Falling

I had trouble beginning so I started somewhere in the middle of the beginning:











I ran and ran. I ignored my pounding chest and dry throat. I was aheads by a couple lengths at least, but I didn’t plan on stopping until I was hidden deep in the forest. Nali’s pads pounded right beside me. Her strength seemed unfading compared to my own slipping away between my fingers. She wasn’t fighting like I was though.

We finally were emersed in the forest, but we didn’t stop. We kept running until I couldn’t run any longer. I practically fell against a tree to rest. I gasped as I caught my breath again. Nali curled up next to me and rested her head on my lap. We were only there a short while when I heard some noise coming from the forest in front of me. I silenced my breathing and waited.

I jumped when Nali jumped to her feet with a menacing growl. I didn’t try to silence her. I just waited to see what she could smell coming. My body became tenser as she began to crouch in a more defensive position.

Finally what had been approaching us revealed itself through the brush. A reddish-brown panther poked his head out of the brush. Still hiding, the panther was crouched down, ready to pounce.  The panther’s size was impressive, but it was easy to see it was young.

I put up a force field between Nali and the panther, but I’d be stupid to relax. I leaned forward and wrapped my hands around Nali. Pulling back, I whispered to her.

“Don’t, Nali. Don’t provoke it. Let it pass us by,” I whispered softly. A panther this big could only be a magicians. Even Nali was almost twice the size of even the largest wolf. This panther was young and too large not to be owned by a magician. My force field can keep it back, but my magic isn’t near strong enough to keep even a foot soldier magician at bay.

I pulled Nali back, harder this time, but she was unfazed by my physical strength. “Please Nali,” I said softly. Both Nali and me, fell back in surprise when a loud, deep voice.

“Leave’m be Tak.” The voice was followed by a sigh, but the panther relaxed. A man pushed through the brush toward us. I caught sight of the Genza symbol on the handle of his sword. He didn’t look like the other soldiers I’d encountered before, but the symbol was enough to make me cautious. If I can, I must get away from this magician as soon as I can.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Tak can be a little wild sometimes,” he said turning my way. “You alright?” He asked, offering his hand to me.

“Yes…thank you,” I replied softly as he helped me to my feet.

“What’s a little girl like yourself doing out in the forest alone?”

“I am old enough to be called a woman,” I said strongly. He chuckled.

“I guess I shouldn’t be talking. I bet you’re not far behind me. So where are you headed?”

“I don’t know yet…” I couldn’t think of a fake location fast enough, so I went with the stupidest response. There is no way I’d tell this Genza man the truth. He could easily follow me.

“Ah, I see. I’ve always wanted to travel and live off the land…” Silence fell over us. He seemed to be waiting for me to speak. “Do you enjoy it?”

“Some, I guess. The freedom is nice, but it wasn’t a decision I would make for myself,” I said strongly.

“How could you be forced into such a wonderful life?”

“Wonderful only to you.”

“If you say so,” he said with a casual chuckle. I don’t think he could see how on edge I was. His sword kept me from relaxing.

“Well, we should get moving.”

“Alright. Good Luck.” I stopped.

“What do you mean, good luck?” I asked jumpily. Did he know? If he did, why does it sound like he’s letting me go? Is he giving me a head start?

“You said it wasn’t a life you choose, so I assume you’re looking for somewhere to settle and make a life for yourself. Good luck to you,” he said with a grin. 

“Thank you,” I said starting back south through the woods. Nali and I disappeared from his sight and started back into a run toward the city. I climbed onto her back and moved with her large strides and the pounding of her large paws. The soldier who had confronted us in town had knocked my bag off my shoulder. To survive, we’ll need to get it back before we continue any farther south. Nali thundered into the town. I was compelled to hurry. I felt as if I didn’t, the magician soldier we’d run into would catch up with us.

The town was filled with soldiers, and Nali instantly caught their attention. They drew their swords and swung at us as we bolted by but Nali was quick enough to evade them swiftly. She pushed toward the southeastern corner of town where I had been caught by the sight of a Watcher. A small group of people are the only people who can recognize me for who I am. These people were once loyal to me, but now they’re loyalty lies with the Genza kingdom.

The Watcher recognized me and instantly attacked me. I was able to defend myself and escape without much conflict. I don’t stand up magically against hardly any magician. I can definitely defend myself when I’m called to, but evading has become a specialty of mine. Nali’s speed has been a big help to me, but I know better than to try to out run a panther. Especially one with a mage at his side.

The townsfolk scattered at the sight of me, the soldiers among them soon became obvious. Their numbers increased as I neared where I’d last confronted the watcher. Nali slid to a stop as we entered the market. It was swarming with soldiers, and I could instantly recognize it had been a big mistake. The square not only had two Watchers but also two mages. One had a python as a guide, the other had a large hawk. Nali and I would have stood a chance if we’d confronted either of them alone, but two at once was an impossible match.

The Watchers instantly drew their weapons and the magicians also set their aims on me. I crouched down low to Nali. She bolted through the soldiers, continuing to dodge soldier’s attacks. It wasn’t until the first magician reached us that I began to worry. The python cut Nali off, and the hawk rammed me. Knocking me from Nali, it would be easy to separate us, thus weakening us.  My back hit the ground and I felt I was being overrun by soldiers. I raised my hand and sent out a strong shockwave, easily sending the humans to the ground. I was able to stand before the first magician was upon me.  I threw out a fireball as my first attack. He simply dodged it as he rushed upon me. I was too slow. I never stood a chance.

The magician threw me to the ground by my throat. I lost my breath on impact and the back of my head pounded from the pain.

“The Watcher recognized you. There is no escape this time,” the magician said flatly. In my mind, I knew he was right. I will not give up, but I lost all hope in my heart at that moment.

Suddenly a sword was plunged through his chest but stopped with the tip’s bloody point pointed at my own. A drop of blood fell onto my dress, staining the gentle blue colored fabric. I scowered backwards as the mage started to fall forward. His body fell to the ground, revealing the sword to be held in the hands of the panther mage. In his free hand he carried my leather bag filled with the only possessions I had to my name. He threw it at my feet, and I jumped.

“Run, I’ll hold them off,” he said strongly. I scrambled to my feet when he turned his back to me, headed toward the remaining mage and the two watchers who could reveal my identity to him. Why was he helping me though? Is he not Genzian? What kind of man would attack his own? Who is he?

I tensed as I watched one of the Watchers reach him. A couple words and this man’s confusing attempt to help me would be ruined. A few words of my true identity would turn them all against me. Before the Watcher had time to speak, the panther mage sword sliced through his throat. This man’s speed and strength was immense. The second Watcher reached him, but didn’t attempt to speak. The Watcher was the first to attack, but didn’t stand a chance against the panther mage. He too hit the ground lifeless.

“I know who you are,” I heard a whisper from behind me. I jumped around but the python mage was already upon me. I squealed as he pinned me to the ground by my throat. His strong hand was choking me, so I struggled to pull it from my throat. My eyes became watery as I struggled. Suddenly a blue shockwave hit the magician in the face. He was thrown off of me and slid and rolled to a stop a distance away.

“I thought I told you to run,” I heard a voice say from behind me. The panther mage approached and passed me slowly. He stood in front of me and glanced back at me. “Go,” he said simply. I jumped at his relaxed tone, but picked up my bag and bolted out of the city with Nali thundering at my side. I slid onto her back, and she ran.

Nali ran south as fast as she could but soon enough I could hear the panther’s large paws pounding closer and closer to us. I pulled Nali to a stop, jumped down, and faced him. I was ready to fight him if I needed to.

His panther slid to a stop in front of me and the mage was on his feet before I knew it.

“As soon as you entered the square I knew what you were after. I didn’t notice it before, that you had nothing with you. You sure are traveling light,” he said simply. It wasn’t until he finished speaking that he noticed how tense I was. “Why are you so tense? I helped you back there.”

“Who are you to help me and cut down your own so easily?” I said tensely.

“My own?” he said almost confused. I pointed to his sword, and he understood. He chuckled.

“You know why those guys were giving you trouble. Your wolf here, so why don’t you just confront the castle and get a pass like everyone else?” He said tensely as he leaned in toward me. I scrambled to take a couple steps back. He chuckled in my fear, knowing I stood no chance against him.

“Why did you help me?” I asked again.

“You really wanna know. I didn’t like those guys.”

“You killed them.” I said, the remorse for them obvious in my voice.

“If you had the power to, wouldn’t you in order to secure your own safety and the freedom you enjoy?” he said straightly. I shifted my weight and realized he was right.

“I…I don’t know.” I said turning my back to him and walking slowly toward the south.

“You would, you said yourself….hey, where are you going?” he said jogging to catch up with me.

“Anywhere but here. You killed four men back there. I bet at least half of those soldiers are chasing after you, so if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get as far away from you as possible,” I said quickening my pace. He was able to keep with me easily.

“So what, you’re headed south?” I slowed my pace at his odd question. My direction was obvious, so why did he ask?

“Yeah, why?”

“Because you’ll never get across the Canyon without a pass. Ever since the princess went missing, they’ve upped security on the only bridge over the gully,” he said simply. I felt my heart drop.

“I’ll just cross without Nali,” I said searching for a way across the bridge without hitting trouble. He chuckled at my response.

“When I say they’ve upped security I don’t only mean numbers. They’ve scattered Red and Blue level magicians all over the land, and I’m betting there is at least two of them there. They can recognize you as a magician and won’t let you through without either a pass, your animal guide, or without dragging you to the castle themselves.”

“I’ll find a way,” I said strongly. He chuckled again, so I snapped around. “Then what do you propose I do?”

“Go through the canyon. It will take you longer, but there is minimal security through there,” he said simply.

“Nali and I could never survive a journey through the Canyon,” I said shaking my head simply. It was a long, tiring expedition. Hunting would be scarce, and the locals are not typically too friendly.

“We’ll go together. I’m heading south myself, and I think it would be the best route for me to find what I’m looking for?” he said so casually. His grin put me on edge.

“How do I know I can trust you? You’re a Genzian who kills your own for a complete stranger.” He chuckled again.

“I don’t think the complete stranger should be questioning me, being you have your own secrets.”

“Then how do I know I can trust you?” I said trying not to sound intimidated by him.

“We could reveal our true power to each other…” he suggested. Revealing your true power to someone else was very common among magician allies. Some even consider it to be a promise to protect one another in battle. It was a good suggestion, but I doubt I will ever completely trust this man. How do I know he’s not sending me right into a trap? He did save me back there, and his power could be just what I need to survive the Canyon and finally reach home.

“Alright, but I’ve never done it before,” I said timidly. He chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do all the work,” he said stepping in toward me. He was taller up close.  He raised his hands as if he had placed them on a wall between us. I raised my own in the same fashion and slowly, our hands neared each other. As soon as our hands touched, the mage locked his hands with mine and an enormous amount of energy, his energy, surged through me. The longer our hands were locked, the more uncomfortable I began to feel. My stomach turned and my legs went weak. His power seemed endless.

“Hey, are you okay?” I heard the mage say. His power was intoxicating. I couldn’t speak…I couldn’t breathe. Suddenly our hands were released, and when I reopened my eyes I was in his arms, leaning heavily on him.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he helped me back onto my own feet. I swayed but stood on my own.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my power would hurt you like that…” I cut him off.

“No, I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me,” I said. I noticed I was breathing heavily and tried to hide it. “Come on, we should head out, shouldn’t we?” I said leaning on Nali to hide how tired I suddenly was.

“Alright, I slow down for you. Just follow me,” he said climbing on his panther’s back. His panther took off northeast, so Nali and I followed hesitantly. The Canyon was south from here….