6So, this is the first chapter, finally, of a story I started back in June. There are going to be a total of six chapters, all of them will be pretty short, only a couple pages in Word. But, let me know what you think of this one.
As always C&C will be much appreciated. ...and Flamers will be persecuted. I mean prosecuted! ^_^
Thank you,
Roux
Chapter I : The Hunter
The cliff wall opened, a single great orifice, dark and haunted, ominously peering out like a black pupil through the deep white fog. My horse's hooves came to a halt not five yards from the opening. I kicked my heels hard into my steed's thighs, urging my mare on. She would not move, I could feel her body shivering, something about this cave brought fear to her. I could feel it, too, chilling me to the bone, but I had to go on. I'd searched for far too long to turn back now. I climbed to the ground, gently caressing my mare's side as I undid the straps holding her saddle in place. The saddle and stirrups fell heavy to the ground next to me as I slung my pack over my shoulder. Giving my mare one last loving stroke with my shaky hands, I turned to the cave. I forced my feet to carry me across those some fifteen feet; every muscle in my body seemed to be straining against my minds commands. I stopped just outside the cave; just before the shadow swallowed me completely. Turning back to the light, I could see my mare still standing there, too afraid to follow, yet too loyal to leave me.
"HhiTe!" I commanded, looking her square in the eye.
Immediately, she turned tail and disappeared into the deep forest surrounding the cliff side, her deep brown silhouette fading into the thick white fog. I then turned back to the cave, allowing myself swallowed by the shadow of the Labyrinth.
My footfalls echoed off the cave walls, their rhythm broken only by the sudden splashes created by my feet finding a puddle. Holding tight to the hilt of my sword at my side, I pressed on. Every step I made nearer to the heart of the cave, sending chilling fear deeper into my bones. The cave walls seemed to shiver with an eerie yellow glow, the stone ground cracked and moaned underneath every step I made. The cave was alive. I couldn't help but turn back to face the entrance, but where the light of the outside world once was, there was nothing but shadow, the dim yellow glow of the cave fading into perfect black.
My feet had stopped moving. I tried to lift my foot and continue onward, but every muscle in my leg fought against my thoughts. I could feel cold sweat dripping down the small of my back. I wanted to move. I needed to move. My body disagreed. I had to continue, I couldn't give up. Behind me was only darkness, same as in front of me. I had to push through, until I found the light again. Finally, my foot moved, shooting forward in an abrupt step, as though it had been glued to the ground and finally broke free. For a moment my body froze, in shock of the sudden motion, and then my other foot followed suit, carrying my body across the stony ground.
I looked down at my hand, still gripping my sword hilt, and noticed I was clutching the ball of my hilt as though it was going to grow wings and fly away if I didn't hold on tight enough. My fingernails dug into the leather wrapped around the handle and the veins in the back of my hand looked like they were going to burst. I fought to relax my grip, moving my hand down to the hilt, though somehow the fear had numbed my hand and I could hardly feel the rough leather.
Pressing on through the cave I began to hear a sound. Familiar, like the sound of running water, but so eerily cosmic, as though it were part of a dream. I could smell something, too. At first it seemed pleasant, but it quickly turned to a pungent stench causing my eyes to subconsciously search for a rotting corpse. Then I saw it, what looked like the shadow of a limb, lying on the ground. A black silhouette, barely visible against the dim yellow glow of the cave wall, slowly fading into the pure shadow in front of me. As I neared the silhouette the stench and the sound faded and I noticed parts of it reflecting the dim yellow light. I came to a halt, standing just over the strange object lying on the ground and knelt closer to try and get a better look at it. It was long and thin, almost the shape of a human arm, with a bend in the middle like an elbow. Though it was completely shadowed, save for a few random spots that somehow reflected the strange light of the cave and gave off the sheen of well-polished steel. I cautiously reached out my hand to examine the object, my fingers lightly brushed against the rough surface of the object for a moment.
Instantly, a strong wind found its way rushing through the cave from the entrance. It forced its way past me causing me to lose my balance and fall to the cave floor. As I caught myself I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, that the strange object was being blown away, like a pile of sand, grain by grain into the wind. I brought myself back to my feet, my whole body shaking like I was in a blizzard, and forced my feet to take me onward. Wrapping my arms around my shoulders, I tried to fight my body's fearful trembling. My body shivering, my legs fighting my mind's commands, I forced myself further into the cave. The eerie yellow glow of the walls, shimmering and wavering in the darkness, illuminated my path, guiding me deeper into the darkness. The sound of my footfalls, the only thing to reach my ears, as the ground crackled under each step.
But, what was this new sound? Deep and bellowing, the sound echoed off the cave walls, as they fluctuated and glowed. It ended harshly, leaving nothing but the echoes, bouncing around my head. My feet stopped themselves. Once again, they would not obey my commands. A new sound began to reverberate through the passage. A low thud, the ground rumbled with every echo.
The Beast was coming.
My body was frozen, my legs like pillars of ice, my hand gripping the hilt of my blade as though I would die the moment I let go. My eyes locked straight ahead, I could see a turn in the cave about fifteen yards down, the glow of the cave wall barely visible as the path shifted to the right. Then, a shadow, slowly creeping it's way up the right side of the wall. The cave's glow was so dim, yet this shadow was so strong, pitch black against the dim yellow, it crept along the wall as the thuds began to grow louder and louder. Slowly, the shadow enveloped the whole of the tunnel; I could see blackened legs taking strong steady strides toward me.
I must draw my blade…
My mind knew what I must do, but my body wouldn't move, frozen by fear. I could see two red irises, surrounding pupils that somehow seemed blacker than the rest of the shadow.
Draw your blade!
My mind continued to shout commands to my body, my muscles quivering as they fought against their orders. The veins in my right hand full to bursting, I forced it to reach across and grip the hilt of my sword. The ring of steel echoed off the cave walls as I slowly, shakily drew my blade from its scabbard. Forcing my left hand to grip the bottom of the hilt I held my sword in front of my face, pointing the tip to the shadow's head. My right leg broke forward, my mind finally taking control over the fear, as I placed myself in stance, ready to take on the Beast.
My whole body shaking, the shadow was now only a few yards in front of me, its blackness covering my vision.
Thud. The Beast came to a stop, not three feet in front of me. Its red eyes piercing mine.
I knew what I must do.
I must fight. I must survive.
I am The Hunter