Chapter 5: To Fight or Not to Fight
As Warrin ran to get out of the way of the soldiers, he noticed that they were cornering Durroch in his own yard.  Warrin felt as though he had to do something to help Durroch. They had no right to interrupt him.  ‘Blazeran, we have to help him.  There has to be something that we can do.’
There is nothing that can be done now. We have to run for it. I f we are caught, that is the end of us and if he is caught, then I guess we will do as you say “cross that bridge when we get there.”  Other than that, we will just have to wait and see.  I see no other alternative for us.
Warrin knew that Blazeran was right, but he thought that they should be able to do something.  Blazeran just drew back from of the action and ran in the opposite direction.  Warrin did not understand why Blazeran was just running instead of fighting.  They made their way down the road until Blazeran heard something ahead of them.  They made it into the woods and out of sight just in time to see soldiers on their way into town.
‘This is our chance Blazeran, do you not see that?  They are going into town and after Durroch.  He has no chance with these soldiers.  They look bigger than the one’s in town. Please Blazeran.’
We could be hurt or you could be sent to prison and me to the king.  My mom would kill us both if we did help Durroch, even if it was for a good cause.  She would say that we were not ready to fight.  You have to understand…
‘NO.  You understand.  Durroch is my friend and he is in this trouble with the soldiers because of me. I say we go after those reinforcements, NOW.’
Fine if you want us killed then that is just fine.
Warrin slid off his back so that they could fight separately and then call the other if they needed any help.  Blazeran went ahead of the group so he could start there.  Warrin wanted to start from the back.  He got his knapsack out and dug for his slingshot, bow, and arrows.  He found his bow and arrows first and got ready for Blazeran’ cue.  He did not have to wait long.  Blazeran charged the soldiers and frightened them before they even knew what was going on.
Warrin stayed in the bushes hidden from the soldiers.  He raised his bow and arrow and aimed for the soldier closest to him.  Then just as he was letting the arrow fly to its mark, he whispered one single word, “Fiscka”.  The arrow was flying through the air and the arrowhead caught on fire and hurled through the soldiers chest.  Warrin could not believe it.  He got another arrow out and found that one of the soldiers was about to attack Blazeran while he was fighting a different soldier.
He aimed the arrow toward the soldier and let it go praying that it would find its mark.  He closed his eyes, prayed again, and then opened them to find that the solder was on the ground, dead.  Warrin then focused his attention to the two soldiers to his far right. They were trying to find out where the arrows were coming from.  Warrin quietly took another and arrow, set it, found it target, and then watched as the arrow reached his target with lightening speed.  It not only stopped his original target but also went through and found the soldier right behind the first.
He noticed that he had shot four soldiers down in his fight to save his friend.  He moved out of his hiding place and went closer to where Blazeran was fighting.  Blazeran had already killed four soldiers of his own and not had four surrounding him. Warrin put his bow and arrows up and walked out to the soldiers.
“Look there is a boy.” The soldier whispered to the other. “Hey, boy, this is your horse?”
“Well I’m coming for it ain’t I?  So any fool can see that it is mine.”
“Watch your mouth boy…we might just have to haul you in.  We can take your horse as well; it just killed four soldiers already.  We can haul it in and have it killed for that matter.  However…I think that we will…just take it instead.” said the second soldier “How, indeed, is it possible that you came by this magnificent animal.”
Warrin stood their searching for the right answer.  He looked into the eyes of Blazeran seeing if he would help him.  As he looked into Blazeran’ eyes, Warrin knew exactly what to say.  “Well sir, I have come down a long way from the North.  I have traveled here searching for a new home.  North is where Blaze and I come from; however, we were hoping that we could call this place our new home.  You say that Blaze attacked you.  With all due respect, I find that very hard to believe. Blaze is like a kitten. He has never hurt anyone or thing in his life.  So are you sure that he attacked you or was it you and the other soldier that attacked him.”
“How dare you!  You arrogant little …” As the soldiers tried to grab Warrin, Blazeran reared up and swung the soldiers into the air.  When the soldiers came down, the first landed on an arrow sticking out of another soldier.  The second soldier landed directly onto the first, snapping his back in two.  Warrin could not believe how karma just came back around and bit these soldiers where it counts.
The last two soldiers jumped back for away from Blazeran.  Being so scared of both Warrin and Blazeran turned and ran back toward the castle far, far away from town.  They had won their first battle but had not yet to win the war.  That, however, maybe closer than what they think.
Neither Warrin nor Blazeran had time to celebrate their victory.  They had to get back to town to save their friend, Durroch.  Warrin swung onto Blazeran and turned toward Travilamur.  They had to get there as fast as they could. Durroch might not have that much time left.  For all they knew he could be captured or even worse, dead.  Warrin tried not to think like that. Looking on the bright side, he could be alive and well.  He could have killed every single soldier that tried to kill him.  For all they knew he could be miles and miles away from Travilamur.
Blazeran ran as fast as he could.  He had the stamina to keep going but he did just use a lot of his energy fighting those soldiers on the road.  He was tired and wanted to sleep. However, he knew that he had to make it back to Travilamur in hopes that Durroch would be alive at his house and not captured.  He saw the first signs of he town and they were not good signs.  The town was up in flames, at least as much as he could see of it.  Without notice, Blazeran took to the skies and nearly scared Warrin half to death.
“What are you doing?  Someone is going to see us; we have to get back down.  NOOOO, please, Blazeran, not straight down.”  Blazeran had taken Warrin straight down and into a barrel roll. Warrin was lucky to have stayed on.
Warrin seen what Blazeran was doing, he was scoping the town, looking for Durroch.  After searching the whole town, not seeing one sign of Durroch, they started looking in the woods.  They circled around, back toward Warrin’s house and that was when they finally saw him.  He did not look hurt, just cautious.  So that they would not scare him too much they landed about a half a mile ahead of him and started to walk toward him.  He must have stopped to rest Blazeran.  We have to hurry just in case he is hurt.  Come on!  They started running in the direction that they had last seen him.
At last, they found him, he had moved fast and around them.  By the time, they had found Durroch; he was sitting on a small bolder, at the small waterfall close to Warrin’s house.  Thankfully, he was not hurt at all. However, they did happen to scare Durroch when they came up behind him.  He thought that they were more soldiers looking for him, he explained.
“I barely made it out of town when more soldiers came from the North.  The demons were leading that group.  They looked hideous.  Count yourself lucky that you were not there to see them or the damage that they were making.  Many people got hurt it was so horrible,” said Durroch.
Warrin looked at Blazeran.  He knew what had to be done.  We need to find them Blazeran.  They cannot just go roaming around like that.  Warrin knew that was what had to be done.  However, Blazeran was not thinking the same thing.
We cannot go after the demons.  Neither you nor I am ready for that.  We still have a ton of training to do.  We have to find the Elder Mystic Ryder.  However, before we can do that, you have to change your name and reveal it to no one.  The Elder must not even know it.  No one should but me.  You got that?
Warrin got it.  He still had no idea what he wanted his new name to be.  He wanted to choose something that he could live with for the rest of his life, or so he was told.  Maybe I will choose a family name, he thought.  Warrin began to think of all his ancestor’s names.  None of them seemed to fit as Warrin did.  He did not have all the time in the world, as he would have thought.  He had to choose it tonight.  Warrin knew that Blazeran was worried for his family.  He had every right to be.
Do not beat yourself up as of right now over your name.  It is true that you have to choose quickly, but not as quickly as you are thinking.  Just think of one soon Warrin.
Both Warrin and Blazeran turned their attention toward Durroch.  He was still sitting on the same rock that he was on when they had found him.  “Other than your stories, do you know why the soldiers are after you Durroch?” asked Warrin.
“That my boy is a very long story.  One that is much too long to share in one sitting.  Now, there is one thing that I want to ask you before we go to your house. Are you sure that your family is OK?  It could be that they might link you to be the one that helped me escape.  Have you given them a reason to want to hurt you or you family?”
Warrin had not thought of that until now.  Of course, he had not, but his brother had.  There very well could be soldiers at his house waiting for him.  He had to go home and warn his mother and brother.  Blazeran, we have to leave tonight.  We just got to.  I would be bringing too much of this close to my home. I could not bear to think of what would happen if they discovered that I live there.  My whole family could be in danger because of my stupidity.  We have to go to my house now.
Blazeran nodded his agreement.  Nevertheless, what are we going to do with Durroch?, asked Blazeran.
Warrin knew what he would do.  They would leave him right there.  They would make sure that he was OK and then leave.  He could not leave him at his house.  That would bring more trouble to his household.  When Blazeran was told of this plan, he was outraged.  Do not worry. I will make sure that he is OK first. I cannot just leave him at my house. What do you want me to do?  Blazeran did not know what to do. However, he did feel as if that was the wrong thing to do.
“Look, Durroch, I have to go. As soon as my mom finds out that I have no meat, she is going to kill me and I do not want you to be a witness to that.  Are you OK now?  Do you need and further assistance?”
“My boy, I am fine.  However, I do have your meat and I still think that these roads and woods are far too dangerous to be traveling alone.  I propose that I travel along with you until you get to your house.  Then I will be on my way, I promise.  Do we have a deal?”
“I think that deal is fair enough. The truth is I did not want to let you walk these woods alone.  We best be off now, you think?”
With that agreed, they set off to Warrin’s house.  With so many soldiers out on the road, they had to be extra careful.  They were all very lucky to have slipped by the soldiers patrolling the roads.  Warrin could not take this anymore.  He just hoped that everything was OK at home. They finally made it to Warrin’s house no more harmed than they already were.  “Well, as promised, I will leave you now.  I see you have a lovely home. I hope that our roads will cross again one day.  Take care now.”
“As do I, Durroch.  You are a kind man and I bid you a farewell.” Warrin watched the old man walk back into the woods, as not to be seen by the soldiers.  When he was out of sight, Warrin turned and everything seemed to appear as though nothing had happened.  Warrin hoped that it was the truth. He sent Blazeran into the barn and the proceeded to go inside the house.
However, as he was about to open the door, something stopped him. Warrin!  Do not go in there.  Something is terribly wrong.  With that, he stopped, backed away from the door and walked into the barn.  When he got there, he noticed that none of the animals was not in their places.  In fact, there were no animals in sight.  That was not normal at all.  I believe that your family is no longer in the house.  I can see that the house is empty Warrin.  We are too late.