Curse

Leonidas2 · Jun 09, 2007, 09:01 PM // 21:01

Although I cannot hope to match the skills of the writers that already post here, I do enjoy to write and figured I'd come up with a story to post every now and then to stave off boredum for those that want to read it. Any comments/suggestions/criticism is appreciated as long as you don't flame.

I'm still rather new to writing, so it will get better as I go (I hope). Anyway, enough babbling, to the story!

Chapter One

The leaves rustled almost silently under the young rangers feet as she sprinted through the forest, almost carried by the winds themselves. She had been tasked with a simple job, deliver the package and under no circumstances let anyone take it. A simple mission, she thought, and it would be easy money. Her opinion had changed slightly now as two assassins had already been evaded and one other was following close behind. Dusk was setting, and if she could stay alive until nightfall, she could disappear into the forest until morning. The painful howls of the Stalkers that were rallied to protect her reverberated through the forest every so often. It was all the information she needed to know how close her pursuer was.

Wonderful, she thought, this is a becoming a hassle. I don’t even know what I’m carrying. Her hand went instinctively down to the small pouch hanging from her waist, carrying the small round shaped object that was apparently of vital importance. You’re not allowed to open it, so don’t. She had to remind herself again as her eyes darted down to it and back up again.

“But you know you want too…” The voice came suddenly in her left ear, a cold and deadly whisper from the assassin appearing from a cloud of smoke behind her. Slamming her foot into the ground, she jerked right just as a blade silently slipped along her back, slicing her clothing and drawing a line of blood. A small price to pay for where the blade was intended. “Lucky girl.” He said calmly as she disappeared once more into the trees. “You can’t escape me, though.”

“Damnit!” She said aloud to herself, throwing her gaze over her shoulder every few seconds. “How the hell did he catch up?” Her thoughts were interrupted, however, as the wound along her back began to sting sharply, forcing her to stop and fall to one knee. “Wonderful…a poisoned dagger. Just what I needed right now.” Knowing she hadn’t cleared enough distance yet, she reached into a pouch at her back and pulled out a variety of needles spanned out along a thin strand of wire. She tied one end to each tree to her sides and hastily forced the needles vertically into the ground, throwing some leaves over the trap.

Now I just hope. Summoning up what strength the poison hadn’t sapped, she rose to her feet and slowly walked to a stump facing her trap, taking a seat to wait for him to arrive. He can’t be but a few minutes away, she guessed, moving the pouch that carried the item to the inside of her clothing.

“I don’t care where it is on you, I’m going to get it.” The voice was low and threatening, originating from the shadows in front of her.
She placed her hand over it, raising her form to make it seem as though his poison wasn’t running its course. “You will not touch it.”

“Bold words coming from someone who can’t even walk.” He said, stepping out of the shadows, revealing a twisted grin and two bloodied daggers in his hands.

“Who says I can’t walk?” She stalled, her eyes darting to the sun on the horizon, hoping to buy enough time. The poison continued to flood her system, crippling her movement and beginning to impair her vision.

Taking slow steps forward, the assassin neared her trap. “If you can walk, why aren’t you running? It’s what you’ve been doing this whole time. Or have you finally given up?” He taunted.

Her eyes began to have trouble focusing as she struggled to maintain her posture, hoping to lure him further. “After that last run in, I discovered I’m faster than you. You’re no match for me.”

“Is that so?” He replied, only a few steps away from the trap now.

“Why don’t you come over here and find out?”

“Planned on it.” As he took his next step forward, it tripped the wire laid across the trees, springing the needles from the ground, a few piercing his foot. He cried in agony, dropping to clasp his wounded foot as a burst of smoke enveloped him.

“Gotcha…” She grinned, taking a breath of relief, placing her hands on the stump and bringing herself to her feet.

No sooner had she turned to leave did his calm voice come from behind her. “A simple trap…you’ll have to do better than that my dear.” He said, emerging from the smoke completely unscathed.

Determined to never go out without a fight, she pulled a small dagger from her hip and faced him, though she wobbled some trying to stand. “You’ll have to take it from my cold dead fingers.” She challenged, grasping the dagger firmly in front of her, locking her eyes to his.

“That can be arranged.” He took another shadow step forward and appeared directly at her front, thrusting a dagger at her chest. She managed to bring hers up and deflect it off to the right, but was unable to stop the next strike, his dagger sinking deep into her shoulder, pinning her to the tree behind her. “A ranger without a bow, always a sad sight.” He slowly spun the dagger, forcing a cry of pain from her throat and causing her to drop her weapon. “Pity such beauty has to die.”

“I hope Grenth has a special place for you when you die.” She spat, raising her head enough to look him in the face.

“Tell him I said hello.” He fired back, bringing the other dagger up to strike the killing blow. “Goodbye.”

As he brought the dagger down, a thick root burst from the ground between them, catching the blade and entrapping it within its bark. Another branch came from the tree behind her, taking a wild swing at the assassin. He evaded it easily, springing back, abandoning both of his weapons. Three more branches came immediately after; enveloping the ranger in an impenetrable shield of wood, then everything fell silent.

“What is the meaning of this?!” The assassin screamed, looking around rapidly. “Show yourself!”

Almost as if on command, a light formed between the assassin and the ranger, and the ground at this light began to swirl. Slowly, the goddess of Melandru rose from earth, bathed in angelic light, her wings spread wide behind her. “Who is this that demands the presence of a God?” She spoke, her words flowing gently through the air.

“Why have you protected this mortal?” He spat at her, his eyes burning with hate.

“That is none of your concern, for you are a mortal yourself.” She replied calmly, gazing softly upon him.

“The gods are not allowed to protect a mortals life. You have no business here.”

“The gods are also not allowed to order mortals to kill other mortals.” Her tone was firmer this time, but still calm.

Words now escaped the assassin, and he stammered out a few incoherent sentences before resigning to glare at the goddess. There was nothing left he could do. “Lyssa will have your head for this.” He scoffed before vanishing into the darkness.

“Not likely.” Melandru said quietly to herself as he left, and once gone she turned to face the ranger. Loss of blood and the poison had rendered her unconscious by now, and Melandru ordered the trees to carry her to a safe location where she could be healed. “It is not your time, my child. You have much to do.” As quickly as she came, she vanished once more, the light fading away shortly after.

Unreal Cyn · Jun 11, 2007, 09:33 AM // 09:33

I thought this was pretty damn good. Interesting beginning to what I hope will be a long and adventurous tale!