Forbidden Chains
By: rainjewel
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Akaro woke with a start. She'd had the nightmare again. The nightmare where she was taken by that dark form, black with a constant changing shape. A voice was calling her name again. She knew that voice. She could never place its owner. Desperately she reached out to grasp that voice, but the form overtook her, and all she caught was a single strand of red hair.
Akaro shivered, remembering her dream. She'd had it for as long as she could remember.
"This is stupid," she mewed softly to herself, "I'm almost 15 and I'm acting like a child!"
Akaro clenched her hands into fists in frustration, and felt a small crumpled pressure in her hand. What is that? She slowly uncurled her left palm, and a crinkled scroll was revealed. Akaro was slightly shocked as to how it had gotten there. The cat girl was about to alert someone about the possibility of an intruder in the castle, but decided to read the scroll first. Slightly trembling, she opened the scroll and read its perfect text.
I wanted to let you know that I have left the Palace without authorization. I have absolutely no clue when I'm coming back. I apologize for leaving on such short notice, but I had to leave urgently. I regret not having talked more with you before I left. I...well, I feel as if you and I are kindred spirits. When I looked in your eyes this afternoon, I saw myself in them. I promise I'll discuss it later with you, for I have to leave at once. I'll miss you.
Yours Truly,
Akaro breathed out slowly. She was having an emotional overload. She couldn't believe it. Chid had left, and thought it important enough to send her a note.
"Chid gone...unauthorized leave...kindred spirits...yours truly...oh my!"
Akaro made a quick decision. She knew she shouldn't do it, but she had felt a connection with Chid. She believed what he had said about her and him being kindred spirits. Akaro grabbed her bag of all her precious belongings and some clothes, then bounded out the window, wearing only her nightgown.
******
Sweat poured off Chid's neck and dripped down his back. The night was hot and humid. Every creature was too sleepy and hot to move in the dark, tangled forest, except him. And people say animals are stupid. He was moving through the forest as fast as he could. His pack was very heavy and it was cutting into his shoulders so hard it felt like a buzz saw was trying to cut of his shoulders. His breath was starting to come in ragged breath.
Whoa, he thought, I have carried far more weight then this, and I've never gotten this out of breath. What's going on? I swear I'm in much better shape then this!
Chid was annoyed with himself. He should have been able to carry his pack and sword without this many hassles.
"Damn Vines," said Chid. He chopped the vine in half. He was extremely tired of stumbling through the thick forest, but he wanted to get far away from Freid. Why was he this tired? He couldn't figure it out.
Chid finally stopped in a small patch of grass and dropped his pack, which was getting extremely heavy. Tall trees, whose dark boughs sheltered him from unexpected rain, surrounded him. Chid looked around, checking out the scene. He felt a little uneasy (and extremely drowsy) about spending a night in the woods by himself. He'd never been by himself in the wilderness before. Despite this uneasiness, Chid felt wildly exhilarated.
"Freedom," he whispered aloud, and then his world went black.
******
Akaro bounded through the forest. She saw the path of hacked vines and trampled underbrush. Chid, in his haste, hadn't disguised his path at all. As Akaro moved quickly down the obvious trail, she tried to undo the Prince's previous damage. You think he would be intelligent enough to disguise this mess, she though. Finally, after walking down the wretched path, Akaro come to a small clearing where Chid lay on his left side. Quietly and swiftly she leaped over to his side, dropping her bag and clothes.
The boy was fast asleep. It appeared as if he'd just collapsed where he was standing, tired from his journey. This perplexed Akaro. Chid was in excellent physical condition, or at least she had thought so. She remembered the warm, tingly sensation that had overcome her when Chid had grasped her hand so tightly. Chid shouldn't have been so exhausted from his journey, especially in a rage such as Chid had been in, slashing vines shouldn't have been a big problem. Akaro looked at Chid's bag, which was lying close to his back. She sniffed it.
Smells good...like...pine, thought Akaro. She liked the way Chid's pack smelled. Good and fresh just like his smile. Next, Akaro tried lifting the bag. It was so heavy she couldn't even budge it. The Prince obviously didn't know how to pack. She tried again, but to no avail. Wiping away the beads of sweat that where now collecting on her brow, she sat down.
Oh well, thought Akaro, No matter. Akaro turned her attention back to Chid. He looks like a rebellious angel when he sleeps, she thought. It was true of course. Chid, wearing his usual rebellious clothing, his gleaming hair carelessly tossed around his head like a halo, was the very essence of a rebel heaven. His chest rose up and down with each breath, making his vest slide up and down over his chest. The monarch's lips were parted slightly, and a small glistening droplet of saliva trembled in the corner of his mouth.
"Cute," Akaro whispered. She reached out with her hand and wiped away the droplet away. Chid drew in a quick breath and reached up with his free hand and grabbed Akaro's wrist. Akaro quickly tried to get her hand away, but it was to no avail. Chid's grip, even in his slumber, was like a visor.
"Well, I guess you weren't as tired as I thought you were," Akaro murmured, smiling at the Prince. She walked slowly over to his front side, and lay down facing his chest, which was turned slightly upright. Still in Chid's grip, she curled up in a little ball and closed her eyes, taking one last glance at the boy's angelic beauty.