After World Chronicles: Angel Awakens

Angel: Going

GOING:

I climb out into the warm, muggy twilight. The smell of damp forest greets me, reminding me of the daily rains that must have recently cleared away. I search for my rescuer among the shadows and notice his wild tangle of hair blowing in the wind. I allow myself to feel a little less self conscious about my own snarled mess. His eyes fall on me to acknowledge my presence briefly before he turns away. To my relief he makes no comment on my looks. Instead he begins walking away, assuming I will follow. I watch how the shadows seem to embrace him as he glides forward soundlessly, rippling in and out of patches of moonlight. I have never seen anything like him before, and I begin to wonder what he is. Surely he isn't human, or hybrid or enhanced. What does that leave?

"This way," he orders gruffly, startling me out of my questions. Even though he has not looked back he seems to realize I have yet to follow.

I do follow him, apparently quite willingly. I marvel as he moves with fluid grace through the forest, his strides so smooth and silent it seems as if he's gliding on air. He leaves no tracks. It's like his feet never tread the ground he travels. As we continue I observe how wary he is at all times. As he moves he is constantly scanning in every direction using all his senses. I see his nose in the air, his ear cocked to listen, his head moving to take in the landscape. A feral aura emanates from him. This man is a predator, and for some reason he's appointed himself my protector.

I keep back a few paces and employ my own tracking skills, looking to see what traces he leaves behind as he travels, but he is flawless. I discern nothing of him in the places he passes through. There is no disturbance of the landscape, no footprint, no bent grass, no broken twigs nor damaged leaves. This only serves to pique my interest and sharpens my desire to watch his trail more closely. There is plenty I can learn from him that will benefit me once I'm traveling on my own again.

My personal guide is silent, intent on leading us to wherever it is we're going. Since he is taking me nowhere near soldiers or civilization of any kind I continue to follow. I am curious about this mysterious rescuer, whom I spotted watching me before the soldiers came. I know nothing about him, other than for some reason he rescued me.

"Hey," I call to his back, breaking the evening's long silence. "You never said where we were going."

"No I didn't," is his curt reply. He continues leading us at a fast pace through the forest. It's obvious he isn't one for conversation.

"I don't even know your name," I complain aloud. "It's kind of creepy to be trudging around the forest with a stranger."

He doesn't break stride or look at me, just keeps moving forward along the narrow, barely visible path he has been following. He doesn't immediately answer and I wonder if he heard me. Just as I am beginning to think he either didn't hear me or is refusing to answer he replies.

"Dante," the one word floats back to me as he continues on without pause. It takes a moment for me to register this as the answer to my inquiry. I think the name fits him well. It brings to mind things that are dark and mysterious, as he is. I wait for him to say more, or ask for mine, but he doesn't.

"I'm Angel," I offer awkwardly after long moments of silence bring me to realize he isn't going to ask.

He snorts in response. "Okay princess," I hear irony in his voice. Maybe he thinks I am lying about my name, making it up or something. Or maybe he thinks my name isn't a good fit for me. Well, he doesn't know anything about me. At his continued silence it seems that's the way he intends to keep it. Two can play that game. As long as he's keeping me safe I don't need to know anything else about him. At least for now.