Anines - Writers Forum

Akaya43 · 11-26-2007, 01:38 PM

“Akaya….Akaya….we’re waiting for you!” Maria woke with a start. She had been having that dream again, that terrifying dream. It seemed to be coming more often now then before, almost every night when before it had only been coming every few weeks.
She would be running, trying to get away, trying to hide. From who or what she did not know. She would be in the woods, though nothing looked familiar. Suddenly the woods would give way and she would run into this huge field. She would continue running when the ground would suddenly give way from right under her feet. She would fall into this huge crater. She could not breathe or see anything, just blackness. Then she would feel the wind wrap all around her, and pick her up. All around her she could feel this presence. Then there would be that voice, all around her, calling to her. “Akaya…Akaya…we’re waiting for you!” It was then that she would wake up.
Maria looked at the clock. It was only 5:30, half an hour earlier then she usually got up. However, since there was no way she would be able to go back to sleep, Maria got up. She walked over to her dresser and pulled out a nice short sleeve top and a pair of jeans. Slipping those on, she went over to the mirror.
Maria was rather attractive even though she didn’t think so. She was very tall and slim, though she had a lot of muscle’s, especially in her arms and legs. She was taller then most people in her class, which kind of made her stand out. She had long, straight black hair that reach down to her lower back. She was naturally tan and had slightly upturned eyes, giving her an Indian look. Her smile was very straight and white, though she’d never had anything done with them. Her canines were sharper then most too. Her eyes were very strange. For one thing they changed colors. One day her eyes would be a very light blue, almost white at time, then the next they would be a greenish yellow color. A lot of the time the color of her eyes reflected her mood. Another strange thing was the shape of her pupils. They looked more like cat eyes then human. No one had ever seen eyes such as hers and often commented on them. That’s why she usually tried to keep them hidden from people she didn’t know.
Maria brushed out her hair and put it up into a ponytail. She wasn’t much of a makeup person but she usually put a little on. Today was no exception. She put a light blue eye shadow on, and some black mascara and eyeliner. Once she was done Maria went downstairs for breakfast.
Her brother Jason was already downstairs eating. Jason was two years older then Maria. Despite that fact and the fact that Maria was adopted, the two were very close. Jason was a little bit taller then Maria, but not much considering the age difference. He had short brown hair and brown eyes. He was a football player, so he was pretty big built.
“Hey bro” she said, coming into the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“Hey, you’re up early” he replied. He finished with his bowl of cereal and was rinsing it out in the sink. Then he moved over and put it in the dishwasher.
Maria laughed a little. Usually she was the last one up, which meant she usually had to skip breakfast just to make the bus. Very seldom was she up this early. “A little bit” she said to him.
Jason started towards the door of the kitchen. “Well I’d love to stay and chat little sis, but I got some homework I got to finish. So if you’ll excuse me…” without waiting for an answer Jason left the kitchen and went upstairs.
Whenever Maria had that dream for some reason she was never hungry for a while afterwards. Knowing this Maria went over to the cupboard and grabbed a pop tart. She ate at the kitchen table. Once done, Maria grabbed her jacket and books and headed out the door. It was a nice sunny day and she loved being outside. She went out to the barn and over to the horses. She went down the row patting and talking to each one.
Suddenly Maria heard the bus coming down the road. She glanced at the clock on the wall. The bus was early. She ran over, grabbed her books and ran down the road. She got to the bus just as it was pulling away. It stopped for her and she got on, sitting with her best friend, Zoe, as she always did.
Zoe and Maria couldn’t look more different. Zoe was shorter then Maria by a head. She had blond hair that reached down to her shoulders. Her eyes were a brown color and she was rather white, never really able to get a tan. Even with there differences they got along great. A lot of there favorites were the same, favorite movie, favorite music, some of the favorite foods. Sure they argued, but they always talked it through, sometimes staying up into the late of the night talking.
“Hey Maria…Trying to miss the bus again?” Zoe said, more of a statement then a question.
Maria had to laugh. Zoe had a way with stating the obvious “No! Of course not.” She replied jokingly. She hesitated a moment then added, more serious this time, “I had the dream again.” Zoe already knew about they dream, though she didn’t know how many time Maria had it, she had a rough idea though. Maria had told her about the third time it had happened. They always told each other everything. Of course, they had known each other since 1st grade, the year that Maria had been adopted. They trusted each other with there life, there was no secrets between them. Unfortunately, Zoe could also be a little over dramatic.
“Again?” Zoe exclaimed, “Maybe it means something. I was reading this magazine…”
“Zoe,” Maria interrupted “I’m sure its nothing. I’ve just seen to many scary movies.” She said this with a little more harshness then attended. Zoe picked up on it. She quickly dropped the subject and went on to other things, like her plans for the night. Maria half listened to her, her thoughts also turning to her dream.
About that time, David, their other best friend, got on the bus, and sat down in front of them. David was a new kid last year. He was a year older than Maria and Zoe but was still in 10th grade, though no one knew why. The strange thing was, he looked a lot like Maria. He too was very tall and had pretty much the same build as Maria. His eyes were those of a cat’s also, though his coloring was different. Normally his eyes were a dark hazel, but turned a fire red at time. Maria had only seen this happen once. His smile was the same too, amazingly white and straight, with extra sharp canines. The major difference was their hair. While Maria’s hair was black, David’s hair was a very light blond, which was cut short.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” he asked smiling his amazing smile at them.
“Nothing” both Zoe and Maria replied at the same time. They both laughed at themselves. They thought so much alike it was scary.
The three of them talked the rest of the way to school. Usually about random things, but they had fun doing it. They were in the middle of making plans for the following weekend when they got to the school. They got off together, and then David had to go to his locker so he had to leave them. Zoe and Maria hung out at there locker for a little bit, before they too had to go to their classes.
All through school that day, Maria kept thinking about her dream. Maybe Zoe was right and it really did mean something. But what? There was another thing bothering her. Why had that voice called her Akaya? She knew it must be calling to her because no one else was in her dream. Could it just be her subconscious, reminding her of something she had forgotten? But she was sure she had never heard that name before. The more Maria thought about it the more confused she got.
By lunch, she was sick. She wasn’t sure why, she didn’t think it was because the dream or anything, but whatever it was, it was getting to her. Unfortunately her friends could tell. Zoe asked what was wrong and when Maria couldn’t tell her exactly Zoe insisted that she went to the nurse. David just watched her with a concerned look on his face. Maria couldn’t be sure but it looked like he also had an understanding look in his eyes, like he knew why she was sick. And was Maria just imaging it or was there a slight tint of red in his usually hazel eyes?
After lunch, Maria had History. David was also in this class and they always walked together. Unfortunately, Zoe had a class on the opposite side of the school.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Zoe asked just before they went their separate ways.
“I’ll be fine” Maria told her. She really didn’t want Zoe to worry; it would probably go away in a few hours like it usually did. Oddly enough, Maria had never gotten sick, at least not that she could remember. So really, she wasn’t worried at all.
But then she took a turn for the worse; much worse. They went into the classroom together and sat in their desks. Up on the board was the assignment as usual. Today they were taking notes and the first sheet of notes were already on the overhead projector.
It was about have way through class when suddenly Maria couldn’t breathe, she gasped for air, though none came. Small black spots started dotting her eyesight. They slowly grew until nearly half her vision was black. She tried blinking them away, only succeeding to make herself dizzy. Finally she had no other choice; she turned around to David who was in the desk behind hers.
“David” she whispered. It wasn’t very loud. David looked up at her. At first he looked confused, then that look of understanding and worry came over him again. Maria started to wonder if he had heard her. “David” she repeated, quieter this time then last, she just couldn’t get anymore sound out
Fortunately that was all she had to say. David got up and quickly went up to the teacher’s desk. He said something to her and she nodded, though Maria couldn’t tell what he said. He then came back to their desks. He picked up both their backpacks, which were heavy-laden with books, and helped Maria up out of her desk. With his arm around her back, Maria leaned heavily on him. He led her out of the room.
By then, almost everything was black. David, who still had both backpacks on his back, picked her up like she was as light as a feather, he seemed to have no difficulty at all. He started walking a hurried but easy walk. The last thing Maria noticed, before she lost all consciousness, was that David was not walking toward the nurse or even the office, but away, out of the school.

Akaya43 · 01-18-2008, 08:53 AM

Chapter 2

When Maria awoke she was leaning up against the outside wall of the school. It took her a moment to realize where she was, though she didn’t know why she was there. David was sitting in front of her, his back towards her. He was putting something in a container and then into a small hidden pocket of his backpack. After a moment Maria tried to get up. Dizziness overcame her, causing her to fall back against the wall.
David heard her move and turned around. Before Maria could even blink he was by her side, one hand behind her back and the other underneath her. He slowly let her back down to the side walk. “Take it easy” he said, once she was sitting again. “Are you feeling any better?”
Maria looked at him a moment then nodded, a bit confused. She remembered being sick in the class room, and David carrying her out of the school…but that was it. “A little bit…” she answered “What happened to me?”
David opened his mouth as if he was going to say something. He cocked his head, his ear turned towards the door to the school. His eyes were blank though they moved slightly. He was obviously listening to something. He blinked, his eyes returning to normal. Turning his head he glanced at the school doors and then down at his watch. All this happened in a matter of seconds, though for Maria it seemed so much longer. Finally he answered her. “Later, come to my house at 5 o’clock?” he asked.
Just then they heard the bell ring. Once again Maria tried to stand up. Dizziness came over her again but not unbearable. David supported her, and helped her the rest of the way up. The dizziness subsided and David handed Maria her book bag. Students started filing out of the school, a few at first then a huge crowd.
“Can you come?” David asked
“What?” Maria had been watching everyone come out and wondering what had happened to her. So she hadn’t heard his question.
“Can you come over to my house at 5 o’clock?” He repeated.
“Um…yeah” Maria replied, still in a daze.
“Good I’ll see you then” David started walking away. A little ways away he hesitated then turned back to Maria. “Oh and don’t tell Zoey” he said. Then he turned and walked to the bus. Maria watched as he walked away, more confused now then she had been before.
Just then Zoey came out the door. She looked around for a minute then started towards their bus. A moment later she saw Maria and ran towards her “Maria! Are you okay?” she asked
Maria's thoughts were interrupted by Zoey's call. She turned towards her. Shaking herself out of the daze, she answered her. “Yeah, I’m fine…now”
“Are you sure?" Zoey asked, the worry very evident in her voice, "Because I definitely heard some kid say he saw you pass out.”
“Well…um…I did,” Maria replied “but I’m fine now.” She added, almost as an after thought. She tried desperately to change the subject. “Hey we better get to the bus.”
Zoey nodded, though she wasn’t about to let the subject drop. The girls quickly moved to their bus and got on. Zoey got on first and moved to their usual seat. As Maria got on she automatically looked to David’s seat. He wasn’t there. Quickly she glanced around. Where was David? She thought. It took her a minute to find him. When she did, she saw him sitting alone in the back of the bus. His elbows were resting on this knees and his head was in his hand, eyes closed. She wondered why he was all the way back there, but decided against going back to ask him, especially after his comment about Zoey. She followed Zoey to their seat.
On the way home Maria tried to talk to Zoey, but her mind kept drifting to the thoughts of what had happened. In the end she just gave up and listened to Zoey as she talked about her day. They were only five minutes away from her house when Zoey went back to the subject Maria feared the most to hear.
“So…What did happen today?” She asked, a little cautiously.
“Nothing Zo…It was no big.” Maria replied, a little bit harsher than intended. Unfortunately Zoey picked up on it and quickly dropped the subject and looked away. Maria felt bad; her answer hadn’t technically been a lie, since she herself didn’t really know what had happened. Still, she had never lied to Zoey and she really didn’t want to start now. She was about to tell her what she remembered when the bus pulled up to her house. Without a word she left the bus.
Once Maria got home she decided to go down to the stables. Like most families around there, Maria’s family had a large stable, with about twenty horses. Maria loved to be around them and it always helped her feel better to just groom her horse, moonstar
She walked into the barn and then over to the tack room. There was a note on a small bulletin board above the desk. She took it down to read it. It was from her dad
Maria, I’ll get the horses tonight, but I need you to get them tomorrow. I’ll be out of town
Thanks, dad
The family always took turns caring for the horses, tonight was supposed to be her night to feed, and tomorrow would have been her day off. She was glad though, because now she wouldn’t have to worry about getting home at a certain time. Maria moved over and grabbed a curry comb and brush and moved over to Moonstar’s stall. She started grooming her, talking all the while.
Maria spent more then an hour done there and had started to forget about the days events. It was about 3:30 by then and David lived a ways away.
Maria started to saddle up moonstar but decided to ride bareback instead. She led the horse over to the fence, climbed up and swung her leg over moonstar’s back. Maria nudged moonstar into a nice easy trot and start off.
David was waiting for her when she arrived. His horse was all saddled and ready to go with David standing next to it.
“This may take awhile so let’s get going” he said mounting up.
Still going at a trot David led her down the road for awhile. Then they crossed a large field and started into the woods. Maria kept trying to start a conversation by asking questions. David would give a short answer, right to the point, and then say no more. Finally Maria gave up. They rode through woods in silence.
Then, all of a sudden, David stopped his horse and dismounted. Maria did the same and they both tied the horses to a nearby tree. David started leading them further into the woods. As they went the woods became thicker and thicker and there was a lot of underbrush.
David kept looking around and was acting very nervous. A few times they stopped and listened. For what? Maria wondered, also looking round.
They finally broke through the woods. As they entered a large clearing, Maria looked around. Clearly at one point in time it had been a field of some sort, but that could have been ten years ago. Now it was overgrown with weeds and grass.
Maria and David walked in the middle of the field. Maria was to busy looking around to watch the ground. Almost beneath Maria’s feet it gave way. She jumped back and David’s arms went around her, holding her back. She looked back at David, a little surprised at his reaction. He saw her face and quickly dropped his arms to his sides and took a step back. Only then did Maria look down. They were standing on the edge of a huge crater.
“The crater in my dream!” Maria gasped

Akaya43 · 02-05-2008, 09:43 AM

Chapter 3

Maria looked down into the crater, wide eyed. Could it really be the same crater from her dream? She was frozen in place, trying to make sense of it all. David gave her a minute then came up beside her. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her down into the crater.
Suddenly the wind picked up, almost knocking Maria over. David moved a little closer to her and his arm went all the way around her waist. Maria looked at him. He seemed so calm, like nothing unusual was happening. Yet he had a guarded look on his face. He sensed her looking at him and glanced down. It was all Maria could do to keep from gasping. His eyes were a pure, blood red.
The wind subsided a little as they made there way down to the center of the crater. Maria could feel a presence. That was the only way she could explain it. She couldn’t see anyone else but it felt as if there was someone there, someone with power.
The wind picked up again, sending a whirlwind of dust all around them, like they were in the middle of a vertical tunnel. Then there was a blinding light that engulfed Maria and David. She felt herself being lifted up, just like in her dream. She reached out for David, but he wasn’t there.
Where is it? Maria thought. She was waiting. Waiting for the voice from her dream she knew would follow. It came, but not as it had in the dream, not even close.
“Welcome Akaya” it said “You have much to learn”
She looked around wildly, but couldn’t see anything in the light. “Who are you” Maria asked
“I am no one.” The voice said “and everyone”
“What does that mean?” she yelled. That answer made no sense.
It didn’t answer her question. Instead it said, “Kouron will help you.”
As suddenly as the voice and light had come, it was gone. Maria fell, a dead drop from about four feet up. She screamed. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact.
David silently moved directly under her. She fell right into his arms. At first the wind was knocked out of her and she just sat there. Then as she started to breath again she opened her eyes, still expecting to be on the ground. Instead she was looking up at David. He held her for a moment longer then carefully let her down on her feet, leaving his hands around her waist for support. David watched her carefully. He stepped away from her, but he was still tense, ready to support her the second she needed him to.
Just then a twig snapped in the woods and some bushes moved at the edge of the clearing. Maria looked towards the sound. She scanned the perimeter of the field, looking for whatever had made that noise. Then, remembering how nervous David was on the way up, Maria looked over towards him. But he was gone. In his place, stood a magnificent, black wolf.
A growl came from deep in his throat. It echoed off the trees around them. Stay here and stay low went through Maria’s mind though no one had said a word. Had the wolf just said that? She wondered.
Maria lay down at the edge of the crater and waited. At first she watched the woods were the wolf had disappeared. She soon lost track of time. As the moment went on she slid down a little further into the crater. She closed her eyes and listened. Finally she heard something in the woods. Maria peeked over the edge and saw David walking towards her, leading the horses.
Maria jumped up and ran over to him. Even before she got to him she was spiting out questions.
“What just happened?” she asked. “Where did you go?...Who was that?...What was that?” she paused for a breath.
“Hey slow down. I can only answer one question at a time” David laughed. His eyes sparkled and Maria then noticed that they were back to his normal hazel. “Let’s see…ok, first you just talked to an anine. I was the wolf and I just had to take care of some business. Does that answer all your questions?”
“No. it just gives me more” Maria said, frustrated.
David laugh, just aggravating Maria more. “Well hop on and I’ll try to explain on the way home” he said mounting his own horse.
She stared at him for a moment a thousand things going through her mind, things she wanted to ask, to say. Instead she moved over to her horse, taking her reigns. She led her over to a rock and mounted the horse. She sighed. “All right lets go…and you better explain everything”
Maria and David took a different way home. Instead of going through the woods as before, then went around them into a long open field. It was a lot longer then the way here, but Maria didn’t mind since she had so many questions that needed answered.
“We are what you call Anines” David began, his voice calm. “There used to be hundreds of us, but most had to leave after the accident. You, my brother and I were all adopted into human families, along with other Anines…”
“Then why didn’t my parents tell me before this?” Maria interrupted.
Giving her a small warning glance, David replied. “Because, they don’t know. They think we’re just human.” He said. He opened his mouth to start again, when once again, Maria interrupted.
“So where are our real parents now?” She asked.
“They left earth. No one is really sure where they went. That crater is how they communicate with us.” David explained. He tried to go on some more but Maria was not ready to just sit and listen.
“Ok so how are you that wolf?”
David laughed. He never thought she would have this many questions. “Well, as I told you, we are Anine’s. On of our…” he paused, looking for the right work. “…‘abilities’ is to turn into any animal we choose.” He glanced at Maria, waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t, he continued.
“Anine’s were originally from earth. That was when humans knew of us, knew we were different. But the anine’s and humans couldn’t get along. Finally they decided that they could no longer stay around the humans, so they went into hiding. After a few years they returned to the human world. They were somehow able to change their appearance, namely their eyes, and only used there powers when absolutely necessary.” David stopped for a moment, lost in thought. “It would have been a good plan” David continued “but some one wasn’t careful and the humans found out. A few anine’s were even killed. The rest fled. I guess we were too young to make the journey so we were left here. No one has been able to find them since.”
Maria was about to ask David another question when they heard a whinny of a horse, coming from behind them. They both turned to see who it was. David, squinted his eyes, shielding them against the sun. Then they grew wide as he seemed to recognize who it was. Swinging around in the saddle he signaled his horse into a gallop. Maria followed.
“What is it?” She yelled
David just looked at her. A look of fear.

Akaya43 · 02-10-2008, 07:07 PM

Chapter 4

David led them at a gallop through the field. Suddenly, without so much as a warning, he turned sharply into the woods, Maria following closely behind. Even in the shelter of the trees the continued at a little slower pace that a gallop. It wasn't untill they were deep into the woods that they slowed their horses to a walk.
Maria looked behind them. She didn't see anybody, or hear them. Hesitatly, she turned to david. “Who was that?” Maria whispered, a bit worried by David’s reaction.
Not giving her so much as a glance, David replied. “A hunter” he answered, his voice strained
Maria scowled, she didn't like to see him like this. David was always so level headed, so calm, it scared her a bit to see him this upset. “What?”
“I’ll explain later. But right now we have to find Zoey.”
Maria looked over at David. Again, he only gave her more confusing answers. And what did Zoey have to do with this? Maria simply looked at David, waiting for him to explain more.
David glanced back at her. A small sigh escaped his lips as he way her face. He turned back around and continued looking around. “She tried to follow us to the crater.” He explained “I don’t think she saw anything before I chased her off…But she’s still in here and we need to get her home.
Maria, though even more confused, let the subject drop, at least for the time being.
It only took a few minutes to find Zoey. She was in the middle of the woods. She was alone but was making enough noise for there to be three of four people out there with her. David and Maria came towards her from her side.
Zoey heard something coming towards her. She jumped, and turned towards the noise. The expression on her face went from worried and nervous, to confused, to excited, all it a matter of a few seconds. “Hey guys!” Zoey yelled when she finally realized it was them. “You’ll never guess what I saw!”
“Quiet” David hissed, harsher then either of the girls had ever heard him. “we’re being followed”
Zoey grew silent. She looked from Maria to David, then back to Maria. She saw the scared look on Maria face and the nervous look on David’s. Some of that feeling transferred to her. She could help but feel scared even though she had no idea what was going on.
“Hop on” Maria told Zoey. Zoey came over and Maria helped pull her up onto Moonstar. They waited as David looked around and listened for any sound.
Finally he motioned for them to follow and they all started out of the woods. At the edge David told Maria and Zoe to wait and rode out into the field, out of the girls view. A few minutes later David came back and told them it was safe. As they rode home, Zoey tried to whisper to Maria, to figure out what was going on. Whenever she went to answer her however, David shot her a meaningfull glance. Maria just shrugged. Finally Zoey gave up. The rest of the ride was in silence.
David led them on a small detour towards Zoey's house. Maria watched him carefully. David was often in his own little world, but she had never seen him this distant.
After David and Maria dropped Zoey off, Maria turned to David. She asked “who was that back there?” She was trying hard not to let her voice shake.
Without hesitationg, David explained. “The humans who killed those Anine’s years ago were given the name ‘hunters’ by our people. Because that’s what they do, they search for anine’s to kill them, no matter who they are. The hate towards anine’s has grown and so have the hunters. We must be careful not to show our true identity or they’ll come after us. That was Eric, a known hunter”
“How could you tell who it was from so far away?” Maria asked. She had been able to see the form of the person, could tell it was a male, just by the way he sat on his horse. But she had not been able to distiguish any features, much let tell who it was.
“Another ability. Look if anything happens let me know, ok?” he said, avoiding the question.
Maria nodded. She was too astonished and confused to say much anyway. So much had happened so fast. She looked around, surprised to find herself just a block or so away from her house. "Well, bye" she said, waving a bit. She turned her horse around and moved towards her own house.
Maria’s parent's cars were in the driveway when she arrived. It was strange how they seemed so different now. Just one day, and so much had changed, even how she viewed her parents, who had been with her for her whole life. She didn’t know what she would say if she had to talk to them tonight.
As Maria brushed down Moonstar and gave her some food and water, she decided to skip supper and go up to her room. She wouldn’t be able to eat anything anyhow. My parent will never let me though She thought to herself. She hesitated just a bit longer, then headed into the house.
When she went inside she found her mom in the kitchen finishing supper. She turned as she heard Maria came through the door and smiled, trying to cover the worried look on her face.
“Where have you been? Her mom asked. Maria knew that she had worried about her, but that couldn’t have been helped today.
Maria looked at her for a moment, trying to think of the right words to say. She just shrugged “Sorry, I went for a ride” She answered simply
“Well next time, please leave a note or something.” Her mother said, relief in her voice. She turned back to finish up the food. “Suppers almost ready” she said over her shoulder. “Why don’t you go have a seat” she added, more of a statement, then a question.
Sliding her hands into her pockets, Maria shuffled a bit nervously. “Actually mom” Maria replied “I’m not feeling very well. I think I’m going to go to bed”
Maria’s mom turned all the way to be able to see Maria. She realized then that Maria did look a little flushed. She walked over to her and felt her forehead. It was burning up, surprising even Maria. “Well okay.” She said, now concerned. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”
“Positive” Maria said, now a bit more confidant in her excuse.
Maria went upstairs to her room. Looking through her closet Maria found a few pieces of paper and a pen. She wrote down all the stuff she had learned from David, trying to piece everything together. By the time she was down she had only succeeded on giving herself more questions.
With a sigh Maria folded the papers and hid them in the back of her closet where no one could find them. She then grabbed some sweatpants and an old t-shirt. She went into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. Then, after putting on her sweatpants and stuff she headed off to bed.
It took her over an hour to get to sleep. She just kept tossing and turning. She finally through her pillow over her head and force herself not to think about anything. Soon after she fell into a light sleep.

Akaya43 · 02-10-2008, 08:41 PM

It didn't take long for Maria's thoughts to go to the day before as she woke up the next morning. It was a dream, only a dream she told herself. But no matter how many times she said it Maria knew it was reality.
As much as she hated to, Maria forced herself to get up out of bed. She got dressed, braided her hair and went down for breakfast. Breakfast was long and univentful. Afterwards she went out to go down to the bus. David was waiting for her.
Maria was looking down and only saw him out of the corner of her eye. He looked up surprised. “What are you doing here?” She asked.
“I needed to talk to you before we get to school. I put my horse in your stables. Is that alright?”
Maria glanced at the barn. For some reason the tone in his voice made her nervous “Ya that’s fine. So what’s up?”
David turned toward the bus stop and started walking, expecting Maria to follow. “We need to be careful what we say and who we say it to. You can’t tell anybody. Not even Zoey.”
Maria laughed a bit at that, then seeing David's face frowned. “I tell Zoey everything. I can completely trust her. So why can’t I tell her?”
“It’s just she might accidentally say something around a hunter. Not on purpose of course, but we can’t be too careful.”
During their conversation they had been standing at the bus stop. The bus pulled up at the stop and David and Maria got on.
“Alright would someone like to tell me what’s going on” Zoe exclaimed. “First Maria gets sick in school. Then she says absolutely nothing to me on the way home. Then there this light and voice in the middle of the woods, and you two pop out of nowhere and say were being followed. And now you two are getting on the bus together. AND not that you care or anything but I almost got attacked by a wolf! Maria, I thought we told each other everything”
“We do” Maria replied. She glanced at David. She knew he didn’t want her to tell Zoe but she trusted Zoe with her life. “Do you believe in Aliens?”
“What are you talking about?”
So Maria told her everything that had happened the day before. She was just about to tell Zoe about the hunter when the bus pulled up to the stop.
David, who had been listening the whole time turned around and looked down at the girls.
“Look do me a favor and don’t talk anymore about this. At least not until after school.”
They agreed, even though Maria was itching to tell someone and Zoe was dying to know.
School seemed to go on forever. Finally the last bell rang. Maria got out of class late so she quickly went up to her locker and hurried out to the bus. Both Zoe and David were waiting for her.
“Okay. Come on! Finish your story” Zoe cried.
So Maria finished the story. There wasn’t that much left so they were done way before the bus pulled up to the stop. All three got off at Maria’s. Maria turned to Zoe with a questioning look
“I already asked my sister in school if I could come over.” Zoe explained
“Cool then let’s go for a ride” Maria said turning and walking towards the stables
“Sorry, I can’t. But remember if anything happen you let me know.” David said
“Sure David I know.”
They all went into the stable and tacked up the horses and led them outside to mount.
“See you guys later, and don’t forget Maria” David said as he rode off
“Boy that kid’s paranoid.” Maria said
“I’m dreaming” Zoe said, almost to herself. “I must be dreaming. I mean my best friend is an alien!”
“Tell me about it, how do you think I feel. Come on let’s go.”
They went behind the stables and started towards the back field and the woods. The girls started talking about all the memories of the time they had spend together. They were enjoying their ride so much that they didn’t realize how late it was getting until Zoe glanced at her watch.
“Wow it’s already 5 o’clock.” Zoe told Maria
“Hey, let get to the field and then we can race home” Maria said
“Good idea let’s go”
It took them only a few minutes to get out of the woods. From the edge of the woods to the barn was a perfect length for a race and the girls had often raced there. They had even put a few jumps in the course. They started at an old Oak tree and ended pretty close to the barn.
Without a word they lined up to begin the race.
“One. . .Two. . . Three. . . GO!”
Side by side the girls took off. They stayed neck to neck for a minute. Zoe’s chestnut started to gain the lead. They raced on with Zoe’s lead increasing. They came to the first jump. Zoe’s horse took it beautifully but Maria’s shied away. She tried again and made it, but by now Zoe had a huge lead.
Maria urged Moonstar forward. Zoe looked back at Maria and bent forward in her saddle. Slowly but surely Maria started to close the gap between them. There was still quite a distance between them when Maria reached the next jump. This time her horse jumped without a fault. They were soaring above the fence when it happened.
It felt like some one punched Maria in the stomach taking the wind out of her. The pain traveled all over her body. Her horse’s front feet touched the ground and Maria jerked forward. Then when the hind feet touched she lost her balance and was thrown off.
She lay there for awhile just as she had landed. She was lying on her back. Her neck hurt from the landing but she seemed to be alright otherwise.
Maria lifted her head and looked across the field. Zoe was still riding. As Maria watched Zoe looked back and scanned the field. Her gaze feel on Moonstar.
“Maria” She screamed, turning around and galloping full speed back. Maria let her head drop and rolled over on then up so that she was kneeling and resting on her arms.
Dizziness overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes and tried to get her senses back. Her skin felt like something was crawling and rapping itself around her. It started lifting her off the ground. Thinking she was imagioning it. Maria opened her eyes.
Sure enough a strange cloud like thing was rapping itself around her. And it was actually lifting her off the ground!
What’s happening? She thought
Maria looked across the field at Zoe. Zoe had a horrified look on her face. Maria wanted to say something to her but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. Suddenly a bright light blinded Maria and her head was thrown back. She was completely emerged in the cloud.