The river proved just wide enough to stop the fire from burning everything beyond it. The group’ footprints hardly imprinted in the dusty shores. Ferrying across one by one on Blue’s back Tallen wondered where the man holding her hand was taking her. Kyle’s face fresh in her mind she let him pull her off the mutt’s back. Focusing in on the forest around her Tallen smiled, there were a couple of travelers up ahead, heading towards them. Hushing the two bickering men behind her she listened, hearing the hurry of the approaching figures as they break through the underbrush.
With a burst two girls fell onto the sandy shore in front of Tallen with surprise, “Hello, would you happen to have food?” Tallen asked looking at them expectantly.
“Huh? Shouldn’t we be asking you that?” one of the girls asked as she looked up at the group in slight fear.
“Who are you?” interrupted Noah before Tallen could waste their time with useless questions.
“We’re the twin, Mila and Mira.” The twins finished together pointing to each other as they said their names.
“What were you running from?” Konner interrupted, making Tallen tense. The leader was allowed to speak but the cripple would do better quiet.
“The Fire Assailants, their headed towards the river.” Mira explained as the two girls got up, figuring if the group hadn’t shot them already then they weren’t government.
“We need to head south then, follow the river to some sort of crossing.” Noah spoke out making Tallen look at him with question.
“If we head south, the likely-hood of these assailants being there is high, we need to head North to the source of this river, and the city beyond it.” She chipped in hoping it hadn’t sounded like she was making fun of his knowledge. Noah just returned the look of question but nodded shortly turning to look north along the river.
“The city of the north is big, miles wide, we’d do best to avoid it. Evil lies in wait there, seeking out its enemies.” Mila replied looking fearfully up river.
“It’s been decided already, we’re headed north.” Noah insisted making Tallen smirk at the girls incompetence, the leader obviously liked her more. “You’re welcome to join us though,” he added making Tallen’s smirk disappear.
Andie had long awoken, and as they continued north she got the twins to open up. They had been on vacation in the east with their grandparents when the war started, and after losing their grandfather to the war draft their grandmother had gone crazy, ‘Nutters’ Mira would say. So the twins, at twelve began to care for themselves, traveling from city to city. Tallen’s own stomach rumbled as they told the little girl about how they hadn’t eaten real food in days. Looking down at her hands, crusted with dark red blood she was tempted to reach out and start nibbling her own.
As dusked settled and the group watched as smoke claimed the sky, Noah found himself watching Tallen as she rolled out her knapsack besides Blue’s sleeping form. She had been off ever since her flashback, as if she didn’t know who he was. Though he had to admit the jealousy he had seen in her eyes as he talked to the twins was amusing.
Getting up from his seat against a tree he padded over, standing next to Tallen as she shuffled everything into a comfortable position. “Hey,” he forced back a laugh at her startled expression, he had never spooked her before, “Can you take a walk with me?” Nodding she stood up and followed him from the bank deeper into the woods.
“You don’t remember me do you?” he asked as he pushed forward trying to hide the hurt in his voice.
“I-I wish I could, but you see my brother just died, and I’m lost. My mother’s out there somewhere and I need to find her,” Tallen murmured pain already hurting her.
Without thought Noah turned around pinning Tallen to a tree, “You’re brothers been dead for five years, you were trapped in a labor camp and got out to save your mother. We’re running from the same man that killed you’re mother. Tallen, listen to me! I’m sorry okay? But remember my promise? That night beneath the stars when I promised you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you? I need to keep my promise tal, because I love you. Understand? I love you Tallen! I helped you escape from the raid on the hotel when I should’ve been fighting with my brother! Remember him? Xavier? The boy who stopped you from beating the crap out of me?” with every passing second Noah became more frantic as he realized there was no recognition in her eyes. “Tal, I’m here I’m Noah.” He whispered staring at her as if trying to force her to remember.
Tallen couldn’t believe her ears, her mother and brother we’re dead? Tears bubbled over as he spoke. Forcing herself to meet his gaze when he shook her, “I’m Noah,” was all she caught, and something deep inside her tugged at the name. she wanted so desperately to remember why she knew him, ‘Noah…Noah…Noah’ like an arrow to her heart she remembered. Four years of torture, filled with death and pain only to be followed with loss. She felt hollow with realization.
“Tallen, listen to me. No matter how much you want to remember the past you need to focus on now, you’re eighteen and a fugitive. I plan on keeping my promise, but I can’t save you from what scares you. Please let me help,” his voice was rushed and pleading. For an instant Tallen forced herself to focus on the man in front of her, how his chiseled face gleamed in the moonlight, how much she wanted to listen to his words.
“I-I remember you,” she whispered forcing her tears to stop as she was held captive by his gaze. Memories swam in and out of her mind, and she found herself drawn to those full lips. Forgetting her surroundings she stood up on her toes, just barely reaching his lips. “I remember you, goof.” She smiled looking up into his eyes.
Closing the distance he leaned down caving into the kiss he had been wanting for so long. Her lips tasted like mint, soft against his as he pulled her closer against him. Growling as she weaved her hands through his hair molding herself against him.
Time seemed to pause as the two fought for dominance in their passionate embrace. Only when Tallen registered the frantic beating of her heart as it begged for air, did she pull back to inhale the sharp tang of the cool night air.
“I love you,” Noah whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers pulling her into another breath-taking kiss, She merely smiled against his lips sighing her agreement.
YOU ARE READING
Freedom Fires
Adventure{ On Hold -until I finish another story} In a world where nothing is safe, where the government is hunting down its own people, few have learned to survive. The frozen tundra of the north is nothing compared to the deserted cities of the south where...
