Beginnings

Stay Back

The sucking sensation turned into an agonizing expanding feeling that ended with a resounding PoP! sound. Vin swallowed the vomit that had filled his mouth with a grimace. He lay prone on the ground with all four legs splayed out. He waited and hoped for the wooziness to pass.

After his head cleared, he cautiously opened his eyes. He could hear Mae's labored, panicked breathing . She kept repeating "no, no, no, no.." in a worrisome way.

Vin's jaw dropped when his surroundings became clear in his vision. Everything was different, they were no longer in the forest. This place was loud and bustling with all sorts of humans, animals and other creatures. There were structures upon the ground, most of them rectangle in shape. People were entering and disappearing inside these structures. There were items strewn about, they all looked intriguing. And the smells, so many smells. The aroma of food was mixed in with the chaotic odors.

Mae's voice broke Vin out of his reverie. He stopped scoping the abundant amazement around him when he detected the distress in Mae's voice.

"No, no, no. This is not where I wanted to go. Not where I want to be. This is bad. Really bad." There was a distinct quaking in the words she spoke. Her face was visible from within her hood, her visage was a shade paler than usual.

Vin placed a hand on Mae's robed leg. "Then take us somewhere else, like how you got us away from the fire. If you can make it feel less like I'm dying during it, I'd appreciate that."

All of Vin's senses were shouting at him to stay and explore. He wanted, no, needed to know what everything is. As long as Mae was at his side, he was safe. Safe to take on this whole new landscape .
But, Mae appeared so distraught that he'd reluctantly leave with her, to stay with her.  She is security. She is survival.

       "There are soldiers of the council right over there."  Mae's voice was cracking and faltering. "I think they've spotted us. They're approaching!"

      Vin observed the three men wearing shiny material that looked cumbersome. They were carrying pointy things in a menacing way.  Their footsteps dropped heavily, thudding on the ground as they grew closer.
Swinging his attention back to Mae, "Move us somewhere else like you did to get away from the fire." He pleaded .

     "I can't!  I don't remember that spell after using it.  There isn't anything I can do against them." Mae cried out, sounding like she was on the verge of breaking and sobbing.

       The three soldiers were already upon her. 
"You're coming with us", one gruffly stated. He grabbed her arms, roughly pulled them behind her back.  He tied both her wrists together. 

     Mae shot a look at Vin full of sorrow and defeat.  "Vin, stay back!

Yep, that's what I'm doing.

"Don't get involved!"

Wasn't planning on it.

"There's more to you than what you know!"

Huh?  That doesn't make sense.  So vague.

      Before Vin could voice a question at her, the soldiers shoved her roughly in a different direction. 
"Move you filthy red robe!" One of them growled.   
She was being led further and further away from him.  As her figure grew smaller, a feeling of dread and emptiness started swallowing him whole.