Crearulian Angel: I have been meaning to write this chapter for a long time. Now I am on holidays so it's going to be heaps easier to actually write!
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The soft thudding of Arriel's Steel toed hooves were the only sound in the silent darkness of the cool forest. The murky green trees felt as if they were suffocating Ruki. She felt wrapped in darkness. The only thing keeping her in reality was the sound of Arriel's hoof beats against the dusty, trodden path that stretched around trees and out of sight. She hoped this small stretch of upturned earth was a lifeline leading her somewhere where she could be free.
Free of the responsibility, free of her nagging, uncaring mother, free of that wretched boy and his horrid father. A silent tear escaped her eye as Juri's face pushed itself into her head.
"Juri... I'm sorry." Whispering the wind caught her words as it howled through the trees disguising any other sound. Arriel swivelled her ears back and forth snorting in distress. The black mare was almost trotting on the spot.
"Arriel calm down! What is it?" having a time staying on the twitchy, sweaty mare bareback Ruki gathered her reins trying to force the lump of fear that had slowly been rising ever since she entered the dank looking forest. "I'm not afraid. Neither should you be Arriel." Patting her damp neck soothingly her breath caught in her throat as a shrub was disturbed.
Shadows danced from the close hung trees, vines catching Rika in the face. "I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not afraid!" Arriel simply danced under the pressure of the reins. Shaking her head sending froth to the sides she let out a terrified snort. "I. Am. Not. Afraid!"
Without warning scales and claws leaped under the sleek black legs snapping and snarling. Sheer terror made Arriel rear, throwing Rika off guard, sending her to the hard ground. In a clatter of hooves and squeals Rika looked up to see Arriel fleeing down the track.
Her heart pounded as the grey scales glinted in the scarce moonlight. Its weedy golden eyes followed her hand right to her belt as she in unsheathed her dagger not breaking eye contact with the gleaming orbs of gold.
As quick as lightening the beast leaped toward Ruki who was poised in battle stance. But just as swiftly as the beast had pounced a flash of green and silver whizzed past Ruki knocking her hard in the head. The green flash bowled the monster over pinning it to the ground. Squeals erupted from both as the sound of tearing flesh caught her ears.
Black blotches danced in front of her eyes as she was slipping from consciousness. She raised her head as far as it would go to spot a brown clad figure approach her, hand out stretched before darkness ensued her.
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He sighed deeply looking down at the pretty young lass on his bed. Wringing the sponge he replaced it on her forehead glancing at her glamorous dress. What had an obviously important lady been doing in the Dangaros Forest? He hadn't time to ponder further as the red haired maiden stirred.
The pain seared through her skull as she forced her eyes open. "Ouch. Where am I?"
"Your safe. Safe, that's all that matters." This strange new voice was full of nobility and knowledge. She relaxed slightly and replayed the visions in her mind. "Arriel!! My horse!"
As if on cue a pair of annoying voices carried from outside the window. "Wow! Hey Kenta, this ain't no ordinary horse! Look! Its steel feet! And it's sure got good confirmation an stuff!"
"Kazu what would you know about horses?"
"Enough my friend! I know enough!"
"Eheh that would be my friends, Hirokazu and Kenta. Don't worry they will make sure 'Arriel' is tended to, I can promise that!" This boy assured her as he tested the name Arriel.
Anger flared in her heart and her stubbornness too over. "I want to see my horse." She said tersely.
"You are in no position to actually get up!"
"I want to see my horse NOW!" She pushed herself up onto the feathery pillows groaning in pain as she felt the cut flare up. A gentle hand pushed her back down and for the first time she looked straight into his eyes. Steel grey, deep with wisdom and peace. She couldn't find her voice as he spoke reassurance.
"Hm, so where you from?" he asked when she had settled back down. He was about to place the sponge over the cut he had put on her accidently, when her hand swatted it away.
"From far away. It doesn't matter now anyway, I ran away."
"Oh really? And why would that be?" raising a dark black eyebrow the boy sat back and awaited her response.
"I ran away for freedom! That's all I want! FREEDOM!"
"You and everyone else in this world."
"What are you talking about? YOU have freedom! You are free to roam the woods at night, at any time I'm guessing, you can stay up as long a you want, you can do heaps of things without being burdened by responsibilities and nagging mothers and spoilt bratty boys and-" she cut herself off realising she was giving to much information. Blushing slightly she looked at her saviour.
"You don't even know me. You don't understand what I am. You never could. No one is free. Not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"The Dark Lord Rafarl. He makes sure freedom is simply a fairy tale. He will come wreak his terror on my village soon enough. If we do not submit ourselves to his rules and law he will destroy us. As he has done so to so many others." A hint of sadness tainted his voice as reality was spoken aloud in this household.
"That's not right. Its not fair!"
"No its not. But I have a plan to stop him and it may be the only chance we have." He trailed off not wanting her to worry about any of that now.
They sat in silence for a time; Ruki studied his cloudy face, as he seemed to be staring into the eyes of his most hated enemy. The one he called Lord Rafarl. Ruki hated people like that. Greedy, snotty, know-it-all people that think they are sooo superior to everyone!
The door creaked to reveal a lavender headed little girl rubbing her eyes sleepily clutching a moth eaten teddy.
"Henwy? Your back? Oh whos she?" Pointing with one hand clutching the teddy to her mouth in the other, the little girl's eyes widened in admiration at Ruki's pretty dress, even thow it was torn partly up the middle so she could actualy ride.
"Suzie never mind. Go back to bed."
Ruki stared into the eyes of the small sweet looking child. It was then and there Ruki decided. She was going to help this boy Henwy. She would fight this Rafarl and finally gain freedom for everyone including herself. The question was how? Then more questions flooded her mind like what was that thing that saved her?
"Hey um, Henwy-"
"Ahh, it's Henry my little sister talks funny."
"fine, Henry. What was that? That thing that saved me? Was that you?"
"Umm sorta. I'll answer your questions tomorrow, you need more rest, that gash is quite deep. Goodnight.... Oh I'm afraid I don't know your name?"
"Ruki. It's Ruki."
"Good night Ruki."
She shut her eyes but no sleep came to her throbbing head. Only questions and fright. She would tell this strange boy she would help him tomorrow. She would tell him there would be no way to talk her out of it and she would demand an explanation to everything. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would do all that.
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Crearulian Angel: Oh what was it that saved Ruki? What is Henry's plan? Is this a Henrika? NO! NOT A HENRIKA I PROMISE! No offence to Henrika fans!!
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The soft thudding of Arriel's Steel toed hooves were the only sound in the silent darkness of the cool forest. The murky green trees felt as if they were suffocating Ruki. She felt wrapped in darkness. The only thing keeping her in reality was the sound of Arriel's hoof beats against the dusty, trodden path that stretched around trees and out of sight. She hoped this small stretch of upturned earth was a lifeline leading her somewhere where she could be free.
Free of the responsibility, free of her nagging, uncaring mother, free of that wretched boy and his horrid father. A silent tear escaped her eye as Juri's face pushed itself into her head.
"Juri... I'm sorry." Whispering the wind caught her words as it howled through the trees disguising any other sound. Arriel swivelled her ears back and forth snorting in distress. The black mare was almost trotting on the spot.
"Arriel calm down! What is it?" having a time staying on the twitchy, sweaty mare bareback Ruki gathered her reins trying to force the lump of fear that had slowly been rising ever since she entered the dank looking forest. "I'm not afraid. Neither should you be Arriel." Patting her damp neck soothingly her breath caught in her throat as a shrub was disturbed.
Shadows danced from the close hung trees, vines catching Rika in the face. "I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not afraid!" Arriel simply danced under the pressure of the reins. Shaking her head sending froth to the sides she let out a terrified snort. "I. Am. Not. Afraid!"
Without warning scales and claws leaped under the sleek black legs snapping and snarling. Sheer terror made Arriel rear, throwing Rika off guard, sending her to the hard ground. In a clatter of hooves and squeals Rika looked up to see Arriel fleeing down the track.
Her heart pounded as the grey scales glinted in the scarce moonlight. Its weedy golden eyes followed her hand right to her belt as she in unsheathed her dagger not breaking eye contact with the gleaming orbs of gold.
As quick as lightening the beast leaped toward Ruki who was poised in battle stance. But just as swiftly as the beast had pounced a flash of green and silver whizzed past Ruki knocking her hard in the head. The green flash bowled the monster over pinning it to the ground. Squeals erupted from both as the sound of tearing flesh caught her ears.
Black blotches danced in front of her eyes as she was slipping from consciousness. She raised her head as far as it would go to spot a brown clad figure approach her, hand out stretched before darkness ensued her.
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He sighed deeply looking down at the pretty young lass on his bed. Wringing the sponge he replaced it on her forehead glancing at her glamorous dress. What had an obviously important lady been doing in the Dangaros Forest? He hadn't time to ponder further as the red haired maiden stirred.
The pain seared through her skull as she forced her eyes open. "Ouch. Where am I?"
"Your safe. Safe, that's all that matters." This strange new voice was full of nobility and knowledge. She relaxed slightly and replayed the visions in her mind. "Arriel!! My horse!"
As if on cue a pair of annoying voices carried from outside the window. "Wow! Hey Kenta, this ain't no ordinary horse! Look! Its steel feet! And it's sure got good confirmation an stuff!"
"Kazu what would you know about horses?"
"Enough my friend! I know enough!"
"Eheh that would be my friends, Hirokazu and Kenta. Don't worry they will make sure 'Arriel' is tended to, I can promise that!" This boy assured her as he tested the name Arriel.
Anger flared in her heart and her stubbornness too over. "I want to see my horse." She said tersely.
"You are in no position to actually get up!"
"I want to see my horse NOW!" She pushed herself up onto the feathery pillows groaning in pain as she felt the cut flare up. A gentle hand pushed her back down and for the first time she looked straight into his eyes. Steel grey, deep with wisdom and peace. She couldn't find her voice as he spoke reassurance.
"Hm, so where you from?" he asked when she had settled back down. He was about to place the sponge over the cut he had put on her accidently, when her hand swatted it away.
"From far away. It doesn't matter now anyway, I ran away."
"Oh really? And why would that be?" raising a dark black eyebrow the boy sat back and awaited her response.
"I ran away for freedom! That's all I want! FREEDOM!"
"You and everyone else in this world."
"What are you talking about? YOU have freedom! You are free to roam the woods at night, at any time I'm guessing, you can stay up as long a you want, you can do heaps of things without being burdened by responsibilities and nagging mothers and spoilt bratty boys and-" she cut herself off realising she was giving to much information. Blushing slightly she looked at her saviour.
"You don't even know me. You don't understand what I am. You never could. No one is free. Not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"The Dark Lord Rafarl. He makes sure freedom is simply a fairy tale. He will come wreak his terror on my village soon enough. If we do not submit ourselves to his rules and law he will destroy us. As he has done so to so many others." A hint of sadness tainted his voice as reality was spoken aloud in this household.
"That's not right. Its not fair!"
"No its not. But I have a plan to stop him and it may be the only chance we have." He trailed off not wanting her to worry about any of that now.
They sat in silence for a time; Ruki studied his cloudy face, as he seemed to be staring into the eyes of his most hated enemy. The one he called Lord Rafarl. Ruki hated people like that. Greedy, snotty, know-it-all people that think they are sooo superior to everyone!
The door creaked to reveal a lavender headed little girl rubbing her eyes sleepily clutching a moth eaten teddy.
"Henwy? Your back? Oh whos she?" Pointing with one hand clutching the teddy to her mouth in the other, the little girl's eyes widened in admiration at Ruki's pretty dress, even thow it was torn partly up the middle so she could actualy ride.
"Suzie never mind. Go back to bed."
Ruki stared into the eyes of the small sweet looking child. It was then and there Ruki decided. She was going to help this boy Henwy. She would fight this Rafarl and finally gain freedom for everyone including herself. The question was how? Then more questions flooded her mind like what was that thing that saved her?
"Hey um, Henwy-"
"Ahh, it's Henry my little sister talks funny."
"fine, Henry. What was that? That thing that saved me? Was that you?"
"Umm sorta. I'll answer your questions tomorrow, you need more rest, that gash is quite deep. Goodnight.... Oh I'm afraid I don't know your name?"
"Ruki. It's Ruki."
"Good night Ruki."
She shut her eyes but no sleep came to her throbbing head. Only questions and fright. She would tell this strange boy she would help him tomorrow. She would tell him there would be no way to talk her out of it and she would demand an explanation to everything. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would do all that.
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Crearulian Angel: Oh what was it that saved Ruki? What is Henry's plan? Is this a Henrika? NO! NOT A HENRIKA I PROMISE! No offence to Henrika fans!!