Anna and the Bonding

Chapter 4

5 going on 6 days of "partnering" up with Ardin and Xilpil. Worst decision I ever made, we were going even slower than before because Ardin couldn't fly and was a slower walker because he was a spoiled little hyena, we are barely making a dent in the travel path and Ardin complains the whole time. As we sit down for a break for the third time today, memories filled my head of fun times at the academy as I grazed my scar coated hand across the rough brown bark of one of the trees on the outside of the main forest. Tears grasp at my eyes as I allow my mind to submit to the memories. I close my eyes and memories of times before Storm and I's bonding flood behind my eyes. My gran and her bond Tuba, an elephant, dropping me off at the academy for the first time. Dad, his honey badger bond Abba, Gran, Tuba, 'Aunt' Janet, Jade, Uncle Max, his zebra bond Reva, Cousin Katherine, her cat bond Snow White, Cousin Monica, her spider bond Mikey, Cousin Chris and his hawk Davish, Aunt Tamila and her bond Greg, a cheetah, all sitting and cheering as my Uncle Zander and his ostrich, Rhea, awarded me my teal, courage, and orange, focus, ribbons.

One particular memory pulled at me more than the others. The raid. 'The sky hung, a weary blue gray above our heads. Screams pierce the dreary fall air. The sounds of merchant carts crashing to the ground, weapons dropping, and begs for mercy echo around me. I keep running towards a flower cart, its golden sunflowers and blue orchids standing out brightly against the pathetic fall sunlight. I quickly duck behind the oak cart as the smell of innocent blood enters my nose. I glance around desperately trying to find Kathrine, my cousin, and her bond, a white kitten named Snow White. She had been following behind me a few minutes ago. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Kathrine's brunette hair with her little white cat ears duck behind a nearby bread cart.

I turn to my other side and see my dad comforting a little girl and a teenager about my age, but maybe a little older than me. Behind me, I heard a loud THUD, and whip around, screaming as my eyes witness the murder of Mr. Jonathan, a salesman at the market. Blood pools around him, as life drains from his normally jolly body. I quickly cover my mouth and pray to Aura, one of the Savanna goddesses, that the wind had not carried and no raiders heard me, I clutch my scarab beetle necklace desperately hoping for the protection that Gran promised it would provide but it is already too late. An ugly, scarred face peers around the merchant's cart.

Both the man's upper and lower teeth stuck out of his mouth. He had a crocodile bond mark on the left side of his neck and his right thumb was missing. His head was bald, and scars covered his bumpy nose. Once he sees me an ugly grin paints itself across his disgusting face. My own face pales as he steps around the flower cart, a lime green crocodile tail trail behind him. I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my chest as the man raised his Khopesh to strike, the crocodile bond mark glimmers in the somber sunlight, taughting me. Suddenly I hear a scream from behind me.

"ANNA!" My dad cries loudly. He dashes in between me and the man and blocks his strike. Dad's twin daggers form an 'X' over his head, holding back the man's Khopesh, as Abba, his bond, rushes over as fast as his stubby legs can, and begins to push me back from the fight.

"Get back!" Dad calls over his shoulder. I give a nod and run over to the merchant cart dad was at earlier.

The teenager now holds the little girl close, her short curled brown hair jiggles at her shoulders as she reaches into her dirty coral robe, pulling out a dagger, they both tense up upon seeing me run over to them. I raise my hands to show them I mean no harm and the older girl's hard glare softens as she puts the dagger back then she moves over to make room for me. I turn to watch my dad and the man fight, and I can't seem to look away. Slash, kick, block, punch, dodge. Dad ducks the man's swing, the man suddenly freezes for a minute before stabbing his Khopesh into dad's stomach.