Winged Shadow Chapter IV

Chapter IV: Taken

Blood pounding in her head, Delila rocketed up the steep, stony hill. According to her map, Bare Rock Stream began on the other side.

As she sped over the rocky expanse, she tripped over a large, scraggly bush and fell face-down into a wet, slimy riverbed. As she stood up, she spat out a mouthful of mud and wiped her face on her sleeve. Oh my god, thought Delila, I’ll never get this off.

She was distracted by a slight rushing sound, and saw that there was a stream nearby. It was very clear and translucent. She had arrived at Bare Rock Stream! She could see why it was called that. The stream was so transparent that the rocks underneath appeared to be almost dry.

She could see a wide expanse of grassland, and the map labeled it “Urstun Plain.” She was almost there! After two weeks of cold, muddy traveling, she was almost there. Full of hope, she started the long descent

When she got to the bottom, her lips were dry and cracked, and the wind had teased her hair into knots. She continued into the open plain, walking into the wind.

Finally, when the sky was dark and the stars were shining, Delila sat down and put together some spare kindling. She then lit a fire, but it was very small, only a few glowing embers and some sparks. The mud had dried on her, and she was trying to pry it off with her knife. Then she felt a sharp pain in her right temple and blacked out.

✦

“She’s a threat. She should be eliminated immediately,” started a deep husky voice.

“But we could turn her into an asset! Think of what we could do with her!” came a frustrated reply.

Delila opened her bleary eyes and saw a young, dark-skinned man, maybe twenty, arguing with a fair woman who looked about twenty-five and had coffee brown hair. The young man had two long swords hanging on his waist and a shield on his back. The woman had a double sided sword with curved blades strapped to her back.

“She’s too dangerous. I say we kill her now and be done with it,” complained the man. The woman looked furious. She opened her mouth to speak when a stunningly pretty young woman came out of the shadows. She had black wavy hair and dark skin. Her eyes were a beautiful dark brown.

“We’ll take her to Thrist,” she put in calmly, “he’ll decide.”

“But, Yasimi-” began the man-

“He’s the chief, Christopher. He’ll decide.” came Yasimi, and it was final. Then she turned and saw Delila staring at her.

“Stand,” she said, “you’re coming with us.” Delila thought back to the two men with clubs at her farm. She recalled the feeling of icy fear and cold dread. She felt the same way now. Delila stood up. She was inside a dark cave with a small opening. They had taken away her belt, so her knives were gone. Then, as she brushed the dust off her knees, she realized that her jacket was still on. Delila reached her hand for a knife in one of the sheaths - and the sheaths were empty. Yasimi saw her searching, and laughed.

“We’re not complete amateurs, you know,” she told Delila, smirking. She then strutted out of the cave.

“Hello,” said the other woman, kindly, “I’m Hanna, Hanna Dahlin.”

“Hi,” mumbled Delila, frightened. Curse Alyss O’Hess to the deepest pit of Hell, thought Delila. She should have known that O’Hess would sent her into a trap, but Delila had wanted so badly to get to the warrior clans that she had disregarded safety. Now she would never get to the warrior clans. Then something clicked. The weapons - the Urstun Plain - “Chief” -

“You’re from the warrior clans, aren’t you?” blurted Delila. Hanna looked up, surprised. Christopher, in the corner, did a double take.

“Why yes,” he said, “We’re Winged Shadow. We’re taking you to our chief, and he’s going to decide whether or not I get to kill you.”