Chapter 5 The salvation

*Storm*

I am sitting on a low branch scouting for animals, enjoying the warm suns on my face and taking in the smells and the sounds of the forest, when my calm is disrupted by noises. At first I am close to cursing them off, thinking it is some of the kids. I mean, how am I to hunt when they are scaring off all the animals and we need the meat.

But I soon realise that this is something else, something much more scary and I freeze in my spot... just waiting... hoping they are farther away than they sound from the grunts and snarls rising up through the branches to reach my ears.

A few seconds later, five ferus humans come into view. The biggest of them dragging a woman along by the legs...a young woman, bruised and battered, with streaks of blood and something else, that I do not want to know what is, smeared down her legs. By the looks of her torn clothes she is clearly from the city.

I know I should not get into it... It would most likely bring a lot of trouble for the free City bringing her there, but I know what they are going to do to her, and I can't let that happen.

I am still considering what to do when I notice a small movement from the girl. I thought she was unconscious, but apparently she was just biding her time.

I watch in awe as she manages to grab a heavy branch. She swings it, and hits the monster holding her across the back. The second it lets her go she is on her feet, sprinting off at an impressive speed for someone hurt.

I feel the adrenaline readying my body for a fight, it's like all my senses are tuned... the blood is roaring in my ears. I know the hint of fear is a good thing, it can easily be what keeps me alive.

The leader grunts angrily and all five of them start pursuing her. I quickly get an arrow ready, and before any of the creatures realise it, two of them are lying dead on the ground. The Leader is to focussed on getting the girl to notice, but the last two stop, and look around for me.

As they spot me in the tree they change their direction, they are like aggressive animals, their first instinct to attack, but even if they are relatively fast they have no chance of reaching me and the knives they throw fall short of the target.

Soon they are both dead on the ground too.

I find myself out of arrows, but to my luck the leader is almost right under me when he manages to grab the girl, sending her tumbling. He is just about to throw himself at her, teeth bared, when I jump down, feeling the air rush past me, branches grabbing at me, until I practically land on top of him. "Oh no you don't".

"Hrump". He grunts in surprise as he falls hard. I know I have to act fast, he is both bigger and stronger than me, no doubt... so before he can get up I grab the knife he just dropped, slicing his throat.

I am not a killer, by any means. I am not god with violence at all, but these monsters... I have no qualms ending their existence.

"Are you okay ?" I turn to the young woman and freeze on the spot. Her dress has been ripped, revealing most of her porcelain skin and subtle curves and there on her hip is the snowy eagle, in the form of a birthmark.

There is no way this can be a coincidence.

She groans and it looks like she tries to get up, but all she manages is a stumbling half step. "Don't hurt me... please don't hurt me".

"Breathe sweetie... no worries. I am not going to hurt you, in any way. No one here is. You are safe now". She has tears streaming down her face and her body is covered in scratches and bruises, but those will heal... It is her mind I worry about.

"He gave me up... he traded me for his own sorry ass". She sounds angry and panicked at the same time, trying to get up again, but swaying badly.

I catch her. "Let me carry you. Will that be okay ?"

She seems about to argue, but then she nods and I gently lift her. She weighs nothing really and she snuggles into me as I tell her softly that she is safe now.

*Novalie*

I feel myself waking up, but part of me is fighting it. My body hurts and I am very much confused for a moment about what happened and where I am. The first thing I remember is warm blue eyes, then a handsome face with a kinda bushy ginger-sandy beard smiling at me.

A gasp leaves my lips as I try to sit up. I can't believe Daxton sold me out like that. I mean, yeah, I know we had just been paired up and I didn't expect him to love me, but he didn't even try to protect me. He sold me to a fate worse than death to save his own ass. But this ginger blue eyed stranger who doesn't even know my name, he was willing to protect me.

"Be careful there sweetie". A big hand gently supports me and someone else puts a pillow behind me, that I can lean against.

"Thanks". I breath in and lift my eyes to look at them. "Where am I ? Who are you ?"

It's him, the ginger-haired man, and he is smiling warmly at me. "You are in the free City of Amaranthine. I am Storm and this is Cahira... Can I ask what your name is ?"

"Novalie... My name is Novalie. I am from the City...". I look at them nervously. The man, Storm, looks very friendly. He has such kind eyes. He is also very handsome, but a bit rugged compared to men in the City. The woman, Cahira, is beautiful, but stronger and more...healthier looking than most women I have seen.

"Novalie...New star". Cahira says with wide eyes, looking at Storm. "The snowy eagle on the new star. Storm the prophecy...she is the salvation".

Storm nods. "You better go get Sage. I think she needs to see this".

"Wait... the salvation ? The new star ? Eagles ? And who is Sage ?" I grab Storm's arm feeling panic rise within me like bile.. why are they looking at me like that ?

Storm waves for Cahira to leave, then he looks at me, his warm eyes serious. "We have a prophecy here, given by our wise woman Sage ten years ago. It says our salvation will come with a snow eagle on a new star".

"Okay... but what does that have to do with me ?" I look up at him, there is something about his face that draws me in even if he apparently is quite mad.

"Your name... Novalie... it means new star and I couldn't help seeing your birthmark. It's a snow eagle on a new star". He says softly.

I shake my head. "Well yeah... but it is a coincidence. I am no one's salvation... I am nothing anymore".

"You are definitely not nothing. But let's hear what Sage has to say". He has taken my hand, and it is like a nice warmth is spreading up through my arm from his touch. "She can probably explain this... prophecies are weird... you might be the one in a way we can't really comprehend yet".

I kind of slump back on the pillow again, I am honestly a bit overwhelmed here. I mean today has been... I am not even sure how to put it into words in my mind.... it seems my life has been turned completely upside down.

For a big part of it I had thought this was when my life would end.. part of me still wishes it had, being unsure how to move on from this, the betrayal, the pain, both physical and emotional.

I feel tears slowly trickle down my face, Storm doesn't say anything, and I am happy for that, no words could help right now.

Soon after Cahira comes back, supporting an elderly grey haired woman in colourful robes, who must be Sage. Cahira smiles at me. "Sage, this is Novalie, the girl Storm rescued.. Novalie, this is Sage, our wise woman".

"Hello my child". She says, giving me a halfway toothless grin. "No to be rude, but may I perhaps see your birthmark ?"

I nod and Storm quickly looks away, as I pull the cover off, showing the weirdly shaped birthmark I have always been so embarrassed by. "It's nothing special really, just an ugly birthmark".

"Oh you are very wrong my child, that mark is what we have waited for. You are what we have been waiting for... The salvation... it is finally time to end the tyranny".

I just stare at the others, wondering what I have gotten myself into and just how crazy these free people really are.