Heed My Warnings And Survive

Chapter One

The Witches Warnings

If I had known then what I know now I would have taken the witches’ warnings into greater account, but I was foolish then, and I know now not listening was the biggest mistake of my entire life. Let me backup a little. So in my village there’s a witch who tells you your fortune, her name is Aria, she has the eyes of the all knowing spirit, or that’s what the hogs in my village thought. my sister wanted to get fortune told....

TWO YEARS EARLIER

“Come on Draven it’ll be fun,” My ten year old sister dragged me towards Aria’s tent, “Don’t you wanna know what’ll happen in your future?” She looked up at me with pleading eyes,

“No Aster I would rather be surprised,” I said in a dull tone, She crossed her arms, and scrunched up her nose,

“You’re no fun big brother,” she pouted. I sighed, and rubbed my forehead.

“Fine You win,” I said, throwing my hands in the air. Asterina jumped up and down in excitement. I smiled at the sight. There was nothing I loved more than my little sister, and seeing her happy made my heart want to burst.

After Asterina had her fortune told, I reluctantly walked into the witches tent, and sat at the small table. The old woman studied me.

“You don’t like witches I see,” she said, giving me a mischievous smile.

“No ma’am, it’s not witches I don’t like, it’s fortune telling. I don’t like the thought that someone else knows my future before I do,” I replied. I was anxious not to anger this woman, I could sense something bad would happen if I did.

“Well why are you in my tent then?” She asked. She sounded genuinely curious, so I reluctantly told her,

“I wasn’t going to, but my little sister begged me. Can we just get this over with?” I was getting a little annoyed, and Aria could tell.

“Fine. Take the word sticks, and toss them on the table in front of me.” I did as she told me, and waited a few moments as she read the word sticks. When she finished she looked at me solemnly.

“You have many negative sticks here, therefore I shall give you these warnings. Beware of A dying fire, Red hair in messy braids, a gray fox with silvers eyes, the last autumn leaf on the tree, green eyes with tears, a storm, the old oak tree, a scare, a crying kiss, running water, a scrap of blue fabric, and the howling wind, heed my warnings dear boy, and live to tell your tail,” she told me. I didn’t take her words to heart in that moment, and how I regretted it now. I thanked her begrudgingly, and got up, exciting the tent. The wind was rising a bit, hinting at a storm. I looked around for my sister, when I didn’t see her I assumed she went home, so I decided I’d find Finley, and Zander, or at least Finley. I went to his house, and when he wasn’t there I decided to just head home, as well I should, seeing as the weather was worsening by the minute.

“Mom I’m back, did Aster come home?” I called from the door. My mother didn’t respond, so I went into the kitchen, where I found her crying. “Mom, is everything ok?” my mother shook her head.

“The weather looks awful, and your sister hasnt come home yet,” She said mournfully. My eyes widened. My mom came over and kissed my forehead.

“I fear the worst,” She said sadly. The words of Aria flashed through my mind ‘A crying kiss.’ I dashed out of the house. I could hear the wind howling, as it whipped through the trees. I didn’t even know where to start looking. I tried yelling her name over the wind, but it was too loud. I looked everywhere I could think of, until I remembered, There was a stream nearby, that Asterina loved to play in.

As I ran something on one of the tree branches caught my eye. I stopped running to investigate. As I inspected it closer I realized it was a scrap of blue fabric that matched Asterina’s dress perfectly. “No no no. ASTER!” I yelled. I got to the stream, and frantically searched the bank. “ASTER!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!” The stream was only knee deep to me, so I could easily wade through it, which I proceeded to do. At this point tears started forming in my eyes, and it was obstructing my vision. And with the slight rain that had started, my vision was quite poor

“Aster,” I said quietly. I almost collapsed, forgetting I was in the water. Please be ok. I thought to myself.

“Draven,” I heard someone shout from somewhere nearby. “DRAVEN OVER HERE!” the shout sounded destreced. I looked around until I saw Finley crouching over a little girl in a blue dress. My eyes widened, and my heart filled with dread. I wiped the tears from my eyes, and ran over as fast as I could. As I approached them it became increasingly apparent that it was Asterina. I fell to my knees next to them. She was soaked, and all the color had left her face, her little body looked pail, and lifeless.

“Finley is she breathing?” I said quietly. One look at his face should’ve answered my question. But I took him by the shoulders and shook him. “IS SHE BREATHING FIN!!” I yelled, he shook his head. Even with an answer I couldn’t accept it. I crouched down over her, and listened for a heart beat. My stomach twisted as the only thing I heard was silence

“No no no no no no…..” Tears started to fall once more. “Aster, please wake up. Please……. Please……… No……….” I held her in my arms, rocking back and forth, the lump in my throat grew bigger, and bigger until the only thing I could do was scream, and yell. I stayed there, heart throbbing, and throat corse, my chest was knotted, and I couldn’t bring myself to move until the wind died down, and the rain stopped. Finley was there the whole time with a hand on my shoulder.

It was in that moment that I remembered the warnings of Aria, “Beware running water’

“Draven.. I have something to tell you.” I didn’t respond. All I could think to do was pick Asterina up, and bring her home. “Draven.. I told her I’d come with her. I was supposed to be watching her. It’s my fault she drowned.” I didn’t hear a word he was saying, all I could think of was how I didn’t make her wait for me. Stupid Aria, stupid fortune teller setting up in our town. Why did she have to settle for this grimy rathole anyway? We were perfectly happy before her. My thoughts were running wild, and I didn’t have the restraint to stop them. In fact if i were to be truthful, the town I lived in was one of the most well kept ones on this side of the country.

As I neared my house my steps became sluggish, and I started to dread facing my parents, but I had to do what was right.

“Fin go home, I don’t want you to see this.” Finley nodded reluctantly, and turned away

“Let me know if you need anything,” he said, then left. I wish I had known I wouldn’t see him again for months, I wouldn’t have been so cold if I had.

I sighed, and entered my house.

“Mom!” I called, my voice sounded hoarse and broken. My mother entered the room. As soon as she saw Asterina in my arms she ran to me.

“Draven, you found her.” She sounded so happy. I looked at her tearfully, and I brought myself to tell her the news I myself didn’t want to believe

“She- She’s dead mom.” My mothers expression changed, from overjoyed to furious in seconds. She didn’t look at me, but I could tell she hated me, Aster had always been her favorite, and more often than not she would cast me aside, but I didn’t know she disliked me so much that she would do what she did next. She took Asterina from my arms, and sat on the couch. “Mom, I’m sorry. I should have been watching her. It’s my fault,” I said sorrowfully, seeking comforting words from my mother, that I had heard her give to Aster whenever she was tearful, but alas she truly had in two seconds learned to hate me.

“You’re damn right it is. Get out of my house,” she practically growled

“Mo-”

“GET OUT!! I NEVER WANNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!!!! YOU SHOULD’VE DROWN IN THE RIVER. NOT MY BABY!!!” I was taken aback by her sudden outburst, and when I didn’t move, my mother put Asterina aside, and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. “OUT YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING RAT!! GET OUT!!!” she shrieked, coming towards me with the knife. When I still didn’t move, She came as close as she could to me, and slashed me with the knife. I screamed in pain, as I grabbed my throbbing shoulder where the knife had hit. I stumbled backwards out the door, and ran. I didn’t really know where I was going, but my feet went a path they often went, and I found myself at the door of an old friend. It was consequently the farthest house from mine, which I was thankful for.

I went up and knocked on the door. It was opened by A tall man with blond hair, and blue eyes, he was so much different then Finley. I thought it was a little funny how that small man could be such good friends with Zander. In all aspects of the word, he was perfect. He was tall, and well built, his bone structure was impeccable, it was no wonder she loved him. But all that aside, even with the look of concern he wore, I was thankful to see my close friend’s face.

“Draven what happened,” He questioned, referring to the deep gash on my arm. I shook my head signaling to him I didn’t want to, and also couldn’t talk about it. He nodded, and let me into the house.

“Niereida I need your help!” He called, as I sat close to the fire. A young woman came down the stairs, her lovely tightly curled hair bouncing as she came.

“What is it Zander?” Her beautiful silky voice uttered a question, but the answer was found upon further investigation.

“Draven needs our help.” Niereida’s exquisite golden eyes looked at me, then my shoulder. She gasped, and put a hand over her mouth. But at that moment, as I looked at her, my pain was forgotten. Once she got over her shock, she set her face with a determined look.

“Zander, could you get a bucket of water?” she said sternly, but kindley to her husband. Zander nodded and excited the house. “What happened Draven?” I didn’t answer. In truth I really couldn’t, my throat hurt too bad from crying, and running. All I could get out was a pitiful.

“Water.” Neireida’s eyes widened,

“Of course, I’m so sorry.” She got up and went into the kitchen, and a few moments later came back with a cup of water. I took it, and gulped it down quickly.

When I finished I leaned back on the couch. “Do you wanna talk about how this happened?” she questioned, indicating my shoulder.

“Lets wait till Zander gets back, I don’t wanna explain it twice,” I told her, a hint of exhaustion in my voice. Neireida nodded.

A few minutes later Zander came back with a bucket of water. He handed it to Niereida, as he sat across from me.

“Do you wanna tell us what happened?” She asked, as her beautifully soft chocolate brown hand began cleaning my wound. I breathed a deep sigh, and was about to start talking when the door burst open, and Finley came into the room.

“Draven, what happened? Did she do that? You should’ve told her it was my fault, maybe she wouldn’t have slashed you.” He was rambling at a pace I couldn’t follow at the moment, and it was hurting my head.

Zander got up, and grabbed Finley’s shoulders.

“Calm down Fin. We’re not even sure what this is all about. Let Draven explain.” Finley slowed his breathing, and nodded. I rubbed my eyes with my good arm, and sighed again.

“I’ll start at the beginning then,” I said solemnly. Zander nodded. “Ok so, this morning Aster-” My voice broke for a second, and I almost broke down crying again, as the ache I had momentarily forgotten returned to my chest. “This morning Aster wanted to go to Aria’s tent to get her fortune told, and she begged me to come with her, so I did. I didn’t realize she wouldn’t wait for me, so when I got out of the tent I went home to check if she had gone there. Turns out she went to the stream, and-” I couldn’t say it out loud, again, my heart was already on the verge of breaking. I looked to Finley, who nodded.

“She drowned in the stream,” he said quietly. Hearing those words broke me. I burst out sobbing, my heart ached, and all I wanted to do was scream as loud as I possibly could, and I proceeded to do so. Luckily at this point Niereida had finished bandaging my arm, so I wasn’t being a newsense to her.

I fell to my hands and knees, and yelled, as I longed for my lost family, my sister was dead, and my mother had cast me out. Finley dropped to his knees next to me, he was like a brother to me, so he was feeling her loss maybe a little less, but almost as much as I was. Finley placed a hand on my shoulder,

“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” He kept repeating this under his breath.

“Draven, you need to calm down. You have to finish the story,” Zander said calmly. I was breathing rapidly, trying to stop the flow of tears that had started.

“Deep breaths you two. Deep breaths,” Niereida said calmingly. I did as she said, and by the sound of it Finley did too. I sat back on the couch, regaining my composure, and continued.

“A- anyway. I got back home with her in my arms, and my mother went crazy, yelling at me, and telling me she never wanted to see my face again, and when I was too shocked to move, she got a knife, and, well I assume you can imagine the rest.” Zander nodded, and started pacing back, and forth.

“What are you gonna do Draven?” He asked. I shrugged. I had been asking myself the same question, and I had come to a conclusion.

“I- I think I have to leave.” Zander stopped dead in his tracks.

“What?” He said disbelievingly I looked at him seriously. “Draven you can’t possibly-”

“I think he’s right Zander,” Finley cut in. Zander looked at Finley, and laughed in disbelief.

“You can’t be serious you two. Niereida do you think he should leave?” he asked, seeking the agreement of his wife. Niereida thought for a few minutes.

“As much as I’d like to say no, I think he’d be in danger of his mother,” she said. Zander scoffed.

“He can stay here,” he said indignantly

“Zander, if he stays here his mother might come here, and I will not have a crazy woman yelling at Draven in front of my son,” she said in a tone that was final. Zander rubbed his forehead, and continued his pacing.

“I think it’s the only way,” I said. Zander sighed, and sat down in an armchair by the fireplace, and nodded.

“At least let us give you supplies,” Zander said.

“Alright, but no more than that. I don’t want my mother coming here and blowing up on you, and Niereida.” Zander nodded. I won’t bore you with explaining how Zander, and Niereida rushed around getting things ready. But they finished quickly, and handed me the satchel. I swung it over my shoulder. I was about to exit, when I turned, and said.

“I probably need a horse.” Finley shot up.

“I have one outside. Take her, she likes you better anyway.” I smiled.

“Thanks Fin.” I patted his shoulder, then left. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted so badly to stay. I didn’t look back, I knew that if I did, I would turn the horse right around. instead I went straight ahead. Not knowing I would never see that place again.