Vermillion Dawn

[6] Changing Times

Nobody could stop me. 

Rincho and the men were still out on their raid. They hadn't returned last night. Which meant either they had to go farther to find supplies or they ran into some trouble. I knew they were coming back, they had to. Besides the fact, they were all fighters till the death. 

In the meantime, Rincho couldn't tell me no. 

I was done waiting. I had spent months of my life in the dark. I needed to know what was out there and I needed to find a meat source. I had already formulated the plan in my head. I wouldn't run into any trouble because the world was supposedly abandoned, right? According to Rincho, the nearest Ascended District was hundreds of miles away. I was only going to explore down the mountain some and return before anyone knew. 

I quietly slipped out of my unit and scanned the area. I made it to the stable unit and quickly grabbed the best horse. I didn't usually ride him for hunts because he was spooky, but this stallion was well-built and he could run. I needed a good ride if something went wrong. 

"Calm down, boy," I whispered to the black horse and he snorted, pawing the ground. He fidgeted the entire time I tacked him up. Either he sensed my energy or I was going to get bucked off. Either way, I would take my chances. 

I planted my foot in the stirrup and mounted up. The horse seemed to shudder beneath me, I gathered the reins in a tight grip, and at the lightest touch from my leg he took off. I sat deep in the saddle and kept my balance. Eventually, I got him worked into a gentle lope down the trail. 

There was not a single soul in sight in camp. I snatched up my bow and quiver and turned my horse up the mountain. If anyone was watching, I'd give them the slip and pretend to head uphill. I knew a little trail that cut back down the mountain. 

I kept my composure so that my horse remained calm but deep inside, I was anxious. The further I rode down the mountain, the higher the fog lifted. I felt exposed. I never realized how much we relied on the fog to keep us safe, I always thought of it as an annoying weather pattern. My hands shook alittle and the horse sensed it through the reins, I cleared my throat. 

If Rincho knew what I was doing right now, he would surely kill me. I could only imagine the pure rage that would overtake his features. I shuddered again at the thought. I thought about turning back but I knew I couldn't. I'd made it this far. I kept going. 

My eyes continually scanned the area around me. I was hunting for signs of wildlife. I felt a bit disheartened when there didn't seem to be a difference, as compared to up the mountain. Were there no animals left? Thoughts churned in my mind. 

I don't know how long I rode until sunlight suddenly beamed directly into my face. I blinked, confused, and glanced up to see clear blue sky. I was captivated with the sight and I didn't pay attention to where my horse was going until a branch whipped me in the face. 

I grunted, swatting away the leaves and refocused. However, a heavy weight began to settle in my gut. This was wrong. I wasn't supposed to be here. My horse grew nervous beneath me, shifting from hoof to hoof, and I rested a hand on his neck. Suddenly, the brush cleared and I pulled the horse to a stop in awe. 

A wide valley splayed out below, stretching as far as I could see. Trees littered every inch of the land and a river slithered through the middle. I could see the sunlight sparkling on the surface of the water. Despite the hazy blue, I noticed something else. 

A barren patch of land, just south of the river. I frowned and grabbed my binoculars from the saddle pack. I trusted my horse to stand for just a second as I searched through the binoculars. When I realized what I was looking at, my stomach curled.