Part Two: The Beetle

She squinted her eyes in the darkness, peering into the distance through the mist, towards it. The spire stretched upward, silhouetted, obscured, its shape shifting behind the veiled layers of fog as they lazily glided back and forth. Its top disappeared into the dark clouds, unimpeded by their oppressive weight as they hung low over the world; an occasional flash of light; a sudden, intense glow from within their depths and a low growl to remind all of their power.

She lurched sideways, caught by a sudden blast of wind. Another grabbed her, an invisible hand, crushing her in a fist of competing air pressures, and tossed her spiralling downward. Her mind reeled as she struggled to regain control. Below the sea of green seemed to rise, clawing its way up towards her, long fingers thrashing back and forth, grasping wildly at the air. The waves danced and undulated, one moment together, almost hypnotic, the next in unruly discord, choreographed by their temperamental conductor, sending up a green spray, needle like, that danced in his arms before being let loose, and dropping down beneath their swaying tips. Another gust caught her, heaving her upward. She looked down, the green fingers softly screaming in protest as she was pulled upward back into the sky, away from them.

A pocket of still air gave her a momentary chance to regain control, and she pressed forward again, flying toward the spire. She kept her eyes fixed on it. At this distance it seemed to stand motionless, unaffected by the tumultuous weather. It stood upright and proud, like a militant commander, above an endless mass of marching soldiers below, the winds carrying his command through the thick air. She faltered, she feared him, but knew she must take refuge from the weather. If she could reach the spire she knew the illusion would slip away, for that’s all she feared, and she could find respite there from the winds.

Something flashed by her, disappearing into the green mass below. Another hurtled down in front of her; another grazed her wing, sending up a cold mist, as it plunged downward. Suddenly, with a brilliant flash and a great shout, the clouds above exploded, sending out a burst of shimmering, transparent flak. She flung herself from side to side, diving then climbing sharply again, dodging the bits of falling cloud. They whizzed by, one after another, on top of another, encasing her, trapping her in a cage of shifting bars. Another flash of light from above— the plummeting crystal orbs surrounding her caught the light, spraying it outward again, blinding her. Her body shook violently as one struck her. Cold, wet, she spiralled downward. Her muscles tensed as her wings quickened their pace, beating with a more hurried thrumming. She regained control once again.

The spire loomed closer now, she was nearly there. Through the mist and rain she could make out his features better now. Like thousands of twisted, ugly arms, his branches jutted out in all directions, covered in needles like course hair. Water cascaded down his gnarled bark. She hurtled herself inward, taking refuge under a branch, huddled close against his trunk. He shook angrily, throwing her off. She tumbled downward, the wind violently shaking his branches all around her. They swung at her, grabbing, striking, and throwing her to the ground. She struck the dirt of the forest floor. Picking herself up, she crawled towards one of his roots, slipping underneath it as it burst from the ground, arching upward, before plunging back down into the muddied earth.

She dug, all six limbs ripping up dirt and rotting plant as she tunnelled beneath the root. Deeper and deeper she clawed her way into the earth, trying to escape the violent wind and rain. She heard him moan indifferently from above, insensitive to her plight. She felt a cold rush as rain water flooded her tunnel, engulfing her in a wet, soggy quagmire. The water seeped through the dirt all around her, softening it, loosening it.

He moaned louder now, staggering sideways. She could feel the earth around her opening up slightly. More rain rushed in, tearing apart his foot hold. Then, almost silently, he began to fall. The earth loosed its grip on his roots. Slowly the great beast stumbled, striking the ground with a deafening THUD!