Ultimus Chapter 9: The Hunted Part One

Andrew ran through the forest, they had been going down the path for what seemed to be hours. The dark, lush conifer forest was beautiful, but you can get lost easily inside. Which is why he stayed on the path. Whether it was longer to continue on the path, it was the safest route to take. He continued down the path for a little bit longer. His thoughts began to wander though. His stomach growled and his legs began to shake. Andrew forgot to eat anything since he woke up yesterday. But even if he did, he wasn’t sure if anything back in the house was edible, even MREs would be completely inedible at this point. He would have to hunt something down. But he didn’t want to leave the path. Luckily for him, it seemed he wouldn’t have to.

Off the path to Andrew’s left was group of what looked like deer or elk with moose like antlers. They were only about 25 or so feet off the path. The deer’s were looking at him straight on before lowering their heads to graze. Andrew saw them and was in awe. He thought that they must have never seen a human before so they had no son to fear him. They were majestic in the evening sunlight. But beauty had to take a step behind hunger.

Andrew grabbed the sling of his rifle from his right shoulder and put the weapon’s stock to his shoulder. He began trying to aim the weapon at one of the deer with the antlers. He was sure which eye to use so he used the right one. He adjusted his aim for a moment until he felt it was a good place to hit. He aimed for the shoulders of the animal and pulled the trigger slowly. The gun fired and knocked Andrew down to the ground from the surprise of the kick. He looked and saw that on the deer jumped and began running away, soon all the deer ran away with the one he hit. Andrew quickly got up, put the rifle on his shoulder and began to follow them off the path.

Andrew following adventure soon stopped as he watch a creature jump out from one of the trees and tackle the deer he shot. It quickly immobilized it and killed it. Andrew was struck with fear by the animal. It was as large as a bear and looked like a tiger mixed with a bear. It got up and began tearing the deer open and eating it. Andrew took a step back and heard a loud snap. Andrew looked down and saw that he had stepped on large, old branch that cracked under his weight. Andrew looked back and saw the creature lowered and prowling its way towards him. Andrew looked quickly over at Reuben and swung the rifle off his shoulder again.

“Reuben, Go!!!” Andrew commanded, and Reuben quickly ran away behind him somewhere. Andrew put the rifle to his shoulder again, aimed and fired it. It his the creature and it staggered for a moment before charging at him. Andrew aimed again and fired a second and third shot at the creature. But it didn’t stop and continued to charge him at full speed. The beast reach Andrew and swiped him in the chest with its arm and claws. Andrew flew from the force of the hit and slammed into a tree…

Ultimus Chapter 9: The Hunted Part Two

Rifle still in hand but dazed, Andrew looked down to see how much he was bleeding. Thinking he was going to die. However, there wasn’t any blood, not even a scratch in the suit. It withstood the swipe from the creature. Andrew looked up and saw the creature pacing back and forth around him, planning its next move. The creature then charged again and Andrew lifted the gun up and took aim. The creature charge and ran right on top of Andrew and mouth opened as Andrew aimed. The muzzle of the rifle went right into the mouth of the creature and it struggled to get it out. Andrew panicked and began firing shots.

Bang, Bang, Bang!!

Andrew fired three shots before he noticed that only one shot did the job. The creature’s body laid on top of him lifeless. The muzzle of the gun still in its mouth. A large hole was in the back of the head of the animal. Andrew slowly slipped out from underneath it and looked at it. He had bagged a large animal and had two carcasses to use now. Andrew looked back at the deer, it already cut and ready for harvesting from. He looked around and saw Reuben lying down about fifty to a hundred feet away over on the path.

“Reuben, Come!” Andrew said and Reuben quickly got up and walked over to him. Andrew began shaking, he knelt down and hugged Reuben. He thought he was going to die and never see him again. He held Reuben tightly for a while.

Andrew got up and looked at the beast he killed again. He saw the large sharp claws it had on its front paws and an idea came to Andrew. He looked at Reuben.

“I think we’ll be fine for food for a while. Let’s get a fire started.” Andrew said.

* * * *

Andrew sat near a fire he started and watched as the second batch of deer meat cooked overhead of the fire. He was eating the first batch as he watched the second batch. The cooked meat tasted so good, it was slightly burnt but he didn’t care. He hadn’t eaten anything for almost two days. Whatever he felt he couldn’t eat or had any bones, he gave to Reuben.

Andrew noticed the fire was beginning to fade. He got up and began to walk down the path to find good fire wood. As he searched, he found out the path forked into two and a post stood in between. He began collecting around this fork for logs and branches that were the most fresh and best to use for firewood. He walked past the post and heard a metal clang. He looked down and saw a sign laying on the ground. It was extremely faded, but he could still read what it once said. Their was directions to Benjamin’s Inn, the Solar Zorro Squadron Memorial and… the Park Entrance and Visitor Center!! They were only fifteen miles to the right from them!!! Andrew got excited and ran back to Reuben and the meat. He was going to finish cooking what was on the spit and hurry to the Entrance.

Riddles of the Phoenixes series

The War of the Phoenixes.

Chapter thirteen: Ambush.

Andrew and his troops finally arrived at the lightning phoenixes. “Perfect. We’re here.” He said. A young recruit, named Lucas, stood close to him, looking nervous. “Why so nervous, huh?” Andrew inquired. Lucas smiled nervously. “It’s just…I have a bad feeling. And I don’t know why. I feel nervous.” Lucas said. Andrew patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t be.” He said. Suddenly the ground shook, as if a herd of mammoths was coming.

Andrew turned his equus around to see Marvelo. But it wasn’t just Marvelo. Marvelo had a army. A giant army. Lucas was hyperventilating behind him. Andrew took a deep breath. It was a ambush. Someone had told Marvelo they were coming. A spy. They were going to lose. Even if the retreated. Andrew sat tall in the saddle. They wouldn’t back down! They would vanquish Marvelo’s army even if it ended in them sacrificing themselves for the Dark Phoenixes cause.

Looking around, Andrew could see that most his men had decided the same thing. “My soldiers! Today is the day we defend the Lightning Phoenixes!! We will not bow or run from anyone! We can defeat them! We will sacrifice our lives for the cause! For our families! For our Kings and Queens! For our kingdoms!” Andrew bellowed to his army. A loud cheer radiated from them. Marvelo watched with amusement. Andrew turned to Lucas. “Lucas. You will be our messenger. Go back to the Dark phoenixes and tell them what has happened! Tell them we were brave! Tell them we defended the cause! Tell them…” Andrew’s voice softened slightly, as he though of Emma. “..tell them we did this for them.” Andrew said.

“But sir, I want to stay and fight.” Lucas said. Andrew shook his head. “You are young, even for this. Go home. Make us proud.” Andrew said. Lucas nodded, mounted his horse, bit his lip to stop tears from falling, and rode away. Marvelo smiled at Andrew. “Big mistake.” He growled. Andrew raised his sword. “Attack! For our kingdom!!!” Immediately his Andrew converged on Marvelo’s. Yes, it is true that Marvelo had a giant army but Andrew’s army fought with such fearsomeness that they were very evenly matched.

Andrew rode his horse around, swinging his sword at the opposite army, engaging in combat. Swords clanged as the armies fought. Blood splattered the ground and dead bodies lay on the ground. Though they had fought hard, Andrew’s army was losing. From behind him, a enemy soldier threw a spear that hit Andrew’s horse. Andrew rolled off the dead horse, and fell to the dirt. His bloody sword fell beside him. Andrew reached for it but suddenly it flew out of reach. Black boots crunched in the sand in front of him. A man with black hair and seemingly black eyes stopped in from of Andrew. “Marvelo.” Andrew growled. Marvelo grinned.

“Hello. I see you are the captain of this petty little army.” Marvelo said. He raised his hand and Andrew lifted into the air. “You won’t last long, I’m afraid.” Marvelo said. Andrew straightened his back. “We fought well.” Andrew said. Marvelo gave a cold chuckle. “Not well enough, I’m afraid.” Marvelo said. “Better than your army.” Andrew muttered. Marvelo’s face turned crimson red with fury. He raised his fist and smacked Andrew on the face. Andrew coughed and said, “Is that all you got?” Marvelo furiously launched into a series of attacks on Andrew and by the end Andrew was lying on the ground, bruised and bleeding. “How do you like that?” Marvelo asked wickedly. Black cloud surrounded Andrew’s vision and he thought of Emma.

His wife. His beloved. Emma. The woman who kept him strong. Andrew smiled. Marvelo scowled at him. “What are you smiling at?” Andrew spit a bloody tooth at Marvelo’s face. It hit him in the cheek. “Is that all you got?” Andrew muttered weakly. Marvelo yelled with fury, pulled out his sword and raised it to strike Andrew. Andrew reached up and clutched his locket that held Emma’s picture in it. “I love you Em” He said softly. And then Marvelo’s sword came down on him and Andrew was washed away in the bittersweet waters of death.

-SunnyFox57

Hello welcome to ARKnutica.

The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 58: Moonflight

Part 4/4

“Do you remember what you found at the obelisk?”

Skyler’s head involuntarily looked down, and three engravings were marked on the ground, each one its own shape and size, as if something needed to belong there.

“I need to find keys to activate the obelisk,” Skyler murmured with realization.

“Precisely. Find the keys, and you shall activate the obelisk. Find the keys, and you shall regain the trust of your companions. Find the keys, and you will find your way home.”

Skyler seemed speechless.

“You said the obelisk would be the key to survival,” Skyler said.

“It is,” Moonflight replied, all the heads said, “But bringing everyone home is the true might of the obelisks. Confide trust in yourself, that is the only way you can find the keys.”

Another vision flickered in Skyler’s head. It was a foggy picture of a small ravine in a jungle. Vines and all sorts of tropical plants grew everywhere, and a small cave was jutting out of the corner. A green glow came from it.

“The first key shall be found south. Bring the allies who trust you most and only then will you succeed. Only then, will you find your way home. Only then…”

The vision flickered from Skyler, and the middle head smiled gently at Skyler.

“You will always be my biggest fan,” the middle head said to her. The three heads turned away from her, and continued to speak to each other in that unknown language.

“-- .- -.- . / .... .- ... - . , / ... .. ... - . .-. ... .-.-.- / .. / -.-. .- -. / ..-. . . .-.. / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. .----. ... / . -.-- . ... / .--. .. . .-. -.-. .. -. --. / -- . / .- .-.. .-. . .- -.. -.-- .-.-.- / -- .- -.- . / .... .- ... - . , / -. --- .-- , / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / .. - / .. ... / - --- --- / .-.. .- - . .-.-.-” the middle head declared.

The three-headed dragon began to fly away somewhere, and Skyler looked on to see the planet Earth in all its glory, spinning around slowly, the light reflected by the Sun.

As the stars faded away from the void, so did Skyler’s vision. She felt herself shrouded in darkness once more, the only thing she could hear being her own heartbeat, and her own steady breathing.

The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 58: Moonflight

Part 1/3

Gary mounted his newly tamed Sabertooth, Lynx, hauling a dead Stegosaurus corpse with a piece of rope. He let out a sigh as he cracked his knuckles and hooked his pistol on his belt. Just another average night for the master gamer. And the full moon was out tonight too, which was always a plus.

It had been a few days since Samuel and his crew left for their scouting mission, along with Chris. They hadn’t returned, nor was there any sign of them being safe. Then again it wasn’t like they had walkie-talkies or anything, but still, it made him a little worried. Mostly about Chris.

“That guy might get himself hurt out there,” Gary thought to himself as Lynx began to find their way back home, “Especially if he’s alone. I really hope he’s safe…”

As for the other group, Gary was not too concerned about them. Samuel seemed very crazy, Aurora was just a little emo girl, and Ruby and Neddy were pretty normal people with nothing crazy going on for them. Out of those four, Gary was most concerned about Neddy and Ruby. They seemed like good people. And Neddy was a big fan of Gary too (he even asked for his signature!).

As for their plan to find Tiffany? Bonkers. Tiffany left for her own reasons and if she wanted to leave that was that. No one could stop her or bring her back. Besides they were doing just fine on their own without her or her book, what more could it do bringing her back?

Gary entered through the front gates of the Book Club’s camp, but things seemed a lot quieter today. There wasn’t much activity going on, and it was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Gary could have sworn a tumbleweed passed by.

“It’s like a ghost town in here,” Gary muttered to himself. He gave Lynx a quick pet, then afterwards the two pushed the corpse toward the campfire area to prepare it.

As they reached the area, he saw Skyler sitting on one of the logs. She had her head buried in her hands, and she was heaving up and down, her white silvery hair rising up as she sobbed. A hiccup echoed, and she continued to weep.

Gary wasn’t too sure what to say. He reached his hand out to comfort her when someone grabbed his wrist. Gary turned to the left to see Sunny standing there with an unapologetic look on her face.

“Leave her alone,” Sunny whispered, “She just needs time by herself.”

Gary dropped his hand, and Sunny let go. She nodded her head toward the other side of the camp, “Everyone’s eating over at the other side of camp. We’re having potato soup.”

“Wow, so yummy,” Gary said while rolling his eyes. Sunny biffed Gary on the arm.

“I made it, you know,” Sunny sneered, “Don’t give me that attitude.”

“Sorry, SORRY,” Gary apologized. He gave her a grin back in apology, “Let’s go eat your delicious dinner now.”

The two made their way to the other side of the camp, where everyone was conversing and talking like good times. Everyone held crudely made wooden bowls filled to the brim with a hearty soup, and a baby Phiomia was roaming around trying to get scraps. As it made its way to Paige, Paige looked at it with disgust and began to nudge it away with her boot. Sunny gave an annoyed look at Paige and began to walk toward her.

“Paige! Quit that!”

Gary sighed and chuckled to himself. He looked around and saw a pot that was filled with boiling soup. He grabbed himself a bowl and poured himself some for himself. As he settled on the grass with everyone else, he spotted Ben leaning against the wall of a hut nearby. Ben always leaned against something, for some reason.

“I haven’t seen him in a while,” Gary thought as he took a sip of his soup. As it entered his mouth he could taste potatoes. At least Sunny actually made it taste like the original ingredients this time around.

Ever since that day those two went out to tame the Kaprosuchus, he had been acting very moody. He had refused to come on the expedition to the obelisk, and after that he refused to go out or do anything else. Some days Gary wouldn’t even spot Ben outside of his hut. It was a bit odd, actually. He was always talking to someone.

One time, Gary was getting dinner for Ben, but when he entered his hut, Ben instantly shooed him away.

“What are you doing in my hut? GET OUT OF HERE,” Ben had roared. He was sitting on the ground and clutching a flower to his chest.

“I was just delivering dinner man-”

“Don’t care. Out. Now.”

But now he seemed a lot better. He no longer had those bags under his eyes, and he had a bright smile on his face. He seemed to be already finished with his soup, and was staring off into the forest beyond the spiked walls, planning something.

Found one but no turtles were close! They take forever to find!

They were actually originally called “Paraket Fish School” but someone caught the spelling error in parakeet and they changed it

Hailstorm the ice wyvern

Ah yes, my favorite wyvern i have. So, my main map is valguero. As soon as i got a pterodon saddle, i headed to the wyvern trench. This was my first map ive gotten very far in, so i was nervous. See, on xbox, if you quit ark while still on the world, it takes you back to your last save. So if you die, you can go back to your last save, just dont log out, because that saves it. Anyways, it took me a few relogs, but i finally got one, a level 16 ice wyvern egg. I grabbed it and immediately flew out of there as quick as possible. When i turn around, there were no wyverns chasing me! I quickly flew home and researched how to hatch it. Now i was on single player, and thought it take forever to hatch. So i put it down, and took like 30 mins! And then, after all i went through to get that egg, i stayed with it until it was grown. Even thought he was low level, i still loved him. I took him everywhere, but i was extremely careful, i didnt even take him into the wyvern trench for a while. After a few days of him being an adult, i went out and got him a girlfriend. After that, we went through so much. We even got hit by the only giga Ive seen on my world. I was so scared because it took out half of his health! After that, we went out on a mission, i had gotten fire wyverns and ice wyverns, but none high level. So we went in and came out with a fire wyvern egg that was around 180! After it hatched, i didnt want to lose hailstorm, so i used that one instead. I got its melee up so high, sometimes it did 1,000 damage! I named it ark jumper, because i transfer it between arks alot. To this day hailstorm is with me, watching over my base. He os my all time favorite dino, we have so many memories, if he died, i would relog as fast as the speed of sound, and if it saved just as he died, i would cry for weeks on weeks. So yeah, thats the story of hailstorm, my favorite child! Peace!✌

-shadow

The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 58: Moonflight

Part 3/4

“- .... . / .--. ..- .-.. .-.. / .. ... / --. . - - .. -. --. / ... - .-. --- -. --. . .-. / -- -.-- / ... .. ... - . .-. ... .-.-.-” the middle head clicked. She wore an emerald crown on her head that resembled the Obelisk. The left head glared at her and bared her teeth.

“... .. ... - . .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ..-. . .- .-. / .. ... / .-. ..- .-.. .. -. --. / -.-- --- ..- .-.-.- / - .... . / -.-. --- -. ... - . .-.. .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... / -.- -. --- .-- / - .... . ... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... / ... .... .- .-.. .-.. -. .----. - / . ...- . .-. / .-. . .- -.-. .... / - .... . / ... - .- .-. ... .-.-.-”

“.. .-. .- . / .--. . .-. .... .- .--. ... / .-.. ..- -. .- / .. ... / -.-. --- .-. .-. . -.-. - .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / .. ... / -... . --. .. -. -. .. -. --. / - --- / ... . . / - .... . / ...- . .. .-.. / --- ..-. / .-. . .- .-.. .. - -.-- / .- -. -.. / .-- .... --- / .-- . / - .-. ..- .-.. -.-- / .- .-. . .-.-.-” the right head whispered.

“- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / .-- .... .- - / -- ..- ... - / -... . / -.. --- -. . / .- -- .- .-. . .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / -- .- -.-- / ..-. .. -. -.. / - .... . / - .-. ..- - .... / .- -. -.. / -.. . ...- .- ... - .- - . / - .... . / -.-. --- -. ... - . .-.. .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... , / . ... .--. . -.-. .. .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / .... . .-. / -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -. ... / - --- / - .... . / -- .- -. / .-- .... --- / .... .- ... / - .-. .- ...- . .-.. . -.. / -... --- - .... / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. ... .-.-.-” the left head barked.

“-... ..- - / .. - / .. ... / -. --- - / .-. .. --. .... - / - --- / .. -. - . .-. ..-. . .-. . / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .-.. .. ...- . ... / --- ..-. / - .... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... .-.-.-” the right head muttered.

“.- -- .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-.. --- ...- . / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... / .. ... / .- -.. -- .. .-. .- -... .-.. . , / -... ..- - / .-- . / .- .-. . / .- .-.. .-. . .- -.. -.-- / .. -. - . .-. ..-. . .-. .. -. --. / -... -.-- / .... . .-.. .--. .. -. --. / - .... . / .--. --- . - .-.-.- / ... .... . / -- .- -.-- / -... . / --- ..- .-. / -... .. --. --. . ... - / ..-. .- -. / -... ..- - / - .... .- - / .. ... / .- / -.-. .-. .. -- . / .. -. / --- ..-. / .. - ... . .-.. ..-. .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / -- ..- ... - / -... . / -.- .. .-.. .-.. . -.. .-.-.- / - .... . .-. . / .. ... / -. --- / .-- --- .-. -.- .. -. --. / .- .-. --- ..- -. -.. / - .... .. ... , / .. .----. -- / .- ..-. .-. .- .. -.. .-.-.-” the middle head said. The right head looked down into the void with pouty eyes and a sorrowful frown. The middle head nudged the other two heads, her eyes staring right at Skyler. Skyler’s eyes widened.

“- .... .- - / .. ... / . -. --- ..- --. .... .-.-.- / .-- . / -- ..- ... - / . -. - . .-. - .- .. -. / --- ..- .-. / --. ..- . ... - / -. --- .-- .-.-.- / - .... . / .--. --- . - / .... .- ... / .- .-. .-. .. ...- . -.. .-.-.-” the middle head announced. All three heads’ eyes began to glow green, and the middle head’s crown began to shine.

“Skyler,” all heads said in unison.

“Moonflight,” Skyler whispered back with rage. She clenched her fist. Her lip began to waver, and her eyes began to fill with tears.

“You said your story was the key,” Skyler rumbled, “But now I’m shunned by my peers. You disgraced me, your biggest fan. Why? That Obelisk was the key, right? So HOW COME THERE WAS NOTHING THERE?”

All heads closed their eyes, opening them again to reveal a bright green.

“You must not be so irrational, Skyler,” the heads warned her, “We have come to warn you for a reason. You are the brightest we’ve seen. And of course, you are loyal to us. The obelisk is the key. But perhaps we should have worded it better. It is less of a key, and more of a door.”

Skyler’s vision flickered, and she was back at the green Obelisk’s metal podium.