's have wonderful musical talent. When a Folksy whistles or plays any sort of music something happens. You feel a peace inside. Unfortunately, we don't need that sort of talent right now, or mayhap we do. We need muscle and lots of it. We need the Magistrates. We need....something. I stared at his sandals that he always wears. I felt...uneasy, hopeful and in disbelief all at the same time. I just couldn't believe what just happened. I acted before I could think about it. I just did it. If I had a chance to think about it, I'm almost sure I wouldn't of got up in front of everyone like that. Would I?

After a bit, I moved off the stone table. The three of us went to check if everyone was at their posts and see what needs be done. 

_______

The students all slept at their posts. The night, incredibly black and full of anticipation. I didn't sleep at all. My bow and quiver of arrows were strapped to my back. Several knives be hidden on my person, just in case. A trick I learned from Uncail.  I kept watch at the top windows while the girls who were supposed to be doing the watching fell asleep. No movement was detected in the night. Not by the Rockies or by me. Roland and Joktan stayed awake. Roland watched the lower windows. From the mountain-top windows I watched the campfires blinking in the distance.

There's a platform on the backside of the mountain that's a perfect vantage point. It's used fer target practice. There be targets below that we shoot at. Joktan manned that post with three other sleeping students. Two men, the portly one with the black eyes, the other had short black hair too but was slim and the woman with the short red hair who volunteered. She with a bow and arrow, the other two had crossbows. Joktan's not much of a weapons guy so he made sure there was plenty of ammo and kept a lookout while the others slept. The three were sprawled out on the floor of the platform with their weapons lying next to them. Once in awhile Joktan came up to where I was and updated me. Everyone was in position.

We waited.

 A pinkish orange ribbon finally formed in the Eastern sky. I looked at it with wonder and trepidation in my heart. Usually I am in so much awe of the morning sky. Today, I wasn't sure I wanted to see it.

I prayed.

Since the pink was fading to blue now I woke the girls. They were all slumped together in a heap against the wall. "Keep watch." I said. Slowly they stood up stretching and looked out the windows. 

I saw the fires snuff out one by one. It might be time. I ran to tell the others to be ready. First I had to wake them. 

We were all awake and ready when the lookout girls began alerting us that they saw movement. Figures emerging from the Blue Mountains, Giants and men advancing on the Callan Mountain, our school. From the south they were advancing as well. 'At least we could see them coming,' I thought. I felt the air get thick with nervous energy. I blew out my air to steady my nerves. Graban said inside me head to keep praying. I said I would. I be so nervous fer my friend out there ready to take the brunt of the attack. All the Rockies were ready outside the doors. Some were positioned down the path that led up to the main entrance. We all watched the advance. All we could do at that moment was wait until they arrived. 

The tension grew as we watched them come. I could feel it so thick it threatened to break my spirit. I felt almost as if I may break down and cry. Then I heard a distant whistling from down the stairs. Joktan was whistling a beautiful tune as if he hadn't a care. I actually felt the tension dissipate as the sound reached inward to my soul. Calm had returned. Peace in knowing that it was going to be ok.

'Cara Mor, we need you.' I whispered. 

We were outnumbered by hundreds, by my best guess. It looked like there were 500 men and 100 giants out there. They circled the mountain and then funneled up the path. Several were at the back entrance, I guessed lookin fer the hidden door. Most of the force overwhelmed the path that came up to the front door. Some students with weapons began shootin at them. The attacking men dropped like flies with the arrows stuck in them. The front path filled to the brim with men. I didn't see any giants. Where were they? 

Just then, one of the lookout girls yelled to me from the other side of the window that faced the back. "The giants! They're concentrating their efforts on the back door! They're going to get in!" I felt a rumble echo through the mountain. A rumble that was the result of an impact. It repeated again and again. I headed down to see what was going on down there. Midway down, there was Roland running up the stairs to find me. He had been down at the back door watching it. He said their beatin on the door. Obviously they knew where it was. We headed down the stairs together. 

When we reached the bottom, I felt the rumble echo in the room that was the back entrance. The students that were positioned down there all had terror in their eyes. The rumble echoed so loudly in the small room. I could hear fighting outside too. The Rockies were doin their job. But would it be enough? Were there enough in back to fight off the giants? It was too late to check that fact as the other Rockies were trapped up at the front entrance and fighting their own battle up there.  I told the scared students to trust the Rockies. Then I ran to the platform. Roland followed.

The three marksman were shootin rapidly at the giants down below. Joktan was keepin them well supplied with ammo. From the vantage point, we couldn't see the back door but we were above it. I told Roland to go get more shooters. They can do more good here. He ran up the stairs. The giants were wearing thick leather armor with metal spikes that covered most of their bodies. They also wore thick leather helmets fitted to their head, like caps.  Only their arms and the bottom of their legs were uncovered. Many of them already had arrows stickin out of their arms.  I aimed my arrow at the neck of one. The only spot I could see that had a hole and the arrow would have a chance of doin serious damage. My arrow hit the giant in the back of the neck, penetrating deep. He fell to the ground. "Aim fer the neck." I told the others. They did so and several giants fell. The Rock Monsters were doin damage of their own. Beatin several giants to the ground with their stony fists. Smashin skulls. Several giants littered the target shootin yard with smashed heads. My faith grew. I know our Rock Monster Guardians be very strong and capable. 

Five men and two women arrived on the platform all with crossbows. They wasted no time aiming at the giants.  The rumble of them hittin the back door stopped. Yes! I think our side was gettin an advantage. We kept shootin. Many giants had their arms littered with arrows but kept fightin. They looked like pin cushions. I could see more giants comin from the North. Oh boy. We kept up our fight. Rockies smashin heads and arrows flying. Electrifying adrenaline pumped through my veins. 

"CARA MOR!" That's all I could think of to pray. So I just shouted his name. 

The attack lasted into the day. They never stopped comin. Now I looked down at the path from the top window. The flow of men came from the south and with them came a Vicor! Vicors be whielders of the dark arts. This one wore the long robe that vicors wear. It moved unnaturally as he walked. Not registering that he has two legs under there moving. It seemed as if he floated. With that Vicor came two Skylarks. Skylarks be giant brown feathers that work for the dark side. They be vicious flying creatures. Now a Skylark was flyin over the mountain circling. The other was comin straight fer the windows! The windows have no protection! Their open to the air! The Skylark would enter through the window and kill us all! The girls screamed terrifying screams and ran down the stairs. 

I shot my arrow straight and true, but the creature dodged it. It skillfully flew around my arrow and kept comin. Quickly, I reloaded my bow and shot again. It only grazed the Skylark's wing and it kept comin. Again I shot. This time it hit it in the throat. But it kept comin with the arrow stickin out of it. It only faltered fer a second from the impact. I turned to run down the stairs because it was right at the window now, almost in. But I heard somethin that made me look back.

The Phoenix let out a loud squack and grabbed the Skylark just before it come in. They tussled in the air both schreechin and wrestling in mid air. The Phoenix was at least three times the size of the Skylark, but the evil bird had a choke hold on the Phoenix with his beak. Then the other Skylark violently landed on the Phoenix's back. Talons sunk in the guardian's back and beak pecked and scratched. It looked as thought the guardian would lose. They spun in the air plummeting to the ground. They were a tangle of flappin wings, claw and beak. 

Just then, the other Phoenix appeared! He swooped down out of the sky and landed on the Skylark that was on the other Phoenix's back. It's mighty claws snatched it off and threw it to the side. Then it turned and clashed with it midair. 

I watched in shock. Roland and Joktan and three other men came runnin up the stairs. They looked out the window in shock at the mighty birds as well. "Ah! The Phoenix have come!" Two of the men I didn't know shouted. They pointed and their mouths gaped. 

With a mighty bite, the Phoenix almost simultaneously vanquished the Skylark.  They threw the evil birds aside like rag dolls. Both the Skylark fell to the ground. Then the Phoenix flapped their massive wings and went after the attackers on the ground. 

"Go tell the good new!" I told the others.

They all ran down the stairs yelling as they went. 

"The Phoenix have come! The Phoenix have come!" I could hear their yells getting quieter as they descended the stairs. 

Joktan, Roland and I stood like statues watchin the scene below. No amount of men or giant were any match for the Phoenix. I chuckled when I saw the Vicor turn and run away. Then I looked at my two friends and said, "Was there ever any doubt?" They both patted me on the back and let out a hearty laugh. I couldn't help it, I jumped up and down with glee. "We'll go check the others." Roland grabbed Joktan and pushed him down the stairs. They were laughing.

"You rest." Joktan said turning his head to look at me. "You earned it. The Phoenix have it from here. We'll take care of the others"  

I had no doubt in my mind the battle was over. The Phoenix had come. I stood watching the scene outside with wonder. I looked to the North. Giants fled back where they came at the mere sight of the Phoenix. 'Silly Vicor.' I thought. 'Thinkin he can best us. We have the Guardians on our side.' Then I reached out with my feelings to Graban.

'The battle is over lad. They are all fleeing.' He said in me head.

#School #Attack #BowandArrow #Crossbow #Battle #Army #Pray #Phoenix #RockMonsters #TheLegendoftheRockMonsterClan