Her Pride

The Tree Houses

I scream as pain rips through my body. I look down at the fire surrounding the outside of the large meadow I'm in. I don't see a way out through the wall of fire. Another scream rips from my throat and I collapse to the ground in pain. I look down at my legs and see nothing wrong with them. Nothing seems wrong with any of me yet I am in extreme pain.

'Your time has come' I hear from behind me. I don't even bother trying to see who it is or what they want.

'You have enough knowledge to make your choice. I can help you escape the pain, just say you will help' it speaks again but I pay it little attention.

'Why does it hurt?' I cry out to the voice behind me.

'Your real body is being cut and you have slipped into this world to get away from it' the voice says.

'I will do whatever you ask just make it stop!' I yell out as I am unable to keep my voice down. Suddenly I feel a cold touch on my back and the pain disappears. I pant heavily as I try to make sense of it all.

'I will not take you to your destiny, sleep my child' the soothing voice says and I allow myself to sleep as it told me.

-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

I feel a sharp pain in my legs and I scream. I open my eyes and before I can react hands hold my arms and shoulders to the ground.

"She's awake" I hear someone say from behind my head.

"Don't let her see you" another one says. Something pokes my leg and I scream again in pain.

"I can't do this here! The cuts are too deep for me to close right now. We need to get her home before she bleeds out!" A familiar voice says. Another hand touches my legs this one seems colder then the rest and I feel more pain for a second but it disappears instantly and I relax.

"What's this?" One of the voices says and then a hand leaves my left arm. A scream that is not mine pierces my ears and a soft thud follows.

"That is the sacred book. Why would she have the sacred book?" the voice above my head asks frantically.

"Explain" I say weakly, my voice is hoarse from all of the screaming and yelling.

"Aww she thinks she can get us to tell her that easily" the voice behind my head says sarcastically. I move my head and look directly into his blue eyes. He yelps in panic and jumps back a little.

"You will tell me" I say stronger now and I let power leak into my voice. He shifts uncomfortably from where he kneels in a plain blue tee-shirt and jeans above me.

"We heard a scream and sent people to see what was going on and we found you and are trying to treat your wounds before you die" he explains quickly. I look away from his eyes and he blinked a few times and looked confused.

"It's her" someone says in awe. I look around and see three other people around me. One on either side holding my arms down and one at my legs. I find no threat in the two holding my arms who are also male. I stare longer at the person touching my bleeding legs.

"I suppose you got what you wanted then" I say to him.

"Yes I did, you came home and we can now begin to get you ready for war" he says.

"You may continue if you must then" I say to him am he nods. This time the pain is more dull and slow then the sharp stabbing pain from earlier. I feel the cuts closing themselves and things healing inside me. I don't scream this time I can't show them anymore weakness.

"I won't be able to heal them fully so they will scare, I hope you don't mind" he says as his hand comes off my legs. I nod and their hands lift from my body. I slowly sit up and I suddenly feel dizzy. I grab my book and tuck it under my arm. I slowly stand and I feel myself swaying.