Rogue Rescue

I’m out of breath! This cold winter air feels like fire in my chest but I can’t stop running. If I stop now they’ll catch up. I can hear the screech like screams from the monsters. They sound far but I know they’re closer. That’s how they trick their prey. I feel like I’ve been running for hours, I can’t feel my face or hands. These woods stretch further than eternity. Those slender creatures with their long strides, could catch up at any time. The mere thought scares me to my core. It’s not human and it’s not an animal. They have no facial features, it looks like thin stretched skin, with only slits in the sides of its face. They’ve got long skinny arms with dagger like claws. Once they catch their prey there’s no escaping. The claws dig into your flesh holding you in place as they suck your soul out of you until you become lifeless. Our souls make them stronger, that is the only food source they need. I see a dimmed light up ahead. I pray it’s safe and I can get away. I haven’t heard their screams in a while but I’m not slowing down to listen. As I get closer to the light I see a metal door in the side of a hill. It looks like a storm shelter. I reach for the handle but my hand doesn’t make it. It’s black all black and I’m being pulled. What’s going on? I can hear what sounds like water and just a trickle of light up ahead. I can’t feel my body. Everything darkens around me. I think to myself this is it. My body finally gives out and I collapse. Distant Muttering can be heard along with the faint water sound from before. I open my eyes it’s still dark but candles are lighting up a wall. The muttering gets a little louder and I see shadows casting in the candle light. I squint my eyes as if I’m still unconscious. This lady kneels beside me. I can make out a rag and a bowl. Before I know it water-trickles all over my face. My eyes jolt open. She’s not startled but I am. She don’t look like a normal woman. She’s petite with really fair skin. Her eyes are purple and her hair is pulled back in braids. I set up and she smiles. “You’re safe.” She says in such a soft voice. “He’s lucky!” A stocky man says. He’s tall and stout. He must’ve been the one who dragged me here. “Who are you?” I ask as my voice is cracking. “Most people know us as rogues!” The brawny man says. “Rogues?” I asked confused. “I’m a fairy.” The petite woman says. “We are called rogues because we live by ourselves here in these woods.” She explains. “Wow, a fairy? Like magical?” I ask. “Yes I am a healing fairy, he however is human like you!” She says with a chuckle. “We hunt monsters like the ones that were chasing you!” Says the man. “I’m Leon and this is Luna, what’s your name young man?” He asks. “I’m Eric.”, I answer. “Well Eric, those monsters are out there waiting, so it’s best that you wait here with us.” Leon suggests. “We’ll know their location soon and then we can work on getting you where you are going safely.” Luna says. Out of nowhere a loud screech echos through the cave walls. I jump up ready to take off when Luna puts her arm out in front of me. I look at her surprised and confused. She smiles and nods. I glance forward to see a majestic looking barn owl flying to a perch located in the corner of the room. Luna walks over to greet the owl. “Hello my darling, how’s it look out there?” She asks the owl. The owl looks at Luna and let’s out a hoot. I stand there confused but amazed I’ve never seen anyone talk to animals. She continues asking a few more questions and the owl lets out a hoot or two almost as if in code. “Well Luna, what’s the status?” Leon asks. “There’s two screechers southeast of here about twelve miles out. They don’t appear to be roaming. Then there’s also a group of leecheons 20 miles north east of here.” She tells him. “Screechers ? Leecheons?” I ask. “Screechers are the monsters that were chasing you. Leecheons are monsters that travel in 5. They are slimy looking creatures with no vertebrae, they are about four foot long and stand 2 feet tall. They don’t move very fast but given the chance they will dry you of your blood till there’s nothing left.” He tells me. I’m horrified, who knew these things existed? I think to myself. “How did you know I was being chased by screechers?” I ask. “ Asra here is like my familiar, she goes out at night and keeps watch through these woods. She saw you and alerted us!” She explains. “So you can talk to the barn owl!” I say excitedly. Luna chuckles then replies. “ Yes, fairies can talk to animals.” Asra turns her head and looks right at me, her eyes are golden and look as if they light up. She lets out a hoot and Luna looks at her and nods. Asra flies off. “It’s best we leave in the morning, the screechers can’t see in daylight as well as they can at night.” Luna informs me. “Y’all are going to help me escape these woods?” I ask. “Of course, you wouldn’t stand a chance by yourself, you’re lucky to have made it this far!” Leon says enthusiastically. We get settled into our sleeping quarters to rest before the travel. I can’t stay asleep. My mind keeps going back to those horrendous creatures chasing me. All I can think of is what will happen if they catch me, and if they will catch me. I’m going to be so tired in the morning. I have to get some sleep. “HOOT!” Asra screams with such power. I jump up to my feet, my heart pounding. Oh it’s just the barn owl, is it already morning? I think to myself. “Hey hope Asra didn’t give you a fright.” Luna says slight mockingly. “Alright you two the sooner we leave the easier this journey will be!” Leon says sternly. Asra flies out ahead of us as we make our way to the exit of the shelter. We begin walking north, hoping to avoid any monsters. According to Asra, the screechers moved south west last night. That means the likelihood of running into them increased, just great. What happens if we run into them. Luna may have magic, Leon could probably take care of himself, but me I’m a scrawny, five- eight and one hundred thirty five pounds. I’m only nineteen, I just got out of high school. What could I do? My thoughts are racing, I shake my head to focus on my surroundings better. I mean after all getting sidetracked would give the monsters the upper hand. We’ve been walking for 3 miles now. My legs are shaking. Im not fit, the most exercise I get is when I’m playing my VR games. Asra is staying in the shadows, that’s smart given she’s nocturnal. She swoops down and takes perch. “We can rest here for a bit.” Says Luna. “The screechers seem to be a good ways away from us right now. If we stay on track and watch our break times we can make it with no problem!” Luna informs us. I sit on a stump near by, trying to catch my breath. Leaning down resting my head on my hand I catch a glimpse of something. I go to jump up and trip. Trying to catch myself didn’t work, I went down. As I scramble I’m greeted by this animal like creature. I freeze trying not to scare it, not knowing if it’s dangerous. It’s odd it’s fur is a greenish brown color. It almost looks camouflaged, it’s eyes are wide. The tail on this thing is long and thick. “It’s ok Eric, that is a forest guardian! They hide out in the woods to try and protect the forest along with the life inside these woods.” Luna says as she kneels down and rubs it on the head. The guardian leaps upon the tree and uses its tail to swing from branch to branch. I knock the snow off myself and we start walking again. The sun is bright and feels good on my face but the winter wind demands to be felt. We’ve made it another mile and my stomach is gurgling. I try to keep it quiet but the more I do the louder it sounds. Leon keeps looking at me and Luna just chuckles. A yell fills the air, we all stop in our tracks. Asra swoops down and hoots lightly. “We got stay close to the trees, there is a screecher close. Knowing his direction and using the trees as cover will help us. However we have to try and move quietly. Screechers may not be able to see much in the day light but their hearing makes up for that.” Luna tells me. I nod and in my mind try to mentally prepare. Telling myself to remain calm, and be quiet. We walk tree to tree. Watching each other’s back as well as looking out for the screecher. A scream so deafening rings through my ears. Oh gosh did it see us? I ask myself. “Get down low!” Leon whispers to me. I gently get to the ground. Asra moves from the tree beside us to the one in front, indicating the screecher is on the other side of us. Leon leans out around the tree a tad. He pulls back in and says. “He’s a bout 15 feet to the left of where we’re going.” Asra takes off through the shadows letting out a sub sonic screech as she flies over the screecher. The screecher follows her. We move forward taking turns dodging behind trees. When Asra returns, Luna informs us that the screecher chased Asra a few miles out in the opposite direction, so that should buy us some time. We continue on for a few more miles. As we get closer to the end of these woods, I start thinking about how Leon and Luna saved me, and how I’ll miss them. It sounds silly but they helped me so much. Asra too, she’s so smart. Up ahead I see a small town. Hopefully I can get a ride back to my home. I only was in the forest because my car broke down on a back road and the next thing I knew a screecher was chasing me. “Well looks like we made it!” Leon says so sure of himself. I turn to them and smile. “Thank you both for helping me, Are you sure you’re going to be ok?” I ask. Leon cocks his eyebrow up and glares at me. “We’ll be fine.” Luna says with a grin. Upon a tree Asra sits watching guard. “Thank you too, Asra.” I say to her as I wave. We part ways and off into the woods they go. I’m glad to have made it to safety. I owe it all up to them and that smart barn owl!