CHAPTER THREE: A NEW START
She woke in the morning to a very hot sunny day. The sun was scorching so badly, Lai felt like she already had a burn. She then realized that Noel wasn't with her. She got up in a panic, looking for her, and finally did. She was grazing on the greenest patch of fresh grass just along the bank.
Lai walked up to her and said, "I think it's time to leave". As the horse looked up at her then towards the forest, she started to walk towards it. Lai walked along side of her. They walked fairly far into the wilderness, through branches, and branches, across a bridge and through a huge tree trunk. They continued going down under until, Noel could fit no more.
Lai continued on and she came to a medium-sized chest, with the initials of Lai's name L.L engraved in it. She took out a key from her little pouch at her side and carefully unlocked the chest. Inside she took out some very nice reins for Noel, all the change that was left inside and a dirty wrapped up piece of cloth with something in it. She pocketed the money, roped the reins over her shoulder and started undraping the object held in the dirty cloth. She took out a very polished, very impressive silver and gold sword. It had red jewels and diamonds galore all over the handle. It had a very long, very sharp end. It had Lai's name engraved in it as well.
"I promise I'll make you proud of me dad…somehow".
She took out a belt and wrapped it around her waist, then put the sword in it at her side. She also, took out a few other little things, like a flask, matches and a dagger. She left the tree trunk until she found Noel. There, she strapped the reins on her and they walked together back out of the forest. It was a little milder out in the sunshine, but still rather warm. She went up to the well one last time and filled the flask, while she let Noel have lots of water out of the bucket from the well. Then she got on top of Noel and they started walking towards the sun.
"I don't know where we're going Noel, but we'll find or make a new home, don't worry." She was starting a new life, a new journey. Suddenly, she felt a sense of anger, a sense of vengefulness. Her parent's were dead for one reason and one reason only. Those monsters had murdered her parents. She wanted revenge. She then vowed that if she ever met one of those foul creatures again, or saw those torturing families like they did to hers, she would indeed kill them. Lai vowed that she would devote herself to those people.
"It's a good thing father taught me how to defend myself, hey Noel?" The horse neighed quietly as she kept walking. She traveled for two days in various locations where there was lots of food and water for both her and Noel. They camped out near trees and such, so as not to be seen. Lai had a good idea that they were being followed, or watched. Every so often Lai would stop and walk her Noel, so she wouldn't get too tired from the weight of holding her. On the third night, Lai and Noel were sitting by the fire made by Lai, resting and thinking about where exactly they would like to live.
"We could live near the mountains, although it may get too cold. What about near the ocean? It would be so beautiful to see the sun set over water." She laid back lying on the dark green grass and looking up at the stars. A rustling could be heard from just ahead in the bushy trees. Then Lai heard the sound of twigs breaking. She sat straight up, staring as best she could in the dark. She crouched down on her feet and took out her dagger. She was about to go see what it was, when a bunny hopped out of the forest where the sound was coming from. It stopped to look at them a moment then ran away as fast as his little legs would take him. "Damn rabbit". Lai said smiling, looking relieved.
The sun was coming up and it was a beautiful sight to behold. The light wavy clouds creeping over the gigantic ball of fire, and the sky, a yellow and orange, with just a tint of red. "Well, I guess it's time to go". She grabbed her things including her flask, and the dagger. She went into Noel's side saddle bag and took out a huge bottle. She went down the hill near a pond, and came back up to put the fire out. When she had done so, she mounted Noel once again and started walking. They had been walking for almost half an hour, and Lai was now off of Noel.
Everywhere they went they saw huge green pine trees and even bigger maple ones, swampy marshes and in the back, tall grey mountains could be seen, covered in white mist. She stopped her horse. She could hear something behind them as ways up hill...