Quintus

Fire burn and answer your master

 

There was dead silence among the tunnels as Ash laid upon the cold stone floor, eyes puffy and red, tears no longer able to escape them any longer. Her chest hurt, arms shaking and body cold. She could not believe the news she waited so long to hear. Everyone she knew was dying around her, to protect her. What was so special about her?

Nazul and Ras'nif watched her from a distance, huddled together with the other prisoners to stay warm. The cool waters kept the tunnels damp and wet, droplets coming from the ceiling as they tried to sleep.

Hugging herself tightly, Ash closed her eyes, feeling the ground pull her under in a swirl of darkness. She retreated inside herself, fighting the tug of the earth, but she could not fight it off for long. Too soon she was being dragged under, the dirt surrounding her like a soft blanket as it caressed her.

Her heart lightened up as her wide palms gripped the dirt around her, holding it closer to her. She could smell the slightest hint of roses, breathing deeply as the scent slowly begun to fade away.

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed.

"Why did you leave me? Did you not want me?"

Curling herself into a ball, she felt arms wrap around her. They were comforting, but not of the earth. They were warm, almost too warm. The scent of flour brought Ash out of her trance as she shoved away Nazul.

She crawled away, towards the water as she rolled under, Rau'shin floating from her pocket. She reached out to him, grabbing him by the fur as she pulled him under with her, holding him close, surrounding them with an air bubble as something inside the water pulled them down.

They whirled around, deeper into the water as Nazul screamed above it, frantically reaching in and searching for her daughter.

The deeper the water, the darker it became, till they were sucked through a pipe, spitting them out onto a patch of land outside the castle walls. Ash gasped, gagging on water as she held her precious Rau'shin to her chest, rubbing his belly to rid of whatever water the rat had consumed.

Curling up in the hot dirt, she winced, hissing at the light from the three suns. Never before had she seen such light. So bright and painful, the heat that radiated from Kitrinos, Lefko, and Kokkinos was immense, such power from the three suns in the sky. One white, one yellow, and one a burning red, they lit the morning sky with pride.

Rau'shin squeaked; snuggling into the crook of his mistress's neck as the suns baked him dry. Not long after, Ash was dry, purring at the warmth, hands clutched into the dirt as she felt the raw power that radiated from the morning stars.

It moved through her blood, down to her toes and back again in a never ending cycle of raw power. She felt so alive, so awake. She could hear every drop of dew on the grass. She could smell each scent from the dirt to the fish inside the river. Hearing their thoughts and feeling the water on her fingertips as they swam through the river.

She felt so connected. So free. Breathing in the rich, clean air around her. There was no bitter aftertaste of minerals in the back of her throat as she slowly sat up, caressing Rau'shin as she set the black rat in her lap. His beady eyes bore into hers as he squeaked, stretching his tiny legs in the heat.

Bringing her eyes to a focus, she looked around the field in front of her, stretching her legs. Everything was so green. So beautiful, a true wonder. She dug her fingers more into dirt, breathing another deep, rich breath of air. Everything was so fresh, so new.

Every element spoke to her, calling her name as she smiled to herself, standing on shaking legs. Her bare feet rubbed against the dirt; the earth caressing the soles of her feet gently. The breeze blowing against her face as it swept her hair aside. The feeling brought Ash to shiver as she raised her arms, embracing the wind.

She danced carelessly, spinning around in her dress as her feet brushed against the grass and she cooed at the sensation. Rau'shin clinging to her dress, he squeaked, struggling to stay on her as she laughed and spun.

"Lighten up, Rau'shin. This place. It's so wonderful. So amazing!" She grinned up at the sky, heart lifted and aglow. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she rolled around in the grass, giggling at it tickled her face.

Sighing contently she stared up at the purple sky, pixies flying above her face as they glowed like tiny balls of fire. She stared in wonder, caressing one as it flew by and grinned to herself as she ran towards the river.

Spinning around, she faced the castle, "Mother come see!" but only the castle walls remained as she felt her heart sink. Her mother and father were still inside the tunnels. They were probably scared. Afraid she had drowned.

Had they seen the new world before? Seen the humans and things called Mages? She had so many questions. So many things unanswered. Her heart raced like a warhorse, charging around in her chest as she approached the wall, pressing her palm upon it.

She felt every beating heart as the touch of everyone's beat returned back to her fingertips in a wave. She felt the touch of everyone's soul, of their emotions.

Withdrawing her hand, she placed it over her heart, closing her eyes as she recalled the feeling of loss. The feeling of sadness that had come from her parents inside the walls. The cold touch of water on their skin as they huddled away, full of sorrow.

She angrily beat on the wall, tears finding her face again as she knelt on the ground, fists beating against the rocks as she wept. She felt so alone; so separated. She wasn't sure if she could ever return home. Back into the loving arms of her mother and father.

Picking herself up, she tucked Rau'shin between what breasts she had, keeping him snug and warm as she dragged her palm across the rocks, heading towards the east. Unaware of the creatures that lived in Yo'shura, she ventured towards the mountains, dragging each foot heavily. The tears blew from her face as the breeze stroked and kissed her cheeks gently; assuring the Orc Mage that everything was alright.

A caravan of travelers moved down the road as she approached, lifting her head to meet the driver's gaze as he slowed the horses. The beautiful painted horses bowed their heads as she walked by, staring at the creatures who resembled her features. The Humans. They looked so different up close. So new.

These creatures were the ones who hated her existence. Who burned her mother alive, and hung her father. The ones who spit upon their corpses and wanted her dead as a baby. The rage burned in Ash's heart as she growled at them.

The horses reared up as they avoided her, shaking the caravan as she passed by them, towards the driver. He stumbled to find his knife, losing his balance as he fell upon his back onto the road. Scooting himself away from the Orc Mage, he tried to pick himself up Ash threw him back down upon the ground, digging her nails into his back as she tossed him at the wagon, breaking his leg. She knelt down, getting face to face with him.

"Why did you burn them?" Her eyes smoldered, red and fiery as she pressed her palm against his chest.

"We ain't burn nobody! We're just coming here for a nights stay!" The man scrambled his good leg, trying to kick Ash off as she pressed into his chest, breaking a few ribs as she snarled.

"Liar!" She beat into his chest, tossing him aside as she snarled at the others on the caravan as they panicked and dug out their swords, swinging it haphazardly at her.

She took each strike with little damage, her scales taking each blow as she dragged her hand across the wooden caravan, catching it aflame as she walked. The earth hugged her arms as she shoved each to the ground, crushing them under the weight of the earth.

The horses ran free into the fields, trembling as they escaped the Orc's wrath. Their hooves beat against the ground in a rhythm, making it beyond the borders of Bellum as they made their get away.

Arrows pierced the sky as a volley of them rained down upon Ash. She torched each one, growling at the towers as archers assembled, taking aim. They came down once again, bouncing off her scales as she let out a powerful roar towards them, charging at the wall.

Pure power, and raw adrenaline pushed her forward as she bashed her head into the rocks, rumbling them as they obeyed her command to crumble. They gave way, sliding off the sides as an arrow pierced her shoulder, awakening her from her rage as she stared at the blood dripping from the wound.

Stumbling back, she stared up at the King upon the walls, eyes widening as she found her footing and scuttled away down the path, taking another arrow to her thigh as she stumbled once again.

She bit back the pain, gripping the grass as she picked herself up and ran as fast as the adrenaline would carry her. The blood dripped into the grass, dyeing it scarlet as she brushed against it, finding shelter in a patch of trees, she leaned against it, panting.

Everything hit her at once, the pain, the loss, the confusion. Even the recollection of her blinding rage over the caravan. The innocent men whose blood stained her hands. She shook, bringing her hands to her face as she breathed deeply.

"I have to get these out, Rau'shin."

The rat squeaked, gnawing at the arrows till they splintered and fell into the grass. The Orc brought her head back as she screamed at the sky, throwing her hands into the air as the forest caught fire, burning away as she escaped through the flames.