As Derek crashed through a wall of wet ferns with his black cloak torn at the shoulder, he heard the distant whistle of an arrow and ducked before it pierced the branch above his head, splintering it.
He was breathing hard as he threw himself down a muddy slope, three more arrows with fire at the tips hissed over his head before lodging into tall trees. Oh no, not with fire, he muttered.
Behind him, men were shouting his name and calling for his arrest and execution. “Derek!” Someone roared. “Stop running. It's going to be worse if we catch you.”
“I would,” he shouted back with a chuckle, “but I know being captured is less enjoyable than being free!” A mage's fireball struck the ground beside him sending mud splattering over his head. He fell forward cursing as his boots got caught in a twisted vine.
He had lived dangerously for so long people assumed he possessed a thousand lives and he encouraged the rumour because it was better than admitting he had survived mostly through bad judgement and quick reflexes.
But that night, he was beginning to suspect that his luck had developed a sense of humour.
A vampire king in the mountain region had paid generously for him to procure a rare gem, the Oscal, from a dragon's lair. It turned out the dragon belonged to their king and now he was a wanted man.
Another arrow tore through his cloak as he picked himself up and sprinted deeper into the forest. “Oh! That was my favourite cloak!”
“You're wearing it backwards,” came a voice from ahead.
He glanced up and saw a clearing ahead. At its centre stood an enormous dead cedar and perched on its branch was a familiar creature so vast Derek stopped abruptly with a wide smile.
The roc spread its big wings, each feather dark as the night while its golden eyes watched him with the bored expression of someone who had been waiting all evening for a particularly foolish friend to arrive.
"Shari!" Derek called, cupping his hands around his mouth. "I need a lift!"
The roc tilted her head, considering his urgent request.
[To be continued]
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "I need a lift”.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
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