Beyond The Horizon

My Name Is Raven

A young girl runs through a forest. Her breathing is uneven, her clothes are tattered and dirtied, and her cheeks are stained with dried tears. She dares not to look back.

The sound of a galloping horse becomes louder as it reaches her. Her heart pounds at an unbalanced rate and runs as fast as her feet can take her. An urgent voices calls out to her, a hand as well. "Hurry!" It commands, "Get on! Quick!" with only the thought of escape in her mind, she takes the chance.

Swiftly and smoothly, she is pulled onto the back of the horse, its rider only slightly larger than her. She clasps onto the waist of the rider, the two of them traveling deeper and deeper into the forest.

The scene the young girl had just witnessed, will forever be carved into her memory.

She dares not to look back.

*****

Present day 4:00 AM.

A small wooden house, located far from civilization, is where two close acquaintances will say their goodbyes.

In a bedroom for one, a petite girl, around the age of fifteen packs a traveling bag carefully. With only a change of clothes, a toothbrush and some spare change, she zips the bag and throws it over her shoulder. Leaving the room quietly, she does her best no to cause a disruption. Her bedroom door closes with a click, and makes her way to the kitchen.

After drinking a glass of water, she takes a quick look around the wooden house, remembering its contents. She isn't sure if she'll return. She picks up her bag, and as she walks to the door to leave, a voice stops her.

"Don't tell me you're going to leave without saying goodbye." A young man, around the age twenty, leans on the door frame.

At the front door, the girl says nothing.

"Are you sure you want to leave?" He asks, "I have taught you everything... But if you're unsure..." his voice trails off.

Finally, she speaks. "Lee, I've waited long enough."

Lee makes a small smile at her remark. "If you've made your decision, then okay."

"I don't know if I'll be coming back."

He sighs softly, "I know." he does his best not to sound worried. "If there's anything... Anything at all, don't forget.. You can always come back here."

"I won't promise you anything. This may be the last time you see me alive."

"When you talk like that, that makes me a bit sad."

"Then, goodbye."

"As cold as ever I see," Lee chuckles. "Instead of "goodbye", I'd rather say "I'll see you another time". It's less heartbreaking that way, don't you think, Mika?"

She turns her head to face Lee, "You were always the softie, Lee. But my name now is Raven."

"You'll always be Mika to me."

Raven turns her head back to the door, and opens it. The sun hasn't come up yet, so it's still fairly dark.

"Be careful out there, there might still be wolves in sheep's clothing."

Raven lets out a mute laugh before replying. "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Lee smirks to himself. "You'll do just fine."

Just like that, the two of them said their goodbyes, and Raven heads off to the nearest town.

*****