Prelude
Run, run, run, faster I must go faster. Left. Right. Duck. Jump. Breathe, don’t forget to breathe. Calm, stay calm!
A white blur flashed through the forest, all four legs pounding the ground as the beast launched itself forward at incredible speeds. Beads of sweat poured down the creature’s neck and back, collecting at the end of its hair before falling like tiny jewels to the forest floor below. From behind the moving creature a loud crack echoed through the forest depths, the sound could have been mistaken for a peal of thunder had the sky not been so clear.
Death, death is not the only option. Run, run is the only other choice, I must run. Focus, remember, I cannot forget, I must warn my sisters, they must know!
The animal bounded over a fallen log with a benign grace as it surged forward, trying to move at an even greater speed. Its four hooves tore through the ground beneath as it galloped along. Catching a sudden movement out of the corner of its eye; the beast shifted to the right, and let out a small snort as it barley managed to duck under a branch and dodge a tree that seemed to just pop up in its path. The trees suddenly thinned out and disappeared as it broke free from the forest and into a small meadow that covered about a quarter of a mile before turning into forest once again. Immediately panic began to rise up from within as it viewed the meadow.
No! To open, what should I do? Go back? Go across? It’s coming... closer... closer!
Panicked thoughts echoed in the animals head as it cantered back and forth, darting from the open meadow to the forest and then back again. Another loud boom broke through its thoughts, and this time the sound was followed by the splintering of wood as a large oak tree a little ways off began to fall.
GO!
Before the sound of the falling tree hitting the ground could even be heard the animal was off again. Its speed was more of urgency then anything else now as it plowed through the meadow and towards the forest on the other side. The opposite tree line was almost like a finish goal, it felt that if it could just make it there, if it could just retreat into the depths beyond then it would be safe. It would be free, and out of harms way.
Freedom, if I can just make it past those tree I will be free. Warn, I can warn the others, tell them of this-
It wasn’t even able to finish its thoughts as a loud explosion tore through the air. Chunks of rock and dirt were launched into the sky as a fiery detonation consumed the meadow. Heat and smoke were suddenly everywhere as crimson flames began to spread along the grass like long groping fingers. Everything they touched turned to ash as the flames continued to spread, continued to consume.
Pain. Heat. Why, why did it come to this?
The white stag slowly opened its eyes, trying to focus them as it shakily stood to its feet. The meadow was burning. It was surrounded by flames dozens of feet high. They formed an impenetrable wall of fire, a barrier which would be impossible to cross. The beast, coming to this revelation, turned to view the forest beyond. Its eyes were no longer wide in panic. Instead they were narrow slits as it stared coldly at the opposing tree line, waiting for whatever was chasing it to be revealed.
Fight, kill. Die, if necessary.
The stag’s calculating glare didn’t waver as the animal slowly rose up onto its hind legs. Kicking off from the ground it stood as a chorus of loud popping sounds rang from its back legs. The joints began to bend forward, twisting and moving, allowing the beast to stand upright. Then it clapped its two front hooves together as a hoarse voice echoed from its throat, “Daughter of Eden, Daughter of Na’hera, be birthed!” The gravelly chant seemed to hang in the air for a brief moment, each word dripping with power and authority. The flames even wavered for a brief instant as the air began to buzz with power and energy.
Suddenly the stag’s fur began to swell and move. Like a pond when disturbed, little ripples began to flow over its flesh. Parts of the animal began to ungulate and swell, contorting as numerous loud pops echoed from its bones. The stag’s eyes were wide with obvious pain, but it did not make a sound. As the seconds passed the stag grew even more contorted and deformed as its body folded in on itself and it began to shrink. Soon it looked like a mass of flesh and hair then anything else. Almost a minute later the process began to slow, a human looking hand reached out of the writhing pile of bones and skin, and soon another one followed. The white fur began to fade; some of it fell off while the rest seemed to be absorbed into the dark skin that was appearing. Two feet appeared next, they slowly began to extend and wriggle free of the mass. As the second minute drew to an end the white stag was gone, replaced with a young human girl.
Her skin was like bronze, smooth and dark and her head was crowned with a thick curly mass of sandy brown hair. Her hair was covered in tiny jewels of all sizes. The biggest ones were as large as a finger nail, while the smallest ones looked like small sparkles dotted throughout her hair. Two piercing obsidian eyes glowed from her face; their unwavering gaze was focused on the forest. She was naked beside a small cloth that hung from her shoulders, covering most of her lithe body. “Come out!” she suddenly called.
No voice answered, but the air suddenly grew warmer, and the flames all around began to dance and increase in size. The girl’s hands were clenched by her side and she slowly relaxed them. Kneeling down she pressed the palms of her hands against the ground and began to murmur and incant, her eyes never leaving the forest. A soft green glow began to swirl up around her finger tips, spreading down towards her hands and up her arms. Then with a scream of rage she pushed off from the ground and launched herself forward.
Death…
