Falling with folded wing.., p.70
Falling with Folded Wings: A LitRPG Progression Fantasy, page 70
“Of course, they will,” Issa said. “Magister Karn wouldn’t send you someplace sinister, don’t worry!”
“I suppose not.” Olivia mustered another smile. They spent another thirty minutes or so speculating about what the academy would be like, then they talked about all their plans and the plans for the colony. Finally, out of topics, Olivia stood up. “I’m going to get going. Don’t make a big deal; just give me a quick hug, then I’m going to use this token.” She held up the silvery coin-shaped token. Issa was first to comply, standing up and giving Olivia another squeeze, then she stepped away. Morgan followed suit, and Olivia was surprised at just how big he was; she could barely reach her arms around his chest, and it was like hugging a tree trunk. He stood off to the side with Issa, and then Bronwyn came over and hugged her.
While still large and strong, Bronwyn was softer than Morgan, and she held Olivia more fiercely. Olivia could feel tears coming into her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, shoving her face into Bronwyn’s thick red hair. Finally, Bronwyn stepped back, holding her at arm’s length, and Olivia could see she wasn’t the only one fighting tears. She forced a smile, then said, “I’ll be back before you know it. Stay safe!”
Bronwyn started to speak, but her voice betrayed her, and she pulled Olivia close again, squeezing her. Finally, she muttered softly in Olivia’s ear, “Remember what I said about anyone messing with you!” Bronwyn sniffed and backed up a step. Olivia sent a trickle of Energy into her teleportation token, and the world went dark.
Reggie ran. He ran, and he ran. He’d been running all night, and when the sun came up, he was still running. As soon as he’d recovered from that bitch’s spell, he’d left out the south gate, and he hadn’t stopped running since. He’d turned a bit to the west in the dark; he could tell by the sunrise, and he found himself in some foothills leading up from the thick woods surrounding the colony. He figured they were the hills where some colonists had found caves with black powder ingredients and iron.
He was exhausted, and he started to look for a place to rest. An hour or so after dawn, he saw a dark spot on a hillside, and he started clambering up the scree toward it. Hands bloodied from the effort, he finally pulled himself into the narrow cave. Inside, the cave floor had a steep downward angle, and he carefully started climbing in. He had just gotten his feet out of the open when he felt the ground crumble a bit under his hands, and he began to slide, head-first, down the rough slope. He cried out in alarm, but just as suddenly as his slide had started, it stopped, and he found himself wedged tightly into a dark tunnel.
Panic entered Reggie’s mind as he tried to inch forward or backward, and he found he couldn’t move. He writhed side to side but barely managed to turn an inch in either direction and when he did so, he only seemed to wedge himself tighter. He screamed, suddenly without a rational thought in his mind, and jerked his body in every direction he could think of. It was fruitless, and he soon found himself completely exhausted and stuck tighter than ever. He racked his brain for any sort of solution, but nothing came to him, and after more fruitless grunting and struggling, he finally passed out in exhaustion.
A tickling at his outstretched fingertips woke him. “Is someone down there? Help!” His words croaked out of his dry throat, and then suddenly, the tickling became a searing pain as something bit into his flesh. He screamed again, his vocal cords straining at his panicked agony. More bites on his hands raised the register of his scream several octaves, and then something tickled his beard hairs, and a savage bite ripped away his lower lip.
Distantly, Thun felt his connection to the human, Reggie, fade away. It didn’t concern him; the fool had served his purpose, allowing him to do a favor for the Overclaw in exchange for the shrike’s heart. His mouth watered at the thought of the artifact; every cell in his body yearned for him to consume it. “Soon enough, soon enough,” he whispered to himself as he made his way through the pass. First, he had to cross the mountain, then he had to traverse the frost grove, and then, only after he’d gotten the Lady’s blessing would he eat the heart and push his race to the next tier. Perhaps in a few years, he’d make his way back south to see what the humans had accomplished with their victory. Their tenacity and cleverness had impressed him; might be he’d find a much better student in their midst.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Plum Parrot is the pen name of author Miles Gallup, who grew up in Southern Arizona and spent much of his youth wandering around the Sonoran Desert, hunting imaginary monsters and building forts. He studied creative writing at the University of Arizona and, for a number of years, attempted to teach middle schoolers to love literature and write their own stories. If he’s not out enjoying the beach, you can find Gallup writing, reading his favorite authors, or playing D&D with friends and family.
Plum Parrot, Falling with Folded Wings: A LitRPG Progression Fantasy
