NationStates Jolt Archive


Another Time When There's a Fork Stuck In The Road...

12-12-2003, 23:07
This is the next chapter. The previous one is here (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103225&highlight=), which contains a link to the last one and so on. Thanks for reading.

Alexi lead the group stealthily through the woods. Though it was now daylight, the terrifying events of the early morning had left their impression. The quartet did not speak as they walked, and hardly uttered a sound when they tripped or stumbled. Every person would freeze up when the wind blew too hard or a twig cracked off in the distance. The Minions never struck during the day, but frightened nerves do not easily lose their tension.

Tobias tapped the leader on the shoulder. He pointed to a rabbit off in the distance. Alexi nodded and drew his bow. Cocking an arrow, he aimed and let fly. The small creature was hit and down. They all walked over and prepared a fire. Breakfast was served a short time afterward. Even the daintiness of a young girl couldn't stop Elisia. She was too used to this by now. Food was not readily prepared here in the forest. This was the best they could easily get.

Tomiel ate his share slowly. He needed time to think. The death of Damon was a big thing. A magical person of any kind was always useful, particularly when Minions were after you. Obviously the prophets didn't have enough power to beat a Minion anymore. It wasn't always that way. There was a time when the Prophets were the ones who were feared. But times had changed. Prophets had always been benevolent masters, while Minions were cruel and heartless. The Winds of Death were blowing constantly, and none could escape their wrath.

After breakfast, the travelers set out once again. A fresh breeze came from the east. It was cool, crisp, refreshing and invigorated the companions. They set a faster pace and made considerable ground. But night came, and they were still in the forest.

"I've never been this far in before. I don't know where we are." Alexi was now as clueless as the rest of them. But still they pressed on. "We have to find a safe spot tonight. We can't risk the Minions finding us." Elisia looked like she was about to collapse with weariness. But Tobias, energetic as always, looked ahead.

"Is that a clearing up there? The trees seem to end right beyond that big elm." Indeed, there was a treeless space where Tobias was pointing. But it was no clearing. It was the edge of the forest. Revived from her stupor, the young girl ran ahead and out of the woods. The three men followed suit.

They faced a vast open plain. This appeared to be a bountiful farm. A large road split the field in two. It forked off a little ways up. One end led to a farmhouse, the other to an unknown destination. "Which way do we go?" Elisia yelled from a slight distance from the other three. The crops to her left gave a shuffle, as a hoot like a steam engine erupted in the air. A black robed figure came running out and grabbed her. Shouting in terror, the girl tried to fight it off. The Minion ran back toward the forest, and right into the three armed men.

Tomiel's staff came flying at the creature's head. The robe collapsed, releasing Elisia. Alexi pushed her toward Tomiel and yelled "Take her to the farm house, and keep her safe. We'll take care of the Minion." Tomiel grabbed his charge and carried her to the destination. From behind them, the duo heard Tobias' high pitched scream of pain. Resisting the urge to drop Elisia, the young man simply ran. The farmer ran out of his house, apparently hearing the commotion. "What're you doin? What's all the racket?"

Tomiel put down the girl. "Our friends are being attacked, we need help."

"Where are they?"

"Right down there."

"There's no one there. What're you pointin at?" Tomiel looked to where he was pointing, and found the spot empty. No Minion, no friends, no one. Puzzled, he looked around for any sign of movement.

"I don't understand, they were just there..." He realized the futility. When Minion's killed, they left no trace as evidence. His friends had been completely annihilated, and he had let it happen. Stunned, he turned to the farmer. "W-we just need to know where we can reach the authorities. Someone in charge. Sorry to bother you."

"Well, there's a fort up that way somewhere, you should find it pretty easy. What about them friends? Where are they?"

"Never mind, they'll be along shortly. We must have...passed them up. Yeah. Anyway, thanks alot. Sorry again, we didn't mean to worry you."

The farmer paid them a puzzled good night and went back in. Elisia's eyes were frothing with tears. Tomiel was too stunned to speak anymore. They walked in silence up to the fort, and only when they were safe within its confines did they dare show any grief.

Thank you again for reading. If you are interested, the next chapter will be Just the Two of Us... I hope you enjoy the Blue Moon series.