The fog slowed them. Shim brought his horse to the edge of the field, away from the other soldiers. He looked across the moor, taking in his surroundings. The cool breeze made his black hair play across his cheek. The heavy brown and maroon fabric of his clothes kept him warm, while the thin but powerful blade resting at his hip kept him prepared. Shim felt agitated, wanting the army to proceed.
A movement caught his eye, and his hand slipped to the handle of his sword. The thing moved through the reeds like a snake, a large snake. Shim watched carefully, bracing himself for attack or warning.
The serpent leveled up to him just out of reach of his sword. The tan scales of its underbelly glistened and contrasted against the black on its back. It reared its huge head as though preparing to attack. Shim readied his sword.
It opened its mouth and spoke. “Save her from the Darkness. Find the demon boy.”
Shim snarled, undaunted by the display. He raised his sword to attack, but the monster disappeared. He scanned the fog, alert. Somewhat in the distance, he saw a particularly dark spot that didn't feel quite right.
He spurred his horse to action. Shim sped towards the darkness, and the troubling feeling in his gut. When his horse resisted, he knew he was heading for danger, but didn't turn back.
A scream pierced the gloom, a young, feminine scream. Shim became possessed with the need to save her.
Save her from the Darkness...
Until now, he had never believed in signs.
A patch of white, the source of the scream. Shim was only five feet away by the time he saw her clearly. She was running, clutching something to her chest.
“Give me your hand!” Shim shouted, feeling the Darkness on his back, constricting his lungs. The girl glanced back, startled, and tripped because of it. Shim caught her arm as she fell and hauled her onto his horse.
She was shaking; he held her close to protect her and veered from the path of the Darkness. His horse moved faster, finally allowed to get away from the fear. Shim felt the Darkness getting closer... closer...
The army was in sight. Some of the fog had cleared on that side of the moor, and spectators waved torches, trying to see what was going on. Shim urged his horse faster, the Darkness almost at his heels.
They crossed an invisible threshold to the welcoming light, and the Darkness fell away, dissipated as thought it had never existed.
Panting, Shim let the girl off his horse. She still looked shaken; he couldn't blame her. He felt a cold grip in him, but only an echo of the original Darkness.
“Hasheem!” a voice called from the oncoming crowd. “Son, what happened?”
Shim climbed off his horse as the general appeared. He eyed the girl, but preferred to take care of his horse first. His father's hand landed on Shim's shoulder and forced him to look at him. Out of his peripheral vision, Shim saw a stable-boy herding his horse away.
“What happened?” the general asked again.
Shim, stalling for some answer, pulled the girl closer. “Are you okay?” He could tell his father was angry at him for not listening to him.
“I... I'm not sure...” the girl said. She looked up. Dazzling blue eyes met Shim's “You... you saved me.”
Shim paused. He had never seen such pure, beautiful eyes. He couldn't help feel the need to brush the white hair out of the way.
Something stirred in the girl's gray shirt, drawing thee pairs of eyes. The girl gently pulled a white creature free. Suddenly all her concern was directed toward the baby fox.
Find the demon boy...
“He's hurt,” she said. “I saw him in the road and,” her pleading eyes looked right into Shim's soul, “and then the Darkness came. I had never felt so cold...”
“Like you couldn't breathe,” Shim supplied.
“Yes, exactly.” The girl nodded.
The general cleared his throat. “Hasheem, can you tell me what's going on?”
Shim blushed. How could he let a girl distract him like that?
“I'm not sure I can, father.” He found he still couldn't meet the general's gaze. “It's... I heard a scream.” He decided to not tell the whole truth. Not yet. “I was simply helping an innocent.”
“Really, he saved my life,” the girl interjected. “I don't know what that was, but it couldn't have been good.”
The general turned his stare on the girl. “And who are you? What were you doing out here alone?”
The girl curtsied, suddenly nervous. “My name's Damia, sir. My village is on the other side of that hill.” She pointed vaguely into the receding fog. “Really, I don't mean any harm...”
“Don't worry,” the general said. “You're safe with my army. My name is General Tsunai, and I will personally make sure you get home without harm.”
“What about the fox?” Damia asked.
“There are no animal healers in my camp, but my son can show you to the medics if you'd like.” He turned to the soldiers around the trio. Only then did Shim remember they weren't alone. “We'll stop here for the night. We can all use a little distraction.”
Damia's eyes widened at the lustful look she was receiving. Shim squeezed her automatically in protection. Then the general left, and the crowd dispersed.
“The medic is this way, Damia,” Shim directed.
“You can call me Daya, Hasheem,” she replied meekly. She stroked the fox as they walked.
“Just Shim will do,” he said. “Only soldiers use my full name.” Then he tried her name. “Die-a...”
“Not quite,” Daya giggled, relaxing. “Die-ee-a. Don't forget the 'y' as you say it.”
“Die-ee-a,” Shim said. He loved the way she laughed at his emphasis.
“It's how my little sister used to say it. She didn't know how to make the 'mm' sound.”
“You have a sister?”
Daya grew quiet. “Had a sister. She died at the start of the war.”
“Oh, I'm sorry,” Shim said.
“It's fine. I'm the one who brought her up in the first place.
A silence descended.
Around them, soldiers went about setting up camp. They had stopped on a low rise in the field. The forest continued to the south and east, but Shim only knew that from maps; the fog prevented seeing much of the surrounding terrain. Beyond the forest to the south-east was Daya's village. It was a tiny little thing, but quite self-sustaining.
Almost directly on the north, a bog bordered by a muddy river created the fog. The host had been following this river for several miles. Luckily the river changed direction once it hit the forest, leaving the mud behind. Another day's journey would bring the army out of the country and ready for battle.
“Here he is,” Shim said, nodding to the head medic. Daya jerked her head in that direction as though her mind had been elsewhere.
“This is Doc Cormac,” Shim said. “Doc, this is Daya and her fox. You... probably saw us coming in.”
A well-groomed man nodded to Daya. “Quite a stir you created, Hasheem.”
Shim snorted a laugh. “Shook me up pretty well.”
“Please, can you help this fox?” Daya asked. Her beautiful, begging eyes turned on the Doc.
“I'll see what I can do,” he said, taking the fox, “but I can't promise anything.”
Daya lit up, but only slightly. “Thank you,” she said and curtsied again.
“Thanks for your help,” Shim said. The men shook hands and then Doc Cormac left.
“Are you hungry?” Shim asked. Daya nodded meekly and the two went off to find some lunch.
Did you know? I started writing this version of CoD on September 17, 2010.