CastAways - Legends of Alledia

Chapter 1 - Welcome

A huge jolt shook the horse-drawn cart as it went over a pothole. Arys was thrown into the air a couple feet before crashing back down into a mix of boxes and filled sacks of assorted items.

Should've known this would be a rough ride, with the lunatic who was driving.
At least I was able to get SOME sleep on the ride.

Despite the rude awakening, it felt as if a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders... I could finally start a new life. Light tickled my face, making me smile for the first time in a long while...

In my old village, people were out to get me... Maybe this village could be home..
Maybe.
This place was literally in the middle of nowhere. Wonderful.

A warm feeling of content filled me like sunlight through clouds and I smiled wider as I sat up, stretching my sore legs. Pain seized in a sore spot from the crash I'd just experienced.

A flash of black swerved through my peripheral vision somewhere in the trees. Forest was endless alongside the dirt road. I flinched from the movement. Head automatically turning to see the silhouette of a black wolf...

His figure was lithe and that of a shadow.. And he was watching me through glowing red eyes...

Shockwaves of foreboding suddenly pulsed through my insides and I felt my eyes lock with the stranger's.

Why was he watching me... Had he followed me here from my home village?
No... I know I didn't recognize him...

The stranger continued to stare at me with an unnerving intensity... I felt it... A faint blue glow suddenly slipped through my naturally deep blue eyes, growing brighter with the twisting fear I felt inside...

Panic seeped into my like constant running water... My secret was like an unraveling ball of twine... It was clear he'd seen a glimpse of something when his red eyes widened the slightest.

I was paralyzed in a trance of fear, suddenly gasping as sound flooded rang in my ears. I was jolted once again from my seat, but the cart came to a complete stop. Whining, I turned and listened.

"Is this your stop miss?" The driver of the carriage asked again. He was another wolf but with brown fur. He didn't bother to smile. What horrible service.
Heinous.

"Yeah..."

Feeling my chest ache as I heaved a heavy sigh, I almost went to grab my luggage, when I remembered I had none.

No keepsakes, no supplies, no food.... Just the dreadful cloak I was wearing. As well as emotional baggage, nothing more.

Looking down, the ground was dewy as it was the late afternoon of winter... It would be cold, but cold was good... My powers didn't have much control, but I knew they weren't very active in the lower temperatures...
Even though I love warm climate... I couldn't mess up this new start.

I glanced to the surrounding hills and higher mountains... An hour long hike up, would bring you chest deep in snow... Thank god it wasn't as cold down here in the nice valley... Down here it was just mildly cool.

Within a second I was off the back of the cart and the driver took off with no care in the world.

Letting a growl escape my throat, I huffed with disgust of the service, and then remembered my earlier encounter...

Glancing back to the trees, I half hoped he'd be there... But the dark figure was gone.