Daughter of the Sky, Son of the Earth

Chapter Nine

Water

Everything was strangely still. I had gotten so used to Aileen and Alex being around making noise and talking, that I found myself feeling odd and empty without them. 

It had been a little over a day since we parted, and I couldn't say I felt comfortable going on alone. I had no choice, but it wasn't one I would have taken freely. I sighed as I kept on walking through the thickness of the forest. It felt as if I had been walking for ages.

The soles of my feet ached, and my back was sore from the weight of the backpack pushing me down constantly as I climbed further up. I didn't know where I was going, but I could tell I was much higher now. Especially, by the way, everything looked so small when I stopped to look around. 

That was the worst part. 

I hated heights. I was afraid of them. I knew it was something relative and maybe stupid considering the fact that I could hold my breath underwater and dive deep into the ocean without a problem. It was the same thing but backward I guessed. But the difference was the way our bodies adapted to each context. In the water you can't fall, you can go up, but you can drown whereas in the air, the only way to escape it was going down. In a more, extreme quicker way.

I shivered at the thought and quickly pushed the thought away. The last thing I wanted was to think about all the possible ways someone could die. I chuckled in my mind and decided to stop at the top of the hill. I looked at my surroundings and saw nothing more than trees and trees. I couldn't believe I had walked that much in just a day and a half. I guess I really was in a hurry to get this over with.

Although I thought it had more to do with the fact I was exposed and more vulnerable here. As soon as I left the safety of the territory surrounding the cabin, I felt a change in atmosphere, and I suspected it had to do with the fact I was leaving the forcefield that protected Aileen and me from the monster lurking out there. 

I wondered if she had felt it. 

Since then, I had tried to keep my head low. I was glad I had packed enough food for the trip. I didn't know how long it was going to last but I hoped I got to my destination soon. The compass hadn't changed direction since they first appeared. 

And the girl on the lid was still there. Her silver, almost white eyes gazed into mine and I felt an uncomfortable sensation run through me. I had a feeling she was going to be a difficult person to convince. Everything about her screamed she was an authoritative person. But a leader? Somehow, I had the feeling she wasn't going to be as reasonable. 

Either way, I suspected she was the daughter of the God of the Skies. Her hair and gaze revealed that much. And if she was anything like the way Barbara had once described, then I thought we were going to have a problem. Especially when Aileen met us where we were supposed to head after getting the other Elementals. She also had a dominant presence to her. I just hoped there was no tension between the two girls. After all, everyone knew air just ignited fire even more. But that could be a good thing just as it could be a bad thing.

Shrugging, I decided to wait until something happen. I shouldn't make assumptions. 

Taking a deep breath, I sat down and took off the backpack on my back before getting a can of food from it. I stared into the horizon, lost in thought but at the same time not thinking about anything in particular.

I ate in silence and wondered how Alex and Aileen were doing by themselves. If they had encountered any monsters on their way or if they had already reached the other boy. 

An uncomfortable sensation sat at the back of my head as I thought about the way Aileen had been adamant about going after him. In her eyes, I could see something, as if she knew who he was. That only made it worse.

What if Aileen had already fallen for another guy before? What if she had felt something stronger for him as soon as she saw him? Shaking my head, I tried not to think about that. I didn't believe my connection with Aileen was something that could be easily replaced. There was no way it wasn't real. Barbara had said it when you found your true love, you just knew. And I was sure that I had found it, but was she?

Suddenly not feeling very hungry, I made a disgusted face as I looked at the food in the can and pushed it away. I couldn't eat another bite. 

So I just sat there in silence and tried to regain my strength. A deep silence fell over me and I closed my eyes, just enjoying the way the breeze passed by. 

Suddenly, I felt the ground underneath begin to shake. My eyes instantly widened, and I looked around for any sign of a stampede of deer or a tree falling. But everything was still.

The tremble appeared once again, and I stiffened. Quickly, I reached for my sword that was in my pocket and let the blade out. The blade wasn't lit up but that didn't mean something strange wasn't happening here. 

Pointing it in front of me, I looked at my surroundings as I stood on my feet. The ground moved again and I almost tripped, but I held my ground. 

Just then, my blade lit up and my eyes widened. s**t! I cursed to myself as I took my backpack and quickly carried it on my back. I decided to leave the can of unfinished food on the ground, hoping the monster would stop and eat it and give me enough time to escape or find somewhere to hide. 

I didn't want to use my powers. That would only make it worse in an empty forest where monsters could be lurking anywhere. 

I opened the compass and quickly followed the arrow down the hill. My feet were quick but quiet as I rushed down the terrain. The ground shook much closer now and I felt the blood on my face begin to become cold. 

My blade was still glowing bright white and it only seemed to get more intense with every step I took. I just hoped I wasn't heading right for the mouth of the wolf hunting for a part-God being out here. 

Without a warning, the sound of a growl made me stop in my tracks and I gulped. I was standing in the middle of the forest, surrounded by nothing but trees. I knew my best chance of surviving was getting out into the open where I could see my enemy. I was sure it knew I was here because my blade began to glow white with the blue flame around it. 

Slowly, a large beast emerged from the trees. Its dark body looked like armor on his body. Its head was looking down, but the smell of sulfur and death came with the creature. It looked like an enormous cape buffalo. Its sharp horns seemed to shine under the light from the sun that managed to stream into the forest. 

I took in the size of the monster and wondered if it was dangerous or not. I had never seen anything like it. And if he was anything like its mundane counterpart, then I didn't think it was more dangerous than a wild buffalo. I just had to back away from its territory slowly.  

Taking my advice, I started to step back and head in the opposite direction of the beast, but it quickly let out a sound that sounded like a growl and I stopped. The creature turned until its big eyes were staring back at me. They were red and just like a snake. 

A shudder ran down my body as a bad feeling crept to me. 

"I mean no harm. I am just trying to get out to your territory. Just let me go peacefully," I said slowly, unsure if the creature could understand what I was saying. 

The bull looked at me and then huffed. 

Slowly, I lowered my sword and hoped that meant he was letting me go. 

But suddenly, the bull ran towards me, its sharp horns pointed my way. I yelped and raised my sword, prepared to scare him off but that did little.

I barely had time to get away from the beast's path and I felt the wind push past me as the bull ran at full speed. It let out an enraged cry until its eyes focused on me again and he was able to charge again. 

I was beginning to think this creature wasn't going to let me go. Not if I didn't finish him first. 

Taking a deep breath, I tightened my hold on the sword and charged at the creature with a cry. The bull looked taken aback by my outburst but quickly composed itself as it moved towards me. We met in the middle as I jumped on its back and tried to plunge the sword into its neck. 

The monster began to jump, trying to make me fall from its back. I was weak from exhaustion and no matter how hard I tried, I had trouble holding on. My sword fell to the ground and the monster let out a frustrated groan before it jumped higher and managed to set itself free from my hold. 

I fell to the ground, next to my sword, and groaned in pain. My body was sore, and my hands instantly reached for my side. 

Before I could try to get up, the monster charged at me and ran me over with its big hooves. I let out a cry of pain as I rolled on the ground. Once the bull stopped and I managed to get away from its legs. The creature stomped its hoof against the ground and roared as it prepared to charge at me again. 

Weakly, I managed to get to my feet. I was gasping for air, but my eyes never faltered from the creature. 

The animal charged at me again and I tried to dodge his attack, but he seemed to predict my next move since he moved with me and managed to grab me with its big horns and send me flying across the forest. My back hit a nearby tree and my vision began to blur as I cried out in pain.

I had never felt anything as painful as I did then. I couldn't move, no matter how much I willed my body to. I laid on the ground and looked at the bull that was ready to finish the job when suddenly, a loud howl echoed in the forest. 

Without a warning, a pack of huge grey wolves charged through the forest and ran towards the monster. I watched in awe and surprise as the pack worked as a team to bring down the creature. 

As the wolves attacked, I suddenly saw a silver arrow spin through the air and land just on the forehead of the creature. The bull let out a cry of pain and terror before it fell onto the ground, motionless. 

A hooded figure walked out from the shadow of the trees and headed towards me. Under the hood, a pair of familiar grey eyes stared back at me and my breath hitched in my throat. It couldn't be. There was no way, I thought in my mind as the dizziness in my mind intensified. 

The ground started spinning and the last thing I thought of before losing consciousness was on Aileen's grey eyes looking back at me.