Narfleplex was a teen age grendel. He was the type of grendel who was too proud and too much of a coward. Yet he thought that he stood a chance at becoming known for his strength. (Hey, everybody has a dream.) All the grendels on the island who were in fighting condition were hidden about the island, waiting to ambush the attacking norns.
The norns crossing in the paddle boat stuck out like sore thumbs. Was that all the norns that were comming to attack? Narfleplex thought. The boat docked and all the norns on it quitely got off and got ready to attack. Just as the grendels sounded the attack, a second group of norns came up the lift from the submarine cave. Another group of grendels came, then another group of norns came from the boat and the sub. For every party of reptiles, there was a party of norns.
The fighting was vicious. Annabel wondered how on Albia she had volenteered to act as a reserve. She hated violence, she could hardly bring herself to swat a cavefly! What was she doing here?! She huddled in her camoflage and hoped she wouldn't get deployed.
Oozle was in the center of a group of grendels, thinking he was safe from any kind of attack. Little did he know that the greatest danger laid in wait above him in the island tree house. Aaron was in the tree house, waiting for the right moment to attack the grendel he hated so much and had distrubed so many of his dreams since that one fateful day. Soon, Aaron thought to himself, Soon you'll pay for what you did to me and my family! Then you'll know how it feels! The norn growled menancingly and prepared to jump the grendel.
Annabel watched as Aaron lept down from the ropes of the tree house onto the commanding grendel and proceed to beat the living daylights out of him. She hoped to high heaven and hand that he wouldn't get hurt of captured. The grendels were getting too much to handle.
As Aaron was concentrating on attacking Oozle, Narfleplex snuck up on him and knocked him in the head with a coconut. The hit was hard enough to knock out Aaron. The teen age grendel scooped up Annabel's mate along with a white haired male norn as prisoners.
"AAAAAAAARRROOOONNNNNN!!!" Annabel wailed. She crumpled into a heap of tears. The norns began to retreat but she didn't make a move. She did nothing as Foxy slung her over his back as he was retreating. She didn't care anymore.


Oozle moaned in pain as he made his way to the make-shift infirmary. That norn had really done a number on him! He noisely entered where the wounded were being treated.
"Oh shut up!" Urgle, the purple grendel said, just before he could whine anymore. "There are many more who are hurt worse than you! You just go wait in line for your turn!"
Insulant female! Oozle thought. Treating him like common trash and forcing him to the end of a very long line! She'll rue the day, he thought.
About 15% of the grendels had died in battle. They had taken the life of a norn for every loss of a grendel's life. Many grendels who were not hurt walked around blankly, searching for a deceased friend, even though they had already been told that the said being was dead, they didn't believe it and searched. Many were in mourning, many didn't know what to think or how to feel and many more wanted to do away with Oozle the usurper.
Umaumaarg was filled with rage. How had he ever fallen for the tricks of this usurper? Was he really that blind before? Something had to be done about this Oozle and fast! He looked at how many sons and daughters he had lost in the battle and swore the intruder would pay for their deaths with his life. Soon, you'll pay Oozle, Umaumaarg thought, and then we'll see how you like it when the tables are turned on you!


Annabel woke up from under the pear tree in the garden. She glanced at Fren, who was still asleep. She sat staring at him a few moments.
"Dad! No! Don't go, Dad!" Fren wimpered in the throes of slumber.
Annabel sighed sadly, as if all of Albia had decided she had to carry it on her shoulders. She had to do something to help get Aaron back. But what? The island was covered with grendels. What could she do?? She silently cursed herself for not trying to rescue him when he had leapt unto the lead grendel. Why had she stood frozen there like a statue? You spine-less coward! You sit here doing chores, hoping to forget the pain while you should be trying to find ways to get him out! She thought as sat there.
"Beating yourself isn't going to get Aaron and Tuft back to the mainland, Annabel."
"Huh?" Annabel saw a short figure in the sunset.
"I have an idea how we could save them...." the black grendel continued.

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What does Nanny Grah have in mind? When will Oozle find out that he's in trouble? Will Goddess ever do anything to fix the damage that she had done?
Stay tuned for: A Norn's Tale part 8!

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