As we neared the bottom of the canyon I stopped,
"there are more creatures here" I crouched down to get a better view "they blend into the rocks, if you don't know what you're looking for, unfortunately I learnt that the hard way" I added quietly
My eyes landed on a rock and a small smile touched my face, I pointed to it as the others gathered round
"there, you see it" both of them squinted obviously not seeing it "that rock is not a rock" I explained "notice the faint luminous glow around it's edges, it's a Gripper, they sleep during the day, they will not wake unless disturbed" I stood looking for a route down to the canyon floor "when we get down there walk exactly in my footsteps and listen out for clicking"
I lowered myself over the edge hugging close to the rock face, slowly and as quietly I could I made my way down. When I reached the bottom I crouched slightly looking for the unique glow of the Grippers, seeing two in our way and a third off to one side. My ears strained for the clicking sound that meant they were moving, nothing. I waited till the others were down, placing my finger on my lips I signalled them to remain silent, then I began my way through the minefield of predators, we were halfway across when I heard it, a gentle clicking. Stopping still, I scanned the area for any sign of movement, the clicking growing louder. Both Kahlan and Richard had also stopped and were looking around. The clicking grew faster
"RUN!" I shouted, heading for the opposite wall, I planted my back against it and turned, interlocking my fingers "come on, come on!" I braced myself to boost them up, we had to get out as quickly as possible. Kahlan was the first to reach me with Richard in tow, placing her foot in my hands, she launched herself up the wall, latching onto a handhold higher up. The clicking began to multiply, the grippers were waking each other up and coming towards us ready for their next meal.
Richard was next to haul himself up, using my body as a ladder, when his weight left me I took a couple of steps back from the wall, the clicking impossible loud now, I knew I had seconds at the most. Charging forwards I scrambled up the wall searching for a hand hold, but seeing none, I was about to fall back down when a hand reached out and grasped mine. I looked up to see Richard, strain covering his face, he couldn't hold my weight for long. I grasped the wall, my fingers finding a crack in the rock, taking my own mass from Richard's slipping grip, I still had no foot holds, so I had to haul myself up by only the strength in my arms. Looking back down I saw the rocks moving, no not rocks, Grippers, at least seven of them. Clicks echoing through the Canyon.
"are you ok" Richard's voice filled with exhaustion,
I nodded "Thank you Richard" I said meeting his gaze
He smile "I guess we are even now" he laughed a little "where now?"
I directed them over to the ledge where the cave was.
My arms burned as I finally grasped the ledge to the cave, pulling myself up, I rolled onto my back, inhaling deeply. Another hand peered over the edge, pushing myself up onto my knees I reached out for the hand. Her smooth fingers wrapped themselves around my wrist, I leant forward allowing her other hand to slide around my neck sending a heat wave through my entire body. Her face so close to mine as I dragged her up onto the ledge, I held her close to me as I moved back away from the edge. I breathed her in, her beautiful raven hair in my face, she still smelt of a flower I couldn't place. I could hear her heavy breathing in my ear. She still clung to me even after we were safe and I didn't want to let go, there was something about Kahlan, something familiar, something, something I couldn't place.
"are you ok?" I breathed into her ear, after she remained still.
She moved back so she could look me in the eyes, her expression changing when she did
"your eyes" she said lower than a whisper,
"Kahlan, are you ok?"
We both turned as Richard knelt down behind us, drawing Kahlan into an embrace, taking her from me, my body feeling cold where we once had touched. I watched as she hugged him back, her expression softening and eyes closing. I averted my gaze, something pulling in my chest, a feeling I didn't understand. I leant against the wall, letting my tired eyes close, trying to block out the world, my body felt fine but my mind was exhausted, I needed to sleep.
"Alexios, will we be safe here" spoke a voice
Without opening my eyes I answered "we will be safe, get some rest" and with that I fell into a deep sleep. But it wasn't a peaceful dream, more a nightmare.
I stood in a room made of stone, a fire crackling in the corner, but that was not the only sound, a man knelt in the middle of the floor while another, a man dressed in red and had shoulder length black hair, walked behind him, his footsteps echoing in the cold room.
"I will ask you again" spoke the man in red "where is the third box of Orden?"
The man on the floor did not respond, just stared ahead, blood dripping down his face.
"WHERE DID THEY HIDE IT!" shouted the man in red, his rage filling the room. He forced the knelt man's head back so they looked each other in the eyes. His voice a whisper now "tell me, if you don't you will suffer" when the man continued to say nothing. The man in red released him and walked over to where I stood, he stopped beside me
"Get an answer, now"
I marched forwards, the man on the floor, looked up at me his face filling with fear. He tried to move back away from me, but before he could I had my hand around his throat, forcing him up on his feet. My right hand rose into the air forming a fist, then with a tremendous amount of power I brought it down into his face. He let out a cry of pain, while a crack popped in his nose, blood spouting from it.
Again and again my fist connected with his face, his face swelling and covered in blood.
The red dressed man spoke from behind me
"you can make this stop, just tell me what I need to know" his voice was level with a slight hint of joy. I waited a moment to see if the bleeding man would speak. He didn't.
My other hand grasped his neck forcefully, then I pushed, driving him into the stone wall, his head crashed into it, the impact left tiny cracks in the stone. I watched as his eyes rolled back in his head, his body going limp as it crumpled to the floor. Dead.
I gasped awake, my face against the cold, hard rock. I felt a cold sweat covering my neck, my breathing rapid like my heart. I sat up, running my hands through my hair, trying to forget the dream.
"Alexios?" the quiet voice made me jump, I spun to see a silhouette sitting at the mouth of the cave, the moon light reflecting her pale features. "are you ok?"
I looked around the dark cave, to see a mass in the corner, Richard's sleeping body. Turning back to Kahlan I stood and walked over to where she sat, taking a place next to her, a question burned inside me and now maybe the only time I could ask without Richard overhearing.
I turned my head so I could see her eyes, watch her reaction.
"Kahlan?"
Her eyes met my gaze "yes" her expression neutral
"what's wrong with my eyes?" when she didn't say anything "every time you look at me you expression changes, what's wrong" I demanded keeping my voice low as to not wake Richard.
Kahlan looked out across Canyon, exhaling slowly. When she spoke it was a whisper
"they're getting darker"
"what?" my confusion echoed in my voice "what do you mean 'they're getting darker'?"
Her pale blue eyes met mine "they are getting darker in colour, since the day we met" I could see her studying my eyes, so I looked away. She continued
"I couldn't tell for sure until today when we arrived in the cave, when you look at me…"
I cut her off
"your wrong" my words were more vicious then I meant them, after a moment of silence I exhaled pinching the bridge of my nose
"Kahlan, I'm sorry, it just sounds a little farfetched"
I felt pressure on my arm, Kahlan's hand wrapped around my forearm
"Alexios, I didn't mean anything by it, but if there is anything wrong" she paused "I don't want anything bad to happen to you" she squeezed my arm gently, her eyes soft and a smile playing on her lips. I couldn't help but smile myself.
"that's the first time I have seen you smile" she said her voice light "it's nice"
This time she smiled fully, lighting up her face, she was beautiful, everything about her. The way her eyes glistened, the way her hair fell in cascades down her back, the softness of her touch. But most of all her eyes, I could lose myself in her blue eyes.
"thank you" I whispered
Her smile faded slightly "for what?" she replied
"for caring"
She started to lean in slowly, so close, I could feel her breath on my lips
Then she pulled away, releasing her hold, she broke our gaze as she stood, she walked away without turning back, settling down beside Richard.
I sat there, I didn't understand, why? Something pulled in my chest again, something painful, I clasped my hand to my chest. I didn't understand the pain, I didn't understand anything. She was right, there was something wrong with me. But I had always felt it, a darkness that swirled within me. I could not explain it, it had always been there, the feeling of being different.
