Raven

Back Into The Past part 4

Dedicated to luvualways237

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The memories came to Raven before she could stop them.

"Raven, wh-what happened here?", Serrana, her older sister asked in horror.

Raven said not a word. As far as her eyes could see there was chaos. Houses collapsing, people fleeing with their few precious belongings, mothers trying to save their trapped children in vain.

And she stood in the middle of all of it.

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Raven stumbled backwards, eyes quivering with withheld tears. She didn't expect the wave of emotions that assaulted her as she stared at the bright orange flames that devoured everything in its path. Raven thought she was over it, she had to be over it. It was too long ago for it to matter, for it to have any significance at all.

After all, much worse had happened.

Azvameth watched her, worry in his dark eyes. He knew her thoughts better than his own, and some part of him wanted to comfort her, tell her that what happened did not define who she was, what she was.

But instead of voicing his thoughts, Azva pointed to the tufts of fur on the ground. "Drakin were responsible."

"Drakin?", Raven asked dazedly, her mind suddenly brought back into the present.

Azvameth picked up a tuft of oily black fur from the ground. "Drakin are chaotic and barbaric creatures whose fur shed excessively. Their fur color is usually of the darker variety and have a rather rough and oily texture." He rubbed the fur absentmindly. "They also have an affinity for setting things on fire."

A look of confusion crossed Raven's face. "But Drakin are repelled by magi barriers easily. Every town, city, and village gets one upon certification."

"Someone must've taken it down, though I wonder why." Suddenly Azva stood.

"There are survivors."

Raven looked around, her ears straining to hear pleas for help, but she heard or saw none.

"Are you sure? I don't hear any-"

"I can smell them.", he interrupted.

Raven blinked several times, dumbfounded."What are you, some kind of dog?"

Azvameth shot her a look. "Are you going to help me or not?"

With a slight smile, Raven walked over to where Azva stood. In front of him was a large pile of rubble that was once a village hut.

"Under here.", Avza said, pointing to the pile.

After some digging, they found a girl. She looked no more than 15 years old, with a plain face and long blonde hair that reached the small of her back. The girl was unconscious, her eyes shut tight and fists clenched as she hugged her self. Raven frowned. She must have been terrified, buried under all this rubble. Azva bent down and picked her up without pause and started to walk away.

Raven startled."Where are you going?"

He responded with so much as a glance back.

"I know a healer in the town of Driya several miles west."

Raven stared at him, incredulous. "But we are heading east!"

Azva paid her no mind as he continued to walk away from her. "We were."

Raven charged after him, both confused by his actions and angry at his lack of reason. "Why can't we find a healer in Edrin? Knowing the healer is not good enough of a reason to go in the opposite direction!"

Azva sighed, turning to face her with a look of utter annoyance written on his features. "There is a trail of Drakin hair in the eastward direction you imbecile! They are probably headed to Edrin as we speak."

Raven scowled, hiding her embarrassment with sarcasm. "I suggest that next time you tell me why you're going somewhere before you go."

Azva said nothing as he continued to walk toward Driya, choosing to ignore her instead. Raven grit her teeth in an attempt to keep from arguing further. This is not the time to argue, she thought.

"What is this healer's name?"

There was a pause before Cestelli answered. "Her name is Neea. She owes me for an... assignment I carried out for her once, so I'm sure she will help this girl free of charge."

"Assignment? What kind of assignment?"

Azva let out an exasperated sigh. " One that you don't need to know about."

Raven opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. She was not happy to be going in the opposite direction in the slightest, but she was concerned for the girl so she had no choice. I just hope we get there in time.

"There is no need to worry, the village is not far from here. As long as you attract any... trouble, we'll be there in two days time."

Raven huffed. "Fine."

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Night had fallen, and the forest was alive with all manner of creature. Raven shifted nervously.

"Azvameth.", she whispered nervously, "I think we should stop, gather ourselves."

Azva turned toward Raven, a surprised look on his face. "Gather ourselves? What for?"

"Well,", she fidgeted, "There are dangerous creatures in these parts, and we carry a child."

He gazed at her for long moment. "You're afraid."

Raven opened her mouth to speak in her defense. "I-"

The words barely left her mouth before she was knocked to the ground.

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A/N:

Wow! So it's been two years since I've posted an update, sorry about that lmao. Life kind of caught up with me, and not in the best way, but I'm here now, and that's all that matters. So I'll be making some minor changes here and there to previous chapters and will try to update regularly(maybe once a week? TBD). One change I've already made in this chapter is Cestelli's name! He's Azvameth( a tongue twister I know lol), which I thought was more fitting, and just nicer to say as weird as that may sound. But yeah, Raven is back! Those of you who are still left, I really hope you're excited as I am to continue this series, because I have a lot planned for it! See you soon!