Chapter Thirty-Five: Tension in the Air

"Relakk, is that the town?" I called, spotting what looked like at least one, possibly more, farm houses up ahead.

Relakk turned back. "Yes. If we hurry, we can get there, get our food, and get back on the road before dark."

"Come on, Shean, I'll race you," I suggested and kneed Switchfoot into a canter. I looked back to see how close Shean was, but he was still in a walk. I pulled Switchfoot up on his haunches to swivel around (his favorite trick) and trotted back to Shean.

"Hey, what's up? You haven't been yourself lately."

"Can you blame me?" He began heatedly. I backed off. "I'm whisked away from my family, my home, my friends, practically everything I've known since I was born, and I'm transplanted into this world like I've only read about in books or seen in movies. I'm told that the girl I've had a crush on for two years really is a princess like she's been telling me for three years. I'm informed that I have this 'magikk' and that I have the supposed 'Gift' of fire taming and music and that I need to find myself some 'Tool'. I'm supposed to accept this like it's nothing. You accept it like it's nothing. What am I supposed to feel like? I want to go home. I want to get out of this sithing ridiculous, gall-darn awful place!"

I stared at him. After this morning's blow-up, I had expected him to have gotten over it by now like he usually did. Earlier, he had been blowing up because Relakk had told him he needed to do homework; now he was yelling at me. He hadn't done that for as long as I could remember, unless I did something horrible like touched his autographed guitar, or let one of the dogs get the lyrics to one of the songs we were writing, or if I borrowed one of his books and forgot to ask.

I kneed Switchfoot back into a canter and rode back towards the town, trying not to cry. I couldn't believe it. Just a month ago, he'd been saying how, although he missed Washington and his family and stuff, he just wanted to stay with me. Now he was yelling about me for stuff I couldn't control and saying he wanted to leave.

I leaned down and put my arms around Switchfoot's neck, letting him take me where he wanted. He kept cantering for the sheer fun of it. I heard another set of hooves approaching and I sat up, wheeling Switchfoot around to face Shean, reining him in to a halt. I waited for Shean.

"Val, I'm sorry, I –"

"No. Just leave me alone."

I pulled my right foot out of the stirrup and swung down, letting Switchfoot crop some grass while I sat on the ground cross-legged with my face in my hands. I heard a thump as Shean dismounted, letting Filly graze beside Switchfoot. He put his hands to mine and tried to pry them apart, but I turned my back to him and hugged my knees to my chest. He came around to face me and sat down in front of me.

"Val, I-"

"No. Shean, you know what? If you miss home that badly, just use your travel ball and go back."

I stood up and walked away. I heard him get up and hurry after me, but I didn't look back.

"No, Val, please, I-"

I jumped up onto Switchfoot's back and galloped away, once again letting him carry me where he wanted to.

I had been riding for probably about fifteen or twenty minutes when I realized I should probably turn around or I wouldn't be able to find my way back. But with my first ride away from Shean and my latest flight, I found that I couldn't see the farm houses anymore. Or the farms. Or anything. It was all open plains, and I couldn't see any distinguishing landmarks anywhere nearby, just tall, thick scrub brush and rabbit dens.

Out of the blue, I was bowled off of my horse. I landed on the ground and could hear Switchfoot screaming, but I couldn't pay attention. I was too busy fighting for my life.

I had been knocked off by a pigmee. They were short, squat pig-ish people with small brains who lived in rabbit-like arrangements underground. Apparently, one of them had been thrown into the air by its comrades for the express purpose of pulling me from my horse. I tried to draw my sword as the little savages swarmed me, their evil little 'sticking' knives in their teeth. I managed to get it out and swung it around me, sweeping off a few of the vulgar little creatures, but more climbed on. I felt myself topple to the ground and a few got trapped under me.

"God, please help me," I prayed in a whisper as I tried to get to my feet with no success. "Please give me strength."

The stupid beasts were binding my feet together while they sat on my chest and tried to torture me. They may not be very smart, but they were known for their strong knots, which they tied with the long, nimble fingers. I wouldn't be able to retaliate on my feet. I managed to secure my sword in my sheath again, which, surprisingly, hadn't been trapped under me when I fell. Pulling my hands out from under the heavy bodies sitting on my torso, I muttered some words Relakk had taught Shean and me. Small balls of fire appeared in my hands, but the pigmees barely even flinched.

I shoved the fireballs in their faces, but they simply moved back an inch or two. I was getting desperate. This wasn't working; I had to think of something else.

And there weren't any other alternatives.

I had pigmees on my chest; my feet were bound; I had put my sword away; and my fire wasn't working. Oh great. Now a couple of the pigmees had come from up by my head and grabbed my wrists. My fire faded involuntarily as they tied my wrists.

Yes, definitely out of options.

The monsters got off of me and I wriggled onto my stomach to see what they were doing. I groaned and started to yell, partly at them, and partly hoping help would come, though I knew that was pretty nearly impossible.

They were bringing a stick. And not just any stick, but a smooth, straight, sturdy stick… the kind you see the savages put their captives on in movies, or the Indians sling deer onto in the old movies.

Two pigmees flipped me back over onto my back and picked up my hands. They pulled a rope between my hands and tied it over the rod, doing the same with my feet . I had no idea how they expected to carry me. The tallest couldn't have been more that three, maybe three and a half feet tall.

Then I saw the small ponies with saddles equipped with rings on the back that were obviously made to put the ends of the rod through being led over towards me. I groaned, trying to keep the blood from rushing to my head.

I closed my eyes. A minute later, I heard hoof beats approaching and braced myself to be loaded like a side of meat. Which, come to think of it, I probably was.

A/N: Well, that was fun. I've also got the next chapter started, but it'll be short.

Okay, now, replies to comments:

Jess1812 – Yeah, it's mainly just a filler chapter. Not my best one, but… meh, lol.

pussycat doll – Action added.

watrfairie – No, I'm not published, but I'm working on it. I'm hoping to get some short stories published (once they're written, lol), 'cause I finally found some markets. (everybody cheer! crickets chirp Fine) If you want some help with getting published, I can give you some pointers, 'cause though I've only been published in my LotR fan club's fanzine for a song for Eowyn and Faramir that everyone said was AWESOME (one person said it even made them cry), I've read a LOT about getting published, lol, and not the kind of stuff that just says, 'do this and get published', but the stuff that tells you how to improve your work so you have more of a chance of getting published. ;)

Okay, I think that's it. Wow, over one THOUSAND hits! I love you guys! Just curious: does anyone read the blog or the forum?

Also, I'm going to be working really hard on the script for my Star Wars fan film (will hopefully have a website up soon), but I'll still try to write on Fast Forward. But I wanted to let you guys know to not hold your breath, even if I have part of the next chapter written already, lol.