Xylia

Three

Don't turn around.

That's the only coherent thought in my mind as I stumble through the forest. Three days into exile and I'm already clambering around the loose roots and foliage like a newborn fawn. I spare another glance behind me. Gnarled vines griped tightly to the trees, their shadows tailing me as continued my pursuit.

Nothing's there, I reiterate the thought to myself for the millionth time. Yet the seemingly reasonable reassurance did not quell the creeping sensation of being watched.

Cold sweat dripped down my back, soaking the already drenched armor. The constant echo of my boots along the forest floor had me flinching at every step. You wanted this remember, I recall haughtily. This is freedom. Freedom to decide. Freedom to explore. My eyes dart back to the all too vacant space behind me. Freedom to be scared shitless.

___

I will not turn around.
I will not turn around.
I will not turn- SNAP

Whipping around rapidly, my eyes swooped the premises. Surveying for potential threats. Straining my ears, I could only make out the rapid pounding of my heart. Glazing over the scene again, I let out an uneasy breath. The forest floor was lost to darkness, as the night bathed the thick branches and weathered trees in its hazy shadow.

Something's not right.

A blur of movement ripped my attention to my right. Scrambling away from the motion, my hands fumbled for a weapon, all the while keeping track of my surroundings. I squinted my eyes uselessly, muscles straining to detect movement. The tree beside creaked once. Twice.

Xylia, I thought to myself, you're being ridiculo-

A hand enclosed around my ankle. I screamed. Wielding my stick downward, but my momentum faltered as I took in the Cyran armor.

Rich dark skin wrapped around a muscular figure; the ripple of each muscle casted silvery shadows in the moonlight. His deep, brown complexion was complemented by his dark, cropped hair was caked in mud that smeared down to a strong jaw and chiseled cheek bones. The man's bloodshot eyes blazed with fear, yet the undercurrents of chocolaty depths swirled in anticipation and...hope.

"Please," he rasped out," help." I gulped nervously, eyes flitting around. Assessing his wounds, I noticed a dark crimson pool of blood staining his abdominal area, his lacerations slightly scabbing over.

He'll slow you down, my logical side reasoned. Guilt bloomed in my chest at the thought of abandoning him. You could use the company. Crouching down to his prone form, I hauled him up and squeezed under his arm. Gritting out a breath as he crumpled down on me, his full weight bearing down on me.

"Thank you." The man breathed out, the soft tone of his voice caught me off guard. Grunting out a response, I decided to hold back my comment on his weight and continued our trek into the forest.                                                                                        

___

Noticing him wince every other step, I decide to veer off our path to rest. The man clambered against a tree, awkwardly slumping along the trunk. After settling into his position, he sighed out.

"So..."

I puckered my lips and arched my brow incredulously. Now is not the time for small talk. The man shifted in place, lips quirking into a lopsided grin; he tried to recline further back on the bark before he spoke again, "You, uh come here often?"

A snort of laughter squeezed past my lips, "Really? That's the line you wanna pull?" He had the decency to look embarrassed. "You could've at least done something original."  I commented airily. He let out a burst of laughter, than abruptly keeled over, brows knitting together in pain. Remembering his wounds, my eyes gravitated to the crimson stain that tainted his midsection. "But on a more serious note, we really should get those scratches checked out." Catching his gaze once more, I introduced myself, "I'm Xylia by the way."

"Volkan," he mock saluted, "and worry not, 'tis but a flesh wound."

Ignoring his judgment, I walked over and speculated the gashes along his side. Talon like marks marred the skin. They ripped past his armor, leaving three deep gashes.

"Who did this?"

"More like what did this," he muttered out. Snapping my gaze to his face I inquired, "Care to explain?"

Leaning forward, he began delving into a detailed description of him meandering through the forest for a good ten minutes. He glanced over to make sure I was enraptured by his tale, "and then," his voice deepened, "next thing I know, I'm tackled to the ground by this big ass monster. I tried kicking, punching, even begging but that only seemed to encourage it. It dragged me through the woods before branding my skin with its talons," Volkan slashed the air with his curled hands.

Closing his eyes, he breathed out, "and the worst part- the worst part is, I think that thing did it for sport. It was like a hunt, and I was the prey."

"How do you know that?"

Locking his gaze with mine he declared heavily, "It's eyes. They were this haunting gold color that held this-this intelligence." Tilting my head to the side, I urged him to continue. " They were cold, calculating." Volkan shivered, as if reliving the past events, "I was looking into the eyes of a killer."

"Well shit," I mused, "then I guess we better keep moving, just in case your friend decides to come back for seconds." Nodding in agreement, Volkan pressed off the tree, slinging an arm around me.

Back to the woods we go.                                                                                            

___

"Ya know Xylia," he started, "I've been thinkin'."

"That's dangerous." Shooting me a deadpan look, he continued,

"As I was saying, I was thinkin' you and I should team up. We'd be a great team," nudging my side he all but sang, "and y'know what they say about two versus one."

"Hmmm what do they say," I taunted. Volkan rolled his eyes but remained undeterred,

"Two, my incompetent friend, is better tha- oh shit!"

I glanced at Volkan. His bronzed complexion had turned pale white, eyes glazed over in fear. Following his fixated stare, my half lidded eyes clashed with blazing golden ones.

Oh shit.