New Dawn

Aldora rushed through the thick of the forest following the tracks, she didn’t stop, she didn’t slow down. She wouldn’t give in. Suddenly she groaned and held her hand to her ear where her focus was.

“Aldora……if….hear….weak…………..scared……must….will….okay….” The voice was full of static.

“Nadine…” Aldora furrowed her brows she bit her lip slightly. She thought for a long moment and shut her eyes. “I’m coming for you.” She whispered. “I promise, I’ll get you out of this…”

She pushed on at a quick pace and eventually she could smell smoke from a campfire. By then the sun was peeking over the horizon, it was nearly daylight. She pulled the small device she’d found on Ren’s desk, the one that was said to control the machines. She looked to the buttons and took in a breath. “It would have been nice to be given instructions…” She muttered. She looked over the camp, corruptors, watchers, jagged tooths. They were well armed with corrupted machines. She took in a breath and punched a few buttons. She then hit the green button on the side and glanced down into the camp. The machines lights turned from red to blue and began to flicker. Suddenly the machines collapsed.

“Hey, what’s going on with these things?!” One of the men called out. “Are they malfunctioning?” He questioned.

Aldora looked through her focus, scanning over the camp. She spotted Nadine then, she could see her kneeling with her hands tied behind her body. She took in a slow breath as she looked about the camp. 10 men moved about, three were with Nadine. She moved through the grass silently toward one of the men that was patrolling the outer rim of the camp. She grabbed him from behind and in one swift motion her dagger slammed into his chest and she pulled him to his back in the grass, hiding him from the others. “Nine more…” She whispered. She moved forward, four more watched the perimeter, one was up on a tower. Then there was the leader that stood with another man within a tent. She moved quickly to the second man, she sliced his throat and pulled him into the grass. She then moved to the next and took him out easily as well. The last man was kicking a watcher that was still sparking.

“Piece of junk. How are we supposed to complete this plan if these stupid machines malfunction?” He kicked it again.

Aldora snagged him and kicked the back of his knee, she came down on him in the grass and slammed her dagger into the side of his skull. “Five…more…” She whispered to herself. She glanced with her focus, the leader had left the tent, she glanced around for him and sighed. She couldn’t see him.

She then moved forward and drew her arrow, she released it and the man in the tower fell to his back, an easy head shot. Aldora moved forward then toward the camp. The man that had been in the tent with the leader stood outside a tent, he munched on a leg of a turkey happily. Aldora sliced his throat and moved forward quickly. She stayed in cover and glanced around again. Where did he go? She grit her teeth. She had to get to Nadine before anyone noticed. Before they could hurt her more.

She moved forward and lined up a shot. As she released on arrow she loaded another. Two men fell and she rushed forward, she jumped up and just as the third man realized the other two had been hit she wrapped her legs around him and slammed her dagger into his neck. She fell to the ground and turned to Nadine. “Nadine.” She breathed, her eyes glanced around once more. She rushed forward and touched her cheek where it was red. “I’m sorry…” She whispered. “I’ve got you.” She spoke and moved around. She heard a tiny explosion then and a hot heat burned through her thigh. Aldora grit her teeth and in the next moment she was ripped back from Nadine.

“I told you to bring me the cartographer, savage.” The leader stood over her. He held a smaller weapon in one hand. It had a revolving barrel and he could hold it with one hand. His foot pressed into her chest. “I see you’ve taken out these buffoons. But you didn’t out smart me.” He chuckled. He clicked the hammer of the weapon into place. “Where is it?” He asked.

Aldora took her dagger then and quickly sliced the back of his ankle, severing his tendon. The leader screamed in pain and another shot rang out from his weapon. Aldora groaned as she felt the bullet enter her shoulder. She moved quickly and slammed him to the ground. “I told you, I’m not giving it to you.” She spoke as she ripped the weapon from his hands. “I’ll not let you end our world any faster than it already is.” She held the device to his head and pulled the trigger. The shot rang out and blood splattered on the ground.

Aldora dropped the weapon, her heart pounding. She stumbled back and turned to Nadine. She quickly sliced through the ropes. “C-come on.” She choked out and shoved Nadine’s staff into her hand. “I don’t trust that we have much time before more come.” She pulled Nadine up and then ran. She had a limp from the bullet that was lodged in her thigh. Blood ran down her right arm from the other wound. She ran for a long while until they came up on a cave that was nestled in the cliff face. Aldora limped inside, her breathing ragged. Her skin pale. She slid down the wall and gulped in air. “I’m…I’m sorry I let this happen…” She choked out. “I’m sorry Nadine…”

Aldora looked to Nadine, her vision was tunneling, her hearing had become dulled as if a blanket was hung over her head. She lay back on the cool ground of the cave, her breathing uneasy as she chewed on the medicine ball. She grit her teeth and balled her fists as Nadine dug for the first bullet, she only let out a few small whimpers. It was when Nadine moved to her thigh that she let out a cry of pain. It took everything for her to stay still. She pushed her head against the ground as her vision faded in and out. She could feel her warm blood as it gushed over her thigh. Her screams only sounded like whispers, though she knew it was a blood curdling sound. She’d never felt such pain. Arrows didn’t do this. But these weapons that these men had. The metal balls that were within the chambers of these weapons were horrible.

She lay on her back, her chest rising and falling quickly as Nadine began to heal her. Tears ran down her cheeks, her entire body was tense. As Nadine healed her she began to calm, she sat up slowly at the end and leaned against the wall as she listened to Nadine speak. She looked to her leg, where the bullet had entered through her armor. Arrows couldn’t do that. “I will make sure you’re safe, Nadine. Get rest.” She spoke softly as she glanced out of the cavern to the moonlit night. She kept thinking about the sound of the weapon, the explosive sounds it made. She found the bullets sitting on the ground, in a pool of her blood. She glanced to Nadine as she slept. She rolled the ball around in her fingertips as she stood and moved to the opening of the cave. Aldora glanced out over the trees, the forest was silent tonight. She sat down on a boulder at the entrance and used her focus to scan for threats. Several hours later her head snapped to the side as she heard Nadine’s cry. She jumped down from the boulder and rushed to her side, her eyes full of worry. She glanced around the room and then her eyes locked on Nadine as she spoke of the huge machine.

Aldora knelt next to her, she thought for a long moment, “We can.” She spoke, her voice soft. “If we must, we can.” She gave a gentle smile then. “If it is meant to be we will succeed.” Aldora felt a pinch in the back of her neck then. She grit her teeth slightly and reached her hand up to the back of her neck. Her fingers wrapped around a small cylinder shape. She pulled it from her neck and looked to it, colorful feathers stuck from one end, a needle on the other that oozed a green fluid. “Nadine…” Aldora spoke, she rolled up to her feet and staggered slightly. “I…” She turned and drew her bow, her eyes glancing into the night for the threat. She took a step and nearly fell. “R-run….” She muttered softly, her voice heavy and slurred.

Aldora took another step and her arms lowered, her body too weak to hold up her bow. The bow clattered to the ground and she staggered a few more steps before she collapsed to her knees and then fell to her side on the dirt in front of the cavern. Her breathing was slow and even as everything faded to black…

Aldora sat in a field, her bow in her hands. She was young, around 8 or so. Allister stood behind her. They’d ventured outside of the cradle of the mountain. They were on the edge of Kanzu territory. “These people.” Allister spoke. “They are very different from us, Aldora. Just watch, observe. These are the Raku they are different in every way. They do not believe in the Great Spirit. They are very close with the world, the trees, the rocks, everything that surrounds us. Their Spirit is different. Their rituals are different.”

“How is that?” Aldora asked, curious. This was the first time he had allowed her to see something other than the Kanzu.

“They are not Kanzu, they have not been influenced by our beliefs. We believe what our ancestors have taught us, and that is the same with the Raku.” Allister gave a gentle smile, “They trade with us, some of the medicines that we make in the village come from their traders, some of the pelts of fur, other items as well.” He looked down over the small village. “There are many tribes outside of our own. With their own beliefs, Aldora.” He looked to her. “That does not make them wrong, we all must believe in something, in hard times it is the only thing that can hold us together as a tribe.”

Aldora woke several hours later, her hands bound by a thick rope. She sat up slowly, her feet were bound as well. She had been stripped of her armor and her weapons. She looked around slowly, her mind still dizzy from whatever had been in the dart. She shut her eyes for a long moment, had Nadine gotten away from…whatever this was…? “Nadine?” She asked, her voice hollow. She pulled against the rope ties. Whomever tied them did so with precision. “Hello?” She called out a little louder.

The door opened and a man came in, he was dressed in thick pelts with beautiful colors mixed in and a head dress that was from the head of a machine. He knelt before her and looked into her eyes, “You can stop trying to loosen those.” He spoke with a smirk. “You won’t get free.” He then pulled a dagger. Aldora flinched and fell to the side as he made a quick movement forward, he sliced the rope around her ankles. The man chuckled and then lifted her up. “Come, our Chief must meet with you, he has gathered with our Shaman.”

“What…” Aldora was pushed forward, though, it wasn’t a rough shove. “Where am I?” She asked as she stepped outside of the hut into the frigid temperatures. Her body began to shake. She only had her thin layer of clothing left without her armor.

“You are in Tamur.” He spoke.

“Tamur…” Aldora repeated, Allister had spoken of it. Raku territory. It was to the north. “How…” She glanced to him and snow blew through the air. She held her hands up to her face to block the icy blast.

“You wandered into our territory.” The man spoke, “We were going to take you, but then you continued forward, you ran quickly. I watched with my own eyes as you took out an entire camp of sickened machines and the demon risers. You did all of that to save that woman. You were injured, I saw the blood on the ground as we followed after you. You didn’t stop for anything. Then, we witnessed something extraordinary. That woman you saved, she had a white light in her hands, it fixed you…” He opened the doors to a large hut and pushed her in. The warmth blasted her face as she stepped in. Inside several people stood and looked to her. Aldora was guided forward to the center of the room where two throne like chairs rest, raised about 4 feet from the ground. “Kneel.” The man whispered in her ear as he pushed gently down on her shoulder and he too knelt before the Chief and the Shaman that sat in their thrones.

Aldora bowed her head down as she thought of what he’d said. Where was Nadine?

“Great Warrior.” A male voice spoke. “Rise.” It was the Chief. Aldora stood and looked up to him. He wore an extravagant headpiece. It had the skull of a charger with the horns still attached. His arms on his forearms had spikes of pieces of machines. Woven into his skin blue wire like material glowed. “You have proven to be one of the strongest warriors I have yet to see.” He spoke a smile on his lips. “You also entered our territory unannounced.” He glanced to his Shaman.

“Demons have entered our land.” The woman spoke from her chair. She was slender and small. She had beautiful colors within the pelts of fur and feathers within her hair. “Demons that you seem to have the ability to kill easily.”

“We will grant you freedom to our lands if you stop a camp of these demons, they have risen machines unlike any that haunt your lands.” The chief spoke.

“Where is Nadine?” Aldora asked, she stood and looked around the room. “Where is she?”

“The woman that you were with? The healer?” The Shaman asked with a smile on her lips. She stepped down from the throne and looked into Aldora’s eyes. “She’s safe.” She smirked. “She too has a purpose that I need her to fulfill.” The Shaman had her hand held to her side. “Come, Warrior.” She spoke.

“Lillian.” The Chief spoke as he took a step forward.

The Shaman glanced back to him and shook her head. “She will not harm me.” She spoke and then led Aldora from the hut. The cold air blasted Aldora again and her body began to shake. She’d never witnessed such a cold. Lillian led Aldora through the cold down a pathway to a smaller hut. She pushed the door open and gave a nod to another man whom stood inside. He bowed and stepped to the side to allow their passage. Lillian led Aldora into the hut and back to another door which she stopped at. “Can your healer fix anything?” She asked softly.

Aldora looked to her, her eyes curious. “There isn’t anything that I haven’t seen her heal.” She spoke softly.

“Our ritual site was attacked, by the Demon Risers and their demonic machines. I…” She still held her hand to her side. “I barely made it out alive, we lost most of our best warriors. I am becoming ill. My warrior Altar spotted you when you entered our lands in search of your healer. He saw how she mended your wounds…” Lillian spoke.

Aldora looked her over, her skin was pale, her eyes clouded slightly. She didn’t look well at all. “Where is Nadine?” She asked softly. “She can help…if anyone can, she can.”

Lillian pushed the door to the room open then. Aldora rushed to Nadine’s side. “Nadine.” She knelt next to the bed that she lay on. “Nadine…I…” She looked to the Shaman. “What have you done to her?”

“It is just a sleeping serum.” The Shaman spoke softly. “She will wake.” She sat down. “Soon enough.” She winced.

Aldora pulled at the ropes on her wrists again, they were still bound just as tight as the moment she woke. She grit her teeth slightly. She looked over Nadine, no injuries, they didn’t even bind her wrists like they had to her. She sighed and sat down with her back to the bed. She pulled her knees up and shivered slightly, her body still recovering from the cold temperatures outside. She looked to Nadine’s staff that leaned against the wall. They weren’t frightened by Nadine, though…they tied Aldora up like an animal. She sighed slightly, they saw what she was capable of. Maybe they feared that she would attack? It was logical. It could easily happen. She pulled against the bonds a bit more and sighed.

“In time.” Lillian spoke watching her. “When I can trust you, I will remove those.”

Aldora looked to her, “When you can trust me…” She muttered. “And am I to trust you? After I’ve been taken hostage and tied up, stripped of my clothing and weapons.”

Lillian gave a smile then, “It is a tough situation we’ve put you in.” She let out a soft chuckle. “We only did this to ensure our safety. You are quite the warrior.” She smirked. “I wouldn’t put it passed you to take out this entire village, just to find your healer.” Lillian spoke softer as she looked to Nadine. “I’ve only seen this once, this power that she possesses. I wouldn’t have thought that the Kanzu would be blessed with such a gift as well. An elder of mine was also able to heal like this, with the help of those crystals.” She pointed to the staff. “We’ve not seen a healer like this in many years…” She then winced and held her side, in the time that they had been sitting here blood leaked to her hand. Beneath her clothing she was severely injured. She’d been bitten by a corrupted machine. Her skin torn, the bite was deep. Nothing that they had in this village could save her. Slowly the corruption was spreading through her body. Her only hope was Nadine.

Aldora rubbed her wrists once Lillian cut the rope from her. She looked to the pink of the rope burn and furrowed her brows. “We would have helped you, willingly, you know?” She spoke from where she sat on the floor. “But, the man who stood place of my father told me much of your tribe, the lack of trust of outsiders, so I understand. Not to mention, what Nadine said, Kanzu of all the tribes are the most dangerous to approach. But, we are not normal Kanzu.”

The door pushed open then and the Chief stepped into the room, he looked to Lillian. “You, have more color to your cheeks than I’ve seen in weeks.” He spoke.

“The healer saved my life, no doubt. I could feel my life coming to an end, now, I feel a new sense of life.” She smiled and then glanced to Aldora whom still sat silently leaning against the wall.

The Chief looked to Aldora, “Warrior girl, come.” He spoke his voice commanding.

Aldora looked to him, “I am not a pet.” She spoke as she stood.

The Chief chuckled, “Hm you’re more of a wild animal, I would agree.” He looked to her wrists. “Did you….”

“I cut the bond.” Lillian spoke. “She does not aim to hurt us, Narrick. She is the guardian to this healer, they are on the journey for Nadine here to become a Mystic.”

Narrick shifted his weight slightly as he looked to Aldora, “Of course.” He spoke and let out a soft chuckle. “Come.” He turned and opened the door.

Aldora looked to Nadine for a moment, she took in a slow breath and left the room at the Chief’s command. He walked behind her, his hand on her shoulder to guide her, to keep her close. He didn’t trust her. He walked her outside into the frigid temperatures again. Aldora held her arms up and hugged them to her body as he guided her through the snow. He took her up a long pathway that led to another large hut. He reached forward and helped her inside. Her body shivered horribly as they moved into the hut. Ice had formed in her hair from the walk.

“The temperatures up here aren’t the same as in your valley, hm?” He spoke as he stepped forward. “It is always cold here, we have a melt once per year and it lasts for one moon. Then the cold returns.” He looked to the warm fireplace. “Sit here.” He spoke and then left to another room of the hut.

Aldora sat in front of the fireplace, her body continued to shake. She’d be cold in her armor, let alone her thin undergarments. She shivered more and blew on her hands. She listened to the muffled sound of speaking from the other room. Soon enough the door opened and Narrick returned with another man whom stepped forward. “Stand up.” He spoke. Aldora did as she was told. She watched as he looked over her body carefully seeming to take in everything. He then turned and left the room.

Narrick stepped to her and crossed his arms. “Where did you learn to battle as fiercely as you do? I’ve never seen another Kanzu with such precision.”

Aldora watched him, he was a head taller than her, his shoulders were broad, his muscle tone was impeccable. “I grew up an outcast.” She spoke, “I had to.”

Narrick rose his brows and then grinned. “You completed the proving as an outcast and they allowed you in?” Shock showed in his expression. “That would be a first.” He chuckled and sat down. He then looked to her. “Will you rid my people of the demons?” He asked. “Of the demon risers?”

Aldora rubbed her wrists slightly, her skin was stinging from the rope. She gave a nod. “I will. That is the goal that Nadine and I have, to rid the corruption from the land. Our own home has been corrupted by these demons. Our villages attacked. Our people murdered.”

Narrick watched her, “Good.” He spoke. “The only thing that makes a warrior stronger is the need for vengeance.” He looked to the fire then. “I need you to ensure the safety of Lillian, without her our tribe will fall apart.” He looked back to Aldora. “Much like if your tribe were to lose a Mystic, yes?” He watched Aldora nod. “Lay down, rest here.” He stood. “I will retrieve you when I have the war party to lead you to the ritual site.”

Aldora stood and shook her head, “I’m not staying away from Nadine.” She spoke, her voice strong.

Narrick smirked to her, “You don’t understand do you?” He stepped to her then. “You came into my land, without approval. Your healer tried to kill one of my warriors. You do not have the grounds to make demands, Kanzu girl.” He looked down to her from his stature. “You’re lucky I don’t bind you back up.” He turned then, “I will come get you for meal time. You will stay here.” He stepped from the hut then.

Aldora paced back and forth. She grit her teeth. He’d led her around the village a few times, she wasn’t sure she knew which hut Nadine was in. Or if they’d moved her. She looked back to the fire and crossed her arms tightly across her chest. It was a few hours later that the door that led deeper into the hut opened. The same man came back with a box in in hands. “This is for you.” He spoke and set the box down on the log stool that sat before the fire. “Go on.” He took a step back.

Aldora stepped to the box and pulled the top off. She looked to the material that was inside of it. “What is…”

“Clothing, Raku clothing…” He spoke. “Armor, for the fight against the demons.” He stepped forward and pulled the pieces from the box for her, lining them on the bench. “Here.” He spoke and began to help her put the pieces on. Aldora pulled on the pants that were made of a black material, warmth seemed to envelope her body. She then pulled on the jacket that hung down passed her waist. It was then that he began to clip armor into place. He fastened a belt around her waist and placed shoulder pieces on her shoulders, made of machine parts. Soon enough he wrapped pieces around her shins. He then pulled the last piece from the box. It was a headdress. He carefully fitted it over her head by first wrapping a piece of material around her head like a headband. He then worked the feathers into her hair and placed the metal down on her head, it looked like feathers as well, though it was made of metal. Aldora looked to him as he took a step back. “Our chief wanted you to be safe when you fight the demon. Your other clothing, it, was tattered…worn…”

Aldora looked to her clothing, her armor was light as a feather. She’d never felt armor that was so light before. “Th-thank you.” She spoke as she looked over the materials. Fur stuck from beneath the material. She was warm, finally.

The man nodded, “Of course.” He then turned. “Oh.” He spoke and looked back to her. “Head down the mountain, turn left, the first large hut, that is where we shall feast, in celebration of your battle that will end the demons.” He then stepped from the room.

Aldora looked to the door for a moment before she took in a breath. She stepped outside into the cold and walked down the snow covered trail, the snow was up to her knees now. She made the trek down and glanced around for Nadine, she tried to remember the hut. She turned and stepped into the large hut that was the dining hall. She looked to all of the Raku that sat at the table and filtered around the room. Aldora moved about, the smell of the food was incredible, like nothing she’d smelled before. She moved and caught a glimpse of Nadine. “Nadine…” She spoke and pushed through the crowd only to be pushed back by a few that moved around. She lost her into the crowd of people then. Aldora continued to look. She was grabbed by her arm and pushed through the crowd into a back room then.

Aldora turned to see the Chief, he had a smirk on his lips. “Come.” He spoke as he led her into a back room. “She is safe.” He led her along into the room where Lillian sat at a table with Nadine.

Aldora sat down at the table and looked to Nadine, her breathing was fast. A plate was set before her by another Raku member then. She looked to the food and then she looked to the Chief whom watched her closely.

“Eat, you’ll need your strength to fight the demons.” Lillian spoke and gave a nod. She then stood and left the room with the chief.

“Nadine….” Aldora spoke, “Are you alright? They locked me in a room…” She spoke, “I…I don’t trust them…” She looked to the food. “I feel like a prisoner…”

Aldora listened to Nadine as she spoke. “I do hope so…he won’t even allow me to have my weapons…” She grumbled the last bit. “How am I supposed to defeat anything without weapons?” She shook her head. She laughed slightly when Nadine mentioned allies. “Allies? They’ve captured us, with sleeping darts might I add.” She then sighed and relaxed slightly, “If you say to trust them, I will.” She gave a nod and poked at her food. She brought her eyes back to Nadine then listening to her once more. She furrowed her brows slightly as Nadine mentioned she feared for her going against the demons tomorrow. She gave a slight nod, “I don’t like being away from you either, I fear that something may happen to you, if I am not here to act as your guardian, that is my duty…” She sighed slightly. “I will be fine though, I will be careful, I promise.”

It was then that the building began to shake. Aldora stood quickly as she looked to the people around her, the Raku people began to scatter, grabbing their weapons. Aldora glanced around, her teeth grit, “Damn it” She muttered, she didn’t have any weapons. She rushed forward behind Nadine, she rushed into the cold and stared up at the huge machines that flew above the city. She glanced around and saw a warrior cowering behind a building. She rushed over to the young warrior. She reached forward, “Give me your bow, go to the mountain, follow my healer.” She spoke.

The young warrior trembled as he looked up to her. He held his bow forward and took his quiver from his back. “May our spirit protect you.” He spoke before he rushed off. A woman wrapped her arm around him and ushered him up the hill toward the mountain, toward safety.

Aldora turned with the bow and ran forward. She ran to a fire pit and loaded in an arrow. She stuck it into the flames and lit it on fire before she shot it at one of the birds. The creature screeched. She released two more arrows into it, the creature fell to the ground, stunned from the flames that burned at the metal shell. She grabbed a staff that was left leaning against a home and rushed forward through the thick snow. She took the spear and jabbed into the creature, she made two precise stabs before the huge creature lay lifeless before her. She let out a cry as she was shocked by a blast from another one of the talons. Her body jolted and she fell to her hands and knees. The shock wave made every nerve in her body scream. She scrambled to her feet, fighting to breathe. She ran and released several shots into another. She leaned against one of the homes then, her breathing quick. She then tumbled through the snow and lit an arrow on fire in a fire pit again. She released the arrow and it sliced through to the heart of one of the birds. She rushed forward and ended its life as well. She turned then when she heard screaming. She watched as one of the birds was tethered down. She rushed through the snow. “Nadine…” She muttered, her eyes catching Nadine as she retreated into the mountain, she saw the blood, she’d used her magic to save these people….

Aldora rushed to the bird and slammed her spear into it. She heard yelling and spun around. Other machines rushed into the village. Watcher’s, jagged tooth’s….

She bit her lip as she pulled another arrow from the quiver, she only had three shots left. “Gotta make it count…” She whispered to herself as she rushed forward. She drew and shot a watcher in the eye. She then swiftly pulled the staff and smacked another in the side, bringing it down. She stabbed into it and then twisted the staff. She was knocked to the side by a jagged tooth. Aldora grit her teeth as she pushed against the creature. She rolled from beneath it and held the staff up just in time to stab it in the heart. She scrambled to her feet and rushed about, taking the machines down one by one. She released her last shot into the last watcher and stood breathless.

The Raku hunters knelt and bowed their heads to her then. They cheered and clapped. Aldora looked to the men and took a step forward, a terrible screech came from the snow storm above them then. Aldora turned just as a huge creature swept down toward them. She’d never seen a machine so large. “Run!” She screamed as she turned toward the hunters. “Go!” It was then that she felt the talons of the bird clutch onto her shoulders. Aldora screamed and jabbed upward with her staff as she was lifted into the air. Suddenly a jolt of electricity rushed over her body, every muscle in her body convulsed, the staff fell from her hands a good thirty feet toward the ground and stuck into the snow. Aldora grit her teeth, fighting to remain conscious. She let out a cry of pain as electricity continued to move through her body. The sound of the giant creatures wings flapping through the air began to fade as she was carried away.

Aldora’s vision began to tunnel as the shocks subsided. Her breathing was ragged. She whimpered slightly. Suddenly the creature scooped down from the clouds, it screeched loudly and the talons released her. Aldora flew through the sky toward the blanket of white. She slammed into an incline and tumbled down the hill head over heels until she slammed into a tree, and everything faded to black.

**

“Lillian!!” A hunter rushed into the Hallow, his eyes wide.

Lillian looked to him, she searched his eyes. “What is it Kilan?” She asked, this hunter was the head of the hunters, the next in rank to become chief.

“The Kanzu warrior…” He was breathless. “She…I…” He looked back out to the storm that raged. “She saved us…” He whispered. “She…fought for us like her own and…a great machine took her…I’ve never seen one as big…it was larger than the Storm Talon…”

Lillian stood silently for a long moment, “She was killed?” She asked softly.

“No…she screamed…I heard her scream…she was still alive when it took her…she was alive.” Kilan spoke quickly. “We must search for her, Lillian, please.” He bowed his head. “Please, she saved us. She fought for us. She killed all of those machines…not one was killed by a Raku warrior…she was swift…she protected us.”

The chief walked in then, “We cannot risk going out in this storm.” He spoke, his voice soft. It was nearly a whiteout now, 5 feet away was barely visible. “We can only hope she makes it through the night, we will find her tomorrow Kilan.”

Kilan shook his head, “No. If she was Raku you wouldn’t say that.” His voice was stern. “If it was Lillian you wouldn’t abandon her!” He drew his brows together. “If you’ll not allow it, I’ll go alone. I’ll find her.” He snapped.

“It is suicide.” The chief spoke. “A skilled warrior as yourself, you know it is suicide to go out in these conditions. Where will you begin to look? There are no tracks to follow.”

Kilan looked down slightly, “If I go, at least someone is searching for her.” He spoke.

“To sacrifice yourself will not help her, Kilan…” Lillian spoke softly. She looked to Nadine with soft eyes.

**

Aldora gasped, her body trembled. She moved and let out a soft cry. She pushed against the ground and got to her feet. She looked around, she couldn’t see anything. She took a step and slid down the steep incline a good ten feet or so. She leaned against the snowy surface. “Where…” She whispered, her teeth chattered. She was lucky to be in the new clothing that the Raku had made her. In her own armor she would have frozen already. Aldora held her hand up to her focus, she scanned the surrounding area and bit her lip. She started off down the hill, guessing the direction, hoping she was right.

Aldora held her side and grit her teeth. The tree that stopped her tumble down the hill must have broken bones. She couldn’t breathe very deeply without pain. She would move through the snow for awhile and have to stop, unable to breathe. Her body became numb as the night drew on. She no longer shivered, she no longer felt cold. She scanned with her focus again, “Please…” She whispered as she looked about. In the distance she finally found something…she picked up the heat signatures of humans…

Aldora let out a quick breath and pushed forward, her body felt stiff. She was having a hard time moving anything. She stumbled forward through the snow and collapsed to her knees. “Nadine…please…help…” She whispered before she fell to her side in the snow. Snow began to accumulate on top of her body as she lay there. Her eyes fluttered. “Please…” Her breathing was shallow, her vision tunneled, she fought to move but her muscles wouldn’t let her. Eventually as she lay there her vision faded in, her breathing echoed in her mind as she slipped unconscious.

**

Kilan paced back and forth in the Hallow. He gripped his spear, his brows drew together. He looked to Lillian. “I’m going, I can’t sit her any longer while she freezes to death.” He growled before he rushed out into the storm in search of Aldora.

Aldora made a soft sound as Nadine pulled her up from the snow, though her eyes didn’t open, she was dead weight. Her muscles were limp. As she was pressed to the tree her head fell to the side like a rag doll. Her lips were taking on a bluish tint. Her breathing was slow and shallow. She looked like a ghost. Aldora whimpered slightly as Nadine lifted her head for the door to scan her in, then she fell silent once again. She lay motionless on the ground as Nadine set her in place.

She lay like a rag doll as Nadine pulled her soaked clothing from her body. Aldora limply lay on her side, her breathing was hardly noticeable unless one focused on it and listened in the silence of the bunker. As she lay there in Nadine’s arms the bunker began to turn on. Lights flickered on. Sounds began to come from the bunker. “Temperature regulation: Online. Outer defenses: Online. Weapon room: Online. Computer systems: Offline. Nutrition: Offline. Cytogenesis: Online.” The voice echoed through the empty bunker.

The temperature within the metal walls began to rise. The ice in Aldora’s hair began to melt away. Her breathing began to stabilize. Her skin tone began to return to normal. She was coming out of her hypothermic state. She began to shiver at one point. Her expression showed pain as she cringed, though she was still unconscious. It took several hours before Aldora’s eyes fluttered open, she took in a deep breath. She blinked several times, her breaths shook slightly. “Nadine…” She breathed. She grit her teeth and held her hand to her side. She looked to the bunker that surrounded them. “Where…” She sat up slowly, moving the coat over Nadine. She shivered slightly as she stood. She looked around the bunker and held her hand to her side. It was a deep purple blue from the deep bruising. She winced slightly as she stepped to a door and it opened into another large circular room that had stairs that led down into the crust of the land.

She stepped shakily down the stairs, glancing around her eyes looked over the metal walls as she descended down into the bunker. She stepped into a large rectangular room that held lounge chairs and rectangular screens on the walls. As she stepped in a projection began to play.

“This is it.” A man spoke, he held a glass of liquid in his hand. He sat on a couch. “The end of humankind.” He let out a chuckle. “An end that was all by the cause of me.” He leaned back and drank the glass down before he poured himself another full glass. “None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for my damned creations.” He then chuckled. “Though, what if it was meant to be hm?” He stood and stepped to a computer. He lifted a small driver into his hand and shoved it into the computer. “What if, we don’t give them everything?” He clicked away quickly and finished his glass again, before he poured another. “Why should we? We weren’t given anything. We had to discover, it took decades.” He clicked away.

Aldora stepped toward the projection and watched as the screen the man worked on began to change, soon it began to flash red. The man chuckled. “You won’t have our knowledge, our history. If this world even makes it passed the activation of prime.” He shook his head. “Good luck Ayla. I hope your escapade was worth it.” He turned then as someone stepped into the room.

“What have you done…” A voice spoke.

“I’ve done what is fair.” He smirked as he lifted the bottle to his lips. “They don’t deserve this.” He looked around himself. “No.” He shook his head.

“You…” The woman stepped to the computer and looked to the flashing red lights. “How did you get into this?” She muttered.

“I hacked in, it’s easy.” He shrugged and finished off the bottle. “Now shall we?” He snickered and pulled her in close. “The end is near, isn’t it?”

The woman shoved him away. “Fuck you Carver! You caused this!” She lifted his computer and threw it at him. It shattered and fell to the floor. “We are all going to die because of you!” She cried before she ran from the room.

Aldora leaned against the wall, her body weak, tired. She stepped forward through the room and looked up. Cryo-Chamber. She furrowed her brows and stepped into the room. It was cool. She looked around to pods that were in the room. She stepped to a pod and brushed away the dust to look in on a skeleton. She moved to the next. “Oh….” Her eyes widened. She stared at a strange suite. She pressed the red button next to the chamber and steam released from it before it lifted from its place. She stepped forward and shivered slightly. She inspected the body, bones. Whoever this was, they died a long time ago in this thing. She sighed slightly and moved through the room. She came to the end of the room and stood before a suit that sat up in a strange rack. Aldora stepped forward.

“Dr. Henderson. Recognized.” The robotic voice spoke.

Aldora spun around just as the device pulled her back. She let out a cry as it pulled her arms from her sides and armor began to click into place. First a warm layer of clothing was slipped over her body by metal arms that moved quickly. Then she was slipped into boots. Aldora winced as an armor plate was clipped into place over her chest and back. Then plates clipped over her thighs and forearms. Something was slipped over her head, she struggled and let out a cry. She stared through a strange glass. Her vital signs appeared within the contraption. She was suddenly released from the machine and she stumbled forward. She was clad in all black clothing and armor pieces. A thick jacket wrapped around her shoulders. She spun around and looked to the machine, her breathing heavy. She looked to herself and pulled the helmet from her head. It was smooth and sleek. Aldora turned the helmet around in her hands as she stared at the piece. She took in a slow breath. Her side ached, she couldn’t take in a full breath of air. She moved through the barracks and slowly back up the stairs. She moved and sat down next to Nadine, she grit her teeth and pulled at the armor. She found the clips and lay back, the pain subsided without the chest piece pushing against her rib cage. It was as if the materials were made specifically for her…

“Nadine…” Aldora spoke. “Thank you…” She whispered as she stared up at the ceiling. “Once again, you’ve saved my life.”

Aldora stepped forward to the cabinet and opened it up. She looked to the cans of food and flipped them over in her hands. “This is something the Kanzu should learn how to do. Could you imagine? Saving food, we would never go hungry in the harsh winters. Our hunters would not have to risk their life for the little bit of food that they can scrounge up during the cold months.”

She set the can down and followed Nadine to the next room. She watched as she lifted the glowing cell into her hands from the slot it had been in. She looked to the other slots, other cells rest in them, but only one still glowed. She watched with curious eyes as Nadine held a ball of fire in her palm. It was then that Nadine tossed the cell to her. She caught it and jumbled it in her hands a bit, looking it over. She then looked to the other cells and the final one that flickered slightly.

“Main power system compromised.” A robotic voice spoke. “Power source remaining, 30 minutes until lock down.”

Aldora furrowed her brows slightly. “I don’t know how you did that…” She shook her head as she turned the piece around. “It seems the ancients used these to power this place.” She thought for a moment, “I can see the fire inside of it.” She looked through the cracks of the cell to the light that came from within it. “Somehow you’re drawing on this power just like you draw on the power of the crystals….it…it’s amazing, Nadine.” She looked to her with a smile on her lips. “I wonder if the ancients had a grasp of this power? If any of them discovered it…if they left behind anything to help you understand it.” She handed the cell back to Nadine and stepped forward through the safe house.

A door scanned her and then a projection appeared. “Dr. Henderson.” Carver stood before her, a smug look on his face. “If you’re here, then you must have come to your senses finally.” He let out a chuckle. “My comrades and I have already entered cryo sleep. Let’s hope that your prime works, because we only have 400 years to sleep before we will wake again. We have power, food, oxygen. We can endure. But, not forever.” Carver looked to her, as if he was there, as if he could actually see Aldora standing before him. The technology of the ancients was fascinating. “I had a suite prepared for you, Ayla. In case you came to your senses. The suicide mission that is prime, may save the world, but at the cost of your life?” He shook his head. “At the cost of the lives of so many bright minds? No. That isn’t how this was supposed to end, Ayla.” He paused and took in a breath. “I hope, one day, when this is all over, you and the others that I’ve selected to go into cryo will forgive me. It, was an honest mistake. A coding error, I must have overlooked…” He let out a defeated chuckle. “Get your suit on, you have your own pod. Set for 400 years….” He paused once more, “I hope that’s enough, I hope your calculations are correct.” The projection disappeared and the door opened.

Aldora looked to her suit that she wore. The armor plates. On her forearm on the inside stitched into the strange fabric, A. Henderson. This was the suit made for Dr. Henderson. She looked into the cryo room once more. Aldora looked to Nadine. “Something must have happened, gone wrong…but…how long is 400 years? Is that long enough for the world to look as it does today?” She sighed slightly.

A rumble then shook the ground beneath her feet. Aldora brought her brows together. She looked to Nadine as the lights flickered. The quaking of the ground continued, it became more violent as she stood there. “Something is wrong…” Aldora spoke. “Come on.” She ran from the room, the ceiling began to groan as the metal was pushed on. Rocks pushed through the ceiling and fell into the hallways. The hallway in front of them collapsed. Aldora skidded to a stop. Her breathing quick. She glanced around. Another loud rumble came that shook the shelter. She grasped Nadine’s hand and pulled her in another direction. She then held her hand up to her focus, scanning. She darted through the hallways quickly, searching for another exit.

“Security walls compromised. Weapon systems offline. Defense systems compromised. Oxygen levels compromised.” The voice spoke.

Aldora rushed along through the hallways, following what her focus pointed her to do. She only hoped it was right. They turned left and right, ran up another flight of stairs. Soon they rushed out into the blizzard. The rumbling could be heard behind them. Aldora glanced to see a wall of white. “Nadine!” Aldora cried as she pulled Nadine with her, sprinting through the thick snow. It was hard to see just a foot in front of them. Aldora stopped at the edge of what seemed to be a cliff. She looked back to the wall of snow that was rushing in on them. Aldora wrapped her arms around Nadine and took in a deep breath. “Hold on, don’t let go.” She spoke as she leaped from the edge. She threw her hook which gripped into the cliff face. They lowered down quickly as snow shot around them. Aldora grit her teeth as they came to the end of the line. They dangled there as trees and rocks flew from the avalanche around them. Aldora hugged her arm around Nadine.

The line suddenly came loose, something had severed the line. Aldora let out a cry as she gripped onto Nadine. She managed to position herself so that Nadine fell on top of her as they hit the ground. Aldora gasped as her back slammed into the ground, she shut her eyes for a moment. She slowly regained her breath. “N-Nadine…” She choked out as she moved and stood. “Come on…” She helped her along through the cold. Aldora shivered. She pushed forward through the icy air that felt like razor blades against her cheeks. All the while she didn’t let go of Nadine. As they came down from the mountain toward the valley, the temperature rose. The snow slowed.

Aldora stumbled slightly, her body still not recovered from the hypothermia. Her body was weak. She needed food, rest. Aldora’s ears caught the sound of footsteps behind them. She pulled her bow and was instantly trained in on the person behind them.

Kilan stood, his hands rose slowly. “I…I’m not here to harm you…” He had a pack on his back. “I…brought food…I tracked you…the blizzard is harsh…I couldn’t just stay back with the Raku…Lillian asked me to search for you…her and the Chief got into a huge argument…He…” Kilan lowered his eyes. “He threatened to kill Lillian for supporting the Kanzu…for wanting to help you…I intervened…I took her place…I almost didn’t make it out alive.”

Aldora looked over his face, he had a bruise on his chin, another around his eye, a deep cut left blood in the material of his clothing where it was ripped. Aldora stepped forward just as Kilan collapsed to his knees. She pulled his arm around her shoulders and looked to Nadine. “We need to move.” She grunted slightly against Kilan’s weight.

Aldora shivered as they moved through the snow. She grit her teeth as she held Kilan up. He was barely holding up his own weight, until he finally fell unconscious. His weight was nearly unbearable as Aldora kept up with Nadine. She adjusted him and turned his back against her chest. She walked backward, tugging him along. His feet dragged through the snow, the deep marks seemed to fill in behind them with the harsh winds. Covering their tracks. By the time that they made it to the cabin Aldora was unsteady. She gave a nod and watched as Nadine used the fire cell. She smirked then, it was amazing to see what Nadine was capable of.

She watched as she kicked in the door before she pulled Kilan into the old cabin. She looked around the home and jumped slightly as Nadine broke the chair into pieces. Aldora gave a nod as she pulled Kilan over to the warmth of the fire. Aldora shivered slightly as she sat next to the fire and looked to Nadine. She pulled the pack from Kilan and pulled the packages of food from it before she put it beneath his head as a pillow. “If you did not come for me, I would have died.” She spoke softly and looked to Nadine. She then smirked slightly. “We save each other quite frequently hm?” She winked slightly. “Thank you for protecting me in the fall. I don’t know what happened to the rope…it must have been the falling debris from the snow…I’ve never seen such a thing.”

Aldora began to open up the packs of food that Kilan brought. She rolled a pelt out to reveal jerky. Aldora moved next to Nadine and handed her some as she munched on her own. Her body felt so weak. She opened another to find dried berries and fruits. She handed Nadine food once more and munched away. Before long she lay down near Nadine, her eyes becoming heavy with a full stomach. “Thank you.” She whispered softly, she placed her hand on Nadine’s shoulder just as she slipped into a slumber. Her hand loosened though it stayed cupped on Nadine’s shoulder. Her face filled with peace as she drifted off.

A few hours later Kilan’s eyes fluttered open. He stared at the ceiling as the flames of the fire flickered casting shadows across the ceiling. He sat up slowly and looked to the fire, it was perfectly kindled. He then turned and looked to see Aldora, she was curled on her side, her forehead pressed against Nadine’s shoulder. He blinked his eyes a few times before he turned to his pack. He reached for it and pulled it toward him. In the blink of an eye Aldora sat up and had her dagger pulled, her hand gripped Nadine’s arm and she was crouched on the balls of her feet, prepared to attack. Her grip on Nadine’s arm loosened when she saw Kilan and she relaxed back, lowering her dagger slowly.

“Sorry.” Kilan spoke softly. “I…um…” He looked around the log cabin. “Thank you.” He gave a nod. He remembered her carrying him before he passed out.

Aldora watched him for a moment, “We are here to protect.” She gave a gentle smile. “So, tell me, what happened?”

Kilan took in a breath as he pulled out some food and munched on it. “Lillian was angry at the Chief for not sending a search party for you. She stood up to him. He made to strike her and I jumped in the way.” He felt his jaw where a deep bruise rest. “I stood up to him…I believed in Lillian, she is the Shaman for a reason. The Chief banished me from the tribe for standing up to him for an outsider. Lillian packed me this bag of food and supplies…she told me to find you…”

Aldora sighed lightly, “It is sad that a difference in tribe causes so much of a hardship. It shouldn’t matter. If I had been taken and I was a warrior of the Raku, would they have sent for me?”

Kilan immediately nodded. “Yes, of course. We leave no one behind.” He shook his head then, “But an outsider, a Kanzu no less. Our tribes they haven’t gotten along in years, since I was a child. One small accident and both tribes distrust one another. It wasn’t even the fault of your people in my opinion. I believe it to be another cause, like the demon risers, I’ve seen them on our lands, they’ve gathered more since I was a child…but only recently have the machines began to follow them.”

“What happened? I remember as a child the Kanzu and Raku traded, we trusted…”

“Yes, years ago, you and I would have been very young.” Kilan let out a soft laugh. He pulled a bladder of water and drank from it before he passed it to her and Nadine. “But a Raku warrior died on the way back from a trade. All supplies taken from his corpse, he was shot through the heart with an arrow, I remember seeing the arrow that was said to be Kanzu, it wasn’t one of your arrows.” He shook his head. “I know Kanzu are quite picky on their materials. You’d never use plain black feathers, or a metal tip. Kanzu have a lot of flint, it’s easy to form arrowheads from. Not metal.”

“I’ve seen the strange metal tipped arrows before, when fighting those men back at the Kanzu tribe, when we defended them…” She muttered softly and looked to Nadine.

“I….I know where a ruin is, not far from here, I have been trying for years to decipher the code to get inside, but I don’t understand what it wants when it scans….is it true, what Lillian told me. You are a key?” Kilan asked.

Aldora watched him for a moment before she nodded, “Yes, I am able to open the doors…somehow I look like one of the ancients, we have yet to uncover how or why…” Aldora munched on her berries then. “How far away is this ruin?” She asked softly.

“About 5 miles or so…” He looked to the howling wind outside.

“We will travel there when the sun rises. For now, we should rest….I haven’t slept a full night in a long while…” She looked to Nadine for a moment before she lay back down and let out a soft sigh, the heat from the fire felt amazing. “Tomorrow, we will travel to this ruin and uncover what it has to offer.”