Scene 3

I struggled along. My stomach growled. After a day of moving through the ruins I finally came to th edge of the army’s path. I never knew how much I had missed the grass, trees, and birds until I saw them in the distance. I doubled my pace, eager to be out of the desolation. Soon, I moved through knee-high brush, reveling in the feel and scents of the aliveness around me. I had heard my parents—the thought of never seeing them again clenched my stomach—I had heard my parents talk of a town in the direction I walked. I’d never been outside my village, but I didn’t care except that I had no home to return to, and no parents. I’d heard of people without parents. Now, I was one of them. My friends were gone. The apple orchard where I would occasionally steal an apple was gone. No more would I hear the crowd at the inn on a Saturday night. Although, my father wouldn’t allow me to drink, he would on occasion allow me to come with him. I miss my father.

Searing pain gripped me by the shoulders. Suddenly, I was flying upward. In a panic I glanced upward, breaking out of my self-pity. The large angular body above me flew higher, flapping its bat-like wings. I had been taken by a gargoyle, a creature of the sky. Higher and higher it flew, its talons gripping my shoulders. Blood fell to disappear below me. I grew weak as the creature flew ever upward. The world around me grew red then black as I passed out from the pain. It didn’t matter. I knew I was already dead.