Chapter 3: Leaving Home

She waved her hand fervently and cried openly. Gideon walked slowly down the road and she called to him.

"Be careful Gideon! I packed you some clean underwear too, make sure you change them!''

"Maaaaaa…'' he turned around, "I'll be fine, don't worry about me," he replied.

Be safe Gideon, be safe. I'm so proud of you, leaving home to go explore the world. She continued to wave until he was gone from her sight and turned to go home. The wristlet is in his things, he'll find it tonight when he's far away from here, she thought. Her long brown hair flowed in the wind as she walked home, it was the last time she would ever see her boy again. The next time he would see her would be at her grave in the cemetery.

He walked slowly down the path neglecting eating until he was far enough away from the town so he would not go running back, his stomach grumbled, he shook his head, Can't go 3 hours without food can you? He plopped down on the side of the road and opened his sack. A few pears, some papaya, and some bread, meat, and cheese. He pulled out a slice of bread and uncovered a small package he hadn't seen before. He rolled it in his hand, it was hard and lumpy and sort of awkward. He slid his sword out of the sheath tied around his back, he grunted at the weight. He sliced the paper and out popped a bracelet of some sort, it was intricately made with a vine pattern engraved along it's side and eight small holes that could fit an orb a little larger than a marble in each. It glowed a pale white, almost invisible. Inside of the paper was a note in his mother's handwriting. It read:

Gideon,

This is a special bracelet meant to protect you from some of the really bad things out in the world, I'm not quite sure how to use it but I am sure you can figure it out. It is important that you stay safe because there are some scary things out there Gid. I know you think you'll be okay but I still wish you luck and I hope you come back to me when it's all said and done. Keep that bracelet with you it is called the Phantom Wrist, I don't know what it does besides the fact that it is powerful.

Mom

He finished reading and studied the bracelet, So this tiny thing is powerful? I wonder what these slots are for. He ran his finger through the holes and felt that one had an orb in it. He pulled it out and examined it. It was small and a shade of green. Something inside of him told him it was a cure? What the hell's a cure? I've never seen this thing in my entire life! How can I know? He placed it back in the slot and looked at the sword, now that he noticed, there were four slots in it, How strange… He slid his sword back into the sheath on his back and tore into a bread, meat, and cheese sandwich he had made for himself. Each bite was better than the last, in fact, everything seemed better now that he did it. When he finished eating he picked up the bracelet and slid it on his wrist, it fit perfectly, like it was made for him.

He stood up and brushed the dirt off of his pants, a steady wind blew across the road, it was maid day already, and if he were going to make the top of the snowboarding course by nightfall he would have to hurry. He hitched the pack on his back and pulled his black traveling cloak closer. He walked and walked, never looking back a single time, he knew if he did he would turn back, but he kept on going nonetheless. He reached the top of the course an hour before sunset and decided he would have a quick meal of papaya and some water, then try his luck on the slope, all during his meal he rubbed the little green cure orb in his bracelet wondering if his mother was safe by the fire now, reading a book. he finished the papaya fruit and stared down the slope, snow whipping in every which direction into cyclones in some spots.

He un-strapped the snowboard his mother had given him before he had left and laid it on the snow, he snapped his boots in and jumped, flying off down the at unprecedented speeds and whipped around sharp curves like he had been born on the mountain. Until finally he saw a huge cliff up ahead, it was too late to stop and he plummeted of the brink blacking out before he hit the ground below, a good 100 feet out from the cliff and 300 feet down. He hit the ground with a hard thump and a flurry of snow that landed around him.

He awoke in a small tent, the wind outside howling at the tent for blocking its way. He sat up with a start and looked around, no fire not even a sleeping area just some frozen fish and a small kettle in the corner. There was a beautiful woman huddled in the corner her blue-ish hair hanging loosely over her shoulders she looked at him then spoke up.

"I found you out in the storm, what were you doing out there?" she asked.

"I aaa..a.a jjjusst fell from the cccliff…" he stammered.

"You look but I don't have any blankets here."

"How can yyouuu stayy wwwaarmm in this cccold?" he asked.

"I've lived here all of my life."

"I've never seen anyone just sit out in the cold without a hood or anything." He was starting to get some warmth in his body but he still huddled in his cloak.

"I'm the daughter of an ice woman boy," she replied nonchalantly.

"A monster?"

"Yes, but my mother left me out here in the cold when I was a baby and I got used to it quick. I even have to hunt for myself."

"But how do you survive without warmth?"

"You don't get it boy do you? I have ice in my blood, if I were out in 25 below zero in just a pair of shorts I would be fine. The only reason I wear a coat is so that I don't look weird. I could got out in this in a bikini and not know the difference."

"Wow, I don't think I've ever met anyone who could do that!" he exclaimed.

She looked at him, studied his bedraggled hair and black cloak and instantly decided she liked him. She thought he had to be pretty tough to stand this cold, being a human and all. his bracelet was hanging out from one of his sleeves and she gasped.

"Where did you find that bracelet?" she asked

"I didn't 'find' it, my mother gave it to me."

"That is the legendary Phantom Bracelet, it protects those who wear it with a magical barrier but only if the person wearing it can use it properly. Do you know how to use it?"

"No I don't but I feel kind of awkward now, we don't even know each other's name's."

"How silly of me, I am Gloria," she stated.

"And I'm Gideon but my friends call me Gid."

"Nice to meet you Gid, now how exactly did you come by this bracelet again? it is the most beautiful bracelet I have ever seen."

Chapter 3… End