Chapter 18
Running home
The forest was wrecked, Dryads screaming and burning on the forest floor. The only thing they could do was move out of the way or sacrificially save the other by jumping to the fire. But the wood nymphs knew what to do despite their cries of terror. The Hamadryads evacuated the circle of devastation and Dryads dug trenches to keep the fire on the inside. Those still conscious did what they could to cap the flames while reverently staying inside for the good of the whole forest and prevent the fire from spreading. Fortunately many of their shields were the only things hit by the lava, but not all were lucky, far from it.
By a few minutes the whole area was evacuated for a quarter of a mile. Hamadryads apparently could uproot themselves and move in times like these. Trenches had been dug and dirt thrown into mounds to prevent stray sparks catching alight those alive.
Drus mourned for those now dead and erected a totem on their behalf, summoning rain to reverse the evil.
We still had a large handful of Dryads, many went back to their places in the center of the forest to carry on with their daily affairs.
A few of us stayed to keep watch the until the fire finally ceased entirely the next day.
Drus wished me farewell on my journey. “Where will you go now Huntress? You’re far from home.”
“I am, I will get back in time, but I wanted to head north to see the spires of the mountains and to meet the Aves. I have a friend who might be there.”
“Very well. I will allow you a handful of my army to aide you, I fear there are more of those beasts. The way you fought this one shows me you you won’t need much help. But my gratitude goes to you for ridding us of the demon. Fare well. I hope my gift will be useful when most needed.”
I gave my blessing to Drus as well and departed with my gifted cohort of Dryads.
We traveled north through the forest.
I learned new ways to find directions, the Hamadryads told me how to use the star, the tree, and the wind to tell which direction I was facing.
The trek through the forest took about a week, it was far and I was slow, unable to get any speed without running into another tree.
The Hamadryads said funny things as we walked passed, “Oh look. The little saplings found a friend.” Being was derogatory to the Dryads. “Looks like an odd friend to have with those ears and claws.” “Some have their fetishes, don’t discriminate, they can be weird together.”
They got startled when I answered back. Then the word got out that I could speak their language and understand them too and word changed to, “The blessed Feline from Drus himself,” then back to criticizing Drus for having given me the murmur seed. It had grown out of my skin and was starting to form a necklace, though it wasn’t uncomfortable, it was unexpected.
We continued, me scavenging birds or small animals and the Dryads eating berries and leaves. “Isn’t that cannibalism?” I asked as one pulled up a small plant and took a bit out of its roots.
“No.” He said immediately, but thought about it. “Well kind of. They aren’t like us and someone is going to eat him eventually.” He took another bite. “Plus, we’re warriors now, no feelings for the lesser.”
On the fourth day I could see the spires of the mountains. I was glad we were nearly there. It was starting to get cold, but even in the blustering winds I seemed to be immune to it.
We had already passed the Murid’s village, taking a slight detour around it to the west. We wouldn’t have seen them much anyways, they mainly live underground, safer from all the Aves this close to the mountains. Murids were heavily on the menu of the Aves, as a Dryad explained.
The Dryads stayed with me until the last tree before the mountains. They wished me farewell. One even gave me his sword, saying that he wouldn’t need it on the way back and that I would have more use for it, being a real full time warrior.
I declined the sword politely. I wouldn’t know how to use it properly.
It was getting colder and I felt like I was back at the island of Dakur, staring up at the huge island. The spires were the same, huge peaks of rocks with nothing much to climb, though I could, one slip might send me falling, down to an insufferable pain of another drop. Though I survived a good fall once I wouldn’t want to do it again, or experiment.
Savage looking Aves had found me and started circling up above. I got ready with the sword just in case one came to swoop down, thinking I would be good food for dinner.
Trodding through the snow and passes of the mountains an Aves had finally spoken to me perched on a frozen tree this side of the canyon. “Felines in our mountains!” he heckled. “Aren’t you a bit cold?”
“I’m looking for a friend.” I told him.
“There’s another Feline in these parts? I’d better hide!”
“Not a Feline friend.” I said, though it did remind me that I don’t have many other Feline friends. “He is one of yours, an Aves. His name is Farrow.”
“You expect me to believe that? Kitty’s getting hungry. Asking for a little birdie.”
Another one landed near the other. “She might be telling the truth. Farrow’s an odd one, always making friends with different Xenos. I thought he was off to the west, probably making friends with her, no doubt.”
“Nah, he came back and tried to find some magical mountain. Did he come back?”
“I might have seen him, don’t remember.”
“Let’s go check. Don’t want to keep this Feline in the cold for too long, they get irritated and start to bite.”
They other replied, “Anyone would, standing in the snow for that long. That reminds me, I should go eat supper in my nice warm house up there.”
They left, jumping into the wind, hopefully to go find Farrow. I stood in the snow pretending to shiver, but got bored and started swinging the Dryad’s sword around for an hour until they came back.
“Farrow!”
“Hello Dawn. I’m glad to see that you made it back.”
“Thanks, and the same to you.”
“I’m different after that trip. Not to mention, the Ancients have woken. Actually quite a few of them, and all at the same time.”
“I know. I found another one in the forest.” I told him.
“Did you? Which one?”
“The one with snakes for hair. Got rid of her, burned her alive.”
His eyes widened. “You did? Never thought they could die. I mean anything can, but when you live in fear of an immortal beast, that doesn’t cross you mind.”
“If there’s more, I can help.”
“There’s more,” he said. “There is more.” He bowed his head for a moment. “But what are you doing here, seems pretty fast for you to get over here on the other side of Xenobia for a land walker.”
“I had a ride or two. Dropped me off in the forest and found some new friends. I helped and took care of Stheno.”
“Stheno?” He asked.
“The name of the Ancient we burned.”
“I see. They talk to you?” He asked.
“When I see them they do, but I’m sure nobody else would live to encounter that fact.”
“Unless you’re the only one who can.”
Maybe I was…
“So do you need help getting back home?”
“I came to make sure you were alive and made it back safe. Did you enjoy the present?”
“The rings? Yeah. Sold them for a high price in the city. No one believed they came from the neck of the leviathan Ancient. One person believed me and bought one after I said they came from the island of Dakur. ‘Fairytales’ he says. But I told him someone made it there, found all the riches, slain the Ancient guarding the island and took the gold off him. Somewhat gullible, in his mind, but he paid a high price for them.”
Farrow started to shiver. “Aren’t you cold? Let’s get to somewhere warmer.” He grabbed me by the shoulders took me up to his house on the side of a peak. A fire was going and I warmed up on the straw floor.
———
The next morning I woke up appreciating feeling warm and toasty, the first time in weeks.
“I can take you to the city.” Farrow said. “But not much further, I can show you were to get rides to the west.”
“Thanks.”
After Farrow caught both of us a bird to eat we left to the city.
It wasn’t very comfortable with his talons poking into my shoulders but it only took half the day. We had a tailwind pushing us and it was all figuratively, and quite literally, downhill.
We he set me down in a park a few miles in and showed me the taxis and to just ask for directions. “Most people are helpful, if you’re in doubt just ask one of your kind, a Feline.” He gave me some cash, “ I owe you this. Just don’t go flaunting it around.”
“Alright. Thank you Farrow. Again, I’m glad you’re alive after my pleading on that dreadful island. I wouldn’t be alive without you.”
“You’re welcome Dawn. As I said before, if you need me, just call. For now I have some matters back home. Stay safe.”
He jumped up and flew back to the mountains. I looked around the park I now stood in and decided to get some food. Try the city life for a day before going back home. I still have to attend to the relic and get into the third door. It’s bugging me what’s inside. All I know is that the Ancients are coming back and that I’m Xenobia’s only hope and I know that by finishing the tasks I’m given from Ares and Xeres makes it easier for me. Easier to rid the planet of the beasts.
I wonder how many Huntresses before me got through the doors, if they were the same tasks. The first door was too easy, the second, I’m sure wasn’t done before. But what would they have had to do before me, kill an Ancient? If so, I’m scared. That means they’re really immortal, coming back the next generation to haunt us all again. I can’t fathom that: my progeny going through the same as I do. Killing the Ancients lifetime after lifetime.
I strolled through the city, enjoying it. I had ordered food and ate a roasted turkey leg while sitting on the bench watching the adverse Xenos walking by. Several of them were not even recognizable as a species, having some odd characteristic and traits mixed between Canine and Aves with miniature wings, or an Equine/Reptilian looking like a horse with scales.
I finished the turkey leg after about an hour or so and went to find a taxi. They were all over the roads but none were stopping for me. Another Feline in a slick leather jacket approached me and started up a conversation.
“I haven’t seen you around here what’s your name.”
“Dawn, I replied.”
“Good to meet you. I’m Tom.”
I greeted him and noticed he was sizing me up, more like checking me out.
“Where’d you get that jumpsuit?” He pinched the sleeve of my arm. “That’s not normal spandex.”
“From the village.”
He looked amazed. “Everyone in the village wears that?”
“No just me.”
“So you’re special?” He asked, laughing.
“Yeah. You can say that.”
“Ever been to the city before?”
“No. Have you ever been to the village.”
“Can’t say that I have, unfortunately. I was born here. So let me show you around my village.”
I thought about that. I wouldn’t mind a tour guide, and getting back is important. But before I could answer he had already pulled me off down the sidewalk showing me all the buildings and historical locations.
He seemed like a nice guy, interested in the village. He told me that some Felines would love to go back to the village or at least go visit. Some even have close relatives there. But since there are so many here in the city there’s limited space back home and can’t stay for very long.
I told him that I’ve never seen visitors from the city, I’ve been traveling for too long and I’ve only seen a few Felines leave, to move into the city.
I asked him if he knew much about our traditions. I found out that he knew absolutely nothing but rumors. So I asked him if he knew about the Huntress. He did, but I saved my self the exaltation and didn’t introduce myself.
We ended the tour in a block of suburban houses at his place where he stayed with a gang of Felines. Boys and girls alike stayed there. “You’ll be safe if you wanted to stay here for a night.” He said, putting his hand up on a nearby tree.
“Actually, I have to be going back to the village on important business. I’ve landed myself over to the East somehow. It wasn’t a complete waste of time but I should be going. Do you know where I could get a taxi?”
“Well, really Dawn, traveling at night can be a bit frightful for a young Feline girl like you. I’ll help me you back in the morning when it’s safer.”
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Though I didn’t think there would be much danger here in the city, for someone like me, I agreed. He didn’t seem like he’d tell me how to get a taxi anyways. And not really knowing what might be out here in the city at night, I followed him inside.
His house didn’t seem all that posh, just as one might expect with twenty Felines living under one roof. They served me food and the girls chatted with me as we ate, loving the fact that I was from the village, sympathizing with me for all the things I’ve been missing in the city.
I finished up and Tom brought me to a room I could sleep in, with a few other girls. I didn’t get that much sleep, they were asking so many questions. I had to lie a few times and make things up to sound like I’ve lived in the village my whole life, not just secluded and learning what our ancestors taught each Huntress through thegenerations. They believed me for the most part and fortunately, I kept my identity secret. I don’t know why I didn’t tell them, it didn’t feel right, becoming a celebrity amongst them leading to someone who shouldn’t finding me. Outside of the city is another thing, inside, there’s all those clandestine affairs, and people with secret identities, waiting for you to make a wrong move and throw you in jail. So I kept my secret.
The next day I woke up around noon, they served me breakfast and coffee. They had good food here, somehow they had enough money to pay for all of this, I’m glad that Felines like these make a living out here in the city. But there’s so many other Felines. I’m sure there are more doing even better, and worse.
After eating I realized that I would have been better off just leaving yesterday, it was already noon now.
Tom took me outside and helped me get a taxi, telling me the way to find a ride out to the village or as close as they can take me. I told him, even going to the plains would do me well, I can walk through, though it might take me a day. I didn’t say that I could ask Roland the Equine to take me across.
He said farewell and the taxi left with me inside.
I looked out the window noticing again how the Xenos weren’t as I expected them, odd breeds in the city with the villages keeping the line of each species pure. Some were ugly and some gorgeous, no doubt models of some sort, it varied as much as each species. Some with their hair and fur dyed, some with piercings and tattoos or various accessories. It was admirable that life had come so far since the Xenos were first dropped on this planet.
The taxi stopped after a few short minutes and the driver told me this is where I get out. I looked, and I was right in the middle of the city. But I still opened the door and stepped out. What I didn’t see is that I was let out right in front of a police station! Before I could even stand the police had already stepped in front of the door and grabbed my arms to put handcuffs on me.
I reacted fast and slid out, kicking one in the knee. He went down and grabbed my foot. The other one threw a punch at my head and I ducked, jumped back and slipped out of the hold.
I started running down the street, heading back to the Feline house I slept in last night. I escaped from the first two but police cars with their sirens blaring shot from down the road.
I kept running, jumped over one who stopped infront of me trying to block my path. All the while I was getting shot at from behind. I kept running. I got hit but just stumbled slightly as my suit absorbed the impact.
I finally made it back to the house, the police still rounding the corner. The front door was locked so I jumped up onto the roof and got in through a window in the back of the house.
Cop cars passed by as I climbed inside.
There were only a few Felines now. They recognized me.
“Back so early?”
“Got into trouble. Tried arresting me.” I said, nearly out of breath.
“Who?” They asked, jumping out of their seats.
“The police came and tried to take me straight out of the taxi.”
“What did you do?”
“I’m not sure. Besides fighting my way out.”
The other one stopped polishing her nails and said, “They have cameras in the back, it wasn’t the taxi’s fault.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “The police are looking for me already and I’ve only been here for a day!”
“Someone must not like you,” She said casually.
“And you just ran?” The first one asked.
“I had to get away from the first two, then they followed me and started shooting down the street. Luckily escaped by coming here.”
Her mouth was open and she mouthed, “What have you done?”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Uh oh.”
The first one ran across the hall to look out the front window as the other continued smoking and painting her nails.
“Looks like a cop,” she said as she came back. “Go out the back and run, I’ll tell him I haven’t seen anyone suspicious.”
I went back out the window and waited for the officer to leave. He didn’t, he came inside to investigate. I had to go.
I tried to listen inside, it seemed like he wanted to check all the rooms. I have time to escape.
I jumped off the side of the house and casually jogged, nervously. Still, I thought I must look odd running down the street like this and slowed to a walk.
Now I’m screwed, how am I supposed to get back? I can’t take a taxi, I don’t know anyone that would help, seems like I’ll have to walk home.
I walked a block west and figured I was safe now. Nope, I saw a cop across the street and went to a phone booth pretended to talk to someone.
Looking around outside it seemed that the coast was clear so I stepped out.
I took a few steps out and got hit in the back. They shot a net and it wrapped around me as I fell. Confused, I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t move much and only gave up once they started beating me with their clubs. I was surrounded by police in seconds. Two of them picked me up by my arms and legs and threw me into the back of a van.
I was carted off to the police station about five minutes away. They took me out and threw me on the floor inside the station. This one looked like their headquarters, not really a prison.
I was newly shackled and dragged off down the hallway.
Someone came by and snapped a few photos, looked like a reporter.
Then they put me in a room and gave me a card with numbers on it, taking more photos.
After that they took me further back into the building and had me sit on the floor, apparently it was harder to get up off the floor. It was.
I sat there and looked outside, here was the headquarters of the whole planet. I was looking out at what must have been hundreds of holograms and seats for ambassadors, communicating between others on planets far and wide. In the middle of the stadium a hologram the size of a building, lit up and showing my face.
The announcement came through, “Xenobia’s most wanted was found this afternoon and captured, now in detainment and no longer a threat to the populace.” It was a moving picture of me when I was walking down the hallway, my face altered into a scowl, and other added bits like dirt and blood digitally smeared on my face.
I wondered what I had actually done. Maybe Jenres, that tiny stupid Murid told a story to the officials, covering himself up for all the dirty work he does.
I listened to what else the announcement said. “This Feline had been caught attempting to assassinate an ambassador of the confederacy, a well known Murid. Though the Felines have always been at the neck of the Murids, this act of treason had taken it too far. The helpless Murid, Jenres had attempted to bring the Feline into custody but she had gotten away, being in the run from authorities for a number of weeks already, until they had caught up with her, a resultant shoot out occurred in the suburbs of north eastern Xenobia and minutes later the Feline was caught. The crimes of the Feline extend back to a few years ago. Mainly theft on many accounts, small, and large. Including drug abuse and dealings. This Feline was caught in the act of causing societal unrest to many that knew her. The Feline has purportedly been a part of the original Feline clan from the eastern jungles of the country and been under the care of the leaders of the Feline clan. Further actions and investigations will occur to find the alleged purpose and intentions while the leader is found and brought to justice. Attempts to track down the rest of the outlaw Felines are in progress, finding those that would have made up her gang.”
I sat looking out at the window as the human reporter finished her story. The story that someone had made up, I haven’t even been in the city for more than a day. I suspect Jenres had been telling them he lies, just in case I did survive that fall. But I don’t know how he would have guessed that I did survive. Maybe it was the report of someone dead and overly cautious automated police indexing. Like that girl said in the house, they have cameras everywhere. I probably triggered something in the system and came up as a, “Suspected dead criminal found live in a taxi, authorities notified.”
I took a few deep breathes and shook the electronic shackles I had, they were tight, and my hand were numb, just like that contraption in Jenres’s ship, but these were smaller.
No one was around, I was left to sit here by myself while I’m sure I was going to be taken to be interrogated shortly, or locked up.
The next trick was getting out of these shackles and leaving the building.
Boy, am I never coming back to the city any time soon.
I looked at my shackles as I sat cross legged on the floor. Ungu snuck out and severed the line between my feet. I reached down with my hands to handle the one on my hands, but they slipped off easily enough. I guess they didn’t make these for young Feline Huntresses.
Looking around to make sure nobody was staring at me I jumped up and ran down the hallway, luckily there was a window at the end of it. I jumped through it using the freed handcuffs to break the glass.
I hadn’t realized I was about ten stories up, but I managed to correct myself midair and land on a car, denting it, my suit absorbing the bodily shock. I hope that nobody had seen me. But I already heard the shouts from the window, nobody shot, but I know I won’t be safe until I’m out of the city.
I found the sun, knowing that it was late in the afternoon, I knew the sun will point me home.
After zig-zagging my way through the streets and alleyways for hours I finally felt safe, though it was night time, I hadn’t seen anyone following me.
I decided to move at night as well, I could afford the lack of sleep to not being seen during the day, maybe find a quiet place to sleep, or get out before the morning, but I don’t know how much further I have to go.
Night time was harder to navigate because there weren’t any stars to look at. The city was still bright enough to see down the streets, obscuring the starlight. People were still awake and moving about until I managed to get into another suburb figuring it was probably a few hours past midnight. I still couldn’t make out any stars that I knew but just found myself walking on straight roads, knowing they wouldn’t lead me back to the east.
Morning came and I found I had been drifting north, still westward fortunately.
I found a grove of trees and climbed to the top of one of the taller trees, hoping to see fields and grazing Equine. It was just more buildings and houses for unknown hundreds of miles.
As I lay there on a branch about my size, pondering the future I closed my eyes hoping that someone will help me along the way.
I opened my eyes quickly as someone started talking next to my ear, but as I turned to look, there was nobody.
“Pretty kitty’s lost. Nowhere to sleep but on my branches.”
The tree? I forgot I could hear them. Maybe I could ask her something. “You know how far it is to the fields in the west?”
“I don’t. But I don’t know who she’s talking to. Maybe she’s gone a little crazy.” The tree said casually.
“You know that I can hear you?”
“Who me?” She said, sounding more like she was talking to herself than me. “Kitty’s gone crazy. I wonder what she smoked last night.”
“I didn’t smoke anything.”
“Huh. She thinks… wait. You can hear me?”
“Yeah. Why do you think I have a tree sprout coming out of my neck.” I touched it and found it had already grown halfway around my neck.
“Hmm. Don’t think I’ve talked to any Xenos for quite some time. Actually never. Maybe a great ancestor had known that magician. What was his name? Winston? But he was human apparently.”
“So I’ve heard.” I said. “But I’m trying to get out of this miserable city. Do you know of any way other than taxis?”
“No.” She said flatly. “But I do know that you’re being looked for.”
“I know. That’s why I’m hiding up here.”
“Well, you are doing a good job of it. I’ll try to keep you covered as much as I can.”
“Thanks. I need to sleep and get back to my jungle.”
“Sleeping won’t take you back to your jungle little kitty.”
“I need sleep,” I said annoyed. “The Ancients are making a comeback and I’m trying to stop them.”
“Ohhh! I know one. He’s a big spider thing. Really scary. Haven’t seen him myself but I know someone who knows someone…”
“Alright. Where is he?”
“In the middle of the city. Supposed to be controlling the whole city, getting rid of Xenos and using the municipality to kill all of you off. That’s why all the Xenos look like bums and the humans hate them and rise in the economy, while the Xenos suffer and die.”
“Makes sense.” Actually it really does make sense. That’s where all of the lies came from in the news report on me and why some of it was true, but nobody would have known any of that except for an Ancient. Things started to click in my head and I didn’t think I was going to sleep now. Mind racing and the sun still out, impossible.
“You know of any other Ancients?” I asked.
“Yeah, but I heard someone killed one in the fields last year.”
“True. I heard that as well.” I smiled to myself. “Anymore?”
“Don’t know of any else in the city, but they’re all over the lands outside. Some come to take a bite here and there but not often, every few years, really.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m going to keep walking. Is the coast clear?”
“I haven’t been to the coast.”
“No, is there anybody coming down the street?”
“No. Not now, but there was a few hours ago.”
I jumped down and started walking down the street some more, at least I knew which way to go.
Sirens turned on behind me and an engine revved.
I looked back and saw the police pulling a radio to his mouth.
“Don’t worry I’ve got him.” The tree yelled to me, tipping over into the middle of the road and crashing down on top of the car.
“Thanks.” I yelled back.
“Don’t worry about me, someone will help me get myself back up.”
And I ran down the suburb streets and onto a main highway, cars passed by and I contemplated running through traffic but know I shouldn’t, looking even more suspicious. I headed north.
I know they’ll be looking for me now even harder, they know where I am. I jumped a few fences and found another good size tree with plenty of branches and decided to stay here for a while.
“Help me. I need to sleep. Can you keep me hidden?”
I asked the tree politely. Hoping I wouldn’t get into any long conversation with this one as well.
“No problem.” It said moving it’s branches until I was surrounded by darkness. Finally, I can sleep.
———
Ares came down and spoke to me, sitting on a branch above.
“You’re doing great Dawn. Though the Humans have changed since I knew them. Not as kind as some. Most of them are scared of us. Felines specifically, but other admire us, though not many.”
“I know. I can see that. But why are they hunting me like this?”
“They’re scared of you. One person’s fear explodes and grows into the other’s. It happened long ago, before your time. Felines have been hated, because we’re better. Plus our idea of fun being what it is, hunting Murids.” She winked. “But it’s not as bad as you think. Sure the police are after you, but once you get back to the forest there will be salvation. Don’t worry.”
“But the king. He left me.”
“True, he’s been lost for some time. I haven’t been with him for a long time, or he hasn’t been… the best way to put it is, he’s been lost. His trust has been alloyed with his greed, as Kings sometimes do. But his time will be over, the game continues, some fare better than others, some lie and cheat to gain confidence. But you, Dawn, you know what is right. You’ve seen more of this world than anybody has, who still lives. You carry them on your shoulders and you may be able to bring the new generation into a new age, where there doesn’t need to be hope.”
“I wish I could say that with certainty,” I said. “But the city is, well, disgusting. People are all entwined with their hate and lies, nobody can see straight.”
“You know exactly why that is. Finish your tasks.”
I did know why it was. “Ares, there’s an Ancient in the city, controlling the government. The tree told me he was a big spider thing.”
“Sounds like an Ancient. But I’ve never seen this one. Ever. I’ll try to see what I can. But if it is true, I wouldn’t think he’d be easy to kill.”
“Thanks Ares.”
“No need, we fight together. But, listen. I need you to get back, and stay in the temple until you find the key to the relic of good fortune.”
“Ironically I haven’t been having much good fortune.”
“I know. Which means it hasn’t been cracked. You need to solve the puzzle. I can help, but only so much. Not even Xeres or I could ever open it. It’s up to you now.”
“Thank you again.”
“What ever you’re doing is putting us in the right direction. I’ve never seen a Xeno with that necklace before. Not one Xeno has ever killed three Ancients in a lifetime, let alone one. You’ve broken records Dawn, four already.”
“Four?” I asked.
“The necklace, killing an Ancient and then breaking your own record twice.”
I started nodding and stared into her eyes and she climbed up the tree and into the twilight sky.
I woke up at night.
Fortunately I could still see that the sky was brighter on one side of the horizon than the other, pointing me west, and made my way off to the west for another day. It had taken me three days total to get to the fields. Even looking across the vast plains of the west my hope hadn’t increased. I still couldn’t see the two-hundred feet tall trees of my home.
I took my first step into the field and marched homeward, the grass coming up past my neck, I couldn’t see where I was going, just west. I got myself used to sleeping during the night again. The days weren’t very warm out in the fields and it felt better to sleep during the cold nights.
Halfway through the first day in the fields I met Roland.
“I didn’t see you approaching.” I said as he just happened to appear as I attempted to cross a giant puddle.
“It’s good to see you Huntress,” he said as he smiled. “What brings you to this side of the plains?”
“I was visiting the east…Ancients, Aves…” I muttered, still trying to hop across the marshy ground. There was quite a bit that had happened though. Lots of explaining to do.
“Alright. Come up, I’ll take you to the forest and you can explain it to me on the way there.”
I got onto Roland and he galloped along through the tall grass. I was just high enough that it didn’t tickle my feet.
I told him the whole episode from Dakur to back home, to falling from the sky and landing in the forest, being found by a Dryad and the battle with Stheno, to meeting with Farrow the Aves, to being captured in the city and arriving at the plains. He enjoyed the recollection of my adventure. Seeming to memorize everything for future note. They didn’t have any books and had to pass their knowledge down generation to generation.
“We burnt Midnai,” he explained. “Sent her back to the heavens, or wherever she came from.”
“You didn’t eat the meat?”
“No,” he said flatly. “Besides, Equines are mainly vegetarian. We felt it would not be advisable to consume such meat and of such evil. Possibly become possessed or something.”
That made me think. Midnai was burned, but Ophidon, the leviathan wasn’t burned, left to rot at the bottom of the sea. Stheno was burned along with a few brave Hamadryads.
“Do you know if the Ancients will possess other creatures or Xenos?” I asked, becoming superstitious. “Or reincarnate?”
“I do not know. But it’s better to take the precaution than find out later when half the tribe is killing the others. Or to find the same Ancient coming back to life in the next generation.”
I nodded and thought about the possibilities of the next Ancients I have to deal with as he took me the rest of the way home.
Night fell and I had made it to the forest. Roland was somehow magically able to get me across the fields in a day. Every time I looked into the distance the forest was still very far away, and the next thing I knew we were there.
I thanked Roland for the ride, he said it was his duty. “It’s better to make friends than enemies, especially with someone like the Huntress.”
I got excited being so close to home. I jumped from tree to tree and made it to the temple long before sunrise and went straight to bed, hoping to find a way to open the relic of good fortune.
Instead, a cackling laugh startled me. It was Stheno. “You foolish girl, starting a war with us. You’ve kindled our spirits and brought our King back. Thank you so much, I’ll be seeing you soon.”