Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 12 The Gift

Gabriella's POV

My arm strains to reach the tree, knowing it is probably my last hope, but to my dismay it's just barely out of reach. I swipe my arm over and over again, trying to get a grip, but only my fingertips brush against the rigid bark. I curl my fingers over, only receiving bits of bark and dirt under my nails. I started to lose hope until I felt my leg being let go and instantly hearing, "Shhh.. shhh.. There will be more right behind.. Don't bring attention to us.. I don't have much more strength to save us if another group comes our way." I recognize that voice, the warning comes from the same woman as before.

So I take her help because it seems as if she knows best in this situation, since she knows more than I do about this, apparently. Relief waves over me feeling better that it is her and nothing else since I never even knew that she survived this attack. Before I can even feel good about surviving, I can feel her hand wrapping around my bicep and pulling it, while instantly being accompanied by a loud stomping that is heard and coming our way, sounding like some sort of stampede. She said more might be coming, but I was hoping it wouldn't be that soon. I get anxious trying to stand as quickly as I can which ends up being not quick at all.

That must be her same idea as well, because she is lifting me faster than my legs can keep up, as if I am light as a feather. I am baffled by this action because of her size and age, so this strength was never what I anticipated. But she easily flips me around still in her hold, before I am being placed on my feet and back behind the tree. I learned my lesson from the last time, so this time I don't make a sound or even a single movement.

My breath wavers as it leaves my lips. I am terrified about what will be here soon because of the same warning she gave me before that wasn't wrong then, so I'm sure it is not wrong now. Or at least I am not willing to take that risk because of her being correct before. So I take this opportunity to lean back, using the tree to hold me up, just wishing I could hide within the tree itself for cover, but that impossibility seems so far away.

The uncontrollable trembling ignites, which is unnerving because I would hate for it to make me noticeable in a time where I don't want to be seen. So all I can do is try to calm myself down as fast as possible before I show those threats right where we are with my unwanted actions. I try to calm my fast breathing, which has somehow evolved into hyperventilation at this rate. But I slowly let out one breath after another, just to suck in the sharp breath. I hold it in just hoping it's enough to keep my body calm, and these things away this time around. Especially since I won't be able to take them on by myself since she says she won't be able to do more of whatever it is she did to help the first time around.

My calming techniques are failing, the fear within me is so great that there is no way I can try to ignore it to calm down. The stomping comes to a stop causing me to freeze. They are here and I am not ready to try to defend myself once again. I feel my body shaking as I slowly let out my nervously wavering breath, then silently taking in more just to hold my breath once again. I continue to listen around me without any movements. That is when I notice grunting sounds as if it is under their breath. I know they are close so I strain my ears to hear what sounds they make.

The grunting is happening quite often as if they are talking to one another, but nothing else is coming out, just grunts. I listen for a moment until we hear them grunting then the fading sounds of their steps showing that they are stomping away from us which is all I needed to let out the deep breath I was holding in. I quickly look back to make sure that they are gone, and once I see nothing around the light, I look back to her, letting the little bit of glow show who she is.

I can finally see a glimpse of her face with the help of the glow. Her wrinkles show that she has been around for some time now, experiencing just as much as you would assume to get such wrinkles and shining gray hair. She looks worried but still has enough energy within her to give me a nod. I nodded back, not knowing if I should say anything out of straight fear of those monsters coming back. So I just take her lead and kept my words to myself until she tells me it's alright to make a sound once again. I am not sure what to do, so I wait for her to make that decision. I watched her eyes look at me, then back to the torch that is getting closer to burning out by the second.

We watch as it fades, getting smaller by the minute. I take in the sight of the little bit of light we have fading away too quickly for my liking. I look back to her not knowing what we should do next. But like jolts of lightning randomly striking in the rainy sky, she whimpers out before instantly collapsing, as if her body has already done too much, that just standing is too much to bare. She gives in to the fatigue, falling completely flush to the ground as I instinctively grab her to help her in the only way I can think of.

I get down on my knees right beside her, pulling her body up just to lean on me for support. Poor woman, she is much smaller than I ever anticipated, my hand trails over her arm that is wrinkly with dangling skin that is only being held on by the bone underneath, not much, if any, muscle in between. The cloth covering most of her is dangling just as much, showing me how delicate of a woman she is, and needing help right now. Whether we like it or not, I am her only option at the moment. I watch as her eyes slowly shut then open back up just to look up at me. The exhaustion is evident, showing me that this exit with her is going to be much harder than I thought.

Her exiting breaths sound raspy as she gasps for air, but it doesn't sound like it is helping at all. I look around trying to see if there is anything to help, but just like my friends said before, I am no help when it comes to anything medical. I am no medicine lady. "I'm.. dying." She croaks out as I shake my head automatically. Call me positive or just wanting to see the silver lining of situations, but I don't want to believe such things. "No, I can help.. I don't know how but I can.. Let me take you to the village." I declare with desperation to help her, since I intended to do such things when coming into here in the first place. Not to mention the fact that she helped me, so she has my life on her hands just as hers seems to be in mine.

I feel her hand landing on my cheek to get my full attention as she says. "It's alright my dear. I am sure such things are hard to understand even with a brave woman like yourself who has seen a lot of death, too much at your age.. I can see that in your eyes.. but.. I knew of my demise before you even got here." she states before coughing as dark red blood spills from her lips. That is when I notice her hand is covering a wound on her stomach. I gently pick it up to get a better look, and she doesn't fight back, just lets me do as I please, whether she planned on fighting it or not.

Her hand grasps mine within hers, which at least makes me feel as if I am giving her some sort of strength or help. The cloth that was underneath her hand is soaking in all of the blood that she seems to be loosing rapidly, showing me how I have no say in the matter. She is dying. I can't tear my eyes from the wound and I think she sees this. Her hand that is still gently placed upon my cheek, helps move my face to deter my eyes back to hers that are now welling up with tears.

"I know it's hard to understand, but I am done for.. So.. Now that you are here and obviously of good heart, you need to take my gift and go to the witch to the south of the forest. She is beyond it and past the dunes. Once the fork of the river stops you, make sure to head towards the thick trees. Then once inside, you will know her hut once you see it. You understand? South of the forest, past the dunes, fork of river, then thick trees." I sit there thinking for a moment as I realized that I was repeating out loud what she said to me, causing her to smirk in response.

I look back into her eyes as her hand lightly pats the side of my cheek. "But, there is something you need to know.. Things will be hard for you once you get there. Of course, as you have seen, there are many threats ahead within your travels, but as long as you listen to your heart and what it automatically tells you with intuition, then you should never be led astray, no matter what obstacles you may face. Also, her hut is not easily accessed, but with your power you will be able to undo the veil of her location because it will sense your good heart, strong light and powers within, then automatically unveil for you.. She will tell you what you need to do next." she declares as I shake my head.

"Wait.. Light and powers? I am human like everyone else here in the kingdom.. We have no powers here and powers are forbidden, punishable by death.. I'm sorry but I have nothing you seek in this time of need. I wish I could help you the way you want. But that is impossible when I don't have these tools you seek." I explain softly just hoping those ogres that left won't be coming back anytime soon. "You can take the present of light." she declares as I feel my eyebrows furrowing.

"I don't know if I can.. I just.. Want to help.. But I don't have powers, so I don't think I can carry your 'present of light'." I state as if it should be obvious, but maybe she knows something I don't. "I know you don't have powers my dear.. but there is more than you know happening here.. Magical beings are all around, but they hide from your king.. He is evil.. and will destroy any power that is not his own." I shake my head again, she is not understanding whom she is talking about.

"You must be mistaken... Our king doesn't have powers.. he preaches about how the world should be pure without any powers or magical beings.. There is no way.. He would have powers." I say to her as she touches her finger to my lips to get me to be silent and hear what she has to say. "My dear, there is more than what meets the eyes.. I would put my life on that statement.. and never trust the royals. They are evil and full of dark magic. They have control over most of the ogres and wolves.. They have taken over the surrounding areas, but you can't let them have this, you have to protect it and take it to the witch." She declares as she pushes something small and smooth into my hand.