The Legend of The Rushing Riptide

Chapter Two: The Pit Stop

After fifteen minutes of running, Kelda's lack of prior exercise and her adrenaline wearing off stopped her in her tracks. She dropped to the ground on her hands and knees and took in shallow breaths until her heart rate slowed. As she slowly got up, she realized the ratty beige pants her father had given her were covered in dirt.

Oh no, I hope I didn't ruin them, she worried. At least my tunic is fine. She tugged at the loose fabric, unscathed by the torments the outside conditions had put her through. Her hands moved from the tunic to rub at her bare arms. The bite of the air caused a layer of goosebumps to coat her skin.

Kelda breathed out and started moving again, more slowly this time. She didn't know where she was, but she figured she might as well keep going straight. After all, if the rivers ran around the whole realm, as long as she kept going forward, she would get closer to the edge.

The further forward she went, the colder the air got, and the more things were iced over. Her skin felt like it was frozen. After a few hours walking forward through the streets of the cities she'd come across, the night had begun to fall, and Kelda started to grow hungry and tired. The city around her was small. There were a few houses and businesses around on the main street and a few more of each on other neighboring streets. The dark of night was warded off in the slightest bit by of the dim glow of the lanterns outside.

She wandered around for a little while longer before entering a small pub. It was run down and small, but she figured she'd try to ask for something to eat. She opened the shabby brown door and walked in. There was a bard in the corner of the building singing and playing a light brown lute.

"There once was a maiden from Stonebury Hollow. She didn't talk much, but boy, did she swallow. I had a nice lance that she sat upon. The maiden from Stonebury who is also your mom."

I wonder what happened to my mother. I hope my father escapes her. Kelda was lost in thought for a minute until she heard some familiar words.

"-she must get across the impassible river, the girl with the power to cross over shores."

Oh no. They know. Everyone knows. Does anyone know it's me? I should just pretend that I didn't hear it. I can't let anyone know. Just stay calm.

She approached the old woman at the counter. She seemed to have been watching Kelda the whole time she was there. She looked decrepit and angry. Kelda cautiously approached her.

"Hello. Do you have um, any food?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes," the woman said gruffly.

They sat there staring at each other in silence for a while.

"Are you gonna order somethin'?" the old woman asked, starting to lose patience.

Kelda realized she needed to explain. She took a deep breath and spoke.

"I've been traveling all day and I don't have any money. Could you-"

"Absolutely not. I've had enough of all you freeloaders!" The woman's voice started to rise. She stopped and took a breath. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out some various food scraps, mostly crusts of bread, and a small cup of rice.

"Here. I hate rats so you might as well take these so they don't get to them."

"Thank you!" Kelda wolfed down the food faster than she had ever eaten before. She paused for a second after realizing she would need somewhere to sleep so she could have the energy to keep going. The food could only do so much.

"Um, do you know if there's anywhere I can stay the night?" Kelda asked.

"I'm done helping. Figure it out." The woman was over it.

Kelda finished her food and got up, uttered a thank you, and walked into the cool night. The sky was completely dark by the time she found a thicket by the outside of the city to curl up into. She fell asleep, freezing, but full.

When Kelda woke up, every single joint was stiff. She could barely move, so she slowly wiggled her fingers and toes, and then her wrists and ankles, and moved her elbows and knees until she could attempt to stand. The first two attempts didn't work out very well, but by the third attempt, she was up and moving. She started jogging to get the blood pumping.

After about twenty minutes of jogging, her stamina started running low. She slowed to a walk. She realized that she was a far enough distance away from home that she could slow down and take in the world around her for the first time. It was pretty dreary and sad. The landscape was slick with ice, and the skies were gray and cloudy. The more she looked around, the more she realized how wrong of a place she was in. The bitter cold of the air and the monochrome land just wasn't a place Kelda could ever feel comfortable in. Everything felt off in a way she couldn't explain.

She kept walking forward and stayed lost in thought for a long while until she was jolted out of it by a strong gust of wind that chilled her all the way through to the bone. She looked around, startled. Her eyes focused in on her target. She could finally see it in the distance: a river shooting flying ice down its current, along with rushing water. She had finally made it to the gate.