Bunga: A Ray Cycle Adventure, #1

By Mark Cusco Ailes

The dargles, winged dragons with hearty appetites, invade the world of Weekland and strike fear in all its inhabitants. Gite, a watcher turned berry farmer, is captured and forced to work in their mine, digging for the ore that gives them their strength and eternal life.

Gite's son, Jarat, aided by Timbree, a Wote who sees the future, travels through a portal where he recruits two dragon slayers, Ray Cycle and Mylissa, and a group of adventurous kids from Earth to help him in his quest to save his father. They return through the portal and meet many challenges in their quest to rescue Gite. They will discover if they possess the strength, skills, and bravery needed to defeat the dargles and their sinister leader, Bunga.

Science Fiction and fantasy mastermind Mark Cusco Ailes presents the first chapter in the Ray Cycle Adventure Series about the magical world of Weekland. With the help from Ray Cycle and Mylissa, the kids from Earth, and his new sarcastic and humorous feline friend, Zukla, Jarat must embark on his first quest to defeat the dargles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weekland Press
• Release date: Dec 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519996909

Book preview

Prologue

The force of the portal exploding cascaded through the mine as Telich made his way toward the entrance. He was a halfling like all habitants on Weekland. He had a human form, but his head resembled a squirrel’s head, and his entire body was covered in brown fur. He fancied himself an archeologist combing through the caves looking for evidence of a past civilization. He was forced to the ground as the rocky ground below him vibrated violently. Unaware of the portal’s presence, he slowly rose to his feet and sauntered toward the cave entrance. Hordes of dargles scurried through the portal. They closely resembled present day dragons, but they were much larger and had heartier appetites. As they scurried through, the skies began to darken, blanketing the noon time sky. Bunga, the leader of the dargles, stared toward the entrance of the cave. He was the largest of the dargles standing nearly two hundred feet above the ground. He was two hundred feet in length and one hundred feet wing tip to wing tip. He had four tree trunk-sized legs with four sharp claws aligning each foot. His massive body was covered in tough, blood-red scales that could not be penetrated by sharp objects. He had a long coiling tail with two spikes protruding from the end of it. His wings were covered in a fleshy skin also the color of blood. His head had two large coiling horns. Aligning his jaw line were rows of razor sharp teeth capable of shredding trees apart limb by limb.

Telich crouched low behind a large rock, watching as more dargles appeared through the portal. As the last of the dargles poured through, the portal closed with such a force it once more caused the ground to violently shake. Bunga focused his attention toward Telich and back toward the battalion of dargles circling him and filling the blackened skies. Bunga’s blood-red eyes reflected against the lightning terrorizing the sky. Plumes of smoke emitted from his nostrils as he peered toward his malicious army waiting for him to give the command. Without uttering a single word, Bunga glared at the entrance of the cave. He bellowed a loud roar and his army cadenced back.

Telich realized he was in grave danger. He had just bore witness to an invasion by creatures he had never seen before. He surveyed the surrounding area for anything he could use as a weapon, but it was hopeless. There was nothing he could use against creatures like these. He knew his only hope would be to run deeper into the cave where he could have the advantage. He recalled several smaller caves hidden within the last time he was here and decided one of them could give him a safe haven from the invading army. He wasted no more time. With the enemy at his back, he made the journey deeper into the cave. Bunga led his army through the cave as if he already knew where he was going. He marched deeper into the cave with a purpose. Only days ago, he was informed by one of his advanced scouts that this cave had a large mine containing an ore that the dargles needed to give them special powers: powers of eternal life. Unaware that Telich was hiding in the shadows; Bunga led his army into the mine and peered about. The mine was as he had been informed, massive with several caves branching away from the main mine. He watched as his army once again circled him. With a rasp in his voice, he said, Today is the start of a new era. Throughout this mine are the ores we need to achieve eternal life. We will enslave this world and force its inhabitants to dig the ores for us. Tonight we will fill the skies with our terror and bring our slaves here. We have a lot of work to do. Rest, now. Soon our reign here will begin.

Telich, hidden secretly within one of the caves, watched as Bunga spoke. He knew he had to warn somebody about the invading army. But first he had to find a safe passage out of the cave. He knew it would not be easy. There were too many dargles lurking in the shadows. He looked around for a weapon but nothing grabbed his attention. He would have to rely on his own ingenuity. He felt a presence from behind him and turned to see. two fiery red embers staring back at him.

Going somewhere? asked the voice in a low growl.

Telich turned to run but was instantly entangled within one large sharp talon. It slightly tore through his fur, bringing him to his knees.

You will serve us well, continued the voice. Bunga will be pleased.

One

––––––––

As the evening sun made its silent journey from bright yellow to warm orange, it began its descent toward slumber behind the cloud banked horizon. A soft breeze, so inviting, gently blew across the plains from the west. It had been what one could consider an average day as nighttime began to take form, soon to overthrow the last light of day.

Actually, it had been an uneventful day, Gite thought to himself as he wiped away the beads of sweat that had been moistening his brow. He was a gentle brown bear halfling standing nearly six feet tall. His thick fur kept him constantly sweating on those above average warm days. Especially, a day like today.

As Gite gazed upon the setting sun, he slowly made his way through one of the several rows of the delicate gergaberry plants that produced the luscious fruit that provided the nutrition to his family.

Uneventful would not be the word that he would use to describe the day, but rather boring.

The days of excitement were well behind him now. Age was becoming a factor in his life, limiting him to the long days of being a berry farmer. It was not as glamorous as the days when he was a Watcher perched high upon the mighty watch towers. All he watched now was the rows of plants with clover shaped leaves with small purple veins running throughout in no particular patterns. Hanging from the leaves were medium-sized purple berries that were very sweet to the taste.

Gite glared down on the rows of gergaberry plants and scowled. Being a gergaberry farmer was just not fitting for someone who had been of great importance for so many years. The future, somehow, was going to rob him of the best times of his life.

Gite stared down on his human-like, calloused hands. How he longed for the excitement of being a Watcher again. He remembered the times like it was yesterday.

Perched up high in the peaks of the towers, Gite watched for any signs of the dreadful dargles that plagued the lands, venturing out only at night, feasting on any unlucky soul that came upon their feeding frenzy.

They were the nocturnal, winged dragons that scoured the night time skies, leaving fear throughout Weekland.

Gite knew he was still in great muscular shape to be a Watcher, but he had been forced to retire early before he was ready to do so.

His wife, Wilka, had the most influence behind his seemingly early retirement. Her constant worrying, and her constant reminder that he was getting older, led to the chance for the next generation of Watchers to have their chance for new found glory.

Gite knew his bear-like features were in pristine condition, but he soon realized that the vulture race called Scilth were much better suited to be Watchers since they could fly and obviously Gite was not equipped with wings to do so.

We’re losing sunlight quickly, Wilka reminded Gite, as she searched for her son Jarat through the rows of gergaberry plants. Have you seen Jarat? He seems to have wandered off again.

Gite noticed his daughter, Tira, in her blue summer dress, finishing filling her basket of gergaberries. He peered through the rows of plants for any evidence of his son.

If you’re looking for Jarat, he ventured off on one of his adventures again, said Tira.

Gite observed the dark blanket starting to cover the day time sky, and he knew time was not a luxury to take for granted. It would only be a short time before the dargles began their rampage across the land.

This boy is going to be the death of me. Always wandering off and not keeping track of the time, Gite said anxiously.

Jarat traveled aimlessly through the thickets, watching as a putric spread its wings and then took flight from the rose-colored flower it was perched upon. The putric’s butterfly qualities were such a sight to see, but they held a deadly secret. The putric secreted poisonous venom from a gland attached directly to the bottom of its tiny head.

As Jarat watched the putric slowly disappear from view, he noticed a bright, blue light flickering in the distance.

Jarat was attracted to the sight of the light as a fly would be to a pest light.

Not seeming to care that the sky was rapidly falling asleep, Jared felt compelled to investigate the blue light that seemed to call out to him. Blue hands of light seemed to reach out to him as if they were trying to help him along, showing him the right path to take.

The urge was too great for Jarat to ignore. He had to know what the blue light was, no matter what the consequences were. 

Could this be the adventure Jarat had often dreamed of? How he longed for something exciting to happen, a new way to be able to express the feelings of emptiness he felt inside. He did not have very many friends since the dargles had spread out the inhabitants of Weekland throughout the vast land. The only true friend he had was his sister, Tira, who did not understand his commitment for adventure. She was more interested in picking gergaberries and making gergaberry pies for the family dinners.

Jarat thought, Tira would ignore this opportunity for adventure.

Gite felt a sense of panic start to engulf him as if he was already expecting the worse from the immediate situation.

You have to go find him Gite, before it’s too late, said Wilka. He should have been back by now.

Gite knew she was right. Jarat had never wandered off for so long before. Something must have happened to him or he would have already been back.

He remembered the first time he had encountered the dargles while he was on his post as a Watcher above the mighty towers, looking down on the unsuspecting sleeping village down below.

The dargles had made their silent approach toward the towers in hopes of a warm meal. He vividly remembered the evil he had seen behind their glaring red eyes as they pictured him as their main course. The scout dragons of death descended down on him as he made out their rough appearance. They had large heads, with enormous horns aligning each side, curled and ready for stabbing anything that got in their way. Their bodies were large with greenish-white scales that made the perfect covering for battle amour. Three large, sharp talons aligned each of their two claws and one large talon finished off their seven-foot armored tails. They were well-equipped for battle, and no one stood a chance of defending themselves against such an adversary.

Gite watched them approach and instinctively reached for his large spear made of hard bone, sharpened to a razor finish and poised for battle as the dargles drew near.

A piercing screech filled his brown fur covered ears, almost causing him to release the spear. Never had such a sound engulfed his senses. It was a sound that Gite knew he would never forget, no matter how hard he tried.

As the dargles emerged from the shadows of darkness, he saw their blood stained serrated-like teeth, poised for his flesh.

He knew he was the only defense his friends, one hundred feet down below, had against the savage attacks from the winged monsters.

He readied himself, knowing what was at stake for the next few minutes as he locked eyes with the beast. Chills of both fear and excitement overcame him as he plunged the spear forward with only the hopes of a successful counter attack.

He felt his spear begin to splinter, then finally give away, as he felt the rough scales of the dargle brush painfully against his furry skin.

He had been lucky. The tip of the spear had found its mark, embedding itself in the fleshy orb of the dargle’s right eye.

Cries of both pain and surprise overtook the silence of the night as he watched the dargles retreat back into the shadows, retreating only to help their wounded comrade.

He shuddered, knowing that this would only be a minor setback for the dargles. They would soon be back with a vengeance.

Gite, you’re wasting precious time, said Wilka, as she tugged on his arm. Tira said she saw Jarat heading in the direction of the mysterious tree.

The Tree of No Boundaries? questioned Gite.

That’s what she said.

Gite knew that time was of the essence, and the journey to the mysterious tree would take more time than the approaching darkness would be willing to give him.

Timbree secretly watched, hidden out of view, as Jarat ventured further into the blue light. Knowing already what Jarat was about to discover, Timbree had to make absolutely sure destiny was about to make its stand. Jarat’s discovery of the blue light was not by accident. He had been carefully chosen to enter the light to discover the secrets that lay within it. Secrets that had been guarded for seven years until a chosen one had been appointed to discover it. Only Jarat would be allowed to unlock its secrets and be able to use what was hidden within. After making sure Jarat was safely hidden within the blue light, Timbree set off to find Gite so that he could help Jarat find his way back home before the dargles made their nightly visits.

Gite knew that Jarat was much like him and yearned for adventure, a trait Gite knew he had passed down to his son. Jarat had inquired many times about becoming a Watcher, but Gite always changed the subject and offered no reply. Perhaps he should have humored him and given him some kind of hope. Then he would not have to find other means of adventure.

The darkness now made the journey treacherous. Time had finally been lost and soon the dargles would be patrolling the area. Now all Gite could hope for was a safe place to hide after finding Jarat.

He noticed a small figure emerging in the distance as he continued toward the mysterious tree. It had been called mysterious because about seven years earlier