Snow White And The Dragon

Chapter 2: Ashes and Snow

-Nox-

When Gray felt his body being engulfed by water, his arms immediately started trashing, legs moving viciously, his nervous system automatically willing his body to bring itself to surface, willing his body to seek for precious air. When the boy emerged, he barely had time to breath, for the waves, strong as they are, tossed his form from side to side as if he was a ragdoll. Finally taking a deep intake of breath between a wave and other, Gray assumed control of his body, forcing his muscles to take him away from the bay and straight to the beach.

He scratched his hands on the rough surface of rocks and blinked to will away the sting on his eyes caused by the salt on the water. Gray scoffed heavily, trying to expel the water on his lungs and when he finally could breathe evenly, he let his body hit the wet sand, a smile spreading on his face. He finally was free, or almost that.

The eagle posed by his side and let out a sound catching the prince attention easily. The animal nudged Gray’s shoulder and took flight silently beckoning the boy with its head to follow him. The eagle guided the boy through the beach and a rocky formation. On the other side, when they finally saw sand again, there was a presents from the gods. Laying on the wet, spongy ground was a beautiful white horse.

The animal howled quietly when Gray approached and thrusted his head on the boy’s palm when he attempted to caress him. Gray’s fingertips danced on the hoarse skin, from his cheek until the base of his neck, where he grabbed a handful of mane, throwing his right leg over the animal’s back. The hoarse rose on his for leg and started to trot.

The prince travelled through the beach and a trail on a small conglomerate of trees, successfully reaching a village, or what was left of it. The ground was muddy and the wood composing the small houses were wet, all result of the non-stop rain and humid weather. Gray grimaced at the smell of pee and rotten wood, of putrid flesh and chip beer and just poverty. The villagers started to getter around him, hungry and desperate eyes, they looked ready to devour the horse.

So this is the result of Mard Geer’s reign? Gray thought, his heart ached with sadness and anger and determination, his eyes stung with tears that unfortunately he wouldn’t have time to shed for noises of horses and guards screaming took away his attention from the heart shattering scene.

They sounded weak and faint, which means the soldiers were far, but Gray knew he had leave or else he would get caught, and right now the prince couldn’t afford it. After seeing what had become of his father’s kingdom, he decided that Mard Geer needed to be stopped and right now he was probably the only hope. Gray would defeat the evil queen, no matter what was the cost.

The white horse ran fast, the desert landscape of dark arid soil and dry trees passing around Gray in a blur, his eyes focused on the ominous forest ahead and his ears focused on the noises of the soldiers chasing after him. A quick look over his shoulder and Gray confirmed what he was dreading, the soldiers were approaching.

The more Gray approached the dark forest, more dense the mist grew. The ground was hidden under the fog and so Gray wasn’t able to see the mud puddle. When the horse stepped on it, he immediately sank, white fur stained with dirt. The animal instinctively started to trash, head moving up and down and desperate noises left his mouth.

When the horse had abruptly stopped his mad ran, Gray was launched on the dirty ground, a scratch opened on his right cheek and his clothing ended up torn in a few places.

The prince quickly sat up from the strange angle his body had fallen, hands reaching for the horse in a futile attempt to calm and help him. Sadly, Gray knew he had to leave the animal behind if he wanted to scape. He hesitated for a few seconds, but eventually got up and started running in the direction of the woodland ignoring how sinister it looked, a pang in his heart for abandoning the horse.