82 The Bird Cage (1/2)
The perytons retreated and regrouped deeper in the cave after witnessing their first wave burn to a crisp from Sun's attack. They rested next to a tremendous cold spring sitting under a ginormous glowing mandrake after failing to capture any of their prey, but it wasn't over yet. There was another group of goblins walking through the middle tunnel. They planned to grab and flee, but now it was to overwhelm them with numbers. Like an unstoppable tsunami, the perytons flew in such large numbers that the winds coming from the wings blew away the dust and water.
Once they reached the chamber with the large crystals, they saw the goblins huddled together underneath a large crystal leaning against the wall. Goblins with large oversized shields stood on the entrance guarding it while the goblins hid under the safety of the gem. Two glowing orbs were under the crystal, and another two orbs stood in the open, waiting for the perytons to come. A large abyss in the middle of the chamber divided the four orbs from one another.
The perytons divided into groups. One will attempt to catch the prey standing in the open, and the others fly above the goblins with the shield and snatch their prey. Stick and Smoke watched the flock of perytons separate, with one group flying towards them. ”So they did notice us. Good thing.” Stick remarked.
”What if they didn't?” Smoke rested his club on his shoulder.
”No idea what will happen,” Stick said while planting his shield on the ground. ”But since the plan is working so far, let's get ready.”
”What do you mean by so far?”
”Well, you know. Our plan didn't work out with the trolls. It might happen again. You never know.”
”I can't help but feel like that was a personal attack.”
”What? I didn't mean it that way. Besides, I said our, meaning we were all responsible.”
”Hahahahaha!” Smoke laughed, ”I was joking! Oh look, half of the perytons are flying this way.”
The perytons flew around the crystals and were forming their hunting formation when suddenly their lead flyer's antlers slammed against a hanging rope. The peryton spun around the air, trying to regain control of its body before hitting a wall. The rest of the group stopped and flew higher to assess the situation. They saw countless ropes strung together like a spider's web waiting for them to get caught. And in the center of this birdcage were the light the perytons desires.
The fallen peryton got on its feet and extended its wings while barking at the brothers. It used its wings to give the illusion of a larger frame. They were not fooled, and Smoke quickly charged at the peryton with a club on hand.
The peryton tried to block the attack with its massive wings, but the club broke through its flimsy defense and struck its skull, breaking its antlers along the way. The impact was strong enough to knock the beast unconscious. The perytons watched their packmate while floating in the air. Their strength lies in their number as well as their ability to fly. The intricate maze of rope stopped them from swarming in and prevented them from flying freely once inside the cage.
The perytons had only two options left, retreat, or fly through the web and fight to hunt their prey. They assessed the environment inside. The space in which they could fly was high enough to retreat from the goblins and large enough to fit ten of the perytons at once.
The pack made their choice, and the first wave made up of ten perytons carefully flew around the crystals and rope. Once inside, they hovered above the brothers. Their shadows swim across the ground, occasionally blanketing the goblins. Then suddenly, two perytons dived towards them with their talon opened and ready to grab them. Stick dodged the peryton's attack by rolling away.
Smoke parried the peryton's talon away and causing the peryton to lose its balance. The peryton landed on its feet, letting Smoke time to retaliate with his club. Smoke slammed his club against the peryton's wings, breaking them in half. The peryton cried in pain, but its cry was short live after Smoke smashed its lower jaw apart.
The perytons quickly descended to attack Smoke while his guard was down, but Stick protected his back with the large shield. Smoke swung his club around, swaying the perytons away from them. ”Strange, they got us beat in numbers, but they're overly careful.” Smoke said. The perytons retreated, flying higher in the air while avoiding the rope above them. ”If they want to, they could just charge at us at once and suffocate us.”
”Don't give them any ideas!”
”Like they understand what we're saying. But we can't beat them if they keep flying away from us. We need something to reach those birds.”
”Like my sickle!” Stick took his sickle out with a rope attached to its hilt. ”You might want to move, bro. I need as much space as possible.”
Smoke backed away from Stick as he spun his sickle above his head. The sickle traveled around and around, gaining speed as it rotates closer to its center while the updraft blew his clothes wildly, and his long black hair floated in the wind. Then he released his grip of the rope while moving his arm. The circle grew larger. Then Stick released the sickle towards the flock.