Forgotten Memories

Prologue

Athena's back and time for another roleplay starter. This was also how I originally wanted to start her story. Written in 2018, I think.

Pyragon, a once beautiful kingdom with spiraling towers of colors and bustling streets, was now a ghost of its former glory. Piles of debris-covered streets, making it hard to tell where everything led. Giant grooves raked across the city, and shadow imprints marked the ground. The screams of terror could still be heard even after 20 years of silence. Ivy vines leisurely crept up the crumbling building; the forest was finally reclaiming its territory.

Athena's steps were silent. She chose her placement carefully, making sure to avoid the large shards of glass that jutted out of the ground. Her horse like beast followed behind her. As a Rhykon, he was less cautious as he strode after her. His claw-like feet protected him from the sharp objects. His scales were resilient making him a tough creature to slay, but alas he was far from immortal. His kind was on the brink of extinction, it was a wonder how Athena stumbled upon this dragon-like steed.

Either way, it was a fruitful relationship. Athena could now traverse more easily, and, Ejder as she called him, got protection. At first, his permeant grin and needle-like teeth disturbed Athena, but now it was a comforting sight. It was Ejder or nothing; most animals are spooked by her present. All but Ejder, the only creature who welcomes her presence.

  Her eyes glanced back to find her companion. His own obsidian eyes were indifferent when they met hers. 'Typical' She thought looking back to the cracked road. She only took a few more steps before she came to a halt. Athena's eyes bore into green flecked ones of a woman. She stood at an intersection, her frame was lithe, but what disturbed Athena was that half her face was burned off.

The woman stood beckoning Athena to come closer, and against her better judgment, she strode forward. Upon coming closer, the woman began to walk, disappearing behind a decaying tower. Athena sped up her pace following the ominous woman.

  Rounding the corner, Athena came to a dead end. Rubble was stacked high; blocking the light from the comforting rays of sunlight. A building must have collapsed to create such a blockade. Her eyes narrowed as the scanned the area. How could a woman just disappear? Unless it was an apparition, which was very plausible.

Cautiously, Athena edged her way forward. The building's glass had been blown out, and it was easy to see now that they had been gutted of their interior. That single fact ruined this expedition for Athena. The disappointment didn't last long when she stumbled over something hard.

She whipped around only to find what looked to be a bow. Athena bent down, her fingertips brushed up against the cold ebony staff. She could feel every groove and cut there was. The bow was old, the string had long wasted away, but the staff itself was in seemingly good condition. It was made of something other than wood, and upon picking it up it had to be something heavy.

Athena figured it would be a fine replacement for her late bow. The last one she had was unfortunately smashed; in her haste to escape a guard she had misstepped and fell. The impact had shattered the delicate wood.

Ejder nervously clawed the concrete. Athena twisted her body to see what made him so anxious. At first, all the could hear was the quiet growl rumbling within the beast. His eyes glanced anxiously around the area. The temperature had substantially dropped while Athena was examining her new toy.

With a heart full of caution, the thief quickly clipped the bow to her thigh.

That's when she heard the incessant moaning that echoed through the dead kingdom. The cold realization hit Athena as she shot up. Her wide eyes looked around, she had yet to see them, but she knew that sound.

"Revenants," She muttered, fear spiking in her heart. She should have expected the undead to appear, after all, the kingdom and its inhabitants died in just one day. Athena dashed over to Ejder, using one of his horns as an anchor she swung her legs over the saddle.

  The moaning only grew louder, and the air grew thick with frightening realization. If Athena didn't leave now she would die.

Turning Ejder around Athena ushered him into a sprint. It didn't take much coaxing as he jolted forward, almost bucking Athena off him. She hung on, but didn't bother to steer him, Ejder would find a faster way out of this tomb.

As they galloped forward taking multiple sharp turns, Athena caught glimpse of corpses dragging themselves out of their holes. They were a sickening sight; gaunt and rotting. The sight alone would make anyone puke. Athena didn't have that luxury.

Not much time had passed before the two broke into an aspen forest. Athena's heart was still pounding against her ribcage. They would have to continue traveling this forest before they were safe.

Ejder pushed forward, his scaled chest heaving. He was tired, but fear had consumed him. They continued like that for a while yet. The sun now just peaked over the southern mountains signaling night was soon to come.

Athena leaned back, she was calming down. She figured her steed was too- that was until he made an abrupt turn. Not expecting this twist, Athena had little time to the ever-closing branch. It was too late at that point, the branch with a hard thwack hit her in the face.

Her body fell backward onto the golden leaves. A groan slipped through her leaves, hearing Ejder's feet grow ever distant. She cursed, What the hell made him turn? Athena pushed herself up to where she would be sitting. Upon doing so, she felt something hot and sticky drip down her face.

Her hand tenderly reached the spot and when she pulled back blood coated her fingertips.

"Great," Athena sighed, using the sleeved of her arm to wipe away the liquid. With an effort she got up on her feet, using the light wood trunk of aspen to support her. Her muscle ached, she was sure she would have a massive bruise on her back.

Athena's steely blue eyes looked around. Nothing seemed to be of danger, there was no reason for Ejder to turn. Little to her knowledge she had to stumble across the fae border. The invisible stretched for miles, and there were few entrances. A dangerous place for someone such as herself to be found at.