Guardian's Redemption

Chapter Thirty Two

Crashing through the thick evergreen forest, Ashley felt the surge in mana that Ben was releasing. She could feel the moisture in the air move to him as if it was an extension of the man. She couldn't look back; no she had to get far away so that the man didn't need to worry about her. Gzaar was running alongside the woman, pleading with her to turn and help Ben. Not understanding that human emotion could get Ben killed if they went back. The man needed to focus on surviving.

Not to mention that she knew with all the water Ben was pulling from their surroundings; her body was in danger. The oxygen molecules bonding immediately to the hydrogen from his will power. The trees will dry out and the environment would become a place of chaos if ignited. She was trying to explain to Gzaar as she ran.

The pair went plunging even further into the forest, both of them ignoring the violent attempts to bruise their bodies from the branches that swung out at them. Hands in front of their faces to shield their eyes from large reaching plants that came up fast. Ashley went leaping through a bundle of thick shrubbery and came crashing into an open meadow. Gzaar wasn't so lucky, having hit the trunk of the bush, knocking the wind out of him and stopping him in mid sprint.

Ashley rolling into the meadow, was gasping for air. It was getting harder to breathe as the air around her was moving away from her as well. Her eyes went to the beauty of the untouched clearing, wild flowers littering the grassy plain. Her eyes caught the surprise of twenty men and women who had been going about their daily duties til Ashley had come crashing out of the tree line.

The group stood on the other side of the clearing, dressed in clothing of earthly browns and greens, almost like they were trying to be camouflaged . Many of them were holding onto old rifles while others were gripping axes and swords; especially one man. He was as tall as Ben but far more muscular than her brother in law. He was dressed the same as the others in the group except for an enormous sword on his back, like a weapon meant for a giant. He stood out far more than the others did. Hair a thin long black with a greasy film look to it.

He slowly began to walk to her as half of the group of people came surging around her, weapons held threateningly. The bushes were starting to rustle behind her and then Gzaar stumbled in beside Ashley while cursing the bush he had ran into. The people screamed "Demon!" but Ashley quickly jumped between them and the little demon.

"He's okay, don't hurt him," Ashley yelling back at them. She was going to die here. These people were so frightened at Gzaar's presence that many of them were itching to pull their triggers. Their eyes so full of fright for no demon could have gotten through the barrier or so Ben had told them.

"Ashley," the woman's eyes widening as she heard her name. Ashley's mind filling with hope at the mention of her name and the recognition of the voice behind it. Through the crowd came a face that made Ashley instantly turn to tears, a face of a woman that had not been seen for years. The woman was a bit taller than Ashley and a bit bulkier, although it was now well toned muscle. Hair long past the shoulders, brown with highlights of blonde only added to the beauty of the woman who came racing through the crowd; bowling over anyone dumb enough to get in her way.

"Jessica?" Ashley asking at this unbelievable turn of events. Both women grasping each other in a deep hug. Ashley had found her sister, an older sibling that was only older by a year. She had almost forgotten the woman's face.

"Jessica do you know this woman?" came a husky voice from behind Ashley's sister. It was the large brute with the weapon on his back.

"Yes. It is my sister," Jessica said through a rain of joyous tears. Her arms clutching Ashley even harder. There was a pop in Ashley's spine from the sudden squeeze.