The Anvil by I Heaton Page A

wrapped around the wyvern but the beast smashed one of them .
    One wrapped around its neck and then the tree - guards fell on the wyvern as it staggered . He brought his mind from the wood crantos and they became lifeless once more . He watched as the wyvern turned into stone . He made changes in the guards training , now they were being trained to fight flying enemies . He also made griffins out of the trees and gave them will .
    His fort seemed impenetrable . He had made the walls three feet thick and ten feet tall . Each corner was a tower that was twenty feet from the ground . His personal hut was a small shelter against one wall . The food storage building was just to the side of that about the same size . In the center was a large common . A large fire pit to cook with and a large pavilion .
    Two days later Alex came to his base . Helanded in front of gates and Tom opened them . Alex walked up to Tom and said “ You get one request for something . I will come back in two days to get your answer .” Tom started to say something , but Alex jumped into the air and Tom watched his purple form fly away .
    Tom walked to his hut and went to sleep thinking of what he would ask for . The next day Tom passed time thinking of what to ask for , watching the training and improving his fort . He had some of the tree - men help him dig a moat then put sharpened stakes at the bottom . He used a spell Alex taught him and changed some water so it would burn easily and put it in the moat . Tom went to sleep after he ate a good meal .
    One good thing about being alone with only tree - men for company is you only have to feed one person , the tree - men only needing sunlight and water . He already had enough food for the rest of his time . He woke and found the guards fighting some bears and wolves . He grabbed the stone axe and shield he had made and flew over the wall .
    He landed on a bear and crushed it ' s head with his shield . He jumped off it ' s body into another bear and slashed the new bear ' s neck . He threw his axe at a wolf and made a knife . He jumped from bear to bear until only the wolves were left .
    He dropped the knife and summoned his axe . The guards fell into a formation behind him as the wolves grouped together .
    They stood looking at each other for a moment then jumped at each other . Tom hacked , smashed , chopped and bashed , cutting down many wolves . The tree - guards widened the hole he made .
    Soon Tom swung his axe into the last wolf and told the tree - guards to take care of the stone bodies , he need the ground clear around the walls . He walked back into the fort and ate his breakfast . He put stone spikes on the walls and made them very smooth and slippery so they couldn ' t be climbed . He just finished eating lunch when he saw Alex flying towards his camp . He told the guards to stand down and flew out to meet him . First Alex inspected all the defenses , food and Tom ' s small army .
    Alex tested Tom ' s fighting skills next . Finally as they sat down to eat dinner , made by some Tom ' s wooden chefs , Alex asked Tom “ What do you want to help you for the rest of your time out here ?” Tom hesitated for a moment then answered “ I want some company out here . It gets really lonely .” Alex thought for a minute . “ I might be able to work something out with someone . But they can ' t be trained , very well at least . So if you have some ideas let me know right now .” Alex said finally .
    Tom thought for a moment then said a small list of people , not including Zack or Madison because they were well trained . Alex stood up “ If I can get any of them and they fit my requirements then I will have them here tomorrow or the next day . If not I will come back for another request .” he said then flew away . Tom stood up , checked on the guards then went to sleep . Tom was woken by the smell of smoke . He rushed outside and looked around . Everything seemed to be burning . Alex ' s test for