Whispers from the Dark

4. Westray

I do not own the drawings I put with my chapters, only the first one (prologue), the cover and the map of the world (chapter 2). But I found them so beautiful and inspiring. It may not completely follow the description of the creatures or places in my story, but it may be helpful to imagine my world a little better.

Everything was quiet when I took over the watch from Artemis. The horse had fallen asleep as well, lying on the ground. As I sat in the shadowy corner of the entrance from the old barn, I saw the sun sinking into the west and my eyes became heavy. I must have fallen asleep, for next I remember, I woke up by a sound. Hoof beats coming from afar. First I thought I imagined it. But then I heard it again. I woke up Artemis and saddled the horse. You're right, they found our track. We must leave now! Artemis exclaimed in horror.

I had slept until nightfall. When we emerged from the broken barn, I saw it was a clouded sky again and knew it was going to rain sooner or later. We trotted away from our hiding place. I quickly looked at the map and with my compass, I found out that we had run northwest, so I adjusted our course a little to the east. This time Artemis refused climbing in the saddlebag, and run alongside me. "Don't be stubborn, it's a long run. Climb in that bag!" I yelled at him while we were running. No! I'm a wolf! Not a pet you can put in your bag. A wild wolf!

Sure, you are, I thought.

I can hear you! I frowned at him at let the horse run faster. I heard Artemis growl frustrated and saw him make a leap to keep up. Not much later I saw two of the Hunters catching up with me on the left and two on the right. They came closer, aiming their crossbows at me. I lay low on the neck of the horse. The arrows started flying past us again. I send the horse to the left, running through the ditches along the meadows and grain fields. Some farmers who were working on their fields, jumped aside in fear. With their mouths slightly ajar, they stared after us. We still ran on. The sun was rising higher in the sky but our pursuers didn't give up the chase. To the left! Without hesitation, I send the horse to the left and we ran into a small forest. I swayed the horse around the trees trying to shake off the Hunters. It kind of worked. The Hunters fell behind. But not for long. The moment we raced into grassland again, two of the Hunters regained their speed and caught up with me. Artemis jumped on one of them, tearing at his flesh. The man yelled and tried to get rid of the small wolf hanging on his back. He fell behind. But the second one, rode next to me. In the distant I saw a crossroad dooming up in the sky. It was crowded by people, carts, woman and man on horse. Even from this distant I could hear the loud chatter of people. It was the three-way intersection to the biggest city of the Ancestral Region. Westray. The main city of the west. The place where the king lived, where now his youngest son ruled. Following his father's demands. The Hunter bumped against us, I regained my balance and tried to send my horse to the right. Coming closer and closer towards the crossroad. I turned around and saw Artemis coming up behind me. Then the man grabbed my tunic and dragged me of the horse. The horse, completely startled by this sudden movement, raced into the opposite direction and I fell off. Landing hard on the ground. All the air pushed out of my lungs. Artemis jumped over me and attack the Hunter who had come to a halt. With his knife, he tried to stab Artemis. I grabbed my sword and run towards him. He was too busy fighting off my wolf, that he didn't saw me coming. I struck him hard with the pommel on the side of his head. His eyes rolled inside his head and he lost consciousness. Behind me I heard shouts and saw the other two Hunters galloping towards us. Into the crowd, I ordered Artemis with my thoughts. And we ran. Towards the crowded crossroad.

It was like hitting a big fog cloud. All senses were suddenly stunned. It was noisy and people were pushing everybody aside to make way through the crowd. We tried to get across it, but it was nearly impossible. I was small and light weighted. Everybody pushed me aside or bumped up against me. I heard people cursing each other, shouting to get out of their way. Horses whinnying, dogs barking. To many sounds, to many people, to little space. I felt suffocated. I heard the Hunters yelling at the people to get out of their way and I hid between a group of minstrels making their way towards the castle walls. Getting into the group was easy, freeing yourself from it wasn't. Artemis and I were pushed forward towards the castle walls. Not able to get past all the people. The Hunters coming up behind us. "There! Between the Minstrels! Get her!" I heard one of them yell. The minstrels parted shockingly aside when they understood that they wanted me. I suddenly had the space again to run. And darted off towards the castle walls. The only way to get back into the crowd. I made my way through a group of merchants, hid behind a cart for a while, until I saw a group of monks walking. I pulled my cloak closer around me, my hood hiding my face and blended myself into the group of monks. Artemis followed me, hiding under the cart. We're heading towards the gate!