Chapter 6: Wander in the forest (part 5)

“What do we do with those branches?” said Gwen curiously.

“Burn them.” said Heracles shortly.

“Foteini aspida,” Amelinda screamed with eyes shutting up. A golden light spread out from Amelinda’s scepter and immediately formed a shield covering around them. “Pop – pop – pop…” The serpents which shot toward them were prevented by the shield. Amelinda opened her eyes looking serpents siding down in front of her face. “God! We have to go. They are heading to here.” she said.

“We go.” said Heracles.  

Then they picked up their bags, made the way leave the place. Amelinda still kept the light shield protected around them. They moved together very closed, hurriedly walking to escape from the serpents but the serpents didn’t let them do it. They promptly chased after them. Furthermore, other serpents also moved. All of them followed the light spreading out from burning branches, scepters and Amelinda’s protective shield gathered, changed their ways and then crept after Heracles and his friends. Later, there had about thousands of serpents crept their backs. They were very ferocious, moved very fast on ground. Some of them even nearly reached on them. They threw themselves toward Heracles and the others but almost of them were prevented by Amelinda’s shield or were beaten away by Heracles or Gwen, dropped down ground then were crept upon by others and left behind. 

“Pyrkagia” Heracles shouted, pointing his scepter toward a serpent which shot to him from the right. A fireball shot out from his scepter, reached on the serpent, immediately swallowed it then burnt up. The fire disappeared there was some ashes dropped down ground. 

“Pyrkagia” “Pyrkagia” “Pyrkagia”… 

 Heracles and Gwen constantly shot fireballs to serpents. Many of black burnt serpents dropped down on ground and lied quietly there. They died but there were a lot of other serpents still heading toward Heracles and the others.

“Hurry up! We can not be rounded here.” said Heracles. He turned back, “Amelinda, try it as long as you can. We need the shield.” he added.

“I’ll try.” said Amelinda. Her voice was very weak. Her face turned very pale. Some sweat drops slid down from her forehead. She had used too much magic to create protective shields. They sped up, continued walking ahead. Honestly, they ran. Though they all were very tired, they couldn’t stop. Heracles was still ahead trying to clear the way, Gwen was behind looking after their back and protecting Amelinda who was mid keeping the protective to protect them.

“Foteini aspida” Amelinda shouted. Her shield was just broken she had to create another at one and felt really exhausted. Her hand shook trying to hold her scepter. 

“Are you still okay?” said Heracles worriedly.

“I’m fine.” said Aeminda. However, Heracles could felt she was not fine.   

Pyrkagia” Heracles shouted loudly. A huge fireball shot out from his scepter heading toward a crowd of serpents preventing in front of their way. “We must be faster, Gwen.” he said loudly.

“Okay.” shouted Gwen. 

A bang spread out; Gwen just beat a serpent by his branch. The shield was very fade, couldn’t protect them from serpents more. “Heracles – Stop. Amelinda…” roared Gwen.

Amelinda just fallen down she fainted. “How about her?” said impatiently Heracles. He hurriedly turned his way back. “I think she is okay - just fainted because of tiredness.” replied Gwen. He was squatting holding Amelinda’s head up. 

“Hurry up! Help her go on my back. I will carry her.” said Heracles. He promptly took the bag off his back, wore it in front of his chest then turned his back to Gwen, lowered his body down. Gwen took Amelinda’s bag off from her back and brought her on Heracles’s back. Then he picked her bag up, wore it in front of chest as Heracles. The scepters were stored back their space rings. Only Gwen took the scepter of Amelinda and his burning branch on his hand.  

“Runnn!” Heracles shouted. Not caring on serpents ahead he brought Amelina on back running. Gwen ran beside him, raised the burning branch ahead. They dodged, crossed and jumped upon serpents which raised their heads up, ready to beat them by poison fangs whenever they crossed. Luckily, no one of them was bitten. Long time later, the rustling sounds vanished they had gotten out from serpents. Heracles and Gwen stopped, gasped.

“Heracles, let me down.” the voice of Amelinda. She had woken up but she’s still very weak.

“How do you feel now?” said Heracles. He lowered his body for her to get down. 

“I’m fine – just feel a little dizzy.” said Amelinda. She slid down from Heracles’s back, made her way to Gwen. “Give me my scepter.” she said.

“Here.” said Gwen handing the scepter to her. 

She took her scepter. “Anavei.” she said. Then blue light spread out lighting the place. She made her way move toward an ancient tree near that then sat down. Heracles followed her then sat by her. He put the bag on his chest aside, leant his back against the tree’s root, trying to adjust his breathing. The moment Gwen was the only person standing he was putting his hands on knees, breathed very and heavy.

“You’re okay, Gwen?” said Heracles, raised his head up looking to his friend. 

“Yes – I  am. Just let me a little time.” said Gwen hardly.

Seconds later, Gwen got again his breathing. He made the way go to Heracles and Amelinda, managed to get rid of the bags on his chest and back. He plopped down.

“Any of you know where we are now.” he asked. His breath was still very fast.

“Donnu.” said Heracles shortly. He raised his scepter highly to look around but it’s too dark at the time and he couldn’t see anything around.

“We have to wait for morning to know where we are.” said Amelinda.

“Don’t you think that we have escaped from the serpent?” said Gwen. 

“I think they have gone and don’t follow us more. They all are hurrying to somewhere they are only attracted and chased after us.” said Heracles. “We temporarily safe now.” he added.

“You are right. We are not their aim.” said Amelinda for sure.

“Hope you both are right. I’m really and want to take a rest.” said Gwen. He leant on the tree then closed his eyes at one. Heracles and Gwen also kept staying right at their places, rested and then quickly fell in deep sleep they were very tired. Heracles still held his scepter tightly and was the last person who closed eyes.