On The Run...
On The Run
Flying is so relaxing..........but not right now though! I'm soaring as fast as I can with some horseman hunting me. Maybe it was something I said in that last town? Dodging spears and arrows on my way back to the safety of the forest. As I look back I almost catch an arrow in my eye! I quickly half-furl my wings and roll to my left out of the way. If I don't reach the forest fast they're going to poke my butt with one of those spears. I won't fly higher,because it will make it easier for them to track me. I look forward and notice two of the horseman have run past me and have stopped just in front of the tree-line. Just in time I make a 90* turn to my right when one of the spears catch my leg and painfully tear some of my scales off. Luckily I have scales or the spear would have ripped my leg open. A few feet down I grab a tree branch and arch into the forest at top speed. I must have taken out one of them with the branch,because I heard one of them yell in surprise. Dodging trees seem to be the main obstacle now. I can tell these guys train for this,because they never lose site of me. Eventually, I make my way to a clearing that I spotted from overhead earlier today. I try to slow my landing and skidded almost half-way across the area. Once I have gained my balance and senses, I get into a firm stance and stand my ground. As if planned they surround me and slowly creep out from behind the trees. There are seven on the, evenly spaced with an odd gap. I guess there are eight as the last one shows up,a little disheveled,to complete the circle. They uniformly dismount their steeds and close in on their prey..........me. All I can say is,eight to one,wish it was more of a challenge.
Earlier that day.......
Gliding peacefully over a big town the the morning always warms my heart. The children scurrying to school,the men trudging off to their work stations,pets being let out for the day,and the women gossiping together. All that bustle in the streets of innocent people enjoying their lives,free of the dangers that some must face,almost daily. This town is one of the bigger ones I've seen. They have some sophisticated machinery like windmills,watermills,and some solar-panels that work off the natural environment. I think this town could be self-sufficient as I glide over the rural farms,and the busy markets down below. It almost seems kind of strange how the main road in is not paved,and the nearest town and cities are beyond the mountains. Its a mystical feeling finding a place like this,tucked away with forest all around. The forest smells fresh as I leave the town behind and it teems with wildlife of all kinds. After a few more flaps of my large,broad wings,I notice a clearing of grass beside a brilliantly clear lake. I could see the bottom if it wasn't so deep. The waters surface is calm as some birds take flight and a slight breeze plays across the tops of trees.
As I land in the clearing I notice the grass feels very pleasing to my feet. I walk over to one of the old oak trees and set down my custom backpack,made to accommodate my wings and tail. Next,I set down next to it my two ninja-ken,which I briefly check the wear-and-tear of. They might need to be sharpened and shined soon encase I have to draw them at a moments notice. I sit on my rolled-up sleeping bag,back against the tree,and pull out my flute.
I start to play a tune from the back of my mind,but decide not to. I leave my belongings behind and walk to the lake edge to splash my face. As I kneel down and look at the water, I think 'What the heck...',and fall in. The water splashes all around me as surprised fish scatter. I rapidly swim through the water to cancel the process of slumber. As I step onto solid ground,I pull the water out of my clothes and pour it back into the lake. "Well,time to check out the town," I say as I put gear back on. "Oh! Before I leave!" I say as I remember to put my baggy clothes as a disguise. "Don't want to scare these people......," I mumble with a slight frown. I take my first steps towards the town as I put on my wide-brimmed hat. The forest would be nice to enjoy for the walk,but I'm trying to brainstorm on what to do about my face. I could just say it is a mask,but what would I do if they asked me to take it off? I could wear a scarf to cover some of my face,but looking too mysterious may hurt more than help the situation. Before I know it,I arrive at the town edge. "I guess I'll go with plan C,hahaha...." I say to myself with a little nervous laugh. Meaning: its too late now,may as well just see what happens. I noticed a few looks and gasps,but nothing really bad,or so I thought. I made my way to the market area which was filled with people. I kept my head down most of the time to blend in better. I walked the the fruit area to buy an apple for a snack. As I reached out for an apple and payed for it,someone from behind grabbed my shirt sleeve and whispered for me to follow. Well,I was curious and had nothing planned,so I did. I had no idea where he was going as he weaved through the crowd with grace. We soon arrived at a stone tower near one of the corners of town. Not a very busy area of town,I guess,I only saw one guy walking his dog. He seemed lost in thought,glanced at the tower for only a moment,then walked off mumbling something to himself.
My guide disappeared through the dark doorway when I stopped to admire the tower's height and unique design. I felt the smooth outside wall that almost seemed alien,but smiled when I altered the surface just slightly. The tower's exterior was smooth,with no creases as if put together but brick or rock. Noting that to myself,I head into the doorway only to see stairs spiraling up along along the tower with a sparse number of torches and windows to light the way. My guide nowhere in sight,I ascend the stairs at my own pace,checking how high I was with a couple windows. This place seems as if it was all one piece. I finally get to the top and emerge onto the roof,my guide standing in the center with an expression of concentration on his,eyes closed. Stepping toward him it seems I have triggered some kind of magic circle on the floor,now appearing and surrounding us. The outside of the circle immediately casts a field upward. Not knowing what to do,I stand alert,but somewhat mesmerized by the whole spectacle. As strange as this is,stranger is that my vision quickly blurs and I have this feeling of spreading out like I'm coming apart painlessly. Before another thought could cross my mind,I was suddenly in a room with no windows but several torches lighting it. In ghostly state for a moment,I looked around quickly,no doors but a few beings with dark,hooded-robes. Standing together,off to one side,I had to myself when they broke their huddle because they all said the same word out loud. The robed-beings finally faced me and stared as if examining me. My face burned with blush when I realized why, somehow in the transportation all of my belongings were left behind!!! I quickly covered myself and closed my eyes wishing that when I opened them again,all of this was some weird daydream.
VERY unfortunately it was reality,so I opened my eyes slowly and noticed one of them was missing. Feeling paranoid and insecure,I think to myself,'At least they aren't pointing and laughing or getting closer to me with creepy looks.' So focused on my embarrassment,I fall over when I get hit in the face with what turns out to be one of their standard dark,hooded-robes. I scramble to put on the robe quickly and suddenly stand up with a vengeance and say,"Why have--!" Cut off mid yell,the missing being comes back into view saying,"Why,is certainly the question here! Why have you returned here?" He lowers his head and continues, "Now your are trapped here like us." Kind of speechless I just stand there and wait for more info. "Come this way,this is where you live now. I'll show you your room," he says as he points across the room to a doorway behind me,a doorway I didn't see before. I follow him through the door with the rest of the group walking behind me and whispering. I've resolved to not jumping to conclusions and keep quiet as we all descend a flight of stairs. No windows this time,just torches and a bright light from below. The stairs continue downward in the same spiral fashion,but we stop at a brightly lit room as if by electric lights. When my eyes have adjusted to the difference in photon count,I can see several beds on one side and a table and chairs on the other side. As I step inside the room,the rest of my current group walk over to and sit on a chair or bed,staring quietly at me. Feeling kind of on the spot and anxious for information,a lump seems to form in my throat. I clear my throat and try break the awkward silence with a question,"So.......what's for dinner?" I look down at my feet and wiggle my toes a bit as I hear a few giggles and laughs at my stupid question. I involuntarily smile when I lift my head slowly,trying to see the faces of my new roommates.
"Um......by the way,my name is Raziel," I say while my hands are at my sides,gripping the soft robe and sweating. I still can't see their faces but I take a guess at three females and two males from the laughs and body outlines of their robes. The one that acts like an "alpha male",stands and takes a step toward me,removing his hood,and announces his as,Leon Bismal. He looks like an average human,kind of militaryish,skin tanned,and silver eyes. The next to introduce themselves stood and removed her hood and said her name is Coronet Holm,rather timidly. She looked like a young girl,but the look in her light-brown eyes showed she was very intelligent. Her long,straight,brown hair flowed past her shoulders. The next two just stood and said their names: Jesica Sky and Kim Wazid. Jesica removed her hood and I could tell wasn't human,at least not all human. Her golden fur and dark brown beak are a dead giveaway,and her ears are a little longer and rounder than a cats'. Her eyes are a nice color red. As Kim takes off her hood,I can see she must work-out often. Her glasses have a square design that seems to compliment her face. Her short blonde hair in a ponytail with some on the sides. Her dark-brown eyes have a stern look in them,as if she was a big rock,and nothing was going to move her. Finally I looked the last one on the the bed,but I got no response,plus I couldn't tell make out and features to define him or her. It just sat there,hugging it's knees,and staying quiet. Eventually,Coronet spoke-up and said his name is Briar,which stirred him from his moment of solitude. He didn't remove his hood like the others,so I couldn't see anything to go with the name. I thought he was being difficult,so I didn't bother to pursue the questions I suddenly wanted to ask him. "Well....it'll be dinner time soon,so please follow me to the eating hall," Leon says as he walks out of the room.
Briar suddenly got off the bed and stood up,following closely behind Leon. I thought I saw white-furred feet for an instant before gravity pulled his robe down to cover them again. I contemplated for a second on that,then bowed and gestured to the ladies to go before me.You never know if a random courtesy might reward you. We descend more stairs,but to a room that isn't lit.As we enter,the lights snap on as if by magic,most likely motion senser. I'm startled for a brief second,because I see a seventh being with their hood on sitting very still at the far end table. I look at the others as they routinely file over to a machine,when I look back,there is nothing there. Maybe it was just my imagination,because no one else said anything about it. "So,this is where you get your tray. And this is where the food appears,but you have to be quick or it ends up on the floor..." Leon says as he points. With trays in hands, the fresh food appears right where they stand,except for me....then the others look at me. "Well,at least I still have my ap.......ple,oh yeah....." I fumble around looking for my pockets,then I'm snapped back to the realization that I'm naked under this robe. "By-the-way,are there any "real" clothes to wear in here?" I ask with some anxiousness. "Sorry,this is it,but we have gotten used to them," speaks up Briar for the first tiime. "Here,you can have some of mine," Briar says,handing me a bisquet. The rest drop a scoop of their food onto my tray aswell. We sit and eat our food in silence,then drop the trays down a hole. As we head back up,Briar briefly points towards the stairs leading ever downwards,"That way to practice." As we arrive back in the bedroom,"You can sleep here," Leon says as he pats the bunk above Briar's. It had been a long day and I hadn't slept that morning,so I slipped off to sleep rather quickly.
I suddenly wake-up,not knowing the time of day or night,but everyone else is still asleep. I quietly slip off my bunk and take a slow look around the room. I walk out into the stairway and ascend the stairs till I got back the the first room. The torches ssemed to have a perpetual flame,without going out or burning the sticks. So I decide to explore a bit more as I descend the stairs once again. I pass both the bedroom and eating hall,and press onward down. Everything is very dark down here,the stairs finally end,but I can't see anything. As I step away from the steps,the lights snap on like the eating hall and I see another robed person again. So I aproach,thinking it's another figment of my imagination. It looks so real as I reach out to touch it,when my hand is quickly slapped away by it. "Do you mind?! I'm practicing here!" said the familiar voice of Briar.