gaeistis-fields of red (Original)

sometimes wonders can be deceiving

The sounds of metal clashing together filled the silence of the meadow..

"Sir, I cannot go any longer!" xena said. Sighing as she wiped away the sweat. "To be a jormunger, you cannot just give up!." sir quiendal said. Going in for another attack.. Xena courteously defended his attack while simultaneously landing a hit on his hip. He grinned. "That is the spirit."

Xena smiled. Again. Hit up on hit. Xena defended each attack, "now for the special surprise." sir quiendal said, suddenly he appeared behind her and landed an attack on her back, xena fell to the ground in defeat and sighed. "I cannot comprehend how you do that sir." she said. Dropping the sword next to her, "be happy it's blunt.. Otherwise you would not have walked away from it." sir quiendal said. Handing out his hand, Xena only chuckled before grabbing his hand and standing up.. "Sir!. xena!. Lunch has been prepared!." they both glanced towards luxia who was admiringly watching her in the distance under a parasol, luxia happily waved, saying "goodjob!, you are getting better each day!' Xena flustered a bit before waving back and running towards her. The sun laid high above the sky, the clouds were non existent as the screaming and laughing of children sounded in the back. "Are you tired?" Luxia asked. Xena nodded. "A little." she said. Before munching on a slice of stuffed bread.. Luxia grinned, patting xena's head as she took a drink from her mug. "Agh it's warm.." luxia said. Glancing down into the bottle.. xena chuckled a little.. "Don't you dare.."

Luxia said playfully "talking about the warmth. Is it not better to take off your armor?" luxia said. Noticing the large amount of sweat coming off from her face. Xena nodded and asked Luxia for help.. "I wish I could go to the sea." xena said. Glancing over towards the distance.. "Maybe when you are finished with your training I will take you there, but I can not promise you that.. Luxia said. Carefully taking off the pieces of hot metal which burned her hands slightly.. "Then I will try to convince you.." "ohh? And how... "by achieving something which even you could only dream off..

Luxia playfully chuckled... "we will see.. But first eat your lunch, otherwise your stomach will get upset..

As the sun set in the distance. Luxia and Miss Verandal gathered all of the kids together in a circle "do we have everyone? Lionell?" Miss Verandal asked. The boy put his hand in the air happily saying "here!" "acheilla?"

"Here!" as miss verandal was going through the list she glanced around "have anyone of you seen xena?" they all pointed towards luxia. As she glanced back, she saw that xena had wrapped her hands around luxia, luxia awkwardly smiled "she said she felt tired.. So I will carry her to the house," miss Verandal smiled, feeling a huge sense of relief before glancing back at the children.. "Ok this is important. So please try to listen.. The house is a long way back, do not divert from the path. Do not listen to any sound that sounds human, even if it is tempting. Sir quiendal.. I want you to walk behind the kids, got it?" he nodded, sounding a slight sigh before Miss verandal turned towards luxia.. "Please keep an eye on xena ok?" luxia nodded. Smiling as she looked down towards xena, she could feel that xena was absolutely exhausted. Grabbing her by her waist. She pulled her up and placed her on her shoulders. "I think you deserve this." Luxia said softly to xena.. Xena smiled.. "Thank you..

"Ok.. children! Walk in a line.. Find someone to hold hands.. And don't divert from the path." miss Verandal said. As the children scrambled to find a partner.. Xena glanced towards the forest. Catching a slight glimpse of two indistinguible figures that stood near the forest line. "Who are those people? Xena asked.. Luxia looked up and glanced towards the direction xena's eyes were facing and said.. "I don't see anyone.. Maybe you're a little bit sleepy.." xena nodded.. "Maybe.." as they walked through the densely filled forest. All of them could hear the croaking of toads and the chirping of birds, the rustling of the leaves. "Does it feel nice..." xena said..

"The forest?" xena nodded "mhm" "well i'm glad.. Because I'm scared of my toes at the moment." "what? Are you scared that bugs might crawl up your feet?" xena said playfully. "Stop or otherwise I will not carry you anymore, hmpf" xena could not help but chuckle a little..

"Um i think we have a problem.. Where is acheilla?" sir quiendal said worried.. "I thought you would keep an eye on them!" miss verandal angrily said. "I did!. That is the problem!.." luxia's eyes widened as she scoured around the forest for a sign of acheilla's presence...

"I can't believe out of all of the people.. That you would be the one to lose track of a single soul" miss verandal said. Putting her fingers against her forehead as she looked around in frustration.. "Kids!. Stay here with luxia!.. Absolutely do not go anywhere," all of the kids nodded.. "Luxia. If a threat comes nearby.. For the sake of divinos. Protect them." luxia nodded as she put down xena. "Lets go quiendal!. Anything can happen if we procrastinate further.." luxia watched as their outline faded amongst the thick fog which surrounded them.. "Miss kreinheard.. Are we going to be ok?" one of the kids said" luxia could only nod. As she was not even sure if they were safe...

As time passed.. Luxia's mind raced from side to side as sir quiendal and miss verandal did not return yet. The moonlight shone through the trees as night fell and the children started mumbling under their breath. All unsure of what was about to happen. Suddenly they all could hear a faint lullaby coming from the woods in front of them. "Flowers fall.. Sorrow crawls. Oh my children.." their bones shivered in fear as they all huddled together, grasping each other's arms as luxia stood in front of them, her arms stretched wide as she frowned her eyes. "Who are you?. What do you want" "oh.. I am just a lonesome girl who happened to be lost in the woods... would you mind showing me the way out?" the cracking of the dead leaves beneath the person sounded as she came closer and closer. They all could hear her faint giggle as luxia gritted her teeth. "What do you want! Where is miss verandal and acheilla?" luxia waited anxiously for a reply, but all she was met was a deafening silence.. As she glanced in each direction. Standing close near the children behind her.. Her body froze.. A loud growl from a creature.. "No.. that can't be" luxia thought.. Slowly turning around to face the origin.. Her eyes widened.. "Don't you like my present?" the girl sarcastically said.. All of the children were frozen in fear. As infront of them stood a creature. Twice their size, its mucus dripping from its bloodstained teeth.. Its eyes.. Glaring a crimson red hue as it wagged its four tails around.. "We are doomed"..