Rise

Merida

A black shadow screeched as it raced across the blanket of stars that covers the black sky. I slid off Angus' back, patting his side as he whined. The moon was no where to be seen, like it was swallowed up by a sea monster inside the dark ocean of the night sky.
Another screech. I whipped my tangled mess of hair over my shoulder. Angus reared, his paranoia was snaking it's way to my brain.

"Calm." I soothed his mane. Liquid eyes stared into mine.

I looked toward the sky one more time. Nothing. Pitch black, with specks of silver. I exhaled.

"Come on Angus. Let's go." I patted the horse on his back, and hopped on. We started toward home. A slight breeze lifted my hair off my shoulders, I inhaled the scent of autumn. The tree were changing to the colors of fire, not that you could tell tonight. Fall is my favorite season because the annual games were held in November, when the air was crisp, and cool.

Angus stopped.

"What?" I whispered into his ear.

He lifted his head and let out a whine. A faint burning smell tainted the breeze. I raised my head to the sky. The stars that once shined, have disappeared. The sea of black, now looked like waves of grey. An uneasy feeling set in my stomach.

"Go!" I yelled and angus took off.

Wind whipped through my hair, getting it in my face. We jumped over logs and rocks. Raced through a maze of trees. Nature was drowned out by my own heart beat in my ears.

A log. A fall. A rock.

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I awoke in a small hut. It smelled of rusted iron and charred wood. Rotted beams ran across the ceiling. I could hardly breathe in the warm, dry air.
I needed water.

I tried to sit up to get a better look at where I was, but a sharp pain kept me down. It felt as if a thousand daggers pierced my skin.

A bandage was wrapped over my dress, around my ribs, around if that would help. Panic settled in. The thought of someone bringing me here, and bandaging me up all while I was knocked out was horrifying. I was in a foreign place without any sort of defense, I felt helpless, weak, vulnerable.

Emotions flowed through my veins. I wanted to cry, or scream
My thoughts were scattered. It was hard to stay calm and focus on my breathing.

A door creaked open. I tensed, trying to out my toughest face up, even when everything felt as if it were crashing down.

Boot, metal, boot, metal, boot, metal.

What type of creature makes that sound? I racked my brain for the answer.

A teenage boy leaned his head over mine, instinctively I head-butted him. We both cried in pain, but I did not feel bad.

"What was that for?" The mystery boy yelped. His hands were on his forehead, covered by choppy brown hair. Ivory eyes were fixed on me.

He didn't have much meat on his bones, but he looked as if he could put up a fight. His features were soft, and without definition. A small gap between his teeth showed itself as he talked.

Embarrassment flushed my body. I could feel my cheeks turn red.

"Oh, yee wee lqmb." I tried to sound calm and collected.

The boy furrowed his brow, whilst slowly bringing his hands back down to his side. I felt uncomfortable under his stare.

"What? Yee look 'ike yee just seen a ghost." Worry slipped into my words, I hoped he didn't hear. I didn't want him to see how scared I was. I couldn't doing weak.

The boy wouldn't budge. He just stood. Staring.