Chapter 5: Merging

Once Alex touched the light it enveloped him. And for a moment all he saw was color and his incorporeal form felt an immense power. It burned like molten magma within him. Threatening to destroy him at any moment. Like a torrent; it battered and started to crush him.

A arm...a person pulled him out of the power.

Alex lay in the fields of grass breathing heavily still remembering the pain. After what seemed like days he regained his senses and sat up looking around. Green, beautiful fields with rolling hills with a breathtaking blue sky. One other being was within the field. Baerlain.

“Good to see you survived the merging.” he said with a smile looking down to the sitting Alex.

Alex rubbing his head, muttered. “Merging with what?”

Keeping the smile he help Alex up.

“Well with this world of course.” he said dusting Alex’s left shoulder.

“What do you mean exactly…” Alex said looking cautiously toward the person who he thought may be a friend.

“Oh, you know, you don't need the capsule to come to this dimension anymore!” he said with a clap and a spin.

“I am still able to go back...right?” Alex was starting to understand he thought at least he was.

Baerlain rub his chin at the question. That scared Alex. He looked Alex in the eye and said “Nope.”

Alex fell to his knees his shoulders slumped head hanging.

“I will not be able to see my daughter anymore...my sister...my friends…” Tears started to fall down his face and the blue sky was replaced with rain clouds. Lightning hit right next to Baerlain.

Alex looked up at him. Anger filled him and he felt for the power he felt once before and found it. It was not as painful as before.

He jumped off the ground grabbing Baerlain by the throat. The air around him cracked,creating sparks and flames that appeared and disappeared just as fast they could leaving only after images.

“YOU DID THIS!!” Alex shouted at the choking Baerlain. Baerlain tried to speak but Alex tightened his grip. The ground started to turn into mud and the once verdant green fields now were ablaze. Thunder shook the ground.

Baerlain had something to say before he went but as it was now he could not. So he lifted his right arm weakly and put his thumb on Alex’s head. only for a moment then his hand fell...lifeless.

Alex laid him down. “Damn it old man.Should have reminded me of that before I... destroyed you.” His anger started to subside to the waves of sadness. He sat and cried next to the disappearing body of Baerlain the God of Life, ‘once’ King of the Gods.

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Alex was once again in his body. Not even a minute after his departure. In real time but there it was hours.

Alex looked to the lion-man and his catwoman spouse. “What are your names.”

The lion-man blinked and replied. “My name is Victor Lionpaw and my wife here is Amelia Lionpaw.” trying to add pride into his voice when he told his wifes name.”

“My name is Alex, and this pup is Weylyn.” Alex introduced him and Weylyn. It was long past civility but he had to move his mind to some other thoughts.

Victor nodded his head as if agreeing to something.

“I should clear this up. I did not touch Amelia.” Alex said pointing at the young woman snoozing away on her husbands lap. He wore leather pants and a leather tunic of low quality.

“I... I saw her naked and changing into you clothes…” he mumbled.

“I understand…” Alex said shaking his head ever so slightly in agreement.

“Do you have a village near here?” Alex asked.

Victor nodded. “It’s only another days walk to the north of here.”

Alex nodded his head, stroking his beard in thought.

“I can lead you there.” Victor paused for a moment deciding to add onto what he wanted to say. “But my people do not like outsiders...humans most definitely.”He paused and added as too reassure himself added ”but you saved Amelia so they should soften up toward you.” He looked down toward his wife with loving eyes.

Alex smirked and thought “I use to look at Christina like that.”

“Sure. And I promise to not destroy them if they attack me, on my honour.”

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As they made their small journey toward the town...well more like a small city by what the couple talked of it. So I shall give *pardon my term* “the low down” on it. The name is The Forest Home.

Inhabitants are a mix between tribes of animal-humanoid and elven races. The more pronounced of the two are the Wood Elves then close behind are the Feline species and last but not extinct it was the Canine species.

The Wood Elves first built the city by singing to the trees. Combining magic and some ancient elven language that has the ability to communicate with nature they formed walls and homes. But they lacked in martial skill which was found in the nearby warring tribes of Feline and Canine races. The Wood Elves were after many botched attempts able to make a fragile peace. This peace was tested when the humans tried to expand into The Great Wood.

They were drove back and it strengthened the bond between the three races. Which leads into the arrival of Alex and his companion Weylyn.

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The four travelers were seen long before the neared the city of The Forest Home. A male human is what really caught the attention of the wood elf scout.

“I must report this.” the thought jumping from redwood to redwood toward the village.

He neared the city minutes later hopping onto the barracks tree. One of the four spread in the four cardinal directions. The city was built into two layers. The ground layer was for shops and the occasional resident not wishing to live within the trees. Then was the layer of homes,with the military building at the edge and the council hall in the middle.*a/n Think Kashyyyk and Lothlórien combined architecture*

The young elven woman scout barged into the dining hall of the barracks calling “Captain! Urgent new!” The wood made little noise to her skipping run towards a scared elven warrior sitting at the head of the table on the opposite side of the hall.

“Yes,Scout Meralia?” he said looking up from his wooden bowl of fruits and nuts.

“A human was spotted to the south,sir.” she said making a bow.

“A human huh…” The Captain thought for a moment. “We shall go and greet the human.” He said with a toothy grin. The soldier within the hall cheered lifting their steins.

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Alex walked comfortably behind Victor and Amelia, they were holding hands and Amelia seemed to be humming a song. Alex was playing with Weylyn who has grown over night. He was closing in on his knee which was a large jump from being ankle high the day before. Alex toss a nearby stick. It flew a few paces and landed and Weylyn chased after it picked it up and pranced back.

Weylyn handed the stick to Alex for him to throw it again. But before Alex could throw it he smelt something.

“Alex there are many people surrounding us!” Weylyn said scared looking around into the surrounding redwood.

Victor and Amelia heard Weylyn and back to Alex and seemed to try and guard him.

“Just the other day they called me a monster and tried to kill me...am I a good person or am I just that scary?” Alex thought looking at the couple. Amelia had her claws out and Victor had Alex’s dagger in his right hand while his left hand claws were extended.

A grizzled warrior around the height of Alex. Stepped into the open from behind a near by redwood in front of the group. He wore steel mail seeming to be inlaid with the blueish glow of mithril. The mail was tucked into his steel plated trousers which too had mithril inlay. It did not seem very artistic but the functionality was for that of war.

His facial features were strong. He was an elf but none of the beauty was left as a scar marked his left eye which was covered in a red eyepatch. Parts of his long pointed ears were marred with pieces seemingly bitten off. All in all he seemed to be an old warrior.

“Human! Why do you dare trespass into the lands of the Woodland Peoples!” He demanded.

“This is bad.” Amelia wispered

Alex raised an eyebrow.”Never use to do that…”Alex thought to himself.

Victor noticed and whispered to Alex.” He is known for his cruelty towards humans.”

“Ah..” Alex said shaking his head. Then called back. “What makes you think i am human?”

The elf smiled “Because i have killed many humans. And i am about to add another!” He laughed.

“You can try...You and your whole damn army,but let these kids get out of here don't want them to see what is about to happen!” Alex smiled back at the elf.

The elf thought for a moment and answered. “Sure,I know those two. And the pup does seem to not be old enough to have sport in killing.”

“Off you all go then...don't look back you wont like what you see.” he whispered to the couple then looked to Weylyn. “I want you to go with them. I will see you at the south gate later today if i don't catch up to you.”

Amelia and Victor tried to rebuke his decision but he pushed them on.

“Go or I will throw you. ”

They sadly nodded their heads and hurried off with Weylyn close behind. They started to near the gate when Amelia said.

“I am sorry Weylyn that your friend is dead.” A tears started to flow down her cheek and Victor held his wife.

“Alex die?” Weylyn chuckled.

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The Captain motioned for Scout Meralia to come to him. She jumped down from a near by tree and went the captain.

“Make sure they get to the city and watch their movement.” he ordered and she nodded in compliance and jumped back into the trees.

“How do you wish to die human!” The captain said drawing his sword.

“I think this might be a good time to test my ability.” Alex thought.

“How many men do you have?” Alex asked

“Why do you need to know?” The captain barked back.

“Well I need to know how many condolences letters I will have to write and send to their loved ones.” He said with a cocky smile.

The forest seemed to laugh.

“Around 250!” The captain laughed walking toward Alex.

“Only?” Alex frowned.

“Attack!” The captain yelled.

Arrows rained down upon him. After ten minutes the archers ended their bombardment.

Shocked gasps left the lips of all the attacking soldiers. Alex smiled and yelled. “Stop throwing pebbles and hit me!”

One-hundred and eighty-five infantry charged. They all and iron mail chest armour and leather trousers with short swords and a medium size shields with a green tree painted on the outside. The first to reach him was a large black warg-man with drool dripping down his chin.

He swung his sword wildly hitting Alex on the side of the head, shattering the blade. Alex grabbed the shield and flung it away from the wargs chest. Flattening his hand, he shot it forward entering the beast-man’s heart cavity and ripped it’s heart out. He tossed the heart and body aside reading the rest of his enemies.

He smirked. “Now it’s my turn to charge.”

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Alex neared the gate and heard Weylyn say. “Alex die.” while chuckling.

Alex slowed down to a walk before they saw him. He had time to find a small lake and clean off the blood from the ‘battle’. “I hope having to turn into him will not be a habit.” he thought solemnly as he neared the crying couple.

“Hey everyone.” He said waving with a frown.

The couple were shocked to see him once again. Even the little elf woman hinding within the nearby trees was as well.

“I left only one survivor...sorry.” He looked down in shame. “I need to learn to control some of this power.” he added sadly.

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Meralia left her post to check on her comrades. Thinking what she saw was a ghost. She arrived soon seeing that he was not bluffing. Everyone was dead and the battleground was covered in blood . But they were lined up on the ground as if he was trying to make it easier to find the bodies for a passing patrol.

She checked the bodies of her old comrades to see how they died. Night neared when she finished looking through the dead. They all had their hearts removed and placed at the feet of the dead captain who was beaten to a bloody pulp.

The End of Chapter 5: Merging

Author Note

I ended this a page light :( sorry. I was writing and found a fine cliffhanger that was not to much of a dick move and I have to think on how to get him to a human settlement. who will train him,how he will keep from destroying the town once Meralia reports what she found and who did it to the council and such.

Hope you all enjoy.

p.s. I might have mucked up some of the descriptions by making them too broad. Sorry if you noticed that as well.