And There You Were

Chapter 1

"Run! NOW!" I speed past Mia, grabbing her hand on my way, stumbling and pushing through the dense woods. Branches and vines scratch against our ankles and arms as we fly by them. "Kartia! We either use our resources or get caught. We need to make it past that line." Don yells as he appears to my right, pumping his arms, and running quickly to keep up. I pant heavily and yell to him, "I know! Just wait till my mark. Grey Vine is coming up. We just have to do this just right."

A blast goes off behind us lighting up the sky and making this night seem even more ominous, as light rain falls from the sky. My hair is soaked, small pieces stuck to my face, and plastered to my neck. My jeans begin to feel heavy, turning dark from running through puddles, and falling into a part of the lake on this territory.

A dark, strong voice calls out after us, "Block them in and don't let them reach Grey Vine territory. They cross that boundary and it'll be OUR heads."

The peak of torches lining the trees' edge about a hundred feet in front of us indicates that we're getting close; and something is waiting for us on the other side. I take a quick look at both Don and Mia, while nodding my head. My eyes shimmer and turn an amber color, as Don's turn burning electric blue, and Mia's a dark stormy green. I feel the tension flowing between my fingers as I tap into my gift. There's a witch present in Grey Vine's as I see the shield being held together tightly by their flowing magic. Whoever it is, is strong, and has the whole community encased in their field.

Our feet pound into the earth beneath as they become more muddy from the rain and soil. "Ready?" I say shakily, "Ready," Don and Mia speak and they raise their hands like they're grappling a wall. They begin to pull and the shield in front of us begins to crackle. I hear the whizzing of arrows fly by us as we get closer to the border. I turn my head and see the scar that has haunted me since I was a teenager. His face is turned into an ugly grin as he winks at me. I glare and pull my hand back making a grasping fist at one of the three men that flank him. The man seizes up and starts to convulse as he falls to the ground. I smirk nicely to scar face and his face hardens as he starts to outrun his men.

"Kartia!," Mia screams worriedly as Don turns my arm back towards our destination. I turn and see we're about 20 feet from the Grey Vine border line. "Oh shit!" I put my hands together and straight out in front of me and begin to make a pulling motion. Red edges begin to appear in the shield as Mia and Don hold their arms open to keep anchored. I can feel the men right on our back and I don't have much time to open this. I breathe deep and pull with one solid motion, "I can't hold it for long! We have to pass through. NOW!"

Mia pulls her left arm up and makes a sweep motion and I feel us get pushed forward through the shield as we cross over into the Grey Vine territory. The shield snaps closed right after and scar face slows down looking pretty pissed, as some of his men ram into it.

We're laid out on the ground beside each other and I push myself up on my elbows and stare back at him. He snarls and has a look of promise to return before barking out orders to fall back and they turn around. I sigh deeply, close my eyes, and allow my head to fall back checking on my friends. "Are you guys good?" It's silent for a split second before I hear Don's voice, "What would good look like to you right now?" I snap my eyes open and turn slowly seeing the face of about thirty warriors in black stealth gear, pointing sharp staffs and tranquilizer guns at us, staring us down.

I turnover unto my knees and raise my hands slowly along with Don and Mia as I say, "Whoops?" with an awkward chuckle.