Tales of Aridia

Mortal

"Robyn!" Jayden cried, peering over the edge. Lucy had escaped without notice. Jayden brushed his hands over my arm but I jolted in pain. He gripped onto my hands and pulled me over the edge. I collapsed into him, and he wrapped his arms around me. I cradled my arms in my lap, each on aching in pain. My hands faced up, letting the blood drip down slowly onto Jayden's clothes. I turned my head and stared at the destruction Lucy had left behind. The van was overturned and the engine was ripped off. The cliff had disappeared and the forest looked different than it had before. "Where are we?" I asked. Max climbed out of the van, holding Elliana in his arms. Her head hung limply and her legs swayed In the breeze. I leapt to my feet and ran over to her, "Is she okay?!" I asked. Max brushed off the dirt on her face and smiled, "She's okay, just unconscious," He said. He laid Elliana on the ground and threw his jacket over her.

"We aren't in Aridia anymore," Jayden said, crawling off the ground. "Maybe we'll know where we are if we climb that," Max said, pointing to a tree hidden behind by the branches of others. "You can't climb that!" I exclaimed. "No, let him," Jayden laughed. Max stretched his arms before making his way over to the tree. The burning in my arm still carried on, till my hand had turned numb. I rubbed my arm worriedly, trying to soothe the pain. Jayden noticed, he grabbed my arm and pulled up my sleeve. His eyes fell onto the wound and stayed there for a moment. His face did not move but his eyes grew in panic. "It's nothing," I said, pulling my arm away. The wound was circled in a purple ring, which was circled with another blue ring. "It's been activated," Jayden said. He paused for a moment, "I've seen that before." I looked at him hopefully but he shook his head . "This curse turns you mortal, and a pyewacket cannot survive as a mortal. If your pyewacket dies, you will die with it." He explained. I quickly covered the wound with my sleeve. I gulped, "We can find a cure I'm sure." I said doubtfully. Jayden smiled, and then lowered his head, and stared at the ground. 

We sat on the van bonnet, torn apart by Lucy. Elliana dawdled ahead of us, playing with her teddy bear. I gazed upon her in envy, "What was I like as a child?" I asked. Jayden smiled, reminiscing on his past. "You were amazing," He said. I blushed, "I doubt it," I said. "You were the brightest person I had ever met, you were perfect." He went on. I smiled, "Tell me more," I said resting  my head on his shoulder. 

"Me and Max were best friends. Your parents rarely let you out of the house but when they did you would go to the lake and stare for hours at the Kadupal flower. Me and Max were too afraid to talk to you, knowing who you were." Jayden said, his hand resting on my knee. I laughed softly, "What about when I was older?" I asked. "You were the same person, but stronger." He replied.  I gazed at him, lifting my head off his shoulder, wanting to ask a question.  "Jayden," I said slowly. "In that life what was I to you?" I asked gently. Jayden fell silent.

"A jungle!" Max shouted from the distance. "This whole place is a jungle!" He yelled. I jumped off the van and Jayden sighed in relief. His face tightened up again as I spoke, "We aren't done here," I said, before running to Max. "How do we get out?" I asked, Jayden following close behind. Elliana hung near my legs as we discussed. "There's a river east, if we follow it we might find someone." Max said.