"So I'm a goddess?" I asked quietly as I followed Gabriel out of the giant mess that was once a warehouse building. Aside from a couple door frames and a few other fixtures, the warehouse was reduced to a pile of concrete blocks and broken windows.
"A Descendant. I'm not sure of whom yet but we will go see Athena, the goddess of wisdom, she will know," Gabriel said looking back at me. "Keep up, you're lagging behind, we'll be late for your meeting."
"I'm going as fast as I can, not all of us can be tall," I replied. I was average height, about 5'7", with dark brown hair cut in layers and almond-shaped hazel eyes.
"Fine," Gabriel said stopping suddenly and turning to face me. He lifted me over his shoulder, leaving my arms to dangle down his back.
"Put me down!" I said loudly, punching his back. "Put me down now!"
"Sorry, can't do that," Gabriel said. I could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Well don't go dropping me or anything." Gabriel's hands loosened around my legs and I began to slip. I muffled a scream.
"Thought I would, didn't you?" Gabriel said righting me on his shoulder again.
"Not funny Gabe," I replied, clinging to his back.
"No no, we mustn't overstep our boundaries Donatella. Mind your manners, lest you forget who is carrying you."
He made a good point. "You wouldn't dare drop me....Gabe."
"I warned you." I felt Gabriel let go of me and I tumbled to the ground.
"How dare you! Who do you think you are?" I asked, dusting myself off.
"Gabriel Santario," Gabriel answered, pointing to himself. "Any more misbehaving and you might crack your skull next time."
"You wouldn't! I didn't ask for you to come find me, you took me away from everything I know to be true and real and injected me into some -fantasy world!"
Gabriel stopped walking and set me on my feet and looked me in my eyes, "My world is just as real as your's. It is not a fantasy or a game or some role-playing adventure I've come up with; it is real and it is happening all around you, as it has since the dawn of time."
"I'm sorry, I didn't think-"
"Exactly. You didn’t think," Gabriel said. He walked a few feet ahead of me. I got the idea that he wasn’t coming back for me so I followed along behind him.
While following Gabriel, I tried to keep my balance while walking over the uneven ground. I failed miserably and tumbled down a hill, running right into Gabriel.
“Not only do you say stupid things but you were born with two left feet, too,” Gabriel said, looking at me sprawled in the dirt.
“I’m sorry for what I said earlier, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just didn’t know what to think. I still don’t know what to think,” I apologized. I stood up from the ground and offered Gabriel my hand, “Truce?”
“Truce, just don’t give me anymore flack about this not being real, got it?” Gabriel clasped my hand in his. He picked me up again and swung me back over his shoulder as if I didn't weigh more than a small child.
Gabriel continued to walk to our destination with me on his shoulder. Occasionally he would put me down to rest or switch shoulders. Eventually, I got used to the uncomfortable position on Gabriel's shoulder and fell asleep.
At some point, we stopped for the night so Gabriel could rest too. Gabriel turned to me and gave me instructions, “You take first watch. If something happens and we get separated, run straight east, we’ll meet there.”
“Alright, Gabriel. Sleep well,” I stood at attention a few feet from the area where Gabriel was resting. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t force myself to stay awake and soon fell asleep.
At first light, I found myself being shaken awake and lifted from the ground. Gabriel’s hands reassumed their position around my legs as we moved eastward to my meeting.