This was a sotry a wrote quite a while ago. Decided to share. Now days I can write better but this is my work from around a year or so ago. I am working on a new story. It will be longer, it will be better, it will be....awesome! :) Anwyay enjoy and comments are good if you can actually be bothered reading the whole thing. Kthxbai

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The car rolled to a stop at the side of the road. The dry leaves crunched underneath Simon’s foot as he got out of the car. "Blast! No fuel!" yelled Simon as he slammed the door shut. Terri got out of the car and stood next to him, her shoulder hunched to the chilled wind.
Simon looked around at his surroundings. They had stopped at the edge of a forest on a gravel road. No other cars were in sight. Simon and Terri were best friends nothing more. Terri was short and fair-haired, Simon was tall and slim.
Simon peered into the trees before walking around the car to the boot. He pulled out a picnic mat and blanket and laid them next to a tree. "This isn’t really the time or place to have a picnic," joked Terri.
"We aren’t having a picnic, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s late and we have no way to get home, and my mobile’s flat!" complained Simon.
"Well one or both of us could sleep in the car," said Terri.
"No thanks, feel free yourself but I’ll sleep next to this tree." After a few minutes hesitation Terri agreed. Sleep soon came and they slept soundlessly through the night.
Simon raised himself out of his sleepy state. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his back. He realised with a start that he was no longer facing the road and the tree seemed a little bigger. The forest looked a lot more lush and green. Simon walked around the large trunk of the tree and was astonished to see neverending forest, no road, no car and no sign of civilisation.
"Wake up!" shouted Simon an attempt to rouse Terri from her slumber. As she stirred and straightened up Simon explained that something weird has happened. "This isn’t right, the car, the road, nothing. What’s going on?" he babbled on desperately. He stalked off in a worried state as Terri got up and inspected her surroundings. "Do you think someone could have moved us while we slept as some kind of sick joke? We slept on the edge of a forest anyway," stated Terri in a calm tone.
"No this forest is different, its more alive, either way we have nothing to lose by searching for the road," said Simon. After turning around on the spot Terri spoke, "what with this much forest who knows which way?"

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"OW!" exclaimed Simon as a bug bit him once again.
"You know for a football player you’re a huge wimp," joked Terri with a chuckle.
"Have you been bitten yet? No!" Simon complained as he tried to swat at a large bug flying around him. They’d been walking all day through the muddy forest floor, circumnavigating swamps and avoiding dangerous looking areas.
"We haven’t seen one sign of civilisation all day and it’s dark now," complained Simon.
"Stop complaining, lets just sleep here and continue tomorrow, after all someone could find us here by then."
They set up the blankets as before and fell asleep.
Simon was first to wake. He rose to his feet and ate some of the muesli bar he had in his pocket. Terri woke shortly and come over to where Simon was standing. Simon offered the half eaten Muesli bar to Terri who accepted it and ate it, thankful for the food.
"Come, we have got to move, hopefully we will be home by today, or at least out of this forest," Terri pointed out. They picked up the blankets and were soon in a steady rhythm of walking. It was not long before the sound of a thundering waterfall and flowing stream reached their ears. Intent on finding it they started forward hoping for drinkable water.


Guided by the sound alone , they found a small crystal clear pool with a pebble shore. A huge cliff extended upwards over which a large amount of water flowed. The runoff from the pool was a fast moving stream that could be seen twisting and winding through the trees until it turned a corner and was lost from sight.
"It’s beautiful," said Terri in a barely audible voice. Simon and Terri walked up to the waters edge and after seeing that nothing was living in it they took off their worn out shoes and plunged their feet in the cool water. The water was clean and chilled and relieved them of the pain from walking all day.
After cooling their feet, Simon decided to explore. He wandered a short way through the trees until he saw a brilliant sight. A dirt track was before him, one way lead to a large part of a river. A pole and rope on the bank indicated to them that rafts or small boats would visit here. The other track lead up the cliff and eventually levelled out where there was a double storey hut made of wood.
Simon ran back to Terri and together they walked briskly to the hut via the dirt track. They walked up to the front door and knocked. The door was different than normal, smaller, Simon and Terri would have to crouch to get through, pushing this thought out of their minds they walked around the hut after getting no answer. Terri looked irritated and said, "I need to rest I am tired."
"So am I," replied Simon. After a short discussion it was concluded that Simon would look around to find the owners of the hut and in the meantime Terri would set up a place near the hut to rest.
Simon jogged along the riverbank searching for someone, anyone. Trees flourished to his right and the river rushed past to his left. Simon stopped and put his hands on his side in an attempt to ease the stitch that had formed. Turning on the spot, Simon took a deep breath and jogged into the trees. He soon reached a small clearing with dead leaves scattered on the forest floor. He took a step forward and with a lurch was shot upward in a flurry of leaves and rope. He was soon hanging in a rope net hanging from a large tree and no matter how much strain he put on it and how hard he tried to get out it was useless, he was trapped.
Meanwhile Terri was laying down the mat they had taken with them and was attempting to smooth down a patch of ground. She hummed a tune while she worked but not before long another sound entered her thoughts, it was the metal of metal clinking and the thump of boots on hard ground. Distracted by the noise Terri rose from her work and walked to a spot where she could see the track. Around two-dozen small men where marching up the track. They were outfitted in gleaming chain metal and shinning iron greaves. From their belt hung short swords, axes, war hammers and three of them carried bows and quivers. Terri knew something was wrong before the little men did. She turned and ran just before she heard the ‘twang’ of a bowstring and an arrow embedded itself in her back and she was knocked out from the impact.

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Simon was worried, Terri would be wondering where he was, and he did say he would be only 15 minutes. However, what annoyed him most was that even if she did go looking for him he doubted she would find him. Looking for something to do he plucked at the ropes that trapped him, the rope trap was really strong and he had no such luck getting out. Simon, however, found something good in being trapped. Simon knew that eventually the person who set the trap would come check it for animals then they can go get Terri together and go home.


Simon had to sleep in the net that night, it was extremely uncomfortable but he got some sleep anyway. Early the next morning he woke to the sound of rustling leaves. Simon rubbed his eyes and looked down. A small man starred up at him, eyes wide with disbelief. The little man was outfitted in chain mail and metal greaves, 4 small axes hung at his back and a 5th much larger one on his back. Simon did not worry that the man was small or about his attire, "Help me! Can you get me out?" he pleaded desperately. The small man grasped one of the axes at his belt. With surprising strength and vigour he hurled the axe at the rope that held him up. The axe dug into a tree trunk as Simon crashed to the ground.
The man gathered his axe as Simon freed himself from the tangle of robes and straightened up. "Thank you for helping me," Simon said as the little man returned, "that’s quite a throw you got going." The little man starred at him for a long time before starting to speak in a rough, deep voice. "I am Jorough, Rebel of the race Knula. The Oracle educated me in the ways of speaking human and this is my homeland of Ramaran." Simon was thinking rapidly, he has never heard of Ramaran. "No, I live in New Zealand and I have never head of Ramaran in all of Earth let alone New Zealand."
"Earth? Hah! No, this is Arwon land of Knula!" Jorugh exclaimed raising a chain mail first and clasping it to his chest.
He pondered for a moment then spoke in a quiet tone, "You mentioned you were a Rebel Knula, what does that mean?"
"The Ramaran leaders have been assassinated, new leaders sit on the throne, these desecrators disturbed the peace of my home," he sighed then continued. "It is custom for most male Knula to become soldiers, apart from farmers and traders, and we are outfitted at 20 years of age, as we Knula stop growing then. I was part of our old leaders private guard, however after their fall I deserted the military and became my own leader."
Pulling himself together Simon raised the topic of Terri and together they walked back to where Simon left Terri. They exchanged a few casual words as they walked back. As the hut came into view Jorough came to a halt. "That is Knula military watchtower, from there sentries can overlook the whole valley, if either of us are seen we will be captured and handed over to the executers, me for treason and you for being a human," he grumbled.
"When I left no-one was there, however lets hide in the fringes of the forest just to be safe," Simon explained. They walked along the edge of the forest up to the hut. Instantly Simon knew something was wrong, Terri was nowhere in sight however the mat and blanket was crumpled up in the dirt and next to it was a large red stain. Jorough ran up to where Simon was looking at the ground as fast as his stout legs could carry him. "Oh no, it looks as if a patrol came through here, see these footprints coming then going and someone…. has been dragged off."
Simon was stung by his words; the fact that the military of this place would capture an innocent person was appalling. "Do you know where she might have been taken?" Simon asked feebly. Jorough was silent for a moment before speaking to Simon in a quiet voice "No, however I know how we can find out, there is an Oracle of this land who knows all; the past, the present and the future, we must travel to him for advice, he knows me and will help me and any of my friends, come we have already wasted too much time. We need to move."

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Simon followed Jorough back towards his traps and beyond. Jorough explained that he had set up the traps near where he was camped for a few nights. Jorough led him to a small clearing where there was a smouldering campfire, a blanket and a large backpack. He opened the pack and stored the blanket in it. He heaved the pack on his back with incredible strength as he kicked out the last dieing embers of the fire.
Simon and Jorough trekked through forests and plains of lush grass, crossed raging rivers, crept through and around towns and all the while avoiding hunting creatures. They stopped each night and ate food out of the pack Jorough carried. The whole journey took 5 days. They talked about many things and Simon learnt more about Knula and in return Jorough learnt about humans. On the 6th morning they reached the mountain range that they had seen come into view on the 5th evening. The height of them stunned Simon as if they pierced the very sky itself. "Please tell me we aren’t climbing those," Simon complained, eyes wide. Jorough emitted a bark of laughter and shook his head, "No-one could climb those peaks and live, where we need to go is just up there," Jorough pointed to a rocky crag as he spoke protruding from one of the mountains not far from the ground.
That day they climbed the foothills of the mountains and slept on the mountainside that night, halfway to the crag. When they woke the next morning they ate, freshened up and continued their climb to the crag. They reached it at midday relieved that the journey was over. The rocky outcrop was a lot larger than Simon first thought. Fog surrounded the crag giving it an eerie look but they ignored it and Simon followed Jorough around the other side of the rock. Jorough removed his largest axe , raised it high above his head and brought it down shattering a medium sized rock. The rock had a hollow in the middle filled with crystal clear liquid that he trickled into his hand. He smeared the liquid on the crag and with a deafening boom the stone shuddered and opened to reveal a huge cave.
The cave had a stone ceiling wall and floor with torches set in the ground. In the middle of the cave there was a grand gold platform with pillars encrusted with gems of sparkling beauty. However what caught Simon’s attention the most was the old man who stood on the platform. He was draped in a brilliant white robe and he had rings on all his fingers inlaid with precious looking gems.
The man inclined his head and they approached then he spoke with so much power that it didn’t seem like it was from this frail looking old man, "What do you want with the Oracle?"
Jorough spoke first before Simon had the chance, "My companion here has come into our world and his friend has been captured by the military. Have you any idea where she is?" The Oracle closed his eyes in deep concentration, " Leave me to my thoughts I will have an answer soon, in the meantime you may talk or do whatever you want though don’t disturb me." Simon and Jorough went over to a corner, sat down and started to converse in low tones.
They could hear the Oracle muttering as he pulled a red veil around the platform, hiding himself from view. After 15 minutes the Oracle removed the veil and beckoned them to come near. "I have seen your friend. She is still alive, however…she is being held in the military capital’s stronghold, in the dungeons," the Oracle told them. Jorough muttered something in Knula that Simon didn’t hear. "How do we get there?" Simon asked.
"I shall get you as close as I can without detection of the Knula spell weavers, then you must walk. Jorough knows the way. " Take this," said the oracle handing him a sword sheathed in a leather case and belt. Simon took it and found it extremely light, the blade was sturdy and shone brilliantly. "Use it well and farewell…Simon," with that he raised his arms and swirled them. Simon felt extremely light then all of a sudden weight returned and he collapsed in the grass.

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Simon was sprawled on the ground and when he woke he tried to sit up. He gasped in pain as he tried to prop himself up using his right hand. He decided it wasn’t that bad and was probably from landing on it awkwardly. Jorough was already standing next to him and Simon asked what just occurred. "The Oracle transported us closer to the Capital to save time, when and if we save Terri we need to come back to this spot and yell ‘Arash’, a Knula word which means ‘it is done’," replied Jorough. For the first time Simon realised where he was. They were on a vast plain, to their right was a forest which Simon was sure was part of the forest he had trekked through with Terri. Jorough interrupted his thoughts as he said, "come, we best be off."
They walked along the fringes of the forest until Jorough turned into the trees and continued forward. "The main road to Tongren is just through here," he explained.
"What are these forests called?"Simon asked touching one of the colossal trunks.
"These are the Navin forests which continue all the way to the ocean in the east, except for cleared out parts." Eventually the trees thinned out to show a well-worn road and on the other side crops grew and farmhouses dotted the landscape. They realised they could be easily seen now so they waited until the sun sank bellow the horizon before moving on.
They set aside the pack and hid it from view. Jorough explained he might retrieve it after they had taken Terri but may not get the opportunity. "It is still a fairly long way to Tongren, we must tread carefully." Not before long the trees thinned out then disappeared completely leaving farmland on both sides, untouched forests could be seen on the other side however they continued along the wide open path.
The night was cold and they felt it as they continued down the main path. They didn’t encounter anyone near the farms which surprised them. A stone bridge soon came into view. The gentle flow of a river was heard as well. They slowed their pace and Jorough suddenly pulled Simon off the road. "Knula eyes are better then yours, I see a Knula fishing off the bridge to the right. You should hide in the reeds on the river bank to the left." As Simon hid silently in the mud and reeds, Jorough headed up the bridge.
"Hi there what are you fishing for?" asked Jorough in Knula trying to seem cheery and conversational.
"Laraks," came the quick response. Jorough knew something was up because Laraks didn’t live in these parts and he doubted anyone would fish at night. "Ok then, good night," Jorough secretly removed a throwing axe from his belt and kept walking. It was at the base of the bridge that he heard the sound of a bowstring being released. The arrow shaft shot past his right ear and whizzed into the night. Jorough spun around and threw the axe. He heard the clang of metal on metal as it hit the fisherman’s hidden chain mail and buried itself in him. He dropped the half drawn bow and tumbled off the bridge hitting the water with a splash and sunk to the bottom.
Simon soon came onto the bridge, sword drawn. "What’s going on, why did you attack the fisherman?" Jorough pointed to the abandoned fishing rod the arrows and the bow. "He attacked first and I reacted he was either a scout or an agent I do not know. Jorough gathered the bow and arrows and threw them off the bridge. "We must continue," he said after he had disposed of the weapons.
A cloud hid the moon as they moved on; the distant lights of the capital could be seen. A large gust hit them and the clouds moved revealing the moon. Jorough and Simon stopped, not far up the road a dozen sets of armour suddenly sparkled in the moonlight. Alarmed, Simon turned to see if Jorough’s armour could also be seen, however, he was relieved to see that from travelling his was dirty and dull. "We need to get back to the river quick!" barked Jorough.
They ran back to the river and ran underneath the bridge. They both covered themselves with mud and flung themselves into the sludge. The patrol reached the bridge and Simon from under the mud could hear one of them order something. The patrol descended into the mud and started searching in the moonlight. Jorough looked around and picked up 3 large pebbles. He threw them all at once as far as he could down the river. The rocks splashed further down river. The Knula patrol stopped mid-search and with a yell from the leader they followed the sound of the rocks. Simon and Jorough quickly rose and wiped the worst of the mud from their faces. They raised themselves from the riverbed and ran down the road.
They ran until they knew the patrol would no longer bother them. The lights of the nearing city loomed ever closer. Jorough decided that they should hide behind some hay bales until morning then try and find a way in. They crossed to a farm near enough to the city that they could see what was going on in the morning though escape detection of guards posted near the city. They slept in the hay bales. It was hot and scratchy however Simon got some sleep nevertheless.
When the sun rose the next morning Simon was happy for a reason to get up and stretch his limbs. The night before was a rough one. Simon peeked out of his hiding place and saw the city of Tongren in full view. A large wooden wall surrounded the outer suburbs. Inside the wooden wall was a hill with a huge stronghold in the center. The outer suburbs were shabby looking wood houses, the inner suburbs consisted of barracks and larger, stone houses. Nearby on the road two powerful looking beasts pulled a wagon fill of dead livestock, an idea hit Simon and he quickly told Jorough. Dashing from their hiding place they ran up behind the wagon, crawled in and buried themselves in the animals.

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Simon was barely breathing as they reached the city gates, Simon could see six sentries on the top of the gate and two on each side on the ground. He covered himself better as they passed the passive guards. They passed through the gate with no trouble and into the city. They waited until they were in a quiet alley then slipped out of their hiding place and the driver continued unawares.
They strayed for a second then darted between two huts. Hiding in the shadows they waited until nightfall. Darting from one house to another to avoiding staying in the open too long, they reached the stronghold without any trouble. Once they arrived at the stronghold Simon was shocked by its fortifications. Over a dozen men guarded the doors. "Come, I have a plan to get in," Jorough told Simon. They walked into an alley and found a wagon. Jorough removed 4 long urns from under his shirt. He put the urns on the wagon and took an oil lamp that hung outside a house then threw it at the wagon which instantly ignited. Jorough grabbed Simon’s arm and they ran back to a place where they could see the entrance.
They sat and waited for a few seconds until suddenly 4 huge explosions sounded from the wagon. They watched as the guards ran to the sound. Sprinting forward they opened the door and slipped inside. They were in a long, high ceiling corridor. At the end there was a spiral staircase. Jorough walked to the staircase and descended, Simon on his heels. On the bottom floor was a solid looking wooden door with a large bolt.
Sliding back the bolt they opened the door. The guards had deserted the dungeons when the explosion went off so they had no worries looking around. On both walls solid metal doors stretched down the hallway with wooden levers situated in the intervals between doors. Peering through the bars on the doors eventually they found Terri. Simon pushed down on the lever and the door flew upwards. Terri was lying on her side and she didn’t wake when Simon shook her. "She must be unconscious but never mind that, we have to go," Joroguh said as he scooped her up over his shoulder.
They climbed the staircase and ran through the far door. Jorough and Simon ran into a stable. The stable owner was there though when Jorough and Simon entered he was balled over and knocked out. Quickly Jorough jumped onto one of the same beasts that had towed the wagon they used to get into Tongren. He pushed Terri on the back and tied her on. He then got another of the four-legged masculine beasts and handed it to Simon who mounted and together they rode out of the stable.
The beasts moved them along at a fast pace but they came to a stop when they encountered a wall of spearman at the only exit of Tongren. Arches rushed onto the top of the gate and drew arrows on their bows. Jorough grasped two throwing axes and hurled at the two middle men. The two spearmen collapsed from the throw and they escaped through the temporary gap in their formation.
They were through the gates and racing down the road. All of a sudden the sound of over a hundred arrows slicing through the air blocked out their cries of delight. Jorough’s beast was hit twice and Simons three times but their tough hides shielded them and they kept running. "ARGH!!" Simons scream pierced the air as one of the arrows struck his leg. Simon collapsed in the saddle and Jorough had to grab its’ reins to keep it from going off the road.
Jorough spurred the beasts as fast as he could along the compacted ground. The farmland to their right disappeared and was replaced by trees. He turned the animals into the trees and in no time they were galloping along the plain. He returned to where they had been transported by the Oracle. He jumped off his beast and pulled Terri and Simon off as well. Holding on to them as best he could he yelled, "Arash!" Once again they felt weightless until they dropped onto the stone floor of the cave.

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Jorough stumbled under their weight as he helped them to the Oracle. The Oracle rushed over with a bubbling liquid in a vial. "I have been watching your progress. The arrow was poisoned." The Oracle bent down and removed the arrow from Simon’s leg. Then he poured some of the potion on the wound and the rest he tipped down Simon’s throat. Simon opened his eyes feebly, "Thank you." ‘BOOM!’ the wall of the cave crashed open and a band of Knula streamed through the hole led by a Knula in gold armour.
Jorough’s eyes shone with ferocity as he snarled, "The King." The Oracle moved swiftly, picking up Terri and moving her to a safe spot. Next he sat on the platform and a shining barrier formed around the platform and he muttered fast in a strange language. Jorough removed his large axe and told Simon, "The Oracle can not help at this time, he is making a way home for you we need to protect him while he works."
Simon removed his sword from its’ sheath and waited for the Knula to come near. A small group surrounded Simon and another Jorough. Simon parried blows from the Knula and he could hear Jorough yelling nearby. Simon sliced and cut, parried and dodged. Anything to keep himself alive. Jorough turned to see someone creeping up on Simon. He swung his axe and he crumpled under the blow. They went back-to-back Simon protecting Jorough, Jorough protecting Simon.
The Knula held back for they knew they were not making progress. The king then approached surrounded by men in black armour. Simon and Jorough got ready for the attack. The first line of black armoured men attacked. Simon and Jorough fought them off even when they thought they were beat. The men returned to their king and then the king alone stepped up for the challenge. He removed a sword from his belt and advanced on them. Simon swung at the king who parried. The clang of metal echoed through the cavern as the two blades struck. Jorough attacked and the king dodged the blow and hit him in the chest. Jorough was knocked backwards from the blow but was not injured. Just then a golden light filled the cavern as the Oracle cried out in success.




The Oracle removed the barrier from the platform. Inside it was a huge golden rift that the Oracle created. "Grab Terri and run!" shouted Jorough. Simon darted between a few Knula and rushed to the platform where Terri lay. Hey put her arm around his shoulder and he dragged Terri to the portal. He turned just in time to see the Oracle cast some sort of magic at the Knula king. A look of surprise flashed across his face before he was reduced to a pile of ashes. Jorough cheered and waved Simon goodbye.
Simon stepped into the portal and darkness swallowed him and Terri. Soon the darkness subsided and they were lying in the dirt beside Simon’s car. Terri regained consciousness just then and they clambered into the car. "What just happened?" asked Terri, "I felt if I was sleeping for weeks." Simon looked at the scar on his leg and then the sword that was attached to his belt, "trust me you wouldn’t believe me if I told you."