~No Name~ - Winter Nyala (ap literature book list TXT) 📗

grunted in reply. “Why? Why this world? And why now?”

“Hmmmm...” It was thinking, almost like it didn't know the answer.
 

“Who is your leader?” I asked when It didn't reply to me.

“Leader?” It's unsureness struck me odd, but it made sense.

“You have no Leader? No one to guide you, or tell you what to do?” I asked puzzled.
 

“Are you not... our leader?” It asked. “It issss like you... have the only... voice to our mindssss... we understand you...”
 

I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest and my mind spinning. ~Me? How can I be a leader to these... these Beasts!?~ I felt a tree against my back and slid down it, tears starting to swell in my eyes. “How can I be a leader of... of monsters I know nothing about!?” I yelled hastily at it. “Why are you here if you have no leader!?”
 

It stood and so did I, readying my sword and staring straight at it. Waiting for it to attack, I let my right foot slid in the dirt. My heart pounding faster in my chest, like it wanted to leave its prison. It prison of nothingness.

“The Human... that followssss you...” It finally said to me, making Celinda's head to pop up and pay more attention. “Why would ssshe... follow one who hassss... no clue... to her dessstiny?”

 

My heart skipped a beat and I fell back down against the tree.

~My destiny?~

 

I was trembling at this point and my heart no longer sounded in my chest. The air around me was humid with disbelief, and yet I knew, some where deep in my very heart and soul, that this Beast was telling the utter truth.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time I came to, the beast was gone and Celinda was asleep with her head resting in my lap. I sighed smoothed the hair out of her face and smiled. Her gentle look, the curve of her lips and innocent look of her body.
~Innocent?~

 

My smile got wider. “Of course she is.” I touched her shoulder, letting my grip get stronger, just a bit. “Of course she is innocent. Of course... she's... beautiful.” My voice ended in a whisper as I bent my head down to hers. “Beautiful...”

 

Smiling, I stopped myself. ~I can not. At least not yet.~

 

I coughed and shook her a little. “Celinda? Celinda, wake up.”
Opening her eyes she gasped. “Are you okay?!” She quickly got to her feet and grabbed my hand.

 

“Calm down will you.” I let her help me up before I leaned against the tree for support. “I am fine-” I clenched my chest and tears stung my eyes.

 

Looking at Celinda I saw the sympathy pouring off her. She smiled and came so close I could smell the sweetness on her pale skin. “Fraia...” She wrapped her arms around me and giggled. “Come on. Lets get you to bed, the effects of the poison are still in your body.” She began to lead me to the beds near the dead fire. “You need your rest.”

 

The way she spoke to me, made me flush. Her touch on my skin, made it spark. I settled down on the bed and when she covered me up, she noted my face.

 

“Do you have a fever? Your red.” She went to touch my forehead but I sat up and looked in her eyes.

 

“I do not have a fever.” She turned away and fidgeted with her fingers. “Celinda, I am just tired. The movement is tiring on my body.”

 

“And yet you went for a swim without waking me.” She blurted out, making me flinch a little. “Sorry, I was just worried when you weren't here and then that Creature came running in the camp. I--” She looked down and I saw the sparkle of a tear as I fell to the ground. Leaving a little wet dot where it splattered in the dirt.

 

I grabbed her shoulder. “Celinda. You must have more faith in me than that, I would not leave your side if I didn't believe you couldn't handle yourself. But for now, I might not be able to leave your side again for quite some time.”

 

I took a deep breath, slowly and filling my lungs to the brim. As I exhaled, my world turned black, yet I knew I was still conscious. I could still hear the birds chirping and the water falling in the small lake by our sides. As the blackness started to fade, I saw Celinda's face. Distorted with worry and concern. But there was something else as well. It wasn't visible, no. I could feel it, emanating off of her body, beaming through her eyes and pouring out her words.

 

“Celinda, I--” The words caught in my throat and the flush in my face started to disappear.

 

“There we are. Just needed to settle your body, right?” She said hastily as she stood and quickly started to gather twigs and bark for the new fire.
I smiled and laid down. ~I'll tell her later.~

 

Closing my eyes, I let my conscious slip away into the abyss of sleep. Leaving Celinda to care for me and the camp while I rested my weary spirit.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

The sounds of a creaking wagon woke my slumber. I jolted up in the darkness only to find a hand push me back down quickly.

 

“Shh. Quiet.” it was Celinda's voice. Relieving my nerves somewhat as she placed a hand over my eyes she began again. “Stay quiet, we are headed to a cave near the shores of the east and there are more survivors!” I heard a yell somewhere in the near distance and then Celinda went quiet. “Just stay down and try not to speak.”

 

My chest got cold when her hand left it making my heart pound in my chest. ~Since when is my heart not pounding, not trying to escape its prison.~ My eyes wouldn't open and panic started to rise in me. There was a rustle near my head and I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

 

“Quiet now Fraia. It’s OK, I'm here.” Celinda had bent down and whispered in my ear. Her voice was calming, intoxicating and beautiful. I felt my face blush and I was glad it was dark so Celinda would not see it. She grabbed my head and scooted her body forward, letting my head rest in her lap. My heart slowed down and the panic quickly left my mind. I let my consciousness fade and fell asleep again.

 

 

The next time I woke I was still in the wagon. My head was no long on Celinda's lap and I was alone in the wagon. The suns light was streaming through the cracks in the wagon's ceiling, giving me enough light to see my surroundings. It was musty and old, but what wagons were not like this. I slowly sat up and looked around. My sword was near my side and my clothes near my sword. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down to see that I was still wearing the silk gown that went to my knees. I stood, grabbing onto the wall to support me. I began to dress myself. Taking the gown off beforehand.

 

Tying the sword to my belt like I always do I opened up the wagon door and peered outside. I saw Celinda talking with someone and then the wagon moved. I paused, my heart stopping in my throat. I waited until the wagon stopped moving and then I crouched down as low as I could. The wagon moved again I pressed myself against the inside the wagon and when it shifted to the side, almost lifting the wheels off the ground on the right side of the wagon, I placed my hand on my sword and peered outside again to see Celina still talking to the man.

 

I moved my body near the corner of the wagon and that's when Celinda looked over. The wagon creaked and then fell over. Pushing me against the wall even more as the wall started to bulge on the other side of the wagon. I gasped and placed my hand on my sword.

 

When the wall caved in and I was exposed to the creature attacking me, I whispered to it, “Still yourself beast.”

 

It stopped momentarily, allowing me to charge. I drew my sword and jumped up, grabbing on to the beasts arm and pulling myself up to its head. “Now die.” I whispered as I shoved my sword through its so-called neck and pulled it forward, spilling its black blood on the wagon and surrounding ground. When the beast fell inside the exposed wagon, I jumped down near the wounded horse. Its breathing was erratic and shallow and I cut the reins off of him, helping him breathe more steadily and wakeless. It got up and I began to pet him as Celinda made herself visible to us.

 

The horse got a little nervous and I let it roam around as I looked at Celinda. I smiled at her and chuckled, “That's one way to wake yourself up.” She looked relieved to hear my voice and hung her arms around my shoulders. I heard a slight sob as she squeezed me, “Celinda?” She looked up, tears streaming down her perfect cheeks. “I am fine. OK? I killed it, and we are here, are we not?” She nodded and I hugged her back, letting my affection show.

 

The man came running after Celinda, but he was not alone. There were about three others with him and he held a sword to my neck. Celinda was pulled away from me and led to the cave were she was talking to the man. Looking back at the supposed leader of these people, he nodded to her and she let the men lead her away from me.

 

“Who are you? What did you do to that monstrosity!?” He started right away when Celinda was out of earshot. Pulling question after question at me and then, “Why are you here?”

 

I sighed. “I was unconscious for most of this journey. I don't even know where here is. Let alone why she brought me here.” I replied to him in a flat tone. “As to what happened, I saved my own ass along with yours and my partner's. The least you can do is thank me.” I let my irritation show with the tone of my last statement.

 

“Fine. Thank you for saving my life and thank you for letting the rest of them know we are here.” He relied, annoyed.

 

I laughed at him, sending jolts of confusion throughout his face. “They do not know we are here, that one was just scouting and you'll know when one wants to warn the others. Trust me.” With that I left him there and followed where they took Celinda. I had to make sure she was safe.

 

It may have been dark and musky in the wagon, but the moonlight was shining vigorously on the ocean waters and the lighting the way down the beach. I saw Celinda and the other two men still walking on the beach, they were about to enter a cave, so I started in a run. The wind was blowing, sending my hair flying along with my spirit. This felt so good, the wind on my face, it made me smile.

 

Celinda stopped, confusing the two men and one grabbed her arm tightly and yanked her toward him. I could smell the dry muskiness on the men, they want the lust of a woman. I could see them acting nervously around her and now, they could hold it in no longer. I started into a sprint, coming up on them very quickly. My speed was blinding, even to me. Celinda went to slap the man who had a hold of her, but her hand was caught in midair. The man smirked and, while still a hold of her arm, he hit her. She became limp in his arms. The men laughed and one slung her around his shoulders. I