Chosen

Short Story: Chosen

This is one of my very very old works. I thought I'd put it up anyways. xD Please enjoy.

Life was exhilarating. The rhythmic beat of her heart, the feeling of wind running through her hair, the feel of running at top speed… Cinder relished all these feelings as she darted between two crudely constructed market stalls and down an alley way.

"You! Thief! Stop!"

The cry made her glance backwards with a slight smile. A rather large man dressed in rich fur was plodding after her. Behind him, guards rushed to catch up. Cinder laughed as she ran into the shady alley. Her ragged grey cloths and long grey hair were cloaked easily by the shadows. Lets see them try to find me now! She thought smugly.

Now… if she remembered correctly there should be… aha! A knotted rope dangled from the rooftop of a building. Cinder seized it and begun her assent up the side of the building. She could hear the slapping of feet at the mouth of the alley and wheezing breath as the fur clad man arrived. "She's in here! Guards! Guards! Find her!"

Cinder crawled onto the roof of the building as the guards rushed into the alley, their armor clanking. Quietly she observed the scene below.

The guards fanned out, prodding piles of garbage with swords, all while the fur-clad man ranted. "I know she's here! The dirty thief! Snatched my coin purse from me! Find her, the little wretch!" His face had taken on an ugly blotchy red color.

"Up there on the roof!"

Cinder gasped as a guard spotted her. She took off, running across the rooftop. She leaped over the edge, landing on another rooftop a few feet below. She kept leaping from rooftop to rooftop, her heart pounding. I hope I can shake them soon. Cinder thought to herself. I'm getting tired.

The thief came to a halt as she saw more guards, climbing up the building she had been about to leap onto. Behind her, a guard was preparing to leap onto her rooftop. Cinder glanced franticly about. She jumped over the edge of the building, landing in a pile of hay.

Suddenly hands covered her mouth and she was pulled backwards into a shop. Cinder lashed out, trying desperately to wriggle free from her captor.

"Ow! Ow! Cinder quit! It's me, Shimmer!" An irritated voice snapped. The hands let go of Cinder. A blonde girl –Shimmer-- rubbed at a thin gash on her arm that trickled blood. Her cat-like tail twitched with annoyance.

Cinder relaxed. "Sorry, Shim—" Her apology was cut short as Shimmer grabbed her hand and yanked her towards the back of the store. "Stupid! Keep running, they're still after you!" The blonde hooked a finger under a loose floor board. A small square of the floor sprung up, revealing a dark tunnel. "Go, go!" Pounding could be heard at the door as Shimmer shoved Cinder through the hidden door. Cinder watched as Shimmer jumped in and slid the door shut.

The tunnel was dark, dusty and short. In no time, the pair emerged in daylight. Happy chattering and the smells of fresh baked goods greeted the two.

Cinder grinned and held up a fat pouch for her friend to see. "Rich man's coin purse." She stated, beaming at her latest stolen treasure.

"Ooooh, nice! Let's go buy something to eat!" Shimmer suggested, fingering one of her blonde curls. Her stomach rumbled, as if agreeing with the statement. Shimmer glanced about the fairground at different food venders.

"How about roasted venison on a stick? Its half off! I love the Crystal Festival – so much food!" Shimmer pointed to the vendor, a tiny wooden cart with steaming meat, pierced by sticks hung on a string suspended above the cart.