The Obsidian Arrow

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

The morning’s thick mist unsettled Starlyn as she held onto her white tiger. She made relentless progress, but she didn’t feel it would be fast enough. Often, she thought back to Searon and the others, hoping everything was all right. Starlyn hadn’t intended to leave without explanation, but she’d never expected such a thing to happen to her.

The memory of Searon’s face before she left haunted her. He didn’t love her, or at least not in a romantic way, but he cared for her as a brother would. She knew he’d help her with anything she ever needed. She smiled at the thought, which brought warmth through her veins. Only then did she realize how cold she was. It wasn’t often a kheshlar felt cold, and she knew she didn’t have a lot of time.

Days had passed since she had seen another person, let alone a draeyk or worse. She hoped it would remain that way. The fewer distractions she crossed, the easier her journey would be. She felt unsure whether her decision of where to go had been the right one, but she knew she had to get somewhere.

At least she wasn’t alone in the wilderness. She clung tightly to her friend, Snowflake, the tiger. Starlyn had known Snowflake for a long time. She remembered the first time she met the precious tiger. She had been alone and hurt, and the tiger saved her when nobody else could find her.

Starlyn blinked, trying to see through the blinding light shining through the trees. She became momentarily blinded and decided to have faith in her tiger companion to lead the way. She felt exhausted anyway, and let herself relax. While she was too scared to sleep during the day, a quick shut-eye would be harmless. She trusted the tiger with her life.

After what seemed like only a moment of rest, she opened her eyes to see a deserted town. Snowflake was frozen in place, searching the lonely streets. She quietly slid off the tiger and studied her surroundings. There were deserted merchant stands and burned stone homes that appeared pillaged. The plain beige-and-black town brought Starlyn sorrow. She staggered forward, noticing a crow picking at a charcoaled pile. Her eyes bulged and she backed away with a gasp.

She recognized where she stood. Her hopes of never returning to the town were dashed. She stood in Augealia, the town where she’d met the nacropis. A shiver ran along her spine at the memory. It was the most formidable foe she had ever faced, and the memory of it caused her to want to leave. She watched the setting sun as it crept behind the trees, and sighed. Starlyn gulped. She would have to spend the night. She was glad Snowflake stayed with her.

She searched the town, looking for the most comfortable place to stay. The silence inside the town unnerved her. Finally, she settled on a broken stone home that appeared the most intact. She sighed with relief when she found blankets to wrap around herself. Starlyn found a bed, lay down, and prayed to the mother for a swift sleep.

Nightmares tormented her as she fell into a restless sleep. She felt the warmth of Searon as he held her close. They stared at the nacropis charging them, and she screamed. Starlyn shivered as she tried to run as fast as she could, but it became useless as another nacropis rushed at her and locked her with its pincers.

She could hear Andron’s voice. “Starlyn, my lady, please save me.”

She glanced down to find his carcass lying at the nacropis’ feet. Another scream filled the air as the nacropis holding her brought her to its wide mouth. Tears cascaded along Starlyn’s face when she realized she’d failed. She’d failed Andron. He had come because he was worried about them, and she couldn’t save him. Instead, all she had awaiting her was the large scorpion’s mouth.

She awoke with a scream, cold sweat dripping from her face. She blinked several times before believing it was a dream. It felt so real. She realized she had a hard time facing reality. Andron was gone. There was nothing she could do to bring him back, and it broke her heart. Starlyn remembered their travels and how they became such good friends. His poor family had begged him to stay, but he’d wanted to help protect them, and decided to continue with Starlyn and Searon. She shook her head, wishing she could go back and force him to stay with his kids.

Starlyn noticed Snowflake had vanished. Snowflake might have needed food, and Starlyn knew the tiger respected her too much to eat meat around her. She shivered when she realized she stood alone in the town.

A crash outside startled Starlyn to her feet. She trembled as she quietly tiptoed to the door and peeked outside. The town appeared as deserted as she had last seen it. She glanced to the full moon in the ominous sky. The stars were beautiful, but added an extra layer of gloom to the deserted town.

She stepped out the door, feeling the cool night air. Chill bumps appeared on her bare arms. Another crash echoed in the distance, making Starlyn grip the hilt of her sword. She took a deep breath and tiptoed through the dark. She silently prayed to the stars for their guidance.

When Starlyn stepped into an alleyway, she noticed a shadow. She froze. The shape looked like a woman sneaking through the town at night. Starlyn trembled as she thought of her sister—not yet, there were too many other things on her mind. She shook her head, trying to keep Arria out of it.

She crept through the dark alley, cautiously following the shadow. Whoever it was ran fast, and Starlyn struggled to keep up. She didn’t know if she wanted to meet the mysterious person, but she didn’t like not knowing who was out there. She came to a skidding stop when she turned a corner and saw a little girl in a torn white-and-blue dress.

Dirt caked her face. Starlyn removed her hand from the hilt of her sword and looked at the motionless little girl. The young girl’s body trembled, and her eyes watered as she looked up at Starlyn. Starlyn slowly backed away, but she kept her eyes locked on the girl’s.

“It’s all right,” Starlyn said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“How do I know you’re not with them?” the girl asked, holding a large dagger outstretched in her shaking hand.

Starlyn gulped and suddenly remembered what Searon had told her so long ago. He had met a young girl in the town, and he had searched everywhere, hoping to find her. The possibility that the girl might not have survived devastated Searon. Starlyn focused, trying to remember what Searon had called her. She watched the young girl, who prepared to defend herself. It was disheartening that one so young had to already protect herself. The faded memory rushed back to Starlyn. She heard Searon whisper her name.

“Charlotte,” Starlyn repeated from her memory of Searon’s words. “Your name is Charlotte, isn’t it?”

“How do you know my name?” the girl asked, lowering her dagger only slightly.

“A warrior in red-and-silver armor, he told me about you. I helped him search for you when we found this town destroyed, but we could not find you.”

A single tear glided along the little girl’s dirty face, and a smile pursed her lips. “Is he here? Where is he? I want to see him.”

“I am sorry, my dear, he is not here. He is busy fighting against the evil of this land. I had to leave him to take care of something else,” Starlyn admitted.

“Can we go see him?” she asked, hope in her eyes.

“No, I’m sorry. I cannot go back that way. I have a mission I must accomplish in the opposite direction. Would you like to come?” Starlyn asked.

“Where are you going?” Charlotte asked.

“I am heading to a city that hasn’t been destroyed. I can take you there. You won’t have to live like this anymore. I’m going to a place of hope. Will you come with me?” Starlyn asked, holding out an ungloved hand.

Charlotte studied Starlyn carefully. She took a step back, looking Starlyn up and down. Charlotte took a step forward, squinted her eyes as she gazed at Starlyn’s face, and gasped.

“Are you a kheshlar?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes, I am,” Starlyn answered, smiling.

Charlotte’s eyes moved to the left and her lips pursed. She exhaled and sheathed her dagger into a small scabbard. She walked to Starlyn and took her pale blue hand with a smile on her face. Starlyn brought her in close and gave her a small hug, and together they walked into the night.