The Sky-Father Tree

Through the great arches, the troupe of four entered sacred Yrden uninterrupted, each step was a challenge, pushing through the fresh;y fallen rubble; wadding through the rust smitten air.

It was not only the storm above that struck deep inside, but Griffin of Blade's fear struck true. Here was the place that she fought her, the legendary Alpha-One, AKA Brutus the Black basilisk. Griffin dislike the thought of battling her again or even the thought of why she spared her, but lord knows, Zeta-Seven's **** would not go noticed by the imperial ministry, nor the Red God who sat on the throne through his proxy, the accursed Immortal empress.

But these waves would never be cast, this disturbance never felt, because as Griff limped numbly by the battlesight, a black bloodstain dotted in front of a crumbled structure, huge and dragged northward directly into the storm... Zeta-Seven was still ticking.

Griff was nervous, for the first time since she was a girl, years of Bullshit deception and survival, Griffin wondered if Aquilla doubted herself, if she'd fall to the pity or the poison?

_"Push on Griffin of Blades, You vowed never to fall, but fly." _She reminded herself of Solia's words, they gave her strength, as they pushed through to a hidden passage, revealing a small flowing rushing of water flowing freely down a crystal passage.

Griff's skin shone in this spiral of diamonds and obsidian, the light twinkled from unknown space, painting the route down in a sea of wonder. the red skin almost seemed to glow to the naked eye, like Aquilla and Nero were red angels, destined to walk these halls until they all came to a great diamond door.

"This is the door to the chamber of the great tree." Her fingertips kissed the face of that beautiful door, engraved with the symbols of the Sky God, the Grand sovereign. "It is sacred, a place of birth dep in the rock, the place where Ghila-Shaman, Okku-fioremika, all Litch-folk, and red devils too, especially red devils." the omnipotence in her tone was far more than palpable, the way these savages--no, proud people, told their stories, they almost swayed griff herself... but no, Griff was a woman of science, of facts, as cute as it all was, it was not a miracle.

"You got a way to open it, I'm losing feeling in my legs." It felt like the blood was rushing away like a flock of birds.

"Open beautiful, door Ghila-Shaman! Great Warrior is heavy!" Fiore spoke fiercely.

And boy did she open it, brushing its face with reverence, her lips betrayed a scarlet whisper "Khilik'chal zarfahoal, gya'ta stal'in sit'an ek, Vaako-Vollukar, taaz witchak korr tuung."

Fiore spoke the words in the following whisper, like a memory clear of the image in the pond of her mind, "Here comes destiny's divide, the one who will cast our chains aside, The Wolf of the Sky and his Beautiful bride, Grant us passage, where the red one resides."

The doors cracked open, and they were admitted inside.

Griffin was starstruck, lost in the beauty of this place. Half a mile long and wide, the Chamber sparkled with deep Azure lights, stockpiled with gems and anchors of every kind, glittering particles danced in the air with the torch bugs which buzzed in streaks of amber.

But as Griffin and Fioremika looked above, they were dazzled by nothing grander, than the great tree itself.

It was tall, so tall that its top kissed the storm above, pushing through a rocky hole where branches slithered to kiss the rust. But here were its roots, stemming a trunk so big and so thick that it could house a good dozen Litchen within the wooden womb.

The branches were many, thick but slight and whispy, blowing and twisting with the air, dancing with the numerous torch bugs, its scarlet leaves batting the air in a waltz of crimson, its deep red fruit swaying with joy.

Ghila walked freely down to the trunk, spear in hand and Griff followed gobsmacked by the beauty and glory of this mighty tree as they approached the stream that flowed at the Tree's great feet.

This was water, real clear water as if from one of the mythical springs told to Griff as a child. The pool at the heart of Fallgrim's tower was miracle enough, but this stream even solely by the look of it, was purer still.

"You must drink from spring of Great tree, and He must taste its blood, the sap of truth," Ghila explained.

Griff stroked Nero's head, looking to the west, where it opened to a hole in the mountain valley, revealing the furious rust storm which would tear the flesh of any woman who tried to enter its wrath.

"This will truly help him? Help us?" Griffin asked, sincerely and hopefully.

Fiore gave her a sturdy smile, touching her friends arm softly "Fiore knows you are scared, but Griff-Griff must have faith in us... we are our own hoard, our own family. Bound in blood and ****. Trust Fiore, Griff-griff, this is only beginning." Fiore spoke softly and truthfully, Griff could feel it in her bones, this was only the beginning.

They quickly moved to position Nero by the stream, placing him down as Griff put her cloak and helm aside, sitting on her knees and scooping up the cold clear water.

For many years she dreamt of holding a cup of water in her hands to drink, just as they said in the stories... Not even royalty cultivates water like this, only the Immortal Empress.

"Be quick and drink Devil-woman, Will need extra help in case Blood of warrior fails," Ghila warned.

Griffin of Blades was neither depth nor slow "Fails, what do you mean fails?" She asked; vexed.

"Nero will pull through, He is so strong and will be reborn stronger with the sovereign blood in his veins. Have Faith"

"I am dying, Fiore is in pain and Nero is damn near without a pulse, Pursuers are likely on our tail in the middle of a storm, trapped with no way out, does it look like we have time for faith!?"

Fiore pointed her rifle's bayonette sharply "Drink, or Fiore will sap you and feed you herself!" She demanded.

Griff blinked, that girl had a little Moxy in her after all. Griffin smiled "All bets on you kid, you better not let us down." Aquila sipped the Springwater and felt the warmth travel down to her belly, pulling her into a sweet comfort, like a father's cuddle or the smile of a lover. "Ohhh that's nice... how long does this last for?"

"About thirty seconds, be ready. Litch-folk feeds great warrior now."

Ghila and Fiore, the blood of Fallgrim's rulers, approached the tree with great respect brandishing sharp Litch-blades, pierced the side of the great tree, piercing the bark-like dry flesh, the trunk almost groaning in protest as the Shaman prayed.

"Oh Sky-Father, here us, we speak to you now in our time of need, we have proved out worthiness with blood spilt and wound tested. We need your blood to revive our warrior, the warrior you sent us, to free this world from darkness, to bring love and fertility. Grant us your blood Sky-Father so that Marte may weep again in peace."

The Tree rustled, Griff jolted, watching as from the tips of their spears, a deep red ooze climbed to the body of their weapons, dripping on sluggishly which they removed with reverence.

"Thank you for this gift Sky-Father, now our Warrior; our wolf that mounts the world, will taste the blood of Marte and become one with it's heart."

The Two swept down, blade in hand and hovered them over his mouth, the deep red mixture almost vibrating and glowing with ominous power.

"This seems, a little crazy, ladies!" Griff said, feeling the pulse in the air, the electrical hum.

The Ooze slanted, then shook before sliding down to the blade's tip, each droplet forming perfectly at the points, and as the air hummed, and power grew from unknown sources, Griffin of Blades watched as the droplets, fell into Nero's mouth and slid down his throat.