Travels Beyond Tortall
Chapter 3 – Isabelle
Written by Silent Serenade
Thank you for reading - hope you enjoy.
Numair's heart stopped as he heard an ear-piercing shriek from the dense forest. He pulled the protesting Spot towards the source of noise, sweat dripping from his face.
If I get there fast enough, I'd be able to save Daine! He panicked as a second scream was heard above the racket of squawking birds. Dragging Spot with him, Numair ran through the tress, blasting bits of shrub away with his Gift. There was only one thing – person – in the world who mattered to him now. Daine.
With renewed energy, Numair sprinted past the last few trees which separated him and the whimpering. There stood a lizard-like immortal with silver claws, a golden-blue scaled dragonet tinted with a hint of red, also with silver claws, a shaking, sobbing girl leaning on a tree for support, and Daine. Numair's gaze shifted from Daine, to the basilisk, Kitten, the shivering girl, and finally rested on Daine again. Cloud trotted towards Daine as she went to help calm down the girl. Numair was still staring at his beloved when realisation suddenly hit him like a bullet. He found Daine glancing at him and looked away, clearing his throat.
"What happened?" he broke the silence, asking no one in particular. However, all heads turned towards him, making Numair take a step back.
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Daine replied after a short pause. Facing the girl who was looking anxiously at the basilisk, Daine repeated Numair's question.
"What happened?"
The girl turned more frightened unexpectedly, shrinking noticeably and clinging onto the tree with a stronger grip. Taking a deep breath, she answered nervously.
"I-I was walking along the path," the gestured at the worn out, barely visible road. Taking a brief glance at the basilisk, she continued. "Then that snake came along and spook to me!"
"All I said was 'Good morning'," Tkaa protested innocently, causing the girl to jump, and the others to glare at him. "Thinking back, I did ask her for her gemstone."
The girl's hands instantly shot to her emerald pendant which clung to her neck. "I will not give you my mother's necklace, even if I die wearing it! You hear that, you disgraceful snake?"
Daine fingered the Badger's claw that hung around her own neck and turned to the girl. "It's alright, you don't have to give Tkaa anything, right?" She gave a menacingly stare to Tkaa. "Now, what's your name?"
"Isabelle," she replied calmly. She had stopped shaking, and Daine observed her closely for the first time. Isabelle wore shirts and breeches which were somehow familiar clothes, in a style in which Daine has seen before, but she can't seem to put everything into place.
"Lady Isabelle," Numair bowed as he spoke politely, as if addressing royalty, "may I escort you back to your residence?"
Daine giggled at Numair's successful attempt of humour as Isabelle burst out laughing, Kitten returned to her normal colour, and Tkaa managed a tiny smile, while Numair was grinning mischievously at the sight before him.
Can we go now? Cloud spoke to Daine, clearly annoyed. I don't know what all this fuss is about, besides, I'm hungry and tired.
"Isabelle," Daine asked, "do you live near here? Would it be possible if we stay overnight with you? You see, Cloud – my bad tempered, impatient pony – is hungry and tired."
I am not! Cloud's voice shouted in Daine's mind. In fact, I'm an extremely good-natured, sincere creature who has been poorly abandoned by some people during certain conversations.
Daine snorted at Cloud's self-description. "Stop being so rude! Can't you see Isabelle here was quite in distress?"
Isabelle looked at Daine with a puzzled expression on her face. She said to Numair, "Does she always talk to herself?"
"No, she has Wild Magic and can talk to animals," Numair chuckled.
"Wild Magic?" Isabelle's eyes grew wide. "You mean, the kind of magic which Veralidaine Sarrasri has?"
Daine stopped concentrating on Cloud and jerked her head towards Isabelle when she heard her name, while Numair answered Isabelle's question. "The very same. In fact, she's here right now." He gestured to Daine.
Isabelle's eyes widened in fear as she retreated from Daine, taking a step back. "I'm sorry for causing all this trouble, but I have to go now." Not waiting for a reaction from anybody, she sprinted across the forest and away from Daine.
To be continued...
Who is this Isabelle person? Why was she so eager to get away from Daine? Find out on the next episode of Digimon, Digital Monsters. coughs I mean, find out on the next chapter of Travels Beyond Tortall.