{January 20th, 2017}

  A wall of gray mist meets my eyes as I open them, heavy and solid as it seems to weigh me down like an actual weight.
 
  My feet move like I'm walking in quicksand, sucking and pulling to keep me in one spot.

There's a foggy sensation in the back of my mind, making me feel like there's a balloon filling with helium somewhere in it.

Where am I?

Thoughts swirl around in my head, refusing to hold still long enough for me to comprehend them. All begging for attention.

I shake my....head? Trying to make sense of what's happening. Who I am.

My heart unexpectedly begins to beat like a drum out of control as the mist suddenly darkens, a threatening vibe screaming out from around me.

My legs move faster in a attempt to get away, a feeling of ice cold dread taking root somewhere deep within my chest.

Run.

The one simple word drifts into my mind like a soft brush of wind, quiet with a air of strength to it.

My stomach flips as I abruptly find myself falling through air, lungs squeezing in fear as I continue to fall.

I brace myself, muscles tensing beyond what would be considered normal.

RUN!

>>>>*>>>>

  I jerk up into a sitting position, stomach flipping like I'm still falling as something to my left jumps away in surprise.

My chest heaves as I work to draw air in, heart thumping as the dream echoes somewhere in the back of my mind. I lean forward, holding my sweaty head with my hands.

"Callon?"

  I look to my left - where someone moved as I woke up, finding Roxie sitting back on her heels as she stares at me with furrowed brows.

  "My word, whatever is the matter?" Grim's voice comes from those chairs in the corner of the room. "You were thrashing around like something was literally attacking you." I hear his chair squeak as he stands up.

  "It wasn't another one of those -" I cut him off, looking up at him.

  "We need to go."

  He stares at me, mouth slightly open from me interrupting him. "I beg your pardon." He looks completely surprised, his old face knitting together in confusion as he thinks something over - like he missed something.

  Roxie stands up, taking a step back as I swing my legs over the side of the bed, stuffing my feet back in my new boots.

Confusion swirls inside me. But one gut feeling refuses to leave me alone.

  Dread.

Just like in...whatever that was.

My mind flashes back to only seven days ago - or what I'm assuming is seven days ago. No one has a calendar around here. - When Roxie and I were running for our lives from whoever those suit people were. Those words that'd popped up in my head without explanation.

  Those words that lead me to here. But yes, they did save our lives I suppose.

  I quickly look between Roxie and Grim, my face serious.

  "We need to -" I'm now cut off as the door abruptly swings open - even though I thought it was locked.

  I immediately take a step so my back faces the doorway, my face staring straight ahead at Grim.

  He looks behind me, not looking the least bit concerned.

  "Nigel. What is it?" Grim questions, a hint of worry leaking out in his words as he takes Nigel's face in.

   I feel Nigel's gaze sweep the room, straying on my back as he works on a answer.

   "The royal guard. They're downstairs and they don't look happy. I think they're on to you, Grim." He rushes out, slightly gasping for air.

  Grim's face instantly turns grave.

  He snatches his staff from its position against the wall, bending down to grab his one leather bag he brought in.

  Roxie immediately sits down on the bed, pulling her own boots on as she glances up at me.

  I give her a shrug in answer.

  I don't know how I knew.....Only that dream thing.

How come Ron didn't warn us though? Must be too far away.
 
Some guard dog I've got.

  Grim heads for the door, Roxie pulling her cloak on. I pick my own cloak up off the end of the bed without turning my body, swinging it around my back before fastening it at my neck.

  I pull the hood up, hanging it down low over my face before turning around to face the door.

  Grim's talking in a hushed tone to Nigel just out of the door, Nigel's eyes flickering back over to me in curiosity as I take a step towards them.

  Roxie keeps her hood down, probably not finding it necessary now that Nigel's seen her and that she actually just looks like a normal human now that she's dressed appropriately.

"Follow me. I'll lead you to the escape tunnel." He motions us forward. Roxie falls in line behind Grim, and I stay in the back.

  Nigel leads us to another room in the hall, opening the door for us to step inside. He holds the door open as we walk through, his eyes burning holes in the side of my head as I pass him.

  Someone's suspicious over here.

  He then shuts the door, locking it with a large key before placing the key back in his apron.

  The master key. So that must be how he unlocked our door so fast.

  The room basically looks identical to ours. Only this one has one bed, a few odd trinkets sitting around along with a few pictures hanging on the wall.

  Definitely lived in. Which means this is probably his room.

  He stands in absolute quiet for a moment, making sure the cost is clear. Which it is, no one's moving around on the top floor as far as I can tell.

  Taking a few steps to the right, he then pushes against a large trunk at the foot of his bed. He grunts with the effort, a couple veins popping out on his forehead.

  Maybe he should limit the amount of bread he consumes daily.

He stops after pushing it only three feet to the side, leaning back against it as he takes some more deep breaths. His hand coming up to wipe the ever growing amount of sweat off his forehead.

  Grim bends down, pulling on a round iron handle that rests on top of one of the boards made into the floor.

  A trap door. Classic.

  He tugs up on it, his face scrunching together as it refuses to budge. He tries a few more times, his thin arms literally trembling from the effort.

  Nigel's face creases with worry as grim straightens his back after another try. "Don't tell me it's stuck? I told Whim to fix that two weeks ago." He squeezes the bridge of his nose, leaning down as he grabs hold of the handle.

  A slightly loud Crack sounds as Nigel pulls, immediately making him pause.

  "This is why you don't let other people do things for you. Because they don't get it done." He grumbles, wiping his face once again as he sits back up.

  Roxie shuffles uneasily as a shout rings out from downstairs, nervously looking back at the door.

  Grim reaches down once more. "Lets try together shall we?" He suggests. Nigel blows a breath out, leaning over his large belly as his beefy arms reach for the handle.

  Grim counts down from three under his breath, then they both tug on the door, only getting the sound of wood grating against wood.

  Nigel shakes his head in defeat, eyes widening slightly. "I'm sorry, my friends. I'm afraid this door has a knack for trouble. Sometimes it won't open unless someone pushes from below, and it just so happens that day is today." He deflates.

  Grim steps back, looking at it with calculating eyes.

  Why doesn't he just blast it with magic or something? You know, because that totally wouldn't alert them of our presence.

  His eyes suddenly light up, his head swinging over towards me. "Of course, why didn't I think of that before?" He mumbles to himself, catching the attention of Roxie and Nigel.

  Both their faces twist in confusion.

  What'd I do?

  "Callon," Grim whispers, and Nigel's eyes slightly widen as he catches my name. He looks over at me with wonder, eyes looking me completely over from head to toe.

  Great. Does that mean he knows who I am now?

  "Open the door." He instructs, urgency growing in both his voice and features.

  I glance down at the door before looking back up at Grim with a incredulous expression that only he can see.

  He thinks I can do that when both him and Nigel couldn't do it combined?

  Yes, Nigel's on the tubby side. But his arms look more muscular than fat to me.

  Sure I've always considered myself to be in decent shape. But....

  I catch the sound of fast footsteps heading up the stairs, the clink of weapons banging against each other.

  Welp. Wouldn't hurt to try.

  Biting my lip, I step forward so I'm in front of the trapdoor. Bending down, I wrap both my hands around the cool iron ring.

   Didn't Grim say iron was bad for elves?

  And as if to answer my question, there's a sudden sharp stab in my right hand, my new scar throbbing with each beat of my heart.

  Here goes nothing.

  I plant my feet shoulder with apart, my arms tensing as I use all my muscles to pull up on the door.

  It holds its position for about two seconds before a semi loud squeak sounds out, my arms jerking up as the door flies open.

  Well. That was....unexpected.

  I look down a dark hole, cool air wafting up over my face along with a damp, swampy stench.

  Grim pats my shoulder, a smile on his face as he steps closer to the hole. "Good job." He praises, kneeling down in front of it.

  I let go of the door handle, leaving it so it's now straight up in the air. Stepping back, I spot Nigel looking at me with a slightly slack jaw.

  It wasn't even that hard.....

  I keep my head angled down to the floor, stepping back a step.

Grim motions me forward, signaling for me to go first. I glance down the deep hole again, unease twisting in my gut.

  I rather don't like tight places.

Doors being forcefully opened ring down the hall, making everyone's eyes widen in fear.

  They're coming.

  "Fa has Arveldis packed and ready by the exit, may Aglarel be with you." Nigel whispers to Grim as I back up into the hole, my feet finding purchase on one of the rungs of the wooden ladder that leads down into the darkness.

  They do some sort of half hug thing, Nigel slapping Grim on the back in a good heartily slap.

  Grim gives him a small smile. "Good luck with yourself."

  My head sinks down past the entrance, my back almost scraping against the wall as the tunnel seems to grow narrower.

  I think I'm going to be sick.

  Breath. Keep breathing.

  I swallow, keeping my eyes forward in the passing rungs as I speed up my process. I catch the sound of Roxie beginning her decent, her feet scrapping on the wall as she frantically searches for the foothold.

  Uh huh. Grim made me go first so I'd catch anyone who might fall. Real strategic there.

   My foot abruptly finds solid ground after about twenty feet, my hands releasing the ladder from their death-grip as I look up.

  Roxie's about halfway down, Grim just above her with his staff and bag wrapped around his shoulders.

  "Faae malrwdi." Nigel's voice carries down the hole, eerily bouncing off the walls as it travels all around me.

  There's a soft squeaking noise from above, than a plop as he shuts the trap door above us.

  Everything grows noticeably darker.

  I take a deep breath, mentally counting to a hundred in my head as I turn around to investigate where exactly we are.

  Dark dirt walls on each of my sides run down as far as I can see in this dim light - even for me, it apparently being a narrow cavern that leads out from underneath the tavern.

  Someone's prepared. Except for the fact his trapdoor doesn't work.

Water trickles down the dirt walls and ceiling, stones sticking unevenly out from within  them. Shallow puddles cover the mud ground, a few frog looking things jumping around them.

  I think they're frogs....If frogs are a really bright purple at least.

  The tunnel seems to stretch out to a never ending darkness, breezes repeatedly soaring through with a almost howling sound.

  Which means there's a opening somewhere ahead.

  There's a sudden squeak of terror above me, my head swinging up to be met with the sight of Roxie free falling the last ten feet down.

  I automatically hold my arms out, her cloak fluttering like crazy as her momentum carries her down in less than three seconds.

  My arms and back painfully jerk downwards as they catch her deadweight, my foot almost slipping in the mud from the force.

  She instantly reacts by wrapping her arms around my neck, her face - that's scrunched up in panic, pressing into my left shoulder as she tightens her hold on me.

  Uhhhh.....

  I just stand there, completely baffled as-to what just happened.

  Did I seriously just catch her like some damsel in distress thing?

She's going to hate me....more.

  She practically feels like nothing as I hold her, my right arm under her knees, my left securely behind her back.

  An odd fragrance wafts up my nose from her hair that's only a few inches below my nose, a mixture between a freshly picked tulip and a drop of honey.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts as something hits the side of my head.

I drop Roxie, immediately rubbing the now smarting spot as I automatically check to see if it's bleeding.

  She stumbles as her feet hit the ground, barely catching herself before she tumbles to the wet ground.

  "Ow!" I rub it a little harder, glaring down at her. "Crazy lady. I save your life - again, and get repaid with a slap on the face."

  She straightens her dress, returning my glare as that soft blush begins to grows across her cheeks.

  "I'm beginning to learn that's a normal occurrence with you." I glance back up at the approaching Grim, adding some dry humor to my voice.

  "Excuse me. I didn't ask for your help - again." She smugly copies. "I had everything under perfect control." She crosses her arms, looking away.

  I turn away as Grim steps down on the ground. "Oh yeah, because that just screamed 'under control' right there." I mock, taking a step forward.

  Yeah, so we're escaping for our lives - again. And here we are arguing- again.

  You can see what's slowly becoming my favorite word.

  "Alright, stop your little childish dispute." I frown at his choice of words. "We've got places to be." Grim hobbles forward, passing me.

  I blow a breath out, rubbing my upper arm as I glance around the cavern walls again.

  Does it look like it's gotten smaller in here?

  Roxie huffs, brushing past me also as she fall in line with grim again. I roll my eyes, following behind her after pausing a few seconds.

What's with her anyway? And I though I was the grump.

We stay quiet as Grim leads us down the tunnel, the tip of his staff glowing like some Gandalf wizard after he taps it on the ground.

  Roxie walks up beside grim. "Will Nigel be alright?" She sincerely questions, making me stop glaring at her back.

  What? She's gotten under my skin alright. I'm annoyed.

  Grim nods, keeping his head forward as he leads the way. "He'll be fine." He tells her, sounding completely confident about it.

  She goes quiet for a minute. "What's that he said right before he shut the door?" My ears perk at the question, my own curiosity too great.

Grim hums to himself. "Ah, that is an old farewell saying that means good luck." He informs, running his left hand down his beard.

  "It sounded weird." I imagine her face scrunching in confusion. "What language is it. It's definitely not one from earth."

  Grim shakes his head, stepping over a larger puddle. "Indeed it's not." His voice fades. "It's from a dead language, seldom used anymore. Barely a handful of people can actually speak it."

  Another breeze tickles at my face, smelling a tad fresher as we move along.

  "The ancient language of the fairies." He finally finishes.

  That sounds confusing.

  Roxie gapes. "Fairies!? I know you said to expect practically every form of fantasy creature to be alive.....But still. Fairies." She breaths in wonder.

  Grim lets a breath out, something between a forlorn sigh and a quiet cough.

"Yes. The fairies. Tricky little things - depending on the breed though." He adds, sounding deep in thought.

  "Callon, thank you for your assistance back there." Grim calls back to me, obviously changing the subject. "We might never had gotten out if it hadn't been for you."

  I sheepishly rub the back of my neck. "I hardly did anything." I explain, probably sounding desperate as I try to clear this up.

"You might think that. But you did. And for that, I thank you."

  We walk in silence a little longer, the walls only seeming to get closer to me with each step.

  The exit finally looms in the distance, my lungs loosening their death-grip from around my ribcage.

  We step out onto the snow covered ground, fresh, clean air making me close my eyes in bliss.

  I could stand here for days after all that.

My attention snaps to the right - a forest now now surrounding us, mountains looming in the distance at our fronts. - as a twig snaps.

  The stableboy from yesterday - Fa I suppose, stands with Arveldis in a clump of trees, safely tucked away.

  Grim heads over towards them, calling a greeting to Arveldis who returns it with a soft nicker.

  I turn around, facing the small mouth of the cave. I look past it, spotting the tall wood wall way back in the distance.

  Well, goodbye town.

  Looking up, I immediately spot the brilliant blue-ish moon in the sky, halfway across now.

  Which means it's about 3 A.M.

  I roll my neck, looking back down as grim walks back to us, Arveldis in tow behind him.

  No sign of Fa. Must've already slipped away.

"Alright, lets get going before they decide to come this way." He walks ahead, moving to the left of the many mountains in the distance.

  "They must've noticed us yesterday. Which is why they so abruptly decided to pay the Purple Pony a visit." He muses to himself, still loud enough for us to hear him.

  My mind flashes back to the royal guard guy that spotted me yesterday.

  Could that be the reason?

  Grim's staff now remains back in its usual, 'unglowing' state. He walks next to Arveldis, an air of satisfaction around him.

  Now where's Ron?.....Not that I really care or anything.

  We trudge onwards through the three inch snow, these boots working ten times better than tennis shoes.

  Five minutes goes by.

Grim suddenly clears his throat, slowing down a little. "Callon, grab that oddly wrapped blanket out of that pack to your right would you?"

  I look to my right, noticing the blanket that's sticking out the top of one of the packs at a angle.

  Making a face, I walk up to Arveldis, falling in step beside her as I grab the top of the blanket.

Pulling it out, I slow my steps as I weigh the wrapped object in my hands.

  There's only one thing I can think of that sucks at being wrapped right now.

"Open it up. It's for you." Grim looks back at me, a small smile on the corner of his lips. "I believe you know how to use one."

  I stare down at it a few seconds, then my hands move on autopilot as they unwrapp the blanket from around it.

  Roxie looks over at it with slightly wide eyes, transfixed.

  A three foot long, double edged sword sits in its black leather scabbard, the hilt simple yet refined with the designs of what looks like talons at the end.

  I pull up on the hilt, popping the blade out three inches as I examine the craftsmanship.

  Sweet.

Shiny silver steel - or some form of metal, sharp to the touch. Just enough weight, yet still heavy for the extra push.

  I look back up at Grim, confused. "Well I do, but why're you giving me this? I mean that's nice of you and all, but I'm not going to be here that long."

  Roxie rolls her eyes, probably thinking I'm stupid for questioning someone about why they're giving me something for free.

  "Well, I believe one should always be prepared for the unexpected- as we've seen today."

  Well said. Well said.

  "And there's still a good week ahead of us, Callon." He reminds me, glancing back with a almost smug expression on his face.

  He knows I want it.

  I could never resist sharp objects growing up. Just one of the many sad stories of my life.

  I grumpily shove it back down in its scabbard, unwrapping the leather belt from around it. "Fine. I accept your gift." I wrap the belt around my waist from inside my cloak. "Thank you." I add after a moment.
 
  He nods in acknowledgment, that small smile still on his lips.

  I roll my eyes, buckling the belt and releasing it from my grasp. The scabbard rests to my left side, comfortable falling against my leg with each step.

  Grim reaches inside his cloak, pulling out - from somewhere, what looks like a foot long dagger.

  "Miss Roxie, I believe you should have this also." He holds it out to her, and she hesitantly walks up, gently taking it from him like it's some precious egg.

  "Thank you." She whispers, looking it over. "But I don't know how to use it, unlike someone." She glances back at me, most likely wondering how in the world I know that skill.

  It's not really taught in our culture anymore. A real pity.

  "You'll learn. Though hopefully you'll never need to use it." Grim tells her, speeding his steps back up.

  Roxie ties her own belt around her waist, holding her cloak open as she does it.

  Hm, hers is a little too flashy for my taste.

  I catch the sudden noise of soft pads on the snow, the gentle crunch of snow I've come to associate him with over these past few days.

  Ron gracefully lopes out from a thicket of trees, and I catch a spark of glee in his red eyes as they land on me.

  He runs up to me, slowing to a fast walk as he sides up next to me. Only a foot space between us.

  Arveldis lets a irritated breath out through her nose, obviously not liking him this close to her. Grim pats her neck, whispering a few words to her.

  "About time you showed up." I look down at him.

  His ears immediately seem to wilt at the sound of my uninterested voice, his head falling slightly.

  I blow a breath out, that soft spot I have for animals tugging on my conscience.

  Reaching my right hand down, I gently brush it over his soft back once I know no ones watching.

  His ears immediately perk back up, those intelligent eyes looking up once more.

  But I'm glad you're back....I suppose.

  I concentrate on getting those specific words across to him, literally narrowing my eyes.

  There's a sudden feeling of gratitude that washes over me, telling me I've successfully sent my messages through.

  Such an odd way to send messages. But it works.

  His eyes land on the sword that's just barely poking out from the cloak, and he gives me a look akin to someone raising an eyebrow up in a playful manner.

  I roll my eyes at him, which just serves to amuse him more.

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

*Time Skip*
{Plentiful Woods}

  "Is it lunch time yet?" Roxie irritable questions, crossing her arms over her chest as she steps over a log.

  We've now been walking for over ten hours, keeping the looming mountains to the right at all times. We've gone through a large clearing so far, and we've crossed over a large main road: Calemiron road.

  And now we're back in yet another forest: The Plentiful Woods - as it's apparently called.

  Ron's disappeared again, running off as soon as we'd gotten back in the forest.

Guess he feels safer here.

  "Soon enough, Miss Roxie." Grim wearily replies - yet again, to Roxie's complaining.

  I stop as a sound suddenly reaches my ears, almost so quiet I wouldn't of heard it if not for the pieces of rock underneath the footstep.

  And it's not Ron this time.

  Followed.

  Ron's thought drifts through my mind, lighter than a warm summers breeze.

  And I couldn't agree more.

  Grim stops as he notices I'm not following anymore, Roxie standing next to him as they both look around. Cautious.

  I filter a few words back to Ron, motioning for Roxie and Grim to stay put. I take a swift step to my left, strategically disappearing behind a large tree.

  I make my way around where I know the intruder sits in waiting; thirty yards back from where I'd just been standing, behind that large boulder we passed no more than two minutes ago.

  Keeping to the shadows, I maneuver my way around so I come up from behind.

  Someone crouches with their back to me, a dark brown cloak wrapped around their form as whoever it is leans forward into the large boulder. Head peeking around towards where the rest of the group waits.

I step forward into the small clearing that's behind the boulder, my right hand resting against the hilt of my sword.

  Geez. When'd I decide to become so heroic?

  Lightly walking a few steps towards the figure, I notice Ron to my right, tucked away in the woods for backup.

  The person - or whatever, still hasn't heard or sensed me, their attention still focused on where I know Roxie and Grim wait.

  But something - a feeling of being watched perhaps, must've alerted my presence. The figure turns their head, my body moving forward with more speed than what I thought I was capable of as I slam my left forearm into the figures lower neck. Restraining.

  "Hey!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A/N

   Ooh! It's getting good now! Heya. ✋🏻

   Don't be shy!! ☺️😘⭐️

   So, heads up here. The next chapter will continue off from here, and it'll not start off in Callon's POV. 😱 I'm about 98% sure.

Questions:

  1.) Who's POV do you think the next chapter will start off in?

  2.) Any guesses as-to who this mysterious figure is?

  Vote!! ⭐️⭐️ (I'm going to keep saying it.) Comment!

Next Update: Next week most likely.

Maggy