“It’s gonna be a good one” Bastian said, again smiling that smile. Taya did not mind when J’vonte’ gave her that look, but as soon as Bastian smiled at her; like he was better, or somehow above her, she could not stand it. Taya knew that Bastian was probably one of the best warriors that the tribe had, but she still persuaded herself that he was a proud and arrogant know-it-all. Taya began to search the body of the scout looking for anything of value or use. In the meantime Bastian pulled his sister aside.
“We held them back, but I fear they will return with greater numbers.” He said.
“What are they? Did you see a leader?” J’vonte’ asked, fear sweeping over her eyes.
“They appear to be dark elves, they mostly move through the night. I took this off of one of them.” Bastian revealed a silver pendent with a jewel in the center. There were symbols surrounding it, symbols that neither Bastian or J’vonte’ had ever seen before. The jewel emitted a strange blue glow, like it was hot, but cold as stone to the touch.
“I will take this to father, he will understand.” Bastian said. “I did see the leader. I could see the evil in his eyes, I could see the hunger for power, the utter corruption of that elf’s soul. Sister, I do not know where they have come from, or what they are after. They have moved Northeast past the Erebus over the last few months. I believe that it would be best for our tribe to avoid bloodshed and let them pass; they will not find Yelya.”
“You must speak to father, he will know what to do, but I will support you in your decision dear brother.” Taya saw the two siblings talking in hushed voices as she removed a coin pouch from the scouts satchel. She did not know what it was, but saw on Bastian’s face an expression of seriousness, something that she had not expected from him. The man’s face in that moment was quite attractive, the concern showing through his forehead as the rain poured down, highlighting his demeanor. Bastian turned his head to catch Taya’s gaze and shot her a smile, instantly the vision Taya had of Bastian dissipated and the first impression remained in its place.
“We are a days journey back, and I sent the 80 men I had with me back several hours ago.” Bastian said. “We should leave now.”
The rain was much heavier than before and what once was an open field had become a lake of water which came up to Taya’s waist. The rain worsened and they heard the sudden crack of lightning.
“We can’t keep going! Not through this!” Yelled J’vonte’ to her brother. Bastian whispered something in J’vonte’s ear and she looked back at him and nodded.
“There is a place that we know, we went there when we were children” J’vonte’ said to Taya, raising her voice above the wind.
The storm continued to rage as the three warriors made their way through the heavy wind, the pouring rain and the darkness that it brought. Taya thought she could make out a voice on the wind, but she dismissed it as her wild imagination playing tricks. Bastian was in the lead and J’vonte’ brought up the rear. Bastian raised his hand signaling for them to halt, he turned his head and in perfect stillness listened. There it was again, that voice, Taya knew for sure that it was not her imagination.
“There is someone out there!” Taya cried.
“You do not know what they are capable of Taya. If you wish to live, then you will hide from them.” Said Bastian, his voice firm and unmoving. Taya resented him even more after he had told her off.
“Someone could be in trouble” she thought. They had moved into a forrest, the water was not as high; it rose up to their knees. They continued to walk until they reached a rock face that protruded out of the landscape, like God had placed it there to shield the three wanderers from the rain. Bastian felt his way along the wall, as if looking for something, feeling for a familiar place or edge of rock that meant safety. After several hours of searching J’vonte’ called out to her brother.
“Here it is, I found it!” A symbol was carved into the face of the rock; a double spiral with a circle underneath.
“I’ve seen that symbol before.” Commented Taya reaching for her diary. It was not there.
“I must have left it back in the hut.” She muttered to herself.
“This symbol was here long before we came across it, we have not yet found a meaning for it.” J’vonte’ said. At the foot of the spot where the symbol was, there was a hallowed out space and when J’vonte’ cleared away the tree branches and leaves it lead down underneath the rock. It was a very small cave, only enough room for two adults to fit comfortably. The cave was fairly cramped with the three of them. Despite there being very little room and the discomfort of sharing such a small space with Bastian it was surprisingly dry and for that, Taya was thankful. They could here the pounding of the storm continuing to rage on for several hours and on into the night. Taya found herself falling asleep in J’vonte’s lap, it was warm enough, but the crack of thunder would not let up. She fell in and out of sleep and noticed that J’vonte’ was doing the same; but, when Taya looked at Bastian she saw the attentive, alert and serious face of one who was protecting, one who would do whatever it took to ensure safety for his sister, and Taya thought, perhaps herself.
Taya finally gave up trying to find that unconscious world that she yearned for. She realized that Bastian had not slept at all through the night, but J’vonte’ seemed to have found a peaceful enough dream to hide in. She turned to look at Bastian, who caught her gaze. He did not even show signs of fatigue, his eyes were just as alert as earlier that evening.
“The rain is beginning to let up and the thunder has ended, but I fear we are being tracked.” He said.
“How could they have possibly tracked us through last night?” Asked Taya.
“I do not know, there is something about them that does not let my soul rest.” He replied. Taya looked out of the entrance and saw through the trees that the sun was just beginning to rise. The rays of light glimmered off of the droplets of water and pools that had been formed in the middle of the night.
“Listen carefully” Bastian said. Taya turned her head tuning into the sounds of the forest; she heard birds singing their music and the rustle of the trees in the wind. Taya sat in the entrance, completely still waiting to catch a noise, a movement, a sound.
“I do not hear anything” she said.
“There is the faintest sound coming from the West, it is steady, like many warriors moving in unison.” Bastian responded. Taya gave him a sarcastic look, she was not sure if he was making it up, or being serious; there was a lot about Bastian that Taya disliked.
“How could he possibly hear that?” She thought, a frustration that she had never experienced before coming upon her. Deep inside her she knew hat Bastian was to be obeyed, but at the same time she wanted to prove she could lead them just as well. “We’ll move at nightfall, round our way to the camp. There’s less of us, we can make it past them no problem.” Bastian looked at Taya, puzzled.
“Taya,” he spoke softly as if his father was speaking through him, “Step out of the entrance for a moment. I want you to just stand there with your eyes closed.” Taya got up and made her up out of the burrow, shortly after Bastian followed letting J’vonte‘ rest. Without realizing that he was with her, Taya did as she as told. As her top lid met the bottom and she took a deep breath in her chest, holding it for a moment as she began feeling the environment without seeing it. A whisper met her ear as she exhaled. “What do you feel?” Bastian stood there right over her shoulder. Taya, startled opened her eyes and jerked away from him.
“I feel your warm breath breathing down my neck.” Taya snapped back. Looking back at Bastian she saw what she had in J’vonte’, the patience to teach her. Without having to say another word she returned to where she was, and closed her eyes again. After following the same procedure, Bastian asked again.
“What do you feel?” Taya paused, she knew he wasn’t looking for the answer she was willing to give. Instead of responding she continued to try to feel what he was. “Can you see without looking?” Taya nodded slightly, she knew exactly where they were and what it looked like. Still taking deep breaths she began feeling more as Bastian continued to coach her, knowing what to feel was the key. Nature seemed to sweep through her, she could make herself foresee paths without having to be on them. The air, ground, and safety delivered a great deal of information through her senses. Bastian pointed her slightly to the West, she instantly shuttered and backed into Bastian who caught her and held her straight. Her eyes shot open, not only was she caught of guard of the intensity of the sense of evil, but looking around the two had wandered from where they had started.
“Where are we?” Taya said collecting herself, looking all around.
“You got carried away, began actually moving. That’s why the feeling so intense, because you kept advancing towards it. Your body will do what it needs to in order to make you aware of anything dangerous. In time you will learn to control the drive.” Taya looked over Bastian’s broad shoulders and saw the opening to where they had spent the night, a sense of calm washed back over her. Suddenly Taya sensed a darkness approaching from behind them and she realized that J'vonte' was alone and asleep.
“J’VONTE’!” Taya was again on the rise, her eyes so wide Bastian could almost see the action reflecting in them. Quickly turning to catch a glimpse himself as Taya took off towards the cave. As she met the mouth she slid straight in, kicking a unknown figure to the ground. In an instant she was pinned by figure she had taken down. Against the ground she looked back to see if Bastian would again save the day. Instead she saw Bastian being brought to his knees by a taller, much paler elf holding the jewel that Bastian had possessed only a few hours earlier. All three of them we’re tied and gaged, being forced to leave with their foes.
Bastian, J’vonte’, and Taya all looked up to the sky as the blind fold came over their eyes. They then began trekking through the puddles of last nights storm. It stared back at them, the storm wasn’t over and now they were being lead even further away from home. Thunder cried out as lightening cracked through the day sky, that could’ve easily been mistaken for night. Taya imagined Zenith, that it was him crying out for her, that he would know she was in danger. The storm began raging, without any sign of stopping the group was pushed on.
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