The birds rose again as the sun hung steadily in the sky, and when asked if the moon appeared again, they were assured that the sun never fell below the horizon. "It was always day", as Peppi described it, "and I hope it never goes away."
Tion, with Ruffletin and Astra, stood at the base of the mountain. Gideon and the others had come with them also. The party waited for a few minutes for the rest of the flock, but it was evident that the birds of Brunehaven did not share in their leader’s enthusiasm. No others birds were present.
"Looks like you three are the only ones who showed up," said Gideon, "Sorry, Tion."
The eagle said nothing as he looked up the mountain. A expression of disappointment came over him.
"Don’t worry about those cowards," replied Peppi, " With Gabriel and that sword the bats won’t stand a chance."
"I’m hoping your right, little friend." said the snowy owl.
Suddenly up in the sky came a sound that everyone wanted to hear. To their surprise twenty-five birds landed near Tion, with wings spread and heads lowered. A hawk, named Korros, stepped forward to speak on behalf of the group.
"Forgive our delay. We have come to aid you in the battle. We are here to follow you whether we live or die. Every bird here pledges their service to you. You have led us all these years, Tion, we will not turn on you now."
The eagle nodded with appreciation.
"Where are the others?" asked Gabriel.
Not coming I’m afraid,” said Astra. “ Hagabel has much persuasion over the flock---it makes me sick. Sometimes I just want to—"
"Let’s leave Hagabel out of this." said Tion, cutting him short.
The eagle flew up unto a boulder, giving the presence of a great orator overlooking a crowd and made a quaint speech.
"Today marks a historic occasion for land walker and flyer alike. The world of night, being abolished, has given us a new beginning. The bats are strong, but we birds have our own tricks in a fight. The day is our advantage- let us take it. I thank you all for your courage and sacrifice, may none fall from the sky. Let us fly true and valiantly. Birds of Brunehaven take flight!”
A burst of bird calls erupted, but Gideon was waving his hand to get Tion’s attention.
"Calm yourself, my warriors," said the eagle, " the rabbit wishes to speak."
Gideon came forward stood by the boulder, cleared his voice, and spoke.
“In the past, and even today, I have always prayed for victory in battle. No war was won without the hand of the Holy One. I remember God in all things."
"I’m not fond of praying," replied the eagle, "Please, lead us."
Samson and Gabriel bowed their heads. Peppi, Ragel and the birds mimicked. Gideon asked for God's guidance:
"Our Lord, the Creator and Maker of everything, we come to you under this journey you have put us on to ask for your strength as we go to battle with the foe. We have no strength of our own that has not been given to us. Thank you for keeping us safe. Give us victory for Your glory. May it be all for You. Let it be done, Amen.”
The Holy One heard Gideon’s prayer, and granted favor for the battle at hand.
Confined to his lair, the unicorn was not seeing his situation favorable at all. He paced rapidly back and forward: the beast was nerved wrecked. Slavebourne and Gluttmore
stood aside watching the frantic movements of their master. After a minute or so, the wart hog leaned over to the cougar.
"You know what? I think something is bothering him,” he said in a whisper.
"I can see that," Slavebourne said rolling his eyes, " He’s afraid of something."
“AFRAID,” said the unicorn in a nasty tone, “I’m afraid of nothing!”
His voice sent chills down the spines of his minions. Gluttmore cowardly stepped behind Slavebourne. The unicorn took a moment to look deeper into his lair where all the children stayed.
His time was at hand for defeat and he knew he had little time, and with a roar he shook the lair. There was no plan that could defeat God, Ivronel knew this well enough, but his pride and conceit would not bring him to this conclusion. With a sudden jerk, he returned his focus back on the wart hog and cougar.
"Fear?" replied Dranus with a nervous tone in his voice “There is nothing to fear, for I command the land, I command this world; and I will not let it go without a fight!"
In preparation for a futile defense, Dranus ordered Gluttmore and Slavebourne to head to a region in the world of night (now know as the world of day) where few creatures dared to tread. It was a thick wood that was the abode of treacherous spiders. Among the inhabitants of the world of night this wood was commonly known as the eight-legged trap: for if any oblivious creature dared to pass in, they never came out.
In time, the cougar and warthog stood outside looking over the forest.
"I hate spiders," said Gluttmore, inspecting the canopy of spider webs.
"For once I agree with you," replied the cougar, " Come on, lets get this over with."
Twisted trees large and small huddled over one another. Cobwebs dangled from branch to branch; some covering an entire tree completely. A spider sat idle on its web until one of its threads was disturbed and it quickly retreated to a safer place amount the silky maze.
Slavebourne kept his eyes alert and his reaper ready. Gluttmore, in cowardice, walked closely behind his companion, and would frequently scolded for walking so closely. The deeper they went into the wood, the larger the spiders became: from the size of your hand to the girth of a large dog was the continuing sight.
♦
In their goings, Slavebourne and Gluttmore did their best not to disturb any particular web; for neither knew if one spider would take the chance of delivering a fatal bite, but the cautious weaving through the web was an impossible task. With webbing so
numerous, they were bound to trip some alarm and they did. Suddenly twenty fiddle back spiders sprung from within the silky labyrinth, and surrounded the two intruders, or delicacies by their notion. Other spiders great and small awaited the outcome, hoping to scavenge a piece of food afterwards. Slavebourne, seeing his reaper was useless, wasted no time in explaining the purpose of his arrival.
"We have come by Ivronel---Dranus if you prefer," he said choosing the second name with better results, " He summons you to service. Who is the leader here?"
One of the spiders, with its eight eyes, made a sweeping motion to look upward. The cougar, oblivious to the action, was startled when prompted by Gluttmore.
The cougar looked up ;and there, as large as a horse, was a gray tarantula. Its body was
large as any average horse, but its legs made him as big as a house. The hairs over his entire body were so long and shaggy that he could have been mistaken for a eight legged dog. His eight red eyes were focused on the two, but unknown to them, his sight was gone. Smaller spiders, that made their abode within his hairs, comprised an intricate system of webbing that aided this gargantuan with sight; for when a string of web was triggered he knew exactly the direction of the appointed prey.
It took sometime for Slavebourne to speak again; for being in the midst of a house sized spider would render any speechless. The tarantula finally spoke out of curiosity; the cougar gradually regained his courage.
“Why are you here,” replied the large spider with eyes blazing.
Slavebourne reiterated the message.
“Tell him I will come in time, good-bye," stated the spider, turning away.
"He wants to see you, all of you, now!" shouted the cougar.
The tarantula whipped its huge body around with such speed and potency that it sent Gluttmore and Slavebourne to the ground in terror. Taking advantage of their plight; the beast lunged, bearing his eyes inches from their faces.
"Please don’t eat us," stuttered Gluttmore, "Mercy--mercy!"
“Your plea means nothing to me,” replied the tarantula, “We will come to him. Now if you two don’t get out of here, I will have my friends tear you asunder.”
That was enough for the warthog and cougar. Out they ran without looking back, and the large tarantula, if he had lips, would have produced a large smile.