Lost In The Blaze

I. The One Fire-Starter

War changed him. It did not matter if he was right. It only mattered what remained of the man he once was. Amin was a fire-starter with the ability to control fire. The thick fog surrounded the fire-starter. Clashing iron echoed in the young man's ears. The battle took place in the country of Ravenhall. Amin pushed his palms out as a small fireball rushed at him. He felt the heat of the flames for a moment. Turning around, Amin hurled the fireball into the fog. He glanced at a new enemy in red armor coming out of the murk. The enemy charged at Amin with a broadsword in hand. The fire-starter breathed in the smoky air. Warmth grew inside the young fire-starter's chest. When he exhaled, blazing fire shot out of his mouth. Orange and yellow heat consumed the enemy's weapon. The red knight screamed while letting go of the useless broadsword. Amin used his fire-breathing magic on his distracted enemy. Within a second, the ablaze knight crumbled into ashes. Amin searched around the murky battlefield with his brown eyes.

Two more red-armored warriors came out of the fog. The silver circular symbol of air shined on their chest pieces. Amin's eyes widened as the two warriors pushed their gloved hands back. A strong wind pushed Amin up from the dirt. Before he knew it, cold air began to suck out of his lungs. The fire-starter struggled to gasp to breathe. His vision started to fade in and out of the darkness. His right hand trembled as Amin attempted to unleash more fire. The two wind-walkers clenched their fists as every part of Amin became limp.

Before his breath could become his last, Amin glimpsed at a moving shadow behind the two enemies. Loud sounds boomed in the clouded battlefield. Radiant white light shined on Amin's face as the force from the boom pushed Amin back. His heart pounded faster as his whole body fell onto the muddy dirt, letting out a groan of agony. The wind was no longer suffocating him. A shrilling noise rang in his ears. Amin covered them while yelling out loud. He blinked a few times as his sight was becoming more apparent. Beyond the fallen fire-starter, the thick fog began to vanish. In its place, stars shined as bright as diamonds against the dark sky.

...

"Amin, get back!"

A rough shout snapped Amin out of his trance. The memory of the battle faded from his mind. Amin glanced around his new surroundings. The sun was setting on the horizon. A salty scent was in the soft breeze. The fire-starter sighed in relief. Amin felt a shiver down his hunched spine. He no longer wore the ebony armor but gray robes. Two tears streamed from his eyes and slid down the long scar across his face. Wiping the tears away, he stepped away from the gentle waves of the sea. Goosebumps formed on his wet bare legs. Amin grasped onto his shaking arms. A hand clasped onto Amin's shoulder.

"It was just a dream," said the rough voice. Amin shook his shaggy hair. He pushed the hand off his shoulder. Amin sat down on the tan sand, next to his old boots. He heard the sheep, baaing by the water. On the beach's left side, the lad could see a small herd of Orkney sheep huddled together by the sea. The sheep shuddered under the cool sea breeze.  They continued to baa as one little lamb stumbled into the waves.

"Pisces!" Yelled Amin. He got up and sprint across the beach as fast as he could. His heart was pounding inside his chest. The lamb bleated in distress while thrashing in the saltwater.

"No, no, no!" Cried out the rough voice, "Not the lamb!" The sound of scurried bare feet beat against the sand. Amin leaped into the ocean. Icy water froze Amin's skin. His clothes cling onto himself. The little lamb began to sink into the sea as Amin reached out his arms and grabbed it. He held the animal by its narrow torso while it was kicking its small hooves against the water.

"I got you! Just hold on!" Shouted Amin, wrapping his left arm around the squirming lamb. The lad reached his right hand and stroked the water while kicking his legs hard in the sea. Amin kept on swimming until his feet touched the sand. He put the lamb down and guided it back to the ground. Amin glanced up at his friend. Pisces was a tall shepherd in ragged robes. He was a couple of years older than Amin. There was a worrisome glint in Pisces's gray eyes.