Dawn On The Horizon[ON HOLD]

Ch. 4 New Acquaintances

Leaves crunched underneath my feet, branches whipped my face. My lungs were burning and a growl emanated from behind me. I pushed myself faster, my breaths coming out in gasps.

I had to get away, couldn't let it catch me. Had to keep running, though I didn't know where I was running to.

The air was unusually cold and no moon or stars shone overhead. I was running blindly, continuing to ignore the scratches on my face, the sharp rocks stabbing my feet.

Ahead the path curved through the trees and at the end I saw the faintest glimmer- was that water? Fear coiled in my belly as another rumble came from behind me and my pace increased. The thing chasing me - whatever it was- wanted to kill me. I didn't know what it looked like and I didn't really want to find out. It felt like I had been running forever, the woods around me seemed endless and full of creatures both good and bad.

I was lost in a continuous cycle of running, I felt as if I was moving, but whenever I looked up, the path never got closer to my destination. I was thinking this when suddenly a sound like a cannon went off and I stood at the edge of a lake, facing the woods. I spun around, trying to find the creature and whatever made the noise, as I did so I noticed something in the distance. My eyes grew wide when I realized what it was. The castle, Prince Leo's castle. A shocked breath left me and I turned toward the lake, what was there shocked me even more.

A beautiful woman floated above the crystal water, her form shimmered and never quite sat still. She had vibrant waist-length red hair, a heart-shaped face with a small nose and pouty lips, corners upturned with the faintest smile. An ankle length dress of violet contrasted greatly with her pale skin, its sleeves billowed in an unfelt wind. Her eyes caught my attention, they sparkled ,alight with fire, but underneath lay the greatest sadness as if some heavy weight lay on her shoulders.

I stepped back, mouth agape. I shook my head and tried to gather my voice. After a time I managed to stammer out, "Who are you?" I sounded scared, but inside I was filled with awe.

The half-smile that played across her lips turned brighter and a light chuckle left her. She took a step toward me, slowly, as if she were afraid I would bolt at any moment. I squinted at her, my eyes never quite settled on her. Again, it seemed as if her weren't really here, like she was a ghostly being, in between. When she reached me and her feet touched the pebbled ground, a bright light shone out and bathed the grove with its brilliance. I wanted to fall to my feet in awe, but I saw what lurked at the edges.

They were shadowy figures, neither male nor female, but seemed almost a combination of both. They were hunched in the foliage, long hooved legs bowed like a humans when crouching, arms longer than a human with needle sharp fingers digging into the dirt. Horns, like that of a young buck, perched atop their heads, white piercing eyes gazed at me almost hungrily. Trails of black inky smoke drifted from their bodies when they moved and they uttered a terrible sound like none I had ever heard or dreamt of before. Nails on chalkboard, yet somehow more primal, to say the least I was terrified.

" They are called Stalkers." I whipped around and found the woman staring at me with her head tilted. My mind seemed fuzzy and I had a strange feeling- I was going to wake up.

" Who are you?" I sounded muted, underwater. She stood beside me and laid a hand gently on my arm, "You will wake up soon and when you do, try not to an attack, just breathe. Calm yourself down anyway you can, when you do go to the library and you will find the answers you're looking for." She pushes me behind her and faces the dark creatures.

" But who are you? Please tell me!" I was desperate, I needed to know. She turned her head to face me and smiled.

"Andromeda. I am Andromeda." With that she turned back and raised her hands in the air. That same light from before appeared and dashed across the glade. I felt heavy, felt the weight of my sheets and hair tangled around my head. I dropped to my knees as a sound like a cannon went off and I woke up.