Masked

Mesi

Rough stone steps lead me out of the darkness, and into the light. As the warmth from the underground left me, it was just as soon replaced with a new sensation.
I felt the chill of a sharp cold wind on my face, as it rolled over the distant horizon. It had been so long sense I felt the sensation of the Earth's breath brush up against me. It seemed to flue me, as I closed my eyes, letting it take me away. I have been in the bunker for so long; I almost forgot how much I loved to have wind run through my hair, sinking into my cloths, promising to stay and help me breathe. My nostrils filled, stinging my lungs. As I exhaled, I felt my own blood fill the spaces the wind left. In that moment I knew that my freedom was gone, and my labors had begun.

"Mesi!" Amaris yelled my name in her soft tone. I don't know how, but she can somehow whisper and bellow at the same time. I made my way over to her, in no hurry sense I knew she will only bring bad news.

She ran to meet me half way. Not once can this girl have an ounce of patience, I swear. "The Atrivideo are on their way; they bring an army. I can only feel about two hundred shadows marching this way. Although, I fear that there may be more."

"What did you except? We finally came out of that stuffy hole in the ground right in the middle of their kingdom. Did you really think that they would not be attacking?"

She smiled at me, "You really are incapable of saying 'thank you', aren't you?"

"Thank you for giving me unneeded information."

Amaris chewed on her cheek, obviously somewhere else. "I'll take it I guess." She balances out the good with the bad, somehow. Although, a grim expression followed next, "So what's our plan, they will be here soon enough?" Amaris looked over the barren fields and waited for me to reply.

I took my time to think about my answer, or at least that's what she thought. Like I said: no patients. As her dark eyes scanned the flat dying fields I watched the sky. My eyes were sheltered from an unforgiving sun by the overcast that lightly laid across the horizon. Clouds swept over the land and loomed in the valley. The air was thick and heavy as if I was breathing in no air, just humidity. How quickly the weather changes; how fickle it is. Trees boarded the barren landscape, but just to the north. The forest had many passive inhabitants that were making their way out of the canopy. Spring was a nurturing season for the woodland animals as they danced in the shade, unaware of what was about to happen.

I sighed and turned back to Amaris. "We work from the inside, just as planned. This should be an easy camp, hopefully no surprises."

Her head whipped around. She raised an eyebrow. This seemed to be the look she favored over all of the others. "You want to stay at another one of those disgusting pig sties?" My hands ran over each other, with rough calluses scrapping as I went along.

"We've been over this Amaris, many times. I thought you agreed that this plan produces the least amount of casualties."

She breathed in deeply, "I know, but now with all of this fresh air and open space I just-." She stopped there.

"You don't want to be cooped up again, but if it's the best option for our people than we are taking it."

"Is that your way of calling me selfish? Mesi, I understand that war doesn't come with comfort, but I don't know how much longer I can stand all of this."

Just then I realized that we may have been speaking just a bit too loud. Animals retreated back to the safety of the canopy as the army approached; and it looked like Amaris' assessment was about right. Soldier slowly came into view. Of course they had on the classic Atrivideo battle suit. A metal chest plate, it was the color of a deep blue sky stained with the blood of the Praecipua. No helmets did they were on their heads. It's an idiotic tradition that they have. It has something to do with clarity of mind and un-tampered thoughts, or some idea of that nature. They carried weapons in their arms, not of passive confrontation that's for sure. Coming from the south, they attempted to block us in by using the forest as a barrier.

Amaris hadn't seemed to notice them yet, seeing as she continued to yell at me. I pretended to be listening, while keeping a close eye on the approaching enemy.

Within a matter of minutes we were surrounded by them. Amaris finally realized they were there and looked up with caution, "That's just not fair." Her voice was sturdy, showing no signs of fear.

A smile crept across my lips before I could stop it. The man on the head horse braved words first, while the others stood poised to attack at any moment. They were about a hundred feet away so he had to yell.

"State your names!" The man possessed a commanding voice. Atrivideo's use psychology to try and persuade captives to obey commands. At first I almost spoke, as he commanded, but then I bit my tongue and spoke different words then the ones he desired.

"We were just passing through sir, we didn't mean any trouble." I gestured to the crowd with a smile on my face. Tensing up, the man pointed his spear towards me. My eyes narrowed towards him.

"Is this supposed to be an intimidation tactic? We have shown no ill will towards you, and yet you threaten us." I clicked my tongue. "Now is that how we are going to have to do things? I hope not; I was much looking forward to speaking to you."

The warrior, obviously not amused, turned to his army and shouted commands. With just a few non-recognizable sounds the soldiers readied their weapons and put up shields.

I rolled my eyes and threw my arms, "Come on, you can't kill us with those and you know that. The worst those things will do is give me a bad headache."

Glistening metal was mounted on swords, spears, cannons, small maneuverable knives, and bows with arrows were at the ready. The wicked man smiled, "Never underestimate the annoyance of a good headache."

With another slurred word from the commander, the soldiers broke tradition and put on masks. The covering was a dusty green color, with a gray-brown cylinder that seemed to be a ventilator. After equipping themselves, they started to focus on setting up a weapon. Almost simultaneously, the soldiers all set down a small, chrome capsule that expanded into flat pressure pads when a pin was removed from the side.

I eyed them curiously as the now lined panels were set onto the ground and untouched. My shoulders rose and fell.

"Okay, you got us; our weakness is tiny solar panels. Just take us in now, before the horror continues."

I stuck out my wrist to be hand cuffed and closed my eyes. A moment later, my eyes opened again and I shrugged. "No? Well never say I didn't try to make this easy on you."

In my experience, the older I get the more immature I become.