Rider Ward: The Dark Woods

Four

He only slowed down to cover his tracks, and occasionally to to make a campfire to rest and serve his hunger justice. He didn't look back either, as every time he did, he could feel his eyes water up in memory of Buck.

He couldn't stand to think about Buck, or even Woe in general. He would never be able to come back there, and if they spread the word fast enough, he may not be allowed... anywhere. He would become like those outsiders he had heard about, and that scared him. He had heard rumors of them eating animals alive, and sometimes humans, and that they were in league with the... Warlocks.

Warlocks, the incredibly false accusation that had started this, and even worse, Buck fell prey to them. But thankfully he didn't seem to hate him because of it. He wondered why...

Distracted in his maze of thoughts, his foot caught a tree root and he sprawled upon the hard ground. Earning him a few grazes on his leg, and a slightly deep gash where his arm had scraped against rock. He recovered quickly however, and...

His wounds were closing before his very eyes.

Just a hallucination he thought, which made him realize how tired he was, so he decided for some sleep.

And so he prepared a campfire, and slept on the hard ground.

---------------

Fire everywhere. Flames thriving on him. Pain beyond pain yet he couldn't scream, couldn't cry out. He could only watch the familiar building in front of him burn down. Familiar.

He could make out a forge, he knew something about this place, there was something about this place that made him want to protect it. In a burst, his memory came flooding back, and he ran towards the building, hoping he could stop the flames.

"This is your fate, child" Said the powerful voice that seemed to be... "I am everywhere, young one" he said as if he could read his mind

"F-fate?" Rider inquired, wile fear was raging within him.

The voice laughed, laughed in mockery as if he knew many things he didn't. "WHAT FATE" Rider shouted as loud as you can, which wasn't that loud seeming as his insides were burning also...

"This doesn't have to be, young one, turn back, away from the forest, return to your home and you may be able to... save it" The voice replied as if this was the perfect answer to his question.

Fire kept burning inside him. This had to be a trick, the guards would most likely kill himself on sight, Valen would have no doubt made him seem like a Warlock.

But the fear... how could he withstand it? The voice alone was enough to make him cry, but he couldn't, it was almost as all the tears in him had burnt.

But he couldn't go back...

But the fear...

But...

Then something strange happened. The pain faded, he was regaining confidence, and a golden aura was growing around him. It shone brighter and brighter until Rider had gained enough confidence to say

"No"

He didn't know how he could feel  this beings emotions, but he could tell it was surprised, maybe even a little... scared. It was almost as if this aura was giving him power, he could now stand up this being. The fire within him and been extinguished, the fear that was suffocating him had now vanished.