"Left! Right! Jump! Duck! Weave!" Amelia raced through the forest, dodging around trees, fallen logs, and the like. She finally came to a halt, took a moment to catch her breath, then called out, "Okay Mister Zelgadis! Your turn!"
Zelgadis scowled at Amelia, but she was too far away to see it. After feeling stupid, he crouched down, then zoomed forward, mimicking Amelia's earlier path through the trees. Not a moment later he stopped alongside her. "Done."
"Wow, you're really fast!" Amelia smiled up at him.
Zelgadis smiled a smug little grin.
"Okay, next..." Amelia looked about for a good place to launch off from, spotting a dead tree nearby. "Follow me!" She then ran to the dead trunk and easily leapt up its side. Quickly climbing to the top, she spread her wings, then launched herself into the air. She flapped her wings to gain more altitude, then spread her wings out to ride the current, circling above. "Come on, Mister Zelgadis!"
"This is stupid." Zelgadis was so thankful no one was around to see him. He jogged to the tree trunk and also leapt, but only got about two feet up the trunk. "I was not made for jumping." He hugged the trunk as he slowly climbed upward, ready to bail off if the tree fell under his weight. Finally reaching the top, he spread his wings and jumped.
He easily floated on the current, but had to flap to keep from losing altitude. He clenched his jaw as he exerted a lot of energy to reach Amelia's altitude. "She makes this look so easy!" After a lot of effort, he finally caught up with Amelia.
"You made it!" Amelia dropped back to fly alongside him. "What do you think?"
"I think," Zelgadis wheezed, "that next time I'm finding a higher vantage point."
Amelia laughed, then caught another current that took her up much higher. "It is easier to fly when you're higher up." She closed her eyes to just take in the sensation of being carried on the wind.
"AAAAHHH!"
Both Zelgadis and Amelia snapped to attention and looked at each other.
"What was that? It sounded almost like..." Amelia looked worriedly at Zelgadis.
Zelgadis nodded his head. "Someone in trouble. It came from down south." He pointed in the direction it came from. Amelia instantly changed direction and flew toward the sound. "Amelia!"
Amelia quickly sped off, intent to aid whoever was in peril. As she flew she heard more cries for help, before seeing a group of...small humanoids? As she got closer, she saw that they were goblins. Goblins that were ganging up on a small girl! Amelia went into a dive and landed roughly on the ground before charging into the group.
The goblins didn't know what hit them. One minute they're attacking a small girl for her food, the next some are flying through the air! Those that weren't sent flying via Amelia were so terrified seeing such a large and deadly animal upon them, they quickly fled.
The small girl was also in shock at the sudden turn of events. She looked up in horror at the giant before her, and made to run away. "Ow!" She looked down to see her leg was broken. Her fate sealed, she fell back to the ground and covered her head with her arms, crying quietly in fear.
Amelia paused to study the girl, easily seeing her leg was broken. Wanting to calm her fears, Amelia scooted away, then lay down on the ground, purring quietly.
The girl heard the purring, and looked up in wonder to see what looked like a very big kitty soaking up the sunshine. She watched the 'cat' for any sudden movement, fearing those giant teeth and sharp claws. When she looked into the cat's face, it looked almost like the cat was...smiling at her? "Are, are you a good k-kitty?"
Amelia slowly nodded her head, purring louder.
The girl smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes. "They hurt my leg and I can't walk. I can't get back home." She began to cry.
Amelia wanted so much to be able to tell her that everything would be all right, but couldn't. Instead she quietly got to her feet and approached the girl. When she didn't get any reaction, she rubbed her head against the girl's hand.
The girl jumped in surprise and looked at Amelia. Feeling comforted by the loud purring of the 'big kitty', she reached out a hand and stroked the cat's giant head. "You are a nice kitty." Her tears dried up as she pet the cat.
Amelia smiled, glad that she was able to calm the girl. If only she could get her back to someone who could help her... She would gladly give the girl a ride back home, but those annoying ridges down her back wouldn't be very comfortable. If only...wait! Amelia stood back up and spread her wings out, then used them to cover her back. She then lay down next to the girl, hoping she would understand.
The girl watched her curiously. "You'll give me a ride?" At the cat's nod, she smiled and carefully moved herself closer to the big cat. She cried out in pain when she climbed up onto the cat's back, but settled in quickly enough. "Mean goblins busted my leg." She sniffled.
Amelia waited until the girl had a firm grip, then got back to her feet. The girl pointed in the direction she needed to go, and Amelia set off.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis burst through the brush.
The girl screamed in fright and huddled against Amelia. Amelia tried to purr comfortingly back to her. "You're scaring her."
Zelgadis huffed, but backed away. "What do you think you're doing? Where are you taking that girl?"
"I'm taking her home. She was hurt by goblins and can't get back herself." Amelia proceeded to walk the way the girl had indicated.
Zelgadis came up alongside her, again causing the girl to cling closer to Amelia. "You're headed to the village again. You don't intend to take her there?"
"I can't just leave her out here." Amelia continued walking, making sure the girl didn't fall. "Even if they try to attack me again. I can live better with injury to myself than to know that an innocent life was lost because I chose to do nothing."
Zelgadis huffed again, but didn't comment. He finally dropped back, not liking to be stared at by the small girl. When she kept watching him anyway, he glared at her. The girl whimpered and hugged Amelia in fright.
The three spent the rest of the walk in silence. When they finally neared the dreaded village, Zelgadis stopped altogether. "I better not let them see me. They might treat you better when she's with you, but they already have good reason to fear me."
Amelia nodded in silent agreement, then approached the entrance of the village. It didn't take long for the locals to take notice, and they again gathered together. Amelia slowed her approach, wanting to get close enough so the girl could be easily reached, but not close enough to again provoke an attack.
"Daddy!" The girl called out and waved. A man in the crowd waved back, but did not approach.
When she was just outside the village, Amelia stopped and crouched down, allowing the girl to slide off. She then backed away, hoping the father would come and collect his daughter.
He did just that, then took her back to the safety of the village. Amelia smiled, and then got hit on the head by a rock.
"Hey! Don't do that!" The girl cried out.
A villager picked up another rock and sent it flying. "We caught that beast in the orchard earlier! If we hadn't scared it off, we'd have had nothing left!" He urged his fellows on.
Amelia retreated back into the forest, to be met by Zelgadis. She could tell by the look he was giving her that he had seen what happened. She gave him a weak smile as she walked past. "Let's just go."
Zelgadis growled back at the village, then followed after her.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: The most amazing thing happened: I left the State 'o Potatoes on time, so I actually got home a lot earlier than I had thought. (How I missed the rain, trees, hills, wildlife, etc...) I thought it unfair to make you all wait another week while I get settled back into my own life, so you get a short chapter.
As for this chapter, was anyone else amused by the opening? Amelia seems to enjoy her drill sessions, so that first part just happened. I am way too amused by Zelgadis actually going along with it, but then again, without an audience he seems more willing to subject himself to such things. (Just watch the added scene in Slayers Premium when he lets Amelia pull him along, even though he is weakly protesting he doesn't want to go.)
The mob of goblins are courtesy of the Slayers novels. I think most here already know I am a Dungeons and Dragons nerd, so when I read about Lina's encounter in the novels with goblins, I was thrilled! You don't need big nasty beasts all the time. There are lesser nasties to wander the forests, and if even Lina Inverse herself knows to avoid them, that's saying something. (I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil the novels for those who still haven't read them. You really need to go get them! We can't have the rest of the novels released in English if people don't support them! That will make me very sad since they left off right when things are getting good...)
Sorry, ranting again. Back to the story!
Next time: The man took out his sword and struck a dramatic pose. "I, Sir Lionel de Fracas, having heard of thy terrible deeds, have come to slay thee! Have at you!" He thrust his sword forward and charged.