Chapter 3 A Second Chance

"Saved?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper "I don't understand"

"I am willing to give you another chance to live Elowen" the woman in the silver dress spoke. Her voice was soothing, it almost sounded like music was being played on her every word.

"I am Loweda, the moon goddess and I am offering you a new life"

A new life? Another chance?

Another chance! Of course I would take it. Another chance to live and rain hell on Thorne and his whore for what they did to my family. I would never pass up on such an opportunity.

"With all humility, goddess Loweda, I will take it"

I had already begun to picture myself holding a sword and thrusting it through Thorne when the white wolf spoke again.

"You have made the right choice Elowen. I will erase your pain, but with it, I will erase your memories also"

My memories? How was I supposed to avenge my family if I couldn't even remember who I was?

"No, you can't do that please" I begged.

"You must start a new life, unburdened by the past" Loweda's words were firm but her voice was kind. "It is either that or death"

I pondered for a while.

What is a second chance if I lose the very thing that drives me to live? But the alternative is death, and I'm not ready for that.

I finally decided.

Even if I don't remember, I'll still be alive, and as long as I'm alive, I'll have the chance to uncover the truth and return to my people to avenge them.

"Fine" I spoke up "I accept your offer and I will start a new life". The words came out of my mouth, but not from my heart.

Deep down, I knew I was going to find my way back to MoonShire and save my people at all costs.

I will remember.

I must remember.

Before I knew what was happening, a blinding light engulfed me. As I lost consciousness, I heard the white wolf's voice faintly.

"Be strong Elowen. New difficulties lay ahead of you...."

***

I woke up to the sound of waves lapping against the shore and seagulls crying overhead.

The saltwater had gotten into my mouth, leaving me with an almost bitter taste. My limbs felt heavy when I tried to move, and that's when I noticed it.

I was completely naked!

I vaguely covered my sensitive areas with my hands and looked around, trying to figure out where I was and how I got here. But as much as I tried, nothing came to me.

My head hurt and I felt dizzy. The water was freezing cold and I had to get out quickly.

I saw something ahead, lying still and crawled against the sand towards it. But I was met with horror when I saw the dead body of a young woman lying on the shore. She was clothed with a white robe, and it wetly clung to her body.

I payed respects to her and took off the clothes. I wore them on and began to wobble farther away from the ocean.

My knees were weak, but I kept walking. The rumbles in my stomach kept reminding me that it was empty. It felt like I hadn't eaten for an entire day.

I walked a little longer then fell down to the ground. I was shaking all over from cold and exhaustion and the burning sun showed no mercy.

Who am I? Where am I? Where did I come from? How did I get here?

The questions flooded my mind and it felt like I was losing consciousness when I noticed a shadow looming over me, shielding me from the sun's harsh rays.

"Why, what do we have here?!" a man's gruff voice came through. "A castaway?"

"Is it dead?" Another voice asked. It sounded like a child, a little girl.

I felt a stick being poked at my legs and I twitched on impulse.

"It's alive!" The little girl yelled, sounding excited, like I was some kind of pet.

"Can we eat her Father?"

"No" the man's voice came again sternly.

"We'll sell this one to them Forlon Pirates. This one ain't for eating. She looks like trouble"

"But she's pretty and has lots of flesh" the girl begged.

"I said NO Peaches, and that's final" the man cut off any disagreement on the matter. Through my half closed eyes I could see Peaches' frown.

"Now let's her get her to the borders"

I felt myself being pulled up, too exhausted to support my own weight.

"What's your name ei?" The man asked.

I could barely speak, but I managed to say "I...I don't know"

"Well, bloody hell then, I'll call you Elda, after my dead daughter"

Elda? Was that my name?

He heard the rumbling sound of my stomach and brought out a piece of dry bread from his smelly pocket. He stuffed it in my mouth and I gobbled it up like a hungry animal.

"Alright Peaches, off to the borders we go"

I rested on the man's back with one arm over his shoulders and we began a long walk to 'the borders'

We had walked for so long, I was almost passing out again, when I heard the sound of an arrow dart by. The man gave a low groan and fell to the ground, taking me with him.

I was on the floor, hearing Peaches scream for her father and saw a pool of blood staining the white sand.

"Hold the girl!" A man's voice yelled. Two men ran to the girl and held both her hands, dragging her away. She was still crying and screaming as she was being dragged.

"Are you okay miss?" the man asked, helping me up. He was dressed in armor, like a guard or soldier.

"Who are you?" I asked, still dazed and confused.

"I just saved your life. This Island is crawling with cannibals looking for survivors of ship crashes to eat or sell to the Forlorn Pack as slaves"

"Thank... thank you" I managed to say.

"Take her to our campsite" the man ordered the other two soldiers. "I'm sure the women at the camp will find some use for her there"

One of the men carried me in his arms and put me on his horse, knowing I was too weak to walk.

"What is your name miss?" He asked as he rode, staring at me curiously.

My name. I thought for a moment.

I didn't know.

"My...my name is Elda"

We went forward again. We climbed a mountain, crossed a shallow river, and continued moving across the terrain.

Where was I going? Was this journey ever going to end?

The guard halted all of a sudden, pulling the reigns of the horse and bringing it to a stop.

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling a bit more strengthened.

"Shhhhhh" he said, turning his head around, as if he were searching for something.

His partner had drawn his sword and was looking around too.

Then he froze, and looked at me with fear in his eyes.

"Run!"