oblivion [druig]

16

PRESENT DAY
AMAZON RAINFOREST

AURORA

I hear them before I see them. 

Below us, the snapping of twig branches catches my attention. 

Above us, the low squawking of what seems to be a bird sounds in the distance. 

I pull away from Druig, wiping my eyes and frowning. The energy shifts inside me, becoming more negative.

"Do you feel it too?" he asks, looking around with a frown. 

I nod, sitting up straight. 

"Something's wrong. We need to get to the team" I stand up, pulling my hair into a ponytail. Druig stands up beside me, adjusting his clothing. He looks up at me, about to speak when his eyes widen. 

"Aurora, behind you" he panics, taking a step forward to push me away, but he's too late. 

"What–" 

I'm not able to finish the sentence as a pair of claws digs into my shoulders so hard I can feel them puncture through my skin. It pushes me away from the platform and into the air, the claws tightening as it carries me away. I look up, coming face to face with a winged Deviant. It swoops down into the trees, heading straight for the village. 

I yell out in pain as I'm hit with branches around me, all of them leaving scratches on my arms and face. Then I finally extend my arms, aiming my hands at the body of the deviant and shooting energy blasts. 

The Deviant squawks loudly, letting me go mid-air. 

I fall into the ground, tucking into a roll to soften my fall. Still, I can feel the crack of my shoulder– the one I'd dislocated so many years ago– as I roll into a stop. 

I yell out in pain, kneeling on all fours on the dirt. 

"What the fuck is happening" I wince out, looking around me at the middle of the village. I turn to my shoulder, seeing a bulge where it had popped out. I wince, knowing that I needed to pop it back into place. 

This is going to hurt. 

I rest back on my bent legs, grabbing my arm with my other hand and closing my eyes. And then I push forward with as much force as I can. 

I hear a pop and immediately, a wave of pain takes over me. I scream through gritted teeth, biting my tongue so hard I taste iron. I pant for breaths and blink away the unshed tears before finally taking a good look around me. 

 There's chaos. Everywhere. In the distance, I can hear kids screaming, all of them running from place to place. 

I curse at myself for having broken down the barrier. 

How could I have forgotten?  How could I have been so stupid?

I stand up straight, watching as from in front of me, another Deviant appears, headed straight to Sersi. 

"Sersi!" I yell, holding out my hands and shooting energy at the Deviant. I swallow the jolt of pain I get every time I move my shoulder and my back. I'm sure the claw marks have to. be bleeding, because I feel my shirt stick to them. 

Sersi turns to me, wide-eyed and panting. 

"Where were you!!" She shouts, running to me. She eyes my shoulders, wincing in pain for me.