Fearsome Battle In The Forbidden Forest Analysis

Chapter Twenty-Five
Fearsome Battle in the Forbidden Forest

The silver sun was slipping out of sight as we inched our way over a rickety wooden bridge. On the far side, there was a tiny path leading down a slight slope. Not even a path really, more like clues—a snapped twig here—some tramped down weeds over there.
We followed the clues until the ground became thick with fallen limbs and decaying pine needles. Then we wedged between the thickets into the Forbidden Forest. Craggy rocks and black volcanic sand stretched ground about a hundred yards to the base of a high stone wall, which marched off in either direction as far as we could see. A sound came from somewhere nearby in the green gloom, echoing off the stones—the howl of large animals.
It sent a tingling sensation up my arm. “You can count on me, Xavier.”
His eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “I know that. I wouldn’t have put you charge if I had thought otherwise.”
I stood and started marching, and the others followed. After a few minutes, Tinlef caught up and looked around.
“What’s that cackling noise?” he asked.
I listened but didn’t hear anything. Xavier shook his head.
“Cackling?” Isabel zoomed up. “Perhaps you hear the frogs.”
As we got closer, I heard something, only it sounded more like wicked howls. The trail continued on, swishing away from the clearing toward some tall, thin trees. Off in the distance, light radiated from a huge, ivy-clad castle. Once we were close enough to have a clear view, I noticed that the walls, drawbridge, and tall, spooky steeples were being guarded by goblins. Witches on broomsticks were swooping around in front of the castle.
Emma ran up, holding a lantern.
“Put that thing out,” I whispered. “Do you want them to see us?”
“Sorry,” she said, snuffing out the candle.
Tinlef slipped his arm around her shoulder. “Everything still all right?”
She
This time, my foot caught on something—a stone, maybe—and I staggered. He beamed wickedly as I tried to steady myself. I lunged at the monster and chopped off one of his ears. He fell to the ground and rolled around slicing at my calves with his ax. Suddenly my legs were throbbing, so much that I crumpled.
Then he struck again, chinking my armor and knocking the sword out of my hands. It shot up, rotated a few times in the air, and landed about five feet away. As I clawed across the dirt after it, he hacked at the ground. I rolled to avoid his blows.
A broken feather tipped spear was stuck in the dust beside me. I yanked it out, stood up, and jabbed the cyclops in the chest. Thick green goo trickled from his wound. He doubled over in pain, groaning. I dove for my sword, but he knew what I was after. He stepped in front of me and thrust his ax down hard, slashing me diagonally along my side. I recoiled in pain as he lowered his ax again, slicing me across my left leg, right below my knee.
As I hoisted myself up and slumped over a tree stump, someone behind me yelled, “Aiden, look out!”
I turned and watched the beast raise his ax high above his head, his one huge, yellow eye gleamed as he viciously whacked at me. I rolled again, dodging his