Gregory and I stood there looking at the dead corpse. After a moment of silence Gregory looked down at me. "Okay buddy.... this place is compromised so we are heading to the outskirts of the base until this battle blows over okay?" Gregory directed. I gave an obedient nod and followed him out of the tent. It was chaos outside People were running around wounded and the air was filled with screams and battle cries. I had done this many times, but even still I was terrified. I swiftly followed Gregory through the crowds. Until we finally ditched the war zone. We were secluded by some mountains and we stood by a cliff hanging above an abyss. "I...I think were safe now....Buddy...." Gregory panted sore from running a long distance. I looked up at him terrified and tired. "Morte.....buddy don't be afraid were here for you nothing bad is goanna happen.....Okay?" Gregory reassured, forcing a smile. Reluctantly I forced a smile. But as nice as that moment was, it ended swiftly. Without warning an arrow pierced Gregory's arm. He let out a load grunt and turned to look behind him. Three soldiers, two with swords and another with the bow that hurt Gregory. "DAMIT!" He shouted he turned around and yelled at me to run. The two soldiers charged toward Gregory with great speed. Though hurt Gregory charged at them. With one hand he swung against a soldier’s sword. But was hit in the side by the other. Fallen on the ground he tried to stand up, but the archer ran up and shot an arrow in Gregory's face. I being a naïve child at the time stood there and watched my protector die for me. Tears formed in my eyes and I was ready to lay down and cry. But that wasn't going to happen. As the three soldiers started charging toward me. Quickly I ran. Only now do I realize how lucky I was that the archer was out of arrows and didn't pick out any stuck in Gregory's body. Out of breath I stopped in front of the edge of a cliff. The three men stopped behind me. I looked at them terrified. This is it. I thought. "Come here child." The archer said coldly, as he stuck out his bloodied hand. I not ready to die turned around took a deep and breath and jumped down into the abyss. Screaming all the way down.
...........................................................................................
That was the beginning of the rest of my life.
I awoke several hours later, washed up on shore. A small muddied lake hidden between mountains in all directions. I slowly got up. I looked at the lake, and noticed a river leading into it. "H-hello?" I cried out, but no one was around me. So I decided to follow the river, and try and find our base. As I moved I noticed an extreme pain in my legs. "Ow..." I muttered quietly. Getting adjusted to the pain, I trudged uphill where the river was coming from. After an hour of walking however, I realized I was thirsty. So I stopped and drank from the river. It wasn't very good. "EEW!" I screamed. Like I've mentioned, at the time I was ten. I stopped drinking the water and kept going. Eventually I saw the river lead into a dark cave going through the mountain. Hesitantly I went through. I couldn't see, and was afraid of losing the river. So I walked into it. And it was freezing. Eventually river exited to a dark crevice low below the mountains. As I walked on a found a waterfall, and above it a cliff. This is where I fell. Into the river, and down into the lake. That's when fear flooded into me. Were there still, soldiers? was dad dead, Am I the reason everyone was dead? I sat down and began to cry. I sat there balling my eyes out in fear for twenty minutes before I heard a voice. "Morte? Are you okay?" it said in a soothing soft voice. I turned around, tears in my eyes. There stood Terrence standing there with a concerned face. "Terr-Terrence." I asked wiping my tears. "I'm sorry your home was destroyed, but......maybe you could live with me." Terrence asked trying to make me feel better. Through all the loneliness I had suffered, I finally had someone. He had all my trust. Terrence walked over to me at that moment. He patted me on the back with a sorry expression. Finally I looked up to him. "I can't go live with you Terrence, I need to get back to my dad up there." I said as I pointed upwards to the cliff. Terrence nodded in acceptance. "Then I'll help, come on there's a path that leads right up the camp. I smiled at that. So he ran up ahead really excited, while I limped behind. We climbed up a trail through the hills. Filled of barren grounds, and broken warfare. As we walked Terrence tried to make small talk.
"Hey! Uh.... so.... where do you live?" Terrence asked with a grin. "Well...uh.... nowhere......I and dad travel around the world, to stop the bad guys." I stuttered, still in pain. Terrence looked over at me confused. "Bad....guys?" He asked curious. I chuckled. At the time I couldn't believe it. How had he not heard of the bad guys?!? After my chuckle I finally spoke up. "Heh.....silly! Haven’t heard of the warlord? Nightmare?!?" I asked. Terrence shook his head. "Oh......so where do you live?" I asked. Terrence's grin disappeared. "Well, I used to live in a mansion with my dad, and sister, and........ but.... I'm never going back." Terrence rather nervously. I was about to ask why when Terrence pointed at something. "Look!" Terrence yelled. I looked over to see our base. We made it. However as we approached it I realized something. Most of tents were desolate and barley standing. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I sprinted looking for anyone that could have been left. Running to every pile of shattered cloth, looking for anyone. No one was there. I stopped, giving up. Terrence walked over. "I'm.....sorry....." Terrence apologised. I sat down. "It’s........not your fault dad's gone....." I whispered. Terrence once again showing his token sympathetic face, spoke to me. "Hey Morte, if you want I could, uh, put the whole "treehouse" thing on hold and, help you find your dad." I stood up. Tears forming in my eyes. "Okay...” I replied.
The wind picked up then. Our hair blowing in the wind. "Maybe if we search the camp again." Terrence suggested. Slowly I nodded in agreement again. We started our search of the remnants of the camp. I came across a large tent in the center of the camp. It was mostly still intact. I walked inside and saw scattered objects everywhere. In the middle of the tent, was a table flipped over to its side. That's around the time I recognised this place. This is where I was when we were attacked. I can still remember Dad and his men looking and planning around that table. Terrence walked in the tent right behind me. That's when Terrence gasped. I looked over to him and saw his horrified face, as he pointed to something to the ground. I looked over to see what he was pointing at. The dead body of the solider we encountered. I stepped back in disgust. "Is.....is he...?" Terrence gasped. I nodded slowly. "Yes." I replied. His face twisted in disgust. And swiftly sprinted out of tent. Staring at the corpse I remembered what Gregory did for me. He was dad's best friend, and did the unthinkable for him. This really was all my fault. I wandered off from camp, and was followed back by the enemy. I ruined everyone's plans. I remember standing there until a thought entered my mind. Plans. Plans! I ran over to the table and found what I was looking for. On the ground was a map. I grabbed it and ran outside. "Terrence!" I yelled in excitement. He was sitting by the tent, still a bit scarred from the corpse. "...yeah?" Terrence asked. I thrust the map in his face. His eyes literally lit up from seeing it. "Oh cool! Are we going on a treasure hunt?!?" Terrence yelled happily.
I smiled. "Pretty close! I remember my dad talking about hiding out at a mansion, and that mansion is on this map!" I explained quickly, while jumping at the same time. Terrence's smile faded. He stared at me sadly. "You don't want to go there..." Terrence answered. I gave him a puzzled look. "Why not?" I asked. Terrence looked away and sighed. "Because, they don't like normal folk." Terrence sighed. "What? Oh come on, if we just explain to them." I argued. Terrence glared at me. "No! They don't except Peasants! They barley accepted me!!! I'm never going back!" Terrence yelled angrily. Silence flowed between us an s the wind picked up. I looked at Terrence, determined not to lose this argument. "Terrence....please, I miss my dad, and you promised me you'll help me find him." I pleaded. Terrence glared at me. But eventually sighed and smiled. "A promise is a promise." Terrence sighed. I started jumping up and down again excited. " Yes! I'm coming home dad!" I yelled excitedly. Terrence smiled. "Me too dad." He mumbled. Terrence quickly walked over to me, and we started walking. "Okay so the map says we head north." I proclaimed. Terrence nodded. "So the way were heading now.....is north....right?" Terrence asked. ".....yes." I replied. We walked for a long amount of time towards a mountain. "Well I guess this the mountains, beyond this point is a valley, and then the mansion." I explained. Terrence groaned. "That’s such a long walk though...." He complained. I had felt bad for him. "We could climb the mountain instead of walking around it." I offered. I looked over and saw Terrence staring at some boulders. "Uh Terrence?" I asked concerned. "There." he murmured.
He pointed at the boulders, slightly slanted against the beginning of the slope up. I stood there confused. Terrence walked over and to the boulders. He looked toward me and smiled. "I can sense it." He laughed. Dumbfounded I gave him a thumbs up. "Good job." I murmured. This kid was strange. His smile disappeared as he took a deep breath. His eyes going full black. He turned around and lifted his hand. The boulders lifted up slowly. He then put his hand down as the boulders were sent flying into the air. Left in the wake was an entrance to a cave. "Whoa!" I shouted. "Through here is a straight path through the mountain." Terrence explained, now looking normal again.
"How did you do that?!?" I shouted. Terrence shrugged grudgingly and walked into the cave. Swiftly I followed suit. As I entered I was met with a surprise. The cave was filled with crystals growing out of everywhere. Their glow filling the dark space up with a mystical glow. Compared to the wasteland, that was the rest of the world. It was beautiful. I saw Terrence up ahead and bolted after him. As I approached Terrence I felt enwrapped in the beautiful purple glow of the cave. The purple glow reflecting onto the two of us. "You’re pretty slow." Terrence laughed. I chuckled at the thought too. "Well sorry I was a little amazed." I giggled. Terrence looked back at me, as he climbed over a rock that obstructed the path. "Amazed by what?" He asked, as he arrived at the other side of the rock. I climbed up the rock and looked into the distance. Staring at the brightest crystal yet. "Everything." I replied. I climbed down the rock and hastily followed him. He nodded and smiled. "Neat." He spoke. Soon we could both see a light in the distance. Though not with a purple glow. It was the exit to the cave. Finally I had to get something off my little ten year old mind. "So....how do that thing....with your eyes?" I asked. Terrence stopped walking abruptly. I followed suit. "You’re my friend......right?" Terrence asked sternly. I nodded. "Yes." I agreed. And I spoke with conviction.
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