Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Chapter 26: No Longer on Foot

Star lived in an apartment deeper into the city. It had two bedrooms, one she was using to keep a computer in. “Well here we are! Take a seat and rest for a few hours. We’ll leave later tonight,” she told us.

Ashley and I went into the room less used, which was the one that housed the computer. We both slept about three or four hours that afternoon, turning into evening. It was 5:30 and I woke up to the smell of food.

Sitting up quickly, I remembered that Ashley was sleeping next to me. I woke her, and doing that seemed to confuse her. “Hm? Where are we?” she asked leaning on me.

“At Star’s house remember? Come on, she’s cooking,” I said getting out of the bed. She turned the light on and we took a minute to adjust our eyes to the light before leaving to the room. The aroma was even stronger now that the door was open.

“Ooh, chicken and rice with rolls!” Ashley groaned. Upon her stating it, my stomach growled fiercely.

“Croissants actually,” Star corrected seeing us in the doorway. “Come on! There’s enough to last us until this time tomorrow.” We sat and ate in front of the small TV set in Star’s living room. She was a great cook by the way, which I did tell her. She smiled and replied with a simple thank you.

“So are you two going out?” Star asked. It was such a common question; it didn’t even phase the two of us anymore.

“Nope. Both of us are single. We’re childhood friends is all,” I answered ripping off a piece of chicken and eating it.

“I see…that’s good. I mean a relationship could get in the way and lessen your chances of winning,” commented Star. Then she thought to herself, “It would’ve ruined my chances for having him for myself as well.” She looked at the clock to see that it was 6:30.

“So you’re used to walking long distances, right?” Ashley asked.

“Not really,” she replied. She took a bite of a croissant and added, “We won’t be walking through the plains, I know that much!”

“And why is that? How else are going to get anywhere?” I asked skeptically.

Star giggled and answered, “We’ll ride horseback! As a Demox of Vermendis, I have access to one of the horses assigned to my group. Tonight, we’ll leave around one, so that way, we can get there by at least by 1:45 and we can steal an extra horse before Patrol comes that way!”

Ashley nodded slowly and smiled. “Sounds good to me! How ‘bout you Dy?”

“Whatever it takes to stay ahead,” I replied in now a more serious mindset. Star only looked at me with the same sweet face and turned back to the television. After dinner, we packed our things and helped Star clean the house

Star packed her necessities in a bag and at 12:50, we were ready to move. “But Star, if you’re coming with us and stealing this horse and stuff, what’ll happen when you return here to Vermendis?” I wondered.

The tone of her voice was soothing, even when slightly melancholy. “If I return here, then I’ll be exiled, and treated as outsiders, like you. I will lose any and all memory of Vermendis, though my magic will be fine. Knowing this I’ve long since decided not to return. If I don’t return, they can’t exile me and wipe my memories. I want to remember my home, not return to it…” Star suddenly hugged me tight and I could feel her chest heaving as she silently cried. I wrapped my arms around her delicate frame as Ashley watched sympathetically.

“It’s five minutes to one,” she whispered. Star nodded and stayed close to me. She gathered her things and we left the apartment. She even left her key in the door. We walked in stealth, with only short whispers and motions of Star’s hand to lead us. By 1:50 we arrived at the Vermendian Demox Stables.

We followed our guide as she sped up after telling us that Patrol would making their rounds through here in about 10 minutes. She finally came to her division and we were all filled with excitement to get out of this stinking stable. The smell was almost unbearable. She silently entered a stall and returned with a young brown mare. “This one’s mine! Now wait here while I get the other one.” Almost ninja-like, she entered another stall and returned this time with a boy who was yellow and his mane was black. “Spark’s,” she said. She didn’t want to take it, you could tell, but we were short on time.

Ashley and I mounted Star’s horse while Star hopped on Spark’s. We made it to the city gate and exited with no problems, galloping into the darkness. We made it! We were on our way to victory once more!

Star suddenly stopped and turned, taking one last look at the open space that was the hidden civilization she called home. “Good-bye. I am no longer a Vermendian. I’m a Neravee,” she whispered and we took off traveling under the cover of night.