I Am Dust

Clyde Lynx

Chapter VI

Now I see why my father pushed me off a 200 foot cliff as training. I would've been dead if I didn't have him to help me.

I did exactly as I did before: Keep my arms straight and out from my sides, and tuck my right foot over my left foot, making my body similar to an arrow. I sucked my belly in, reducing as much wind drag as I can. Fingers closed, hand straight, feet stretched out, and before I knew it, I was almost flying through the air like an arrow. The difference was soon shown between me and everybody else. Everyone had their own style as we went rocketed through the air, soaring across the water at an arc, our eyes and mind locked on the forest we were soon to plummet to. Mine however had to be much more different; I wanted to get as far ahead and away from people as I can, so I need to be the furthest.

The wind screamed and whistled in my ears as I jet ahead, passing many blurs and turning my body, shifting side to side to readjust myself. I was like a human plane, without the propeller, motor, landing wheels, and I don't have missiles mounted to my arms. In seconds, I was already ahead of the cloud of students, losing little to no altitude. I could see some already landing in the clearing or the edge of the forest, and many were soon to follow.

I looked right ahead and saw that tree I was aiming for. I was right on target. Just a few seconds before I could start landing.

I tucked in and rolled, adjusting my body until I was flat, arms and legs stretched out spread eagle. I made myself flat against the wind, slowing myself down like a sugar glider, and reached out for the tree.

Everything went smoothly. Right until when a student crashed into me and knocked me aside like a pinball. I didn't even see or hear him coming, the wind was blowing so loud in my ears, I didn't even notice him screaming and flailing, spinning out of control as he obviously had no idea what in the hell he was doing!

So instead for a nice landing, I plummeted into the trees. I was flipping and flapping my arms, but it didn't stop me from crashing into an oak tree. My ribs made first contact, smashing into the huge trunk and ricocheted off from it. I couldn't even finish my cry in pain as I slammed into another tree, my back smacking right into the next tree. I fortunately lost the momentum as I finally started falling, my body too sore for me to even dare to move. But then I realized that if I didn't stop falling, I was going to be in trouble. In an attempt I snatched at a tree branch, but it snapped and I continued my plummet.

It only took about four attempts and crashing into five branches for me to have my wrist snatch and wrap around a mossy vine and stop myself from hitting the ground. At least, that's what I hoped for. Instead, the vine snapped off a branch and kept me falling. I slammed into the ground on my stomach and my forehead. In a split second, the branch realized what happened and snatched me back up, holding me almost fifteen feet in the air. In short, I just slammed into the ground and got bungee slung back into the air for me to dangle.

I was too dazed to even try to scream. I only hung there like a crappy piñata, slowly spinning like a disco ball, and waited for the pain in my ribs and head to subdue. My vision was blurry and my ears were only ringing, like a flash bang just went off right in my ears. The world was spinning and tilting, but that might have just been my head limply moving by itself. My ribs were on fire, splitting agony filling my entire right side. My forehead was bleeding, letting blood run down my head and throbbing like mad. My wrist felt like it was dislocated, but luckily it wasn't.

I decided I should probably take a quick nap and wait for something or someone to try to wake me up later, but just as I was about to nod off, I heard the sound again: the wood of the branch started bending, the dry bark cracking and the twigs and leaves rattling.

"Here we go," were the first things I muttered when I started falling one more time. I looked up at the sun piercing through the leaves of the trees above, silhouetting them above me. The white and black started getting smaller and smaller, the vine whipping around and the severed branch falling down the height of the tree. And then it went all still as I hit the ground, my back cracking against a rock and my head luckily cushioned by what felt like a soft mound of dirt. The thick branch slammed against my stomach like a club, blowing the wind out of my lungs and leaving me groaning on the cold grassy ground, battered and dizzy from the sudden turn of events.

I probably laid there for about five minutes, not making any attempt to try to get up. My entire body was throbbing in pain, sore and bruised and cut from the twigs and branches. It all felt like a bad hangover, including the urges to vomit. I decided that I had my moment, and that I needed to get moving. I used the branch like a cane, stabbing it into the ground and pushing myself up on one knee. I felt like an old man with joint problems, groaning pitifully as I got up on my feet and used the branch to keep myself up.

The branch felt sturdy and strong, making me wonder about how it broke. Maybe it was from the sudden trauma of snatching my weight so suddenly? Anyways, it felt like a good club that I could use to at least attempt to defend myself. With this in mind, I took one shaky step after another, and soon I found myself jogging through the forest.

There is one thing I can say about this forest already: It is not quiet. The thick lush leaves provided cover and shade, great places for birds to hide their nests from prey and snakes to slither around and attempt to snatch the bird's eggs. I could already follow the beat of the woods, my experienced eyes finding many places and watching the trees for the quickest route to head North with little obstruction. As soon as I realized it, I was already at a sprint, running through the forest like an animal that belonged.

9 Years Ago

As soon as I realized it, I was already at a sprint, running through the forest like an animal that belonged.

Dad told me not to go running too deep into the forest; dinner was almost done. But I just can't help myself! I loved the feeling of the dirty ground against my shoes, the jagged rocks not even bothering me at all. The little branches that slapped me in the face? They're nothing! Not even the cries of foxes that would make some kids scream and run home couldn't stop me from going deeper into the forest! I was alive, I was free! I was an animal! I don't wanna go home now! I wanna keep running!

And dad couldn't stop me now! I was too far ahead from him to stop me, and he'll never find me out around here. He could scream my name and run as fast as he could, that won't matter if he doesn't know this area.

I know this already. Bonnie told me! Bonnie knew a lot about the forest, much more than I do, but he was always there to tell me what to do!

Well, he wasn't really there, because I couldn't see him, but I can hear his voice in my head now, that childish voice ringing in my head. "Turn left and you'll be right at our spot."

I grabbed the tree and spun around it, snapping right across from it and running left. And there it was! Bonnie helped me make a nice tent out of sticks and leaves that I can hide in like a cave! I zoomed right into it and hid in it. I covered my mouth, trying not to giggle too much. I lost him! Now me and Bonnie can play!

I pulled out my little stuffed toy. This is Bonnie! He's a wolf doll, but he has two tails instead of one! Mom made me him for my birthday last year. He's my favorite birthday gift and my best friend! He has black soft fur and big ears that I can scratch behind. He had black plastic eyes that were brown in the center, but they can change!

"Dad won't find us out here won't he Bonnie...!" I asked excitedly, bouncing a bit as I sat on the little blanket I have lying on the ground.

"C'mon, don't call me Bonnie, I hate that!" He whined at me. He hates being called Bonnie, but I like it! His real name is hard to pronounce. Bonicla... I dunno. But I'll call him Bonnie!

"Okay... Bonnie!" I laugh loud, rocking back and forth.

"You're mean!" He pouted.

"But your name is too weird!" I explained again.

"Is not!" He defended.

"Is too!"

I guess we were too loud, because I saw my dad's head poking through the hole in my tent.

"Clyde!" He shouted, grabbing my attention.

I gasped as he reached in and grabbed me, pulling me out and hugging me tight. I kept Bonnie in my hand, letting him dangle as I held him by his arm.

"Jeez, son, I told you not to run like that! Why don't you ever listen!?"

"Bonnie wanted to play, and I like running in the forest dad..." I looked down, trying to put the puppy eyes on. They always work.

"Well, I don't mind you running in the forest. You always know how to come back, and I used to do the same thing. But you know your mother always gets mad. You don't want a spanking from her, do you?" He looked at me with condescending eyes.

"No dad..." I looked down guiltily.

"Good. Then let's go home. Your mom made cookies, and Hans might eat them all again." He slung me on his shoulder, letting me sit on them as he started carrying me home

"He better not!" Mom makes the best cookies ever! She makes chocolate chips and makes everything herself! "Run dad, run!"

My dad laughed as he started running. I squealed in delight and laugh as my dad gave me a piggy back ride home. He's really fast! Even Bonnie thinks so!

Clyde Lynx

The branch proved to be more useful than I thought.

I kept the vine wrapped around my wrist and attached to the stick as I ran forward. I used it like a whip, yanking and whipping it around as I smacked the Beowolves away, and when they got too close, I yanked the stick into my hand so I can bash them in the head and keep running.

The only downfall to this is that it was far from lethal. I found myself being hunted down by the Beowolves, dodging their claws as they swiped at me, and bashing them in the side of the skull as they leaned out to bite me. They had this forest down more than me, darting past the tall trees and sniffing me out, snarling and howling at me as I tore through the forest like I was on fire.

At first, I didn't worry about the beasts too much, but as soon as they started chasing me, I knew that I was in deep shit. If they kept howling like that, there's going to be wolves in front of me that'll get the message and turn right at me. I'll be surrounded by them all and they'll all fight for my carcass. But I couldn't stop. I had to keep heading up North and pray to God I don't get killed or that any other Grimm start to come after me.

Then there was the explosion. I could hear it like it was a cannon being fired from the distance. It scared me enough for me to almost fall, but I caught myself by my hands and lunged forward, kicking my legs and putting me back on my feet and running.

Okay, I could tell that is NOT a good sign. So with that in mind, I should NOT head that way, right?

Well... Y'know what's going to happen? Clyde Lynx to the rescue, I guess...

I broke through the brushes and slid to a stop in the field. There was the temple far off on the other side, along with other people standing there. I then saw the Death Stalker: A gigantic scorpion Grimm with a black exoskeleton and white plates as armor. Its tail tip is gold, shining off the sun as it sticks in the air.

I watch it zoom to the figure in the middle of the field. As soon as I saw the feathers stuck into the ground in a line and the Nevermore zooming around, I knew what happened: The student got pinned down. I could see her struggling to get her cape loose but was too weak. The Death Stalker was heading right to her.

It looks like the Beowolves gave up and ran off. I would too if I saw that monster. But I didn't. I don't even know what went through my mind as I ran after it. I just... had to save her. The whole scene just haunted me: A helpless person pinned down and waiting to get killed. Just like Hans.

As soon as I got close enough and the Death Stalker was right on her, I took that stick in my hand and chucked it at its rear, tugging my vine and giving it a hard whip. I proceeded to scream at it. "HEY ASSWIPE!"

It turned right at me. As I stood there with the stick in my hand and stared into its ten eyes, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time. An adrenaline rush. I somehow felt powerful again, in an odd sense. Staring a beast in the eye with no fear made me feel tough, like there was some false courage rushing through me. The drums started beating in my head. But it didn't burn. It actually tingled, like the oxygen rushing through my muscles after a long and hard run. I was going to do something amazing.

And then I saw the tail shooting down at me. And I also remembered that I don't have a semblance or a real weapon to defend myself with. It's great that I got the Death Stalker off that girl, but at least she a chance, and even a weapon that could kill it. I could bat at its shell forever, but the stick would either break or it would've already chopped me in half with its pincers.

I jumped back and I felt the wind get sliced as the stinger shot down, an inch away from stinging me. And it was at that moment when I realized I screwed up.