This is all your fault, you know?
AsaHi grumbled to herself as she shifted her shoulders under the weight of the packs. Her back was bent nearly double. Her feet refused to take another step forward. All she had done for the past three days was walk. She had walked through the day and walked through the night, only taking small naps and meals in between.
You can’t blame anyone but yourself.
It wasn’t as if she had never traveled before. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to long days of walking. But something about this was different. Something about it was more pressing. More exhausting. More terrifying. Every sound upon the road sent her scampering into hiding. Every shift of the air made her glance over her shoulder in fear. AsaHi wasn’t sure if someone was following her, though she wasn’t sure why she had the itching feeling that someone might be.
Would the Council really want to punish me that badly? And what’s going to happen to Aunt SaRa if they find out that she helped me? What’s going to happen to SoYa..? What’s going to happen to me…?
She stumbled despairingly along the path, head drooping in a long stream of white hair that hung loose about her shoulders. So many days she had been alone. So many days she had been left to think about her crime. And so much she wished that she had thought about all these things before she chose to go into the heart of the Host Gate.
I knew there would be consequences. If I had known it was going to end up like this… that I would have to run away from my home… away from my Promised… away from everything I ever knew… If I had known…
AsaHi found the nearest tree and leaned against it as the sorrow and fear overwhelmed her.
Would I have still done it? Maybe it was all my imagination that the Council is a threat to SoYa. Maybe I’m making up a lot of things that just really aren’t there?
She dropped her forehead against the rough bark, taking in a broken breath.
Now all I have left to me… is what I carry on my back. And a sketchy map that is supposed to take me to a town I have never even heard of. A place that Aunt SaRa said was so secret that when I get there, I must destroy the map so that no one else can find it.
The girl sniffled, letting her pack slide down over her shoulder to the ground.
What have I gotten myself into?
The world turned in pale silence. The sun was going down for the third day. And now more than ever she missed home.
She wondered what her family would think. They had certainly heard all about what she had done… and they were probably glad to be rid of her. Afterall, she felt like she had always been a shame to them — wandering off on adventures that girls were not fit to undertake. Having no real skills or abilities to show in the magical city of Nefol.
How could I think of going home after what I’ve done? Vanishing off the face of the earth is probably the kindest thing I could do.
AsaHi gave a somber sigh to herself, reaching back with one hand to gather her pack. That’s when she realized that it was gone.
What?
The girl turned quickly on her heel, staring at the spot where she was more than certain she had just set her bag down. Though it was getting harder to see as the night shadows were drawing long, the pack was too large to overlook. It was nowhere to be seen.
What’s going on here?
She heard the sound of footsteps crunching on the path only seconds before the voice came, “So… are you having second thoughts yet, AsaHi?”
The girl spun around with a gasp. There before her stood a man dressed in Apprentice robes. A hood was drawn up over his head, rendering his face unknown to her. His voice was familiar, but she couldn’t place his identity by sound alone. He obviously knew who she was. And her pack dangled lightly from his hand.
AsaHi took a step back, “What do you want?”
“Do you really have to ask?”
As he began to approach, she heard the sound of more footsteps rising from the surrounding brush. There were eight of them. All hooded. All wearing the Apprentice’s robes.
“We were sent here to bring you back, AsaHi,” another one of the Apprentices spoke. His tone was so matter-of-fact it was chilling.
“So it takes eight Dragon Apprentices to subdue one girl?” she gave a slight sneer.
“We don’t expect any trouble out of you… things will be much better if you come without a struggle.”
AsaHi turned in a full circle. They had completely surrounded her. For the first time ever, the dark hooded robes worn by the Apprentices of the Dragon seemed terribly foreboding and fearsome.
What do I do now?!
Her eyes fell on the pack in the Apprentice’s hand as another alarming thought came to her.
The map! Aunt SaRa told me not to let anyone get a hold of it no matter what! If they find it… oh… that won’t be good at all!
The last traces of the sun had melted from the sky. Darkness fell upon them as they stood — eight ringing one. The girl watched them for what seemed an eternity, mind leaping from fear to thought to courage to plea to hopelessness.
To fight them is impossible… they have magic. I don’t.
Her eyes flashed, shoulders hunching slightly. Her stance drooped, becoming that of a cornered wild animal.
What choice do I have? They sent so many so that I could not fight back…
Misery written upon her face, the girl took a slow step forward, “I guess… there’s no other way.”
“That’s more like it,” the nearest Apprentice said with a haughty chuckle. He reached out to take her by the arm.
Big mistake…
With a wildcat yell, the girl threw her whole weight straight into the Apprentice’s open stomach. There was a sickly sinking feeling as her elbow slid deep into his gut. With a grunt, he buckled over with shock and pain.
This will buy me a few seconds if nothing else!
She flipped the immobilized man around so that he stood between her and his companions. One of the more trigger-happy Apprentices had already unleashed a leaping bolt of sizzling light at her.
AsaHi threw herself as far away from the point of impact as possible. They all watched with wide eyes as the bolt struck. The pain-wracked Apprentice reeled back, surrounded by flickering sparks of dull yellow light. She could hear a crackling sound as his mouth fell open and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Then with one final jolt he dropped twitching, face-down in the dirt.
Everyone stood absolutely still. The Apprentices all stared at their fallen companion in a combination of awe and horror.
I bet they’ve never used their hocus pocus on another person before…
The Apprentice who had cast the spell suddenly gave a wail and threw himself in the opposite direction of the group. He ran wildly until his form was swallowed by the thickness of the coming night.
“KoSho, wait!” one of the others shouted after him. “Wait, come back! It was just an accident!”
“Forget him already! We’re after the girl, remember!” the leader of the group was obviously chafing at how poorly the expedition had come off. Eight against one had seemed more than enough to subdue her.
“But…”
“I said leave him!”
The group straightened reluctantly.
“Come on, capture her!”
The Apprentices scuffled towards the girl somewhat warily. By the time they surrounded her again, AsaHi was shaking all over. She couldn’t even begin to figure out a continued way of escape.
Great, AsaHi… you’re getting a wonderful track record. You run away from home and end up throwing some poor guy out in front of a lightning bolt. Then the guy who casts the spell goes nuts and ends up running off into the forest in the middle of night to get eaten by who knows whatever is ou-
Just as their hands clamped down on her from every side, a reverberation from the darkness shook them to the very core. It was a scream. A scream that froze the flow of blood within AsaHi’s body. The Apprentices suddenly forgot about their quarry, huddling close together and staring into the shadows.
“Hedd-ynad! What was… what was that?”
“I think it… that came from the direction that Kosho ran,” one Apprentice choked.
“No! Don’t say that! Don’t even suggest it,” another spoke in a low, intense voice.
One of the Apprentices gave a low whimper, “Something’s out there. I feel it! It’s coming closer!”
“SHHH! Shut up already!” another hissed.
They all fell silent. The only sound that could be heard was the hissing of breath and nervous shifting of their feet. AsaHi’s eyes darted every direction only to be met with darkness. She couldn’t hear anything. Or feel anything. But it was apparent that the rest of them could. The tension in the air was tremendous. Fear rose as thick as fog.
If there is some sort of beast out there, it’ll find this lot for sure. Don’t they know half the monsters out here sense and feed off of fear?
That’s when she finally heard it. A low throaty growl. As it grew louder, it seemed to be coming from every direction at once, vibrating through the very foundation of her soul. AsaHi had faced many creatures in her wanderings and not all of them had been gentle. She had seen her fair share of close calls. But something about the sound filled her with more dread than any other animal she had heard.
Then a shape fell out of the darkness, dropping with a limp sound right on top of the Apprentice that had been knocked cold by the lightning bolt. It wasn’t until she heard the shouts of the Apprentice behind her that AsaHi recognized the form in the darkness. As her eyes adjusted to the image, her mind began to pick out what her senses told her. It was the Apprentice that had run off into the night.
The growl came again. AsaHi could make out the pair of slitted green eyes watching them. Her gaze shot up and held, staring with terror into the jade glow. At first she thought it was her imagination, but even after blinking, the image remained there, burning in her mind.
“Noooo…. noooo…” someone behind her moaned.
Then she heard footsteps. Running. An Apprentice had decided to make a break for it. Then before she could take another breath, she found things moving so quickly she couldn’t even find her own footing.
One of the Apprentices threw her forward. Straight at the green-eyed creature. She toppled, tripping over one of the Apprentice robes. Her breath was knocked out of her lungs as she caught herself on her palms. Fear wracked her limbs as she craned her head up. AsaHi could see the eyes staring down. Straight at her. Glowing coldly only a few feet away.
Ohno! Ohno! Ohno!
The growl grew louder in her ears, rising into a soul-freezing roar.
This is it!
AsaHi heard her own scream ripping from her lungs. Hands flung up over her face. She could feel the motion of the creature. And then…
What?!
In complete astonishment, she watched the blur of shadow leap from obscurity, straight over her head to land among the Apprentices. She could hear their shouts mingled with animalistic snarls.
AsaHi didn’t know how she managed to gather enough sense to run. She simply found herself fleeing. Stumbling over the rocky hill sides, dodging trees and bushes in the darkness. Her flight was blind, sending her tumbling and rolling down steep inclines. A choked sob was constantly playing on her lips, terror riding her every action.
Taking a wrong turn on a narrow ledge, she found herself without footing. AsaHi’s body met air as she toppled and landed, stunned, on a mossy rock outcropping. For a long time she lay there, too dazed and exhausted to do more than breathe. Even that came with difficulty.
Somewhere in the distance she heard a trickle of water. Her mind shifted, and she found herself strangely thinking of the running stream near SoYa’s house. They had spent a lot of time together there when they were young.
SoYa… I miss you… Will I ever see you again?
A welling of fearful discouragement rose in her heart.
I’ve lost my packs… my food… my map. It’s all gone… and I have no idea how to find it. I have no idea where I am or where I’m going.
Her body ached fiercely as the girl curled up, wrapping her arms around her legs.
If anyone is out there… if the Patrons really do watch over us… please… help me!
From behind her closed eyes, she could hear it. Her body froze as the sound of the low-throated growl vibrated down into the little hollow to where she lay. Taking in a choked breath, the girl strained to lift her head. To her horror, the pair of slitted green eyes was watching her from above. Any hope for a fighting chance drained out of her limbs as she struggled to push herself up. Her arms and legs weren’t responding. All she could do was lay there, a defeated and fearful huddle under the rising moon.
The creature did not move either. The eyes simply observed. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought it was watching over her.
No… that’s silly. It’s just waiting…
A strange sensation swept over her as she stared into the green light. It felt as if something was trying to force her to sleep. Numbness crept over her body. Then her eyes closed and AsaHi dropped into a deep, painless slumber.
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