I Can't Think of a Title Yet...

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            The forest was dark and cool. The trees formed a protective green canopy over Annie. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the mist on her flushed face. The damp, cold air cleansed her of the dirt and sweat that covered her body. Her long dark hair swirled around her shoulders in the light breeze. A low sigh blew from her throat as she reveled in being alone.

            The sound of hoof beats abruptly pulled Annie from her reverie and caused her blue eyes to flash open. She swore under her breath and sprinted deeper into the dark depths of the forest.

            Her leather boots made little more than a whisper as they hit the grass. She ghosted amongst the trees, moving quickly and quietly. Darting from shadow to shadow, she made her way to the most ancient part of the forest. The trees were thick and very tall. As her pursuers grew closer, Annie narrowed her eyes and leapt high – higher than any human – onto a tree. She began to climb furiously, eager to distance herself from her trackers.

            She climbed nimbly from limb to limb, higher and higher amongst the branches. When she was at least a hundred feet in the air, she stopped and looked down.

            There was a team of twenty horses with fully armed warriors on their backs riding into the clearing. The flags of Annie’s biggest enemy were flying high and snapping in the breeze. As the troop stopped, Annie closed her eyes and concentrated hard, listening closely.

~~~

            “Halt!” James called as he pulled his horse to a stop. He leapt off of his horse and scanned the trees.

            “Spread out,” he ordered. “I know she’s here somewhere.”

            As his men began to search, James removed his helmet and knelt down to examine the dirt. A brown curl fell into his eyes as he tried to find Annie’s invisible trail.

            How the hell does she run so fast without leaving a trail? James thought. There’s not so much as a footprint.

            He scanned the clearing closely, noticing a rumpled clump of ferns growing at the base of one of the biggest trees. Straightening from his crouch, he headed towards the tree.

~~~

            From above, Annie watched James walk towards her tree.

            Damn, Annie thought to herself. I should have jumped higher. I didn’t realize he was so tall.

            She held her breath and waited for him to find the scuff marks her leather boots left on the tree.

~~~

            James sauntered over to the tree and examined the bark. He smirked as he saw the boot scuffs on the bark around chest level.

            James stepped back and looked up into the tree branches.

            “Annie, love,” he called. “Do you mind coming down here for a moment?”

            Annie’s head peered over the edge of the branch, her dark hair falling into her face.

            “You know, James, I’m actually pretty good up here. But thanks for asking.”

            “Come on, darlin’. I just want to talk.”

            “I’m sure,” Annie replied sarcastically. “I always bring twenty armed guards to my casual conversations.”

            “These are dangerous times,” James said. “Just come down a bit so I don’t have to yell.”

            “James, you know as well as I do that your archers will shoot me down as soon as I’m in range.”

            “Annie, you have my word that you won’t be hurt.” James promised, with a sincere look on his face.

            “Why don’t you come up here instead?” Annie suggested.

            James sighed and took a few large steps back from the tree trunk. With a resigned look on his face, he got a running start and leapt high onto the tree where he began to climb, faster than Annie had before him.

            Annie scooted out on her branch to make room for James. She grasped the limb tightly with her legs as James thumped down beside her.

            “Gently, James,” Annie scolded. “You’re going to knock us off.”

            “Do you ever relax, Annie?” James asked in an exasperated tone.

            “It’s kind of hard to relax when you’ve been chased all across the land. You know we’re not going to give up. The Alliance will bring Addabon down. We could really use your help, James.”

            “Are you hungry?” James asked. “I find that it’s hard to discuss business on an empty stomach.”

            Annie stared at him.

            “Seriously? Abbadon is slaughtering people and you are asking me if I want a snack?”

            “Yes,” James said. “You’re obviously not going anywhere and I’m hungry so why not? Besides, I bet it’s been a long time since you’ve eaten.”

            “I know how to hunt, James,” Annie said with a pointed glance at her bow and quiver hanging from a nearby branch.

            “I am aware of that, Annie but how long has it been since you’ve had freshly baked bread, Clarisse’s stew, or wine?”

            “Tempting, but we’re 200 feet up in a tree, in a forest that’s over a hundred miles from home.”

            James clapped his hands twice and an all-white owl flew across the clearing and landed on the limb, with a burlap sack clasped firmly in his beak. James opened the sack and placed their meal out on the branch. They both began to eat vigorously. When all the food was gone, Annie leaned back against the trunk and stared at James.

            “How did you do that?” Annie asked, incredulously.

            “Get the food? Being a Nighthawk isn’t all bad, Annie. Abbadon gives his top Captains special abilities and gifts. Clarisse sends her love.”

            “This is incredible. I haven’t been home in a while.”

            “You know we can change that, Annie,” James said with a smoldering stare deep into her eyes. “Join us. You’re one of the most powerful people I know. Abbadon desperately wants you. You could be a captain with me!”

            “How dare you? You expect me to forget what he did to my family and my home and just join up with him like nothing ever happened? He’s a killer, James. How can you even suggest that?! You were there! You watched him destroy our lives yet you ran out and joined his army with open arms!”

            “You know I didn’t have a choice! It was join or die, Annie. Join or watch my whole family die! You would have done the same thing and you know it.”

            “But I didn’t do the same thing, James. I fought! I’m still fighting! And one day, I will be able to return to my family with my head held high and Abbadon’s head on a pike. But you, you’re a traitor! You should have joined the Alliance.”

            “Annie, I would have loved to join the Alliance and you know that. But I won’t do anything that will put my family in danger. Can you honestly tell me that you would be able to live with yourself if someone killed Johnny because you wouldn’t fight?”

            Annie shook her head.

            “It’s the same way with Lily. I will not watch my little sister die because of me.”

            “James, we can protect your family. We’re protecting mine and everyone else’s. Please, trust me.”

            “Annie, I’ve trusted you since we were born. But until I know for sure that they’re safe, I’m going to do everything in my power to protect them. If something happens and you find a way to protect them and get me out of the Nighthawks, leave me a message at the old place. But until then, it’s probably best if you don’t let me catch you again. If I don’t do my job, Abbadon will get suspicious. I can let you go this time but never again. I’m sorry.”

            “I understand, James. I’ll do everything I can to make your family safe and get you back with us.”

            “Thanks, Annie.”

            James jumped down off the tree and walked over to his troops. After a few words, he mounted his horse and rode away with his men following behind him.