Crystal Forest

“Where is this place?” I muttered under the chill of my surroundings as I leaped to my feet, barely standing upright and forgetting the hurt on my ankle. I looked around to see if I could recognize something, anything. It definitely wasn’t Gaujong, but what scared me the most was that it was like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Earlier…

The strong whirlwind was fast approaching me, shaking the surrounding trees with a fast tempo in display of its overwhelming effect. I clasped m hand to a nearby tree branch while I tried to make a decision, which had to be a quick one – jump into nihility or wait to be consumed by this devouring whirl beast.

There wasn’t much of a choice as the impact of the shaky waves it emanated was closing in on me. I leaped further towards the direction of the beam of light and without a second thought, dived into it…

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I could barely feel my body as I was continuously twirled into a deep abyss of obscurity. I felt an unknown force spinning me, like some kind of portal, dark and gloomy. After a while, I landed on the ground, though it felt more like I was spat out of the mouth of a cracken monster. It was a miracle my body was all in one piece.

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It was a cold night but the moon illuminated like the midday sun, so clear and bright. It was as if the moon seated just a few feet above my head.

It was the most incredible site I have ever seen. I found myself in what looked like a crystal forest, an unending crystal forest with an array of crystal bars of different lengths and sizes which looking closely were like tree trunks plastered with heavy layers of thick frost and ice. I fell to the ground after my legs suddenly got wobbly. I could then feel the pain on ankle, that I hurt from the stumble and not just that, my limbs started to hurt all over, probably the impact from the fall.

I was moaning in pain on my belly, feeling the freeze from the frostbite that was gathering little by little on my face until suddenly…. I felt a presence. Still laying on the ground, I tilted my head a little and I glared first at the boots in front of me, which looked like one of some kind of advanced eskimo (in comparison to Modern day), but much better in the actual sense, even noble. I flickered my eyes and followed the trail to outfit, one fitted for a prince and finally, to a face, angelic and so beautiful, his facial features were so perfectly chiseled as though they were carved by angels. He had a long silver hair that swept across his neck, and down to his back. It seemed to be braided into a French plate. Though I watch from his feet, I could tell he was quite tall and mesmerizingly handsome. A stunner.

He lowered a little so that I could see him clearly. Glaring into my eyes, he extended his hand to me. His gaze met mine, exposing his unique and striking hazel – grey eyes and I could see the urgency in them.

“Take my hand, quick!” he said. This isn’t the time to ask questions or think things through, something I wasn’t able to do lately. I quickly took his hand and before I knew it, I was mounting a steed and riding along the crystal forest with this dashing mystery man.

“ what’s going on? What are we running from!?” I yelled to the top of my voice, galloping, hoping my words wouldn’t get carried away by the wind.

“ Stryders. Paused. Looters from the hinterlands!” he replied

“Str…Hinter… what now!”

“They probably anticipated your arrival and awaited you” he said before I could even think of what questions to ask next.

I looked behind me and saw some strange looking men carrying even stranger weapons. Though I couldn’t make out what they looked like, they were dressed in animal furs. It was like they were stepping out of a horror movie of barbaric hunters.

They were closing in on us fast, and I started to panic.

Okay, not so long ago I had a backlash episode with that old witch from Levingsine estate and now this? What could be worse that being chased by a bunch of costume freaks playing Vikings, who seem to have forgotten their lines and now look like they’re in for a real kill.me! how much more can a girl take?

I looked away, facing forward, feeling my heart racing and pounding as fast as we rode.

“And you, who are you?” I asked. “ how did you find me?” I added, confused.

“we’ll have time for introduction later” he replied casually, but breathless in a tone that spelt out – this is not the time to ask such questions.

“So … where to?”

“Asthyreah”

“Right!” I replied to my amazement. That’s all I could say. I didn’t want to create a negative atmosphere between us and irritate him even further my asking him more questions, he could get mad and throw me off the horse. I mean, there are bad guys chasing after us relentlessly and from what he said, I was the reason. If I were caught I could get eaten alive!

I held onto him tighter, can’t risk falling off either!

Moments later…

They were really closing on us this time, I could now hear their barbaric yelling and ranting vehemently from behind me.

“We didn’t stop for once, how did they get to us so quickly” I wondered.

I took another look at them. It was then I saw they were riding a strange beast. It was large, dirty cream in colour with fierce, fury eyes, the colour of molten larva. They (the beast) had horns of different sizes that sprout from the sides of their cheekbones and just above their eyes.

“Oh my God, what is that creature!” my bewilderment escaped my lips.

“They’re called Frost devils, the fastest and most ferocious beast of this lands”

“We can’t outrun them! Hold on to the reins” was the last thing he said before jumping off the horse.

“ wait! Hey!.. I can’t ride too well…” I shouted in the brisk moment of my panic.

I barely watched from the horse as he drew a silver sword. I hadn’t realized he carried one from before…

.

okay Tara, stay focused. Whoever that guy is, he can take care of himself, he seems to know his way around here. I had to convince myself “survival first”

.

I focused on keeping the horse on track without getting it agitated, or even getting myself agitated, otherwise, I’ll be killed before those barbaric men get to me.

There was an avalanche approaching from a distance and I needed to find a safe abode to stay until it passes.

Minutes later… I could site a cavern in the mountains. Alas. Peeping behind, I made sure I wasn’t being followed, thank goodness! I only hoped he will be safe. Please be safe.

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