When I placed my palm into the air, I was surprised to feel a solid surface pressing back. My pulse quickened in anticipation as I stood there, waiting.

At first nothing happened, and I began to feel a nagging disappointment in my stomach. Was this all too good to be true after all?

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind, there was a bright flash and the scene around us changed. We were no longer standing in the unbearably hot Mojave Desert, but in the midst of a place unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I was in the heart of a beautiful meadow filled with flowers so thick that you couldn't see the ground beneath them. They were very unusual, types that I had never seen before, varying from a mixed breed of a lily and a dandelion, to some that were striped with every color of the rainbow.

The surrounding forest showcased leaves of the greenest green, and the sky above it the bluest blue. Shades I had never even imagined existed surrounded me in a polychromatic paradise. The colors around me were so vibrant and animated, it took my eyes several minutes to adjust to the intensity.

I could see plush plants and bushes growing all around, surrounding us in a vivacious green wonderland. A stream flowed gently nearby with water so crystal clear, I could see striking purple and red fish swimming in it from several yards away.

The trees were ancient, larger and broader than any I had ever seen before. They had to be hundreds, maybe thousands of years old.

They hung high overhead, forming a canopy above us. Their russet limbs were weighed down by heaps of fresh buds. I took a moment to breathe in the sweet smell of the blossoms, and listened to the birds singing happily in the nearby boughs. A cool breeze blew through the leaves and over my raw, sunburnt skin, easing its discomfort.

It was a beautiful sight, like a scene straight from the Garden of Eden. This place was truly nirvana. If this was what citizens of Kapanathy got to experience each day, the fact that anyone would ever leave was a mystery to me.

At this moment in time, standing in the middle of this beautiful and bizarre land with Micah and Fletcher beside me, I felt like everything was perfect. I no longer cared about the Malin or King Casimir. I forgot about my bodily ailments- my thirst, sunburns, and knee pain couldn't distract me from the nirvana of this magnificent sight. For the first time in a long time, I felt calm and at peace.

But I was only able to bask in the sweet tranquility of the meadow for a few minutes before a loud pop resonated from behind us. I recognized the sound immediately, but was too slow to react. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, Micah yanked me to my feet, and we begin running through the meadow, with Fletcher following close behind.

"What's going on?" I asked, panicked.

"The Malin found us!" he yelled, pulling my arm to make me run faster.

I looked over my shoulder and saw not one, not two, but dozens of soldiers running after us, firebombs already at the ready. They released their weapons, but we veered right just in time. The bombs hit the ground and caught fire, creating a burning inferno where we were standing only moments before.

We picked up speed, eager to get away from the danger. There would be no stopping to fight this time; we were outnumbered ten to one. All we could do now is run for our lives and hope that would be enough.

The flowers that were so beautiful only moments before were now a hazard, as we ran through the field, stumbling and tripping over their roots, slowing our progress. We miraculously made it to the edge of the meadow without getting hit by any other firebombs, but the Malin were gaining speed; they would overpower us within minutes.

Then, a series of things happened all at once. Micah grabbed me by the arm and pulled me over a line of bushes and to the ground, using the thick shrubbery to block the impending line of firebombs. I heard the approaching Malin halt, as dozens of feet came charging into the field from the opposite direction. I looked behind us and saw that the Malin were surrounded by a large group of soldiers wearing thick battle armor. Now they were the ones who were outnumbered.

"The Protectors made it!" Micah cheered.

Relief flooded through me at the sight of the welcomed battalion. To my surprise, a short, petite woman a little older than me was at the head of the division. When she spoke, her voice resonated with an unmistakable authority.

"You are surrounded and outnumbered. Surrender yourselves, and you have my word that your imprisonment in Tueri will be bearable. Refuse, and you'll wish you hadn't. We can and will make your life a living hell, should you survive," she told the Malin soldiers.  

"Surrender?" a man asked, spitting on the ground in disgust. "We live only to serve King Casimir. We would rather die than to turn ourselves over to ungrateful traitors like you."

The other Malin soldiers cheer in agreement.

"Always have to choose the difficult route, don't you? Such a shame... this is new armor," the young woman said with a sigh.

Without another word, she brandished a sword, and swung it through the man's chest in one fluid movement. Her companions followed her lead, pulling out their own weapons and charging toward the Malin.

A mixture of swords and firebombs traveled across the field in a blur as me, Micah and Fletcher stood quietly by, mesmerized by the battle. The once beautiful meadow quickly turned grim as it is flooded with bloody gore and the bodies of fallen soldiers.

The young female was abruptly shoved by a Malin soldier, causing her to fall into the bushes where we were hiding. I screamed, but Micah wasted no time in diving over the bushes, grabbing the knife from his belt, and slitting a Malin's throat, just before he could throw a firebomb at the girl.

The young woman staggered to her feet, her sword in hand. She turned to Micah, and shouted at him over the sound of the deafening battle behind her.

"What are you doing? Get her to safety. Go. GO!" she said, giving him a forceful shove.

Micah didn't stop to argue. He grabbed my hand, and we began running away from the field, leaving the battle behind us.

"What are we doing?" I asked, my adrenaline in overdrive.

"We've got to get you to Tueri," he said, his head darting left and right as he searched for hidden dangers.

"What about the other protectors? We need to help them!" I exclaimed, my mind lingering on the field where protectors continued to fall.

"Our priority is to keep you safe. That's why the protectors were there in the first place. If something happens to you, it will have all been for nothing," Micah said, pulling me faster.

I wanted to argue, to plead that we should go back and fight, that our presence could be the difference between life and death for some of the soldiers, but I knew that Micah was right. I would probably end up killed if we went back, and then what was the purpose of it all- the days of traveling, the people who have sacrificed themselves for me?

And what if we did go back and something happened to Micah or Fletcher? I would never be able to forgive myself. So instead of listening to the nagging voice telling me to turn around, to fight for those who risked their lives for her, I kept running forward, my mind on the lives being taken in my place behind us.  

"Tueri," Micah said with a smile, we we  reached a large wall made out of concrete that was at least five feet thick. Large coils of menacingly sharp barbed wire lined the top of the wall.

On top of the wall was a large sign that read:

"Take heed all who enter the sacred lands of Tueri, where the courageous dwell. Only the strongest amongst you shall survive to exit these walls. Cowardliness your downfall will be, but with bravado you shall succeed."

Guards paced along the outside, rifles in hand. When they spotted us exiting the surrounding forest, they began yelling and pointing their weapons at me, Micah, and Fletcher, running outside to meet is.

"Stay right where you are, intruders!" a soldier yelled.

Micah rolled his eyes. "Marco... you've known me since we were six. Would you just let me in already?"

"You are authorized to enter, but these two aren't," Marco said, pointing his gun at me, causing my eyes to bulge in fear.

"This is Alexis. You know- The Redeemer," Micah said. Marco's eyes widened as he recognized the name. "Commander Nero approved her entry himself."

I could see the battle waging in Marco's eyes. "We weren't made aware of any changes to protocol. We'll have to check with the Commander on this," he said,  talking into a radio on his shoulder. Micah sighed, but didn't argue.

Five minutes later, a middle-aged man walked through the gate and into the forest where we stood waiting. He was possibly the largest man that I had ever seen, standing at least seven feet tall. His biceps were bigger than my entire body, and he had a thin buzz cut that screamed "military."

"This had better be good! I was in a meeting," the man thundered, causing me to jump.

"These trespassers say they have authorization to enter Tueri by your command, sir," Marco stuttered.

"Micah, what is the meaning of this?" the Commander asked, turning to face us.

"Sir, we agreed that it would be far too dangerous for Alexis to stay elsewhere. The Council approved her entry into Tueri before I left to retrieve her."

"You know damn well that isn't what I'm talking about. Fletcher- what the hell are you doing here?"

"Just along for the ride, Albert," Fletcher said with a smile that Commander Nero didn't reciprocate.

"Fletcher is here because he's an essential part of Alexis's training. He took us in when we were traveling, and provided food and shelter when we had neither. He has helped train Alexis from the moment we met him," Micah explained.

"So you thought that you would bring him with you? To break all of the rules that our ancestors created? Do you think you know better than the Council, soldier?" the Commander demanded, his face reddening as his anger rises.

Without thinking, I cut him off. "It was my idea," I mumbled, afraid to look at him. "I told Micah the only way I would come to Tueri was if Fletcher could come with me. They both explained the rules but, frankly, those rules don't apply to me, since I'm not a citizen here. I was hoping that an exception would be made if it's the only way that I'll take part in this battle."

"Take part? You say it like it's optional. You're the Redeemer; you don't have a choice, girl," the Commander said.

"Actually...I think I do."

Commander Nero began biting the inside of his cheek as he glared at me, but I didn't waiver. I refused to turn Fletcher away when he had done so much to help me.

When his face was as dark as a beet, Commander Nero finally spoke. "Fine. Fletcher can stay, but not for good, and not for free. He will earn his keep."

"That's okay with me," Fletcher said, a large smile plastered across his face. This seemed to irritate the Commander even more, and he began grinding his teeth.

"You will be working in the Mess Hall during meal times, eating only after everyone else has been served. You'll also be assisting in the Artillery Department between meals, helping to inventory the weaponry. In return, you can stay in Tueri for the duration of the girl's stay. But make no mistake, if you were to betray us," he said, turning to Micah with a glare that would have made a weaker man tremble, "you won't be the only one who suffers."

The Commander turned and stalked away, muttering obscenities in a heated undertone. I looked at Micah, my body shaking from the intensity of the interaction.

Micah stared at me incredulity, as though he was truly seeing me for the first time.

Thank you for reading! If you are enjoying this story so far, don't forget to vote! :)

© Dawn Norwell