The Arrow of Ash and Fire

Chapter 2

The darkness was still slowly spreading as I started running around packing up our camp. I looked check at the leader in the corner, he was missing. I frantically searched the horizon to find him. He must have told them we were here. I ran and woke up Sam with a kick as I ran to the others.

"Ow, why the hell did you hit me" he said with a raspy voice as he got up.

"They found us" I answered still pacing around camp.

"Who did" whispered Sam as he slowly fell back to sleep.

"KraNukk" I said in the most normal tone I could muster.

"Holy crap, really" shouted Sam as he jumped to his feet searching around us.

"Wake everybody up, we have to leave" I said as my voice hitched with fear and anger. He will never stop until he gets me or Sam. Catch us together and he would be even happier.

Sam quickly started moving around camping waking up our group. 
The wisp of darkness continued to close and get bigger as it got closer. It was about 12 miles out but advancing fast. 11 miles, 10 miles and 9 miles.

 "Raylee" said Sam shaking me out of my thoughts. "Everyone's awake, it's time to get moving."

I slowly get up and finally looks at my surroundings, we are were at The Gate of Farqei. It was close to the Gardens of MnohoCiest, as many call it Death's Maze as many have gone but not returned. It was our only chance to find a trod out of here. 

Jasper came up from behind carrying his share of our supplies with mine in his hand. I grab the backpack and through them over my back. 

"Where do you think we should go" said Jasper as he searched around our campsite with concern. His bright turquoise eyes complementing his sun-kissed skin.

"Into the Maze" I say, trying to assure myself this is the right decision. We all start moving silently, nobody saying a word. When we were a mile out we reached the entrance into the Maze. We looked back to camp to see the army of Rastarks blasting the camp to smithereens. We better keep moving to keep distance between them and us. 

After a few hours of walking in the Maze and few near death experiences of being trapped as the Maze kept moving. The sun bear down on us with it's smoldering heat, I could see the sweat dripping of everyone.

"We have to take a break" said Sartha, her breath ragged as she stumbles. Isaich catches her and falls to one knee. She tries to get back up, but falls back down. I look at everyone as I decide my decision. Sweat dripping of their face as they fight exhaustion, their muscles aching for rest.

"We need to find the trod that will go into the The Lands of Strateny, they are under Trastos rule" as I look back at Sartha's pleading face."Don't look at me like that, we have to go".

She grins and sits down, "What are you going to do about".

I look at everyone then back at her, "Fine, you have 15 minutes". I take a quick drink of water, "We have to be close, I'm going to go ahead and see if I can find it." I take a sword and add it to the few daggers I have on me from this morning.

Sam stood up when I started to leave looking a little better, "I'll come with you" he said getting ready. He walks over all the backpacks and stumbles over a branch from the maze.

"You still need more rest, and I can take care of myself" I say turning around and going into the darker part of the maze.

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It was a dead end again, my legs started aching as I still kept searching, it had been almost 2 hours of walking. I fell to the ground hard as the ground shifted beneath me. When I turned around from where I came it looked like the wall shifted. There was only one way left, which goes deeper into the maze.

As I walked forward I could see a line of trods in the distance, one looked different then the rest. As I go closer I can see salt poured around the entrance with a tiny special yellow flower hanging over the entrance.

As I go closer the ground starts to shake, I turn around trying to figure out where it's coming from. It starts to get louder and louder, I turn and run into a path. I keep turning around and checking whatever is is coming but can't see it. I keep running and running, when I stop to look around I didn't see anything.

I ran until I couldn't breath, I slumped down on the prickly thorns as they pushed on my back, I decided to take a break as I relaxed my muscles to sit down. I woke up with a vine wrapped around my body. I wriggled out my right hand and reached for my knife on my belt. I quickly cut out the vines as every second they got tighter. I stood up as soon as I could, without trying to get trapped again. I quickly put back my knife and choose a sword. As I pass a trod, it starts to glimmer like its changing. As I reach to touch it. Something comes out and hits me square in the chest. 

Then everything goes dark.