The Hypnotist

1:Moonless Night

     The air was chilled to a thin crisp of autumn, but it was not yet winter. The sky was at its usual disarray, empty and gloomy with no light at all. The only break in the darkness was the constant explosion of firearms afar off. 

We were surrounded by the tall grasses of Bathsmah. Tall, Kelly green, and thick as a babe's wrist. It did good to hide us. It did not indent itself when we sat and hardly moved, unless by impressive force.  Kind of like a tree.

We were being chased. My people. By a man who was bloodthirsty, power hungry, and greedy. He wanted Bathsmah and its people, but I will not have it.

A particularly loud explosion went off, approximately fifteen or twenty miles away, that gave most of the people a fright.

Some of us, including me, we're already to used to it, having been in war most of our lives.

The children grew fearful as their mothers constantly grabbed at their faces and told them to stay calm and strong, that everything will be alright.

My mother never told me such things, she never could.

They took her when I was wee babe, just born.

She never had gotten the chance to determine rather I was male or female or give me a name before she had me wrapped in blankets, put into a picnic basket, and sent off, down the Albatross River.

Now, I am a young lass, struggling to keep her people safe.

I touched the ground, stirred by sudden movement, and felt for any signs that we should leave our hiding place.

The ground trembled, at steady quick  beats.

They were coming.

In a low husky whisper I breathed out, "Make movement now, they come, heavily armed," I reached for the grass again, nodded , and continued, "and they are close by. Round up your children and follow Cadmon out north."

They gathered their young and looked towards Cadmon.

I gave him a nod and fell to the very back of the group, softly saying, "Keep low, make little sound. They are highly trained."

As the group moved on I called on Ajax and Valdeze, two mighty warriors of my people.  

They stayed behind with me as the rest went on forward, hardly making sound.

"Valdeze I need you to keep watch over me while I cover our tracks, they must not know that we were here."

He gave me a nod, then signed his loyalty to me, I did it back. He, then walked too the end of our hideout and kept watch.

"Ajax, watch the people from behind, if any trouble occurs, give a signal."

Ajax signed his loyalty and determination, and I returned the motion. He quietly ran off after the group.

I looked for any indication that my people and I were ever here and destroyed all the evidence.

A sudden scream had me alert, it was followed by a call of a bird. The signal.

Valdeze and I ran after the group, swords drawn and hearts impassioned.

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Thank you so very much for reading! Hope you enjoy!!

                                           -Winter