• P r o l o g u e

    I leaped over a fallen log and landed roughly, spraining my left ankle, but I kept my pace at about 65mph. The sound of leaves crunching under my feet was drowned out by the loud thud of my heart beating. I see you. I gasped and knew I had to run faster, or it was over. Closing my eyes only for a moment, I pushed myself to go faster.
    I sped through a thorn bush, not daring to slow down. I came out my arms, legs, and face ripped to shreds, but I kept going. I couldn't stop.
    My lungs ached, and I felt exhausted, but still I tried to speed up. You can't get away. But I can sure as heck try, I thought. I darted to the left as bark exploded on the tree next to me, the spot level with my head. I immediately knew that I was being shot at. Run faster, I urged myself, or you'll be shot!
    I slipped in and out of the trees. I heard a crack as my right arm hit a tree, I wasn't sure which made the sound, my arm or the tree, but I didn't have time to think about that now. Blood spurted from the spot that had crashed into the tree, but I did my best to ignore it.
    I glanced back, only for a second, but that was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. Not because I couldn't see my enemy. No, that was a sorta good thing. But it was because when I turned my gaze back, straight ahead, it was too late. I tripped over a stump, sending me soaring down a sharp hill, and no doubt, breaking my leg. I tumbled down the hill, hitting rocks, trees, thorns, and anything else that was in my way. I blacked out for a few moments, and woke up at the bottom of the 45ft hill.
    I've gotta get up, I thought. But despite my efforts, I couldn't move. I painfully lead my gaze up to the top of the hill as it appeared. The 7ft creature monster stood staring down at my half dead body and grinned evilly. It had blood red eyes, and a muzzle and ears much like a wolf’s, which included its teeth. It was covered in dark brown fur. A normal human might have thought it was a werewolf, and I'd agree that it did kinda look like one. But no, it wasn't a werewolf, but a much stronger and more blood-thirsty creature, a chimera. You're mine! No, I can't give up, I thought, desperately trying to get up and run, but it was useless. I could hardly lift my head; there was no way I could run away. The chimera started towards me, and I closed my eyes. I felt the warm blood puddle that had formed around me. I felt the pain of all my wounds, and knew that if some how this monster didn't kill me, that blood loss would finish me off. But then the pain disappeared, and I only listened. I listened as the chimera roared. As leaves crunched under its feet. As my heart raced, and then suddenly slowed down. As I took my last breaths...and suddenly everything was silent... I was unconscious or maybe dead...

    C h a p t e r 1

    I half-way opened my eyes. Maybe I was only delusional, from the blood loss, but I swore I saw a boy attack the chimera with a katana. The boy was about my age and had dark brown, almost black, hair. His eyes were a pale blue-ish green-ish color. He wore a long black and white feathered jacket, but he was shirtless. His black pants were belted and had chains, and he wore metal alchemist gloves. Long black wings extended from his back, making him resemble a fallen angel.
    The chimera fell to the ground dead. I was amazed that this random guy had slain that monster so quickly. He knelt beside me and gently placed two fingers on my neck, checking for a pulse. I barely moved my head, trying to get a better look at his face. I gazed up into his eyes, and he faintly smiled. If I weren’t half-dead it would’ve sent shivers down my spine, as it was the first non-threatening smile I’d seen in months. Who was this guy?
    The mystery guy said, “Good you’re still alive,” then pulled me up on his back. I was in too much pain to resist. “My name is Kyo. What’s yours?” He said starting to walk back up the hill, carrying me. “I-iggy…” I barely whispered. “Nice name. You in a lot of pain?” He asked. “No…duh…” I said quietly. “Hm, sorry to hear. How many broken bones? Besides your left arm.” He’d apparently noticed the sling I’d had on my arm, before the chimera had even attacked me. “Mmm…5…”Kyo halfway tripped and slightly jerked me on accident. Taking a sharp breath I corrected myself, “6…”
    One broken bone was in my right wrist, another was in the middle of my right arm. Another was in my left ankle. One broken bone was in my tail (which REALLY hurt). The other 2 were ribs.
    “Ok, you’re also bleeding an awful lot. I’ll take care of that first.” Kyo said reaching the top of the hill an continuing, headed somewhere. “If we don’t take care of the bleeding first, you’ll more-then-likely bleed to death.” He continued.
    I’d opened a ton of my wounds that were attempting to heal. But also I’d cracked my head pretty hard on a rock on my way down the hill.
    “I….still…f-…dizz…y…” I said slowly. “Yep, probably. Well, go ahead and fall asleep…maybe? I donno how good that’d be? But we’ll be home soon.” He replied. And I almost instantly fell asleep, which kind of amazed me, because I was trusting him so easily. Why?
    “Iggy, how are you doing?” A familiar voice asked me, waking me up. “Um, good?” I guessed opening my eyes and blinking.
    I quickly took in my surroundings. I was in a tent, probably Kyo’s tent, considering the fact he was standing over me. The door of the tent was open and outside was a fire pit, and 2 logs about 3 or 4 feet away from it, probably used as chairs.
    I glanced down at my body. I was bandaged up and if I wasn’t mistaken, I’d almost completely healed over night.
    “Are you an alchemist?” I asked Kyo. “Yes I am.” I haven’t healed all of your wounds yet, but it won’t be hard to take care of the rest of them. “Kyo told me and left the tent, then disappeared into the woods.
    I sat down on a log next to the fire pit. I wrapped a hand-woven blanket around myself trying to keep warm.
    Who was this guy? I know his name, but where did he come from? And why’d he chosen to save me? Why was he taking care of me? Should I run away while he was gone?
    These were some questions that were rushing through my head. I gazed at the ashes in the fireplace. They were so simple, but yet I didn’t really understand them, there must be more to them. There always is.
    I reached down, grabbed a hand full of ash. Then slowly released it into the breeze. It was gone with the wind, it was free. Nothing, no one, could stop it.
    Out of the pit and into the wind.