A World Found--Book 1

Chapter 11

The three girls showed Zoe and Freya around their cave home. They told them they had lived here all their lives. Above the huge cavern where they had been eating was a huge hallway that led to many doors, they were all labeled in a strange language. Freya ran her hand over the symbol next to a large wood door. "What's this?" Zoe looked closely at the sign.

One of the girls giggled and tucked a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. "It's where all the warriors sleep." After maybe two hours of the tour the girls led them to the large metal door that led outside. 

The girls huddled and started to whisper to each other. Zoe and Freya frowned at each other. Then one of the girls smiled at Freya, "We want to show you around outside, it's safe around are mountain from the Yeth, they never come this far." 

Freya and Zoe looked at each other. "Okay." they both said.

The sun smiled down at them as they wandered around the flat plain of grass, and Freya pulled her worn hood over her head. The girls pointed out different species. 

The sun had risen high in the sky before they started back toward the cave. Freya froze and sniffed the air. A foul smell drifted through the air. Zoe stopped and looked back. "what's wrong Fey."

 Freya stiffened. "Do you smell that?" Zoe sniffed the air. "I don't smell anything." Freya bit her tongue to stop her quivering jaw. She had lived in the alleys, and she knew that smell. Flesh. Decaying flesh. But another fainter sent crossed paths with the other.

 Freya started to push the Algras girls and Zoe back toward the cave. "I'll be right back; you go on ahead." Zoe looked over her shoulder at Freya. "Where are you going?" Freya shrugged. "Wanted to check something out, I swear I'll be back before dark." As soon as the girls disappeared over the top of the hill Freya turned and started to sprint toward the East.

 The scent grew stronger. At least her sense of smell made sense, she wondered if all Algras had good noses. Yet the Algras didn't seem to smell it. Freya panted as she clawed her way up a hill.

 The wind picked up and Freya knew her sense of smell was right. She reached the top of the hill and glanced down into the vast plain of blue grass. Freya gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. 

Her legs buckled and she yelled out as she tumbled down the hill, her head hit the earth violently several times before she came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. She scrambled painfully to her feet. A few yards away a pole had been set into the earth, the head of Kat planted on top. 

Freya head spun around as she scanned the surrounding area, she seemed to be alone. When Freya had smelled the decaying flesh, she grew worried and wanted to hurry back, but when Kats scent followed, Freya wanted to find her and give her a proper burial. 

But this—This was horrific. Kats glassy white eyes stared at Freya, blood caked around her mouth and forehead. Freya took a shaky step forward, then another till she stood only a few feet away. She lifted her hand to Kats face and closed her eyelids. "I'm sorry." Freya whispered. Freya knew it wasn't her fault, but the guilt remained.

The sun started to lower in the sky as Freya stood to her feet, brushing the dirt off her hands. She looked down at the small mound of dirt. She wasn't going to leave Kat unburied even if it was only her head. 

Something worried Freya as she started her climb back up the hill. Could the Yeth be smarter than she had once thought? Why stake Kats head way out in the flat grass land? They didn't even have hands, only sharp needle like arms. 

Was there something else out there? Freya looked up at the setting sun and started to quicken her pace. She didn't want Zoe to worry. The blue grass faded to the lush green grass as Freya ran full speed back toward the loaming mountain in front of her.