Magic Storm

Chapter 3- Tigers, first greetings, and head-choppers... Oh My!

Storm held her breath as the head-choppers foot steps grew louder. Soon they were  right next to her, if she reached her arm out she would have been able to grab one of the head-choppers boots.

"How could we lose him! You three go to the bridge, let no one pass! You and you, I want you to start to go back and search the town in case he doubled back! You two are coming with me! We are heading to retrace his steps! Come on! How could we lose the stupid pests scent! He's just an animorfia people!"

Storm heard The-Chop barking orders followed by a series of 'yes sir' and 'of course sir' before she heard the footsteps slowly grow fainter as the head-choppers dispersed to do as they were told. Storm listened in relief as the head-choppers foot steps faded away, overtaken by the pounding of rain on the snow that littered ground. Storm let out a breath of relief that she hadn't even known she had been holding. They were alive, which in itself was a miracle at this point.

Storm knew they had to move if they wanted to stay hidden, but something The Chop had said was bothering her. So she slowly got up and brushed off some of the snow that was stuck to her cloak. After securing her book bag, that held all of their supplies, she bent down and offered the boy her hand to help him up. The boy took her outstretched hand and hoisted himself onto his feet.

It had become apparent to Storm that she didn't know much about the boy, in fact neither of them had said much. So she took a moment to collect her thoughts, which were pretty scattered around her head by now, and said,

"So your an animorfia, you can turn into an animal. Why didn't you say anything about that before?"

The boy stared at her for a moment before responding,

"Yes, I am an animorfia. I'm sorry I just didn't know how someone that I had just broken into their house would respond."

As the boy poke laughter danced in his eyes like little flickers of blue flames. Storm took a deep breath and continued,

"I'm Stormbriger of West Wind, but you can call me Storm. So, who are you?"

"Oh... I'm umm... I am Xavier, but you can call me X.So... Your a West Wind... As in the powerful, royal, wizard family?"

"Is there any other kind of West Wind family? If there is sign me up, I am not particularly fond of The Chop trying to slice my head off. But anyways, I am a wizard. But, your an animorfia... So what kind of animal are you?"

"A white tiger, naturally."

"That's really cool! But I don't understand, the nonsalvationer ordered wizards to be killed, but not other magical beings. So why are the head-choppers after you?"

"that's what I thought. But apparently I am a threat to the king because I am so strong and have so much magical energy."

"Okay.. But, anyway there is NO way we will make it over the bridge now and heading back to town is out of the question. But we can't stay in the walls, if we do we have no chance of surviving."

"Hey, I saw a boat yard built off the side of the moat, we could just take a boat and sail across the moat!"

"Okay, but we will have to hurry, I don't want to run into those head-choppers again."

"I'm totally with you on that. Let's go"

With all that said Storm and Xavier started to make their way through the dense undergrowth and trees. Xavier led the way and Storm followed behind. For some reason Storm trusted Xavier, and he trusted her. They were both on the run and being on the run alone sounded a lot harder than being on the run together, not to mention a lot lonelier.