seymoure | "Heart of the Crown" Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Techlamange

The first things to notice, after the jutting, craggy landscape that went on seemingly forever, were the Sproingers.

Each of them had one foot at the bottom of their spherical bodies. With that foot at the end of a very short leg, the creatures hopped (more truly they somersaulted with each move) at an amazingly rapid rate. They had two eyes, but no mouth or ears that were detectible. On either side of the head, or body, since they were one and the same, was a large blue horn.

The horns stood out from the rest of the beast since the other body parts were yellow with some kind of pink spots of varying sizes.

The horns, to clear up any misconception, were not goat-ram like horns, but trumpet like horns. Horns that belched with each movement.

There were hundreds of Sproingers within earshot and the combined sound was confusing. Especially when it is considered that each animal’s sound was totally unique.

High above were the Flying Chegles. These were something between a condor and a prehistoric reptile.

It became instantly obvious that the Sproingers were the Chegles main food source. Every few seconds one would be snatched up and dragged, honking pitifully, up into the air, never to be seen again.

If this hadn’t lowered the noise level even slightly for a few seconds, it would have been a sad thing.

Cela of Tar projected a blue bubble of force to protect the group. It was just in case the flying things might like to take something with a little more meat on its bones (if, indeed, the Sproingers had any bones) for its dinner.

Slip looked most wary.

The group moved to the cliffs, where the bouncing things didn’t seem to want to come.

They would soon find out how wise the honking things were.

For in the hills were the Zazzcats.