The midmorning sun breaks through the canopy, forcing me to squint. I sit up, feeling lethargic but full of energy at once. Above me, birds chirp their morning call. Squirrels scamper across the bark of trees. Deer nibble on the dew covered grass.
“Good morning. Well, you have managed to scare me already, and it hasn’t even been a day.” Trenton kneels beside me, handing me a piece of bread close to the size of my hand. “What happened last night?”
I sigh, taking the bread. “Just over exertion. I haven’t been taught enough about fire to know how to use it properly.”
“Why did you try it then?” Trenton sits up against a tree, watching me protectively.
I snort, knowing it sounds ridiculous. “I wanted to prove you wrong.” My glance meets Trenton’s.
“You didn’t need to do that,” he says, different emotions crossing his face.
“I know,” I say, defeated. I feel like a child being scolded.
Taking a bite of the bread, I look down the old, grown over path we are traveling on. Halves of trees and branches are scattered around. Huge holes gouged out. A boulder is off to the side further down the trail.
“Did I do that?” I muse.
Trenton snickers. “Yes, you sure did. Good thing we are a far distance away from any civilization. We should hurry though, just incase.”
“You let me do that?” I turn to Trenton, eyes wide.
“I was not going to be the one stopping you. Didn’t feel like having my head to cut off,” he says with a smile.
I punch him in the arm. His hand flies to his upper arm, rubbing the spot where I hit. “Ow!” Trenton looks at me in disbelief, play quickly replacing it. I laugh, standing up.
My legs wobble from last night, but soon they are steady to walk on. I help Trenton roll up the blankets, stuffing them in the bag. Once everything is put away, we continue our journey. The tops of trees block our path, so we are forced to climb over them. I’m still in shock about what I did.
“The town of Rue will be coming up shortly. I want you to keep your head down, hood up and don’t say anything. Understood?” Trenton turns serious again.
“Alright. Is there many dangers there?” I look ahead for any signs of a town.
“No, the Capitol doesn’t put much protection there after it was destroyed. There is nothing there now,” Trenton says.
“Destroyed?” I turn to him, amazed.
“Yes, during the beginning of the war, some human Movers were stationed there. That’s when Rue was large and a major city. Some fey Movers found it out. They were determined to destroy it, which they did. Six human Movers were killed. Three fey.”
That’s unbelievable. All those innocent people, dead.
“Now it’s just a few infrastructures and huts. The Capitol doesn’t see it fit to guard it since there isn’t much there.” Trenton shrugs.
I look up at the sky, a warm summer breeze brushing against me. White clouds morph and twist into each other, standing out against the midmorning sky. A large canopy of leaves and pine needles block it from view. A sudden snap of bushes sounds behind me. I stop. Focusing on the sound, I turn my head slightly.
Trenton notices my absence and stops as well, still ahead of me. He listens intently as well, stepping closer to me.
An arrow flies at me from the bushes. Adrenaline courses through me, and I block the point using wind. The arrow whips past me, lodging itself in a tree.
More come out of the bushes. Now, I can see their owners. Four men, all covered in a fine layer of dirt and grime stand, arrows directed to me. Trenton unsheathes his sword, coming to stand in front of me purposely, a smirk on his face.
“Run,” he whispers to me. I don’t move, ready to face them. “Run!” Trenton says louder this time. Arrows begin flying. Following Trenton’s orders, I dart down the path. Behind me, I can hear Trenton fighting, sword clashing. I have to help him... My head turns, catching a glimpse of the action. Trenton is surrounded, three of the men lunging at him with daggers. The fourth releases an arrow. Before it lodges in my chest, I deflect it with wind.
I pick up the arrow, disgust and disbelief filling me. I can’t die... Using full thrust, I throw the arrow at the archer. Before he has time to dodge it, the arrow hits his chest, instantly killing him. My grandmother taught me that one.
“Elle! Run!” Trenton growls at me.
I ignore Trenton, prepared for battle. Trenton stabs a man in the torso, blood seeping out. As I get closer, I can see the victim to my ruthless kill. Scarlet soaks his shirt, arrow sticking up into the air. A permanent scowl on his face.
“Run!Now!” Trenton shoves me with his elbow. I stumble back. “I’ll catch up, just run!”
I take one last glance, forcing myself to part. “Go!” Another man falls. Without another glance, I run, jumping over brush and logs. Behind me, I can hear Trenton yell, “Elle! Look out!” I begin to turn, but it’s too late. A sharp stab erupts behind my right shoulder. Pain courses through my body, the warmth of my blood slips down my back. My feet catch a root, and I trip. I roll in the dirt, the arrow digging in deeper. I shriek from the pain.
My hand reaches to my shoulder, feeling the arrow protruding from my back, chilling my body. I grasp onto it, another wave of anguish pulses through me. My eyes begin to blur. Just a distance away, I can see Trenton take down the last victim. He rushes to me, and I yank on the arrow. A scream exits my mouth, tears following. I bring the arrow to my face, seeing the tip covered in my blood. It drips from the point to the soil beneath it. I can see Trenton in my peripheral as he pulls off my cloak so he can see the wound better. Trenton tears apart the cloth around the wound to make sure nothing gets in the way. I sob as another sudden wash of pain racks my body.
My body heaves, lungs gasping for air. Blood tastes in my mouth. I cough, spitting blood on the forest floor. This is it... On my back, I can feel Trenton pressing onto the wound with some torn cloth, trying to slow the amount of blood spilling out. Soon, my body feels numb, the pain vanishing from my body. My vision focuses, the smell of flesh and rust occupying my sense of smell.
I can feel my muscle weaving back together, skin healing over it. Suddenly, I can breath without trouble. I touch my back, searching for the wound. The only thing I feel is the thick liquid dripping off me. The skin is smooth to the touch, no sign of anything that signals that I was hit with an arrow.
“How is that possible?” I muse. Slowly, I sit up, wincing at what might happen. No pain. What’s happening to me? Am I dead? I turn my head to Trenton, facing him. He watches me, making me shudder.
“Are you... alright?” he asks.
“I... think so. How... this isn’t real,” I say.
“It seems to me that, as a Mover, you heal remarkably fast. The fey in you must be part of it as well.” Trenton stands, wiping blood on his pants. I then notice how much red is covering him. On his face, there are splatters of scarlet along his chest and arms. Also, his hands look to be coated in it.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, using a tree as a steady hold. My hand goes to his arm where most of the blood is, and he winces. I whisper, “Sorry.” Under my hand, I see the gash, jagged and torn. Out of instinct, I tear his sleeve and begin wrapping it tightly around the open wound. Every time I wrap it around, Trenton gasps. I keep apologizing.
“Why are you sorry?” Trenton asks when I tie it.
“I... don’t know,” I admit.
Trenton snickers, picking up his sword of the ground. Blood coats the whole blade of it. He cleans it by wiping it on the bark of the tree, leaving a smear of scarlet on the dark brown of the bark. He uses the sleeve of his shirt to clean his face. I look behind him at the mess. Guilt and sadness fill me at the thought of the innocent person who stumbles across this scene. I turn to the man I had slain. He may have a family that he needed to support.
“Should we hide the bodies?” Bile rises in my throat.
Trenton shrugs, “No, let’s leave it for the King and his men to clean up. Show them that we aren’t scared to fight back... Come on.” Trenton sheathes his sword, then wraps my cloak around my back, hiding the blood. He takes my hand. I don’t take another glance as Trenton begins pulling me away. A lone tear falls down me cheek. Trenton wraps his arm around my shoulders, bringing me close to him.
My fear and despair all come rushing at me at once, unforgiving. I almost died. How am I still alive? How is my life worth more than five others? Soft wails exit my mouth, and I wrap my arms tightly around Trenton. I dig my face in his shoulder, refusing to look up. Trenton brushes his fingers through my hair, whispering comforting things.
I look up, tears streaking down my face. Trenton gives me a half smile and rubs his thumb on my cheek, wiping away tears. I don’t look away, loving the moment. In my rib cage, I can feel my heart pound against my diaphragm, threatening to break out. My cheeks flush. Trenton’s reaction seems to be less prominent. His eyes are the only thing giving away what he is feeling, something I haven’t seen in them before. Before I can identify the hidden emotion, he says, “Are you alright? We need to continue moving.”
I sigh, and say, “Yes, I’m alright.” I release my hold, still staying close to him. Fear still has a firm grip on my body.
Ahead, the trees begin to thin, showing a dirt road leading to an open area with run down cottages. Each one looks to be on the brink of destruction. Smoke billows up from the small, individual fires. From here, I can see above each one dangles a carcass of some kind of animal.
“Don’t talk to anyone or let them convince you of anything. These people are poor and will do whatever it takes to get money, food... anything at all. Keep next to me at all times.” Trenton places his hand on his sword hilt. The same swirl of emotions circles around us. Trenton’s ears turn rounded once again, the old disguise blankets his face completely.
“What about your wound? You are completely covered in blood. Won’t they suspect anything?” Adrenaline starts flowing through my veins.
“They don’t dare question visitors about their whereabouts or business. People of Rue keep to themselves mostly and don’t start conversations with visitors,” Trenton says. I turn uneasy. He sees that and says, "Don't worry, I have been through here plenty."
We hit this wall of stench, and it’s the most foulest thing I have ever smelled. It smells of death and sewer. I cough and gag. Trenton takes the collar of his shirt and places it over his nose. I follow suit. People around us waft out of their homes, moaning and clutching their stomachs. Some have sores on their faces and arms, all red and infected. We get stares from others, suspicious about us. A hazy fog blankets over everything, chilling my bones. Deeper we get into the small town, I can see where the much larger and healthier version of Rue was. Dark charcoal litters the ground, chunks of metal strewn at random. Old business signs lay on the ground, the paint chipped and withering away. No one is here.
Heat beats down on my shoulders, burning through. The sun is at it's highest point. Beside me, Trenton wipes his face, sweat beading down. My body is dry. Movers have a natural balance within them. Instead of using sweat to cool down, the ability to Move water cools us down. Same with cold, we use the ability to Move fire to heat us up. Grandmother taught me that.
I can see where the streets used to be, even the old sidewalk. Ash and large chunks of charcoal show where buildings used to stand. Only few still lay somewhat standing. My grip on Trenton’s arm tighten. Around us is the same. The entire town is burned. Nothing stands. It’s all flat, charred land. A rat scurries across the gravel. I gasp. We enter what must have been the center of the town for a stone fountain still stands. Behind me, I feel like someone is watching us, following us. I glance back and there is no one.
It is unfathomable. How can someone cause this much destruction? Movers did this... I bite my lip. My ability, my powers are strong enough to destroy anything or anyone. No one should have this much power.
Ahead, I can see the end of this hell. I keep my collar around my nose and mouth, refusing to take it off until we are a good distance away. The fog thins, my vision increasing. Almost there... I rush, pulling Trenton with me. Once we hit the shadows of the trees, I gasp for the clean air around me. It is now afternoon.
“That was horrible,” I muse. My throat itches and hurts.
Trenton nods, his hair sticking to his head from sweat and blood. Nausea boils in me, and I have to use all my strength to settle it down. I ask Trenton for the water, and he hands it to me. Without a second thought, I swallow a big gulp. There isn’t much left.
“Is there a river nearby?” I ask.
“Just a short distance ahead, why?” Trenton takes a sip of the water. I watch as his face turns into fey once again.
“I need to get to it. I just have too.” I rub my eyes, dried blood smears across my face. Once again, I gag. I need to bathe... I can’t stand this... Almost reading my mind, Trenton leads me to the river without another word. He seems to be thinking the same thing.
I can see the river, a gentle current cutting through the land. The water is clear and clean, smooth rocks lining the riverbed. My heart lurches at the sight, and I run to it. Before I jump in, I take off my cloak and boots. I just about take off my shirt and pants, but stop.
“Look away,” I tell Trenton. I don’t want him to see me in my underclothes.
Trenton kneels by the river and splashes water at his face. He turns to me, water dripping out of his hair. Acting offended, he says, “I wouldn’t dare look.”
I sneer, then wait for him to turn. Once his gaze is off in the distance, I strip off my clothes until I’m in my underclothes. I jump in the water, feeling the filth wash away. Feeling comfortable now, I say, “You can look now.”
This is home. In the water. Nothing is more welcoming than this. The cold chill of the crystal water, the soft current tugging at my body. I feel so peaceful and homely. Powerful. I push that word out of my mind. That will not ruin this moment for me. The gentle pull tugs at me and I let it. I don’t fight against the current, instead I become part of it.
I dive under, allowing the water to wash my hair. Feeling self conscious, I only allow my head to stay above the water. I soon find Trenton by the edge, bare chested, washing his shirt of blood. It doesn’t seem to be working that well. He tears at the bloody bandage, revealing his smooth skin, a small scar etched into it.
In the sunlight, his chest looks smooth and flawless, muscles tense and ready for anything. He runs his hands through his hair, water dripping down his face. I can’t help but stare. He turns his gaze to me, his mouth curling in a smirk. “Are you staring?”
Embarrassed, frightened and burning, I stutter, “No... I thought I... uh... saw something over there.”
Trenton laughs, then stands. He is scanning the ground for something, I just don’t know what. Finding it, he picks it up, flipping it over in his hands. Using my Mover abilities, I find out it has the same energy as a rock. Confused, I watch Trenton play with it in his hand.
He chucks it into the river, the rock skipping over the top, little sparks of water flying with each hit. Halfway across, the rock sinks. Amazed, my mouth drops. “How did you do that?”
Trenton raises his eyebrows. “You have never skipped a rock before?” I shake my head no. Trenton gives me a bewildered look, then gestures for me to come out.
“Don’t look,” I say.
Trenton turns again. I get out quickly, Moving the water off me with a swift hand motion. Dry, I slip on my clothes. I walk over to Trenton, tapping him on the shoulder.
“First lesson. Find a smooth, flat rock,” Trenton says, one already in his hand.
I nod, searching the ground for the right rock. No luck. Instead, I pick a random rock. It’s large and jagged, an antithesis of flat.
“No, no, no.” Trenton reaches for it in my hand. Before he can take it, I Move it into the perfect rock. Flat, thin and no jagged points.
Trenton leers, a smile on his face. I grin innocently. “Alright, now lean back like this... Elle, like this. Okay, bend your arm and flick the rock. Elle, are you listening? Like this... Okay, good. Make sure it is horizontal so it can skip... See? Now you try.” Trenton watches me.
I follow Trenton, and I flick the rock across the river. It spins and bounces off the water, then again, and again until it reaches the opposite bank, landing among the other rocks. I turn to Trenton, a joyous smile on my face. I just skipped a rock I did it
“How...? I can’t even get it across,” Trenton says, shocked at my unknown skill.
“I can’t believe I did it!” I dance around, so excited that I did it. I haven’t done anything this fun since I was a toddler. I throw a couple more, each time making it across the river. Trenton tries to keep up, but exhaustion creeps over him. Feeling childish, I continue dancing.
Again and again, I skip rocks across the river. Trenton tries to follow, obviously getting annoyed.
Trenton hooks his arms around me, pulling me in. My heart pounds again, my senses deluded. “No one likes a show off,” Trenton whispers in my ear, a smile playing behind his words.
Through my shirt, I can feel Trenton’s bare chest against my back. My blood pounds through my ears, and I can’t think. Everything I try to say makes no sense. Everything is numb. Trenton chuckles then lets me go.
I study him, noticing exhaustion creeping over his face. Guilt stabs me repeatedly. The sky shows that it’s almost dusk. “Will we be sleeping here tonight?” I Move some water into our water sack.
“If you want. Are you tired?” Trenton watches me intently.
“I’m alright. What about you? You look exhausted,” I say.
“No, don’t you worry about me,” Trenton says with a yawn.
I cross my arms, a smile creeping into my lips. My gaze is steady with his. Finally, he sighs, yawns, then begins setting up an area in the safety of the trees to rest in. I help him, rolling out the blankets.
A gust of wind rips through, tearing at my clothing and hair. Trenton’s auburn mane twists with each pull. On the river bed, Trenton’s shirt brushes over the ground, rolling and tumbling across the rocks. I run to it, reaching down to grab it. Before I grasp it, the wind pulls it away, forcing me to stumble after it. Soon, I have it in my hands.
Trenton watches me, a smile on his face, gleam in his eye. I blush, then hand him the shirt. He slips it on over his head. “Do I need to stay up to keep watch?” I rub my forearm awkwardly.
“No, we’ll be fine. Besides, if there is trouble, you got me, remember?” Trenton slips into the blankets, cockiness plastered across his face.
I chuckle, then pull myself into the blankets next to him. My cheeks burn with awkwardness, feeling jittery and unsure. I glance at him, feeling my heart flutter. Before he catches my look, I turn my eyes away. Soon, darkness swallows me, a wonderful dream erupting before me.
Thanks for reading! That's all for now, Folks!(:
