The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone

by Natasha D Lane

  Growls came from behind Sarah. She spun around, her back now against the boulder. Still she tried to get as far from the wolves as possible and pressed herself close to the large rock. She took in a shuddering breath.

  “Leave me alone. Get away from me.” Her words came out in coughs and wheezes. The wolves showed their teeth and the red-headed girl sent up one silent prayer knowing she had nowhere to run now.

  “Thought we’d never catch her,” said one wolf. “Especially, after her little magic trick.”

  The other wolf laughed. “Me too, but she's only an earth human after all. We could out run her even if she had Hermes shoes.” They both laughed simultaneously.

  Sarah's mind did a flip. Her rapid breathing grew faster, and she moved her hands against the cool well stone to stop from hyperventilating. “You...You can talk?”

  “We’re not earth wolves, Child. They don’t hunt your kind. We, on the other hand, love the taste of human flesh.” A wolf licked its lips.

  “Let’s not waste time talking. Kill her and get the stone,” said another wolf with a snarl. “I’m getting hungry.” His eyes drifted over Sarah.

  “Please.” Sarah was trembling. “I...I’m scared. You don’t wanna eat me. I’m too skinny anyway, no meat.”

  The first wolf that had spoken and appeared to be the leader stepped closer to Sarah. “You’re scared?” He raised his nose to the air and inhaled. A satisfying smile spread across his face. “Shame, shame, can’t control your fear? That’s good; it only makes the meat taste better.” He snarled and barred his teeth.

  “Please, don’t,” she said with her last bit of breath and closed her eyes.

  “Say goodbye, Sarafina of Earth.” The wolf launched itself at her.

  Heat erupted beside her, and Sarah’s eyes snapped open. A dazzling show of bright flames spiraled at her side. A long, blue scaly neck with eyes that punctured the night appeared from behind the boulder. The wolves stumbled backward looking between Sarah and the large rock.

  The boulder stood from the ground, and beneath were four reptilian legs with claws. The wolves howled and took one last stand against the reptile. It roared, and they withdrew into the darkness.

  Sarah couldn't move. She stared out into the shadow of the forest, not sure what had happened.

  The dragon watched the wolves run, gave a satisfied nod and turned to the child beside her. “Hello, my name is –”

  Sarah’s legs were like a broken motor that had suddenly started to work again. She screamed and ran away as the dragon stood, green moss dripping off its back.

  “Wait, Sarafina. I'm here to help you,” the dragon said, but she kept running. Her dress was torn, and her body was smudged with dirt. Scratches and bruises lined her limbs. Her ankle was bleeding. Still, the wounds were much preferred to being swallowed by an oversized lizard.

  Her heartbeat was irregular, played by a bad drummer. Every fiber in her body was focused on one thing: escaping. There was a loud growl, and though the beast was a mile or so behind her, paranoia made Sarah glance back.

  There was nothing there. The lizard hadn’t followed her. She took in a big gulp of air and slowed to a jog. Then, something grabbed her arm, and she was pulled to the side.

  “Let go of me!” Sarah pulled away. Whatever it was had her in a strong grip.

  “Are you okay?” a voice said. “Hey, look at me. Your eyes are closed. Open your eyes.”

  She shook her head.

  “It’s all right,” the voice said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  She was hesitant, no, she was terrified but there was no use standing around with her eyes shut.

  “I’m not going to hurt you. Look at me.”

  Sarah opened her eyes one at a time. A boy around her age with dark, short, shaggy hair had his hands on her shoulders. He was taller than Sarah but not a giant. He had long lashes that curtained hazel brown eyes. He was cute...cute and covered in mud.

  Sarah wrenched her arm back and tried to catch her breath. Her mouth was dry from the running, and her stomach growled for food.

  “Hey, I said are you all right? Can you hear me?” He repeated.

  “I can hear you fine,” Sarah said with a tremor in her voice. She eyed him.

  The boy nodded and took a few steps back. “I’m sorry,” she said, noting his retreat. “I'm a little shaken up.”

  “I can see that. You look like you just saw a ghost and the body.”

  Her stomach hurt. “Please don't say that. I don’t want that to be next.”

  “What?” he asked.

  Sarah shook her head. “Nothing.”

  The boy stared into the forest. “What was after you?”

  She didn’t respond. Instead, she fell to the ground and sat, legs stretched out with a satisfied sigh. She was able to breathe in peace. The boy took a seat beside her.

  “My name is Jacob by the way. I live over on the next clearing at the Jones’s abandoned place, closer to the mountains. Are you going to tell me what you were running from?”

  She looked at him. “If I tell you, you’re going to think I’m wrong in the head.”

  He shrugged. “Try me.”

  Sarah had finally steadied herself when her mind begun to race for a lie. He watched her, waiting for a response. Her face warmed, and her eyes shot down to her dirty shoes and clothes, becoming aware of them in his presence.

  “Well,” she laughed nervously, “it was...it was...a chicken!”

  He smiled a smile that was both confused and amused. “You were running from a chicken?”

  “Uh...yes.” She stood up. “One of my family’s chickens had escaped. It ...uh it was the rooster, actually, and you know it’s bad to lose the rooster. I mean without it how are we going to get more chickens, right? And if we don't get more chickens...well...”

  He raised a hand to stop her. “I think I get it. But, why were you running from –”

  “I mean I was chasing it,” she corrected. “I was chasing the chicken.”

  He raised a brow. “Rooster?”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed. “I was chasing the rooster, not chickens or any silly thing like that.” She tried to dust her clothes off, her eyes locked again on her shoes.

  “You’re a horrible liar, ya know that? Entertaining though.” He laughed and gave her a pat on the back. She flinched but managed to cover it with a smile.

  “Well, what about you? What are you doing out here...covered in mud?” Sarah glanced up at him. He was still smiling at her, so she looked away.

  “Well, I saw a stray horse. Thought it might belong to one of my neighbors and came running after it.”

  “You saw Nelly!”

  “I guess that means she was yours. For a farm horse she’s pretty fast. Sorry, I didn't catch her. We can still go –”

  The sun peaked over the mountains, and the forest was illuminated. It was time for breakfast.

  “I can’t,” Sarah said. “I have to get back before my parents wake up. I gotta go.” With those last words, she ran back to her house.

  Sarah waited for her mother’s fury. She had managed to sneak back in with the stone still in her pocket and without her parents noticing. But Nelly was still missing. She pushed the eggs around on her plate, doing more poking than eating.

  “Sarah?” her mother said.

  She gulped and prepared herself for a losing battle. “Yes, Mama?”

  “Did you take the horse this morning?”

  Sarah took a deep inhale. “Yes. I'm sorr –”

  “Thank you.” Her mother smiled.

  “What?” Sarah asked, her fork dropping to her plate.

  “The horse,” her father said, “I think it got spooked sometime in the night. I guess the wind was blowing a little hard. I wanted to go check on her. Seems like you calmed her down.”

  Sarah gave them a shaky smile, and her stomach knotted up. “I did,” she lied. “I didn't want you to have to get up so, I...uh I took care of it myself...”

&nb
sp; “It was kind of you. I still don't want you running around with that wolf out.” Her father finished off his last bit of bacon and looked her in the eyes.

  Sarah cleared her throat. “May I go check on Nelly now?”

  “After you’ve finished breakfast,” her parents said in unison.

  She stuffed the last strips of bacon in her mouth and scooped up all her eggs.

  “Thank you,” she said with a full mouth. She jumped from her chair and ran to the stables. Nelly was resting in a pile of hay. The horse neighed and trotted toward Sarah. She patted Nelly’s nose, the two friends relieved to see each other. Sarah was glad she had escaped her mother’s wrath. Her problems had been solved, but there was still a question to be answered. Who had brought Nelly back?

  Chapter 4

  There was black fur everywhere. Yellow eyes peered at her from within the shadows. The wolves showed their bloodstained teeth and Sarah realized she was the last one standing. She had lost. The stone radiated in her pocket, but she was not strong enough. The wolves leapt. She screamed, and their howls of pleasure broke through the night sky.

  It was a warm morning and Sarah found herself wishing for summer as she walked to the bus stop. It wasn’t just that she had been kept up by nightmares. Sarah hated school though not like most kids. It was more than a simple dislike for teachers and their boring lectures. No, she had a solid, strong, smothering hate for the institution. Dozens of cruel teenagers in an enclosed space never had any good results.

  She took the dirt path that lead through the forest to a point on the main road. From there she would have to walk a mile to the bus stop. That left her enough time to think about her dream and what it could mean for her.

  Sarah stared at her shoes while she walked. That was such an odd dream, but it felt so real. And those wolves...they were back again. Even the stone was there but I...I still lost. Why were we fighting anyway?

  A shiver ran through Sarah. She looked around. Living in a small town there wasn’t much traffic, so the road was deserted. The stone was in her right coat pocket, and Sarah allowed her fingers to glide over its smooth surface. She looked around once more before pulling the stone out. She took in all its brilliant colors and the shining glow that came off it.

  Sarah pressed the stone to her cheek. “I’m not sure where you came from, but I’m glad you’re here. You’re so –”

  The wind picked up, and Sarah’s hair danced around her. Strong sensations ran through her body, and her eyes grew wide from the intense feeling. She could smell the fresh soil for planting season, sense the sun’s summer heat on her back, feel a warm spring breeze on her face, and taste lake water in her mouth all at once. For a moment, Sarah felt like she was transported somewhere else. Then, suddenly all the feelings faded, and she was again standing on the dirt road.

  Sarah was momentarily stunned, and she had to steady herself as everything came crashing back into focus. She stared at the stone. “What sort of stone are you?”

  The school bus zoomed by, covering Sarah in dirt. She pushed the stone back in her pocket and ran after the bus, waving her arms wildly.

  “Stop,” she screamed. “Stop the bus!”

  The children pressed their faces against the glass and stuck their tongues out at Sarah. The bus sped off, out of her reach. Sarah cleared her throat as the dust finally began to settle. She glanced down at her dress. Her mother had made it for the first day of school, and now it was ruined.

  “I’m not going to make it to age fifteen,” Sarah whispered and started patting dirt out of the clothing.

  “Hey,” said a voice. Jacob ran up beside Sarah. His attention immediately fell to her dress. “You missed the bus, too, huh?”

  Her eyes diverted forward. “Yes, it just left.”

  “Well, that’s all right,” he said. “We can walk together. Only a mile or so, right?”

  Sarah nodded and continued to stare down the dirt road. She could feel Jacob watching her. He leaned his head down and tried to look at her face. Sarah turned away.

  “You can look at me, you know? I’m not that ugly.”

  She snapped her neck to face him and shook her head. “No, that’s not why I...I’m not used to people, I guess.”

  He nodded. “Well, hopefully you can get used to me. You seemed fine with me the other night.”

  She didn’t respond. They walked in silence for a while.

  “So, are you ever going to tell me what was chasing you?”

  She staggered a few steps while her mind raced for a response.

  “Uh...It’s kind of hard to believe that night was real.” She thought back to the wolves and the dragon hiding in the forest. Had she imagined it all? Was she imaging the stone in her pocket?

  “Why is that?” he asked.

  She shook her head. He would think she was crazy like everyone else. Instead, she said, “I should apologize for that day. I didn’t mean to run off all of a sudden. It was rude. Thank you for helping me and bringing Nelly back.”

  He shrugged and smiled. “That’s what neighbors do for each other. Now you can help introduce me to everyone at school.”

  “I don’t think I’d be much help,” she said moving her eyes forward again.

  His eyes stayed on her. She stumbled for an answer. “I...the kids at school don’t like me much. If you wanna get to know people, you may have to talk to someone else. I’m usually alone during the school days.”

  “Well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore,” he said. “We can be friends, and we can walk to and from school every day if you’d like.”

  The words didn’t seem right at first. Sarah had given up the thought of having friends a long time ago. Being the town crazy and poor didn’t make her a prime choice for a pal. All the friends Sarah had were in her head, but she couldn’t play with them or she would end up like –

  “Hey?” Jacob’s voice grabbed her from her thoughts. “You hear me?”

  “I’m sorry, my mind wandered. What was your question?”

  “I asked you what your name was. You didn’t tell me the other night.”

  “I didn’t? It’s Sarah. I’m sorry about that, too.”

  “What grade are you going to be in this year?” he asked.

  “Eighth,” she said.

  “I’m two years ahead of you then.”

  Sarah nodded with a blush. She was walking to school with an older boy. “I guess I should have asked you that. I’m not good with conversation. Neighbors should be friendlier to each other.”

  Jacob waved his hand. “It’s fine. Chasing roosters can really be scary, right?” He smirked, his eyes wide with expectation.

  She giggled. “Yup, those roosters.”

  “I guess I’ll never get the truth from you.” He held his sides as they shook from laughter, his head turned to the sky.

  Watching him laugh so heartedly, Sarah could feel her own mouth begin to tug. It’s a known rule that smiles can’t be hidden despite all efforts. Even the most evil of villains when pleased cannot fight off an infectious grin. This rule applied to Sarah as well. She bit her lips and clenched her fists, but it spread across her face like a horizon across the sea.

  Jacob grabbed her hand. “Now that’s what I was hoping to see.”

  Her face turned as red as her hair. His hazel eyes sent tremors through her body and the butterflies in her stomach were flapping full force. The sun was like a halo behind his head, casting a brilliant light over him. He continued to hold her hand in his and Sarah found herself grabbing onto his hand as well.

  “Sarah,” he said in the most calming voice, “I’m glad to be your friend.”

  Her mouth was dry and she swore her tongue had swollen. She managed to say, “I’m glad to be yours, too.”

  The screaming sound of children punctured the moment. Both Sarah and Jacob looked to their right, realizing they had finally made it to the schoolhouse.

  Jacob loosened his grip on her hand, but Sarah was the one to pull away. She sm
iled her apology. The last thing she needed was more talk about her in the town.

  Jacob allowed her hand to slip from his, but he gave her shoulder a squeeze as they walked side-by-side into the big white schoolhouse. As the doors came into view, Sarah could feel her chest tighten. She prepared for the onslaught, the nasty whispers and taunting giggles. To her surprise, it never came. All eyes were on Jacob. She looked at the shocked expressions of her peers as they waited for Jacob’s next move. It was a small town and a new resident was something to be noted.

  Jacob grinned at Sarah. She could feel her face growing hot again. He rested his tan hands on her shoulder. “You wanna show me to the office so I can get my class schedule?”

  Her hands were clammy as she gripped her book bag, “Uh...sure, if you want me to...I can.”

  His eyes glowed. “Okay, lead the way.”

  When they were a good ways down the hall, away from all the prying eyes, she took a good, long breath.

  “Those kids bother you?” he asked.

  Sarah flinched but kept her eyes off him. Her clammy hands became like lobster claws around her book bag straps. With what response did he expect her to answer that question?

  He looked at her. “Soon as we came through the doors you seemed all rattled up.”

  She turned away and took another good, long breath. “You’re new. There’s a lot you don’t know.”

  “Then, you should tell me. We’ll still be friends,” he said stopping in front of the office door.

  Sarah thought about that for a minute. What if she did tell him...everything? About the things she had seen or heard? What would happen then? She took a brave look into his eyes. They seemed sincere. Still...

  “I gotta go, Jacob.”

  Before he could say another word, she had turned down the hall.

  Sarah sat alone at her wooden desk in the back of class while the other children whispered about her. It was like Jacob had been some sort of shield and now with him gone, her peers remembered who she was and would give her no mercy. The giggles, the sneers, the stares and pointing all aimed at her. Sarah wished she could sink into her desk and disappear.