Oktai Yajiud

Oktai fell to his knees, blood gushing from his forearms. Gashes in the crooks of his elbows bled profusely in the biting cold. A twisted symbol, drawn in fresh blood, swirled across his bare chest. The same symbol was mirrored in his snow around him, drawn in the fresh powder and punctuated with large stones. Before him rose a stark cliff face, jutting unnaturally straight into the air, contrasting heavily with the slopes of the surrounding mountain range. Etched faintly in the center of the cliff face was the swirling symbol. As strange incantations fell from Oktai’s now blue lips, the etched symbol began to glow faintly, the white light natural in the frosty landscape.

To the left of the cliff face stood Batu, and to the right Tuya, their voices intertwining in a ritualistic song. They wore thick, fur-lined robes, covering leaving only their faces exposed the violent wind, Batu’s deep voice swelled from deep within his throat. Tuya’s voice accented his low hum, her high vocals blending with Batu’s. Oktai’s incantations grew louder and the symbol’s glow strengthened. Breaking the trance of the song, a loud pulse of sound emanated from the cliff face. Tuya’s voice caught in her throat, her face painted with fear. Batu shot her a venomous glare and she raised her refrain once more, her voice tight and slightly wavering. The cliff face was silent until the pounding resumed, the sound of the impacts still resonating through the air as the next blow landed. As the speed of the song and the blows quickened, Oktai’s wounds bled harder, pouring onto his ornate stiffened leather scaled skirt and chaps, falling upon the crisp snow, soaking in and creating a soft pink stain that surrounded him.

A deep crack split the cliff face, breaking the symbol in half and terminating its powerful glow. Another crack appeared, followed by another as the rock wall became laced with breaks, resembling an eggshell, preparing to release the life trapped inside. The pounding noise continued, faster and louder, as Batu and Tuya song surged before abruptly cutting off. The wall crumbled, falling into large chunks of rubble. The stone dropped to the ground, revealing the huge figure that had been encased within the mountain. The beast stood twice as tall as the tallest man in Oktai’s clan, his muscular frame filling up the now gaping entrance of a dark cave. Grand horns sprouted from his skull and his tree trunk-like legs ended in large, solid hooves. Blood flowed from his knuckles and bright shards of white bone showed through the tattered hide of his hands. Runes lining his arms and chest sizzled, branded into his skin, yet the beast was unburdened by either injury.

Batu fell to his knees, clasping his hands in prayer and bowing to the huge creature. Stunned, Tuya stepped back, tripping over herself in her haste. The beast paid them no mind and stepped into the light, eyes trained on Oktai. Oktai grinned wildly and ceased his incantation. “Khanuk Delkhii Yertönts Khaan, I have freed you,” he muttered. He suddenly grew tired, fatigued from the ritual and weak from his prolonged blood loss. His brown eyes rolled up into his skull as his body collapsed into the snow and his mind fell into darkness.