Chapter 17: UnAfraid
My horse crashes into the frigid cold water as it drenches over my body freezing me to the bone. I take in a deep breath as it stuns me awake and out of the sudden daze I had found myself in. My horse struggles against the river as it tries with all it's might to fight against the river. My horses legs begin to fall out from under her until one of her hooves catches on a rock then the next until it's finally gotten hold of the ground shuffling me to the bank where the other three wait.
When my horses hooves catch onto the stead ground it's surging forward out of the water onto the bank and into the empty field. I breath heavily looking back to see if they had killed the forsaken before it got to them. When I look over I see the forsaken motionless body lying awkwardly against a tree. It's black blood oozing out from its body and onto the tree giving it a metallic black coating. Im pulled to the river as I hear the splashing of Foxgloves horse. She seems to easily get through the water and no matter how at risk she is at the moment from the raging water yet my eyes can't help but be drawn to the forsaken.
I had never experienced that before. As if I could sense and even feel where the forsaken was and that it was coming. I couldn't possibly have been able to know where it was, would I? That has to be impossible for someone to sense the forsaken or even a appending attack. Foxglove makes it to the bank leaving only Harrison needing to cross.
"Talon,Orion set a perimeter behind us, we can't have another surprise attack as we get Harrison over to this side." Enyo order's. Talon and Orion immediately jump from their horses scanning the field behind us as the rest of us pay attention to the river and Harrison. Talon stand on my right while Orion stand's on the left side closer to Enyo. Harrison's horse climbs down to the bank as he prepares to cross. Enyo's sit's on is horse his odd looking weapon pointed towards harrison's side. Enyo's weapon is a slick smooth rifle, it's long barrel glistening in the afternoon sun. Although it's not normal like talon's or harrison's it has a scope and a large cartridge to hold more bullet's. Its metal frame is matte black and look's deadly.
Harrison get's to the water plunging in quickly the water splashing up around him. His horse like Foxglove catches it's hooves on the ground quickly allowing him to get to the bank with in moments. By the time harrison is back on the dry ground my clothe are all but dry except the lower part of my jean's. My socks in my boots are completely soaked and I'm just glad that I won't have to walk to much in them.
Once everyone is on our side we Enyo's already ordering out our next instruction's.
"We have only a few hours before the sun goes down and we are sitting duck's for every forsaken out here.From the map's view we should have a straight shot to the outpost of Fort DireField." Enyo order's out turning around to face the field before us. Unlike the field's we passed earlier this one as large patches of trees scattered around the area. Farther off we finally get a view of large mountain's way farther off. Talon and Orion climb back onto their horses as we begin our way to the outpost. As we ride, I cant get my mind off of that forsaken. It's limp body against the tree, I've seen a forsaken before.... a couple times but it's never been like that.
"Aspen?" I lift my eyes from my horses head and over to Enyo who was before up in front but has fallen back to ride on my left side. I look over at him, his eyes are focused as he evaluates me.
"Yes?" I says trying to hide my thought's in my head. Sometimes it's like he looked right into my head and I hated every part about it.
"The forsaken got pretty close to you, just checking in are you alright?" He as his eyes falling from my face to the rest of my body looking for any sign of being injured. To be honest I didn't even think about how close the forsaken had gotten to me or that I could be injured from the river. I've been so focused on that moment with the forsaken, I didn't think worry about myself.
"Im fine, it didn't get that close anyway." I say shrugging off the concern. I just don't get it, I know the general and everyone wants me to be unharmed and I understand the reason but I just don't see how what just happened was that big of a deal.
"Aspen?" I turn my attention to my right side where Clare rides her horse.
"Yes?" I furrow my brow because apparently I wasn't giving the moment enough attention. I dont think it's really that big of a deal.
"The forsaken was inches from you." Clare say's watching me concerned. It didn't seem it was that close.
"Oh, I didn't realize it was so close." I furrow my brows. I'm so confused, at that moment it felt like it was a mile away not inches.
"Aspen? Are you alright?" Enyo ask me and I look over at him a hint of concern in his brown eyes. I shake my head pushing away the thought of that moment. I place a simple smile on my face trying my best to show them that nothing odd had just happened.
"I'm fine. It didn't touch me." I try to reassure them.
"Are you sure?" Enyo ask with a harder voice. I glance over to him and steel myself giving him a curt nod. Enyo eyes me a moment trying to decide if he believes me. After a few moments he digs his heels not his horse moving back up to the front. Clare rides closure to me whispering to not get over heard by the rest of the team.
"You don't look alright. In Fact your look far to alright to have had one of those monster's so close." Clare says looking over me.
"That's the thing... I really am. I don't even feel scared with it that close to me, I thought it was farther away. I just wasn't scared." I finally say keeping my voice low and quiet.
She squints at me too just nodding her head. Apparently I'm the only one no terrified in that moment, is there something wrong with me? Shouldn't I be afraid? A normal person would have been afraid?
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