Preview My Works

I had grown tired of living the way I had been living for years now. I was never able to do anything I wanted. The people I lived with were in control of my money and what I could or couldn't do. I felt trapped. I packed a backpack of what I felt I would need plus a couple of things that I wanted and took off. I didn't leave a note or anything to let them know where I had gone or anything. I walked down many roads. I noticed some bikers passed me a couple of times, but I didn't pay them any mind. Bikers drive down the roads all the time, so I just kept walking. Eventually, I came to a forest and decided to check it out. There were bikers parked in a lot of the parking spaces talking together, but I didn't really care. That had nothing to do with why I was there. I walked the trails for a while and never saw anyone. After about 2 hours of wandering, I went off the trail. I went as far off the trail as I could go deep into the forest until I found a little cave. I went into the cave and looked around. It was a nice little cave, and it went pretty far back. I put my backpack down in the back and got out a blanket. I sat down on the ground and put the blanket over my legs. I grabbed a notebook and green pen out of the backpack and began to write. Dear Darkness, Well, today's the day. I finally left that s**t hole. I found a little cave in Viridian Phoenix Park, so this is where I'll be staying for a while. I don't know how long I'll be here or any of that really, but it's better than there. I've got some clothes with me and a couple of my important items, so it shouldn't be too bad so long as I can keep my job. I'm kind of worried about that now. I'm going to have to file a lost card report so I can get a new card and the old one will get locked. They won't like that, but in order to be able to keep myself clean and decent and make sure I have food to eat, I have to. I'm also going to have to get a PO box before I can do that. I'll let them have what's on my card since I took their $50 cash. Technically, it was part of the money from my check, so it's mine, but they don't see it that way. Oh well. Anyway, I don't feel like writing anymore so I'mma end this here. Bye for now. I started to sketch on the page beside it. I don't know how long I spent on the sketch but when I was done it was a gorgeous bird. (insert my own sketch of a green Phoenix) I started to put my notebook away. "You're a very good artist," a male voice said from beside me. I jumped and looked over at who spoke. Even though he was sitting down, he looked like he was taller than I. He had a black button-up shirt on, revealing some tattoos on his chest and arms. He had long flowing black hair that seemed a lot like fur and deep brown eyes. "When did you get here?" I asked slowly and cautiously. "About an hour ago. I tried to talk to you, but you wouldn't answer, so I just sat and watched you draw," he said like it was nothing. "So what are you doing in this little cave hidden away from the world?" "I'm sorry, but that is none of your business," I said sternly. I don't feel comfortable sharing that with a complete stranger. "Oh, but it is my business. I own this forest darling," he said with an air of authority. I rolled my eyes and put all the stuff I got out of it away. I then got up and started to walk away quietly. He started to follow me as I put my backpack back on. I was really not in the mood for sharing information with strangers, let alone just talking to them, so I quickened my pace to try to lose him, but he stayed close. “You're not going to get away that easily, sweetheart. Besides, it's not going to kill you to speak the truth,” the man taunted almost playfully. I let out a soft huff and suddenly broke off into a sprint, catching him off guard. After what felt like hours, it seemed like I had finally lost him, so I slowed down. I noticed that I had made it to the center of Viridian Phoenix Park. There was a large hill with a single, tall willow tree, its hair like branches so long that they touched the ground. Normal people weren't allowed anywhere near here, but I made it there. I walked up the hill and entered under the willow branches. I sat down against the trunk and simply listened to my surroundings. After a time of relaxing, it started to get dark. I pulled out my blanket and laid down to sleep. When morning came, I was greeted by a deadly but gorgeous surprise. A large viridian phoenix was standing by my head, staring at me. My eyes widened in awe and a small bit of fear. The phoenix was larger than a human, and that did not include its long tail or head feathers. I closed my eyes as I felt pain in my abdominal area. Shortly after that, I felt the bird get on top of me and start burning me. The warmth felt nice and I began to relax. “You'll give in to a creature's wishes but run from the man trying to get to know you. How peculiar,” a voice said, startling me. I looked over at the voice as the phoenix let out a chirp. It was the man I saw yesterday. “Do you really think a mortal with very little magic powers, and weak ones at that, could stop an immortal phoenix, whose size hints that he's quite ancient, from doing what it wants without dying in the process?” I asked rhetorically. The man simply waved a hand and the phoenix moved off of me. “Maybe not, but you could have at least attempted to yell for help. Now, considering he seems to want you, I'm assuming that you're quite powerful and have a good voice. Come with me and I can help you,” he said. He held out his hand to help me up. “And why should I believe that? You're a stranger,” I said skeptically. I'd been lied to practically my entire life. I wasn't going to believe him that easily. “My name isn't something I just hand out unfortunately, but for now you can call me Shadowmane. I'm one of the bikers that drove past you a couple of times. I saw you when you first entered the forest, and I've kept track of you since I first saw you. You obviously aren't from around here, and I'd rather not have innocent blood spilled on my land if you catch my drift,” the man explained as he reached out to pet the large phoenix. “Still doesn't answer my question.” “Follow me,” he said. He started walking. I debated shortly about whether to follow him but ultimately decided to follow. My reasoning? If an old phoenix could trust him, then I should be able to too, but I don't know. Multiple questions started to form in my head.