Veritas: Beyond the Map

Chapter 1--Pursuit

Alyce was pretty sure she didn't blow up the castle-well she might have helped the process a little. It was crumbling already, though! Seriously chunks would periodically just fall into her hair or in her drinks...Some pieces were a little bigger than chunks.

But she was free now. It had been a long time since she'd seen a sunset. Alyce shifted a little to get a better view through the trees. Beside her, Alyce felt Dee tense up. She was still struggling to catch her breath.

"Keep it down!" she hissed. "Why draw more attention to ourselves?"

Dum sat up on Alyce's other side. "It's getting dark, they're probably hiding somewhere like us. Plus this is a giant desert oasis. They're probably going to replenish their water supplies."

Everyone fell silent. The question "what now?" hung heavily in the air around them. Alyce heard it first though and it sent shivers up her spine.

"Do you feel that hot breeze?" Dum asked looking around.

By now Alyce could hear the low rumble had morphed into a full on snarl. It was getting dark, cloaking whatever had them in their sites. Alyce twisted around, eyes darting around the darker recesses of the trees. She noticed Dee and Dum had locked onto something behind them. Her heart pounded, beating like it wanted to run right out of her chest.

Two orange eyes seared at them, the snarling was louder and two rows of murderous teeth were glistening with saliva. A shadow of a body was starting to form around the frightening features. It towered over them. Alyce felt a scream bubbling up within her, building stronger and stronger. Dee was the first one up, reaching for a little satchel she wore around her waist. Dum joined her sister with her own satchel. The two of them formed a barrier between Alyce and the beast.

And then it vanished, dropping them into a fearful silence.

Dee tossed some of her Dust into the trees. "Something scared it off."

"What are you doing here?"

No one heard or saw him until he spoke. Somehow, he had gotten right between Alyce, Dee and, Dum. A tall hungry looking boy stood amongst them. His shock of unruly hair partially covered his face.

"We're not looking for trouble," Dum declared, falling out of the defensive stance she'd taken up against the beast, "but we ARE looking for shelter."

Both Dee and Alyce whirled around, their eyes wide.

The boy turned to Dee. Dum stepped toward them, ready to attack. "I might consider if you have the herbs I need-healing herbs. "

"Better! We got Dust!"

"Dum, No!" Dee grabbed her sister's arm.

The boy stood silent, considering for a while. He swiped his wild hair from his face. "Fine. One night only." He turned to Dee. "You are welcome to brave the creatures of the night. As for you-" he rounded on Alyce who still seemed unsure and confused. "Are you coming?" He didn't wait for an answer. He turned to leave and Dum began to follow.

She noticed Dee's and Alyce's hesitation. "Either we stay out here and get eaten by that thing or we get some shelter and figure stuff out tomorrow."

And despite their better judgement, Alyce and Dee followed, keeping a close eye on the tall young man leading them into the night. Once she pulled through her uneasiness, Alyce found herself mesmerized by how easily he moved through the foliage. His pace was tiring and steady, challenging them to keep up.

Then he stopped. Dum, being taller than Alyce and Dee and more able to keep up, ran into him. Dee and Alyce stopped short.

"Enter quickly," the boy said pulling low hanging leaves back to reveal a door. He pushed it open, revealing only darkness within.