The Familiar

Prologue

"Witch! Witch! Kill the witch!"

"Burn her! Hang her!"

"There she is!"

The cries of the villagers rang out, echoing among the tree tops as Seren Sharpe ran through the forest. Aster, her wolf and her familiar darted ahead. He didn't stray to far, though. He was trying to lead Seren the correct way.

Seren ran faster, thorns scraping her skin and her breathing heavy. She heard the angry trampling of the villagers not far behind. Still, Aster led her deeper into the woods.

They burst into a field on the other side of the woods. Seren stopped, not hearing the villagers for the moment. She looked up, to eye the moon.

"Dear Goddess... Help me, please." Of course, she was alone in this. Aster bounded back once he realized she wasn't following anymore. His voice echoed in her head.

Come on, Seren! They're going to get us! Seren noticed the fear laced in the familiar's voice. She crouched down and hugged him. His silvery fur rippled with magical energy, reflecting the Full Moon's light.

"I can't run no more. You need to go Aster..." She truly couldn't run no more. Her legs refused, and her lungs burned. She was going to collapse any moment.

No! At least walk. We can't stop!Despair filled the familiar's voice. Seren ruffled the fur around his neck. "You can't. You have to go on." There was the distant shouts of villagers. Seren pushed the familiar away.

Why are you giving up, Seren? Why? We can still escape! The voices grew closer. She could hear the banging of their pitchforks and weapons now. There was only one thing she could do to make Aster run. And it tore her up to even think about it. Yet, it had to be done.

"Go, Aster. As your Witch, I cast you out. You will walk on without me." She channeled magic into the verbal command, to make it reality. As soon as it was finished, there was a sharp flare of pain inside his head as their connection snapped like a dry twig. Aster howled in pain, which only drew the villagers closer to the position.

Without any other choice, as he was commanded to do this by his Witch, he turned and sprinted across the field. He had looked back when he heard a soul-sundering scream. A silhouetted figure could be seen in the distance, impaled on a pitch fork.

With a deep ache in his chest, and tears coming to his amber eyes, he turned away and continued running.

Oh Seren...Why didn't you run with me?