Destined Girl
Ch.4: There is No Choice
I arrived home late in the night, I got off my horse and led Alainn into the stable. She snorted as I opened the gate, she entered. I unsaddled her, throwing her saddle to the ground. I was growing tired and tomorrow I would leave.
I said good-night to Alainn and walked over to the house. I opened the door, only to see my Pa to look up and scold me.
"Where have you been?" he scolded. I sighed.
How to tell him.
"Pa," I said.
"I was worried sick!" he shouted at me.
"Pa,"
"Maddy do you know what time it is?!"
"PA!"
"What?!"
"I needed to go some place far from here" I said. He looked at me as he crossed his arms.
"I'm listening" he said.
"I didn't want to go," I said. "But I had too"
He didn't interrupt me.
"I'm not who you think I am," I said. "I'm an avatar Pa"
His eyes widened but then narrowed in disbelief.
"You can't be" he told me.
"I am," I said. "I am one of two avatars"
"My own daughter"
"You are not my biological father Pa," I said. "My father and mother were wiped out along with the rest of my people"
He looked at me, his features softened.
"But you will always be my non-biological father" I said.
"You sound like your saying good-bye" he said, hinting my voice.
"I have to depart on a journey to reunite with my twin brother and put an end to this war" I said as I used my fist for emphasis.
"I am not letting you go to fight" Pa told me.
"There is no choice" I said. "I have no choice"
"You will get hurt-"
"Then so be it" I said. "My destiny is to end this war with my brother by summer's end, if I don't. Well I don't know what will happen"
"I guess I don't have a say" he said.
"I'm sorry Pa," I said. I threw myself at him as I hugged him. I heard his heartbeat. "I know this is all new to you, but you will always be my Pa"
He smiled.
"I never been so proud of you ever in life" he told me as he let go of me, holding me by the arms. He pulled me into another hug.
I bid my good-night as I stalked up to my bedroom, I untied my sash, letting my sword slid into my hands. To my surprise, Pa didn't notice my sword. My thigh was sore from the clanking of the metal when I rode home, leaving a small bruise. Instead , being very exhausted, I just climbed into bed after setting my sword down to lean on the nightstand. I pulled the covers over me as I drifted into a rough sleep.
I tossed and turned, trying to sleep. When I did fall asleep, I would have a nightmare causing me to wake up and the cycle to begin all over again. I found myself wake up to the sun shining brightly in my face. I growled as I sat up and hung my legs over the side of my bed. I used my hands to rub my face, I looked at the sword which brought me the memories of last night.
I picked up the sword and took another look at it. I set it back down as I walked over to my bag and looked at it. I emptied it out and looked at the scroll (I forgot to mention I put it in there after receiving the sword). I set it down as I looked at the small bag. I walked over to my pillow and lifted it, revealing a picture. It was a picture of Sam and Tommy, Pa snapped the photo. I smiled. I put in my small knife, a compass, a change of clothes and then the scroll. I reached for my Bible when I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in" I said. The door creaked open as I heard footsteps enter.
"I figure you might need this" it was my Pa. I turned around as he handed me another scroll. I opened it up.
"The map of the world?" I asked.
"It'll help you" he said. I nodded as I rolled it back up and set it in my pouch. "How are you going to find him?"
"My brother?" I asked. He nodded. "For right on Alainn's back. Hopefully he's in America"
He laughed. I pushed him playfully. He finished laughing and looked at me.
"Look at you," he said. "Yesterday you were just an ordinary girl and now your the avatar"
"I'm never ordinary" I spoke with playful a playful scold.
"Right" he said. I turned back to my pouch, I slid a sack of coins in the pouch. "Maddy, I want you to be careful"
"I will Pa" I said. He nodded.
"You might want to grab your canteen" he suggested. I smiled as I grabbed my small water holder.
After an hour of getting ready, tying down my bedroll to Alainn's back, along with the saddle, filling my canteen and getting several pieces of food, I was ready. I picked up my cowboyish hat and slipped it on my head for the first time in a week. (It was the hat that I wore when I was going far away on horseback, I know strange)
The moment came when I had to say good-bye. I brought Alainn out of the stable and looked at Pa. I saw him just look at me, the gleam in his eyes showed me his pride in me and I quickly ran to hug him.
"Good-bye Pa" I whispered, tears forming in the brim of my eyes.
"Good-bye my young Avatar" he whispered to me as he hugged me back. I let go of him. He handed me my sword and I attached it to my sash. "No matter what happens, you make me proud"
I nodded as I walked over Alainn. I climbed up on her back, mounted perfectly. I snapped the reins, Alainn neighed and soon broke into a strong gallop, I arrived at the dirt road and turned on it, heading into town to bid farewell to my best friends.
To be continued.