I am sooooooooooo sorry this took so long. I was on a little trip. Well here it is! BABADADA!
Chapter Four
It was twilight hour. The last shades of purple in the sky could be seen hovering over the mountain peaks. Kareia had suffered some minor bruises that she had escaped with in the recent battle. Once she had placed a few miles between her and Kuasta she called to Saveil and Emeral.
One half of her mind reached out to Emeral and the other to Saveil. The center of her mind acted as a barrier between her thoughts with her two companions. Emeral brushed against her mind happily as Kareia communicated to Saveil.
Have you found a good place to camp for the night?
In response, an image projected into her head. Her mind floated slowly off the road and into the forest that blanketed the ground for miles. After traveling a ways through the maze of trees, she saw a small clearing barely big enough for two dragons and a sixteen year old girl.
It's perfect. Thanks Saveil.
Some amusement came from him when she said this and he replied, That wasn't me, it was Emeral. Kareia stood amazed as Saveil broke contact and left her to think to herself. Emeral was growing.
Kareia made a quick glance over her shoulder to see if anyone was following and quickly stepped into the trees. A slight breeze whistled through the branches that hung over her head. As she shuffled through the dead leaves sprawled across her path, she noticed the tree trunks eerily seemed to be watching her pace through their weeds and bushes in the darkened night air.
She found the clearing that matched the image in her mind, along with Saveil and Emeral eagerly waiting for her. Kareia gave a weak smile and sat beside Saveil. Emeral flew to her lap and curled up cozily. Saveil gave a snort turned his head away.
Kareia noted how much larger Emeral has grown since the last couple days. Just like Saveil, she is a fast grower. She sat heavily in her lap and gazed up at her face wondrously with eyes like two giant green crystals.
Kareia sat peacefully resting against Saveil's side sheltered by his out stretched wing while listening to his content humming. She had almost drifted to sleep when she heard his uneasy voice penetrate her thoughts, Kareia…
Saveil pressed against her shoulder. Emeral was stiff and alert. She was about to ask what was the matter until she suddenly heard some rustling and the snapping twigs in the distant darkness. The noise became louder as Kareia slowly rose to her feet and drew her sword. The blade seemed to shine and glow despite the darkness and the symbol resting on it's handle was just as luminous. Saveil was protectively at her side, bearing his teeth, and Kareia made sure Emeral was hidden from sight. Louder noises.
More of those Urgal things do you think? Kareia asked nervously.
We will soon find out.
The noises came to be so close that Kareia could almost make out figures in the night's shadows. Then the noises faded as the barely recognizable figures passed by, leaving the small clearing unnoticed. Kareia relaxed but did not sit back down. She and Saveil stood their ground for a couple minutes, refusing to lose their guard.
Then Kareia finally spoke, I think they're gone, and she sat down to relax her legs.
Saveil still stood with eyes watching the trees sharply. There were no noises now… just silence...but Saveil still stood.
Saveil, Kareia finally said, what—
Someone is still out there, Saveil growled
Before Kareia replied, there was a rustle of leaves and a hooded man stepped out into the clearing. Saveil made a low growl while Kareia leaped to her feet and unsheathed her sword again.
"You should not be so quick to lose your guard young Dragon Rider," said the man in a clear voice. Kareia's eyes widened. She recognized him. Back at the town… He was the hooded man she saw fighting the Urgals!
"Who are you?" Kareia snapped raising her sword. She heard a chuckle from his hidden face.
"There is little time for introductions. Many are searching for you in these woods. But I'll tell you for now my name is Calus."
Kareia glared at him suspiciously, "And what do you want?"
"You should come with me. It is not safe here for you," he said sternly as if there were no question. Is he crazy?
"I—you—I—excuse me? I don't even know who you are! What makes you think that we will follow you?" Kareia nearly shouted.
"You don't understand," his tone serious, "it is extremely important that you come with me. Urgals in numbers much higher than there were back at the city are marching this way searching for you. You must come with me."
No matter how much he insisted, Kareia still didn't trust him, "I don't even know who you are! I'm not going to—" She stopped mid sentence as she noticed Emeral had appeared behind the stranger. He didn't appear to take notice. Kareia held her breath as she watched Emeral take flight over his head and land on it. Calus was startled slightly and in a single swift movement, tried to grab whatever had landed on his head. But Emeral had already glided over his head and flew toward Kareia, and in the process, pulled down Calus's hood.
Although it was hard to see much in the dark, the absence of the hood revealed smooth, blonde, short cut hair over dark green eyes. His expression was irritated at the fact that his face was unwillingly exposed. Then Kareia's eyes laid upon his pointed ears. Pointed ears?
"You…you're a…an elf," Kareia breathed as Emeral landed by her feet. Kareia staggered back. From what she knew, elves were supposed to be in hiding. She wasn't even sure they existed at all. It was an extremely rare and lucky occurrence to lay eyes on one.
Saveil put in his comments, Kareia, I think we can trust him. Elves are decent people. We should follow him. But Kareia was too preoccupied with a different problem to listen.
Calus' eyes widened in shock as he laid eyes on Emeral and said, "Another dragon... this is a surprise. There is another rider?" He looked as though a stream of questions were about to flow from his mouth but he stopped himself, "Where is he? Get him now! Questions will be asked and answered later."
"Excuse me, but who suddenly made you the boss of me?" Kareia asked irritated, "I'm not going with you and neither are my—er—companions. You have entered too late in this game for me to take the chance and trust you."
Calus did not miss the fact that I was hiding something.
"Where is the other rider?" he was suddenly suspicious.
"It doesn't matter because we aren't going with you."
His eyes were suddenly filled with anger, "Listen to me. Do you think this is a game? People's lives are at stake. You and your companion have been granted a gift and honor that words cannot even begin to express. What is it that you plan on doing? Running and hiding? You think that is where your path lies?"
I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes. The truth was, that was exactly what I planned to do. Running and hiding. It's all I know how to do.
"If you keep up this life, it is very likely you will be captured. You aren't very discreet." He was referring to the battle earlier, "would you rather be a slave under the empire? Come with me, dragon rider. Your destiny goes far beyond hiding within trees and eating scraps of meat every night."
"Where does my path lay then? Are you going to lay out my future for me? Do you have it all planned out for me? I tell you now," I stepped up to his face and looked directly into his eyes, "I don't care who you are or where you came from, but if you came here hoping for me to roll over and obey like a dog, you are very sadly wasting your time. I am not an inanimate weapon to be wielded and neither is Saveil or Emeral. If we go with anybody, it will be because we want to, not because of some predetermined fate that all of you sad clowns seem to think we have to follow."
Calus looked very decently outraged. But there was something else he very inconveniently picked up on.
"Saveil and Emeral…dragon names. You have failed to mention the second rider."
Kareia shifted her feet nervously and gazed at the elf reluctantly. He was going to find out sooner or later. After a moments silence she let out a sigh and spoke, "There is no other rider."
"What—"
"Both these dragons belong to me," Kareia looked down at the ground unsure on how to present the news that she was a rider of two dragons. Emeral nudged her leg encouragingly and Saveil moved closer to her side.
"What do you mean both? That's impossible. You can't be a rider of two dragons. It doesn't work that way."
"Apparently it can. Look!" Kareia shoved out her hand and exposed her green silver mark.
Calus's eyes widened in fascination and disbelief. He shook his head, "Two dragons, one rider. I was expecting complications but... This has never happened before. Ever." His words faded from his mouth and he became lost in thought.
A rustling noise came from the foliage in the distance. Kareia remembered that they were being hunted. She sighed…she will have to give in to this stranger for now.
Kareia gave an irritated look and said, "Wasn't it a big deal to get out of here two seconds ago?"
Calus raised his head and considered her words for a moment and finally answered hastily, "Yes we should leave immediately. This can be worked out later."
Calus had no longer said these words when the familiar rustling in the distance could be heard. Kareia and Calus both raised swords at the same time while Saveil and Emeral adjusted their stance ready for attack.
It was then when a tall, maroon hair colored man stepped into the clearing.
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Yay! End of chapter! Er—I mean… darn! End of chapter. I know, it was kind of boring and short. But it's gonna get good. Thank you for the honest and not too mean reviews. Till next chapter! -Dragons4eva