Wayward ( my untitled book...unitl now.)

___1___
The rancid smell of death enveloped Tora as she took in the scene around her. Three bodies were spattered across the ground, a woman and her two children. She looked about fifty feet up the rock's face, to a small ledge, where the woman had jumped from, a large fox stood there, then scampered off. She then let her gaze fall back on them, and was sick all over a small shrub next to her. How am I going to get help? she wondered helplessly. the nearest town was at least four miles away, and she didnt have anything to transport the bodies there with.
Tora bent over the most recognizable body, it was a child of about six, a little girl. Blood oozed thick from her mouth and nose, then was absorbed by the parched soil. She turned to the next body, it was the mother. She was not much older than Tora, only by five or six years. Her arms were tucked underneath her, she was hardly bleeding at all.
Tora turned to the last body, an infant. She almost threw up again at the sight of the poor babe's mangled body. It had fallen on a piece of rock, that impaled its torso. Tora screamed in anger, she could have stopped this madness if she had just been a few minutes earlier! She glanced around for a place to hide the bodies, finding none, she left them alone and started walking, it would be almost 2 hours before she reached Hayis to send people up to the scene.
Tora was 16 years old, she had black hair, the color of black opals, that was twisted into a knot at the back of her neck. Her eyes were a stark blue that contrasted greatly with her light complexion. She carried herself with power, even though she held no place of honor.
Tora was born to a homeless woman, than abandoned to die. A humble widow heard the child's cries and took her in. After a few days, she realized that the baby was cursed, how? She did not know, but she also tried to rid herself of the girl, but to no avail. She was going to kill the girl, but could not do it out of pity. The widow ended up raising her until she was twelve, then sent her away.
Tora sat down on a rotten log to rest. She had been walking for about an hour. She glanced at the sun's position in the sky, it was about mid-afternoon. Tora sat down on a rotten log, absently staring at the ground, she saw things moving, then realized she was staring at a line of ants carrying berries from a nearby bush. She soon located the bush and picked some off of it. As she reached in, she cut open her wrist on a long, sharp thorn. She knew that the bloodshed wouldn't kill her, but it would definitely tire and weaken her. So, with a bit of success she got it to stop.
Tora was immortal, no matter what she did, she could not die, there was also a sick twist to it, she could sense others dying. She would be drawn to places where a life was being extinguished, or death had already come. It was a horrid ability, to know death but never have it.
She had imagined herself in many different occupations; assasin, guard, mercenary, etc. She was very smart, she just wasn't fully educated. Tora had been taught to read, write and count a bit. Her skills were rudementry, but enough for her needs. Truthfully, she hated being taught, and even worse, asking questions. She was to prideful to even think of lowering herself to ask questions.
Tora looked up from the ground she had been absently treading. It was a bit before dusk. She could see the dirty outline of Hayis. During the day it was a pathetic jumble of huts with a weak wall of stones around it, but now it almost looked possibly like a formidible enemy.
As soon as she entered the town, she searched for the local healer. She had heard he was also a sorcerer, but that did not deter her from seeking him out. Tora sighted a hut different from the rest, it was a bit larger, darker, and secluded. She knocked at the door, no answer. Tora knocked again, no answer. Finally she looked around, then carefully opened the door.
Inside it was dark, there were no windows to this house, the only light came from a low burning candle on a rough wood desk. Tora sensed another in the room with her, as she turned around a low hiss escaped the silence. A large shorthair grey, but mostly black, tabby jumped from a dark corner, pacing on a table near her. Tora walked over to it, but decided against petting it as another seething hiss warned her not to.
She sat down in a ramshackle chair, unpleasantly aware of the cat's amber eyes boring into her neck. "I hope you weren't getting comfortable," a low forbidding voice said. Tora sprang from her chair, startled. A man entered from a room she hadn't noticed. The amimal jumped off the table and sauntered over to him, a loud purr emanating from it. The cat looked up at him as he studied it for a moment, " I see you have met Slova." his hand motioned to the feline as he said this. " I am sorry for startling you, but you scared me first!". His previous anger was washed away by a curiosity for this random girl in his house. "My name is Tora, I..." the man interrupted, "And mine is Mouras, now carry on."
A little perturbed, Tora finished her sentence " I need your help, three people, a woman and her children are dead up at Smari Rock." Mouras closed his eyes and chuckled, which kind of shocked her, she didn't find anything in the situation funny. "Why is this important to me? People die everyday." His voice carried a bored tone. "Because..."Tora took in a deep breath," They are Lord Malgasi's wife and children." Mouras was paying attention now, "How are you sure of this?" Tora thought back to the macabre scene. " All three of them had a vine with a cup in the middle stiched onto their left sleeve..." "Ah, the emblem of the Malgasi family." Once again Mouras had cut Tora off in mid-sentence, I hope he doesn't do that all the time , Tora thought to herself.
Mouras's face darkened for a moment, then he turned away. Almost as if she understood what was happening, Slova started yoweling at his back. Mouras turned around and took the cat up in his arms, whispering to it, as it made quiet cat noises back at him. Tora was extreamly confused.

___2___
Mouras looked up at Tora, then spun around and headed to the back room. The cat looked up at her, as if telling Tora she should follow, so she cautiously did. He went to a small side-room. Tora coutiously followed and peeked in to watch him. Mouras was paging through a voluminous book with worn leather binding. The pages were stained and tattered from years of use. He ran his fingers over paragraphs of forgotten wisdom and spells, his eyes scanning with hunger for something.
Tora lost interest and looked around the room, there was a table with cut up parts of what looked to have been a horse. Above that, there were three shelves with everything from powders and potions, to preserved flesh. In the back there was a large metal basin filled with a thick brown concoction.
Tora jumped as Mouras pounded his fist on the desk. He turned towards her grinning (shockingly), reavealing his straight, pure white teeth. He snatched a leather bag from his desk, then proceeded to fill it with random things of the shelves. "Did you perchance see anyone around at Smari Rock?" Mouras asked. Tora thought of everything she had noticed, then replied "No."
Slova suddenly lept onto the table and drilled Mouras with her eyes. He intently studied the cat, then asked " Are you positive you didn't see anyone?" Both Slova and Mouras gazed at Tora. She closed her eyes and thought. The only living thing there was a brown fox on the ledge , " I was the only human there," she finally replied.Mouras stared blankly into empty air, obviously thinking. His eyes suddenly opened wide as the cat let out a deep growl in Tora's direction.
Alarmed, she looked to Mouras to stop the feline from attacking her. “ What did you mean by you were the only human there?” “Exactly what I said, I was the only alive human there, on the ledge there was a brown fox, but it ran off as soon as it saw me.” Tora didn't really understand why Mouras had to ask about it. He fell into a chair, gazing at the floor. Abruptly, he looked up at her, “ We're not going to Smari Rock.” Tora looked at him angerly “Why not?” she asked. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to hers, in his eyes, she could see fear, something was very wrong. “The Bodies are gone. How does he know if they are gone? Tora almost voiced her thoughts out loud but he cut her off, “You have to leave, now.”
~ ~ ~
Tora sat up in the dwindling sunlight, she had taken first watch. As Mouras went to sleep, she sat and contemplated what had happened over the last two days. Mouras had packed up his house, basically, into to packs. In one pack he placed all of his potions, ingredients, and his sorcery book. The other he filled with blankets, food, and some other random necessities. Everything else he owned, he left behind.
As Mouras gathered more food and went to find a buyer for his house, Tora loaded the packs onto a horse she hadn't noticed when she first came. The horse was a tall roan, with deep thoughtful eyes, they were almost the color of wine. Mouras has said the horse didn't have a name, so Tora named him Barsac.
After she had Barsac all packed, Mouras returned with a long, thin package that he handed to her saying, “ Leave it until we are out of town.” Tora looked quizzically at him, then tied it to Barsac. Within another fifteen minutes, they were on the fastest road out of Hayis.
Once out of the sight of any observers, Tora stopped Barsac, then quickly untied the mysterious parcel. The paper around it came of easy, Tora gasped, she was holding a sword. It looked a bit too heavy to be a rapier, so she concluded it was some sort of saber.
It was exquisitely made, the blade was slightly curved and thick, but it wasn't wide like a broadsword. The grip looked like it has been used, it was wrapped in soft black leather with fine silver-like filigree weaving around it, then up to the edge of the blade. The hilt was also made of the same mysterious silvery metal, winding gracefully around the bearers hand. Tora examined all of this for any marks or seams, none.
“ Where did you get this? And who made it?” Tora asked without taking her eyes off the blade. Mouras laughed at her awed tone, “ I won it at a pub years ago....” his voice trailed off as he remembered the dark bar. He hadn't lied to her, he had won it. A fight has risen between a young man and himself, over what, he couldn't remember. They had been kicked outside, where the man attacked him, Mouras fought back, but this man didn't show any signs of fatigue. Every time he sliced the guy, it bled a bit, then stopped, suddenly her realized, this man was a young Ismari. Only poison or a thrust through the heart, then decapitation, would kill them. Mouras summoned enough energy to attack the insolent Ismari with a small amount of magic. He quickly started the Ismari's clothes on fire, then killed him. Before walking away, Mouras noticed the sword the Ismari was carrying and took it. As soon as he saw Tora, Mouras knew that she was Ismari, the last of the almost extinct race, the Ismari were valued for their prowess in battle, infinite knowledge and cunning wit, but people feared them. He knew that Tora didn't know what she was, and he wasn't going to tell her, yet.
“Where are we going?” Tora asked. She had been quiet for a while, just thinking things over, like why she was traveling with a complete stranger? “ We are going to visit an old friend of mine, who can help you stay safe.” As he said this, Tora's insides jumped, “Why do I need to stay safe? I thought I was already safe!” Tora never thought that she was in any real danger, until now. Mouras stared vacantly into the distance. After a few moments, he replied, “ That woman didn't kill herself, or her children.” Tora looked at him,is he crazy? No one was around to push them, if anyone was there, I would have noticed. Mouras watched her contemplating, “Its just not possible, if someone had been there, they would be captured, if not dead, I would make sure of that.” The words sounded icily as they came out, Tora shivered at her own spite, yet she liked how she sounded, powerful. Mouras raised an eyebrow at this, she was obviously not raised around her kind, she was ignorant. She knew nothing of sorcery or magic, or even her own powers. Mouras looked down, “This fox you spoke of, what did it do?” Tora looked at him, answering, “It looked at me, looked down, then took off.” Confused by his question, Tora was going to say something, until Mouras cut in, “ It was the fox.”
Tora had to stop walking because she was laughing so hard.OK this man really is crazed!“And how do you suppose a fox pushed over three humans?” Tora managed to spit out between breaths. “Because it was not a fox.” Mouras replied simply, watching her puzzled face. Tora thought for a moment, suddenly it was all clear, but it sounded so stupid, Tora finally decided to ask, “Can sorcerers change shape?” Mouras nodded in approval, it had taken her a while, but she figured it out nicely. She now knew why they were leaving. She had seen the sorcerer disguised at the fox, and caught him at the scene of the crime, the fox-man would come after her. Tora also realized by telling Mouras, he was in the same predicament as she was.
“Where do we go?” Tora's voice quivered with fear. Mouras sighed, “We must go to Corodogra, then to Simere. We can get help in Corodogra, and Simere is so large, we can hide there.” Tora thought about this, she had been to Corodogra before. It was a gigantic city with people and creatures of every race, selling everything from potions and remedies, to monstrous beasts. It was all-in-all a mammoth city,And to think, Simere is even bigger!
Mouras had been talking to Tora for a long time when they noticed birds calling to each other, as if in conversation. Mouras studied the trees, then leaned over to Tora, “Do not speak of relevant things, the..” “Birds.” Tora this time cut him off, she knew enough now to keep her mouth shut. In a matter of hours, Tora had plunged head first into a pool whose depth she didn't know, but she was slowly learning.
It was almost nightfall when they unpacked. Mouras started a fire, using a spell to hide the smoke. They ate a crude supper of bread, horse meat, and carrots. Later, Tora put out the fire, while Mouras set up his bed for the night.Wow, life is coming fast she thought, still keeping watch. It was a lot to think about.
A twig snapped some where behind her, instinctively, Tora tensed up and spun around, ready for what was there. A young man came out of the woods, walking straight at her. Tora started to cry out, but he lunged at her, covering her mouth. “Shut up! You'll wake him up carrying on like that!” He uncovered her mouth and backed off, Tora stared at him with confusion, then at her sword laying on the ground. His voice was odd, it was so controlled, yet had an edge to it. His eyes were slightly angled, and his hair was short-ish, falling just past the top of his ears, in it he had dark and light streaks, just like a... Tora's eyes opened wide as she stared at him, “ Your the cat! Your Slova?” The boy dragged his hand down his face and looked her in the eye, “ The old man thinks he's funny telling people I'm a she-cat.” Tora didn't let her amusement show, but continued to ask, “What is your real name then?” “ Goldren,” he replied. Tora looked at Goldren, she had to admit, he was pretty handsome, she especially liked his Green eyes.
Goldren set up his bed, then suddenly declared, “ I'll take over watching now, you can sleep.” She thanked him, trudged over to her bed by the dead fire, and fell fast asleep.

--Chapter Three--
“Wake up!” Tora found herself being violently shaken. The cold and numb morning air biting at her sleepy eyes, Tora blearily looked around. Goldren was the one who woke her up, but she didn't know why. Confused, she got up and walked over to Mouras, who was hurriedly packing up. Goldren ran up beside her, with the horse, handing her the reins. Now sobered up, she was even more confused, “What is going on?” Tora restrained herself from yelling. Goldren had taken off again, but Mouras, still picking up, replied back, “Fifty Chyrisae are on our trail.” Tora had no idea that the Chyris still existed, but this was really bad. The Chyris were basically a band of trained criminals, they tended to hid deep in forests, preying on travelers and small villages. Some people even said that the Chyris were part monsters.
The gravity of the situation pushed down on Tora as she raced to pack up camp. Goldren shifted to his cat state and sprang into the forest. Mouras hopped on the horse as Tora took off into the ominous forest. She had always been an good runner, she hoped now that it could save her life.
The Chyrisae soon picked up speed,They are going to take over us soon if we don't do something!Tora frantically thought of anything to save them, one idea came to her,It'll work, but only if we act now She dropped back and yelled“Head east!” to Mouras and Goldren.
Soon enough, as she had planned, they hit the Grydeir River, “We go south and ford when possible,” she commanded. Goldren changed back to human form, “Are you insane? They will catch us faster, in case you havn't noticed, they are less than two miles away!” “I have noticed,” she snapped, “but it is shallow here, they will think we have crossed, we have to walk on the rivers edge a while, then cross once we are safe.” Mouras gazed at the fast moving current, after a few seconds, he kicked Barsac into a trot, heading south in the shallows of the river.
Goldren turned towards Tora, “They are going to get us!” His voice lost all of its former control to a frantic yell. “Yes they are going to catch us,” Tora yelled back, “ But only if we stay here shouting!” Tora spun around and took off after Mouras, a moment later a grey tabby cat darted past her.

~ ~ ~
The clank of rusty metal, swords, and boots filled the night air, as the Chyris gained on Tora, Goldren, and Mouras. She guessed at how far they had gone, something close to seven leagues. The forest was dense and trail-less, making it hard for them to maneuver, but the Chyris were used to this, they had the advantage.
Goldren had taken to human form, so that he could remind them how deadly the Chyris race was, “ Have you heard how they kill people? They hunt travelers down like rabbits, burn them alive, and eat them, unless they aren't hungry, otherwise they mutilate them and leave the people for dead in the woods.” he was in a nasty mood, mostly out of fear. They were all scared. Mouras was soundless at he rode, Goldren talked as he ran, and Tora just focused on going faster than their pursuers.
Without warning, a clash behind them announced the arrival of a Chyrisae. Tora unsheathed her sword, and watched in horror as a towering, brutish man crashed towards them. Broadsword drawn, he let out a gurgling cry and ran at them. Before anything else happened, the Chyrisae stopped dead in his tracks, with a white-hot arrow sunk deep into his chest. As far as Tora could tell, he was the only Chyris warrior, He must have been sent ahead. She turned towards Mouras, he was still holding th bow. So, sorcerers can be useful for more than just spells, she thought dryly.
Just as fast as they stopped, they were off again, Tora and Goldren ran and jumped over every obstacle, Mouras barreled through the underbrush. Over all the ruckus, Mouras managed to be louder, “ Once we get past the second creek, turn right and stay traveling right!” Tora had no idea what lay east, but she wasn't about ready to stop.