chronicles of eden - act I

by Alexander Gordon

  "Alyssa? What’s wrong?" Daniel asked.

  "It's Lucky, he ran off. Something spooked him, I can't find him!" she cried out. Daniel looked at her with surprise while Triska growled loudly at the witch.

  "What do you mean he ran off?" Daniel asked looking out at the rolling plains behind the carriage. Alyssa looked back out the opening, her eyes franticly searching the surrounding area as she was breathing shakily, then over to Daniel as she shook her head.

  "I mean he just ran off. I found a nice spot of grass for him, and he started eating, then he took off crying out with fright. I didn't see anything around but he kept running. I lost him over the hill, I can't find him anywhere!" she cried out.

  "Bullshit! You weren't gone that long; he couldn't have run that far off!" Triska yelled out.

  "I'm telling you he's gone! I looked all around from a nearby hill, I couldn't see him anywhere! I don't know how but he's just gone, you've got to help me find him!" Alyssa franticly pleaded with tears starting to form. Daniel nodded then started to get up while Triska clenched her fists with fury.

  ‘That goddamned… little… ARG!’

  "We'll help you, Alyssa. C'mon, Triska, we need that horse to get to the city," Daniel called out as he and Alyssa jumped off the carriage. Triska grabbed her sword then jumped out as well, keeping her glare locked onto the witch.

  "I was over there with him before he just ran off," Alyssa said, pointing to the base of a nearby hill. Daniel nodded and the two started running over to it. Triska growled loudly as she kept her sword in her hand, feeling her anger rise even more for the witch. Alyssa turned back to the girl with a small glare and a smirk, pointing her staff towards the carriage.

  "Triska, I'll trust you to watch over the carriage while we look for him," she called out. Triska shook her head then yelled out at the witch with fury.

  "What? Like bloody hell I'm staying here when-"

  "You have to, please! What if he comes back when we're gone, or bandits come by and nobody's here to keep them from taking Daniel’s things? We can't all go out there," Alyssa said, shaking her head with a concerned expression.

  "No way, Alyssa, you're not leaving me alone here while you take Daniel off on some goddamned wild goose chase!" Triska yelled out while pointing her sword at the witch.

  "Horse. It's a wild horse chase, and yes you need to stay here. I need to get my horse back and I need help to find him. You're good with a sword so you can defend the carriage from bandits if need be. Besides, if anybody can calm Lucky down the best it's me, if you two go out there he might not listen if he's really scared of something," Alyssa said with urgency.

  "You think I'm just going to fall for this crap? You're not fooling me, Alyssa," Triska threatened with narrowed eyes.

  "What are you talking about? I'm not trying to fool anybody," Alyssa defended with.

  "Triska, just watch the carriage, we'll be right back," Daniel called out.

  "But, Daniel!" Triska pleaded while shaking her head franticly.

  "Don't worry, we'll find him. You already had to chase him down before; I'm not going to ask you to do it again. Just sit tight and keep an eye out for him in case he comes back," he said reassuringly. Alyssa nodded at the girl then looked to Daniel with worry.

  "C'mon, let's get going before he runs too far off," she said quickly. They ran off towards the hill while Triska watched with disbelief. She shook her head as she glared at the witch, watching Daniel and the monster run to the top of the hill.

  "No way… no way are you pulling this shit, Alyssa," Triska said with anger. She growled then took off after them with her sword held tightly in her hand.

  Daniel and Alyssa looked around franticly while atop the hill, searching for any sign of the missing horse. Alyssa glanced behind her and smirked as Daniel just blinked and scratched his head while watching something.

  "Um… there he is," he stated as he pointed down towards the base of the hill. Lucky was seen clear as day grazing calmly while a gentle breeze rolled by, the tall grass he was eating swaying slightly. Alyssa looked over to her horse and giggled while hopping up and down playfully.

  "Yay, you found him! I don't know how he escaped my eye like that, I couldn't see him anywhere. Thank you, Daniel," she said sweetly. Daniel chuckled as the witch hugged him gently, her eyes glancing to the side behind them with a sly grin.

  "No problem, I guess. You had us worried there," he said with a shrug. Alyssa smiled happily as she started walking towards the horse.

  "I'll just go get him and bring him back to the carriage. Wait here, Daniel," she said simply. After taking two steps she then looked back to see Triska racing over the hill at her with fire in her eyes.

  "Alyssa!" Triska yelled out, swinging her blade towards the witch. Alyssa gasped and darted to the side, then back as Triska swung again and again at her.

  "Triska, what are you doing?" she cried out as she darted around while the teen swiped at her furiously. Triska spun around and swung at Alyssa again, just missing the witch's hat in the process. Daniel watched with surprise as Alyssa stumbled to the side then rolled onto the grass, with Triska striking her blade into the ground next to her. The teen yelled out as she swiped her sword back up, sending dirt and grass flying into the air, and then swung around towards the witch again.

  "Triska, stop!" Daniel cried out. Triska halted and stared with surprise as Alyssa was just watching her with wide eyes, lying on the ground with her staff in her hand. Triska looked at her puzzled, her blade being held above the witch who was just staring at her.

  ‘She's… not fending me off?’

  "What are you doing? Put your sword away right now!" Daniel yelled out as he ran over to them. Alyssa scooted back while still staring at Triska with fear.

  "But… she was going to…" Triska said shaking her head. Lucky let out a small neigh, the teen looking over with surprise to seeing the horse trotting over towards a different patch of grass near the base of the hill.

  "She was just going to go get Lucky; she wasn't doing anything wrong, Triska. Why would you try to kill her like that?" Daniel demanded. Triska looked at the horse with surprise then over to see Alyssa sitting up while breathing heavily. The teen looked at her carefully then to the staff.

  ‘She could have easily pushed me away… why did she just roll around on the grass like that?’

  "But… Daniel…" Triska said looking to her friend. He kneeled down by Alyssa, the witch instantly jumping over and holding him tightly while burying her face into his shirt.

  "What did I do wrong, Daniel? I was behaving, I really was," she whined as she started to cry. Daniel held her close then looked to Triska with anger.

  "Why did you attack her, Triska? She didn't do anything to provoke you," he said sternly.

  "But… she was just using the horse to lure you away from me, I saw her look at me-" Triska started before Alyssa started crying louder.

  "She almost hit me that time, what did I do wrong?" she sobbed while shaking her head. Daniel held her with worried eyes while Triska watched the witch cry with puzzlement.

  "You didn't do anything wrong, Alyssa, it was she that acted harshly," Daniel said looking to his friend with a small glare. Triska jumped bit and shook her head.

  "No… you don't understand, Daniel, I was just trying to protect you-"

  "From what? I told you she was controlling herself, Triska, she did nothing to warrant you attacking her like that. She just brought me up here to help find Lucky. That was it. And we did, he's right down there. She was going to go get him while I waited here, she wasn't doing anything wrong," Daniel said sternly. Triska looked to the horse that was slowly walking up towards them then to the witch. Alyssa let out another sob then looked to Daniel with teary eyes.

  "I'm sorry, Daniel, did I misbehave again? Was I being bad?" she asked worriedly. He shook his head and smiled gently at the girl.

  "No, not at all. You didn't do anything wrong. I promise," he assured. She nodded as Daniel held her cl
ose then looked to Triska, showing a timid and worried expression. Triska looked at her with disbelief then to Lucky as the horse walked up to them. As Lucky got closer Alyssa sniffled then slowly stood up.

  "I'll go get Lucky ready to ride again. I'm sorry for troubling you like that, Daniel, I just wanted to find him," she whimpered before walking off with the horse, crying a bit as she held her staff down low. Daniel watched her head towards the carriage then looked to Triska with discontent.

  "But… Daniel, I swear she was up to something, she just wanted to interrupt-" Triska started before Daniel held up his hand to silence her.

  "Enough of this, Triska. I know what she tried before, but she's not doing that anymore. She's trying to be our friend; she's fighting her nature to help us. You need to give her a chance, that's what we're out here to do, remember? We won't make allies with monsters if you keep trying to attack them at every turn," he said sternly. Triska looked at him with concern and shook her head.

  "But, Daniel…" she said quietly. He looked down with closed eyes and sighed.

  "I'm going to go make sure she's ok, you really scared her, Triska," he said before he started walking towards the carriage. Triska looked at him with sorrow then over to the witch and horse. Alyssa was getting Lucky hitched up again while the horse neighed slightly. Triska looked at the witch then down to the ground with a bewildered expression. Slowly she glanced around then back towards Daniel as he made his way towards the carriage.

  ‘Wait…’

  She jumped a bit then growled loudly.

  ‘Dammit! Of course, no wonder she didn't fight back. She set me up!’

  She trembled with fury then glared over at the witch.

  ‘She wanted me to look like the monster, that's why she let me get close like that. God dammit! Now Daniel thinks I'm… and he thinks she's…’

  She clenched her fists and growled through bared teeth as she watched Alyssa hop off the carriage with a saddened expression. Daniel walked over and said something to her, the witch nodding then hugging him tightly. As he held her Alyssa looked to Triska, waving slightly with her hand behind his back. Triska felt her anger boil over as she watched the witch wave at her with a smug demeanor.

  ‘She just had the horse wait around the hill and acted innocent with him to lure him into her web. She knew I would attack her… dammit, how could I be so blind? Daniel even read the description for witches loud and clear before, they're known to be deceptive and misleading. She's not going to use magic to charm Daniel; she's going to use trickery to push him away from me.’

  She narrowed her eyes at the witch while sliding her sword back into its sheath, drumming her fingers gently on the handle before lowering her hand.

  "Fine, Alyssa. You want to play dirty? We'll play dirty," she threatened as she walked towards the carriage.

  *****

  Lucky was once again running down the dirt road with the white top carriage in tow behind him, moving steadily along while the sun was high up in the sky above. In the back of the carriage Daniel was leaning back against his backpack and looking through his book of monsters. The carriage rocked a bit as it traveled towards the city of Ashwood, the boy calmly turning the page and rereading what he had written down so far. Across from him Triska was leaning back against her duffel bag, having her sword sheathed behind while holding her dagger. She tilted the blade around as it reflected the light coming from the back of the carriage, seeming to be deep in thought as she had remained quiet after climbing back into the ride earlier. After a while she glanced to her friend who hadn't really said a word since they continued their journey then over to Alyssa, the witch sitting near the front of the small carriage and looking at her with a dull glare. Triska narrowed her eyes then looked back to her dagger as she tilted it in the light.

  "Why are you even coming with us?" Alyssa asked flatly. Triska growled quietly then glared over at the witch.

  "I mean you're not very nice to monsters of any kind, you don't seem to trust anyone. If Daniel really is trying to make allies with others out there you're only going to get in his way. Besides, you can't really protect him, you and your sword are worthless," Alyssa pointed out.

  "I'm not nice to monsters that try to steal him away for their own twisted desires, Alyssa. And I will protect him, that's the reason I'm out here with him," Triska corrected with sternly. Daniel merely shook his head as he heard the girls once again starting a fight. Alyssa smirked then looked to Daniel.

  "I don't think wanting to be with Daniel is twisted. After all, what girl wouldn't want to be his mate?" she inquired innocently. Daniel glanced to her as she winked at him. He smiled slightly then returned to his book. Triska glanced between the two then looked down, slowly sheathing her dagger. Silence filled the carriage as she just looked down at the floor with a calm gaze.

  "Say, Daniel…" Alyssa said sweetly as she crawled slowly over to him. He glanced to her with a bit of worry as she smiled innocently at him.

  "Can I sit with you and see that book again? Please?" she asked hopefully. He blinked then glanced back to his book.

  "Well… I guess so, sure," he said with a shrug. Alyssa giggled then jumped over, quickly sliding under his arm and sitting next to him with a giddy smile. Nuzzling close to him she looked at the book with bright eyes while Daniel chuckled amusedly. Triska looked to them with worry then glanced away again, slowly drumming her fingers on her dagger’s handle.

  "Wow… you wrote a lot about monsters, Daniel, you're so smart," Alyssa commented while turning the page.

  "Well… I just put together what I could with all the books from our village. You're the first monster I've actually gotten to know personally, the first of many that will hopefully be friendly with us," he said looking at the book with a calm smile. Alyssa nodded then glanced to Triska, shooting her a sly smile quickly before returning back to the book. Triska looked at her with frustration then down with concern as her eyes darted around slightly in thought.

  "Hopefully this will come in handy out in the world when we meet them, and I'll also be able to add new entries with monsters that haven't been seen before. I'll be able to write down which monsters are capable of peace and which ones… aren't," Daniel said before turning the page. Alyssa looked at the book then to him with gentle eyes.

  "I'll protect you from them if they don't listen to reason, Daniel, I promise," she said softly. He chuckled and nodded.

  "Thank you, Alyssa. It does make me feel better knowing you're here on our side," he said with a calm smile. Triska looked away then down, bringing her legs up to her chest as she held them with her arms. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling her heart ache from his words.

  "Daniel…" she said softly. Daniel and Alyssa looked to see Triska holding her arms around her tightly while shaking her head slightly.

  "You still want me to come with you, don't you?" she asked. Glancing back to him with worried eyes she brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.

  "Of course, Triska, why wouldn't I?" Daniel asked worriedly. Alyssa glared at the girl while she held onto Daniel's arm gently.

  "You don't think I'm… worthless do you?" Triska asked softly. Daniel shook his head as he set the book down.

  "No, not at all," he reassured.

  "I think she is," Alyssa said flatly with a dull expression.

  "Alyssa, stop that already, I've already told you to treat her with respect. She's my good friend, I trust my life with her," Daniel said looking to the witch. She glanced up to him with worried eyes then over to Triska with a dull glare.

  "All she does is yell at us, and her sword hasn't exactly been useful so far," she pointed out with discontent. Triska looked down for a moment then to Daniel with a gentle smile.

  "I trust my life with you too, Daniel, I really do. So… if you say we can trust her, then I'll do just that," she said, then took her sword and sheath out from around her back and set it down on the floor. Daniel and Alyssa watched as Triska took out the dagger and dropped it next
to the sword, the girl then looking back to the witch and raising her hands up defensively.

  "There, unarmed. See?" she said softly. Alyssa looked at her carefully while holding onto Daniel’s arm around her, slowly moving her other hand over to her staff. Triska sighed and looked to the book with a gentle gaze.

  "I've been so protective of Daniel, always ready to jump into a fight for him, that I couldn't see that you really were trying to be friends with him. I'm sorry, Alyssa," she said softly as she kept her eyes on the book. Alyssa looked at her curiously as Daniel smiled at his friend. Triska smiled softly then looked to Alyssa.

  "He means a lot to me you see, but I shouldn't let that blind me to your friendly nature. I'll trust you just as Daniel does, Alyssa, I won't be so judgmental just because you're a monster. Can you forgive me for how I acted before?" she asked hopefully. Alyssa looked at the girl cautiously then glanced to her weapons. The human was completely unarmed as she sat close to them. Triska smiled a bit then turned around to open her duffel bag.

  "Here, I have a few pieces of chocolate from home I've been saving, please take them as a token of my apology. I know how much you like sweets," she said kindly. Daniel smiled at his friend then looked to Alyssa, the witch watching the teen curiously as she rummaged through her bag. Triska glanced back to Alyssa and smiled slyly, the witch's eyes widening a bit as she held her staff tightly. Triska glared at her out of the corner of her eye then smirked.

  "Here, Alyssa…" she said as she grabbed something in the bag. Alyssa's staff glowed with a soft orange hue as she narrowed her eyes at the girl.

  "Just for you," Triska said as she turned around, reaching out towards the witch quickly with something in her hand. In a flash she was thrown from the carriage by a magical force, screaming as she crashed into the ground and tumbled into a roll on the dirt road.

  "Triska!" Daniel called out as he saw his friend roll to a stop out on the path. He looked to Alyssa and saw her glaring at the girl.

  "Alyssa, why did you do that?" he asked angrily. Alyssa looked to him then down to the floor to see what the girl dropped when she was thrown out. There were a few small chunks of chocolate lying on the floor as the carriage rocked a bit.