Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 2: Chase

Farrah happily left the shop and made a straight beeline for where she dropped off Tali. Flying just above the ground, there she was waving Farrah back. As Farrah landed, her friend who was gravely worried leapt onto her again. “Don't leave me like that again, not to go back to a place like that.”

“Sorry Talia. I brought you something.” She replied holding the goggles in her hand.

“Did you steal them?” Talia asked shocked, and feeling uneasy about it.

“No, the young owner was pleased to give them to me.”

“Was it because you weren't wearing anything?” Talia asked slyly.

Farrah thought about it for a moment, she felt objectified at first, but was rather complimented that he felt so kindly about her. For a moment she thought about it and laughed. “Yeah, I think so now that you mention it.” Perhaps it was, but at least he was nice about it.

“See! I told you that was a thing.”

“Yes, yes it is.”

The two were rather pleased. Talia put the goggles around her neck as her head was too small to hold them without figuring out the adjustment. Farrah was also pleased, but this joy was shadowed by three winged strangers. Talia took first notice to them directly behind Farrah “Who are they? They look like they want something to do with us.”

Farrah turned around to see them and fell numb. They looked at her, and the middle one, bearing steel plates and a cape called out to her “You couldn't keep yourself out of trouble could you?”

Talia was becoming very well aware of the situation. “These guy's know you, what did you do back there?” Farrah was unable to respond.

“You've been quite the tricky one still having your wings.”

“What do you want with her?” Talia shouted.

“Who... Oh, you are cute.” The man adored.

“Not taking the compliment, what do you wa...” Talia said being cut off

“She, Farrah Shaeleen if I can remember, and her entire race has been exiled for eight years now.”

“Wa... Exiled? What do you mean exiled?” Talia exclaimed.

“They have been exiled, not deemed worthy of living in this country. And as it stands, they are not worthy of Shamlaul soil! Her kind has been sentenced to imprisonment until death.”

“Till...” Talia's pupils became full circles from her cat like slits. “Then, why not send to to another country? Why death?”

“She would die either way. Little one, you will be informed that our country is bordered by the shadow downs, after the cataclysm we rest as an island amongst the shatter splinters of a great void and the ocean long lost in the mists. It is only home now to the creatures of darkness, monsters that arose. No soldier nor magpie alive is brave enough to cross it and it's great divide. Thus, to no transport to assure their leave they are to be imprisoned where they are in our sight.”

“What did they ever do to deserve such a thing?”

“They are corrupt, we of the bird, and those without wings alike suffered under their tyranny. Not one alive bares a pure soul, rotten to the core, as warden I've seen that first hand.”

“Farrah is pure! She would never hurt anyone.”

“Do you believe that?” The warden questioned, tilting his head.

“Yes, I don't know what you know of her, but she is a loving kind person who want's nothing from no one.”

“I've seen her curse my name in hatred, violence and malice, she wants nothing because she can't have anything, or we would show up, as we have today. She fears being found out, nothing more. Even now, she looks at me with resentment.”

Talia turned to Farrah. What the warden saw, to Talia, was fear and pain. Resentment would be a nicer term to use, she had every right to resent this man. “She's been through a lot already, leave her alone.” Talia shouted, prepared to make a break for it.

“I wish I could. Even if I could believe you that she has changed, even if that anger she bares is for me alone, she of all people cannot be allowed to roam for she possess power greater than any other.”

“Farrah.” Talia reached

“Don't try to escape, there are three of us, and one of you.”

“Farrah.” The three men moved, trying to surround Farrah, trying to corner her. Edging closer. The poor magpie sitting there, petrified. “Farrah! Snap out of it, RUN!” Talia screamed. As Talia rushed for her friend, the others caught wind and rushed for her as well. She quickly latched on with her sharp claws and biting deeply, Farrah turned and took flight. The two soldiers leapt forth but were unmatched by their captain’s speed. Talia held on once again by her claws. “Don't worry about me, go! Fly like the wind!” She tried, but the warden caught up in a heartbeat and tackled Farrah. Latching on himself, the claws of his feet gripped tightly around Farrah's arm and wing with one, and her leg on the other side with his snare. She was trapped and in pain as the claws dug into her, Farrah gasped. Tailia climbed to the heel of the warden's leg which held Farrah's wing. The other soldiers hovered as their boss had seized the subject.

“You make me regret allowing you wings Farrah.” The warden called out. “Don't forget it was I who pitied you, a mere child, I chose for you not to suffer the pain of losing them.”

Farrah finally got the strength after some time to retort. “You are a pervert!”

“I have no interest in children! You are still a child, running around bare as the day you were born.”

“OH SACK IT!” Talia exclaimed. Her tail with an odd wispy tip wrapped tightly around the warden's heel. “Now let her go!” Miraculously the tip started to ignite. As her rage grew, many of the strange markings on her arms and legs began to cinder. Her tail exploded in flame burning the warden's leg forcing it to let go. Quickly after he retracted his grip, Talia dived for Farrah's nape. “Fly!” Farrah shook her whole body and broke free.

The warden groaned in pain from the flame still searing without being present. The two soldiers without order dove straight down to Farrah who was making a suicide dive down the edge of the plateau. Into the valley was a narrow passage. Farrah, regardless of knowing the land or not was still skilled at flying with no fear. Life in fear was not worth living. For too long she was kept in prison for crimes she never committed.

The warden came in closely for this straight decent. He, the fastest flyer around, warden who could catch anyone, a hunter at his peek. He came dangerously close to Farrah, remarking to lower her morale. “You cannot out fly me!”

Talia stuck her head out to keep an eye on Farrah's six. She laughed. “Yeah, well Farrah's a maniac!”

Quickly following was another crack to the left, a sharp ninety degree turn with a small window. Though most valley's were open, this bottom was shattered and narrow. She abused the lowest elevation to limit her captor's ability to catch her in fear of crashing into the side if he grabbed her. She tilted herself and flew into the side of the cliff, trying to run against the wall to slow down, she lifted off of it taking as sharp of turn as she could. Frantic, she dashed through the small window into the tangent valley crevice that she saw prior. The warden missed the turn off and halted, quickly as he could recover he took the turn off again and the soldiers followed.

This new path was a dead end, but opened up very wide in the middle. At the bottom was an opening, an entrance to a cave. The entrance was a very thin crevice. In the distance they heard another plate shift, it frightened them for the time until they could tell that it was far enough away to not worry them. Still the sound echoed through the valleys and cracks enough that it could wake a giant. With no where to go but up or take one's chance down below, Farrah dove for the crack as the warden closed in behind. It was a tight fit, but the sooner she got in, the better. She was terrified of being chased and was getting irrational. She hurt herself and began to lose control, in the the dark, maintaining this became almost impossible. The warden flew in as well, a little farther down the opening where it was wider.

Farrah tried to maintain a proper distance from the walls while still going as fast as she could. Talia warned her to slow down but it was not considered. At last she got snagged by something, like a rope. She lost balance and began to fall. She fell and hit many things on the way down, none of which solid or painful. It slowed her down until she flopped onto a slope harshly but not enough to break anything. The strange objects broke her fall heavily. Looking up, she saw many ropes crossing from the sides of the cavern. Like a village of hanging houses, without a structure to be found. She wasn't sure what they were but was thankful. She could see the warden flying down, but she landed in the dark and blended in apart from her white chest and tipped wings. She made a break to somewhere that she could hide and watch from afar.

The warden flying down, cautious, checked his surroundings. For all he knew, she could be well acquainted with this area and be well gone by now, but didn't want to take that chance. She was frantic, he didn't hear her crash into anything, but she could still be easily within sight. His followers arrived to meet him, less careful than he. “Hold” He called out. He lowered carefully but touched one of the strange topes. Instantly before could alert his presence, he turned back, “Leave here now.” He left in a hurry, and his men did too. Strange Farrah thought. Talia concerned.

On his way out, one soldier asked “There are plenty of us to block them in and get them, why are we pulling out?”

“It's not safe in there, reckless as she is, she's probably injured. Even worse, there is a spider in there.”

“A spider? I've never seen one.”

“If you are lucky, you never will. They are fearsom, ruthless, and cunning. It'll look for some way to corner her, and she will die a painful death. I can't say prison is any better, but she would not experience being impaled. And trapped.”

“Have you experience with them captain?”

“I've seen their work, it is not a sight for the faint of heart. I fear for her. I didn't want it to end like this.”

“If she escapes?”

“She has my respect.” The warden admitted gravely. The soldiers were quiet for some time exiting the valley “And we apprehend her properly next time.”

It was dark, dry, rather musty smelling. The hole was a great underground chasm. There were a few corners that could be found, but mostly it was round and tall. Talia was certain the guards turned back for a good reason, and after noticing the ropes, she was pretty certain she knew why. “Farrah.” She quietly whispered. “I think we are in great danger.”

“We are?” Farrah responded weak and blunt.

“Shh! Shh...” She listened to hear any noises such as footsteps. “We need to get out of here.”

“I'm not sure we can.” exhaustively still parched from her struggle. She was as quiet as she could muster. Without just breathing her words.

“I know, they are probably out there watching to see if we leave.”

“No,” Farrah informed “My arm is hurt.”

Talia, tired of being frightened, found another ounce of terror in her. “What do you mean it's hurt? Can it move, is it broken?”

“No, it's really sore. I don't think I could fly for too long before giving out. I think I tore a muscle or landed on it in my panic.”

“We have to get out of here soon though. Have you ever heard of a spider?”

“No, what is it?”

“Let' not stick around to find out.”

The two agreed and carefully walked around trying to find a tunnel out. They did not have much success, but in their troubles they crossed a stream. The water was fresh, not muddy, and ran across solid rock. “I wonder where it goes...” Farrah muttered to herself.

“Brilliant!” Talia replied, instantly covering her mouth having given off their location. “It has to go somewhere” She whispered with her hands still holding her mouth. “Either way, I think spiders hate water more than even cats do. If it saves my life I'm jumping in that thing and finding out where it exits.”

Farrah nodded her head, and started to walk down the stream. Talia turned around to check for an audience but couldn't spot anything. She didn't feel safe, but she trekked on to follow her friend. Both of them were pretty sure none of them could deal with this legend of horror. At last, the cavern lead to a small crevice of fractured rock that at one point split, probably with the valley above. In there was a tight entrance and a waterway, something to lead to freedom. Hopefully.

“Dark, isn't it?” Talia’s small voice whispered out from the abyss, though no distinct notion could be seen, it was followed by a timid nod and the following a much quicker pace.

Through the passage they found little to settle their nerves, only the sound and cold chill of water run beneath them. They were fortunate, the water kept them on track and it did not once stray. This small passage was mostly formed by the same stream that guided them. Caves and caverns were dangerous places for anyone, and in any size of pit, they are far too unstable. The tunnel reached an opening as would best describe this opening. Along the straight narrow passage was a wall in which another plate had cracked, warped the passage and proceeded downward. Merely a drop as tall as Farrah though, this collide had caused the corners to chip away and left a small room which was the most comfort they had. They sat there, and listened, only water and the splatter at the bottom of the small drop.

Talia was certain, either their ever looping captor was fallowing quietly behind or already at the exit having laid a trap. She thought it best to keep moving, but Farrah was exhausted and getting paranoid almost enough to stop her from walking farther. She crammed into a corner and rested. “You know, spiders, miiight not be as bad as I made them out to be.” Talia comforted to no avail, “You know, I bet they only eat bugs and small insects. Who knows maybe he or she is friendly.”

“I don't care, I just want out of here...” Farrah upset and distressed, she could only mumble but talia understood. The cave itself was very enclosing, especially to one who also lost her ability to fly for a while. The spider, was far from her concern for now. If anything, her fear of the wardens appearance had her the most shaken. Now she had time to think, it rode on her like a pesky tick, one with claws and fangs. Talia, for the most part, only considered their chances of escaping and nothing else.

“Should we keep going? I mean we should keep going. I don't like it here any more than you.” Farrah wasn't listening, she was tucked against the wall, and entranced by the memory of her narrow escape. “Farrah! Hello.” A dim light flickered in front of her. “Farrah, snap out of it, don't tell me you are going to pass out.”

“No. I'm, I'm fine now.” She said not noticing the ember in front of her “Wait, what is that?”

Talia looked around “What? Did you find the spider, is it watching up.”

“Ah!” Farrah yelped sending shivers down Talia's back, making her tail grow hotter.

“Where is it!?”

“No! Your tail, get it out, get it...” Farrah panicked

“Wait what?” Talia freaked out turning to Farrah

“No, your tail it flew into my face and it's hot.”

“What did you see? You saw something!”

“Your tail... It glows...”

“Oh, yeah, you saw it earlier engulfed in flame.”

“I never got to see it before... It's really beautiful.”

“This thing?” Talia asked grabbing it bashfully. “Yeah, it's, you know, just a tail. You got one too... Except yours doesn't ignite.”

“It has so many patterns on it. It's like the patterns on my quilt when I was young.” Farrah reminisced in awe.

Tallia sighed, “Well, there went the stealthy approach to getting out of here. We should move now, especially now that we had our outbursts.”

“Why didn't you use it as a torch before?” Farrah asked pointing to the tail sadly unseen in the dim light it gave off.

“We would have gotten spotted, though to be fair spiders don't really need any of their million eyes... And... Well, I never managed to light it on fire until now.”

“Never?”

“Well, I knew that I could, I just panicked back there and it managed to set you free, so... I don't really know how I did it.”

“You are doing it now.”

“Barely.” She said as the ember of her tail faded rapidly “It's not something I can just up and do when I want to and not all that well.” Talia explained  then faintly mumbled “And, I'm... Only quarter phoenix...” It was unheard, but Talia paid attention to whether or not  Farrah heard the fact that Talia was rather ashamed of. Instead she heard another noise, a small quick tapping on the walls, very light, very subtle. Her ears perked even more and it appeared to follow them. A shiver ran down her spine and she latched onto Farrah. “Now, now, go now.” She whispered as loudly as she could.

“What?”

“It's here, and it's definitely behind us.” Talia informed. Farrah quickly rose instinctively fearing Talia’s clear frightened voice. Farrah tried to reorient herself in the dark but was interupted by a loud shaking. Another plate had let go somewhere, maybe as a reaction to the first. Underground it was very loud and they felt it much greater than before. Short lived, it ended causing a few small rocks to fall and the tattering sound of fine dirt plummeting into the stream. No one could hear much of anything though, as their ears rang and adjusted the only auditable sound was the fast bantering of footsteps to signify the chase. These footsteps were Farrahs who took advantage of the rock slide to get a head start without their predictor noticing. Sure enough, with all eight legs and incredible speed the cunning trapper set out for the hunt.

The passage shawn a dim light of hope, one of the walls became noticeable, and soon another. Along a long wall was a bright and blurry blade of light that cut into the side. Farrah ran as quickly as her feeble frightened legs would take her. The long passage got taller and taller and more narrow as it went along. She was now walking on a bed of silt that the stream washed in, a very narrow and squishy bed of silt and occasional a sharp rock. It hurt as she ran and the sides became slopes which made walking uneven as the tunnle lead out of a dip and knee high slowing water. Talia, on Farrah's back looked behind to notice the fast following monster. “Farrah, how far until we are free?”

“Not long, but it doesn't look good.”

“What do you mean it doesn't look good. You know I cant see in front of you very easily. What does it look like?”

“A cliff.”

“Perfect, then just jump off and fly away.”

“I CAN'T FLY!” Farrah panicked.

“Glide.”

“I can't glide either.”

“Anything is better than her.”

“Even spikes?”

“Spikes?”

Farrah came across a new cave system which explained the crack through the mountains being as massive as it was. In this cave, it was well lit as below was a mosaic sun set in the earth. Crystals of all forms and sizes littered the ground. They were everywhere with streams of water flowing through them. Beds of seemingly spikes as far as one could hope to ever live to reach out and touch, and in it, there was no bed of earth safe to land upon. Farrah hesitated, for a moment, scouting out somewhere to land. “Farrah!” Talia yelled, “This is no time to freeze up, she's right there, jump, go anywhere but here.”

“I thought you said she wasn't all that bad.”

“I lied, she is a monster. And yes, it's a she.” Talia yelled, staring deep into their stalkers many eyes. “Now jump.”

Farrah took a leap of faith, she lifted out her wings to test her ability to fly before deciding which angle she could safely attempt without forcing too much weight on her sore muscles. This was stopped by something grabbing her in the air, and dragging her down to the ground. The spider had leapt and grabbed Farrah's legs, falling they were stopped and forced to the cliff wall. The predator was not so unskilled as to simply let it's pray escape. This was not a suicidal act as a line of web had ejected at the top, zip lining back to safety, and crawling with her pray to the cliff top.

Talia sprung into action. If it worked once before, igniting her tail proved very effective, it may once again crown her as best asset to the team. Sadly when she tried to give it another go, it only embered and no matter how much she tried, it would not light. “I'm out of juice.”

Farrah was trying her hardest to not be bitten by the poisonous bite. The spider was trying very hard to restrain Farrah but with no extra line to spare she needed her web line to retreat to the top, then she may do to poor magpie as she wished. Dinner, was served.

Talia still tried to free Farrah from the grasp of a monster much, much greater than her own size, which was out of great desperation rather than heroism. Her legs were shielded by a carapace, and Talia's claws could not reach inside the joints of it's thorny appendages. No juice, and too small, she was at a loss to save her best friend. Maybe somewhere along the back she thought. All that could be found was an undesirable foothold on a seemingly centenarian creature. “Hey, granny. Did you know your back is a mess?” No response from the spider who was still fighting to reach the top and secure it's meal. “It is nowhere near slightly to look at.”

“I'll have you too you little pest.” replied the spider as though it were talking to an annoying fly

“I mean really, no wonder you're single, no man would ever want to touch you with an ugly sack like this riding behind you.”

The spider quite fed up with the comment turned her head to Talia and retorted “I'm single because I ate all of my husbands!”

“Whoa, keep it calm, there might be children listening...” Talia remarked teasingly only to be cut off.

“You shut your dam, Ahhh!” It was at this moment that Farrah managed to released one of her feet and with her bird claws she lunged the spider's neck clenching tightly and breaking the skin under its’ carapace. Talia leapt out and knew her work was done. She did not expect to win with words, but this outcome worked well enough. Farrah was frantic as her eyes met with the assailant but continued to try and crush the spider's neck to no success. Now it was her adversaries move. the spider rose to the top of the cliff, and began to work the rest of her legs to pull Farrah under and be cocooned. Swiftly, Farrah released her grasp on the neck and lunged the eyes like a lance. Screams were elicited from the beast as it tilted it's head back to brace the pain. Farrah took advantage of this and twisted her body around loosening the grip and breaking free the last grasp the spider had.With Talia somehow not crushed under this panicked attempt of freedom, Farrah left again. The spider, greatly vexed and furious leapt off once again only short a foot from starting the cycle over again.

Farrah could not fly still, and was soon confirmed after a surge of pain struck her wings. She grit her beak and glided along managing to overcome the pain and push off from the pit below. There was a valley and stream of the water that they followed this leading farther into the great expanse. It was big enough to fit a small village in but neither could imagine living here. The sooner they left the better. Now, the light came straight down in the noon sky from a great opening at the top. There was sadly no exit in the side, and the stream ended in a pool. The only idea to where the water left from there would be an underwater passage deep under the pond. Swimming didn't seem likely but at least the stream got them this far. Farrah lost strength and crashed skipping on the top of the water, and faltering into it's shallow grave.

She gasped air, somehow alive. Sitting straight up she looked around, the water slow running past her waist and making islands out of her knees. Talia, bailed, and was currently freaking out. “Are you alright? Are you injured?... Are you any more injured than you were before?”

“I'm fine. I think... Nothing else seems to be broken. Not yet at least.” Farrah returned at an alarming pace. “I never knew you could run your mouth like that.”

“I never knew you had it in you to run your claws like that.” Talia returned just as shocked. “I mean, you looked ready to kill that thing if you had to.”

“You've always tried to be polite.” Farrah astonished

“You've never showed any aggression to anyone.”

“I guess there is a demon in me after all.” Farrah said beginning to laugh.

Talia followed “Yeah, I guess there is one in me too.” She laughed. “Did you see that, we just fought a spider and survived to tell of it. I wonder if they'll tell stories about us when we grow old.”

“I don't know if we'll make it that long, but it sounds amazing just thinking about it.”

Talia smirked, “Scaredy cat warden just can't handle this.” She boasted

“Nope.” Farrah replied getting back to her feet “Even still, I want out of here.”

“Where to though?” Talia said, looking back to Farrah who was feeling her sore arms. “I mean, up isn't really looking like much of an option.”

They both looked up, and though both knew of them Farrah couldn't fly they still hoped for something. All they saw was a taunting opening in the ceiling and vines dangling out of reach. It was something alright, something only an idiot would attempt. In the distance fled the waterway into a pool and they figured it was a dead end. The cave was undeniably beautiful and if not for the looming threat they wouldn't mind resting until Farrah’s strength returned. Adjacent to the pond was a hill that climbed to a cliff side, and probably one of the highest points they could reach on foot. Having outrun but not lost the spider yet the high ground was their best option.

“Would it be too much to ask for, that maybe, she fell on those spikes and broke seven or so of her legs?” Talia asked wishfully.

“About now, that isn't a bad thing to wish for.” Farrah admitted mournful despite her fear.

Still, it went higher, the cliff they saw was not the high most point that her legs could carry them. Dangling out of reach were roots and vines from some of the deep forest that used to run through the land before the cataclysm.

“Say... What do you think she is doing down there?” Talia asked looking down to see movement in the crystals.

Farrah looked down as well “It appears she's finally caught up with us”

“If she is trying to be sneaky, she’s doing a poor job of it.”

“Doesn’t make her any less threatening.”

Farrah looked around for her options, even with the high ground they weren’t any closer to escaping. She could try and climb higher up the slope but it got steeper and steeper until she would have to climb the wall itself. Maybe if she was high enough, she might make it to the vines. Though they looked rather weak, Farrah could possibly climb. With two able legs and at least one good arm left, it seemed better than running about being chased in a cage until too tired to flee. She climbed the side of the steep embankment as high as she could before slipping. Talia was still thinking of a plan.

“So I was thinking…” Talia mentioned.

“I’m open to hearing it, my plan is probably less pleasant.”

“Oh good.” Talia sarcastically appraised their situation. “Because mine involved grabbing those vines.”

“That was my plan.”

“I mean, we could try and leave the way we came.”

Farrah shook her head. Back there was worse, and reaching the plateau they left would be impossible.

“Backup plan?” Talia begged.

Farrah found a finite ledge only wide enough for her fingers, one made by a different layer of rock that seemed to crumble easily, she was at her apex. The chances were slim, the bottom of the vines were barely fifteen feet below her. Farrah began to lose her grip with the fragile rock giving way. As she caught herself she looked down to see eyes emerging from the hill below. With a deep breath, the targets she propped herself to take a frightening leap. In a leap of faith Farrah sprung from the wall and carefully used her remaining strength to glide and catch a strand of hope.

In her grasp, a small green savior of line was obtained. This soon snapped under her weight. Quickly Farrah gathered more together and held on. These less green strands were greater in number and size. It was possibly that a bog ran through here once, though they may be destroyed years ago, reminisce of it still remained however very brittle. It stopped her fall, she had about five feet of vine left before she would need to descend carefully should she fall and not grab foothold. Talia shook her head. “You do know you are crazy right?” To no response “This is also why we are still friends because you not boring like the rest.” Farrah smiled.

From below, the spider watched this struggle and began to climb the wall, attentively not taking her focus off for an instant. Farrah tugged herself up slowly, carefully gathering more roots and dangling safety as she came to them. They held her weight but they creaked with every movement and Farrah swore that they were sliding down. She wasn’t sure if she was making progress or not but it was all the poor magpie had. The twinkling glow of sunlight on her as she climbed boosted her morale and taunted her still out of reach. Farrah became aware of her dwindling faith, her arms became shakier and heart pounded more. In the side, that eight legged monster was still after her, almost catching up. Farrah began to speak, hoping the distraction could aid her ascension. “My father used to teach me long ago about how to defend myself.” She started nervously. Talia perked her ears a little to hear the story. “He taught me if anyone grabbed me to just twist my arm and they can't hold on, you can break out of my any grip that way.”

“Well, good on him. Even a warding stone is just a chunk of rock after all... Say, why didn't you do that when the warden had you?”

Farrah paused. “It's not that simple, I did once you broke my arm free, but the warden is very skilled. The way he held me, I couldn't move at all. I had no strength in my free arm to fight back, and the other leg couldn't even reach him. I couldn’t even move my fingers, my muscles were locked. I'm glad you managed to free me like you did...”

“Twice...” Talia replied veering off to the side.

Farrah chuckled “Twice. You're good at making distractions.”

“I'll take that as a compliment... I hope that's a compliment.”

“It is.”

“She's still trying to catch us.” Talia noticed, the spider now ascended near the top. “She’s blocking our exit.”

“Should we glide back then?” Farrah asked but was interrupted

“Don’t you dare.” The cold malice of the spider’s voice made them shiver, the spider ready to pounce.

“Don’t fly, just lead her on.” Talia whispered behind Farrah. “Get out of here!” Talia cried. The spider irked, leaping from the wall. Farrah jumped from the rope, gliding away. A grave uncertain silence was held, all Farrah knew was she wasn’t caught. As Farrah turned to grasp the line again they saw the black beast hit and tumble down the hill.

“And good riddance.” Talia uttered, hanging from Farrah’s side for a clear view. Farrah flopped into the mess of line, grasping them but unable to move, pain surging. Many of the lines were cut with the mad leap of their assailant but this high up they seemed to be stable enough to hold. Fear told Farrah for a little while freezing her in her own weakness. She began to climb again, gasping as she felt one of the lines fall apart. “Don't you scare me like that.” Talia complained

Farrah only hoped that she could make it to the top. The lines that she gathered started to get thicker, and more stable. The spider took a terrible tumble, nothing anyone could survive. It laid in clear sight, legs tight to it’s core. Deathly howls screeched throughout the cavern and the spider flong it’s legs in furious rage. “This thing is unstoppable” Farrah frantically uttered, quickly changing pace.

“That’s what I was talking about.”

Pain seemed to ease as adrenaline hit stronger than ever numbing every nerve, Farrah’s heart raced in a cold sweat. The spider ran to climb the walls as a final attempt but did it in vain. Farrah managed to make it next to the rock as the top was in sight. Once she could get a foothold on the rock, it became much easier and faster. At last, the sight of grass and trees rimming the outside of the hole. As Farrah climbed out of the pit spitting at the spider once more, she jumped with joy. “We did it!” Farrah cried in vibrating joy. Talia agreed “Yeah! We, we are unstopable.” This followed their first order of business, run.

They were far from the pit and soon Talia explained, spiders like caves and as far as they ran, the spider would never find nor chase. Vengeance was the only string tying them to her, vengeance for getting away and for the two of her eight eyes now missing. Anger or not, Talia was sure that it would not surface, nor track them so far from home. Even with that in mind, they didn't want to leave it to chance the thoughts still chilling in their minds. They walked the whole time. Sometimes when it got on their nerves, they’d walk briskly until wearing off the paranoia.

Talia was still uninformed of why the warden wanted the magpies so badly. What could they have done that would cause an entire race to become exiled. They might have been mean, but an entire race just shot out from worthiness. “Say, Farrah, Why did he want you so badly? The warden. He said you were special or something, why is that?”

Farrah avoided the question. After a while of the question being poked she finally replied “I rather not talk about it.”

“He said you used to be quite mean, is it just a grudge he has? Because it’s kind of a thing that people like to stretch the truth when they're upset”

“It's nothing I want to discuss.”

Talia was not pleased with this answer. “Well, we just about got pretty burned because of it.” She noticed the shy bird’s dreary drooping face and decided to drop it. Talia could always pester later. Though Talia had some realization to how heavy of a question this was, the reluctance frustrated her endlessly, especially after today’s events and near death experiences. She was determined to uncover the truth.