Amethyst

Chapter 13 - The First Trial

We're about three hours away from where we set up our makeshift camp. I'd like to say that my body has slowly gotten used to the feeling of being in a saddle, but it hasn't. If anything, my butt is even more sore than before. I really hope we get their soon so I don't develop a rash or something. I heard that was a thing that happens.

As we continue our journey, I keep finding myself looking at Ben. I wish I didn't. Nyko is on one side of him, Onyx the other. they walk slowly enough to keep pace with Ben and his horse. Nuna decides to walk beside me this time instead of sitting behind me. As I gaze at his back, his lavender hair that I was so fascinated by when I first saw his new appearance, I find myself wondering what he's thinking. About the current situation, about our people back home. I also find that the wording easily comes out, doesn't sound weird. our people. I'm also left wondering what will happen once I prevent Rohit from getting the first Amethyst gemstone. And I also wonder exactly how I'm supposed to-

"Ruby Soldiers!" we all hear Grayson suddenly shout. This pulls me from my thoughts immediately, all of us stopping our horses mid walk as arrows fly through the sky, sailing above trees and through the air, quickly down towards us. I quickly make my horse back up, just missing the sharp arrow tips that pierce the ground where we just were. In a panicked frenzy of movements, we see six men in red and orange fur lined cloaks come running at us out of the trees, weapons drawn with malicious intent to kill us, all of them with fire in their palms. I quickly get off my horse and lead it over to a tree where I tie it's reins around a tree branch so it doesn't run away. The others dismount their horses but they don't run away. They must've been trained to stay and not abandon the people riding them, if it's possible to teach that. I wouldn't know.

I decide that now is as good a time as any to use the new moves I practiced. And I get the perfect opportunity. One of the Ruby soldiers notices me standing there, not fighting. He must figure it's the perfect kill as he begins to run at me. But I'm already way ahead of him. I decide to pretend as though I haven't had any training yet, pretend to look absolutely scared and unknowledgeable as to how I can defend myself. Once he's fifteen feet from me, I immediately get to my feet, place my hands to the ground and focus as my shadows shoot out from underneath my palms, racing towards the man running at me. Maybe he thinks that the only thing I know how to do is cower and fall to my feet to try and shield myself. I don't know. He has a savage grin on his face as he get's closer and closer to me.

That's when he looks down and notices the fast moving shadows racing at him across the ground. His smile falters. Then he immediately tries to move left while on his feet, trying to avoid my power. But he definitely underestimates what I can do. My shadows move quickly to the left, surprising him with their speed, and close themselves around his ankles. He gives a loud cry of surprise as he goes down when I'm still crouched on my feet. I didn't even mean to perform the move that would require Nuna. Yet she's there, the feeling of her black paws solid on my back as I feel her running along it, a few seconds later me seeing her soar above my head, flying through the air towards the downed Ruby Soldier and landing hard on his chest. For a single second he wheezes as the breath is knocked out of him, followed by a painful, ear piercing cry as Nuna's sharp teeth closes around his throat, opens a hole there and also uses her claws to rip his face to ribbons.

As I stand up, I find myself really fucking glad Nuna is on my side. I would hate to be on the opposing side. I look away before I lose my stomach at the sight of her taking him down.

I turn on my heel towards my horse and quickly grab the quiver out of the bag, securing it onto my back and adjusting it comfortably. Then I place a dagger through each of the loops on the belt that I wear so I can use them. I grab the purple bow in my hand and then run into the combat. I see Michael facing off against one of the Ruby soldiers, standing across from him with a sword in his hand. Michael holds it in his hands protectively as the Ruby soldier runs at him, a red hilted dagger in his hand. I watch as Michael waits until the last possible moment to spin to the right, using the sudden distractedness of the soldier trying to orient himself to face him again. But he doesn't get a chance as Michael cuts him across the back of his legs with his sword. The soldier releases a pained cry, soon silenced as Michael drives his sword through his heart.