Tale 2: Lost Sunrise
Been 6 months, and got to a new rest stop. I had a dream with some weird person saying stay at the next rest stop until a traveler appears. The only context I had was that it was a girl, and she would come from the sunrise. Whatever that meant, I was going to listen to it. After the hydra, I guess I got jumpy. I started looking around every day, just to pass the time. Saw three different groups come in, but each one came from the west. They never stayed and left almost immediately. I couldn't shake the feeling I had a fight coming alongside the girl. Then, 5 weeks after I arrived, I saw a flash of light from the east after sunrise. I knew enough to follow that flash. Running to the woods, I felt the heat like fire and realized too late that this was not a good thing to run toward. The first thing I thought was another hydra, but instead, it was the smell of rotting meat being burnt to a crisp emanating from a blue giant, and next to it was a brunette teenage girl, wearing smoking yet untouched blue jeans, an expensive-looking jacket, and boots. I had met many people, but she was unlike them. She radiated power, but, at the same time, she was beautiful without trying. "Great job," I finally said. "Are you the one that I need to find, or an idiot who needs to burn?" she responded coldly, but with a teasing smile. "Dreams?" I decided the matter needed to be clarified. "Yup, so you're like me? Yet, I can't sense any power from you. So, either you are normal, or being hidden by a higher up. Me, guess I'm too 'flashy', or something." "Flashy?" I remarked, incredulous that she still had a sense of humor after her fight. "Can't even get a laugh? This will be a fun trip," she conceded. "My name's Lucius, and your name is…?" I asked tentatively. "You can call me Phoenix," she said after a time. "Any first name?" I prompted, not knowing why it was my business. "Names have power, and I need clarification before I reveal my real name, Lucius," Phoenix replied, suddenly serious. "So, you control fire, or what?" Deciding to change the subject, to keep on her good side. "More like heat and light, but there's a lot that is under that sphere of control. Watch." She disappeared and reappeared on the other side of the clearing. "Light travel? Along with the ability to simply overheat anything?" I was amazed at the overpowered person in front of me. She laughed, "Finally, a smile, even if it's small. But I do have limits." "Such as?" I asked, hiding my amazement. The overheat has to be close, also I can't easily stop it." "So how did you just cool down?" I asked. "The monster hit me at the same time I hit it, guess this place stays," Phoenix chuckled. "What do you mean by this forest? You've overheated before? When?" I suddenly felt scared. "The last time? About a week ago just 20 miles south of Maine."...
The journey continues, now two have come together, and the tale goes works its way to the stars.