Chasing Memory [WORK IN PROGRESS]

A Friend

Dedicated to my dear friend JMP, who waited so patiently and eagerly for this chapter. Thank you for waiting dear, I owe you this. ~

I pace back and forth between the trees, my anxiety growing with each step. He promised to return in a few hours, but the setting sun marks the end of the day, and I had sent him off before dawn. Doesn't he realize the importance of this task? Doesn't he know how much is at stake? 

The last I saw of her was nearly four moons ago, when she gazed up at me with sad, brown eyes. Maybe, if she were off on her own, exploring or hunting, I would be alright. I'm used to her leaving for days at a time, that's just how she is. But instead, she's off with those iron-clad huntsmen; I feel my lips curl involuntarily into a snarl at the thought. 

I still don't understand why they'd wanted to take her. I only have a broad idea about how the humans maintain peace within their kingdoms, but we had done nothing to provoke their appearance. We keep within our own little world, almost never coming into contact with other humans. It's a lonely life, but that's why we have each other.

I turn toward the castle, a dark, massive citadel rising into the fading sky. She's in there somewhere, cold and alone. There has to be some way I can free her! Frustrated, my claws dig into the earth and I hurl a menacing roar into the seemingly endless valley separating me from the castle. I turn away and begin to pace once again in the little clearing on the cliff's edge.

I can feel the amulet bouncing against my chest with each step, and even though I only carry half of the glittery blue stone, it's become unbearably heavy around my neck. Ever since they took her, I've felt nothing but resentment towards the amulet; maybe because that was the last thought she sent me before it went completely silent.

That was the only reason I knew something was wrong four moons ago--utter silence. No matter the distance between us, I could always hear the endless chattering of her inner voice. Humans are so strange: they can have so many thoughts in such a small span of time. It would give me headaches sometimes, to hear everything that went on in her head, but that's how we communicated, that's how I knew she was safe. And when her voice was suddenly cut off, when the only thoughts I could hear were my own, I had never run so fast in all my life... But it still wasn't fast enough.

I pause in the middle of the clearing, tilting my head to listen. I'm still not used to the silence. It feels as if a part of me is missing, and maybe there's some truth to that. My closest companion was snatched away from me, and I don't even know why. I close my eyes and heave a great sigh from my lungs as the wind rustles my tangled mane. I imagine I can feel her hand on my back, stroking the thick fur, calming me in a way only she can. Something I will never quite understand.

At the sound of an eagle's cry, I open my eyes and stare as the great bird blots out the setting sun for a fleeting moment then lands on a nearby rock with a final beat of his wings. He ruffles his feathers once more before bowing his head. I dip my nose in return but stay put; he regards me with a single beady eye and when he speaks, his shrill voice sends a shiver down my spine. Nothing like her honey sweet voice.

"I have what you are waiting for, for the news, news that is not good my old friend."

I feel my muscles tense and a low growl begins to snake its way into the back of my throat. The tip of my tail flicks back and forth. My voice is surprisingly calm, even though I can feel my heart fluttering with anxiety and my mind races in a flurry of panic. 

"What did you find out?"

The bird ruffles his shiny feathers nervously and cocks his head to one side. "She is alive, alive and sickly and very weak, weak from fighting and not eating. I see her only once, once when they lead her away, away into the castle. Then they bring her back, back outside where she stumbles and cries, cries until they lock her up. I do not think she sees the sun, sun does not live underground, underground is dark and cold and lonely." 

My head suddenly begins to spin and I settle onto my haunches as my legs begin to feel shaky and weak. My girl doesn't get sick. My girl doesn't stumble or live underground. My girl doesn't cry. I don't trust myself to speak, but at the same time I desperately want to know. This time, my voice quivers.

"Was... was there anything else... that I should know?"

The eagle hops uncomfortably from one taloned foot to the other. "You will not like this, this happened as they carried her out, out and then into the castle." He hesitates for a moment, and I see a flash of pain cross his expression before he continues. "Some time after she was in the castle I heard it, it was so sad and painful that it hurt, hurt me just to listen. I do not know what they did but all I heard were screams, screams so helpless and loud, loud enough to make me cringe..."

His voice becomes fuzzy and far-off, and a throbbing ache starts deep within my chest; I can't believe what I'm hearing--what are they doing to her? My heart swells with anger and hatred and sadness. My body trembles with a sick desire to rip something in half. I lunge at the bird and take a swipe at him with my paw, but he avoids the attack by merely flapping his wings and perching in an overhanging branch far above me.

I resume pacing, pausing periodically to glare thorns at the castle as it taunts me, sitting on its formidable pedestal off in the distance. At this moment, I want nothing more than to tear the fortress apart stone by stone, searching for her and slaughtering anybody who might stand in my way. And then I realize that's exactly what I have to do, only, in a more stealthy manner. Though the eagle doesn't wear the other half of the amulet, my intentions must read plain as day on my face because he screeches to get my attention.

"Old friend this girl must be special to you, you do not keep many close companions, companions are not for the mighty king. So I will do all I can to help you, you have a difficult task ahead of you, you will need eyes from above."

I snort and begin to protest; the mighty lion shouldn't need the help of a silly little bird. But before I can speak, the eagle unfolds his great wings and takes off in a cloud of dust. He circles twice above my head, screeches, then heads in the direction of the castle. And I realize that the mighty lion doesn't have a choice.

The sun is almost completely hidden behind the mountains now. The moon already smiles above me, while her brothers and sisters slowly begin to flicker awake. I stare unblinking at the castle; the eagle is right, the task ahead of me will be difficult and dangerous. But I'd rather risk my life for my best friend than stay here and do nothing, than sit wishing and wanting and hoping. Life doesn't run on wishes, but on actions.

I walk to the edge of the cliff and my lips curl as the most ferocious roar suddenly escapes from deep in my gut. Whether they can hear me or not, I send them a warning of their impending fate. As the echo dies down, I take a deep breath, imagine her face as I saw it before they stole her from me and use that memory to fuel the spark igniting in my chest, to push me forward.

Turning away from the castle, I leap forward and begin the long journey into the unforgiving world of the humans. The glittery blue stone thuds heavily against my chest as its color slowly begins to fade with the rising moon.