"Moma! Moma! I want to go home!" I cried.
Surrounding me, my echos called alarmingly back to my sensitive ears. Towering trees with frightening eyes gawked at me as I trudged clumsily through the forest floor, my six year old legs tripped tediously on most logs or branches I attempted to climb over. Fantom howls of wicked beasts and monsters whispered with the wind. My palms were filthy with mud and dirt caked them, my nails black from pulling myself out of pits. I couldn't see my usual pale feet, dead leaves and twigs stuck to them but I knew once I washed it all away hairline scraped and cuts would litter the soul of my feet.
I called out again for Moma, hoping against all odds that she would come swooping down as her magnificent eagle, take me on her back and we would fly home, safe and together once again. But I knew that to be wishful thinking.
I wish I had my own personal knight to keep me safe from the monsters within this forest. Someone to protect me when Moma was busy with the people and when Papa was engulfed in old texts and scriptures. We would be best friends and they would help me train to be a better warrior-to make Moma proud. I would show them all the cool hideouts Qiëta(my other best friend) and I built and we would play and train and study together. They would be with me now helping me get back home. But this is a task, Moma said, that had to be done by one's self.
This was the Soul Trail that all suspected Elites take part in, in order to separate the true Elite children from the false children claiming to be a future Elite. It was a test of endurance and will. To make it through the Whispering Willows, a forest so dense that most experienced warriors would struggle to overcome, was a clear signal from the Cosmic Gods that the child was an Elite. Their ability to adapt to new surroundings and their unique view of the world allowed them to survive the journey. Most falsely acclaimed children who entered the Forrest wouldn't be seen again. They were said to have been taking by the Gods, a punishment for attempting to claim a tital that didn't belong to them. Moma had tried to wait as long as possible before she sent me into the Whispering Willows but with my metamorphosis power growing stronger by the day it was harder to hide from the council.
The bitter cold nipped at my checks as I scanned the forest around me in search of a sign. Any sign that would lead me out of this terrifying place. Naively, I was wishing for a bright, talking arrow pointing and yelling the correct way to walk to safely and towards the end of the forest but even at six I knew this was wishful thinking.
I kept turning around behind me as I had a sickening feeling I was being watched. I could hear rustling of leaves up high in the trees and every now and again I caught a glimpse of something white hoping from branch to branch. I felt a chill run down my spine every time I heard the slightest sound.
I huffed out a sigh of annoyance. I didn't ask to be thrown in the middle of nowhere and parade around covered in grime to find my way out of this forest were monsters from nightmares patrolled. Moma only told me the day before, hopping that I wouldn't worry. Little good that did. Papa had already taught me the basics of survival through scrolls and parchment but putting the techniques into motion was another challenge. But it was a challenge I was determined to excel in, if I was to make it out alive.
I glanced upwards and squinted at the passing sun. I deemed it to be late evening. Ideally I would have liked to climb a tree to get a grip of my surroundings but the ones that surrounded me were too tall, only barely letting thin threads of sunlight shine through. Instead I had resorted to closing my eyes, spinning and opening my eyes at random-that was how I had so childishly decided the direction in which I would walk.
My thoughts were rudely interrupted by a high pitch hiss coming from the ground. Kneeling I scanned for the source. From the corner of my eye I saw something launch towards me. On instinct I struck out my hand and caught onto the threat barley a second before large pointed fangs could pierce through my check.
"Well, that was not an adequate way to address a guest young. . ." Examining the small, grey, scaly serpent creature with thin yellowing horns protruding from its slim head down its spine I concluded that it was a horned kernïck. "Baby Kernïck" I finished.
It flicked its tongue out at me in response.
Pressing my lips together in thought I asked "I don't suppose you know the way home?"
Unsurprisingly, I didn't get the answer I was hoping for. Sighing in defeat I set the creature back on the ground and watched as it slithered swiftly away from me, moving leaves and twigs in its way.
I carried on walking for what felt like hours before I heard a deep gruff growl come from behind me. I froze on instinct, dreading the idea to turn around and face the source. I felt sweat on my brow and I itched to wipe it away but I didn't dare move so suddenly. Painfully slow, I turned to look behind me and when I did I regretted it greatly.
Standing but a mere 12 strides away, crouched low on all fours in a striking stance was a Chupacabra. It's grey leathery skin pulled tightly against its large skeletal body, with its sunken black eyes lingering hungrily on me. Razor sharp spikes lined it's spine from skull to its swiping tail. Drool dripped down it's blood stained chin as it opened its mouth and snapped its jaws at me.
I ran. I ran faster than I have ever ran in my short six years of life. Twisting around trees in a zigzag motion I hopped to confuse the creature but the thumping of padded paws behind me told me that it still followed at my heels. I was lucky that this Chupacabra was young and only half the size of its adult self as I would have been caught in an instant.
I spotted a burrow under the roots of a large tree and ran towards it hopping to hide from the beast. My legs burned, my breathing wheezy in short gasps and I my felt my eyes water. I was so close. I had already imagined how I would throw myself through the small entrance and tuck my feet in quickly to avoid the snapping jaws of the young Chupacabra but luck was not on my side.
My foot caught on a rock. I let out a cry as I felt myself being thrusted towards the ground. I landed on my hands and twisted quickly to face the beast that would no doubt end my life. On a second thought I closed my eyes as the beast pounced. This was the end. Turns out that I'm not an Elite like Moma said. I waited for the pain to start and the end to begin.
One second past. Then another. And another. And another, until I finally pulled up the courage to open my eyes.
The Chupacabra was standing on its hind legs attempting to swipe angrily at something white flying around its face. I watched in awe as the small white blur nipped the beast's face causing it to wail demonically at its attacker. I crawled backwards, moving away from the swaying claws taking the opportunity to back towards the borrow I had noticed earlier. A sudden high pitch shriek spooked me, making me freeze. The white, flying blur had somehow plucked the Chupacabra's eyes out causing the beast to back up, turn, and run away, back into the shadows.
I turned my attention to the white blur. Was I going to be it's next victim? Somehow I knew this was the same creature that had been watching me earlier from high in the tree tops. Would it take my eyes too? Should I run? I know I should run but I was paralysed, I couldn't get my body to move. I was paralysed by fear and I knew that the burrow wouldn't save me this time as the white blur was smaller than me. It would fit in just fine and attack me if it so wished.
It flew delicately towards the ground in front of me, white feathered-wings flapping gracefully. Once it's four paws landed on the ground I was able to see what kind of creature it was. I let out a breath once I realised it was a Bulzard, some important men and women at the palace kept these rare animals as pets. They weren't vicious unless aggravated or their owner was in danger. On closer inspection I saw that it had
black faded through its bushy tail and the tips of its wings. The small four legged animal had large round ears covered in white fur and big blue eyes that seemed to draw me in. I could see the charging force of the ocean through its eyes making me believe that this creature should not be underestimated. And rightly so if it could intimidate and scare off a Chupacabra.
" Hello there, little critter." I whispered, afraid that if I spoke too loudly I would upset the creature. "Are you friendly?" I asked.
It tilted its head to the side, sat down and curled it's wings into its fluffy body. I gulped when I realised it was observing my every motion. Carefully and watching the Bulzard I crossed my legs in front of me, I placed my hands on my knees while attempting to ignore the pain in my feet from all the running I had done.
"Your not going to hurt me? Your not a monster, right?" My eyes were drawn to its mouth where a few drops of blood from the Chupacabra still lay.
It got up suddenly and padded towards me. Startled, I crawled backwards. It stopped upon seeing my reaction. Slowly, as if it was afraid to scare me it placed a small paw out in front of it's body and bowed low opening its wings as well.
I was stunned. This mighty Bulzard had bowed to me? It had showed submission towards me. This could only mean one thing. This Bulzard had decided that I would be it's owner, it's other half. It would choose to be by my side it's entire life until one of us died. I felt honoured that such a mighty animal would choose to be mine. Cautiously I reached out my palm and allowed the Bulzard to sniff my muddy fingers. It's pointy noise on its long snout was wet and tickled my fingertips, I couldn't help but giggle at the strange sensation. It moved towards me and I rubbed it behind its ears which I assumed it enjoyed as a rattling humming sound vibrated from deep within its throat. It was so fluffy and pretty that I felt it was out of place here in the Whispering Willows.
Somehow I knew the creature was a boy, perhaps it was just the way that he carried himself or the way he walked but I knew he needed a name. He strode beside me and climbed onto my knees where he rubbed his head on my chest. I laughed at this supposedly wild animal acting so domestic. I rubbed his back and pondered what I would call him. I had wished for a knight in shining armour to come to my rescue and perhaps this Bulzard was just that. My knight in fluffy white armour.
"Little Bulzard, how do you like the name Sir Quiffals?"
In response he purred louder as if to agree with its new name. Giggling I pulled Sir Quiffals towards my chest into a hug.
"Your my hero Sir Quiffals! You'll help me get back home, won't you?"
Sir Quiffals turned his head towards me from under my arm. He pinned back his right ear, looked at me square in the face and leisurely blinked as if to confirm that he would always be by my side no matter what. A warm fuzzy feeling bubbled in my chest.
That feeling was quickly replaced by fear. I scanned my surroundings sharply when I heard someone or something whisper my name. It felt that the voices were surrounding me and getting louder, more aggressive. I felt confused as I couldn't see the source. Looking down to Sir Quiffals sitting in my lap I was startled to see his thin lips move unnaturally.
"Kyon. Kyon! Wake up! Wake up Kyon!"
Coughing I opened my eyes to see Agent Smith hovering over me with a concerned face. Relief cracked through as he saw that I was conscious. I noticed an ugly looking cut across his forehead and his face was covered in rubble-which looked odd on his bald head. I groaned as I felt my own head thumping and vaguely acknowledged something wet drip down the side of my face down to my ear. My mind felt fuzzy, separating what was a memory and what is reality.
"You outta' not scare me like dat' again girl. Had me worried for a sec." Smith warned.
"Next time," I croaked "try landing the Quinjet not crashing it." I grinned as Smith helped me sit up.
The agent let out a hollow laugh as he dusted rubble and concrete from my shoulders. Now that I was sitting up I was able to see my surroundings more clearly. We were on the streets of New York, what was left of our Quinjet lay to my left, the windows smashed and a wing missing. There was rubble everywhere and chucks of buildings lay crumbled all over the street. All around me I could hear screams and shouts of the humans running to safety or trying to avoid the Chitauri warriors. The sound of blasters could he heard and I flinched when a car from across the street exploded.
"Come on, we need to get to cover." Smith signalled to the closest building and helped me to my feet. I felt wobbly the first few steps I took but shaking the feeling away I managed to follow Smith.
"What happened?" I shouted over the wailing of sirens.
"We got shot down by one of those flying Aliens. I tink' you bumped your head so I carried you out."
"Ahh. . . Thanks for that." I grumbled feeling embarrassed at my weakness "What now? We have no weapons." I questioned as we traveled further into the building. I could hear panicked voices up a head.
I looked to Agent Smith who grinned wildly. "Before I left I took these." Reaching to his belt he pulled out a two guns, one smaller than the other.
"Dis ere' is a 9mm Glock 19 automatic" he handed the weapon to me then showing me the larger gun he added " and dis' beauty is a Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun, I'll keep dis' one." He beamed.
Turning over the gun in my hand and tracing the handle with my finger I nodded. "Wærick. Much better than a taser"
Agent Smith nodded and told me to be careful when aiming it. The voices were louder now and when we peaked around the corner we found a group of around 50 humans surrounded by at least 8 armed Chitauri warriors. By the looks of it the warriors were rounding up the human to mass kill them together. A shudder ran down my spine at the thought of it. We had to stop this.
I looked to Agent Smith, he nodded in agreement. We were going to save these people no matter what it took. Quickly we came up with a plan and began working.