I kept ruining, not paying any attention to my surroundings. I didn't hear anyone following me, either because my breathing and pulse were too loud, or because no one was there. It didn't surprise me, why would they want someone as useless as me tagging along with them? I couldn't do anything properly.
I tripped on a tree root and slammed into the ground full force. "Owwwwwwie," I groaned into the moist grass. I pulled my knees up to my chin, rotated so I was laying on my side, and wrapped my arms around my shins. With no one their to witness, I bawled my heart out, drowning in self pity. I am absolutely pathetic, I mentally slapped myself.
I pulled myself together some time later. The sun was setting, lighting the world with beautiful shades of pink, purple, and orange. All of my negative emotions had vanished, and I began to regret allowing my impulses to take over. I couldn't believe my child-like foolishness.
"I'm sorry guys," I whispered, "but I'm not strong enough to be of much use and I can't stand to see the two of you so close." I remembered Angel's happiness, but instead of her laughing with me, she was with Neil and the villagers, laughing at me.
I didn't hate them, not even close, but I despised the idea of being on my own. I had to get stronger, both physically and mentally before I could return to them.
I laid in the grass, with my arms under my head, and thought of ways to ready myself. Only one plan seamed somewhat realistic. I would find my way back to them and trail them from a safe distance. Training physically would be difficult, but if I worked hard enough and went out of my way to do so, it could be done.
Sitting up, I removed my father's sword from it's sheath. "Mon, Dad," I started, "I will make you proud," I stuck enough of the blade into the ground that it wouldn't tip over, "I promise you that." I ran my right palm over the blade. I would make a blood pack, more for myself than anyone else, but I needed someone to share my words with. "While I have these blades," I stated, grabbing the hilt and doing the same with my mother's sword, "I know that I am never truly alone."
I closed my eyes and listened closely to my surroundings, listening for any sign of my friends. I could faintly hear movement to my far left, so I followed the noises through the trees until I came to a clearing. The sounds of movement I had heard stopped, replaced by hushed voices. "Where do you think she went," Asked a very worried Angel.
"I'm sure she's Fine Ange," Niel said calmly with a hint of... something else in his voice.
"Niel," Angel snapped, "do you really think that now is the time for this? My best friend is missing and alone out inthe woods," She spat, "maybe even as far as Her woods! And you want to cuddle? Niel, that's probably the only reason she ran off like that. To anyone else, our actions might not have seemed wrong, but to Ericha..." She trailed off. I knew what she meant, when we were growing up, Angel always had a knack for getting the cute guys to like her, they would always just play around, nothing major, but even the few boyfriends I had managed to get would dump me for her. I know she didn't try, she's just so good at it and I'm... not.
"C'mon Ange," Niel cooed, "she'll be okay. Ericha's strong enough to take care of herself. Besides, if we left to look for her, and she came looking for us, we'd never find each other," He explained thoughtfully.
"I know. It's just... I'll kill myself inside if anything happens to her," Angelinia whimpered.
I listened to the two of them debating what to do until I allowed sleep to consume me.
The grass was so soft and comforting that I didn't want to move, but the heat made it quite uncomfortable. I lied there on my back and watched the clouds drift slowly by. The sun was low in the western sky, lighting the clouds all kinds of beautiful colors from orange to purple and fading into a deep grey. A light breeze picked up, whipping my now short hair into my face. I closed my eyes and began to enjoy the wonders of nature.
Little wet droplets splattered on my face, adding to my bliss. I could feel the atmosphere change from hot and dry to really hot and humid in a matter of seconds. The slight breeze became powerful and restless and the beautiful sunset disappeared. The little water droplets became heavy and almost hurt on impact.
I sat up and looked around. I was in the middle of the woods, near a beautiful little lake. The clearing was on the other side of me, but also void of any signs of my companions. "Angel," I called, but my voice didn't sound like it belonged to me. I put a hand to my throat and cleared it, "Niel," I called again. The same thing happened. I reached for my mother and fathers' blades and, to my relief, they were still there.
Walking to the lake, I tilted my face to the unyielding sky, rain drops slapping me without sign of letting up any time soon. I knelt down on the water's edge and placed the swords on the ground in front of me. I lightly brushed the lengths of the beautiful, silver blades and exquisite hilts, before looking into the black water. I was greeted by a friendly and beautiful face, framed by loose brown curls. "Mom," I whispered, my voice still not really my own. She nodded and smiled up at me.
"Be careful baby," A loving male voice echoed in my head as my father's handsome face rippled in next to my mom's, "A storm is coming and you can't run away from it." My father's face was grim.
"You have to be strong, child," My mother's voice sounded as my father's had moments ago, "I fear your war is about to begin, my daughter." I sat forward and leaned closer to the lake water, wanting to hear their voices for as long as possible. "I am sorry that we couldn't give you the power of wings," She continued, causing tears to sting my eyes, "but perhaps you have another source of power." I nodded and waited for more, but her next words were drowned out by a quick flash of lightning and loud rumbling thunder.
I hadn't noticed, but I had turned my attention to the threats of the sky and when I returned my attention to the lake, my parents were gone. "Thank you," I whispered and sheathed their old swords before standing, a new plan forming in my mind.
I sat up from my spot between the bushes on the border of the clearing and the woods. A gentle breeze caressed my body, sending goosebumps over my arms and legs. I looked at the sky, still watched only by the moon, and made my way to my sleeping friends. I leaned over Angelinia and brushed a strand of her hair out of her face. "Wake up Hun," I whispered in her exposed ear. She stirred, but didn't fully wake, so I went over to Niel's bag and grabbed his Water. "Niel," I cooed evilly, walking up to the sleeping pair, "It's time to WAKE UP," I pored some of the water on Angel, just enough to get her up and moving, then emptied the rest on Niel's head.
"What the heck was that for?" A very irate Niel half yelled, half screeched.
I just shrugged and giggled, "I needed to wake you two up," I stated, "plus," I added as an after thought, "it makes me feel better to torture you." I glared at him for emphasis. He opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by Angel.
"Where the heck have you been," She scolded, "I've been worried sick about you." She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and nuzzled her nose into my shoulder. I complained about her wetness and she reminded me that it was in fact my fault so she was simply returning the favor. "Ericha," she whispered, pulling away slightly so she could look me in the eyes, "why did you need to wake us up?" All hints of humor were gone from her features, replaced by seriousness.
I nodded at her and Niel in turn before glancing around to ensure that we were alone. "I had a dream," I started, "Before my dream, I had planned to tail you two and train myself whenever the opportunity arose, but your decision to wait for my return kind of put a damper on that idea. Then I had my dream," I paused, evaluating their faces before continuing, "I was warned about incoming dangers." Niel's face darkened, and Angel's inner animal began to surface. I took a deep breath, "I'm afraid that we're about to encounter a nasty little storm."
