Month: April 2017

       The Magician’s War (Chapter 9)

It was early morning by this sea.

Nothing threatening to see.

Time for breakfast and some rest.

So far, they had stood the test.

After breakfast, they went down the shore.

They went into the woods some more.

Making their way around some cliffs.

The woods were spooky, with a little mist.

A giant porcupine blocked their trail.

About as big as the panthers, including its tail.

Eros leaped and crushed its scull with a bite.

Got quills in its paw and snout. What a sight.

Anika used the healing stone to de-quill him.

He was feeling a little better then.

But, soon, he fell over with a seizure.

Also, frothing at the mouth. Poison, she feared.

If the stone didn’t work, what could she do?

Then, the glow of the amulet came through.

It was shinning bright in her pack.

She took it out. She held it over the cat.

A light shot down and liquid flowed out.

Right into the big cat’s mouth.

The cat lie still for a little while.

Then, got up with a purring smile.

He indicated that he now felt fine.

The amulet had counteracted the poison in time.

Further along, they came to the sea again.

They followed it along for awhile. Then.

They saw an old, rotting ship up on shore.

It looked to be rotten to the core.

They got close to have a look.

Then the ship trembled and shook.

Out poured skeletons waving swords and knives.

Maybe a hundred of them. What a prize.

They attacked them all right away.

There was no time to get away.

Anika drew her sword.

The ringing stopped the hoard.

Then, the battle was on, full force.

The panthers and Pern fought too, of course.

Pern grabbed a skull and flew high.

Dropped it on the rocks with a cry.

The panthers were grabbing skeletons right and left.

Ripping them apart, smashing the bones to death.

Anika was fighting for all she was worth.

Smashing the skeletons into the earth.

All the skeletons were backed against a rock cliff.

Anika used her wand and said “Impacto Bit.”

The skeletons all flew against the cliff.

On impact, they were smashed to bits.

Some bone parts still moved, but very little.

Everywhere, the sand was riddled.

She used the healing stone on all, but Pern.

The ship fell apart, like run through a churn.

They heard cries and noises in the woods.

They ran down the beach as fast as they could.

After awhile, they found the next portal.

They went through into a rain storm, though.

What happened in Level Of Hell # 6,

will be told when I get back to this.

—————————————-R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

 

       The Magician’s War (Chapter 8)

The 4^th Level Of Hell was pitch black.

Anika gave all night vision sight for that.

The panthers instantly turned black again.

What they saw looked pretty grim.

Barren land with many crags and boulders.

Like it was wrecked by a bull dozer

The sun seldom shined on this planet.

All was dark, even the granite.

The wand indicated the way to go.

It was time to start this little show.

They came to a narrow pass.

Looked like a cave, but rather crass.

High cliffs on each side coming closer at the top.

With a very narrow passage. Dead end, or not??

They started on their way through.

Then, overhead, something flew.

They saw indescribable critters everywhere.

Outlined in a violet glow that would scare.

All looked deadly in multiple ways.

They were approaching on their prey.

Anika pulled out her sword and frowned.

The sound of the sword echoed all around.

She knew she could make a bright light.

But, that would destroy their precious sight.

She hacked and chopped and cut her way.

The others fought like hell that day.

The panthers were raising holy hell.

Pern was attacking flying things as well.

They made it a long distance down the pass.

To many critters. They were trapped, at last.

They knew the ending was coming soon.

Then, something changed. They had room.

The critters were all going away.

Light was coming in. It was day.

They ran out the end of the pass.

The portal was close now, at last.

They saw the path of the sun.

Only up for a very short run.

Then darkness would come again.

The next time, it would be the end.

They saw the portal open wide.

They ran through to the other side.

The 5^th Level Of Hell opened to a sea.

They were on shore, but they could see.

What happened here I can’t now repeat.

I will tell you next time we meet.

———————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

            The Magician’s War (Chapter 7)

Anika opened the portal and they jumped through.

What a shock. From desert heat to where snow blew.

They were all shivering, from their heads to their feet.

She made a bubble to keep in their body heat.

She said “Magnifico” to get a better look.

It brought things closer. Worse than a book.

They saw snow, glaciers, a white, frozen waste.

Very rough travel. They were in no haste.

The black panthers really stood out.

Anika magically changed all but their snout.

They were now pure white snow cats.

The panthers were not too happy with that.

They understood why and went along.

Off they went singing a song.

Indications were they didn’t have far to go.

The problem was progress was real slow.

Then, up ahead, a gigantic polar bear.

He popped up right out of nowhere.

He had a giant mouth lined with sharp teeth.

Huge claws with barbs, and a mean streak.

He roared, charged and hit the shield.

He hit it several times. It wouldn’t yield.

Anika pointed her wand and said “Vibratis.”

An avalanche came down to overtake us.

It took the huge bear far below.

The shield protected them from the snow.

The panthers dug us out, like from a mine.

Pern on her shoulder all the time.

They came to a deep chasm they had to cross.

A glacier  was beyond, covered with frost.

She would have to fly across, she found.

Each panther weighed about 400 pounds.

Pern could fly across with ease.

For the panthers, it would be a squeeze.

She wrapped both in a tight magical loop.

They flew across as a group.

She couldn’t maintain flight for long.

It was a drain, but she was strong.

They made it with space to spare.

The panthers didn’t like it in the air.

They were very close to their goal now.

Then, they heard a terrible howl.

An abominable snowman ahead.

About 15 feet tall from foot to head.

The panthers charged and took out his legs.

Pern ripped his eyes. He howled and begged.

The panthers next ripped out his throat.

He died fast, lots of blood on his coat.

The portal was just beyond.

Anika opened it with her wand.

They all passed through.

It was pitch black that they walked into.

What was there will be told later.

I hope it’s not a nasty gator.

—————————————-R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

 

The Magician’s War (Chapter Five)

They woke up feeling a little woozy.

They were bound in a web that was gooey.

Anika grabbed her wand and said “Ashe.”

The web became ash and they fell to the grass.

The breath was knocked out of her.

A giant spider was dropping like a blur.

Her mind turned her wand to a lance,

before the spider put her in a trance.

The spider impaled itself on the lance.

She said ‘Deflecto”, when she had the chance.

The spider exploded, flinging goo and venom.

They were protected, all deflected from them.

They took off running like hell.

Soon, a huge beast, lions head, and cheetah

hindquarters was closing in. He would eat, yeah.

Anika pointed her wand. Then she could see

a portal opening in a stand of trees.

They all dove through at the same time.

The portal slammed closed, right behind.

The beast slammed into a big tree.

The force that he hit threw him back, you see.

It’s scull was crushed. Dead. That was plain.

It was not feeling any pain.

Anika and the panthers fell into a lake.

Would a watery grave be their fate?

They started swimming for shore.

A sea serpent surfaced, wanting more.

Anika pointed her wand and said “Repeller.”

A huge wave of water rose and repelled

the beat, leaving a waterless path to shore.

They ran to the beach, wet, and a little sore.

So began their first day in The Second Level Of Hell.

What else would happen, right now, I can’t tell.

————————————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)

 

 

 

     The Magician’s War (Chapter 6)

As they lay breathless on the shore,

the water slammed together once more.

They moved off to a stand of trees.

They were enjoying the light breeze.

They decided to have their lunch.

They ate leftovers. They had a bunch.

Preserved by magic, it tasted fresh.

They relaxed and caught their breath.

One panther was named Eros, the other Ra.

The eagle was named Pern. He gave a caw.

Identical panthers, Anika could tell

which was which by their mental meld.

Soon, Pern let out a screech and took to air.

They were surrounded everywhere.

Giant black ants, about two feet high each.

They were moving in for a lunch to eat.

Anika drew her sword that was on her back.

She gave the first ant a vicious whack.

Lopped off his head with a single blow.

Each panther grabbed an ant. They weren’t slow.

Pern swooped down and tore out ant eyes.

They fought like hell, because it meant their lives.

Anika slaughtered ants right and left.

Chopping, cutting, obliterating the pests.

All of them did their part.

Soon, they were surrounded with ant parts.

They got their stuff and moved out fast.

They didn’t see any ants on their ass.

They traveled many miles without a problem.

They came to a desert to cross. How then?

They packed all the water they could.

Off they went, she pulled up her hood.

A day later, they found possible ruins?

They were mounds in a circle. Pern flew in.

Nothing moved. It looked deserted.

There was a well. Or something converted?

There was water in what was a well.

She purified it with magic. It was swell.

Then, they started to look around.

There was movement in one of the mounds.

Little pigmy people. A whole village.

They didn’t look like they would pillage.

Through magic they could communicate.

They were desert dwellers called Lumicates.

Natives to this world. The desert was safe.

They moved here so ‘the change’ didn’t overtake.

800 seasons ago, everything was changed.

That was all they could explain.

Anika knew what change took place.

It was made over by magic in their wake.

Her wand said they were close to a portal.

She didn’t mention this to these mortals.

They rested and spent the night.

The chief gave them a magic light.

A stone that glowed when touched.

The pigmy’s had found it in the rough.

Anika knew it was an amulet.

It had powers beyond being lit.

Next day they headed for the next portal.

 The 3^rd Level Of Hell awaits the 4 of you.

But, that is a future story to tell.

When we talk about the 3^rd Level Of Hell.

——————————————-R.W. Johnson—–(2017)