Silver Eyes Chronicles: The Journey Begins Trilogy: Book One: The Reunion

Chapter Five: Aftermath

Naria

"Naria! Naria! Wake up!"

I hear my name being called and my shoulders are being shaken violently. I jerk awake to find Kirena standing over me, her hands on my shoulders. Concern is written upon her face.

"What happened? You were supposed to back six hours ago!" she says.

Six hours, I think, I've been asleep that long?

Kirena tugs at my hand, pulling me to my feet.

I sway slightly, still a little drowsy. I put a hand on my head, trying to get rid of the troublesome dream.

Kirena puts an arm around my waist to steady me. "Come on, let's go back. It's starting to get dark."

I look up, seeing a bright crimson sunset with a brilliant orange orb in its midst.

It is a sign; a sure but subtle sign that something, something terrible has happened.

But at the moment, it eludes me.

We begin our way back to the other side of the lake. Kirena has her arm wrapped around me as if I still feel like I'm about to pass out.

A few steps ahead and I wish that I have.

"Ugh!" I groan, putting a hand instinctively to my nose, trying to block out the horrible stench.

"What is it?" asks Kirena, still concerned, but also confused. "You look a bit sick."

"Can't you smell that?" I ask, trying to answer while at the same time, trying to breathe out of my mouth, my hand still covering my nose.

The smell's the same as in my dream. I suddenly feel cold as ice now that I think of it. To my sister's surprise, I start running back to where we come from.

I hear her calling. "Hey, wait up! Naria! Where are you going?"

I don't listen until I find the spot where I'm sure the footprints are. Sure enough, they are there and my worst fears are only getting heightened.
I hear my sister's panting as she comes up behind me. She suddenly looks surprised to see me kneeling on the ground. She comes towards me and asks, her voice unsure but curious. "What is it?"

I see her expression change as she sees what I'm staring at. She then focuses on the large footprint, staring at it in intense curiosity and more than a bit of concern. "What is that? Is that some kind of animal?"

I shake my head, slowly, as if in denial. I don't want to say what it is that made that footprint. Not after since I'd dreamed of that monstrous and terrifying creature.

It was just a dream, I think, stubbornly. Only a dream.

Then why are these here then? I tell myself, reminding myself of the footprints that I'd dreamed about. And the tell-tale stench I've been smelling.

I have no answer to that. Not right now.

"I don't think so. This looks too big for a normal animal," I say aloud, chewing my lower lip. "And look at the other two," I add, gesturing. "I think whatever made the other footprint was coming after them."

Chased them, caught them and slaughtered them, I think, but don't say.

Kirena starts averting her face so I know that she smells the stench too.

Something has happened here, I think, a cold dread starting to settle within me. And I fear that this is only the beginning of it.