The Creator
Morning came and Winter woke with a start. She shook herself awake, and walked to the horse that had awoken before her. She saddled with a strange feeling. She urged the horse to gallop, but it didn't budge. "What's wrong with you?! Go! Move! Um. . . Mush? Gallop?" The horse defiantly turned around and slowly started walking the way she came. Winter jumped off as he started into a full gallop. "Wait! Where are you going?" Winter sighed, she would have to walk. With a confused glance at the disappearing horse, Winter started walking; the wool blanket Kyra had given her wrapped firmly around her shoulders. Was Kyra maybe in trouble? Was that why the horse ran off? Winter shook her head and continued walking; she didn't have time to stop and think about it.
After hours of walking, feet sore, legs struggling to move, Winter heard sounds of galloping hooves behind her. Irritated, she turned around. Then, before the man on the horse saw her, she noticed they weren't slowing, or even coming for her. She quickly dived into the shrubbery around her, her wool getting torn in the process. She watched as a younger man, dressed in the royal colors-black and red-rode past. Foot guards and men on horses followed, two soldiers holding ropes tied to two werewolves trotted past. Then men with two boys- a teenager and a young boy -walked along. These two were falling quickly behind as the two boys progressively slowed their pace.
"Would you two traitors hurry up?!"
"Aye," one man whispers to the other, "Christians, huh?"
The other laughs, "Yeah, the Great Creator and what not, stupid to go against the king!"
"King's dead now. Heck, by two rebel werewolves no less. Don't know if we could trust the rest of them." Winter walked stealthily with them behind her shelter of bushes and continues to listen.
"Yeah," says the first, "and what about that Shadow man, huh? Seems to me he would have more reason to kill the king than those beasts."
"Don't know 'bout that. Those beasts are merciless, bloodthirsty, they just love killing." That's right, Winter agreed, that's very true.
"Hey, you two!" The second shouts to the teenage boys behind them, "Hurry up will ya?!" He pulls out a whip, and a cold furry came upon Winter.
"Hold strong, little brother. God will reward us in Heaven," the older Christian brother says to the other, "Don't let their mocking get to you." The soldier stops and snaps the whip on the bare arm of the teenager. Winter, filled with the memory of her beating, jumps out from the bushes, let's goes of the wool, and grabs the whip with incredible speed. Completely dumbfounded, the two soldiers stood there, staring at Winter. Winter snaps the whip on the ropes that tie the teenagers and the rope thins down to a few pieces. The boys look at each, smile, and both pull on the ropes, toppling the two stunned soldiers, and breaking the rope. They smile at each other and try to high-five, but realize their hands were still tied. Winter laughs and as the soldiers struggled to recover she knocks them both out with their own helmets and ties them together. Winter threw the whip aside, took an unconscious soldier's sword, and cut the rope tying the two's hands.
"Whew!" Gasped the older teenage boy, "How the heck did you do that?!"
"Yeah," the younger says, "That was amazing!"
"I'm Jake by the way," the teenage boy says.
"And I'm Andrew. I'm seven!" Andrew says proudly. Winter smiled,
"We should get moving," Winter said.
"We can go this way," Andrew said happily, turning to his left. Winter had a chilling shiver run down her spine. She wouldn't be going any farther from Shadow that way.
"Is-is that where you live?" Winter asked, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
"Yeah," Jake answered, eying Winter suspiciously, "It's a shortcut to where we live. Is there a problem?"
Winter, shaking herself from fear, responded, "No, not at all. Lead the way."
Jake protectively put his hands on his brother, "Hold up. Who are you again?"
"My name's Winter."
"Why did you rescue us?" Winter shifted uncomfortably, she didn't want to tell why because she would have to explain what happened to her, and what she is.
"Well," she began, "I just can't- I have to-"
Jake watched her stumble over words, "Yes?" he asked, pulling Andrew behind him.
"No. Please don't worry. I'm not here to hurt either of you. I had to rescue you two because it's right. I can't let Shadow-"
"Who's Shadow?" Oh great going, Winter thought, why did you just mention him?
"He- well he probably killed the king."
Both the boys smiled, "Yes!" they said at the same time.
"No! No he's worse than the king! He-" Winter stopped herself. Careful, she warned herself, don't say anything suspicious.
"So . . . he's worse than the king," Jake said, "and he probably killed the king. So far I don't see anything wrong about this guy."
Winter sighed; she was going to have to tell them. "Why don't you two lead the way, I'll explain it to you on the way there."
**********************************
". . . But how does that explain your scar . . . marks. . What ever that is?" They had been walking for hours and Winter now wished she still had her horse. Winter sighed, how many times was she going to say this?
"I told you, I don't know how he did it. I just know he did. Now, I risk everything in telling you two this, but I trust you two. You can't tell anyone." Jake looked at his younger brother, intelligence in his eyes. He was thinking it through, now, was he going to tell or not? Shifting uncomfortably, Winter continued walking, eying them both carefully.
"Promise!!" Andrew exclaimed. Winter hardly looked down at him but watched Jake. Andrew pulled his sleeve, "Brother, you have to promise! She's our friend!"
"I don't think you know what she is though, Andrew. She's a monster." Winter flinched at this comment. Only Shadow said this to her. Winter swallowed hard.
"No she's not," Andrew retorted stubbornly, "She's kind, and saved us! How can you call her a monster when she saved you?!" Jake looked down at his brother and thought, obviously taking his seven year old brother's words in.
"Fine, I agree." He finally said.
"Thank you!" Winter said in relief. "Remember, that means no one. I could have a bounty on my head soon for all I know."
Jake nodded his handsome head and smiled at Winter. She blushed, "Thank you." she repeated.
Andrew suddenly ran ahead, disappearing into the trees and bushes before them. Jake immediately ran after, yelling his brother's name. Winter stopped as a pain gripped her. Her eyes faded to a pale blue as she was thrust away from her consciousness. She felt herself lean against a tree, the hard barks feel fading away.
Why do you trust these two? They were being taken to their death by law. Shadow's voice echoed.
I trust them because another who loved God was good to me, Winter answered obediently.
Shadow chuckled, So you risk everything with two boys who could have easily lied to you?
They're not you Shadow, responded Winter, fighting Shadow's overwhelming power trying to seep into her mind and control her. Didn't Kyra say Shadow could only speak to her?
I've never lied to you, Winter. I've only told you the truth. Shadow responded.
Get out of my head Shadow, you won't get me back. Winter growled back, knowing the truth of his words.
Shadow chuckled; You're so sure, so confident. Where's your fear? Once your back, we'll have to beat that back into you.
Winter didn't hesitate, I told you, go away.
Shadow chuckled, As you wish, Winter.
Winter found herself still leaning on the tree she lost consciousness on. Jake and Andrew were still farther ahead and she figured she had to find them. Winter ventured into the brush before her and found herself on a worn down road. Jake had grabbed Andrew and wrestled him into the brush, his hand clamped around the younger brother's mouth. Jake's brown eyes were watching the patrol of soldiers pass when he spotted her. Jake dared to make a motion telling her to hide. He didn't do it in time. The soldiers stopped when they saw Winter in the road and mocked her, saying, "Are you lost, girl? Or is that how you always look?" All the soldiers laughed.
Winter kept her anger from showing and foolishly responded, "That depends on your definition of lost. Yes, I don't know exactly where I am, but at least I don't look as bad as you." The soldier in front pulled out his sword, jumped forward, and held it against her neck.
"I dare you to say that once more, girl!" Winter smiled, knowing what would happen to this soldier if he killed her. Shadow would be furious. But of course, she didn't want to lose her life, or draw enough attention so that they may tell Shadow.
"My deepest apologies, great sir. I did not mean to offend you or your . . . crew. Please forgive my outrage; I haven't had a great day. I am deeply sorry for forcing it onto you." Winter knew this wasn't such a great explanation,-for it wasn't even true-but with a sword at her throat, anything would go.
The soldier grunted, "You're not even worth the effort," then he sheathed his sword, and beckoned his group to move out. They all walked around Winter, all twenty or so of them, all eying her strangely. Winter sighed in relief. What was I thinking? I could have got killed! But then she chuckled, It was kind of funny to see the look on their faces though. Jake said just that when they came from their hiding places.
"I know, I know. I don't know what I was thinking. I suppose I was tired of getting beaten down." Mentally and physically, she thought.
"You need to be more careful," Jake warned, "Or you'll get caught in no time."
"Thanks for the encouragement," Winter growled.
"It was funny though," Jake said, smiling broadly.
"Too bad you couldn't see their faces, Jake, they were hysterical! They were like," Winter made a face of surprise, anger, and embarrassment. They all burst out laughing. Then Jake grew serious,
"Are you alright?" Winter looked up, wondering why he had asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Are we far from your house?"
"No, it's down the road. A matter of minutes." He pulled his bother out from the bush, warned him not to go running off again, and pushed him ahead. When they had been walking in silence for a small span of time, Jake asked, "So, how does it feel? When you change, I mean." Winter thought, what did it feel like?
"You know, I've never actually been awake when it happened. It always happened when I was asleep."
"That's odd. Well, at least you don't experience any pain."
"That's not entirely true. I experience soreness and sometimes blurred vision."
"Oh. I bet you look beautiful."
Winter smiled, "When I'm a dragon? Huh, not always. Sometimes I have horns all over my body, scales-well, I almost always have scales-but the only thing the same about me is my blue eyes, and occasionally the ability to stand upright."
"Ah, I see." There was an awkward silence, and Winter blushed. Even in her ragged clothes, bloody back, oily hair, and the rest of her dirty appearance Jake still found her attracting.
*************
The noise of the city reached her before the first sight of the walls appeared. "They were newly built," Jake whispered in Winter's ear, "All the cities were ordered to build them before the King died. They have guards positioned over the perimeter of the wall."
"Then won't they know of you and your brother? Won't they turn you back in? The other guards just arrived from over here."
"They won't. These guards are looking only for you. That means you have to think of another name, a reason for visiting, and a reason for your scar. Unless," Jake tore a piece of his shirt and gave it to Winter. Winter positioned it under her shirt, hiding the scar. If only for a short while. They approached the wall cautiously, Winter thinking of another name. Jade, she thought. Though it pained her to remember this name, for it was her mother's, it was the only name that came to mind. The soldiers halted them, asking first Jake and his brother a series of questions. Jake tried his best to answer them.
"We were away, escorting a family member from out of town. I'm Jake, and this here is Andrew." The soldier examined them from under his visor, and then grunted they could pass. However, he stopped Winter.
"'Ey, doesn't this one look like dat poster Shadow sent out?" The other pulled out a poster with a well drawn face on it. It was her. Winter secretly pulled her rags to their full extent to cover her mark.
"Yeah," the other soldier said after a while, "same eyes. What'd you say your name was?"
"Jade."
"Hm." Winter waited momentarily for the soldiers to take her away. But the soldiers merely continued to examine the poster and her. Finally, the first said,
"Nah, it's not her. Move along." With that, they folded the poster, and tucked it away. Winter controlled herself from running into the town. She heaved a large sigh that was too close.
"I should have figured they would recognize me." She said.
"But they didn't, they let you pass." Jake said encouragingly.
"For the time being." Winter growled back. Andrew jumped up and down, tugging on Jake.
"We're back, we're back!" he yelled. "I can't wait to see Mom and Dad!" Winter felt a pain in her soul. She longed to call someone mom and dad again. She pushed away the memory and with it, the tears. She hoped no one would bring up her parents.
"Stay close," Jake warned both Winter and Andrew. "It may not look so bad out here, but once you're near the shops, it's insane." Jake was right, as they pushed their way through the somewhat crowded streets until Jake took hold of Andrew and Winter's hand to keep them from wondering far. Winter flinched and nearly pulled her hand away. But she didn't, she liked the warmth and power the flowed from Jake's hand. Winter felt the heat rise to her cheeks and allowed herself to smile. She gripped his hand back, following his and Andrew's lead. Finally they broke free from the crowd and Jake let go of Andrew's hand. The three of them walked along, passing large, mansion like houses. Winter then noticed Andrew's clothes, they were barely better than her own. They were patched with neat stitches, but the cloths didn't match. His pants were little better, at least the cloth was close to the same color. Soon, the trio entered an area with makeshift homes with sticks as supports, cloth as a roof, and weren't very big. Andrew ran into a medium made "house". Jake lead Winter inside, and Winter looked about. It had only one room, just high enough to stand straight and there was a fire pit dug into the ground and surrounded by stones. Four hay mattresses lay about, pots and pans on a crude made shelf, and that was when Winter realized she still held Jake's hand. They both let go without a glance at each other. Andrew's voice could be heard from behind the shelter, loud and telling someone he was home. He then was hushed, and someone entered from the back of the shelter. She was in her late thirties, with blond hair, and blue eyes swollen from tears. She was their mother. As she walked forward, she was wiping tears from her eyes. She caught a glimpse of her son as she entered, ran to him, and wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh my son," she said, "I thought I'd lost you." Tears began to reappear in her eyes. Jake smiled at Winter and hugged his mother back. Andrew was jumping up and down, asking where his father was. "Oh Andrew, he has left to go hunting. People don't want to be associated with us anymore. There are only a few friends who will help us." Winter thought about leaving, she didn't belong here. This wasn't her family. She had grown too hard, too stiff. Could she accept the new kindness? Winter pondered her own question, and her family memory formed in her mind. Her eyes became hot, and tears clouded her vision. She turned away instinctively, not wanting anyone to see her weakness. She wiped her eyes clear, and then walked out. She realized now she wasn't too hard, but too hurt. A hand touched her shoulder and she turned around. Jake's brown hair waved in the slight breeze, his green eyes staring at her. A sympathetic smile on his face.
"You are a great woman," he said, "God will guide you to your family." Then he embraced her in a hug, and Winter, with a moment of hesitation, embraced him back. Then she whispered in his ear, "Who is God?"
"That is a wonderful question, come inside, stay with us a while, and let us teach you." Jake held her hand and together, they walked inside.
