The Wind in the Trees

[bumper15]

Chapter 2

Orin arose at dusk. The dead calm of the forest around him was frightening. How could it be so calm when the world around it was slowly collapsing. He sent a message through Mother Tree to wake the others, and then he left the cavern.
He ran through all the traps in the southern parts of the forest. Most were placed near and around Mother Tree to help prevent the Wood Sprites from being surrounded when the battle came. He knew he couldn't fight this army head on, he also knew that the guerilla tactics usually employed by Wood Sprites were expected by the Necromancer.
His thoughts kept going back to Benji. He had to free him from the Necromancer, the only way to do that was to kill him. The Necromancer could only summon a spirit or person once. Even though these undead could be killed just as easily as you could kill a human, they were faster and stronger, imbued with magic from their summoning.
The rest of the Sprites came out of the cavern and gathered around Orin. Orin looked at them all and signaled for everyone to gather their weapons. Orin himself grabbed his bow, four knives and the rapier that was a gift from his father.
The met up again and Orin set out his plan for them.

Orin sat in the tree and waited. Arian was to his left and Golgor, Orin's new captain, was on his right. They were positioned about ten miles from Mother Tree to their left. The hordes were heading this way and Orin did not want them to change direction towards her.
Orin hated war, not only because of the killing, but because of his inability to lead others. He was born the youngest of a royal family, Arian only a year older. He had never had to lead as a result of his parents ignoring him to teach his eldest brother, and heir to the throne. Orin's only assets were his confidence, which was always visible on his face, and his intelligence. Luckily for him, the Wood Sprites had no need of a leader, the only time the chief had power was during times of war. Orin had so far been successful in leading them through war, but he was afraid it was about to end.
He watched as the hordes advanced their way through the forests, making no attempt to remain silent. They knew they had lost surprise when Orin blew the horn, so they were abandoning stealth for speed.
That was a mistake, they didn't yet know that the Sprites were watching them. Once the Sprites opened fire, they would pick up the pace and move even faster. The woods were not very accommodating to the impatient as the hordes would soon find out.
Orin nocked an arrow and drew back his bow. He tried to find his target. He scanned around until he found it. He released the arrow and watched as it flew between the eyes of his target. He watched saddened as Benji collapsed on the ground. It was the last gift he could give to Benji.
There were roars of surprise and rage from the undead below and they began their charge. Orin drew another arrow and waited while the rest prepared themselves. He released the arrow, and watched it soar towards the enemy, quickly followed by two hundred others. The Necromancer's war had begun again.

[mysterium]

Yays!
This is really mounting up for a fight; I can't wait for the next part, your writing is really good.

Are the Naga gone now, or are they coming back?

[bumper15]

The Naga are going to be back closer to the end, don't worry.

[sir william the bold]

Nice Again Look I'm grounded so don't worry if I don't reply for a while...

[bumper15]

It's a bit short but here's the next chapter.
Chapter 3

The hordes of undead were paying dearly for every foot they gained. The fight had lasted most of the day and the hordes were gradually gaining ground on the Wood Sprites. The undead had archers of their own and were using them to good advantage. There were no casualties yet, but the Wood Sprites had to take time from firing on the enemy, to dodge the arrows that were lucky enough to have been aimed true.
"Signal the lines to slow their fire," Orin ordered, "We need to save arrows for later."
The signal was passed and the constant raining of arrows slowed slightly. The undead captains noticed this and took advantage. Shouts were raised and the undead pressed forward with more vigor.
Their shouts of rage changed to those of surprise as the ground the undead had just been trying to gain suddenly collapsed under their feet.
Orin wathed as hundreds of undead were pushed into the pit as the back lines continued to press forward, unaware of the new obstacle. It was the largest trap they had managed to build in the southern section of the woods. Orin's spiked pit expanded beyond the lines of the Necromancer's army, but the edges would be revealed once the army would decide to go around the pit.
"Signal the lines to withdraw to the next point," Orin stated picking himself up and stretching after almost ten hours crouching in a tree. "They won't continue the fight until tomorrow. The Necromancer knows that fighting at night is our specialty." Orin withdrew, the hordes still in a state of uproar.

[mysterium]

Interesting. They don't like night... What will Orin do? I like your description of the systematic approach of the undead. I'm wondering what's going to happen next, considering how grim it looks for the Wood-Sprites.

[bumper15]

Chapter 4 pt. 1

The Necromancer glanced around the encampment from his tent. It was unusually peaceful around this part of the camp, since his army was busy on his project. It had been four days since his army first met the Wood Sprites and his horde hadn't met any resistance since. He had sent repeated scouting parties out to scout for traps, remarkably, not only were the parties able to find several traps scattered across the forest, none of the scale of the first one, but the parties were also unchallenged by the Wood Sprites.
He was impatient to continue his campaign against the Sprites. He needed to wipe them out as quickly as possible to continue his campaign against the world. He dreamed of the day he would eventually exert his power over the Wood Sprites and have them kneel at his feet. However preparations needed to be made in order to triumph over the unconquerable.
His quiet was interrupted by the galloping of horses. His commander came into view across the campsite. The Nightmare had been the commander of the Wastelands when the Necromancer returned and he had offered his loyalty to the Necromancer in exchange for a sizable amount of land in Alarya. He was the only warrior in the Necromancer's army that came of his own volition in the hopes of spreading his power. The Necromancer was always wary around him.
The Nightmare pulled up in front of him and dismounted. "My liege," he hissed going down on his knee.
"Rise commander," the Necromancer replied, "What news of the project?"
"The project goes as according to plan, but that is not why I have come to you. A scout has returned and has need to show you something."
The Necromancer got up and grabbed his skeletal horse. He followed the Nightmare and eventually arrived at a clearing where one of his scouts sat waiting with a bundle at his feet.
"What is it you have to show me slave?" the Necromancer asked.
The scout, what used to be an elf, opened the top of the sack and pulled out an unconcious body.
"Is that....?"
"Yes my lord, it is one of them."
The body awoke with a kick to his side, he stared at the Necromancer with horror. The Necromancer smiled and ran his sword through the Sprite's body. He opened himself to draw his magic and seal the spirit back into its body. He released the magic and forced his influence on the spirit. He went to finish the binding when the spirit ripped free of his hold.
The Necromancer roared, it had never once been denied a spirit. He didn't know how it was possible but something had taken the spirit from him. He glanced down and watched the body disintegrate into gold dust.
He glanced angrily at the scout, intent on venting his fury, but was held back by a hand on his chest. He looked at the Nightmare, "My liege, all is not lost. There was another reason to bring this scout to you." He turned towards the scout, "Tell him where you found the Sprite," he ordered.
The scout merely shook and cowered on the forest floor too frightened of being under the attention of the Necromancer to answer.
The Nightmare quickly ended the cowering with his sword. "My liege," he said, pausing to wipe the blood off of his wickedly curved sword, "Allow me to tell you. Our search at last is over."
The Necromancer stared at the Nightmare, comprehension abruptly dawning on him and a wicked smile broke across his face. His plan was coming together perfectly.

[sir william the bold]

Originally Posted by mysterium

You write one thing, and suddenly calling people "The Necromancer" is the next big thing.

Yays! Bumper15 is writing his own fan-fic!


Really great so far to listen to the story of our friend Orin. Keep it up!

I'm with him.

[mysterium]

Creepy. . Glad to see you're keeping yours updated. Unlike mine...

So, any particular reason why Sprites can't be taken by the Necromancer?

[bumper15]

Originally Posted by mysterium

Creepy. . Glad to see you're keeping yours updated. Unlike mine...

So, any particular reason why Sprites can't be taken by the Necromancer?

They can be, don't forget poor Benji. "Something had taken the spirit from him." something else interfered with the Necromancer's plans.

I might have the next part up tomorrow, I had originally planned for a combined section but the first part turned out longer than expected and I panicked. I'll probably just add it on to the last chapter anyways.

P.S. It's great to see you back among the living sir william

[bumper15]

Here's part 2, the ending may be a bit confusing but will be explained in later chapters.

Chapter 4 pt. 2

The Necromancer hadn't made a move in four days and Orin was starting to worry. The Necromancer wasn't patient by any stretch of the word and he would only be staying in one place if he thought it would ensure his victory. Orin turned his mind to other matters, like the protection of his forest. The four days had been a massive benefit to the Wood Sprites, allowing them to prepare a major defensive in the area. They had dug several pits and even managed to create a short wall behind them.
The Necromancer's scouts worried Orin, but he couldn't do anything about it. He needed everyone here to prepare the defenses. As a precaution however, he had a rotation set to guard Mother Tree.
Golgor raced torwards Orin from across the clearing. "Golgor my friend, is there a problem with the defenses?" Orin asked judging the look on his face.
"Not the defenses," Golgor replied, white as a ghost, "Lindon is dead. I was on my way to relieve him of guard duty when I saw one of the Necromancer's scouts stumble upon him and bind him up. I followed the scout to a clearing where he met the Necromancer and watched as he killed him. Somehow however, the Necromancer wasn't able to reanimate him."
Orin was partially relieved at the last part, but he was still troubled. "How could anyone, let alone one of the Necromancer's minions, catch a Wood Sprite by surprise?"
"He was asleep at his post," Golgor replied simply.
"Asleep at his..." Lindon repeated flabbergasted, "First the Snakes and now this, I have to say Lindon deserved his fate."
That's not all Orin. The guard duty that I was relieving Lindon of was for Mother Tree."
Orin's legs almost gave from under him, "Gather our brothers and sisters, you must move to protect Mother Tree immediately. I'll be back, we're going to need some help." With that Orin ran off into the woods.

Lindon awoke on a hard cavern floor. He first noticed that he was completely healed. His next thought was that the Necromancer had resummoned him, panic started to take ahold. He glanced up but instead of seeing the Necromancer's frightening face, he saw a winged man dressed in green staring at him. Lindon fell back, then he noticed that there was a boy on his right. Lindon quailed beneath the vicious stare of the boy. It was Orin!

[bumper15]

Originally Posted by mysterium

Leave a comment if you read this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It tells me I'm not just typing at a brick wall. Even if you hate it, tell me.

What he said

Chapter 5

Golgor and the Wood Sprites at last made it to Mother Tree. Being so close to her was revitalizing to all the Wood Spites after almost a week without her nourishment, only what little they could carry within the vials. The Necromancer wasn't there yet, but the scouts Golgor sent reported that they would arrive in the hour. They immediately set to work preparing the many defenses throughout the clearing where Mother Tree sat in the middle.
Golgor knew that this would be the last fight of the Wood Sprites. The Necromancer had found Mother Tree much faster than he was supposed to, and Golgor vowed that when he saw Lindon again in the afterlife he would punish him dearly.
Aryan approached him from the cavern beneath Mother Tree. "What kind of help can Orin bring to us?" she asked.
"I'm not sure, but we need to send out for help as well. Every animal in these woods draws life from Mother Tree, if we send out a message, they will answer."
Aryan nodded and without another word left. Probably to find Naer. Golgor thought imagining Aryan's proud hawk.
Out in the woods a twig snapped and Golgor was brought back from his thoughts. "Positions everyone!" he yelled,"they're here!" and then to himself he added, "Goddess protect us."

The Necromancer gazed upon the sight before him. His entire life's work had led him to this moment. He stared at the majesty of Mother Tree with contempt, it was the only thing that had stopped him last time, and he very much desired to watch it die. Yet he couldn't help feeling awed by its sheer majesty and presence. So delicate, so fragile, yet the very bane of his existence. The pinkish white leaves swayed gently even though there was no breeze, filled with the life that it symbolized and protected.
He broke from his conflicting emotions and turned towards the Nightmare and gave his orders, "I want you to surround them here, we don't want to allow any of them to escape. We wait till dusk to attack. This clearing won't provide them with any cover, and I want our little light show to stand out to these pathetic Sprites," the last was said with a sinister smile.
The Nightmare bowed and replied, "As you command." He then set off to relay the orders.
The Necromancer turned to the barrels filled with what his soldier had been mixing for several days now. He then looked up and gestured to the nearest soldier. The soldier arrived quickly and bowed meekly before the Necromancer.
"Distribute this among the archers maggot!" the Necromancer ordered.
The soldier nodded hastily and quickly set one of the barrels on his shoulder and hastened to where the archers were being positioned.
Screams echoed across the clearing as undead all around the clearing encountered the innumerable traps surrounding the clearing.

Orin raced through the woods. His sense of direction was perfect and he knew where he was, he just didn't know if the help he needed was still there. He turned the corner around a grove of trees and found the pavilion to be deserted. There wasn't much hope that they'd still be here, but this was where he had to start anyway.
He bent down in front of the entrance and found the tracks he was looking for. They were almost a week old, but they were still just barely visible. He followed the tracks for several miles until he heard a noise directly in front of him through a stand of bushes.
Orin peered through the bushes and saw seven of the Necromancer's undead soldier's across from him. He wondered why they would be here and not at Mother Tree. He had no time for wondering however because he had been careless in sneaking a look at the undead and had been spotted.
Orin drew his rapier and leapt into the midst of them dispatching them all in a matter of seconds. Suddenly an arrow flew from the opposite clearing and struck Orin in his right shoulder. Orin fell to his knees in surprise and pain, and turned to see another soldier nocking an arrow to his bow.
Orin watched as the soldier approached closer and prepared to let fly the arrow when suddenly he stiffened and collapsed on the ground, an arrow piercing his back.
"I never believed that a Ssssprite could not be only be caught off guard, but wounded by ssssuch a mundane weapon," hissed a voice from a tree. Orin watched as the person he had been searching for dropped from a tree and approached him. He struggled to remain conscious.
"Sl...Slink," he managed before he succumbed to the darkness.