Nature Walk Gone Awry (T)
Late yesterday afternoon I decided to go for a couple of walks out into the wild.
I figured I could grab some horses. As usual, I donned naught but leather on my skin,
had a pouch of reagents and a sword to defend myself with.
I took my time on the roads, often letting my mind wander (I was auto walking along
the roads while chatting IRL). I had a successful trip, stabled a horse and took a rest in town
before setting out again. I took the time to stop and admire the world as I went. Making
space to appreciate the slower aspects of life is key to finding balance of self, something
I am always in need of.
Before I knew it, the sun had lowered and it became dark. I quickened my steps then.
Not long until only the moon would guide me. As I walked a horsemen appeared behind me,
I heard the hooves and turned. One look at the heavily clad warrior told me everything I needed
to know. They dismounted as I eyed them and ran toward me. I drew my blade.
They unleashed a vicious onslaught. It was instantaneous, the fact that this hulking warrior
would crush me head to head. In the dark I watched their blade glint in the dying light as they flew
about me with flourishing arcs, barely deflecting stabs and slashes from every angle.
I remembered the terrain as best I could. I knew there were trees not too far to the West,
being between Fabernum and Tindrem, and thought if I could tire the creature out and make
the tree line, I could vanish into the darkening night.
I took measured steps backwards as I analyzed the attacks coming at me. Just the weight of their
sword against mine sent shocks through my body, slowly dwindling my life. What was frantic
at first soon became easy. I learned their style and gained momentum toward the tree line.
Now confident in my ability to keep myself safe, I taunted the brigand.
"I commend the effort, but you aren't going to kill me."
As my words fell into the air, a heard a huff escape them. They brought their sword high into
the air and let it crash toward me in a rage-filled attempt to leave me ragged. A step backward and
it met the earth instead of me. Provocation successful.
This continued until finally, I reached the edge of the forest. I waited for the right moment,
for the big man to be off balance from a swing, then turned and flew deeper inside. At this point,
despite my efforts, my body was screaming. I was sore and bleeding, half ready to collapse. I decided
to give away my position with the light of healing myself.
Now on his horse, the brigand flew toward the tree I had stepped behind and caught me with his blade.
So began the hunt. Off I went, deeper, using bush and tree to evade and become a ghost. I thought
I had made progress until an arrow suddenly pierced my shoulder and nearly sent me to my knees.
This man refused to give up.
I tore it free, faked left into a bush then jumped into another in the opposite direction. I healed
myself again, sealing the wound and feeling rejuvenated. I was nearing the edge of this section
of forest, and would have to break for the next across a section of the hillside I went for it.
I knew that if the brigand caught on I was dead. Their bow had the power to snap my spine if they
found the shot in the dark. Each step on the earth felt like a crashing of waves in the air.
Yet I made it.
As I passed the first tree, an arrow lodged in it's bark. I realized I had the capability to turn
from rabbit to wolf, head to head is not the only way to fight. His arrows reminded me of it. From
behind another tree, I channeled fire. As much as I hated it, his horse would have to die.
Eventually he rode passed me, blade in hand. I sent the fire forward and burned his horses
thigh, following it up with a sword slash along it's torso. Not enough. In a panic, the man and
horse spurred forward in a sprint before slipping behind some trees.
I saw a familiar light as I closed the distance. Of course he could use magic too....
his horse was no longer suffering when I gained line of sight.
Feeling the rage build in me, as using offensive magic always initiates, I unfurled my fingers
and flung a series of fireballs. Some hit the man, others his horse. Panicked yet again, they flew
away to find safety. I took a breath. This was it. With this distance, in these woods, light now
gone from the sky... I could get away.
The thought of leaving the warrior mount-less and cooked within his armored shell
shimmered in my mind, but a shake of my head silenced it.
I took off, weaving through the trees, down to the westward road, sliding across it and down
the ditch on the other side to the edge of a small lake. I crouched in a thicket of trees there, and sat
to rest.
I had escaped.
...
I find myself curious.
Should I ever cross paths with the man again, I wonder, will he feel a vindictive urge to end what
he started? Or will he remember the heat of my cornered fury and ride away?
