۵ Chapter Six ۵
864 Words
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Chapter Six
hunted
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⌇Snowfall⌇
Snowfall is the name of the entire Northern continent of Aevahaven. It is home to four different reaches: the Veil, the Winter Sun, the Glacial Expanse, and the White Pinnacle.
"Watch out!" Ashai yelped as a spear whooshed past Ser Topaz' head.
He ducked down and whipped the reins. "Come on, Moonlight!"
Ashai glanced behind her; three dark horses and their riders chased after them tirelessly. She knew it wouldn't be long before they caught up, and they would have to fight them.
What if the others come? She thought. We won't have a chance against the hundred.
"My Queen, we will have to fight them soon. We can't lose them in this snow!" Ser Topaz shouted through the snowstorm.
Ashai's eyes widened. "What do you suggest we do?!"
He thought for a moment, riding Moonlight faster. "You jump off. I'll lead them away and take them out myself."
Ashai scrunched up her face. "You can't leave! They will kill you!"
"They will kill you if I don't do something!" He shouted. "Once we reach this corner, I'm going to throw you off. Through the snow, they might not notice you! Now, are you ready? Do you still have the dagger?!"
"Yes!" She replied hesitantly. "You don't think I'll-"
They approached the corner of the snow mountain. "Ready...and...now!" He yelled and pushed her off Moonlight, and she landed in the heavy snow.
She ducked her head into her arms and tried desperately to blend into the dark snow.
The riders galloped past her, and she was lucky not to lose her head to one of the many hooves.
After a second, she lifted her head up. All in a moment, she was surrounded by silence.
Clouds formed as she exhaled in the storm. Heavy snow fell all around her, adding to the expanse.
She stood to her feet, clutching the dagger so hard her knuckles turned white.
She stood still in the vast emptiness. Darkness shrouded her, and the only sound she could hear was the sound of her own brittle heartbeat.
She gulped down a lump of fear and counted to ten. "One, two, three, four..."
She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
"...Five, six, seven, eight, nine..."
She opened her eyes and all the fear was gone. "...Ten."
The snowstorm came down heavy upon the girl, but Ashai did not shiver, for she was not cold, and she was not afraid anymore.
She barely heard the sound of hooves catching up to her.
A dark figure upon a dark horse charged towards her. He held his thin, black sword high above his head.
Her eyes widened, and she held the dagger at eye-height defensively. "Stay away from me!" She warned. "Stay back!"
The man jumped off of his horse as it slowed to a stop and slashed at her without a second thought.
She instinctively fell backwards to avoid the dangerous ice sword.
She managed to bring herself to her feet before he swung again; this time, he was aiming to cut her neck.
Ashai ducked and let out a yelp of excursion. "Stop!"
She took several steps away from him. He lifted his sword as if it were a spear and aimed it directly at her chest.
Her eyes widened, and she knew she'd have to act fast if he threw it quick enough.
Sure enough, the sword left his hands. It soared through the air. She managed to jump to the right before it pierced through her chest.
Ashai stared at the sword pummel into the deep snow. They shared a moment of intensity before he made a break for his sword. She ran straight for him before he could reach it.
At the collision, she shoved the dagger into the side of the man, as far as it would go. He stopped and coughed up dark blood, falling to his knees. He collapsed in a pool, turning the snow dark red.
She took a few staggering steps back before yanking out the blood-soaked dagger.
Another set of hooves approached. She dropped the dagger to the ground.
"My Queen!" Ser Topaz yelled suddenly through the expanse. "My Queen!" His voice bellowed and echoed through the mountains.
He cantered toward her, his great-sword coated in blood. His clothing gave an insight to slaughter: blood splattered against his chest and face and all over Moonlight's white coat; there were tears in his chain mail and dents in his helm.
He slowed to a stop. "It's okay, it's over." He jumped off of Moonlight and ran towards her. "Are you hurt, my Queen?" He grabbed a hold of her arms and fell to the ground.
Her eyes were narrow. She shook her head. "No."
"It's okay. You did what you had to do, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I'm sorry, my Queen." He took to his knees as if he were begging and pressed his face against her stomach, his eyes shut tight.
Ashai stared at him. "Why are you on your knees?"
"I failed you, my Queen."
She shook her head. "No, you didn't. You taught me how to survive."
- Writer
