*POV* Coral Sparks
I followed Finley through the dense trees. I was tired because we had been walking for hours. Finley lugged my luggage bag, as well as carried his own travel pack.
After leaving the castle my plan had ended, I had little to not knowledge of the geography of our world. Following Finley was my best bet right now, I am just happy that I was no longer in the castle or the city.
I tried to enjoy the scenery as we walked through wildflowers. Small birds sang in the treetops as the sky began to change colors as evening fell.
Finley stopped in a small clearing that was surrounded by old fallen-down trees making the place quite secluded and private. "I think we will stop here for the night." Finley informed me.
I plopped down on one of the fallen logs and let out a great sigh. "Finley. Do you think I made the right choice?" I asked him, he knelt on the ground clearing a spot for a fire with a small branch.
He looked up at me with an unreadable experience. "I feel like I am just burdening you, Finley. I don't think this is how friendship is supposed to work."
Finley had already gone back to his work not answering my question and I wondered if he wasn't happy with me for some reason.
He finally stood. "My queen… Coral, I am not here to make decisions for you. The castle was not safe so I am glad to help you leave. What you do now is totally up to you."
He headed off aways to gather sticks, and I wondered again if he wished he wasn't in the woods with an x queen who knew nothing. "I will show him!" I thought and got to my feet.
I headed off in the opposite direction at Finley and gathered small sticks here and there. My arms full and the small sticks poking into my arms even though my sleeve, I turn to start back towards the direction I had come.
I walked for a while but didn't seem to be getting any closer to Finley, fear started to grip my chest as reality hit me. I was lost!
"Finley!" I yelled into the ever dimming light of the forest, I shouted again and again. My throat grew dry and my legs weak as I stumbled and fell. I stayed down for a couple minutes.
A snapping twig sent fear racing through me. 'Was it a bear? A wolf? Or?!" I scrambled to my feet leaving the sticks behind, I ran blindly forwards.
I finally stopped when I couldn't breathe anymore and slumped against a tree. "Finley!?" I screamed into the dark forest as night sounds sprung up all around me. "Finley!!!" My panic grew, I shut my eyes tight telling myself I had to calm down.
Something touched my shoulder, a scream tore from me and I turned to run. "Coral! There you are!" I realized Finley stood beside me with a torch in hand. "Why did you leave?"
I threw my arms around him tightly. "I was so scared!" Finley pulled me back. "Let's get back, you can eat. And don't wander off again!!" I nodded in reply, unable to speak.
We started walking, the torch light helped me feel safe. Finley held tight to my hand. A second later he stopped short to listen. "What is it?" I asked, he shushed me.
A crashing sound came from behind us. "Run!" Finley yelled, as he started yanking me along. I stumbled a little and tried my best to keep up with Finley's long strides. A quick look back showed me a large shadow hot on our heels.
The crashing sounds grew louder and soon the forest around us was glowing. "What is happening?" I tried to ask as I looked over my shoulder, Finley's gripped slipped as I tripped face planting into the dirt.
"Coral!!" Finley yelled as he pulled at my hands, I lifted my head trying to clear it, he pulled me halfway to my feet when the ground under me fell away making me fall.
Pressure built up on my wrists as I stared up at Finley's scared but determined face. "Hold on!" He whispered, but just as he said that one of his hands slipped and I was sent falling a little more.
My chest pressed against the solid earth. "Pull me up!" I yelled to him as panic stabbed into my heart like a red hot blade. "I am trying!" He grunted, pulling up as hard as he could.
I finally let myself look down at my impending doom. I had never heard of earthquakes this severe in all of the history of our world.
A red glow emanated from far in the darkness below me, I looked back up to look at Finley just in time to see the horror on his face as his hold on me slipped.
I let out a scream that could have shattered glass, flailing wildly. I listened to Finley screaming my name until it faded away.
My thoughts turned to what I would think about when I die. Which is what is happening right now, right?
My twins! I tried to remember them. why? What? My thoughts seemed mushed together like no one thought could come to the surface.
I landed hard, I lay stunned, the smell of wet dirt filled my nose and I blinked my eyes and tried my best to sit up in the thick mud and blinking in the bright sunlight. I looked around but all I could see was sand.