• He was flying in mid-air over the rock pit when a boy ran out and called out to her...

    A shout woke her up from her trance, and she turned around to look at who called her. The voice sounded unfamiliar and new. But, she was too close to the edge and the gravel gave out on her. The boy watched and growled as he saw the beast take off into the woods. Startled, Krystin fell into the inevitable. She clenched her eyes shut. This is it, she thought. This is the end.

    Gravity tolled on her body and darkness enveloped her. Numb as she was, she couldn’t help but to feel as though she wasn’t falling, or moving, at all. A warmth broke through the coldness she felt as her hand felt as though it was on fire. Cautiously, she peeped one eye open. She came face to face with the rock-faced wall. Krystin didn’t get it. Why wasn’t she falling?

    She opened her other eye and looked up. Right above her was a teenager boy’s face. Cold sweat dripped as he strained to pull her up. His eyes closed and dark brown, almost black, strands of hair framed his face. His teeth were clenched and inch by inch, he gradually pulled her up. Finally deciding that, since she was still alive and conscious, she can help; Krystin found her hold with one foot onto the face of the cliff. She did the same with the other. Clasping his arm, she tried to pull herself up. Feeling the change in weight, he looked down at her. She was still conscious?

    “Oi, are you okay?” He shouted down at her. His sudden voice made her jerk her head up to look into his cold, blue, piercing eyes. But, in doing so, she lost her footing and they sank back down the cliff. His worried, dark blue eyes showed slight concern for her in that split-second that she looked up. “Alright. Calm down and follow my instructions,” he assured when he started to hear whimpering.

    Careful not to cause more damage, Krystin nodded slightly. Fortunately, he saw it and continued.

    “Try to find your foot hold again. Do you think you can do that?” He made it sound like she was a toddler just learning how to walk. Why that arrogant... Anyway, she nodded once more and looked down. Although, the thought of the height didn’t get to her, seeing the sharp rocks made her squeak in her throat and she clenched her eyes shut. “Hey now! Look up at me. Don’t look down!” His voice made her look up again and she felt confident once more, but not for long when she saw his face glowering at her like she was just a child. Pfft... She was growing quite irritated.

    She lifted one foot and placed it in a hold. Doing the same with the other foot, Krystin grabbed hold of his wrist with her free hand and pulled herself up. Using all of his power, he pulled her up back onto the cliff. They fell onto the ground and gasped for air.

    After recollecting herself, and forgetting the fact that he was so arrogan, she sat up and said, “Thank you for saving me there…um…”

    “It’s Cain,” he replied. “It’s no problem, but why were you here anyway? You know it’s dangerous, right?”

    “Well…there was…this strange creature…” This seemed to catch his attention. He sat up.

    “What kind of creature?” He inquired, though he might already know what she means.

    “It was sort of like a cat, but it was glowing.”

    “Glowing? Did it have wings?”

    “Why yes. It did. Why?” She asked, surprised that he knew so much. He seemed to be lost in thought as he turned away to look at the trees. So, it was him that I saw, he thought to himself.

    “I wonder where he went off to this time…” he whispered to himself rather to anyone at all.

    “Eh?” Cain stood up and walked off towards the forest. “Wait!” He stopped in his tracks and turned towards her.

    “Hm?” Cain watched her as she ran up to him and puffed.

    “I-I want to help you look for him. If you don’t mind, that is?”

    “No. We need to split here.”

    “Why so?”

    “Because I don’t want you to get involved in any of my affairs.”

    “But, I’ve already been involved, remember? Besides,” she paused. He nodded for her to continue. “I owe you for rescuing me anyway.” Krystin shrugged as if it was just a matter to push aside. He huffed.

    “It looks like I have no other choice…” This made her jump up in glee. “Fine, you may come, but don’t get in my way, alright?” With that, he walked back towards the woods.

    “Aye, aye, Captain! I won’t disappoint you.” She shouted to his retreating body and followed soon after.

    “Whatever…” Cain replied with a wave of his hand as if he was swatting a fly. She laughed.

    A S P Y R A I N

    When they reached a clearing, there was rattling in the bushes. Krystin didn’t think much of it, but Cain stopped immediately. Her face collided into his back and she fell backwards onto the ground.

    “Hey! Would you let me know when you’re going to stop next time?!”

    “Be quiet.”

    “Me? Be quiet? I won’t be quiet until you apologize for sto–” She was cut off.

    “Shh! Will you shut up!” That did it!

    “Alright. I’ve had enough. You keep telling me to hush but I don’t know what for! So there was a rustle in the bushes. Big deal. There’s a lot of animals out here. It could’ve been one of them. And then, you just stopped without warning! So I have a right to speak my mi–?!” Krysin squeaked.

    A giant bird swooped down from the sky. It was larger than any other bird she has ever seen. She stared wide-eyed as it turned towards her. Its massive wings sprayed out, blocking her view of Cain. The bird suddenly shrilled into the air with a paralyzing scream. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t call for help as well. The scream was so loud that Krystin had to crouch down and cover her ears. There was nothing she could do.

    The seemingly endless shrill voice of the bird suddenly stopped, but it still rang long in her head and she remained completely paralyzed. Meanwhile, Cain was suffering the same thing. The sound was unbearable. He had no other choice but to use ‘that’. But, he had to make sure she wasn’t watching at the moment. Dumb girl. When I say be quiet, I expect you to do so. I’m sure you’ll remember this when I’m done. Phasfers aren’t as apathetic as this. You’re lucky there’s just one,” Cain thought as he watched her crouch down, immobilized. Still, I wonder what this one is doing here…and out of the flock as well. They never hunt alone, he couldn’t help but thinking as he clutched at the cloth wrapped around his head.

    When he was sure that she wouldn’t be able to watch, Cain made his move. He pulled the cloth on his forehead off and his sheen, semi-black tresses fell out of their hold in their tail. Printed on his forehead like a tattoo was a black crescent moon. As if it lived off of air or light, it started shining a dark light. This allowed him mobility, and he stood up, his eyes remaining closed. A black vortex swirled around him and whipped his hair clothes.

    Objects of all kinds were being thrown everywhere because of the vortex. All of a sudden, he flashed his eyes open. Their deep blue glowed like a blue sun on fire. Their shade brightens up to a sapphire while it gleamed in the sun. His hair lost its black to the vortex and turned silver as if bleached.

    He reached behind his back and groped at the wooden handle hanging there. Cain pulled out a massive hammer and let it rest on his shoulder. He smirked and closed his eyes. Laughing as if he was already victorious, he flashed open his eyes once again and spoke a few words to the bird, “Let the games begin.” By then, the Phasfer was already drawn to looking at him, prepared for battle.

    A S P Y R A I N

    Trudging through the leaves, Alexandra grumbled to herself. “Stupid Cain! ‘Split up,’ he says. ‘We’ll cover better ground.’ Sometimes I even wonder if he’s really my brother!” She sighed to herself. Oh yes, she saw the black light in the forest. Birds have been going crazy the whole time. She strolled on and on towards it, but it never seemed to get closer.

    “You should’ve known by now that you can’t handle things without me. Just look at what you’re doing now!” She didn’t really care if she yelled out to the atmosphere. Everything was scared away already, and all of the monsters would be too attracted to the light. She smiled at herself in triumph. I hope he had heard that, Alexandra thought. In a rush, she picked up the pace from a run to a sprint. “I’m going to catch up before he destroys everything,” she huffed as she dragged out the bow from behind her back. “I need to hurry.” With that, she grew closer to the clearing in which Cain fought in. little did she know, he had company with him.

    A S P Y R A I N

    Her vision was failing her. She can’t give up; they needed help. Trying one last time to get up, she managed to move her fingers, and then her arms. The effects of the Phasfer’s cry are starting to die down. She pulled her arms out in front of her and attempted to pull herself up enough to see everything. But by doing that, her vision seemed to blur even more.

    Krystin’s ears were starting to get better as well. Soon, she was able to hear this light whistle. It was such a soothing sound. Maybe that was what was healing her. But…where was it coming from? She tried so hard to get up and look around. Her vision seemed to get even worse. It was black all around; the forest green Phasfer bird was starting to fade but her ears were improving immensely. Maybe it was a sign effect of the whistle? Nothing made sense anymore. She decided to give up soon...