Author's Note: Welcome to the revision of my AU! *party popper sound* After some much-needed constructive criticism, I hope this run will go much, much smoother than the previous one. For starters, instead of "Underfantasy" and "And the Dream Goes On" being two separate fics, they will now cozily share the umbrella of this title. :3
Mmmm, snug. -/w/- But enough of my shenanigans. On with the story! ^o^
Chapter 1: Before the Story
Year 18XX. Sunset over Mount Ebott has set the sky ablaze. It fills you with determination.
The sky above dawned in pinks and purples, dueling with the last blues of night amongst the gathering clouds. A racehorse of impeccable pedigree trotted down the lonely mountain trail, mildly skittish because it had never been ridden in the dark, nor so close to trees, before. Wind that carried the scent of impending rain made the forest around it rustle and creak. It also sent leaves flying into the horse's face, which didn't help its nervousness. After a night filled with strange and new experiences, it was understandable.
The (barely) adolescent girl in the saddle didn't appear to notice, but she still stroked her mount's neck as soothingly as she could. The only sign of her concern was the slight hardening of the stony expression on her face. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat with difficulty. She either had to find some shelter, or (attempt to) make some herself, soon…
The girl that no longer had a name urged the horse into a canter, hoping to reach the village on the other side of the mountain before the next sunset. She couldn't beat the rain there, but she had more important things on her mind than getting wet. That same mind began comparing her last memory of looking in a mirror to how she must appear now, hoping it was enough to disguise who and what she'd been, before.
Dark hair that once fell to her waist in elaborate curls was now cut just below her ears. She'd done the job herself with a knife, resulting in unevenness she would have to live with. Her complexion, which was normally somewhat swarthy, was no longer caked in enough cosmetics to make her look (and feel) like a clown. She could feel the dark circles that ringed her squinted eyes due to lack of sleep. The color of her irises couldn't (and wouldn't) be seen through her long, thick eyelashes. Her squint, brow and mouth formed almost-perfectly straight lines across her face, and it didn't feel like the airheaded, vapid smile she'd been taught to wear. She was willing to bet money she didn't have that she was thinner than she used to be due to her… recent circumstances, but that would only add to the change in her appearance.
Almost as important as her changed visage was what she wore. She was fortunate to have… acquired clothing meant for an adolescent male. She practically drowned in the turtleneck sweater made of gray, undyed wool with a black stripe running across the chest. The stretched-out neck threatened to swallow the lower half of her face, but at the same time it hid the darkening bruises on her neck. Everything, from the undershirt to the britches and right down to her socks and boots, were all similarly oversized. Suspenders worn under the sweater and the thick belt wrapped twice around her waist, over the sweater, kept the britches from falling. The hip pack hanging from the belt had been a much-needed item to aid her survival, and now held a few supplies. Not nearly enough, of course, but…
Simply put, she would have to make do with what she had. Her hands tightened on the reins. *If only I had more time… she thought. *Then I could've prepared properly! I could have-
Her thoughts chopped off abruptly as her horse started bucking beneath her. Its instincts were sent into overdrive by a branch brushing its flank as it fell. The girl held on for dear life, trying to bring the badly spooked horse back under control, but she didn't manage. She was thrown clear out of the saddle as she watched her mount run for its life from an imagined threat, screaming as only a panicked horse could.
One corner of her mind and her stomach felt like they'd been disconnected from the rest of her. It was almost like she was watching herself fall. The sensation was simultaneously fascinating… and utterly terrifying. Somehow, she managed to keep herself from landing on her head.
She landed on her right arm, instead. She heard and felt something crack. When her stomach returned to her body she almost vomited from the wave of pain that flooded her, and only sheer force of will kept her from doing so. There was nothing but bile to bring up and she couldn't afford the dehydration that might follow, nor the acid burning her healing throat. Her canteen had all been in the saddlebags… which were now running away. As was the spare clothing, the knife and bow and arrows for hunting, the maps…
Everything was gone. She couldn't help the frustrated tears that mingled with tears of pain, both burning the corners of her eyes, but she still managed to pull herself together.
*No! Not everything is gone. I still had the hip pack and my life. That's all I need. I will crawl over this godforsaken mountain if I must! I will do anything to get as far away from him as possible!
The girl clenched her good fist, opening her eyes to glare at her injured arm. Her sunset-colored irises were filled with determination as she reached into her hip pack to begin treating her injury.
The next few hours went by in a haze as the clouds grew darker and drowned out the sun. The girl used a bandage and a fallen stick to splint her arm. She'd also fashioned a makeshift sling with a second bandage, letting her hold the throbbing appendage against her body without jostling it too badly. It was probably "only" fractured, but she couldn't be sure. Poking and prodding the injury was very painful, but it wasn't swelling that badly as the hours went by. That had to mean damage to the soft tissues was minimal, didn't it?
She put one foot in front of the other… again, and again, and again. The survival guides she read had taught her how to keep her bearings in the deep woods, which she utilized to the best of her ability. She passed by mushrooms, wishing she could eat them, but since she lacked a mycology book it was probably best not to tempt fate. She didn't need poisoning on top of a broken arm.
Her stomach growled, protesting the decision. She shook her head at herself, knowing she probably wasn't going to reach her destination before dark. She might not make it at all if she couldn't find water, soon. She didn't want to die… but if she did at least it would be out here, away from-
A distant sound made her stop in her tracks, holding her breath. She struggled to listen, hearing her heart pounding in her ears. Dogs? Did she just hear dogs barking? What would they be doing out here? Was it just them or-?
She heard it again. It was closer, so there was no mistaking it. It was the baying of hunting hounds and they were on the trail of something, if that excited howling was anything to go by…
The girl's knees suddenly felt weak. *How? How can he be here, so soon?! It's not possible. I did everything I could, pulled every trick I learned to throw him off my trail. He can't be here! He can't! It not fair… It just not-!
She forced herself to move. It was just a twitch at first, then a stumble. She worked herself into a jog before running for her life. The pain in her arm and throat didn't matter. Her hunger didn't matter. Nor did the exhaustion from being on the run all night. There was only one thing that did; staying away from her pursuer.
If he ever got his hands on her, she was going to wish she was dead.
The clouds above Mount Ebott opened up, drenching the forest and the girl running through it. The leaf litter became slippery underfoot. She knew she was leaving a trail behind herself but what else could she do? She'd tied the strands of her cut hair to the other horses in the herd before scattering them. She'd forded the river and even conducted one final "order of business" in it, letting the current carry it away. The rags she'd been wearing before she ran away were in the saddle bags that'd run away from her.
She was out of options. She could only hope her pursuer was even more tired than herself to have caught up this quickly.
The sling snagged on a branch. The flair of pain in her arm only added to her barely-restrained panic and she tore it off. Being forced to hold her own arm affected her balance. She stumbled more often and slipped twice. She kept her injury from getting worse, but her knees and good arm all the way up to the shoulder suffered for it.
She followed a narrow, winding game trail. She ran higher and higher up the mountain's flank, looking for shelter through the rain and gloom. Mount Ebott was an extinct volcano, so there had to be an old vent, somewhere! She hoped one would lead to an old magma chamber, or a network of tunnels. She just wanted a place to hide…
The howling was still behind her, spurring the girl onward despite her fatigue. If this proved to be her final resting place, so be it, but she sure as hell wouldn't go down easily…
Her heart leapt when she finally saw a cave opening. She knew bears or mountain lions could be using it as a den, but she ran right inside, anyway. Being mauled was better than what awaited her. Fortunately (or not), she saw no signs of animals, just some fossilized tree roots that lined the walls and zigzagged upon the floor of the cave. Normally she would've paused to study them… but her only concern at the moment was going as deep into the cave as she could.
She looked over her shoulder as she ran. She thought she heard the howling come even closer, but was uncertain. She saw nothing, but as she turned to face forward again she stumbled, tripping on a stony root. She took one step, then two, trying to regain her balance…
…but the third step never met the ground. It met only air.
One corner of her mind detached, again. She was falling and she couldn't see the bottom. She should've been more scared of the inevitable end that awaited her, but that corner of her mind only had one thought.
*At least he wouldn't be able to hurt me, anymore.
Her fall lasted just long enough to turn herself around, letting her back hit the floor when she finally found it. Although landing head-first might make it quicker, she couldn't quite orient herself properly. Curling her body around her arm was still throwing off her balance. She knew she didn't need to… but she couldn't bring herself to let it go.
She closed her eyes and waited. She thought she smelled golden flowers just before she lost consciousness and thought no more.
Author's Note: Aaaand that's all folks! That's all there is to the story. There's no need for you to come back. None at all! *audible wink* (Psst, there's actually more, so please do come back. Q^Q )