Pick Your Path: Book 1

53

" She still hasn't returned home yet.." you watch Morphia as she searched the entire house for any signs of Raven. She didn't find anything, not even a note. The two of you had returned to the house after a meeting with the Red Queen. She told you that Alistair had arrived just before you two and had given a message of warning from Raven. The White Kingdom plans an attack on the Red Kingdom on it's eastern fronts. Just like what Raven had said the night before..

" Where is she?" Morphia growled, you were at the third and, possibly, top floor of the house. Branches were woven together carefully to create a roof to the floor. A thump comes from downstairs, on the first floor. Morphia goes running downstairs to check it out. You follow her before a hand stops you.

" Huh?" you give a muffled yelp as the person covers your mouth.

" I wouldn't do that.." a voice purred quietly, " You're coming with me.." he pulls you back towards one of the windows. " Alright, I'll remove my hand, if you promise not to scream." you nod quickly, he releases his hand. He then steps over to the window, keeping his hand tightly around yours. " This way." he leaps over the window ledge and onto a branch below it. You follow him out. His pale fur stood out from the dark background. A crescent moon hung in the sky, faintly illuminating where you were headed. He leads you down to the forest floor and continues his path through the woods. You cross a clearing to a hidden crevice in the cliff beside the clearing. The half-breed slips past the curtain of lichen and into the crevice, tugging you along with him. " Raven? You awake?" in the darkness, you hear the half-breed call out to Raven.

" She's here?!" you yelp, " Wh-?"

" Shh! Quiet!" the half-breed whispers, " Don't wake up-"

" Alistair.?" a quiet voice echos weakly around the cave, " Y-you're back.." a pair of reddish brown eyes flickered as a figure approached, leaning against the wall for support. Her footsteps were still as silent as, even in her weakened state.

" Raven, what are you doing?! You shouldn't be moving around!" the half-breed, Alistair immediately rushes forward, " You'll burst the stitches!"

" I'm fine, Alistair.." she whispers weakly, her knees giving out from underneath her.

" Raven, you really shouldn't push yourself.." Alistair says worriedly, he gently picks up Raven, " You're going back to bed." 

" I-I can walk by myself.." you hear her mutter as he walks away into the cave with you following close behind.

" So this is where Raven's been all this time?" you ask after Alistair had convinced Raven to lay down on a bed of feathers. She watched as Alistair sat down beside her, her tail thumping softly on the feathers.

" Right." Alistair responded, looking through his pouch for something, " Raven came to me earlier this night with a couple of major injuries. She had a message for Her Highness."

" White Kingdom plans to attack our eastern fronts." Raven interjects softly her eyes sparked to life as she spoke, " They sent the troops tonight.." she began to struggle to her feet, only to stumble back onto the feathers.

" Wait, Raven." Alistair shook his head, " You shouldn't go.. Someone else should go." 

" N-no.. But I need to go.." she growled weakly before taking her wolf form, " Must.. warn.. Her Highness.."

" You're in no condition for traveling right now, Raven, just stay." Alistair held her as she almost collapsed again.

" Hmm.. Who says.. I have to travel by.. Running?" she rose unsteadily to her full height, lilac and indigo energy forming faintly around her. A dark tendril snatched Alistair before pulling him back. " I can manage.. Just a quick travel.."

" Raven no!" Alistair's hand glowed golden color as a time symbol began to form around Raven.  The energy glowed faintly before dispersing all together. Alistair immediately took his animal form, a white leopard and raced out of the cave. You take your animal form and follow him. He dashes towards the Red Kingdom. "Raven's probably gone to warn Her Highness and the soldiers about the attack tonight." Alistair growls, " We need to get there before she gets herself into any trouble."

" She gets herself in trouble?" you ask, though you already know what he means. She's willing to go extreme lengths to complete her missions. you and Alistair clear a fallen log, you were very close to the Red Kingdom at this point since you took a short cut.

" Raven's always flinging herself in the line of fire in order to protect Her Highness." Alistair explained, " She's injured at the moment.. I just hope she won't.-" the two of you burst out of the woods to see two armies just beginning to charging, Red and White. Amid all the chaos, a growling ball of bristling fur, black and grey, was facing off against a soldier twice her size. She leaped out of the way of one strike before growling softly. Shadows responded to her command, snaking forward as black, misty tendrils and attacked the soldier. The tendrils retreated back around Raven as she blocked one of the soldier's attacks. She leaped clear of an battleaxe, using the shadows as a spring board to launch herself above the two soldiers A fiery ring flickered to life in her paws as she sent the flames raining down on all the soldiers several feet around her. She landed gracefully on the ground with a quick flip, stumbling slightly. In her moment of weakness, a soldier charged at her with his sword raised up to deal damage. It comes swinging down, only to be blocked by a shadowy figure that resembled a canine. The shadow kicked the soldier back, standing protectively in front of Raven. " We have to go help." Alistair growls before leaping into the fray, battling alongside a light grey wolf-fox.

" Right." you bound in after him.

Bound to page 77

Her Majesty needs my help.. Must go join my comrades in battle.. Must.. Defend the Kingdom..! ~R