Half Breed
Chapter 1: Freedom


That night...
That shimmering star-filled night...
It was the night my old life ended
And a new one began...

Her heart beat rapidly.  Her breath came in short bursts.  Sweat gleamed off of her olive colored skin, streaking the dirt and blood that covered her arms, legs and face.

“Get back here you bitch!”

A note of panic shot through her body, sending adrenaline coursing through her veins.  In the distance, the noise of barking dogs and guards could be heard echoing through the night air.  Her heart beat so wildly she thought it would fly out of her throat.  But she kept running despite her feeling.  Her legs screamed for her to stop running, burning, pain coursing through her calves and thighs.  The pain they caused told her that this wasn’t a dream.  That the freedom she desired for so long was close, and she could almost taste it.  So she kept on running.

She ran towards the Sacred Forest, the largest forest on the continent, covering almost two thirds of it.  If she could get there, she knew she would be safe.  Pushing her body to the limit, she ran into the trees, the echoes of her pursuers growing dimmer, but not disappearing altogether.  The atmosphere grew darker, with patches of silvery moonlight shining off of the dew covered grass.  The adrenaline rush was wearing off, and she felt like she couldn’t go on anymore.  She was tired...so tired, and her body was failing her.  Through her fatigue, she remembered her lineage, that she was part wood elf.  Crouching low to the ground, she concentrated all of her energy on her legs.  Eyes closed in concentration; she leapt up into the air, hands outstretched.  Looking up, she saw a branch approaching her and latched onto it, splintering her hands, making her wince.  She swung herself around on the branch, making a clean landing in a crouching position.

The view from the branch was breathtaking.  She was at the top of a 40-foot tree, in the midst of a sea of silver-green leaves, the moonlight giving them an almost ocean-like appearance, the breeze only enhancing it.  Stars winked and twinkled above her.  Sky, stars, and a sea of leaves, far as the eye can see.  Gathering up what little strength she had left, she leapt to the next tree, and the next, weaving in and out.  The noise of her pursuers had vanished, and she was in a moment of disbelief and utter happiness.

“Free,” she breathed, the words softly brushing her lips like a gentle breeze.  It didn’t seem real...it couldn’t be real.  She gazed at her still shaking hands, almost black from the blood that covered them.  It wasn’t her blood, and she was still shocked that she had actually killed someone.  But her master’s death brought her freedom, and it tasted sweeter than any wine in the World.  

She had traveled a major distance that night, and her whole body was worn out and tired.  Making herself as comfortable as she could, she laid on her back and tried to get some rest.  The breeze played with her long black hair, and she gazed up at the stars in thought.  She had her own life now, and it could be anything she wanted to make it.  Sleep started to cloud her eyes, and her lids drooped lazily.

“There’s something worth living for,” she thought.  “And I’m going to find it.”