Destined Girl

Ch.7: New Terrain

It had been two weeks of hard sailing, Alainn was beginning to go crazy so I had to stay with her as long as I could to comfort her. I was sitting next to her as she laid down. I was studying my map.

"We are here," I said pointed to the large body of water in the map. My finger skimmed the page as I came up to where our destination was. "And here is where we get off, at Long Hua Harbor"

She softly snorted.

I put my hand to my chin.

"I suppose then we should head up north and take another…" I bowed my head. "Another ferry"

Alainn looked up and her ears went back and then she rested her head back down. I scratched behind her ear like a dog. Her mane was getting longer. I heard heavy footsteps walk up to me.

"Everything alright?" came a bellowing voice. I looked up and saw the captain.

"Yes sir" I said.

"Very well," he said.

"Do you know when we will dock sir?" I asked before he walked away.

"By noon tomorrow" he said. I nodded and he walked away. I looked at Alainn.

"Just another day" I said. "You can hold up that long"

I found myself drifting off to sleep as I dosed off, lying against Alainn. She didn't mind. I slipped into a peaceful dream, another one about home.

I was chasing Sam who was laughing as his legs pumped.

"I'm going to get you Sam!" I shouted. He laughed.

"If you can catch me!" he yelped. I began to break into another sprint as I finally got in close enough space to hop on his back and bring us both to the ground. I followed my idea and we both fell against the ground, rolling. I was on top of him and we were laughing.

I felt myself smile in my sleep as I recalled that memory. My dream soon slipped into another memory about Tommy and I, this time I was the victim.

"Maddy O'Neil!" Thomas shouted with a playful set of rage. "Get back over here!"

"You gotta catch me first," I shouted back. I wasn't getting tired even though I ran for 6 minutes without stopping. We were running in the green field of my farm as my Pa and Sam and Tommy's pa was talking and helping each other with some chores, I was too young to help out on the farm. I heard the heavy panting of one of my best friends, I felt my foot slip into a pile of mud as I slipped and fell to the ground, Thomas soon caught up with me and got on his knees, he grabbed my wrists and pinned me to the ground, I was trying to hold in my laughter.

"Thomas Lind!" came a shout. "Get off of Maddy"

Tommy growled as his father scolded him. He got off of me.

"Let him have some fun Dave" came my father's voice. "They were only playing around"

"I don't want my boy to hurt your daughter" he said. I huffed as I hugged my chest with my arms. "She's a girl"

"She's more than just a girl Pa" Tommy said. He looked at me and smiled. "I know she is"

"Come on son," Tommy's Pa told him. "Let's head back home"

I hugged Tommy good-bye and kissed his cheek as a thank you. He blushed.

I heard a gruff voice.

"Lower the anchor!"

I yawned as I opened my eyes. I sat up and my eyes skimmed off the ship's railing. I got on my feet as I saw land.

"We're here?" I asked myself.

"Yes," came the Captain's voice. "Earlier than expected, I presume good sailing conditions"

I looked at him.

"Everything seem's to be coming up to me fast" I said. He smiled as he went back to ordering his crew. I walked over to the railing and set both my hands in it, I felt the air become rather warmer and I noticed no snow in the mountains or the rest of the land. I bowed my head and turned, I walked back over to Alainn who seemed to be awake. I rolled up my map and slipped it in my pouch. "We're here Alainn"

She bobbed her head again and I waited till we were anchored and I could get off this blasted ship, two weeks too long.

We pulled up to the harbor in matters of minutes as I got myself prepared to board off the ship, I brought Alainn off the ship and we walked over to the port town. I smiled as I looked at Alainn.

"Feels nice don't it Alainn?" I asked. She neighed as we walked on. I looked around me, I saw people hold swords which made me grasp the handle of my blade as an impulse. They all looked at me and smirked. I still looked around as I accidently felt myself bump into something, or someone. I looked up.

"Sorry," I said. It was a girl about my age, she scurried off before I could say anymore. She wore a blue dress and she had long brown hair braided down her back and she had tanned color skin. I shook my head and continued on.

"Must be water tribe" I muttered to myself. I began to head into the forest that was behind the town as an effort to get a good start on the road.

To be continued.