Chapter four
Once again, Braden had disappeared into the foliage to try to flush one out to me. I stood there and I thought for sure that I was being watched, but looking around I saw nothing but the trees and the leaves. There was nothing to indicate that there was anybody there. I still felt like somebody was out there. I had the assumption that it might be my benefactor, but I had yet to see any hide or hair of her from the moment that I’d stepped through into the forest for the hunt. It could be that whatever power she had was limited and that she needed time to recharge. It could also mean that the forest was preventing her magic from working. There were so many reasons why she may not be there.
Lord Vadam was expecting the best of the best and I intended to be one of those that were ready to fight.
I heard some kind of screeching and looked up to see a sight that was a little daunting.
In the sky were three Dragos and they were spewing fire at the griffin creature. Most likely, it would’ve been able to take on one Dragos, but three was a little overwhelming. Since the griffin was an endangered species and was going to become extinct, it was going to be a blow to the ecosystem when the griffin fell at the hands of the Dragos. I’d never seen or heard anything about a Dragos attacking a griffin. They usually left them alone and did everything they could to keep out of its way.
This time, it was different and it seemed to me like the Dragos had lured him into some kind of trap. They were now punching his ticket. The fire rained down on the griffin. They had already scorched two sides of its flesh. It lashed out and caught one across one of its legs. It didn’t even slow down and the fire continued to burn brightly. The screeching was not from the Dragos. It was from the griffin. It was in so much pain that you could almost feel it yourself.
“That is not something that you see every day.” Gemini had snuck up on me and had she wanted to do me harm, she could’ve easily done it without me even knowing that it was happening. “The Dragos stay away from Lord Vadam’s wrath. That creature is a hunter and not the prey. You wouldn’t know it from looking at that display, but you can tell that even that creature is surprised by the Dragos behavior.” This was in line with everything that we had seen up to this point. Rankin had been surly and tried to bite Braden, while another one had tried to hide, only to have its master find him.
“Gemini, I would like to say that I’m happy to see you, but I’d be lying. I guess you thought differently about killing me."
“You really don’t know me, Shana. I guess I can say the same thing for you. Braden talks about you the same way that he used to about me. I’m guessing that this relationship is relatively new. You don’t have to tell me. I’m sure that you want to keep your personal life private. I would be the same way in your shoes. Braden on the other hand would want to scream it to the world, but I have noticed that he has at least changed his way in that regard. I guess he just needed a strong and capable woman to stand by his side. I was never going to be that for him, because I’m not about taking somebody by the hand and leading them to greatness. They need to find that person themselves.” I knew that people need encouragement. Some needed to be pushed into something that they would never do on their own. It was called peer pressure where I came from and it was essentially the same here in the land of Markham.
“I still don’t get how you could be with a man like Lord Vadam. Then again there are many mysteries that seem to have me completely stymied. The Dragos are not acting the right way and you can tell that the lion creature is fighting, but it even knows that eventually it will succumb.” It didn’t take very long for this fight to come to an end. The Dragos seemed to be talking to each other, but how was the question. The Dragos was the inferior species, but they were more than a match for their prey. It plummeted to the ground.
I ran towards where it fell, hoping that I might be able to render aid, but finding only charred remains. Its claws were bared and only thing left not burned were those claws. Its face was a grotesque mask of pain that couldn’t be denied.
“I agree that there is something strange going on, Shana. It started yesterday and has become increasingly worse by the hour. There have been reports like this one. Apparently, the Dragos have decided to rise up and become the powerful creature that others have tried to warn us about. There is a rumor that there is a mother to all those that have been domesticated. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that the mother has finally come out of hiding. She probably saw them acting like pets and didn’t like it one bit.” It was interesting to have a civil conversation with Gemini, even though her main purpose for coming in here was to kill me.
“I think that we should definitely keep an eye on their behavior. If it gets any worse, we might have to take some drastic action.” I think that one of the Dragos understood exactly what I was saying. It had now come within 12 feet above me. It circled in an intimidating fashion to get my attention.
I noticed something strange about the griffin like thing. I went to take a look and found that it was not alone. Underneath it; crushed and broken like a fragile doll was an Offus. It was struggling with breath and I could tell that a few of its rib bones were now protruding out of its chest. The humane thing to do was to put it down. I acted before Gemini and fired without even thinking. I’d taken away its pain, but I had also won my prize. It might have not happened exactly the way that I had hoped it would, but who was I to cast stones.
We had been at this for hours and it was going to take that long to get back with our prize in hand. Braden came out of the woods and looked at me incredulously and then towards Gemini, who could only shrug her shoulders.
“I don’t know what she’s been filling your head with, Shana, but none of it’s true.” It would’ve been interesting to trade war stories about Braden, but we had never even ventured down that path. “I would say that you didn’t need me at all, Shana.” I didn’t want to tell him how easily mine had come to me on a silver platter. I had killed it, but it was not in cold blood. It was a way for the animal to suffer no longer. You could see the pain in its eyes and it was dying, but it was taking a whole lot longer than necessary. I essentially killed two birds with one stone. I’ve given him his dignity by dying quickly and also gotten my prize, even though I felt sick to my stomach about it.
“Don’t get your ire up, Braden. I did not come here to kill her. I think that there is a better way to destroy her credibility.” She smiled and walked off and it was her words that caused me to feel this shiver down my spine. I had no idea what she was referring to, but I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be long before she finally revealed what it was. I didn’t want to believe that she could be vindictive or spiteful, but everything that I did learn about her had said that and a whole lot more.
How Braden was even remotely attracted to her, could only mean that she was different back when he knew her. He had said that to me and I didn’t know if I believed him, but now seeing it with my own eyes, I knew that she couldn’t be the same woman that he married.
“I wonder what she meant by that? Whatever it is, you can be assured that I have your back.” I looked at him with this expression, indicating that I wasn’t even sure that he was on my side, let alone had my back. “I mean it and if she tries anything, then she’ll come against me.” I could see that for the most part he believed everything that he was saying. He needed to follow through and I just wasn’t sure if he was capable of doing that. He was a complicated man and I think the main reason why I cared for him was because he had a good heart.
“It appears that we will not have a way of making our way back.” The sun had fallen rapidly and the sky had darkened with the moon high above. We were not allowed to bring provisions and the only thing that we could eat was from the wild. I was tempted to cook the griffin over a spit on an open flame, but I think that Lord Vadam might have some harsh words and even harsher punishment for desecrating an animal such as that.
It wasn’t very long before we had a fire going and then Braden showed up with two fowl looking animals that had different color feathers. I watched him move with precision to skin the animal. He prepared it for the fire. The skin sizzled and you could see that there was going to be a nice char and a crispy coating. It would most likely taste like chicken, but there was no point in speculating, until I got myself a taste.
When the chicken was done, we fed like animals. There were no forks, spoons or knives and the only thing that they had at their disposal was their hands. They never thought that they’d have any need for anything else. It was uncivilized, but I found a certain freedom by tearing into the meat like some kind of caveman back in the day. I was getting back to what our ancestors had done and even today there were certain foods that you just had to eat with your hands. One was pizza and the other was wings. I guess there was a small part in humanity that had that caveman mentality ingrained into their DNA.
“Braden, I think it’s a good thing that we haven’t heard the announcement. Everybody else is probably doing the exact same thing we are.” The temperature had dropped considerably and I was starting to feel it into my bones. It was only when I felt his arms around me that I began to realize that his inability to kill his ex had only made him that much more endearing. He had an understanding about life and I don’t think that he wanted to extinguish anybody, including his ex wife. He had no problem killing an Offus or a fowl and apparently that was something that was known as battle of the fittest. Survival came at the expense of those animals and even as I ate it, I felt a burden that began to weigh heavily on my shoulders. That guilt was going to beat me up. Just when I was about to go in for seconds, I decided against it.
“I’m glad that you like it and I always carry my own spices, in case we are stranded or out here in the middle of the wilderness.” I was happy to see that there was none of that strange grass or the two headed snake like thing that could have easily made this forest its home.
Getting back to nature is something that I’m used to and the only thing that was missing was him in the buff. If he were to do that and cook at the same time, then I think that he would be catnip for my other sexual tendencies.
“We’re going to have to get an early start tomorrow. Once we see the light of day, it’s going to be a race to see who’s going to get back to Lord Vadam, as the first six. I’m sure that Scar has already given Lord Vadam his prize. If we can, then we will be three of the six from the Red castle. It will be up to the White castle and the Black castle to determine who will be the final three. It’s even possible that another one from the Red castle will get into it, but the likelihood was slim.
“Shana, I can honestly say that I don’t think that I would’ve been able to face my problems without you. I think that I would’ve been able to do it myself, but I think it would’ve taken a lot longer. I’ve allowed myself to grieve the relationship and I think that I was only using you to get over a love that had yet to be extinguished. I hate to admit something like that, but they say that confession is what’s good for the soul.” I was starting to rethink that this might not be an alien planet. It could be an alternate universe, but that would be right out of science fiction novels. Their DNA and body chemistry were similar and yet they seemed to have this unique ability to make weapons out of their own hands.
“I think that you’re giving me too much credit, Braden. We both know that you’re stronger than you let on. You may be able to fool others with this meek and mild act, but it doesn’t fly with me. I know that you have a caring disposition, but you also have this fire that comes from the way that you were raised. You started this campaign three years ago. I can see that each one was a lesson in of itself. You may have felt like three times were too many and that you were destined to do it on the first. Those two were a growing pain and not something that you should take lightly.” I wanted him to know that his courage did not come from another person. I could give him encouragement and advice, but essentially his decision was his own.
“I guess I’ve always known that I’ve had it in me. I just never had anybody that cared enough to bring it out. Gemini was always crushing me underneath her own will. She was constantly putting me down and making me feel inferior. She always called me weak and spineless and I think those words had become my own personal mantra for a period. I never did look in the mirror and like who I was, until she left and I was able to finally break free of her influence. How ironic is it that Gemini has fallen into the same trap with Lord Vadam?” It appeared that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It was gone and you could see that it made a profound difference in the way that he thought about himself.
“I’ve always known that you were more than what you appeared to others, Braden. I knew from the moment that I met you that there was a spark that just needed somebody to fan it into a flame. I’m hoping that I had a small part in that.” I remembered how I had used my instincts and slowed down time long enough for me to do what was needed. I thought that it might be the benefactor, but I think deep down the planet’s atmosphere was changing me and I wasn’t sure if it was for the better or the worse.
I’d noticed a little while ago that my fingernails were a little different. They were almost a translucent white color. I had this funny feeling that I was transforming and I could only hope that I was not destined to become some kind of animal like thing. I think that I was being defined by where I was. I’m sure that other girls with powers were afraid to show themselves in the light of day. By conquering my foe in the flying of the arrows, I had opened their eyes and I finally showed them that they could be more than what they were told that they could be.
I felt like I was making a real difference. Men were not the only gender and for women to take a second class seat was only making them feel like they were being pressed down by the heel of their boot. I wanted to lessen the pressure and give them that moment in the sun. If I were to accomplish such a feat, I would know that my being here had made a difference. I think I was a little confused by what my purpose was. I soon saw how women were being treated. None of them was given their due and that was about to change for the better. They didn’t even know it, but I had already fired the first shot in this war of the sexes.
My life had certainly changed and for the first time, I began to see that there was a real reason I was put on this planet. I didn’t see it before, but I did see it here. Who was to say that I wasn’t meant to be here? If I wasn’t, then why was I here? It was my path and what I did with it would help others follow the beat of their own drum. Being different and strange didn’t have to be a bad thing. You just needed to find your own voice and it could come from the most unlikely of sources. I wanted to see my voice be heard and then to hear two more raise from the ashes.
Braden was lying back and looking at the stars. I moved to join him, until his arms were around me and we were now snuggled together like two peas in a pod. “I want you to know that I’ve always seen you, as a real man. I also want you know that Gemini had no right to make you feel less than who you are. In her own way, she was probably trying to help you, but it was doing the exact opposite. You didn’t need to be berated and ridiculed. What you needed was a woman to stand by you, as an equal and ready to pick up arms and go to war if necessary.” I’d told him everything that I had seen of the Dragos and how they had decimated the creature.
This had come as a big shock and apparently this was the first time in history that any thing like this had happened. The only time that they were animalistic was when they first were noticed and hunted for being different. Most feared what they didn’t know and it had been the same way in my world. It wasn’t right and we had to get past those misconceptions and prejudices.
I looked up into his eyes and he had his hands lingering along the cleavage of my armor. He touched the metal and it disintegrated down to where my bosom was on full display. I think he knew how to manipulate the armor, especially since it was his to begin with. This was just a loner and I had not made it my own.
He traced his finger through my cleavage and up over the mounds of flesh that had presented themselves. It sent a tingle of excitement through me. Down below there was definitely something happening. We had the night to kill and I saw no reason that we couldn’t use that time to reconfirm our commitment to each other. I had no idea where Gemini had gone. If she was out there stalking us, then she was going to see something that was probably going to make a green streak appear down her back.