Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 4
Serena yawned as she winked at the orange sun that glowed in her face. She turned her head to look at the man who was sprawled on the floor, his blankets barely covering his toes. Her hand came to her mouth as she suppressed a giggle. 'This guy's worse than me!' Luna opened her eyes at the sense of movement beside her. Getting up slowly the cat shook her head trying to get rid of the dizziness. Noticing that Luna was up Serena whispered, "It's morn, Luna."
Luna moaned causing Serena's brow to furrow in concern. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't sleep a wink last night," complained the cat. "That bozo, there, he was up to something."
"Luna, did you have a bad dream again?"
"It was not a bad dream!" The cat shouted incredulously.
The man who had been snoring soundly, jumped up and cried, "Bloody vermin eat this!"
Serena giggled at this. "Did you have a bad dream, too?" At first the man looked at her in confusion, then almost immediately he remembered her company. The princess watched as the man ran his hand through his hair in discomfiture.
Serena's face reddened, too as she profoundly apologized, "I'm so terribly sorry! I didn't want to wake you up so early."
He shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no, let's get a move on," he mumbled.
And just like he said last night, they reached the border of Terra by mid-day. This was there stop and now Serena and her companion were left on their own. The man had kindly given her a package of food that would last her a day's journey. Hopefully by then they would find a place to stay.
"I would throw that in the garbage, I wouldn't trust men like him," Luna warned.
"Oh Luna stop being so vexed. Besides we need food or else we'll starve."
Today, they were on the main road that bordered the kingdom of Terra. Of course, Serena and Luna had no idea where they were. They just followed the trail, both deep in their own thoughts. Luna was wondering where they were going and what might happen to them in the future; while Serena daydreamed about her mother and sister back at home. 'Home: Was she supposed to call it that anymore?'
The sun began to sink; this was going to be Serena and Luna's second night camping out. Quite frankly, Serena panicked because she never planned on living a life like this. What about food? Would they have to rely on herbs and mushrooms? Which plants are poisonous and which are not? Serena could not imagine living in the wilderness for the rest of her life. She'd die in a week and there would be no one to find her body and bury it. Worse of all, Luna would die because of her! She had made the cat come even though she did not force her to come. It would be all her fault if Luna were hurt.
Luna thought furious thoughts at the girl she stood and walked by. Serena would get them killed because of her carelessness with her being so willing to expose herself to the world. She just thinks that everyone is sweet like the cookies they baked for her back home. Not once has this girl used that mind of hers to get them out of things, NOT ONCE.
And just on cue there was a gust of wind that swept by them. Serena shivered and halted abruptly. Her eyes were full of misery, weariness, and dread as she stared at the path behind and the path ahead. "Luna, I'm scared."
There was another breeze when the cat made no reply. She was still so busy brooding her anger and frustration at the princess. However this second breeze carried out shadows within the trees. At first Serena thought it was her eye's imagination. Unfortunately, it was not. These shadows belonged to four men, possibly four dangerous men. Serena now trembled in fright and shock. Luna's ears twitched as she too sensed danger close by.
Realizing that the girl sensed their presence they jumped out of hiding from behind the bushes and trees like a hungry pack of wolves catching their prey. Serena shrieked and tried to run, nonetheless it was too late. She was surrounded and she was their prey. Luna let out a horrible hiss and prepared to pounce on anyone who dared go near her princess.
"Well, well, looky here, we got ourselves a fine catch, boys!" Said the man with the red beard.
A dark storm cloud floated across the sky, casting dark shadows on the faces of the men.
The four men now circled her. Their eyes were fierce with lust as they roamed all over her body. Serena saw those eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around herself in protection. Luna was still crouched on the floor, the only thing she moved were her eyes, which followed each man closely in her line of vision.
"You are the finest specimen I've ever seen. Much better than those inland."
Serena whimpered now. One of the men could not resist anymore, he dived to grab her by the arms, but Luna slashed at him before he could reach her. The man howled in pain as he clutched his cheek where the cat left a deep mark. Serena's eyes widened in horror as she saw the anger rising in the man.
"Get her!" Yelled another man. All three moved in. One got Serena's left arm and another by the right arm. The third man who was groping for the hair was flung backward as Luna jumped on his face and gouged his eyes. His hands came up to cover his eyes; eyes that would never see again. Meanwhile, the men who had the struggling Serena in a tight hold, fingered her skin at the throat gently. They were so into their "capture," they didn't even hear their blinded companion cry out in pain. Tears ran down Serena's face and one of the men seized her collar and prepared to tear. Luna attacked him first. The second man seeing this, kicked Luna's behind, sending her flying across the air. Luna landed with a thud. "No!" Serena cried. Slowly the cat got up pain running through her entire body.
When she looked up she watched through a blood-blurred vision of the man that had kicked her. He was tackling Serena to the floor. Serena cried out again in despair. The man literally sat on top of the girl as he proceeded to tear at her cloak and dress. In a fury Luna went for his eyes as well. She got one eye, but missed the other. This man still had a one-eyed vision and therefore drew his knife in a rage. Luna was prepared to dodge his attack, but she did not notice that the scarred face man-the one she had attacked first-snuck up behind her. His knife sliced at her back. Luna doubled over in pain. Now three of the men surrounded the cat and kicked her about. Luna lay limp and that was the sight that Serena saw when she got up.
The men noticing that the cat had stopped moving turned to the girl again. Serena did not notice them as they gradually approached her. Her eyes were glued to the lifeless body of Luna. She could not believe it; her best friend and companion was gone. One of the men suddenly stopped to look back. With quick strides he went back over to the cat. The other two men looked at him.
The half blind man shouted, "What the hell are you doing? The blasted thing is dead already!"
"I'm just making sure," said the man, raising his knife above his head.
"No!! Luna!!!!" A great light came from the girl, then. The man with the knife dropped it as he looked at Serena. He shouted, "She's some sort of sorceress!" The light grew brighter and it began to consume them. "Let's get out of here before she bewitches us!" The three men disappeared carrying one of their blinded friends. Serena's cries grew louder and louder waking all that lived deep in the woods. She felt an exceeding amount of energy leaving her and soon that light dimmed and left no trace of it ever being.
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
"Serena!" The queen cried as she violently woke from her sleep. She had seen everything.
Selene who had stayed awake for an entire day looked at her mother in alarm.
"Mother, I thought you'd never wake!"
"Selene, Serena she... she...she..."
"I felt it, too," Selene said in a gentle voice.
Now, queen Serenity looked at her daughter who crouched beside her bed.
"Where is she?" Serenity demanded in a loud urgent voice.
"There has been no update, yet on her whereabouts."
"I must find her! She is hurt!" Serenity shouted as she clambered out of her bed.
Selene caught her and gently pushed her back in bed. "You must rest, you are very ill. I shall find her, Mother. I will not sleep until she's back home safe and sound."
Selene got up to leave.
Serenity sighed deeply. "Our youngest princess' powers have finally awakened."
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
Serena crawled over to Luna. "Luna? Are you okay?" She murmured softly. "Please, be okay."
Something in the back of her mind told her that the cat was dead. If her cat was dead there was no point in living. Luna risked her life to save her and she would never get the chance to thank her. Serena's only friend was gone.
Serena reached the cat and slowly picked her up, not caring about how the blood smeared her dress. There was so much blood and none of it was hers, Serena's. It was all Luna's. Standing up Serena cradled the cat loosely in her arms. She started walking. She wanted to cry, but all her tears had run out. She had cried so much, that now she had no tears left.
She had been stupid and rash. She was so gullible and believed that the whole world was her friend and her, its. She was wrong again. Her trust killed her best friend and now she was left alone. Serena let out a choked sob. "Luna, I'm so terribly sorry. I should have listened to you; you who always could tell when something were right or wrong. You gave your life away without wondering if I would do the same for you. You are my best friend and I can't bear to lose you." Serena felt cold drops of water dripping on her face, yet they were still not her tears. It was the rain and it was beginning to come down fast. Serena didn't care. She kept walking. She wanted to die in the rain.
There was a loud crash of thunder and a flare of lightning. Serena jumped, and ran as fast as she could through the freezing rain. Only when she was out of breath did she stop and sit under a tree. There was another crash and the glare of another bolt sending Serena to a fit of trepidation. Serena sobbed and held Luna closer to her. No more tears came. She was out.
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
"We're almost home," a man shouted at the horses that dragged a wagon full of priceless goods. "Come on," he called again through the sheet of rain.
The wheels of the wagon grew thick and sodden with mud, making it nearly impossible for the horses to pull the wagon. As he passed the trees he thought he saw out of the corner of his eye a small lifeless figure sitting as still as stone. Pulling his horses to a stop, he lightly hopped off the wagon to investigate. Getting closer to the being, he noticed that it was only a young girl holding some sort of black thing.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked. She did not answer. He slowly realized that she was asleep. He leaned closer to her and gasped when he saw bloodstains on her clothes. The rain had washed most of the blood away, but her tattered clothing still clearly showed abuse.
Picking her up gently he whispered in her ear, "You'll catch a cold if you stay out here." She cuddled up closer to him unconsciously and a small smile grew upon his face.
He settled her in the back of the wagon, draping a blanket over her drenched body.
It would not be long till they reached the village.
----------------------
Thanks for the reviews.(^_^) And Serena will meet Darien soon, but not yet (for those of you who asked). Just keep checking in to find out when.
-MistyWing
Chapter 4
Serena yawned as she winked at the orange sun that glowed in her face. She turned her head to look at the man who was sprawled on the floor, his blankets barely covering his toes. Her hand came to her mouth as she suppressed a giggle. 'This guy's worse than me!' Luna opened her eyes at the sense of movement beside her. Getting up slowly the cat shook her head trying to get rid of the dizziness. Noticing that Luna was up Serena whispered, "It's morn, Luna."
Luna moaned causing Serena's brow to furrow in concern. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't sleep a wink last night," complained the cat. "That bozo, there, he was up to something."
"Luna, did you have a bad dream again?"
"It was not a bad dream!" The cat shouted incredulously.
The man who had been snoring soundly, jumped up and cried, "Bloody vermin eat this!"
Serena giggled at this. "Did you have a bad dream, too?" At first the man looked at her in confusion, then almost immediately he remembered her company. The princess watched as the man ran his hand through his hair in discomfiture.
Serena's face reddened, too as she profoundly apologized, "I'm so terribly sorry! I didn't want to wake you up so early."
He shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no, let's get a move on," he mumbled.
And just like he said last night, they reached the border of Terra by mid-day. This was there stop and now Serena and her companion were left on their own. The man had kindly given her a package of food that would last her a day's journey. Hopefully by then they would find a place to stay.
"I would throw that in the garbage, I wouldn't trust men like him," Luna warned.
"Oh Luna stop being so vexed. Besides we need food or else we'll starve."
Today, they were on the main road that bordered the kingdom of Terra. Of course, Serena and Luna had no idea where they were. They just followed the trail, both deep in their own thoughts. Luna was wondering where they were going and what might happen to them in the future; while Serena daydreamed about her mother and sister back at home. 'Home: Was she supposed to call it that anymore?'
The sun began to sink; this was going to be Serena and Luna's second night camping out. Quite frankly, Serena panicked because she never planned on living a life like this. What about food? Would they have to rely on herbs and mushrooms? Which plants are poisonous and which are not? Serena could not imagine living in the wilderness for the rest of her life. She'd die in a week and there would be no one to find her body and bury it. Worse of all, Luna would die because of her! She had made the cat come even though she did not force her to come. It would be all her fault if Luna were hurt.
Luna thought furious thoughts at the girl she stood and walked by. Serena would get them killed because of her carelessness with her being so willing to expose herself to the world. She just thinks that everyone is sweet like the cookies they baked for her back home. Not once has this girl used that mind of hers to get them out of things, NOT ONCE.
And just on cue there was a gust of wind that swept by them. Serena shivered and halted abruptly. Her eyes were full of misery, weariness, and dread as she stared at the path behind and the path ahead. "Luna, I'm scared."
There was another breeze when the cat made no reply. She was still so busy brooding her anger and frustration at the princess. However this second breeze carried out shadows within the trees. At first Serena thought it was her eye's imagination. Unfortunately, it was not. These shadows belonged to four men, possibly four dangerous men. Serena now trembled in fright and shock. Luna's ears twitched as she too sensed danger close by.
Realizing that the girl sensed their presence they jumped out of hiding from behind the bushes and trees like a hungry pack of wolves catching their prey. Serena shrieked and tried to run, nonetheless it was too late. She was surrounded and she was their prey. Luna let out a horrible hiss and prepared to pounce on anyone who dared go near her princess.
"Well, well, looky here, we got ourselves a fine catch, boys!" Said the man with the red beard.
A dark storm cloud floated across the sky, casting dark shadows on the faces of the men.
The four men now circled her. Their eyes were fierce with lust as they roamed all over her body. Serena saw those eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around herself in protection. Luna was still crouched on the floor, the only thing she moved were her eyes, which followed each man closely in her line of vision.
"You are the finest specimen I've ever seen. Much better than those inland."
Serena whimpered now. One of the men could not resist anymore, he dived to grab her by the arms, but Luna slashed at him before he could reach her. The man howled in pain as he clutched his cheek where the cat left a deep mark. Serena's eyes widened in horror as she saw the anger rising in the man.
"Get her!" Yelled another man. All three moved in. One got Serena's left arm and another by the right arm. The third man who was groping for the hair was flung backward as Luna jumped on his face and gouged his eyes. His hands came up to cover his eyes; eyes that would never see again. Meanwhile, the men who had the struggling Serena in a tight hold, fingered her skin at the throat gently. They were so into their "capture," they didn't even hear their blinded companion cry out in pain. Tears ran down Serena's face and one of the men seized her collar and prepared to tear. Luna attacked him first. The second man seeing this, kicked Luna's behind, sending her flying across the air. Luna landed with a thud. "No!" Serena cried. Slowly the cat got up pain running through her entire body.
When she looked up she watched through a blood-blurred vision of the man that had kicked her. He was tackling Serena to the floor. Serena cried out again in despair. The man literally sat on top of the girl as he proceeded to tear at her cloak and dress. In a fury Luna went for his eyes as well. She got one eye, but missed the other. This man still had a one-eyed vision and therefore drew his knife in a rage. Luna was prepared to dodge his attack, but she did not notice that the scarred face man-the one she had attacked first-snuck up behind her. His knife sliced at her back. Luna doubled over in pain. Now three of the men surrounded the cat and kicked her about. Luna lay limp and that was the sight that Serena saw when she got up.
The men noticing that the cat had stopped moving turned to the girl again. Serena did not notice them as they gradually approached her. Her eyes were glued to the lifeless body of Luna. She could not believe it; her best friend and companion was gone. One of the men suddenly stopped to look back. With quick strides he went back over to the cat. The other two men looked at him.
The half blind man shouted, "What the hell are you doing? The blasted thing is dead already!"
"I'm just making sure," said the man, raising his knife above his head.
"No!! Luna!!!!" A great light came from the girl, then. The man with the knife dropped it as he looked at Serena. He shouted, "She's some sort of sorceress!" The light grew brighter and it began to consume them. "Let's get out of here before she bewitches us!" The three men disappeared carrying one of their blinded friends. Serena's cries grew louder and louder waking all that lived deep in the woods. She felt an exceeding amount of energy leaving her and soon that light dimmed and left no trace of it ever being.
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
"Serena!" The queen cried as she violently woke from her sleep. She had seen everything.
Selene who had stayed awake for an entire day looked at her mother in alarm.
"Mother, I thought you'd never wake!"
"Selene, Serena she... she...she..."
"I felt it, too," Selene said in a gentle voice.
Now, queen Serenity looked at her daughter who crouched beside her bed.
"Where is she?" Serenity demanded in a loud urgent voice.
"There has been no update, yet on her whereabouts."
"I must find her! She is hurt!" Serenity shouted as she clambered out of her bed.
Selene caught her and gently pushed her back in bed. "You must rest, you are very ill. I shall find her, Mother. I will not sleep until she's back home safe and sound."
Selene got up to leave.
Serenity sighed deeply. "Our youngest princess' powers have finally awakened."
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
Serena crawled over to Luna. "Luna? Are you okay?" She murmured softly. "Please, be okay."
Something in the back of her mind told her that the cat was dead. If her cat was dead there was no point in living. Luna risked her life to save her and she would never get the chance to thank her. Serena's only friend was gone.
Serena reached the cat and slowly picked her up, not caring about how the blood smeared her dress. There was so much blood and none of it was hers, Serena's. It was all Luna's. Standing up Serena cradled the cat loosely in her arms. She started walking. She wanted to cry, but all her tears had run out. She had cried so much, that now she had no tears left.
She had been stupid and rash. She was so gullible and believed that the whole world was her friend and her, its. She was wrong again. Her trust killed her best friend and now she was left alone. Serena let out a choked sob. "Luna, I'm so terribly sorry. I should have listened to you; you who always could tell when something were right or wrong. You gave your life away without wondering if I would do the same for you. You are my best friend and I can't bear to lose you." Serena felt cold drops of water dripping on her face, yet they were still not her tears. It was the rain and it was beginning to come down fast. Serena didn't care. She kept walking. She wanted to die in the rain.
There was a loud crash of thunder and a flare of lightning. Serena jumped, and ran as fast as she could through the freezing rain. Only when she was out of breath did she stop and sit under a tree. There was another crash and the glare of another bolt sending Serena to a fit of trepidation. Serena sobbed and held Luna closer to her. No more tears came. She was out.
_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:_:~:
"We're almost home," a man shouted at the horses that dragged a wagon full of priceless goods. "Come on," he called again through the sheet of rain.
The wheels of the wagon grew thick and sodden with mud, making it nearly impossible for the horses to pull the wagon. As he passed the trees he thought he saw out of the corner of his eye a small lifeless figure sitting as still as stone. Pulling his horses to a stop, he lightly hopped off the wagon to investigate. Getting closer to the being, he noticed that it was only a young girl holding some sort of black thing.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked. She did not answer. He slowly realized that she was asleep. He leaned closer to her and gasped when he saw bloodstains on her clothes. The rain had washed most of the blood away, but her tattered clothing still clearly showed abuse.
Picking her up gently he whispered in her ear, "You'll catch a cold if you stay out here." She cuddled up closer to him unconsciously and a small smile grew upon his face.
He settled her in the back of the wagon, draping a blanket over her drenched body.
It would not be long till they reached the village.
----------------------
Thanks for the reviews.(^_^) And Serena will meet Darien soon, but not yet (for those of you who asked). Just keep checking in to find out when.
-MistyWing