Soul Riders | Star Stable

Storm | Chapter 20

Silence was held between them, the only thing they heard was the rain splashing in puddles and hitting the leaves of nearby trees.

"Yes Lisa, it's me," Anne said. She dismounted with her usual grace and walked closer to where Lisa was on the ground. She held out a hand to pull her up and noticed then just how weak she was.  

"Lisa what happened, where are the others, where is Starshine?" Anne asked quickly as she let Lisa use her for support.

"I... I don't know," Lisa's heart ached just by saying it, even though Anne was by her side, where was everyone else?

Anne looked worried but when she noticed Lisa watching her she changed her expression and tried for a small smile. "I'm sure they're okay, I know how strong we all are." Anne took a deep breath before beginning again. "Let's go find shelter, I think it isn't wise to be in the open right now."

Lisa nodded and let Anne help her up into the saddle, and soon they slowly started in the beginning of the storm.

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Alex's eyelids fluttered open. Her body was shivering and her breath was shallow. Her mind was a blank and by instinct she tried to push herself up but felt that she was being restrained. The sky was dark and raindrops splattered on her face. She looked down and saw thick gnarly roots entangled tightly over her. Taking in her surroundings she saw that no dark riders were around and then started beating and hitting the large roots holding her back.

"Let me go! You stupid, old...st-sticks!" Alex was shivering so violently that her voice shook. She kept pushing on the roots, but they did not give any signs of releasing her, instead they seemed to hold her even tighter.

"You will regret ever h-holding me b-back!" Alex shouted feebly. She wrestled her hand into a position below the largest root, when she was about to strike she felt something grab her wrist and screamed. The roots were wrapping around her arms as if sensing what she was going to do. Alex could no longer lash out, the roots were holding her back so fiercely she could feel herself sinking into the ground. A twig snapped on her left, she turned her head to see a horse walking timidly towards her, Tin-Can. His fur was wet and the horse looked quite alarmed, but he still walked right up to Alex and nuzzled her face to show his appreciation that she was okay. But as happy as Alex was to see him, she knew how unwise it was for Tin-Can to still be here. Without her he was vulnerable to being captured by the dark riders, who knows what they would do to him. A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold passed over Alex.

"Tin-Can go!" Alex shouted harshly, but he didn't move away from her.

"You can't be here! If they find you... Please Tin-Can, please leave." Alex blinked back tears, "I can't let you get hurt, your my family. I love you." Alex pleaded but Tin-Can stood beside her even more loyally and she knew that he wouldn't leave her, just as she would never leave him like this.

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Anne had found a small cave in the cliff, hidden from view by long vines dangling over the opening. She had just settled Lisa and watched in the dim lighting how pale she looked. Anne didn't know how to help, Lisa was after all the healer, and had confided in Anne just how weak she was. Anne saw the many cuts on Lisa's arms and realized that she had never seen Lisa injured for longer than a minute, it was shocking to see her so weak. Anne also felt empathetic, unlike the other soul riders, Lisa's power was the most draining. When they were searching for shelter from the rain, Lisa had caught Anne up to the best of her abilities of what had happened that night. 

She was rummaging in her pockets now, before she left the stable she grabbed a spare sweater and was now checking it for food. Anne had a habit of bringing candy and granola bars where ever she went. It was a habit her mother detested, but Anne could not help it. The usual mealtimes tasted bland and lacked flavour. Sure it was healthy but isn't it important to sometimes seek enjoyment and try new things? Anne soon found a KitKat bar in her left pocket and a ziplock bag of nuts and m&m's in the right one.