My Choice!

The Misadventures of Marla.

I take a deep breath and feel as though I just took the best nap ever!

Sitting up, I see a woven grass backpack with leather and fur hide reinforcements and embellishments.

There's a bow quiver with a nice recurve bow, an arrow quiver with 40 arrows and a small harp hanging from the backpack.

I think of a candle and hold my finger up to see a flame.

"Nice!"

"Get moving, you!" I hear and look out to see a man whipping two horse beast men.

Drawing an arrow, I take the bow out and shoot the man.

Leaving my gear, save for a knife, I run up and cut the two men loose.

"You're free! Get out of here!"

"Where can we go?

Any human who sees us will take us as slaves."

"Fine, then. I'll protect you."

The two start laughing.

"You're just a pup! What can you do that we can't, huh?" One asks.

"You see that tree over there?" I ask and point.

"Yeah."

I pull back as if preparing to loose an arrow.

Letting go, the tree explodes violently, leaving nothing but a ragged and torn stump.

"That's only a tiny bit of what I can do."

"You can use magic like a human?

This could change the world!"

"I want to go to the magic academy." I say.

"Oh! Well, then. Go to the Capitol City of Heijo in the kingdom of Torian.

It's about a one year walk from here, though."

"How old do I have to be in order to enroll?"

"Any age is accepted and instructors are genuinely unbiased.

They must be or they can't teach there.

You're likely to have problems with other students but, not the teachers.

The shortest way there is through the forest."

I reach toward my backpack and it comes flying at me.

Putting it on, I start walking.

"Thanks!" I shout.

"W-wait! A friend of ours has a cart and we'd gladly pull it for you."

"What, and use you like that man was?"

"It's different because we want to help you. Besides, not all humans abuse us.

Our friend, she'd never do anything to hurt us. Not intentionally."

"How did you become friends?" I ask.

"She saved my life. Now, we get to have bed company any time we like and she's even talking about helping us get to her brother's ranch.

Of course, she'd go too."

(Of course... Then, again. Sex isn't abuse unless it's given as a reward for something... Barring other circumstances.

It sounds like this friend wants them to herself without others judging her.)

"Can I meet this friend of yours?"

"Sure!"

I follow them as they run to the tall grass.

"Wow! You can keep up with us on flat ground!