Meadow of ash trees

chapter two: what now.

Chapter two 

It didn't matter how far I ran because I could never escape the one thing that scared me the most. Stopping in front of a seven-eleven I grabbed a pair of gloves and a cherry Slurpee. What should I do now? I'm not sure but I know I don't want to go back to the orphanage. Wandering around aimlessly I came across a quiet park. It was one of those weird parks that didn't have a pay ground but it had a bunch of statues. Curled up at the base of one statue of a native American woman with arms raised to the moon I stared out across the pond and wondered what was going to happen. They have most likely found the broken sink and that I was the one who did it, I most likely won't be welcomed back. At least for right now I didn’t want to think I didn’t want to feel. I had some sort of power in me and realizing that meant that I had to also realize that I had killed a man with them. I was dangerous mainly because I had no idea how to control it. I was so lost in thought that I didn't see the tall man walking towards me till he was standing above me.

“ Are you ok” he had some sort of accent that I couldn't identify. 

“ ya, I’m fine thanks for asking” I gave him the same response and cold tone I gave everyone but instead of smiling a fake smile and moving on this guy who looked old enough to be my father kneeled down on the damp grass next to me and held his hand out.

“My name is Anton.” taking his hand I shook it. I refused to give him my name and shifted further away from him. We just sat there not saying anything feeling awkward I asked him

“ Soooo, why are you here?” I turned to get a good look at him in case something happened and I needed to give a description to the police.  He was tall maybe six foot and had a thick head of blond hair that extended to an even thicker beard His eyes were a mix of gray and blue. I got distracted getting his description and realized he never answered my question. I sat for a minute and nervously fidgeted with my hair taking my eyes off him for a second to look across the lake where I could have sworn I saw a bright flash of light. Turning back  I grabbed my slushie from the ground a few inches from him and chugged the rest of it. Looking at Anton again he had a sad expression on his face 

“ I'm sorry” is all he said before I lost consciousness.      

Anton

The girl was still asleep when we reached the base of the mountain. I had to be careful that no one followed us. so I parked the car and pulled the girl out and laid her gently on the ground. Opening the uncomfortable leather jacket  I pulled out 5 small vials walking over to the girl. I tipped her mouth and poured the contents of one vial before taking one myself. This should just make us look like a couple of deer if there are any hikers out today. Waiting a few minutes I grabbed her off the floor and began hiking up the mountain. The people of this world called it devil heads weird name for people I doubt have ever seen a demon. The mountains were beautiful, there were too many pine trees for my liking but even in all of its beauty it still didn't compare to Aislinn, the colors here were too dull. Looking down at the girl to see if she had woken up yet the poppy potion must have been too much for her. She looked just like her mother. But unlike her mother, the girl didn’t seem to have any light to her. Halfway up the mountain was a dark musty cave hidden by a cloaking spell. We don't want just anyone finding a way into aislynn. I put the girl whose name I didn't know but whose face I knew well and pushed my hands into the soft dirt and called to my comrades on the other side to open the portal. I'm only a shifter. I couldn't use magic as some can so I can't open the portal from this end. Slowly the ground started to shake and the soft dirt disappeared giving way to a soft blue light that illuminated the cave. grabbing the girl I felt relief. I was finally bringing her home. Maybe this could help me atone for my failure. Stepping to the edge of the portal I jumped in with the child that could save us all.

On the other side was the world I called home.

“ papa your back!” Lilly, a short fairy with long blue hair, copper skin, and sparkling green wings ran at me, smiling about to give me a hug before she saw the girl in my arm. She rushed over and put her hand on the girl's forehead, she was only fourteen but was one of the best healers we had. 

“ she's ok Lilly she just had too much poppy juice.”  I smiled down at her hoping it would ease her worry.

“ Dad, you should rest and let me get Will to take her to her room.” before I could object she ran off to grab her brother. Laying the girl on a soft patch of grass I sat exhausted. Lilly was right, Going through a portal is very taxing on the body not to mention going through twice in one day. Fraya our tracker and only banshee was the one that sensed her magic. I know I was supposed to leave her hidden but in the middle of this war, we needed someone as powerful as our former queen on our side. Even though it went against her late mother’s wishes I had to put the people of Aislinn first. Lilly came dragging her brother Will behind her. Where Lily was warm and welcoming, Will was the complete opposite. He was almost as tall as me but he had dark curly hair, deep green eyes and not to forget his pale skin and pointed ears that marked him as an elf. 

“Anton, you need my help with something,” Will said while looking around the field of open land I sat on.

“Yes, would you mind taking the princess to the room Em and Lilly set up for her please.” as if barely seeing the girl he slowly walked over to her and carefully lifted her unconscious body cradling her like a baby. Worn out I followed my children to the last safe place in all of Aislinn.