CLASH

Chapter 6

Terra

I get up as fast as my head will let me. That is the thing, I was born to be tough. My villages that I have lived in never allowed softies. Not even the females could be weak. You never knew if you had to be strong for your family, no matter the age. 

I hear a grunt. I pulled myself and my bow that is a few feet away from me behind a tree.

I pull an arrow from my quiver ready to draw when the danger comes closer. I hear this thing speak a strange language indicating that he is not alone. I was right as I heard something respond. Yes fear is surging through me, but i’ve gone through fear before. Then they spoke in the cities language. My second mother taught me all she knew in the cities language.

“You really think that someone got away?” The voice sounded harsh. Definitely don’t want to see the face behind the voice.

“I swear someone did! I saw them run this way! Look there is blood over there.” The second voice just as awful.

Oh god. Don’t tell me it pointed at the tree branch that I ran into and the tree I was hiding behind. I heard footsteps gradually come closer to me. Shit. My second parents taught me how to hunt. My second father timed me on how fast I could pull an arrow from my quiver and shoot it. I walked out from my hiding spot and face them.

Let me tell you. They are disasterous. Gross bumps of all sizes everywhere. Their height was incredible. The top of my head reached the middle of their chests. Maybe. I had no time to size them up or get a better description of them. They were already charging towards me. I shot the first in the head. Grabbed an arrow and shot the other.

Best time ever. 1.5 seconds. He would be proud.

I walked towards them. I have never heard anything like this. I can’t even look at it for long, it’s too ugly. I stalked towards them and shot another arrow in their heads. I then grabbed my knife out of its holder on the side of my pants and stabbed their hearts. Just to make sure they are really dead.

The creatures blood isn’t the usual red, it is almost a dark green. I wiped the blood that was left on my knife onto my pants. It was tradition in my first tribe, the Gai’s, to wipe the blood of your enemies or your food that you just killed on your cheeks with your choice of weapon. Of course I always chose my arrows. I practically ripped my arrows out of their skulls. Each creature got a cheek.

The Gai always did that so when they came back to feed their families or from war it showed victory. I just won so I have to show victory of course. My blood intermixed with the green blood. I’m used to it.

Run, more are coming.

There is that voice again. I took off running, but I was watching more closely as to where I was going. Don’t want a repeat of what happened last time.

Many people think I don’t feel shame in killing other living creatures. They’re wrong. I feel all the pain that they do. Who wouldn’t. Well the Gai is more spiritual than anything so, I guess we all feel it more.

I had to lay down and rest. I haven’t had any sleep at all.

Over there. Do you see the cave?

No. I looked around. I still don’t see it, is it covered in vines?

It is slightly covered, but you are looking right at it. You will be safe in there for a few hours. Go now!

I ran right where I was looking at. It was a dirt hill almost. No one would even think something is there. It looks too small for someone to be in there.

I ran and slid under it. No one would find me here. It is a tight space and I am wearing my clothes that blend in the forest so I should have no problem. Right?

~Dream~

The dark was engulfing me. It surrounded my whole body. I can’t even see my hands in front of me.

I felt something brush past me. Almost like a cold wind. 

“Hello? Is anyone out there?” I called out thinking that someone would reply.

“Come towards the sound of my voice darling.” This time it was a voice I never heard. Usually the same people call out to me in my dreams and while I am awake. This time it was different. I was hesitant to go towards the voice. “Go.” It spoke again. 

My legs betrayed me and started walking on their own towards where the voice had come from. I saw a pillar glowing almost a dark blue. I felt the energy surging through my veins just being this far away from it. I was afraid of what would happen if I got closer to it, but I was also intrigued by it. My body feeling more intrigued than my mind stepped closer to it.

“Go ahead don’t be afraid Terra. Touch it.” My hand betrayed me. Or maybe I wanted to touch it? I touched the glowing pillar. More of that energy surged through me. Almost as if it was cleansing my soul and ripping it apart at the same time. Way too much for me to handle. A scream rolled out of my mouth.

~End of Dream~

I jolted upright forgetting where I was at the moment as I hit my already hurt head on the dirt above me.

“I heard a scream over here!” I heard a raspy voice that was kind of hard to forget.

Run before they can spot you. They are not far, but far enough for you to get away without being caught.

I slid out of my hiding place and ran as if my life depended on it. Well it did depend on it. Why are they so keen on finding me? What is so special about me? Well except the fact that I managed to escape from two destructions of villages. My villages.

My feet hurt really bad, but nothing I haven’t gone through before. Hopefully I’ll see another couple that will take me in. It is hard going through this again, but i’ve never really been alone.

My first family the one that I was born into, our village was attacked when I was only five. I managed to escape to the lake that was near our village. I jumped into it and hid in between the cattails and bushes growing out of the water. I waited until I knew it was safe.

I ended up waiting for days. I walked back to my village, but everything was already gone. I sat down at the twigs and such left from my house. Just like that my sisters, brothers, mother, and father were gone. Everything I knew was gone. Then the voices started talking to me and soothing me.

That was when my second family found me. It was only an old couple though with no kids. They were that old, but they were definitely older than my previous family. They took me in and care for me. 

I kept running. Shaking the thoughts from my head. I heard someone say “Let’s go.” 

I grabbed two arrows from my quiver and shot them at amazing speed. I then took off running towards whatever it was that I shot at. I stopped hearing the sound of a horse. I climbed into a tree and spotted what made the noise. I grabbed another arrow and shot the little girl in the arm.

I honestly felt bad, but one she shouldn’t have been in the forest and two I need the horse more than her. I jumped onto the horse and started gaining speed. Then I heard her fragile little voice again, “Hey! That’s mine!” I hope she gets out of the forest before she gets hurt.

Maybe I should go back and take her out of the forest. I’m already so far ahead and it’s not her they want it’s me.