Birth Grounds

Rope bound me in a flash, men hoist me up to remove me and a brisk march started. I struggled against the bindings and the captors; A sweeping feeling of pride washed over me with a burst of energy. Instinct directed my actions: I forced the growth of my nails to hand-length, cut a section of the rope and felt the slack. I forced my feet between the four servants, gravity aiding my will, and with a blast of wind forced the bewildered servitor behind me.

"My, you are persistent, I may just hold on to you," turned the commander.

The words hardly registered, just part of the queue in my mind, because his removal was my only thought. In a split-second, my vision blurred and found myself behind him, arm around his neck with an ice shard in the shape of a knife.

My breath snarled to his ear, "What lies underneath your pale flesh?"

No one moved, the air still, color drained from the room, only Saura's breath evidenced life.

The frozen dagger slowly reached into the threatened throat, stopping only to satisfy its thirst. Red seeped through white, running down cold clear, only to become part of its liberator. Nothing could stop me.

Time slowed to a near halt; I could feel myself gaining control of my body again, and pushed my eyes to the entry of outside light now blocked by a new figure.

"The darkness consumes you," he said, as if seconds weren't like hours. His shadow grew at an odd shape, as if it melted towards me, my eyes couldn't keep up at its oddly fast morph.


---


I snapped awake, "What is... Where am I?" That was a good question, I was bound just like before, tighter than from first arriving but hanging again.

"You're finally awake," the leader's unmistakable voice rang through as he stepped forward from the shadows. The dim room revealed that his neck was unscathed, nothing ever touched it, and seemed rather unfazed too.

"You can heal well," I muffled through my now apparent mouth cloth as I struggled against the rope.

"No, I can see your dreams, experience them like you do. But unlike you, I have a better time memorizing it. What a devious mind you have, and you seem to hold a powerful and well-guided instinct. It's a shame that I can't hold on to you, you are quite the prize. I wonder," he shuffled through his pants pocket and pulled out a hand-sized orb, "Do you know what this is?" I could hardly see it, it was a white ball that had a clean slice a quarter-diameter in, with a reflect piece of metal that was circle shaped and had webbed metal strands from the lower half. Everything except the metal was natural, out of place, but certainly made from nature.

Why did he want to know if I knew? I decided I should let off more than I know, if I'm not scared, he'll retract his idea, "Not quite, never stopped to look."

"Well, obviously you need to be educated. First thing, this is something you might want to be afraid of," A smirk appeared on his face, a confident one, or a bluff. "You see, this is going to revolutionize my business, instead of hauling those we want to take back here, all tied up as far as we can, we can just put them in here."

A sense of relief passed me, now I know he was lying through his teeth. How does one expect even someone half my size fit in someone's palm?

"Over past the mountains on the far side close to the sea, these are grown and harvested in a slow but steady process. A business in a place called Saffron make the final product, and the shipments come in from the all over the area to its west. Already people like me are making use of these trapping devices and the results are amazing. People can trap magical creatures like you in these magical balls. Once you're inside, you can't come back out until we let you out."

I still wasn't letting down that I won't fit, but the more he talked, the scarier this ball was. If he wasn't just trying to mess with my mind, he wants me to panic and savor it before becoming victim to his new toy. And become one.

"This thing cost me what 3 small sales make, only because nearly no one knows about it, and the project is hidden under government. I'm the only one here with it, and it'll grant an acceleration to this trade, everything will be made nearly too easy," He came up close and looked straight into my eyes, "And I think it's time to test it now."

I could feel my pupils shrink that they hurt in an instant, tears welled and my thoughts betraying me. I wanted to get out, but my logical side dismissed any ideas. For what it was worth, I began to retract my tail now, so I could keep it out of the way. The binds at my tail were loosening, and disappeared when there was nothing left to grip and a thud sounded from behind me.

"Hmph, nothing you do can get you out, now," He walked back and started to twirl the ball on his fingers and hand, giving it a weightless look. It popped up and he snatched it, "You are mine!" The ball came straight at me, I flinched at the imminent impact.

The ball twirled and struck my forehead with the metal piece, it clicked inward, the center circle now at the level of the outer ring. As it clicked out, the ball opened up, the click on the bottom half, showing the intricate metal designs of the inside.

A red light engulfed me, it prodded me down to my smallest scale, lifting each one off my body and what was underneath. I felt like I could reach the other end of the room, but I could move. My vision looked like a mirror, shattered, and pieces moved around. What the weird part was that what was reflected in the pieces were what was reflected before it shattered. My separated body was then vacuumed up with the light, and vanished into the ball, closed.

I was myself again, put together, and not bound. Everything was dark, again, I was really getting tired of being left in the dark. I tried to see if I could get out, I'm sure there is one. My thought were short-lived, something started to cover my feet, it was like sand. I stepped up but my other foot fell in faster, it was already up to my knees. I tried to push my feet out, but everything was worsening, I couldn't get out. Rounding my waist, I fell over and continued, I found it easier and I wasn't falling in if I was on the surface. I nearly pulled myself out when a blinding light hit me, I reacted and regained my vision fast, to see artificial arms ready to grab me. Looking around, I found a hall in the wall of this huge dome, I ran up to it and reached a curtain of white light. As soon as I touched the curtain, it surrounded me and again, the separation sensation sent me on a trip again. I separated, vision shattered, and flew out of the ball.

I materialized next to it, together once again. After my vision cleared from white, I fell to my knees, trying to shake off this new headache, "~Egos... Non-amois... Verto...~" I buried my face into my hands to rub off my ailment, the dizziness was too much.

"Well, that was unexpected," The man walked over to me, slowly, "That wasn't supposed to happen."

I snapped to and looked up, he was four arm lengths away with his arm outstretched, ball in hand facing me, "Let's see what happens now." He pressed the click in and motioned up to have the top half of the ring to light up. The piece glowed red, and a beam of light struck me, with the probing feeling again. The beam died, my nose satisfied after an itch, much unlike my apparent warden. "That... Wasn't explained... Just wait until the ball stopped moving," He took two steps back, trying to wrap his head around what's happening now.

Getting back on my feet, my balance wavered slightly, and I extracted my tail again to keep myself up. I looked around for the exit, opposite side from my ropes now on the ground. I made my way to the door; he's in his own world, and no one else is here to say otherwise.

"Where are you going?" I turned to him, his demeanor ragged along with his stance, clutching the ball. "I will have you in this ball," he stepped heavily once, "No monster will ever best me!"

His eyes glared and I mimicked back. Twisting his body, he tossed the ball at me again as fast as he could. I swung around and intercepted the ball with my tail, and slammed the projectile to the ground, the metal piece shattered with metal shrapnel from the halves. He looked wide-eyed at me, and I turned back to the door.

"This won't be hard," I maneuvered like I did against the ball and bashed the once locked door open. It swung open with piece flying off and shut again, I pushed it out to exit. The long hall stretched before me and once again, no one around to stop me. I breezed down again, it felt good to even get off the ground, even if just as high as my foot is wide. I was reaching Saura's room, with my momentum I slammed to door down and held my aerial presence. I drifted inward, towards the other end of the room, and found Saura in grounded shackles. I grabbed a chain and tried to open it, nothing, clawing and bashing the chain did nothing. I tried to chill it with frost forced from my hand, even a few moments passed but still futile.

Saura shifted at the growing cold, "Leave me, if you can't get me out, just take yourself."

"I'm not leaving you Saura, I'll make sure to get you out."

"No. I'll be fine, I'm sure, just please, I don't want to be a casualty, even more so to my best friend."

"I won't be taken away again and I'll take you with me."

"Do I have to say I want this? I've tried so much to get out, even my sand control and fire can't get me out. Go, before they get back. I'll find you, don't worry." I couldn't believe it, for her to say she'd want to be taken away and treated like a tool? Just to save me?

I removed myself from the chains, "I'll find you when you're out, and I won't get myself caught."

"Thank you. Go now, so you can do that." I bit myself back, not getting her out of here now was killing me, but I had no choice. I floated out, and continued my escape, ever-confident that I'll make it. Skating down the hall, the door was open to show the large round room Dowse and I first used to escape. I flew in, and continued straight ahead, ignoring the two turns I could have made. The path just didn't seem to end, it looked like I'd have to go days to cross the structure. I figured that the hundred lights that lined the wall still had more behind them, but in moments the other end showed itself, another door. I opened it slowly, I haven't gone this far yet, and before passing a crack, noise of a conversation emanated.

"So, how are the new recruits?"

"Fine, no issues."

"Any completely clueless still?"

"Yes, but I don't know about one, he's too quiet, he doesn't break a sound -- I swear he can't talk. He'll nod or wave his hand when he understands, but it just got to me because at first, given that his hair hides his face, I thought he was just playing me. Just thought he was being cool in front of everyone else, but it has been too long now for that."

"You mean that guy who has a high collar coat, dark purple, dark red lining with some kind of weapon on the back of his leg?"

"Yes, Trift is his name, and he seems like he'll be joining us soon enough."

"Oh? Is he really keeping on his work?"

"Not just that, he has the attention of Dirrak, from day 2."

"Seriously? I want to meet this Trift now."

"We have a week before he's expected back, he went on a solo mission to the Orange Alps."

"Didn't he already just go? Why so soon again?"

"You didn't hear this from me, but it had something to do with the last raid there, Dirrak was pleased with the catch, but something about one of them had him send Trift off the there again."

"What do you think it was?"

"No idea, but he needs another catch to come back."

"Hmm, I guess I can wait."

"Oh, another thing you didn't hear from me, there sounds like a new policy change for higher ups."

"Again? Every time it just makes shit harder."

"No, actually, it sounds really good, and it's because this trade is doing so well right now."

"What, pay raise? Benefits? I could actually go for the old policy of 'Not caring about so much as scrapping the catch.'"

"Actually, it helps for raids, and other things. There's development of a tool to help out our trade, it is being made way overseas and we might have a monopoly on our land."

"Somewhat interested, the last tool was outperformed by our own Net Cannon."

"The tool is like the Net Cannon except when it takes the catch, they can't escape and the weight doesn't change, it is codenamed 'Miracle Ball.'"

"Does it work?"

"Apparently, Dirrak got one last night and was obsessed over it so much that I overheard. He said that if it works like it says, it becomes standard equipment, and us higher ups can keep one."

"Keep one? You're shitting me, no way, those things are worth fortunes, he'd rather have us sell them before letting us keep one."

"No, because it works like a cage when they are in, and you can recall them back in after the first time, and he want's us to use them for future raids."

"I guess that could work, I just wonder if those monsters can turn on us. They practically do already."

"We'll find out when Trift gets back, nothing happens until he does." Silence dragged on, I couldn't take it, taking creatures from their homes to use them to do the same to others? The thought was driving me to instincts but I had to calm myself. Before I could take a deep breath, another entered the room. "Back so soon?" I peered in, and caught a piece of clothing, purple that was close to black.

"Nice, I've been wanting to see you... What did you bring in?" What sounded like a bag opened, "Very nice, and just yourself. How many have you bagged?"

"He's got 8 now, in almost 2 weeks."

"You're already raising the monthly record, no wonder he's watching you." Dull steps sounded, hunting boots on stone, with his scabbard brushing in and out of the crack's view. I froze when I noticed him coming closer, seconds away from opening the door.

"Do you want us to put away the catch?" The mysterious man halted, his sheath shook slightly and continued his pace.

I was screaming at myself on the inside to move, just move! The knob rattled at the pressure instilled from the other side of the door; He's going to find me, I feel all weird and tingly. The door motioned open slowly, the weapon returning in view; Just get out of here!
"Hey!"

Adrenaline hit me and I jumped to the ceiling and clung, "We have a meeting tomorrow now that you're back. I suggest staying for the day," Said the first man inside.

The door swung open, spilling fire light into the hallway, the black clad man peered down the hall and didn't move for a moment, then stepped out enough the close the door. The two men inside talked again, exchanging laughs and were obnoxious, the man below stepped twice, his dark orange mane swayed at the shifts in motion.

"You're here..." He said in a near whisper, I couldn't believe I heard it, "We'll meet again soon..."

I was worried he was talking about me, how soon? I'll be long gone and no one will know where I'll be.

He spoke again in the same impossible voice, "I know... And soon enough."

This guy was freaking me out, I wanted to get out now, but I can't, not with him there.

"Nul," He has all of my attention now, "Move through that room after they leave and another single person leaves, you won't have more than a moment. 2nd left."

I hung blank-stare at the back of his head, I formed the words in my head, "How do you know me?"

"Just say that I do, Nul... I like it, I'll find you. Nul, of the mist moon," he stood a moment like he was pondering something, and walked off with his boot's paces becoming dimmer and dimmer.

I was lost, his voice stuck in my head and I could figure it out, I heard him, but my ears didn't. It was like I was thinking it, like if I repeated a conversation in my head, and could hear the rambunctious room clearly, now seating three.

I waited for the three to leave, and not two moments later, someone else entered and talked alone for a while. As soon as a door shut, I dropped and ran in; the room held a few chairs, all comfy looking. A small rug in the center hiding the stuck dark stone floor, and a wall hollowed out for logs on fire for light. The rest of the room was gray stones and a far wall held books a small blue grid ball held by a crescent at an angle. A similar larger ball in the center of the room had the chairs' attention, it was sideways and held by a circle. No time to look around, I made my way across the room, opened up the door for another hallway. I sped down, I haven't time to lose.

"2nd left," was what he said, I went past one left passage and about six rights. Time passed as I raced through the corridor, I was beginning to doubt the directions, but what else did I have? He could have taken me in. Time that spent was doubled as I reached the 2nd left, "Finally!" I announced in my head. I took it and raced further, the view of a large wooden wall was immediate, except it wasn't a wall.

"A bridge? Do they really need one?"

I wasn't halfway there and the gate was opening, I jumped to the ceiling-wall corner and stuck there like before, and watched as the doorway revealed a wagon in the moonlight. I directed a breeze to carry me over to the wall that had the bridge cut into it, there was a man below me that directed the door system.

"Bring in the goods!" He shouted down the planks, and a fire-horse drawn wagon was carted in.

"Good evening, how are you all doing?" spoke the driver.

"Good, and sounds like for you too."

"Not bad at all, no problems in this time, the cargo is undamaged."

"First time this year," grunted the operator as he started to reset the door.

As it was coming up, I made my escape when it could barely fit a person through, and slipped through. The gate closed, I went unnoticed, and took a breather. My nerves were fried. I made it out, the reality hit me and my happiness soared. I dropped back down to the ground and my joy took over. I motioned in long, smooth movements, like dancing, and realized I was making myself across the ravine the bridge topped. I let myself be and continued on; I had no idea I could do this, it was like it was ingrained in me, instinct.

I was past the gap, but didn't stop at the landing, it held myself just above the soil. I was back in complete control, still as happy as ever, and still mimicking my dance, drifting about above the ground. I learned how the motions adjusted how the wind carried me, spun me and moved me. Like I conducted with dance. I experimented slightly and received results, and even tried some different gestures, observing every breeze.

I decided that I need to know where I am, and looked for signs of a town amidst my twirls. Wagon tracks, that will suffice. I raised my arms forward then my right one back, my left side facing forward and followed the tracks, skating on the wind. The sun was about to rise as the tracks began to fade in the fine soil, but they already serve their purpose, the next town was already insight. One thought rose to me in an instant and I landed at it's presence.

"Just say that I do. We'll meet again soon. I'll find you."

His voice, it ran a migraine through me, I knew it, but I never heard it. "I swear, I'll find out who he is, this Trift. And Saura, just hold on." I looked out to the town, then to the surrounding mountains.

"Trift, I swear I know you."