Above the Shadows.

A Story by thundershine

part of a fantasy/adventure story

The waves billowed solemnly above the sea-foam. Maeve's swollen body floated in the sleep of death. The waves were her coach to the underworld, and foam was her eternal pillow.

Tears rushed down Esca's eyes as she held on to the bouquet of dead flowers.

"We should go." Strong arms encircled her waist and the scent of ceder danced to her nostrils.

She choked back a sob. "She's dead. She isn't coming back."

She felt him sigh deeply."Esca..."

She sniffled and relaxed into his embrace. "I'm just tired of losing people. So, so tired."

"We have to leave. They're not that far behind us. Don't let her life be lost in vain."

Strong, calloused hands grabbed hold of hers and gently guided her away from the shore.

Maeve's blue corpse dropped beneath the ocean-spray and into the gloomy depths of the sea.

They walked across the crunchy seashore and towards the dark forest ahead.

Geirr looked into the sky and his pale blue eyes darkened.

"What is it?" Her gaze followed his, until she saw a small black dot in the horizon. "That?"

"That is a galestorm."

"A what?"

Geirr shook his head. "Come, we need to find shelter...now."

He picked up his pace and started to rush into the forest.

"Ouch! Oh. Ew Gross!" Esca batted the air wildly.

"What is it?"

"Spider webs! And the underbrush is cutting my ankles!" She folded her arms and her lower lip puckered into a pout.

Geirr rolled his eyes. He reached forward and lifted her clean off the ground and over his shoulders like firewood.

"Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!" Esca squirmed and slapped.

Geirr let out a bellowing laugh. "You complain too much, my friend. And take too long!"

With those words, the sky broke into a downpour. The trees thrashed around wildly from the sudden gusts of wind.

"Oh seriously?" Esca made a face.

Geirr laughed again. "Even the sky thinks you're being annoying!" He set her down, but grabbed firmly onto her wrist. "We need to find shelter."

In one fluid motion, Esca unsheathed her sword and held it to Geirr's groin. His eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm tired of you treating me like some child! I am a warrior!"

Geirr's eyes grew dark. "Then how about you start acting like one and stop complaining about everything..."

She grit her teeth and put pressure behind the blade. "I should just get rid of you now, I don't need you helping me with anything!"

"Oh really? That's not what you said last night..."

She felt her cheeks grow warm. "That was a mistake! A moment of weakness! Never again!"

"Was it?" He moved the blade away and took a step forward.

She looked up at him. His long, flaxen hair and unshaven scruff was soaking wet, as were his clothes and leather armor. The outline of his muscles showed plainly as his clothing stuck to his skin. He looked down at her under long, wet eyelashes. He looked so masculine...so attractive.

She shook those thoughts away and croaked, "Y..y..yes! It was!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Huh, I see..."

He turned around and started walking deeper into the forest.

"H..hey! Where are you going?"

He didn't look back. "Well, you don't need me..I'm going to get away from those blasted Telmars and find some shelter...and bloody food!"

Esca opened her mouth, but quickly shut it. If he was going to be that way, she was going to go fend for herself.

She managed to find a small crevice in a cave. She crawled inside and sat down with a huff. Who did he think he was? He wasn't a commander. In fact, she was just as good of a swordsman as he was! And he knew it.

"Ugh, he is the most bull-headed, frustrating person I have ever met!" She sulked and muttered to herself.

She froze. Her skin prickled as she became aware of something watching her. the scent of wet animal fur floated past her nose. She slowly turned around.

Right behind her, was a bear. It had to be about three times her size. It's dark brown fur stood on edge.

She froze in fear. It's red eyes were glaring at her in fierce hunger.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr! It let out a loud growl and stood on its hind legs.

Esca felt light-headed. She went to stand up, but tripped over herself. She was going to die. She escaped countless of warriors trying to take her life, only to be eaten by a giant, demon-bear.

Seemingly out of nowhere, she heard a voice yell. "Step back!"

She crawled backwards as the bear shifted its attention to the powerful voice.

It was Geirr. He was standing on guard, sword drawn, with a fierce look of rage on his face.

The bear lowered it's ears and sprung back to charge.

Geirr let out a guttural yell and charged at the bear. A large mass of skin and fur intermingled as man and beast clashed.

Esca closed her eyes tightly as the stench of blood filled the air.

Quiet. Things were too quiet. She opened her eyes wide. The bear was dead, and Geirr was no where to be seen.

Esca felt her heart beat wildly; she frantically rushed to shove the bear over, but it wouldn't budge. Underneath the bear, she could see one of Geirr's legs, bloody and bruised. She grabbed a hold of his leg and pulled with all of her might as she pushed the dead bear with both of her feet.

The rain made the ground muddy enough for her to gradually slip Geirr from under the bear carcass. She held an ear to his chest and let out a sigh of relief. He was still breathing,

She looked over his body to quickly asses the damage. His one leg and arm were dark purple from bruises and there was a large claw gash across his chest.

He groaned. and his eyes fluttered open.

Esca looked down at him shyly. "Can you move?"

He moved a little and winced. "Yeah, but I don't want to. I feel like I got ran over by a chariot."

"Or a bear..."

"The bear...where is it?"

"It's dead."

Geirr breathed a deep sigh of relief and winced again. "I think a rib is broken....my arm definitely is." He moved his legs and groaned, "I think I pulled my groin too."

"Ahhh I think that may have been my fault...see I pulled you out from under the bear by your leg..."

He looked at her in shock."You pulled me out from under that thing? It had to weigh several thousand pounds!"

"Well the ground was slippery..."

He groaned and laid his head back into the mud.

"Why....why did you come back? I mean I was pretty jerky towards you..."

He looked up at her. "I gave you my word that I would never leave you nor abandon you. I am a man of my word, regardless of your brattiness..." He grinned.

Esca broke out into laughter, and Geirr joined in the merriment. Then he winced, "I'm sure glad I came back..."

"Me too..." she said in a hushed tone. "Now let's see what we can do about these nasty wounds..."

© 2015 thundershine

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Reviews

Kelsey Schadt

I love the imagery in the opening metaphor, I am a little bit confused as to why they would leave her dead body in the ocean. Maybe you can clarify this? I also felt the shift in attitudes was so sudden, from Geirr veiwing a dead body to playfully criticizing Esca. I think I need a bit more back story to truly gasp what is going on here. Lovely verbs throughout!