Tooth and Claw

Chapter 1

Above is what I imagine Aurora to be! (Btw that is fanart of Bianca from Percy Jackson, not mine)

The cold temps seeped through my hoodie. I shivered, the little specks of snow slowly falling down.

Don't get me wrong I loved winter, with the amazingly crispy and clean air, and the beautiful blankets of frosty snow. It was magical, quite literally.

But still, seeing it for 8 hours straight up was not fun, take it from me. I should've listen to Ma and learned that stupid flame spell instead of spending too much time with Ryder!

Ryder is my best friend from childhood. He was gifted with magic, like me, and got lost in this huge town. Ryder thought he recognized a couple of townspeople and houses across the street, and ran over before he told me.

Before long, he pissed off some butchers and they chased then into the next couple streets. Me, apparently the only one with common sense, ran over, but he was gone. I was flooded with worry... something terrible could've happened, and I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT.

My hand clamped around my dagger sheath. The cold metal shocked my numb hand, but I drew my dagger anyway. The small turquoise gems surrounding the wing-shaped ruby in the middle. It was stained and dirty from years of playing and usage, but it was the last part of my dad.

It was crafted by the goblins, out in the outside world. All the way, down into the Lava Caves. Novak's, our kingdom, furnace. Goblin machines and weapons were almost indestructible, usually weaved with a certain power, like a freezing power. But I was certain the power from this dagger was out. My dad used it his entire life forever handing it to me, the dagger nearly succumbed to a normal gem dagger. Besides, I've had it for 10 years and it hasn't shown a single spark of magic.

Speaking of freezing, I let out a long breath, a cloud of mist forming and disappearing. My jet black hair was spotted with tiny snowflakes and frost. My skin was pale and cold to the touch, my fingers stiff and frozen. My energy was slowly disappearing.

Maybe I should just sleep on the street tonight.

I shook my head. That would be insane! I don't know where I was, where Alan was, and if the people here were friendly or not.

My brown leather coat was doing nearly nothing at keeping me warm. And black pants and boots aren't too protective against frost.

If I didn't get home, ma would've wasted all that money to get me into that magic school.

My feet were getting numb. I kept walking, and eventually reached the town wall. Our town was surrounded with a tall stone wall, like many of the cities and towns out there. It's just protection from all the mutant monsters and animals. Most of them were savage and wild, and rare to find one even remotely tame.

But the wall was a good sign. Ma's house was just along the side of the wall, a tiny 5 room shack hidden by clumps of plants and trees.

I ran my hand on the ivy-covered wall, starting to speed up. Pain flared up my legs and arms, from the sudden hit of cold. I followed the wall, ignoring the striking pain that flooded my body over and over again.

My body screamed at my brain to slow down, but I didn't listen. I groaned and kept running. I closed my eyes, my hand guided through the crunchy snow.

But my hand only felt air. My eyes darted open. The wall was gone, with a jagged outline of the stones. It was a small hole, but that pathway could be the end of this town. Panic flooding my mind.

A tiny hamster with the power to control water, crashing down on the houses, consuming and crushing anything in its way. Flooding the streets, overcoming any screaming people pleading for their lives.

I shuddered. I had to close this hole, before any more monsters climb through. I scanned the buildings. I was in a narrow strip of dirt behind the rows of houses. Uncertainly, I glanced through the hole. It was a snowy mountain, with forest covering most of the side. Narrowing my eyes, I pinned out a couple of sticks and rocks that would cover the hole, for now, until I could get some help.

My arms trembled. I swallowed my fear and sped out the hole, crouching. I scooped up bunches of sticks and rocks within seconds, and sprinted back to the wall.

Signing in relief, I began stacking the rocks for a solid base. But the rocks wouldn't I stay together. The bitterness bit my skin, creating a painful, itching feeling.

I groaned. I don't have time for this.

I ran back out the hole and bit off a clump of weeds.

Listen, I'm suffering, okay? So I wasn't really thinking straight when the plant taste swept into my mouth.

I spat out the greenish paste. The stringy but tough weeds dangle din my hand as I ran back.

 This was a back-and-forth situation now. 

I didn't see any monsters run by yet. After tying together the pile of rocks and sticks, I got up. 

A stinging sensation swept through my legs. A stabbing pain struck through my legs, sweeping numbness. I yelled and fell to the ground. The hard stone ground knocked against my head.

I wish I knew what happened, but darkness covered my sight.

word count: 932