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| It was all my fault. I should never have left the castle. I know that now. But, darn it, I had to get out, even for just a few hours, And that's when it happened. For the past month, Kai13 had insisted I stay inside the castle walls. But it was getting to me. I was getting cabin fever. I told Kai13 this, we had several geated arguments about it. Finaly, I couldn't take it anymore. I desided to take Jade out for a ride. Niether of us had been out and it was getting to her too. Kai13's pleading could not change my mind. Some of the newer ladies may not realize it, but Jade can be ridden just like a horse, althought I still haven't gotten her to wear a saddle yet. I mounted Jade and headed towards the main gates. Jade tossed her head, waging her tail and woofing loudly. "WAIT!" shouted Kai13. I pulled on Jade's collar, stopping her, "Kai, I'm not changing my mind." Kai13 ran up beside Jade, looking up at me glumly, "I know, but take this." Kai13 handed me my wand. I had taken up magic as a hobbie. "Kai, you.." "I know, I know, your not very good with it yet, but it would make me feel better." he said, giveing me his best sad pupy look. OI sighed, feeling my insides go all funny. "OK, OK I'll take it with me." I said as I stuffed it into my backpack. Leaning down I gave him one last kiss and kicked Jade into motion. Out the main gates, past the small lake, and deep into the forest we went. Jade jogged along, head up, enjoying the crisp fall air. The trees had lost most of their leaves but a few still held on stubernly. The song birds were gone, only the sparrows and blackbirds remained. I was suddenly glad I had worn my sweatshirt, and jacket, it was a little chilly, the wind wiping past my face, blowing my hair out behind me. So excited about being out, free to roam the forest for the first time in ages, I never notices that we were being followed. I steered Jade towards a small stream that ran not far from the castle. It was clear and clean, it was a great place to have a swim, but was far to cold now for that. The forest was fairly quiet, except for Jade's crunching of leaves under foot. It took only a few minutes to reach the stream, there was a bend in it where a large bolder juted out. It got the full blast of the morning sun and was warm to sit on. I dismounted and patted Jade on the rump. "Go get a drink." I told her. She walked over to the stream and gulped down the cold water. Winceing, I wondered just how she could stand that biting cold. Jade gulped down several gallons of water before I hollored, "Hey, leave some for the fish." I sat down on the boulder and pulled my backpack off. I pulled out a large piece of well cooked troll meat, "Better save some room for your goddie, Jade." I tossed it and watched Jade snatch it out of the air, plop down and start knawing on it. I ate a few pretzels and drank some hot chocolate (Kai13 slipped it into my backpack, the sweety) I had just packed the thermas back up when a chill ran down my back. I was being watched. i slid off the boulder and looked around, nothing. I stood still and listened. The wind whispered softly, a few leaves stured, off in the distance a crow cryed out, Jade chewed up tha last of the meat, a faint click... I acted without thinking. I dropped to my knees as the air was split with an ear splitting scretch. I felt the brace wiz past, where my neck and been a few seconds ago, and was spatered with gravel. It had gouged into the boulder behind me. I heard something large crunching threw the forest, I turned. What I saw turned my blood cold. I gasped, pressing myself agenst the boulder, my legs wouldn't move. An anti-kai, dressing in camoflage clothing, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, his face smered with brown and green paint. He had what looked like a crossbow slung across his back. But that wasn't what shocked me the most, it was what he was riding. At first I thought it was a large horse, untill it stepped from the shadows. It ws Jade. But it couldn't be, I could hear Jade getting to her feet beside me. It was jade, but it wasn't. It was the same size, same color, but that was were the simalarity ended. It had a saddle and bridle on, it's eyes were bloodshot and wild, a long tendrel of drool hung from the corner of it's mouth. Jade growled at what was obveously a clone of herself, it growled back. I tore my eyes away from the anti-Jade and looked at the anti-kai. "At last, a worthy opponent, someone worthy of the Game." he snered looking somewhat pleased. I somehow found my voice, "The Game?" I stamered. He smiled, "My Game. I am called HunterKai and YOU are my prey." With that he raised his brace arm and fired. With APEC honed relexes, I dove out of the way, grabbed my backpack and jumped onto Jade's back. I kicked her sides and she took off at a full run. Behind me I hear HunterKai shout, "And the Game begins." I spured Jade on, wanting only to get away. Jade dug her feet into the ground, ripping up clods of earth, scatering leaves behind us. The world wizzed past in a blur. It was then that Jade tripped. SHe yelped, falling forward. I flew up over her head and landed a few feet away. Pain shot across my back and shoulders. I gasped for air, the wind knocked out of me. I lay there for I don't know how long, gaspingtears stinging my eyes, the pain running threw my arms and neck. Slowly I turned my head and almost screamed from the white hot agony of it. Jade had gotten to her feet, she favored one of her legs. It was then that I saw it, behind her, a trip wire. It had been set high off the ground, high enough to hit Jade across her legs. I could see ither wires, in the trees next to the two we had passed threw. "A trap." I gasped, wincing at the pain even talking caused, "He set a trap, drove us into it." Jade limped over to me, still on my back, and licked me. I rolled over, tears spiling down my face. I pushed myself to my feet. "You disapoint me, Fields of Heather." I turned towards the cold voice, fresh tears rising up. HunterKai sat atop his anti-Jade, "I exspected more of you." Suddenly Jade started growling, pushing me aside. She locked eyes with the anti-Jade who returned her growl. HunterKai looked down at his mount and smerked. He quickly swung |
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