Thoughts-Rants-Drafts

Draft: The Four Kingdoms

The cold air slashed at my skin. It whistled in my ears, screaming at me to run faster. The dull thud of my feet on the forest floor, it told me to count the seconds I had. The pain in my body, it flared and boiled my skin. Stretching and contracting my flesh with every breath.

My chest heaved and pushed against its limits. The aching my lungs endured told me to give up. But, the cracking of trees behind my told me otherwise.

Imagines flashed through my head. They clicked together, rushing themselves into memories. The deep punctures in the wood, the deep claw marks on the trees. Thinking back to it, I can smell the smoke. Their claiming of territory.

I shot out my hand and grabbed a tree, swinging myself behind it. As I caught my breath I looked behind the tree. My distance gave me the perfect view of the plumes of smoke.

There's no time, I need to warn the others.

The race to the camp proved more difficult than I thought. My blood had finally soaked through my coat. The deep crimson harder to see against the black material. Mattie is going to kill me if blood loss doesn't.

A chuckle escapes my lips. When I die? That'll be the best day of my life. Here in this shit-hole, it's better of that way. But not all of us have the privilege.

The chosen. Their the ones who save the world, the heroes of the story. 'Amazing warriors who'll banish this world of darkness.' The crowds of people cheering for them are sickening. Their ignorant, stuck-up, annoying, little kids who can't see the world. Too blinded by the tales from their childhood, believing their all that.

Reaching the edge of a cliff I'm given a beautiful view. The camp, lit in soft lights of different colors. Blues and pinks, light greens and calming purples. My gaze passed over the shabby houses all built together. Leaving enough room for narrow roads.

The uneven ground and messy buildings. Homes. Homes with slanted roofs. Tall ones and small ones. Long and short ones. But, nonetheless homes.

I hear the city calls apartments homes. Most of the time I don't believe them. They call anywhere the sleep their homes. Where they have the most resources. That's not home, home is a safe place. The cities are not safe places, they made sure of that.

Memories bubble up as my tears run down. Wow, I'm spacing out while bleeding out. Typical me, huh?

I stumble down the side of the cliff. Trudging my way to the camp. The grass sways around my legs, making an audible shuffling noise. People walk around, trading, and plainly talking about recent events.

My eyes catch onto a figure who stands out greatly. His height and bright copper hair make him an easy target.

"Hey! Lamp post!" I yell. His body tenses, but he continues talking. "I swear! I'm bleeding out here! Get your slow ass over here and help me!" His head dips down for a second, and turns to me. That asshole is glaring at me. "Oh, sorry! Please get your f-"

"I'm coming you impatient-"

"Don't be yelling at me! I've got my side clawed open and am currently bleeding out. The least you could do is humor me."

"I didn't get you cut open, that was your doing."

"Yeah! Cause I took your scouting shift!"

He grumbles something under his breath and walks between clumps of indifferent people. His body towers over me. His gaze stony as he gazes down at me. "Topaz, please. I'm in pain and just want to get patched up," I plead.

He huffs and bends down. Easily taking my figure into his arms. The weight lifts off my sore side, relieving a small amount of the hissing pain. Topaz maneuvers around the people and heads to one of the many houses.

Eventually, he reaches a more solitary house. It's larger and is separated from the other houses with a garden.

The garden is mostly greens. There's various herbs and more treatment needed plants. She has tons of dandelions in it, though. She absolutely loves dandelions, constantly talking about how great they are. She's said it so many times I've memorized a good amount of it.

'I can't believe they consider dandelions weeds! There so greatly helpful. They secrete latex, so there basically natural rubber. There the best companion plant! The long taproot they have bring up good nutrients and release ethylene gas which ripens other plants faster. Bees love them! Dandelions are great for liver and digestive problems. They grow easily, and are rich in vitamins, a, c, k, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium!'

Just remembering that one part gives me a headache. Bad thing having your best nurse also being a botanist, you can't leave while recovery. And she never runs out of things to say.

Topaz shifts my body in one of his arms, reaching the other out to open the door. A thick smell of different plants and cold medicine hits me in the face. "Honey, I'm home!" I sarcastically yell into the house.

"I don't think yelling is going to help the gash in your side," Topaz grumbles. He's right. It really hurt when I did it, but I'm not going to admit that.

"Your grumbling isn't helping either," I snide. He mumbles something so quiet I don't even hear. Topaz carries me through the main room, leading us to the 'emergency room'. It's more like 'Mattie's stupid friends who constantly get hurt and need medical assistance' room.

Once he gets through the door he instantly heads for a bed. He gets to the one closest to the wall, the one with a window next to it. Topaz knows I love that one. Mainly because I use it to yell at him from inside.

He gently lies me on the bed. His eyes turn to his side, covered in patches of my blood. "I'm going to take a shower after this," he mutters.

And soon enough, in comes Mattie striding through the door. We all make eye contact. We're all having that 'a parent walked into the kids trying to steal cookies' look.

She raises her index finger, then puts it down. Instead opting to put her hand on her face and whisper something. I just caught, "...their going to be the death of me."

"Mattie, Mattie, Mattie! Don't worry, everything's great. This is only, hopefully, a shallow cut and it'll be okie dokie. I just need to clean it and bandage it up. See? I've gotten better!" I quickly say.

Mattie doesn't actually say anything, but her face told me enough. The flat disappointed and somewhat done with your crap look you'd get from your Mom. Topaz takes a seat in the chair next to me. Mattie walks and comes back with a rag, a bowl of water, a roll of bandages, and peroxide. Her ability to always only have that 'one trip'