Everyone has a different way of showing fear. Some scream, some run away, some people stand and fight whatever had the audacity to scare them. When it came to the good old fight or flight response I’d gotten pretty good at running. Funnily enough that was how I met my best friend. That was a good time. Scary as Hell. Maybe the lightning bolts, fireballs, and velociraptors had something to do with it. That was a weird day. As I recall, it began with getting a job from the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Remember to not get into too much trouble and everything I taught you about the sword. Oh, and make sure you take enough bread!” Prudence fretted over me like a mother duck. I stood still as she loaded me up like a pack mule with enough food, books, and supplies to make a hike to Alaska and back. When I’d tried to protest she’d given me a look that would’ve made even Chuck Norris second guess his life choices. By the time she’d loaded me up with stuff, I carried a backpack that towered… sixteen feet over me. We’d had to go outside and purchase a ladder for the final touches.

“Prudence, it’s just one little quest.” I said, noting the people who began to stare.

“It is not just ‘one little quest’!” She says, imitating my voice so perfectly it scares me. “It is your first quest! A girl should never forget her first anything!” 

“Keep it PG I’m only twelve!” I exclaim.

“What’s PG? Is that more of your ‘English’?” It turned out that no one here spoke English. Every creature spoke the ‘Common Tongue’. When I’d tried to explain to Prudence that it all sounded like English to me she got confused. Her guess was that my physical body- as a result of being born into this world- understood and spoke the Common Tongue clearly. I didn’t care. But it made the explanation of a few things impossible. I let it drop with a shrug.

“Even so, I don’t need all of this. I mean, you’ve packed seven pairs of socks, fifteen changes of clothes, thirty five potions-”

“I wonder what I did with that snake…” She muttered.

“Is there a snake on my back?!” I ask as I swing around to try and feel for it.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, my dear! Of course there’s no snake! But...erm… how do you feel about self-administering antivenom?” She asked with a sheepish grin.

“It’s not like the Adventurer’s Guild is three days away in some god forsaken desert!” I say. Prudence crosses her arms and gives me a stern look. No arguments. I groaned and let her load me up. The two years of intense exercise Prudence had given me on a regular basis meant the load on my back was unusually easy to carry. Then again, maybe she’d put super steroids in the bear meat. I had no way of knowing.

With these positive thoughts in my mind and a possible snake on my back I headed out towards the guild. The sky was clear, the air was cool, and the road was clear of any traffic. All in all, it was a perfect day. Too perfect. Too clear. I had to wonder, ‘Why is the weather always perfect?’ I mean, sure, that’s what would make this region so ideal for farmers but as long as I’d been here I hadn’t experienced a truly bad day.

The very nano second this thought slipped from my head the sky became dark with clouds more ominous than a looming shadow at the end of your bed. With a clap of thunder a downpour of rain so heavy I couldn’t see two steps in front of me began. “Are you kidding me?!” I shouted at the sky. I barely ran out of the way as an arm of lightning hit the ground where I stood only a few seconds ago. “Are you serious? First a freaking meteorite, now lightning?! Are you not getting tired?” I shouted at the sky.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Sorry, love that was actually just me.” A voice said. 

That was it. I was done. I dropped my 16 foot monster of a backpack and prepared to run like I’d drank sixteen gallons of water in the middle of a crowded Ikea. I stopped when I heard a gasp, followed by a thud and neither of these sounds belonging to me. I brought out my sword- just for show because God knows I wasn’t going to use it in a fight at this point- and cautiously crept around to the front of my bookbag. 

A girl wearing a black shirt with torn sleeves, shorts, and gauze wrappings around her hands and feet laid on the ground in front of me. “Ow…” She muttered.

“Who...what are you?” I asked. She looked up at me with dancing green eyes.

“Um… hi.” She said with a crooked grin. I lowered my sword while she climbed to her feet, rubbing the back of her neck. “So I heard you were heading to the Adventurer’s Guild and thought I’d hitch a ride. You’re really strong by the way!” She says as her gaze travels down the book bag.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“I’m Sola!” I wait for a last name. “Erm, just Sola. In my tribe the women usually have only one name till they’re married. And since I’m not married-” She gives a little gesture. 

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You said you were the reason lightning almost hit me?”

“Yep! It’s one of my abilities. Lightning, I mean. D’ya think we can get out of this storm?” She asked. We take refuge under a nearby tree. Sola explained to me she was a martial artist from one of the northern tribes. She was this far south because of a… disagreement with her Elders about her ability as a fighter. “Anyway, I was meditating on your back and thinking about lightning when ‘BOOM’. There’s a storm and you’re screaming at the sky.”

I glare at the ground. 

“I really am sorry about it.” She says.

“The part where you got a free lift without my consent or nearly killed me?” I ask.

“Both. Tell you what. It’s pretty likely we’re going for the same job. Why don’t I help you out?”

“Why would I want help from someone who can’t control what she can summon?” I ask. 

Sola gets a hurt expression. “I’m pretty handy in a fight! And it’s not just lightning I can access. I can make fire.”

“Great. So in addition to giving my best lightbulb imitation I’m also going to get turned into toast.” I say. She gives me a strange look before continuing.

“Look, I know I messed up. I’m tryin’ to make up for it. Let me come with you and help you out. After that, you never have to see me again.” She holds out her hand. 

“I don’t have to see you again even if I don’t agree to let you tag along.” I say. Considering that two heads might be better than one though, I sigh and shake her hand. “No using the lightning or fire unless you’re absolutely certain it’ll work.”

“Gotcha!” She said with a grin. “This’ll be great!” Oh, how wonderful. Another optimist.