thekillingfield

Heather sat quietly a moment, eyes closed, wishing she hadn't let Kai13 talk her into this. When she opened her eyes she was still sitting there, in an overstuffed chair, in revolution9's office, about to relive the last few days. Days she would rather forget ever happened. "When ever your ready, Heather, we'll start." revo said softly. Heather tryed to still her trembling hand by clenching it tightly. She took a deep breath and started.

"It started four days ago. I had cabin fever, bad, and wanted to get out of the castle. I was tired of being indoors. I desided to ride Jade, she needed to get out as much as I did. Kai13 wanted to go along with me, but I told him no. He was worred, the last time I went out alone, HunterKai almost killed me. But I wasn't going alone, Lily was going with me. I had promised to let her ride Jade. He wasn't satisfied, he told me he had a bad feeling,that I shouldn't go. I wouldn't listen, I told him that Lily and I would only be gone for a few hours, that nothing would happen." Heather closed her eyes, tears spilling freely down her face. She clamped a hand over her mouth trying not to sob out loud. The memories were washing over her like huge pain filled waves. Two days of fear, or pure terroe flooded back to her, battering her mind, opening wounds in her soul that had just started to heal. After a few minutes, Heather choaked out desperatly, "WHY?? Wht didn't I listen to him? Why did I go out there? WHY??"

revo got up from her chair, going over to Heather. She handed her a few tissues and layed a hand on her shoulder. Heather cryed a few minutes. "I know it hurts." revo said softly, "If I thought it would help, I'd let you stop now, but it won't. The pain will only be worse if you wait." Heather culd only nod, unable to talk threw her tears. revo waited patiently, letting Heahter slowly compose herself. After several minutes, Heather calmed herself enough to continue.

"It was early morning, just after breajfast. I went out into the courtyard to get Jade ready and wait for Lily...."
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"NO"

"Heather please."

Heather turned around and looked at Kai13, "I'm not changing my mind, so stop it. Lily and I will be fine." Heather finished tieing two backpacks together and layed them across Jade's back. Ignoring Kai13's scowl, Heather looked back at the main doors, "HEY, lovebirds, brake it up." Lily giggled as HunterKai reluctently let go of her. Lily rushed over, eager to get going. HunterKai had the same scowl on his face. Heather ignored him too. "Are you ready?" Heather smiled at Lily, who was bounceing in place.

"OH YES!" giggled Lily. Heather swung up on Jade's back. HunterKai stepped forward and helped Lily up. Without looking back, Heather tapped Jade. The big dog shot forward, troting threw the main gates and down the road. She never saw the conserned looks on Kai13 and HunterKai's faces.Heather choose a trail she liked, It was several miles long, winding threw the forest, along a small stream, and past the Snake Den. The Snake Den was a large field covered with boulders. During the spring and summer it was the home for dozens of snakes and they often used the boulders to sun themselves. About noon they stopped by a stream. he sun had melted the snow along the banks. They ate the lunch they had brought along and laughed at Jade barking at her reflextion. After lunch, they mounted up and rode farther along. "Are we near the Snake Den yet?" asked Lily.

Heather smiled back at her. "Just a few minutes away. You'll love it, it's my favorite part of this trail." True to her word, about ten minutes later they came apon the Snake Den. It was a large field, dotted with boulders. It looked like some giant had long ago set them there. There were boulders piled on one another, others sitting by themselves and one sitting on it's end, pointed at the sky. "See that one." Heather pointed at the one sitting on it's end." That's the Rattler's Tail."

"Wow, it's just like you told me." gasped Lily. Heahter smiled at Lily's childlike wonder. At the other end of the field something glisened in the sunlight. Heather frowed and slid off Jade's back. "Stay here." Heather walked along the trail, then across the field to a pile of car size boulders. They were piled up along a steep enbankment. SOmething was slowly driping down the side of one, pooling on the boulder below. Heather didn't have to look long, she knew exactly what it was,

"What is it?" Heather jumped and spun around. "DAMN IT. Lily, are you trying to give me a heartattack?"

"I'm sorry." pouted Lily. SHe had climbed down off Jade and followed her. "It's ok." Heahter calmed her self, "It's protoblood." Heahter looked up at the boulders piled above, "Stay here." Pulling off her jacket, she handed it to Lily. Heather started up the boulders. It was fairly easy yo find a way up. After a few minutes she reached the top of the embankment.... and couldn't go any farther. "OH MY...." Heather clamped her hands over her mouth, she felt violently ill.

"What is it?" Lily shouted up at her.

"Lily, stay down there, don't come up." Heather swallowed the bile riseing in her throat.
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Heather stopped, bile collecting in her thoat, just as it had before, in the forest. "What was it?" asked revo quietly.

"You know, you saw it." choaked Heather.   "Yes I did," revo said, hiding the fact that she too felt sick at the memory, "But I want you to tell me what you saw."

Heather paused a moment before continuing. "It was an anti-kai or what was left of it. It was hanging just above the ground. He had been hung, spead eagle, his head was gone. He had been sliced open, from neck to crotch, his innerds pulled out, dangleing to the ground." Heather closed her eyes at the memory.

"and it was still alive."