The Fall of Eden

Chapter 5

"I like it here." Bray said as she rode on her horse beside Méria. They had been riding for a short time beyond Stormthrone's wall. No one had really said a word. The Rangers remained poised and focused on the task at hand. They needed to investigate an area not far off.

            "You like what here?" Méria replied

            "Everything. I like it." Bray said, which shocked Méria. "The snow. The mountains. The danger. We live in the middle of Northern Transcend, but it's like another world out here. We remain in the bitter cold like ghosts in the night. Complete isolation. Never bothered by outsiders and we fight our own battles. I belong here." Bray seemed content with what little Winterhorn had to offer.

            "How can you say that?" Méria was almost disgusted. "It's freezing here. We hardly ever have enough food. We fight for our survival. Stormthrone is a boring and colorless place in a boring and colorless world. I'd rather be in Eden, a place a beautiful colors, where there is dancing and singing, and plenty of food. It's always peaceful and you can live as you please. Or even better, Lion's Reach, a place of glory surrounded by forests. I even hear that the dragons fly there!" She paused. "Besides, how can you like a city where my father doesn't approve of you?"

            "The King really doesn't like me, does he?" Bray asked with a smirk.

            "No. He is convinced that I get my rebellious attitude from you." Méria replied with a laugh, mocking her father.

            Bray laughed. "And you don't agree?"

            "I do not! Just because I am a princess does not mean that-" Méria protested, but before she could finish her argument, the Captain spoke up.

            "Hold here." They had arrived near a small icy river. The sun was getting low, and casted a brilliant orange onto the white snow and deep blue water. The winds had only slightly calmed but the trickling of the river released a peaceful tranquility. Caddock stepped off of his horse. His long black hair slowly fluttered in the wind.

            "Brun, you and Ram take watch." A ranger with long black hair rode off with a fat brown bearded ranger.

            "Abel, Gram, stay here with the girls and I." Both rangers, one with gold hair and the other with a bald head, hopped off their horses. Bray and Méria then did the same and walked towards Caddock.

            The Captain began to scan the ground for tracks. The group spread out and did the same, looking for anything strange. But after hours of searching, nothing was found. The sun was getting low and remaining outside the wall after dark was incredibly dangerous. At night, aside from the little vision, the air was bitter without heat and old rumor and lore spoke of beasts that lurked in the dark. The group needed to head home soon. But just before they could give up their search they heard the horses begin to wine and stomp. All at once, the horses grew uneasy as if something was coming.

            "NATIVES!" Brun and Ram came riding back to the group at high speed, shouting and yelling. The horses all ran away in terror. Méria looked up and spotted a group of Natives running across the snowy hilltop.  They all wore some sort of animal skin and their bodies were painted with white war paint. Méria watched one of the Natives launch a spear into the air. Before she could warn the two incoming rangers, it had already reached them. The spear pierced through Brun, the black haired ranger. He was knocked off of his horse and his body slammed into the ground.

            All swords were now drawn, each sounded a shimmer of glory. Méria readied her bow. Then a sudden growl redirected her attention. Three savage wolves came charging at her and the group. Caddock and the rangers formed a circle around the girls.