Chapter III: Falling Onto a New World ~Pyrina

Pyrina walked through the market of Galenia, holding a basket filled with meats, breads, and fruits. It was her shopping day, and it was a gorgeous day for it. There was no clouds overhead, and the town's children took full advantage of the weather. They raced around, laughing and playing. She watched them, smiling, as she went over to another stall. It was an open air market, and venders called out their wares in loud voices. Women gossiped as they shopped, while the children ran and played. She had seen this scene many times before, in all the lives she had led.

She'd seen cities rise and fall, watched as people she knew grow old and die, while she never aged. She recalled languages so ancient, not even the scholars could speak or read them.

Something caused her to look up. All had gone silent. Pyrina watched as a man dressed all in black leading a black horse walked through the center of town. People stopped what they were doing, eyes watching the stranger.

Pyrina was intrigued. Who was this man, and what did he want? She didn't have to wait long for her answers as the man led the horse towards where she was. Something wasn't right. Warning bells went off in her head. But what could it be?

The man stopped the horse, and stood in front of her. Brown eyes bore into emerald green ones. She stood her ground, determined not to let this man scare her.

"What can I do for you, sir?" she asked, trying to be polite.

The man in black looked her over carefully, a small glowing stone in his hand. "So you are the one," he muttered, before pocketing the stone. He stood up straighter than before, an evil gleam in his eyes. "You, come with me," he ordered.

Pyrina glared. Who did he think he was, ordering her around? "I don't think so, sir. For you've given no reason, nor have you told me your name. "

The man smirked. "I am known by many names, but you shall call me the Hunter." He reached back on his horse, grabbing a length of chain. "And if you do not come with me, Pyrina, then I shall take you by force."

Her eyes went wide. She hadn't told this stranger her name! So yet, how did he know it? It would be a mystery for another day, as he advanced on her with the chain. He muttered a word she didn't catch, and the chain started glowing. The townspeople fled in fear, leaving their carts and stalls, not bothering to close them. Women snatched up children as they ran. They sensed something was about to happen.

Pyrina watched as the people fled into homes and slammed the doors, pulling the shutters closed. They wanted no part in whatever was about to take place. She turned her attention back to the man.

"And if I refuse?" she asked calmly. Her eyes flickered to that chain he held, wondering what use he had for it.

The Hunter smirked. "Like I said, I shall take you by force."

Without warning, he whipped the chain out, catching her around the arm. Pyrina screamed, dropping her basket. She tried to yank her arm free, but that only made the chain cut deep into her flesh. Using her free hand, she unsheathed her sword. She swung the sword, fully expecting it to shatter the chain. But what happened next surprised her. The chain didn’t shatter. It fact it grew brighter. Magic flowed from her sword into the chain.

The Hunter laughed. “Try all you like, Phoenix, but my chain will drain your strength and power. You are mine!”

She growled. She would not be a prisoner of anyone! Sheathing the sword she blasted him with a fireball from the palm of her hand. He was knocked backwards, the chain going with him. Instantly she transformed, turning into the Phoenix, a form she rarely used, but it was her fastest flying form. She took to the air, flapping her wings hard, heading towards the nearby mountains. Her home was there, and there she'd be safe.

The Hunter got up, moaning softly in pain. He hadn't expected her to throw out such a powerful fireball. He'd have to cast a more powerful spell on his chains, a spell that would drain her the moment it touched her.

Looking up, he saw she had turned into her true form, the Legendary Phoenix. He got up and jumped onto his horse. Kicking his heels into the animal, the horse took off, following Pyrina.

Pyrina flew long and hard, finally passing over the forest of Endor. There she landed among the trees, turning into a small red bird. As she sat there, resting, she heard a rustling on the forest floor below. Turning her head, she noticed it was the Hunter. He had followed her!

"Come out, little Phoenix. I know you're here," he called out loudly.

His voice echoed off the trees, and she shivered. She had no idea why he wanted her, but he had gone to great pains to track her down. Most believed she wasn't real, but a select few knew better. And they all were dead and gone, having left this world many years ago. So how could he have discovered her?

"Come out, Pyrina. You can't escape fate forever!"

Chills ran up and down her spine. She was afraid, truly afraid. It was a feeling she hadn't had in centuries. Suddenly something flew by her head, missing her by inches. She looked down, and saw he was throwing something at her.

She jumped into the air as another flew by her. She could hear him cursing as whatever it was missed. Taking flight, she flew to another tree, then around it, trying to keep them between her and him. But as she heard hoofbeats, she knew that plan wouldn't work for long.

Just as she thought she was safe, having flown around a large tree and settling between some leaves, a bolt flew at her, striking her in the chest. She screamed in pain, falling out of the tree. She transformed back into her human form before crashing hard onto the ground. She blacked out.

When Pyrina came to, she saw the Hunter standing over her. He was smiling.

"Ohhh..." she moaned, rubbing the back of her head.

"Great chase you gave me there, little Phoenix, but the chase is over and I am the victor. You are mine."

Just as he raised his hands to cast some sort of spell over her, a unicorn burst from the woods, ramming into the man. It kicked at him with its forelegs, giving Pyrina enough time to get up and run. She hadn't called for the unicorn's help, so how did it know she needed it? Having no time to think over that, she ran.

She stumbled over rocks and roots in her path, hearing him give chase. Either he had killed the unicorn or it had fled once she was away. She prayed the unicorn was safe.

"There's nowhere to run, Pyrina! I have set up traps and sooner or later you'll fall right into one!"

And right he was. For in front of her path was a pit, covered over by leaves and tree limbs. Pyrina didn't see the pit, thinking it was only more of the forest floor, and fell right in. But instead of hitting the bottom, she kept falling, screaming.

The blackness vanished around her and clear blue skies took its place. The ground was rushing up to meet her, and Pyrina had barely enough time to transform. Turning into the form of the Phoenix, she barely missing hitting the grassy plane underneath her as she flapped her wings hard. She soared upwards, coming to rest on a nearby tree branch. She looked around. Nothing seemed familiar. Where was she? More importantly, where was her tormenter, the Hunter? She let out a sharp cry, but nothing returned her call. She was alone.