Flash of White

Prolouge

Pale snow colored hair fell down her back in a messy braid, wisps escaping and falling into her heart shaped face, champagne eyes looked out of it, dark gold and emotionless; her slender form was all but hidden by the large black robe she wore. The katana clenched in her trembling fist shook just as much as she did as she scanned the two paths. Dark thoughts worried her as she watched them; one path was deeply shadowed, and the ground was covered with dead leaves; only the parting of the trees belaying its location. The other was its equatorial opposite, the thoroughfare clear and the land was free of leaves and debris, as it seemed to be used often; it should have been an obvious choice. Even so, something was wrong and as she looked at the two paths. The conviction that the dark one was right grew stronger and stronger until the blue steel sword was sheathed and she walked down the path. Her eyes darted along the edges, shadow beasts and strange phantoms her mind made up laughed at her as she walked slowly down the path; she was unaware that the beasts she thought were her own creation were as real as the sword in her hand. Her pace increased until the hem of her black robe caught under her foot, sending her sprawling, and the beasts laughter increased until it was unbearable; she struggled to her feet and raced down the path, her hands over her ears to block out the heinous sounds.

Racing down the path her sandaled feet beat a frantic tempo into the ground. A dark shape whisked, brushing her back and across her path cutting off her means of escaping the tunnel. Standing stock still she sized it up carefully. It was a huge beast, fur the color of night and shadows covering steel rope sinews and rippling muscles, its form dwarfed hers but she showed no fear now; whipping out the sword at her side she quickly shifted her stance. The monstrosity merely regarded her for a moment before charging, its massive weight sending shock waves through the ground, lunging through the air the beast crashed to the ground, peering into its paws like a short sighted owl before howling as a deep cut carved into its side, blood spilling out like a twisted waterfall. It spun, rage filling its every moment, looking down at the small figure that had once been its prey and was now a dangerous foe; her weapon gleaming with the fiends blood. The creature’s vicious claws shoot out at frightening speed, but closed on empty air and soon after it felt the lightning strike of pain rip across its back. The small thump of her landing alerted it to the strange and deadly creature; it spun, seeking out the black robed girl. A grim expression had appeared on her face, all traces of the worry from earlier gone; only a fierce determination left. A soft swish was the only noise she made as she seemed to disappear from the scene, only to reappear on the beasts back, before the behemoth had time to react; the blade of the sword slid cleanly into its back. Ending its life instantly. Leaping off, light as a feather she continued down the path; though the monsters possessed no threat to the formerly clumsy and terrified girl. Blasting out of the woods like a bullet and into the small clearing she gazed around.

The grass was a vivid and verdant green, thick and plush under her feet, the sky showing through the ancient oaks was perfect, clear as a diamond and bluer than a sapphire. The oaks themselves were grand and large; their knotted trunks were wide and stronger, their roots tearing up the earth. In the center was the one thing she had been searching for the entire trip, a large, perfect pearl, carved with the history of the demon slayers. Her eyes became saucers as she stared at the fantastic object before her. She slowly and deliberately walking towards it, as though it were a deer that was about to be scared away. Moving carefully forward she grabbed it, her hand like quick silver, then deposited it into a small pouch on her waist. Searching the clearing for and sign of life other than herself she started back towards the dark path, moving down it at a much more rapid pace than before, there were no beasts, and she was alone, coming back out at the entrance of the two she sighed in relief, her job was over and she was clear to return to the village.

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So, what do you think, this was for a writing camp and I liked it so I decided to post it on here