Adventures in Kosteros

Crimson Eyes

 "SHIT! Just what the hell is that thing?" Huffs Emily. Her heart pounds in her head while her arms and legs pump like turbocharged pistons sprinting her through the dense forest as fast as she can. "This has to be a dream!" She screams at the top of her burning lungs as the sound of boulders thundering downhill pursues her. "A BUS SIZED CAT!? What the fuck kinda dream is this?"

The cat's roar slams into Emily's body, and stings her ears. She doesn't try to block out the sound for fear of slowing down. Instead she rhythmically chants, "Don't look back don't look back don't look back." Her legs feel like iron bars. Every step she takes gets heavier and heavier, and despite all of that, she picks up the pace, fighting down hysteria. She sees three figures drop from the trees. 

"Don't worry ma'am. You're sa..." One shouts, but Emily zooms past them. She doesn't slow down, or even glance at them.

"Thanks, that thing is all yours!" She shouts tagging them in while continuing on. She hears laughter behind her, but she ignores them.

Emily stops at the edge of the forest, and hunches over panting with her hands on her knees. "Damn it! Don't get close to the baby. I know better." She chastises herself. Her breath is coming in ragged huffs pushing her long brown hair with gold and red undertones that hangs over her face. Normally, it's groomed and beautiful, and accents her emerald green eyes quite well, but now it's a matted fiery mess covering her cut face as she tries to catch her breath. She drops her travel sized backpack to the ground, and unzips her mud soaked dark grey hoodie to cool down revealing a black wide neck shirt with an imprint of a pink face turning to dust on it. The shirt is covered in mud that soaked through her jacket. After a few moments of rest she stands, and gazes at the scenery before her. She doesn't even notice that her skirt is in shreds, or that her leggings have a large tear down her left leg.

"Wow."

In front of her is a vast clearing of green plains dotted by rock formations. Arches growing from the land like tree roots peaking from beneath the crust. Pillars carved out of the hills by the wind, and now appearing to have risen from the ground. Hills that roll across the plains with some having a tunnel fashioned through it, and others with a snake slithering into it. The land is surrounded by massive mountains that encircle the valley. It's almost as if the land is sitting in the mouth of a large creature. In the distance is a castle that stands out amongst the scenery. Almost like it's out of a fairy tale. "Finally!" She exhales. "A city! Now I can figure out where I am. Maybe I can get some food and water? Hopefully the others are there." She walks towards the unknown civilization with a new bounce in her exhausted steps.

As she gets closer she sees people flocking in through the front gate. Everyone is dressed for the heat wearing lightweight clothing of various styles that breathe well. Some are wearing fitted shirts, dresses, skirts, and shorts. Next to the gate are some armored soldiers with a red cape wrapped around their necks. The tail, which reaches down to their waist is draped over, and covering their left arms. The soldiers are standing around stoically in the blistering heat not moving or talking to anyone while ignoring the stream of people walking past them.

"Where am I?" Emily asks herself. I've never seen anything like this. Those guards look almost medieval, but everyone else seems to be dressed in more modern clothes. Am I at a renaissance fair? No, that doesn't make sense. I mean, there was that huge CAT. I have to be in a dream. She ponders.

"Welcome to Vorsy!" Yells a deep, yet excited voice.

"Wha..." Emily is shocked out of her thoughts. She sees a tall sun charred man standing in front of her. He has a thick beard that covers most of his face, and short hair. He has a pair of dark tinted glasses on. He seems like a giant standing over her. For Emily, that's not new. She is 5'5", and she normally has to look up at people.