The Damned

1

Crystal's p.o.v

The breeze hit my hood and swept it down. My ears perked up and I could hear a river flow to my left. I walked carefully to the river, but the closer I got I could hear a voice. I hid behind a tree and peeked around it. A boy was sitting there at the river's edge. He was talking to his horse? I chanted a spell to hide my fox ears and tail. I need to grab some water and the boy seems to not have any magic flowing off him. So he must be a person of the land or whatever.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. My body was shaking in fear. Elder told me they were hateful towards us and never treated us kindly. I always question him since they looked so much like us. I guess they don't like sharing a world that was originally for them. Ok, I can't postone myself from getting water. I am quite thirsty and who knows when I will find the next river.

I put my hood back up and walked down the river before revealing myself to the open. I was far down but the boy still noticed me. He called out to me as I filled my big phial for water. The boy lost his footing and almost fell into the fast current. I chanted quickly as he braced himself to fall. I caught him and safely put him back on land. Moving big objects takes a lot out of someone.

What did I do?! I quickly pulled my water phial out and capped it. I need to leave as quickly as possible! Throwing the phial over my shoulder I darted in the forest. I need to get back to the little camp I made before he finds his way around the river. I shifted my feet into a foxes and moved as fast as possible.

I finally got to camp and I was out of breath. I placed the phial down carefully not to break it. Then I fell to the ground out of exhaustion. I ran so fast, he is one of the many humans I'll come to see on my journey. My body was still shaking in fear. I think he was harmless but I still need to be careful.

"Are you ok?" I lifted my head and slammed it against someone else's. We both groaned at the pain. I looked over at the one who came up on me. It was the boy... How did he get here so fast? He looked up at me and smiled over my way. "I'm sorry to have startled you! What are you doing all the way out here?" The boy got closer and I backed up.

My back hit something hard, I looked up and it was a tree trunk. The boy now had me pinned between him and the tree. How do I speak? Elder taught me how to read and write, but he only taught me to speak in chants. I can't do anything... My mind was spinning but he put me back into focus cupping my face in his hands.

"Miss are you ok? I wanted to thank you for saving me, but you seemed tired already before you did that. Your body is still shaking. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

I shook my head no in response. He sighed and let go of me. My legs gave out and back to the forest floor I went. I watched him as he picked up my bag and my phial. He also covered my fire pit in soil. The boy held his hand out to me telling me to get up. I pulled my hands into my chest and looked away from him. Another sigh escaped from his lips. He wrapped his free hand around my waist picking me up.

"You know little miss. This doesn't have to be so hard. I know you're a bit scared but i ain't a bad guy. My names Jacob though you can call me Jake ok? If you will ever speak to me that is."

I struggled for so long, but without magic I am no match for Jacob. He finally set me down in front of the horse he was with. It tapped the ground with its hoof. I put my hand out slowly and the horse met my hand with a bit of force. The boy watched my interaction with the horse. I love all animals and this is my first time seeing a horse. I moved my hands down its neck, then horse laid its head on my shoulder.

"I'll be damned. Darla hates people more than anything." I turned to look at Jacob stunned. I chanted under my breath and a flower crown formed at my feet. I picked it up and put it on Darla's head with a small laugh. Jacob couldn't believe what I just did. He looked at me with shock and was unmoving. I did it again... He still has ahold of my items too.

Jacob rubbed his eyes and looked at me with uncertainty. I gripped Darla unconsciously and she went between Jacob and I to block me off. What? "Woah girl calm down. Miss I need to get her back to the wagon. I am also taking you along back to the city. Someone might know you before I head back to my hometown."

He is going to take me to a place with people.. I can't hold my chant so long to hide my ears and tail. I pointed at my items he was holding. He looked at me confused gripping them a little tighter. I walked around the horse and up to Jacob. I grabbed my items and tugged. He let go understanding now. I bowed to him and started to walk back in the direction of the camp he cleaned up.

My arm was grabbed I winced in pain. Jacob saw my teeth were sharp like a dogs. I turned at him looking confused. "I get it, no one will recognize you. Will you tag along with me then? I won't force you, but the company would be great."

He wants someone like me to keep him company? If I don't have to interact with to many... I guess. I pondered in my thoughts and I didn't know he was dragging me to the wagon. He pushed my back a little to pull me back to reality. His wagon was small it looked like he only carried what was needed to go back and forth from town to town. I put my hand on the back of his covered wagon as he hooked up the horse.

I took a whiff of the breeze as it passed us by. I looked behind me to see another wagon coming into view. "Miss get in the cart!" Jacob yelled from upfront. I jumped into the cart and he whipped the straps connected to the horse. Darla took off as fast as she could. "Damn to think those guys would follow me all the way out here."

I took out my paper and charcoal stick to start writing. I asked why they were following him. "Little miss they are bandits. The fox furs in the back with you are a pretty penny. I am taking them to the big city to sell. That's what they want from me, I take this route every fourteen days with what my family hunts." He looked stressed.

-I will take care of them. I need to learn how to speak, give me some time ok?- He locked the straps in a hook piece in the front and watched me. I sang a chant, the wind picked up and the trees swayed enough for one to fall in the midst of the road. The wagons horses behind us came to a halt as the tree that fell was in their path. One more tree fell on the wagon they had and i dropped.

My body fought as I coughed blood from the pain I felt. Jacob yelled for me taking my hood down to reveal my pure white ears against my raven black hair. Through my blurry vision I could see the shock and scared look in his eyes. I touched my head trying to hold down my ears. He grabbed my hand and thanked me over a million times with tears in his eyes.

Jacob sat with me as I continued to cough he would thank me and apologize too. I heard people call to the horse in the front. Jacob quickly pulled my hood back up. The wagon came to a stop and Jacob got up from beside me. I saw that his shirt was covered in blood. Thats... my blood... oh no what have I done.

"Guards, I have an injured girl in the back of my wagon. I need to get her to a bed so that she can rest!" Jacob panicked.

I looked over to where his voice boomed. Jacob was talking to two men covered in something shiny. I sat up and looked at them. My eyes were so blurred that it was hard to see them for much longer. My body gave and my eyes felt too heavy to keep open. All I heard was the guards and Jacob call for me.