Runaways

Chapter 3- Run

Heart pounding, hair flying, Kaia and Autumn sprinted from the cave, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Kaia had no idea what was chasing them, but the deafening roar that followed felt like a promise of teeth and claws. She pumped her legs harder, faster, desperate to escape the terror behind her. Then, in an instant, she stumbled over a rock, the world flipping upside down as she flew face-first into the mud.

The creature—a massive bear, its fur shimmering with magical red sparks—bit down on her leg, lifting her effortlessly into the air. Panic surged through Kaia. But before the beast could carry her away, a figure launched from a nearby tree branch, dagger gleaming like a streak of lightning aimed straight at the bear's back.

Autumn.

With a swift motion, Autumn plunged the dagger into the creature, her determination palpable. The bear roared one last time before collapsing, its magical sparks fizzling out like dying stars.

Autumn stood over the fallen beast, breathing heavily as she tore away a hunk of fur and a claw. Kaia's eyes widened. "What's that for?"

"Magic," Autumn replied, her voice steady despite the chaos. "Some spells need ingredients. The bear fur is good for defensive spells, while the claw is better for fighting magic. I have a collection of magical trinkets."

Kaia's heart sank. Magic. The very thing that had taken her mother from her. The weight of that thought pressed down on her chest. "Ah."

Seeing the shift in Kaia's expression, Autumn softened. "You don't have to be afraid of me, you know."

Kaia hesitated, the words clawing at her throat. "It's just... magic is what killed my mother. And you met me with knives at my throat, literally not even 24 hours ago."

A bark of laughter escaped Autumn, but it was tinged with something deeper, more sorrowful. "That's true! Well, I'm sorry. I just thought you were... someone else."

"Who did you think I was?" Kaia couldn't help but ask, curiosity mingling with her fear.

Autumn's face clouded, shadows crossing her features. "My friend. She was supposed to be my closest ally, but she told a secret that got me banished from my village. Not like I wanted to be there—they were so old-fashioned, suffocating, really. But I thought she was a friend." A single tear slipped down Autumn's cheek, glimmering like the sparks that had danced from the bear.

Kaia felt the ache of empathy bloom within her. Here they were—two girls, both marked by betrayal, both seeking something more than the pain they had endured. "I'm sorry," Kaia whispered, the words feeling too small for the weight of their shared hurt. "I know what it's like to lose someone you love. To feel like everything you believed in has crumbled."

Autumn wiped her cheek hastily, determination returning to her eyes. "You're not alone in this, Kaia. Neither of us is."

Kaia nodded, feeling a fragile bond forming between them, stronger than fear or magic. "So what now? We can't just stand here in the mud."

"Right." Autumn took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening. "We need to move. There could be more creatures nearby, and I'd rather not find out what else lurks in these woods."

Kaia took a step forward, her pulse steadying with Autumn beside her. "Lead the way."

As they moved deeper into the forest, a flicker of hope ignited in Kaia's heart. Maybe, just maybe, magic wasn't just a force of destruction. Perhaps it could be a path to understanding and healing—if she allowed it. Together, they would forge a new story, one that embraced their pain but also transformed it into something stronger.