Preview of
Maverick's Endeavors: Journey to the Alumia
Book One

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            The shrill cries of Feroarian villagers rang through the forest. The Great Fence had been destroyed by a bolt of light that struck from the sky and was followed by a deafening crash. Vonya had never seen anything like this before and was paralyzed by her fear and confusion. Only moments later, she heard another boom coming from the groves in the opposite direction and watched a black cloud billowing from the treetops. She knew that it couldn't have possibly been the work of the Bubbalyons, yet it seemed that there was no one else to blame. I must pay a visit to King Treant. Perhaps he’ll have some answers. She set off to search for him but quickly realized that there was a frenzied mob gathering at the base of their king’s tree fortress.

            The chubby King Treant was standing before them all. His bone horn was pressed to his lips as he bellowed a speech down from his tower. "My Feroarian comrades, it pains me to say that war is upon us. Today, the Bubbalyons have destroyed two precious assets of our livelihood: the Alumia Tree that provided our medicine, as well as the Great Fence, the longstanding symbol of peace between us. Destroying that fence was a clear message that they are no longer interested in remaining civil. We have been nothing but gracious to their kind, offering them the Alumia leaves and ample supplies at the weekly trading post. Their jealous greed for our land and resources evoked this chaos. It has been generations since the last war, but we keep our warriors trained for a reason. I vow to ensure our safety, but, if necessary, our warriors will battle until the last man!" He pounded his fist repeatedly on his wooden podium and added, “We will crush them for this!”

            Enthralled, the crowd began to roar with excitement and a thirst for vengeance.

            "Wait, my lord!" Vonya shouted while she climbed up the vine ladder to his fortress. The crowd cheered as soon as they saw Vonya approach. "My lord," she panted upon reaching his platform, "how can we know that the Bubbalyons are responsible? Surely, they can’t create the element of light! Why not consult with King Ryzozen before declaring war on a whim? Or perhaps you should take counsel with the Elders!"

            "Nonsense,” he replied. “There is no other explanation! Do you think that giant light from the sky was an accident? That it just happened? Those barbarians are trying to plunder our goods and conquer our land and they must be behind this! The Agreement clearly states if one party is to destroy the Great Fence, war will ensue once again. How dare you serve me orders, telling me who I should take counsel with. I am sick of your contradictions, Vonya! You are nothing but a minion and you have overstepped your boundaries! Now, get out of my sight!" He shooed her away and she was booed by the crowd.

            "They are savages, am I right?" King Treant shouted down. The sea of Feroarians cheered wildly in response.

            Vonya stormed off, muttering to herself. There was too much going on for her to fret over Treant's usual egotistical nonsense. She had the lives of her father, brother, and grandmother to protect. Her father would surely fight with the rest of the warriors and would keep her brother Hunter hidden and safe. Although her grandmother, who had been exiled many years ago, would surely need her aid.

            Deep Haven Village was fashioned as a treetop fortress, with homes integrated into the branches and trunks. The king's tree stood the tallest among the dozens of other homes so that he could oversee his village. It would usually be almost impossible for her to sneak over to her grandmother's house during the daytime but with the king distracted by the villagers, she had the perfect opportunity. Vonya planned to flee and hide with her in safety. She darted to her house on the edge of the woods and burst in the door.

            "Grandmother, we must leave, quickly! Treant is preparing his warriors for battle and there isn't much time!" she shouted, giving a terrible scare to the frail, elderly woman.

            "Vonya!” She gasped with her hand held up to her heart. The fear upon her face quickly faded into a smile at the sight of her granddaughter. “So nice to see you.” She struggled to rise from her rocking chair and Vonya rushed over to help her.

            “Treant is declaring war with the Bubbalyons! He blames them for the destruction of the Alumia and Great Fence, but this seems illogical. Water humanoids wouldn't have been able to create the element of light. I do not believe it was them, but Treant is out for blood and cannot be reasoned with. Even though I've never met a Bubbalyon, I feel like Treant has always made them sound worse than they probably are. For years he's always told us that they are scum and wish to strip us of our resources. It almost seems as if Treant wanted this to happen."

            "It is wise of you to question the king, Vonya. You're right, he has always yearned for an excuse to declare war. I don't know his reasoning behind it, but I do know of his hatred for King Ryzozen and the rest of their race. I appreciate that you came back for me, but I refuse to leave my home. If I am to die, it will be peacefully in my bed, not running for my life. I am too old and have neither the strength nor will. Besides, what will become of your little brother? Would he join you?” she asked with a tremble in her voice.

            “I can't bring Hunter. Father would never let me take him away from Deep Haven. Besides, I know that Father would hide him well to protect him. I must go alone," she whimpered.

            “I know these are frightening times, my dear, but you must think of what's best for your family. King Treant has trained you in his army for a reason. Unjust or not, this war is happening, and running will not make it go away. You may be young, but you are a trained soldier. I will not tell you what to do, but I know the deep remorse you'd have if something were to happen to your brother in your absence. Follow your heart Vonya. I'm sure you will make the right decision.”

            Vonya felt more alone than ever. The last thing she wanted to do was stay and fight an unrighteous war, but what if it meant protecting the life of her family? As a highly respected warrior, she felt obligated to her duties. She knew that King Treant’s orders could not be disputed. Even though she felt that the Bubbalyons were most likely innocent, her beliefs could never supersede their king’s. However, Vonya knew in her heart that protecting her grandmother and her sweet little brother meant more to her than her own life.

            “I must go. I love you, Grandmother. I hope to see you again soon.” She pulled her in for a tight embrace and added, “Please take care of yourself while I'm gone. You know how much I worry.”

            “You must not fret over me, my dear. I will always find a way to survive. I love you too, and I'm so proud of the brave young woman that you've become. Be safe, Vonya.”

            After leaving cautiously, Vonya made her way to the outskirts of Deep Haven where she climbed up a tree and clung to the thick moss that covered its trunk. It was from up there that she could see her father preparing Treant's warriors for battle. She released a short vine from the palm of her hand, wrapped it around a branch, and used it to lower herself down. Upon landing, she snuck to the shore where she hid behind some bushes to obverse what they were doing. Vonya had always been intrigued to find out what the Bubbalyon village looked like. No one had ever described Merrowa to her, so it had always seemed mysterious. Although she could see the outline of a small island plunging beneath the bay, it was shrouded by eerie darkness that made her imagination run wild. A loud plunking sound pulled her from her thoughts as she watched the group of Feroarian warriors step over the charred remnants of the Great Fence and chuck armfuls of large rock slates into the water. Vonya knew this was merely a ploy to provoke the Bubbalyons. A mix of anger and devastation overcame her. The poor choice that her soldiers had just made officially broke the Peace Treaty, which would soon lead to violence and destruction. She could only hope that King Treant was right and that this war was just.

            An elderly male Bubbalyon who wore a subtle crown made from seaweed and pearls swam up the shore, only a few paces from her warriors. It must be King Ryzozen. Vonya thought. She was initially bewildered by his feeble appearance, as his attire greatly differed from King Treant’s gaudy gemstone crown and brightly colored feathers on his fur cape. Had it not been for Ryzozen’s humble wreath, she may not have been able to distinguish him as the king. Shortly after emerging from the water, the seemingly feeble man released a surprisingly powerful water twister from his palm that blasted the Feroarians back over to their side of the charred fence. Only moments later, dozens of Bubbalyon warriors rose from the water behind their king ready to protect their territory.

            Vonya found it quite admirable for Ryzozen to have led his group out onto the front lines. For now, Treant was nowhere to be found and was probably hiding out in his fortress. A soft rustling made Vonya look up to discover the rest of the Feroarian warriors hiding in the treetops, waiting for the Bubbalyons to get close enough to attack. When the time was right, they leaped down and shot poisonous darts and hurled their spears. Feroarians were binding and strangling Bubbalyon troops with their vines. It pained Vonya to see so much destruction and anguish. She realized it didn't matter what had caused the war, or who had initiated it. Bubbalyons were now attacking her clan, on her soil. She knew that she had to fight them to protect her village. The love for her family and fellow Feroarians gave her the strength to flee the bushes and run towards the battlefield. She stopped at a fallen Feroarian and lifted a wooden helmet and blow dart set from his lifeless body. Crestfallen, she drew in a deep sigh as she grabbed poison darts from his pocket and loaded them.

            “Vonya! Come fight with us,” her father shouted from a distance. She equipped her helmet and weapons and ran in to join the fight.

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~

 

            Maverick had vigilantly scanned every leaf and bush throughout his search of Deep Haven Woods and was ready to fight a menacing creature or a Feroarian warrior if needed. After spending the day risking his life and freedom for that very moment, Maverick finally stood before the breath-taking Alumia tree. He was awestruck by its magnificent height and beautiful golden and silver leaves, which shimmered brightly in the sunlight. Maverick extended his palm to the thin exterior and gingerly stroked its silky bark. He realized it was incredibly fragile and was astonished to have sensed strong energy radiating from its center, where he located what had felt like a heartbeat. He pressed his ear against its trunk to hear it, yet instead heard a noise that sounded more like lungs filling and expanding. It was at that moment, Maverick realized that the trees around him were indeed breathing and that the Alumia had the strongest presence in the woods. Maverick was entranced by them all as he stood there, enveloped in their movement. Not only were they breathing, but he assumed that they were dancing to an unknown melody that only the forest and its dwellers could hear. He smiled and took in a deep breath through his nose which allowed him to smell the sweet aroma of the surrounding fruits and flowers. After getting a whiff of it, he couldn't stop sniffing the air. He grabbed a few exotic fruits from the ground and stuffed them into his satchel to bring home to his family. After all, this was a treat they very seldom enjoyed back home.

            He was taken by surprise when a small bird zoomed past his head and flew up to one of the Alumia’s branches. Maverick found it charming and enjoyed the creature’s red and blue feathers. This was his first time seeing one so colorful because the only birds that flew above Merrowa’s waters were gray. It pecked at the bark and then released droppings which landed in Maverick's tangled strawberry blond locks. His fond smile swiftly turned to a scowl as he sprayed away the mess with water from the center of his palm. Although he wished to hunt it down as it flew off, he was worried that he had already spent too much precious time observing this new environment. He needed to move with haste before he was discovered.

            Maverick looked back up at the Alumia and whispered to himself, “The medicine to cure Grandfather is so close, yet so far from my reach. I don't understand why the kings argue over the lack of elixir if there are ample leaves on this tree." Since childhood, his Bubbalyon tribe had always been told how scarce the resources were in Deep Haven. He shook his head in disgust at the thought of the deceit they had all faced for so very long. He desperately wished to inform King Ryzozen upon returning home, but he knew that this excursion of his had to remain a secret from everyone except for his father.

            More ready than ever to go and claim his grandfather’s remedy, he faced his palms toward the earth and created a small water twister underneath himself to rise to the nearest branch. His ascent was sloppy. He was exhausted from running on land all day since sunrise, which was a first for him. Upon reaching a branch, he struggled to remain stable due to the tree’s gentle swaying. His webbed hands and feet had made him nearly incapable of keeping his grip, but he finally stabilized. He locked his eyes on the closest bunch of the metallic leaves and noticed that they each had a dark green, gooey center. He had been reaching out for a group of leaves to snatch when he realized that several armed Feroarian warriors had gathered below him.

            They all drew their weapons, simultaneously.

            "Quickly! Capture that thief and bring him to the king!" a guard shouted.

            Unable to keep himself grounded, Maverick lost his balance and slipped from the tree limb. As he tumbled down, he showered them with a barrage of sharp icicles. He plopped down onto the pile of unresponsive Feroarians. Overwhelmed with shock, he peered down at his hands and wondered how he had been able to form ice. This was something he had never done before, and to his knowledge, no other Bubbalyon had either.

            Distracted by the sound of a loud boom, he saw a bolt of light strike the Alumia tree. Upon impact, the hot light had melted down the precious medicinal metals, leaving a puddle of a stump. Maverick cried out in devastation; his whole mission was a waste. He couldn't be sure of it, but he thought he had felt the spirit of the tree dying, leaving a feeling of emptiness throughout the forest. Maverick fled without hesitation. While he raced past the trees, he heard the screams of Feroarian villagers. Another ominous boom echoed through him as a second light struck from the sky in the distance. Fear rose within him as he thought of his family. He sprinted towards home with all the speed he could muster. His body ached as though he had been running for eons. He managed to bypass the Feroarian village and could see where the edge of the forest met the sand. Exhausted, peering towards the horizon, he suddenly felt something sharp prick the back of his neck. He pulled out a thorn and turned to see where it had come from. A Feroarian behind him had a beautiful, yet deadly orange and black flower growing from the palm of his hand. The warrior attempted to shoot out another thorn from the flower’s center, but Maverick managed to dodge it. He tried to surge on, but quickly grew disoriented from the poison. Once the Feroarian had caught up, Maverick used the last of his strength to knock his enemy unconscious with his coral bludgeon. Despite feeling victorious, the poison coursing through his veins caused his heart rate to decline rapidly, followed by extreme pain that was soon unbearable. He could hear more Feroarians coming up behind him, but their shouts were muffled as white noise rang through his ears. He collapsed to the ground and was close to nodding out when he heard the horn of war being blown, which was followed by screams from the shore that drove him to keep crawling forward. As he approached the chaos, he was devastated upon seeing the Great Fence in ruins. He assumed that the war had been initiated due to the destruction of the Great Fence and Alumia. He knew that the tree and fence were all that had kept their races at peace for generations. Without them, he feared he wouldn't make it home to see his family alive ever again. He wondered in fear if his trespassing had assisted in provoking the war.

            He watched helplessly as the violence commenced. Bubbalyons were destroying tree homes with whirlpools while others were running towards the Feroarians with coral bludgeons. Meanwhile, a group of Feroarians combined air twisters from their palms to create a massive tornado. They fed their spiked vines into it and as it picked up speed, it lifted driftwood and boulders with ease. After it had finally collected enough debris to penetrate past the surface of the water, the Feroarians released it and watched as it headed towards Merrowa. It seemed that they were attempting to blow the Bubbalyons out of the water and destroy their underwater structures. In rebuttal, King Ryzozen and his warriors fed water jets into the choppy waves of Merrowa until a tsunami developed, which they guided towards Deep Haven. Maverick clung to a tree trunk for dear life. He watched the tsunami crash through the trees over the Feroarian's homes and bridges. He thought that this would surely be his last breathing moment. Glancing at the shore in the distance, he spotted his father in combat but could no longer keep his eyes open. Glimpses of his childhood memories flashed through his mind. He envisioned his loving parents, grandfather, and his little sister Shellie, and wished that he would’ve had the chance to say goodbye to them. As the water flooded over him, he allowed his thoughts to be washed away with the rest of him. His body was overcome with a warm sensation as he was carried away by the waves.