The wailing wind ripped through my locs as I ran through the woods, my heart an ever-beating drum thumping in my chest as I hyperventilated. I was running on pure adrenaline, and I hated myself for it. How could I have been so foolish, so insolent! This was not how it was supposed to go. I did not picture myself sprinting through a forest at night, being chased by a snarling group of Horned goblins. As a matter of fact, I didn't expect to be running, period!
But alas, here I was, running for my life against my will because I pissed off a bunch of goblins.
I could already hear them tracking me down with their short green limbs... yelling after me as I ran for all hell. All this happened because Floren, my best friend and cousin, decided it would be a "funny" idea to steal back a moonstone bracelet he sold whilst in the black market. He somehow convinced me to help him, and I reluctantly obliged- he said that we would be back before dawn, and as much as I hated the idea, he was still my best friend; I'd go to hell and back for him even if all odds were against us. The plan was fortified and it was meant to go smoothly and quickly, it was pretty straightforward; sneak into the old Tavern-he couldn't enter the bar alone because he was still 19 I was 20-, he said he would be waiting in the back for me and all I had to do was flirt with the bouncer to let us in, who might I add... was a giantess with arms that could crush my limbs in one swift motion if she wanted to. Everything was going well, I was in the bar... and he had snuck in while I was distracting and flirting with the two goblins whom he'd wanted to steal from. To be fair... one of them wasn't bad-looking... at least in his human form. It was all going well until I rejected his advances... He'd wanted to do more than just talk, and I wasn't having it.
I guess all males were the same... even ones that weren't technically men.
Just as Floren had snuck out through the back, one of them grabbed my hand, trying to force me back... and Mama didn't raise no bitch, so obviously, I had to fight back. Little did I know he had friends... many goblin friends who now wanted payback.
I was scared they'd do something to me, and at the last minute, I panicked and threw some termite dust on them. And the thing with termite dust is that it has lasting effects. It made you hallucinate... and was incredibly itchy when it landed on your skin. I'd thought it would have stalled them for just a bit... but all hope fell through when they transformed. I'd forgotten goblins... in their goblin form were resistant to termite dust.
Which left me... well, fucked.
I'd managed to escape... barely...
Floren had told me he'd snagged some portal ash to help us escape at the right time. I wish he hadn't just left me. He owed me so much after this.
I discover a bushy area beside a very conveniently large boulder and decide to jump behind it.
My lungs are caught in my throat as I wait it out... praying they'd pass by and not see me.
I nearly lost it all when I heard their disgustingly grave voices say they were gonna "punish me somewhere private." Normally, I didn't run from a fight... but... this wasn't a normal circumstance.
Their voices crowd in as more of them pile up in desperate search for me. My breath was heavy when I felt a hand on me that nearly made my heart leap out of my chest. I nearly revealed my hideout, but the person clasped their hand over my mouth, silencing me before I could scream. I wrestle against them until I hear a familiar voice,
"Relax, it's me! Come on!" I turn to discover Floren in his fae form. He was a Satyr with dark loose curls, mahogany brown skin, and forest green eyes.
Relief washes over me, but it's short-lived when I hear one of the goblins expose our hideout.
"SHIT!"
We curse in unison, and he grabs my arm, dragging me along as we run straight ahead.
We weave through narrow trees and bushes, scratching our arms and legs against branches.
"Where's the Portal ash?"
I ask, my chest tightening like a winding rope as we hold hands and scramble like the thieving rats we are.
"It was in my back pocket..."
"Then use it! What are you waiting for, a parade??"
I struggle to keep up with his pace, his goat legs seeming to prance as he runs.
Floren turns his head in the other direction, mumbling something to himself.
"What?"
I glare at him with scrutiny.
"I... I may have lost it.."
His eyes wander, looking as guilty as a fox.
I blink at him, baffled and dumbfounded by his response.
"We needed that!"
I glare at him.
I wish I could tackle him to the floor; how could he be so careless?
"I know, I know... I'm sorry!"
He apologizes as we come to a stop behind a large tree and crouch down.
"You're lucky I know someone with a portal ash not far from here."
I say in a hushed tone.
He grins, his eyes sparkling with gratitude.
The goblins follow our scents, their gruff voices carrying through the forest as they call us every name in the book.
"Come on!"
I urged Floren, grabbing his hand and running towards the dock straight ahead.
The goblins roar at the sound of our footsteps running in our direction and yelling out curse words I don't think I've ever heard before. Must be Goblinspeak or Orkish.
They are in fast pursuit, gaining in on us, and their feet sound like fallen bricks on the ground.
"Come back here you filthy whore!"
One of them yells in goblinspeak,
That I know at least.
We stumble onto the dock, searching anxiously for a place to hide...
But before I can protest, Floren grabs my arm and yanks me under the dock planks into the dark and murky water.
As our bodies plunge into the water, I shiver from the cold.
The goblins eventually stumble onto the docks, and we slowly sink into the water as the weight of their feet creak against the boards. They all gather in, talking amongst themselves as they search for our whereabouts.
"That thieving bastard stole my moonstone charm! It had real stardust!"
One of them says.
"When I see him, I'll have his head on a platter."
Another growls.
My heart races at the possibility of their words, and it suddenly starts to get too real for me. If we're caught, they'll murder us.
Suddenly, one of them peers over the dock suspiciously, and we quickly bury ourselves beneath the surface, holding our breaths.
Their voices sound muffled, but they seem to be retreating, finally. We hold our breaths and stay still for another minute, waiting it out.
After a while, it starts to become unbearable to hold my breath, my lungs tightening underwater; I give in moments later, submerging and heaving, just as quickly as my cousin rises from the water.
"Fuck... jesus christ that was terrifying!"
I gasp.
"Yea!! For a second I thought we were done for!"
As Floren coughs up water I glare at him in disbelief.
"None of this would have happened if you didn't drag me into your bullshit!"
I yell.
"You tagged along you could've said no!" He retorts.
I climb onto the dock as a breeze passes blowing against my soggy clothes and wet skin.
"Let's just go home."
I groan helping him up.
For a Satyr he's much shorter than me... at least by 2 inches.
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I was yet to know what order I would inhabit; my mother was a Faerie, and my father a Griffin. We had some elf blood on my mother's side. Hence my pointed ears. I'd always been embarrassed by them because not even my siblings inherited them. It almost felt like a curse. For years, my parents had expected me to take my fae form; they'd hoped and prayed I would either inherit my mother's faerie gifts or become something beautiful like a Phoenix like my sister Judith or like my other siblings.
But so many years had passed, it almost seemed I was doomed to be withered, a derogatory term used to describe fae who never inherited or were able to take their fae form; another example was fledging, which was usually directed at children. I'd been called both multiple times by various people.
I'd been mocked and ridiculed for years because of my inability to transform. While all my peers had managed to adapt to their new fae forms I was stuck looking like a withered, boneless human-thing... at least that's how I was perceived. Most fae always had some sort of imprint tattoo that would reveal what their fae form would be although we all preferred to take human forms.
Floren's birthmark was in the shape of a lily pad to signify his earthly nature and connection to the woods since he was a Satyr.
Faeries had their star runes engrained on their skin to signify magic, trolls had the troll cross, Werewolves had different moon phases, Vampires had their ankh cross, and Demons had their Luciferian symbols or pentagrams depending on the breed, nature, or class.
But I... I had nothing but a pair of elf ears and the inability to transform into my face form.
I'd lost hope in trying... It had been 15 years since my parents had enrolled me in power reformation schools to encourage my form to take shape, but it was just a waste. It was no use, I was 20 now and it was pointless.
I hated the fact that I'd wasted so many years in power reformation school praying to the gods to give me an order... Any order.
But nothing happened... my prayers were never answered and I grew more and more useless as the days passed... my parents had even given up on me.
Floren and I entered a potion store. One of my close friends, Dakarai, worked here and has helped me out gods know how many times when I was low on portal ash, potion ointments, or just weed.
"Hey, Rai!"
I sang as Floren and I trampled into the potion store. Arrays of magical substances and assortments were displayed neatly on shelves around the store.
"Oh look who it is..."
The old man smiled warmly as we stepped up to the front desk.
"Hey bro...I kinda need some... help."
Dakarai looked up from the misty globe he was cleaning and grinned.
"Anything for my favorite customer."
Dakarai was an old man with long, white, heavy locs and kindred brown eyes; he also happened to be an elfen dwarf. He was the kindest man I'd ever known, and he'd always been there for me when I needed his help. He used to teach me protection spe,lls growing up in case I found myself in danger.
,
"I need a favor..."
I trail and he cocks his head, to the side in question.
"Do... you have any portal ash? I promise I'll pay you back once I get some mo-
"Here."
Before I can finish the sentence he grabs a small bag off the shelf and drops it onto the counter. It's a small black bag, neatly tied with a white string.
This is more than I could have asked for.
"Thank you! So, so much I promise I'll pay you back."
Dakarai chuckles,
"It's alright, I know money's tight right now. Just make sure to stay safe out there."
He looks between me and Floren and I beam, moving around the counter to engulf him in a hug. I crouch down and he wraps his arms around me.
"Alright, come on, Flore,"
I turn to my cousin whose face has paled and is now facing towards the glass doors of the store.
"Flore? Whats-
Before any words can leave my mouth, I see them. Two very menacing, very angry-looking goblins step into the store, their black eyes falling upon us with a vengeance.
"RUN!"
I yell at Floren, grabbing his arm and sprinting towards the backdoor. The goblins, as expected, follow in heavy pursuit.
We burst through the back doors, accidentally breaking a few items in our escape.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKERS"
One of them roars as we dodge a knife he throws in our direction.
"SHIT!"
Floren screams,
I move quickly, retrieving a handful of the portal ash just as Floren grabs my hand.
They're gaining on us, their feet pattering against the ground just as I throw it over us praying we get the hell out of here before they catch us.
Just as one of them reaches to grab my arm we are suddenly engulfed in a swarm of glittery dust and swallowed up by the portal.
My body feels like it's being stretched apart... like my soul is trying to separate from physical form. Traveling by Portal Ash was always nauseating... but you get used to it after a while. It doesn't have a lasting effect. The world around us feels like it's stretching and tearing apart as well but it soon fades away as we teleport to our destination.
We land with a thump on the gravel ground just outside our home.
Floren groans as I follow, stretching my arms as if I'd just run a marathon. Which, well... I guess I did.
"Damn... that was close."
Floren lifts his arms above his head to stretch his arms.
"You owe me."
That is all I say as we approach our home.
We weave through the small garden and step up to the gates. Floren pushes it open and we walk in.
"You gotta admit that was fun."
"Nearly dying is not fun!"
I snap.
He whistles,
"Someone's upset."
"Shut up noodle arms."
But he only smiles having grown accustomed to the nickname,
"Ok half and half."
He retorts, and I can't help the smile that lifts up the corners of my lips.
It was an inside joke between us... since I looked mostly human apart from my pointy ears.
We enter through the front door of the house and I am met with an unsettling silence as we walk into the hallway. It's usually never this quiet.
My parents weren't usually home and spent most of their time away at work. My father worked as a mage guard, and my mother is a seamstress and herbology teacher for fledglings (in her spare time) .
We weren't rich... we barely got close to middle class but we were pretty stable for the most part.
"I'm gonna go to my room, i'm exhausted."
I tell my cousin, making my way up the stairs.
"You wanna watch a movie later?"
He asks as he walks towards the kitchen.
"No i-
My voice is silenced by the deep rumble of my father's voice
"Scarlett Adessa Thorne!"
I hold onto the railing, my heart pounding in my chest at the sound of my father's guttural roar.
It's deeper than usual which means either one of two things, he is angry or he is livid. Not to mention calling me by my full name...
"Y-yes!"
I replied hesitantly.
"Come upstairs. NOW."
My blood feels as cold as ice as I stare back at my cousin, his green eyes widening with genuine fear and remorse as he looks at me.
"AND DON'T THINK YOU'RE EXCUSED FLOREN ADAJI GREENBURROW!"
If I'd thought we were in trouble before, surely now we must be screwed.
"Shit."
We lament in unison both sharing the same look of fear.
***
"And you thought it was a good idea to steal back from a goblin because..."
My father taps his foot impatiently, awaiting our answers.
He was a man with a large stature. He had deep ochre eyes, furry brows and golden skin.
My mother and Aunt Mai stood beside each other both looking disappointed in our shortcomings.
My mother's long braids were pinned up in a bun, her forest green eyes matching those of her sister and my cousin. I shared my father's brown eyes.
I look down at my feet hoping Floren will take the floor for once and save us an earful of more yelling and discipline.
"W-well... I... I made a mistake and wanted to stand up for myself. I was cheated... he paid me less for the moonstone bracelet. It had pure stardust uncle! I couldn't just let him have it!"
My dad pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Do you realize how dangerous it was Floren? You could have been killed!"
"Yea but we wer-
I kick his leg passing him a death glare warning him not to say anything stupid. He winces glaring back.
"Dad... we're sorry we should've been more careful-
I begin but he cuts me off,
"You should have been careful alright!"
He scoffs.
"Uncle... please can't you just... let us off this once?"
Floren looks up at my father whose wings seem to have sprouted from his back.
"NO!"
We both shrink back in fear at his sudden outburst. We've never seen him this angry.... And my mother is usually more vocal... which means we are in very, very deep shit.
"Dad... what's wrong."
I ask gently, my father's eyes soften slightly as he turns in my direction, but he turns to look at my mother and sinks into his armchair.
I fight back a smile from the way his wings prevent him from leaning back on the chair but I'm quickly met with a stern and warning glare from my mother.
"We need to talk to you about something."
She lets out a long sigh, her shoulders sloping slightly.
"We've decided it's best for you to transfer to another university."
"W-what?"
I sit up straight, ready to retaliate.
"We're having a difficult time with trusting you and your cousin being home most of the time. You need a job and you seem to be falling behind in your classes."
She looks displeased, her eyes filled with what seems to be disappointment and regret.
"M-mom... I can't just transfer mid-semester! I love Mallow College! I have so many friends there!"
I can't believe my ears, are they sending me away? They can't do that...they can't be serious... this isn't happening!
"Yes but... you've proven time and time again that we cannot trust you to be alone at home. Last time you and Floren accidentally burnt that poor woman's garden... your professors say that you've been skipping class and then there was the incident with that fox girl you brought over last week..."
"Mom!!"
I groan blushing profusely.
"That was one time!"
"I still would have preferred you told us you'd be bringing over a... a... friend... instead we found you both smoking and drinking spirits! You hadn't even washed the dishes!"
"I told you it wasn't mine!"
It was indeed my weed but she didn't need to know that.
I bow my head shamefully as she reminds me of that day. I'd liked Miriam... even though she was a little clingy for a fox shifter, I'd still enjoyed the nights we'd spent together. She was beautiful and had a bubbly personality... but her true colors showed the night I'd caught her cheating with the girl she'd told me not to worry about.
But what that had to do with me transferring schools made no sense!
"We just think it'd be better if... if you were in a different environment... somewhere where you can discover yourself...."
"And won't cause any trouble."
My father chimes in,
I can't believe my ears, were they serious?
"You can't just pull the plug and force me in your direction anytime you want! I'm working on things-
"Working on what exactly? Fooling around with boys and girls and ignoring your studies? Getting into trouble? Making a mockery of our family? You haven't even gotten your order-
She stops herself, but the blame and double meaning in her words give her away. The damage has already been done.
She doesn't need to continue and I already know what she'd intended to say.
I'm a useless withered freak with weak powers and I'm a calloused delinquent.
"I didn't mean..."
She starts, but it's my turn to cut her off.
"I know what you meant. I know why you all look at me like that. I'm not an idiot."
My words fall like stones, angry as the tears I'm fighting back.
Floren turns to look at me, looking sorrowful and worried by our parents' sudden change in demeanor and the new and shocking revelation.
"You can't send her away!"
He tries to defend me but my father stands.
"It's the final decision."
He gruffly says.
"So what... that's it? You're just gonna uproot my life and force me to attend some stupid academy?"
"But-"
"Floren don't think you're off the hook either. We've enrolled you in herbology classes."
My cousin's eyes widen at his mother's words.
"What!? Mom you can't! I don't wanna be a herbalist!"
"Well you should've thought about that before wreaking havoc all around town!"
My cousin curses under his breath and I give him a sympathetic look. I know how much he wanted to be a mage guard. Even though he's a satyr he prefers combat more than anything... he'd always wanted to fight for the greater good.
I guess we were both screwed now. He was gonna be forced to be a herbalist and they were sending me away.
"We only want what's best for you."
My mother prods trying to lessen the blow of her earlier words. But my father seems to have his mind made up.
"You need to grow up. You're not a child anymore and this is the only way we can get you to understand."
The anger is still present from the way he rises to his feet.
"We just want you to wake up! We don't want you to throw your life away."
My aunt chimes in.
"No... you just want to get rid of me. Just admit it! I see how you all look at me! You hate that I'm... I'm different... that I'm powerless... useless."
"No one's saying you're useless, don't be so dramatic Scarlett."
My father sighs,
I scowl
"Right, but you're all thinking it." I rise to my feet, seething with anger as I storm out of the room.
"Where are you going!? We aren't finished here!"
My father's voice carried, but I ignored him, walking towards my bedroom and slamming the door.