The Stonebinder's Oath

Duskgrin Wastes was going to be the death of me. I wrapped my scarf tighter around my nose and mouth stepping over yet another sun-bleached skull smiling up at me. It had been over seven days and six nights of walking through Duskgrin Wastes. My lips were cracked from the harsh burning wind. All that kept me going was the forest in my line of vision.

I stretched my four translucent wings on my back and squinted above me to see if any predators were following us. I had discovered pretty quickly that flying was not possible in this terrain. Misty creatures were lurking amongst the clouds, with their cloud shadow-like shaped talons. I was unfortunate enough that one of my wings got scratched, their poison had burned my lower wing. It would heal but it would take time, I would not risk losing my ability to fly by rushing the process, so walking it was.

But walking across was just as dangerous. What I had thought to have been a lovely sparkling oasis that I was swimming in turned out to be the salivating mouth of an oversized desert worm. The only reason I was alive was because Tigerlily kept biting and scratching me until its trance on me broke.

“We're almost there Tigerlily" She did not answer me as she was too busy sleeping peacefully in my arms totally unaware. She sucked on her tail like an infant. The sharp curved horn on her head between her tufted ears poked me, urging me to take those last few steps. I stumbled ungracefully into Nightrune Veil stirring Tigerlily awake. She woke up, her silky fur shifting to scales as she opened her oversized almond shaped eyes, she yawned exposing her two prominent fangs.

She was unceremoniously dropped, my hand going to my heart at the sheer wonder and beauty in front of me of Nightrune Veil. Ancient trees towered above, like sleeping giants. Thick vines draped over large sturdy branches. Leaves wove together forming a viridescent ceiling. Flickers of sunlight filtered across the canopy, creating patterns of light and shadow. Etched in the rough bark were runes giving off a pulsing soft glow.

Velvety dark green moss covered almost every surface making my steps soft as I walked further in. Silver mist clung to the ground, swirling throughout the lush greenery with flecks of gold. Crystals grew scattered from the ground, casting off a soft glow of bioluminescent colors. Shadows appeared and disappeared throughout the trees and bushes before I could catch a good look at what they were.

Dozens upon dozens of flowers of varying shapes bloomed in an array of vivid colors spread throughout the ground. They were too beautiful, too vivid. I touched a soft flower petal, and it chimed like a little bell setting off other flowers around to chime alongside with it. The beautiful melodies drove me to tears from unhinged happiness or from sadness, as if I had lost something but could not quite remember what it was.

I savagely grabbed some ruby red berries. A burst of flavor exploded in my mouth as I consumed one after another. It left my fingers sticky, before I could lick them clean, I reached for a periwinkle smooth fruit and stuffed it into my satchel. Tigerlily was busy sniffing at what looked to be a small pile of twigs. She jumped knocking into me as soon as the pile moved. Beady little eyes appeared to glare at her. It made a loud ripping sound as it drug itself out of the soil, its roots turning into twiglike legs scuttled away from us. Before I could blink, more and more piles of twigs ripped themselves out from the ground scampering away from us, some even running over my boots. I froze, not daring to move for fear that I would crush them. Tigerlily was too startled to even attempt to chase after them.

Between the trees I almost crumbled with relief as I saw a large stream. Throwing caution to the wind we both ran into the stream. I splashed in, dunking my head in trying to get my fill of water. When I could not hold my breath any longer, I shot up only to find Tigerlily with something in her mouth, tiny and wiggling.

“Drop that!” I recoiled in horror splashing my way over. Tiny screams were coming from inside her mouth. Tigerlily glared at me, refusing to drop the tiny creature. Even though Tigerlily was small she was strong, her strength was something out of this world. Using my two hands I pried her clenched jaws open to no avail. After a minute Tigerlily spat the creature out, rolling her eyes at me before slinking into the water, her fur turning into scales once again.

I peered into my hand to find a tiny water-like creature, skin shimmering gold with a body ending into three long turquoise fish tails.

“I am so sorry,” I said, not even sure if it understood what I was saying. I felt a prick in my palm in answer, a small bead of blood appearing. The creature shouted at me in some unknown language and leaped back into the water. I washed my palm and took out the piece of seashell it had stabbed me with.

Something sharp and cold pushed against my throat. I whirled around feeling the blade slice into my skin as I kicked straight into a chest. I'd already withdrawn my bow and arrow ready to shoot before they could scramble back up.

He was wearing a mask that only revealed a surprised expression and unruly dark hair. His eyes were a light brown, and he had a piercing through his right eyebrow that was lifting up in intrigue. He would be kind of cute if he hadn’t been attempting to gut me with yet another black dagger. I lost sense of breathing in my lungs as he tackled me, sending both of us crashing back into the stream. Adrenaline kicked in as I grabbed his head and pushed it underwater, bashing his skull over and over. He pushed me off him, both of us panting in the water. I smiled seeing blood pouring from his forehead. Before he could regain focus, I ran out of the water reaching for my forgotten bow and arrows. I turned ready to shoot him when, yet another dagger appeared out of thin air in his hand. A burst of pain cut through my shoulder, making me release my bow as his damn dagger finally found its mark. I hissed angrily, yanking the dagger from my body, ready to gouge out his adorable brown eyes.

Dark tendrils of smoke wrapped around my legs and arms, squeezing tightly until I released the dagger. The more I struggled the tighter they wrapped around me. More and more shadows appeared throughout the forest to restrain me. I guess that explained what I had seen earlier in the woods.

“Tiger-” Dark bands gagged my mouth before I could finish calling for her.

“Well, that was fun,” The attacker said from the stream. The water-like creatures were circling him, consuming the drops of blood that dripped from his forehead into the water. He got up making his way over, his mask drifting away in the water current behind him. It revealed a roguish smile with dimples, mischief writing all over his face. His eyes in the sunlight looked like the color of warm honey.

“Sorry, it’s not personal,” he taunted, pushing into my wounded shoulder as he walked past me. What little balance I had left me as I plummeted backwards, my back and wings smacking against the cold wet sand.

Not the stone. Anything but the stone. I managed to roll myself to my stomach to get a better view of him.

“A stone,” He murmured, glancing my way. He gave me a crooked grin as he reached in further, throwing my canteen and hairbrush carelessly to the side, continuing to see what he could find.

“Good thing you didn't eat this,” He sniffed at the periwinkle fruit, nose crinkling. “It’s poisonous. You would have been dead within five minutes of consumption. You're welcome from saving you from that nasty death” When he was done searching, he came back up to me, kicking my ankles.

“Where did you come from?” I only glared at him.

The shadow gag disappeared “Where. Do. You. Come. From?” He repeated slower this time, over exaggerating every syllable as if I could not understand him.

“From Thornwood Hollow Mountains,” I finally answered as a shadow dagger appeared threatening to poke yet another hole into me.

He frowned, eyebrow piercing glinting. His head tilted to the side studying me, focusing on my wings.

“But you’re not ugly.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” I snarled. He ignored me, leaning closer to get a good look on my face. His neck was covered in runes similar to the trees, the lines etched in his skin were somehow softer, lighter.

“Can you really fly?”

“I'm going to pretend I am not insulted,” I hissed, trying to sound indignant even though I was wet, dirty and totally at his mercy.

He reached under his shirt and lifted a pendant with a stone-the twin to mine.

“Listen, what don't we start again? I’m Cyrus. I think we may be looking for the same thing. Maybe we can help each other out.” The dark bands disappeared, and I stood up dusting sand from my face and clothes. Tigerlily finally deciding to join me leaped into my arms.

“I'm Aurora. I’m listening.”