Lost and Found: The Tale of a Protector part 1

[Sylbrina]

(( This is my first time posting something like this, so please bear with me. It's supposed to be a letter she wrote to someone))

To Whom It May Concern,

They call me Sylbrina. It's my name now. It means "forest protector". I'm barely 20, at least that's what they tell me. I don't know. I can't remember how I came to be here. I will tell you what I remember.

I awoke in an abandoned church in what looked to be a dark forest. It was so dim that I was convinced that it was night. I was wearing a loose shirt with short sleeves and long pants made of tough, dark blue cloth. I was partially covered in leaves and dirt. I rose and looked around the room trying to orient myself. It smelled like wet earth and stale air. I could see my breath on the air. I had no possessions besides my clothing that I could see. I could not remember how I'd ended up in that building. I didn't know where I was at all. I took several cautious steps toward the door frame across the room that no longer had a door. I leaned on the frame for fear of falling from the sudden wave of dizziness I felt. I looked up after the floor stopped spinning. My heart felt as if it stopped and I could not breathe. Outside, mere yards away was a graveyard that had only remnants of a fence. Dozens of horrifying creatures that I instinctively knew were undead shuffled through the weatherbeaten stones.

I hadn't felt anything close to the terror I suddenly felt then. I had no weapons. No way to defend myself. I would be helpless if they attacked me, which I knew they would do upon seeing me. I was afraid for my life and for a single moment it seemed as if time had stopped. I wasn't breathing. I wasn't moving. I was only staring at the zombies. A sudden noise brought time back to normal.

I saw two horses come galloping out of nowhere. Their riders dismounted and began exterminating the monsters while I watched. They seemed to have no fear, no worry of defeat. They had swords. One had a large cat following him. I cringed as my ear rang from several gunshots. I was in awe. The people were collecting something, though I wasn't close enough to see it. My brain suddenly began to scream at me to go to them for help or I'd be stuck here. Without another thought I bolted for one of the horses. I had no sooner reached the plain brown horse when the large cat had tackled me. The air was knocked out of my lungs and it took me a moment to focus on what was happening now. Two men stood over me, staring in confusion. One of them pushed the cat aside and pulled me to my feet.

"What're you doing out here alone and unarmed? Are you crazy?" he said. He had a slight accent, but I could understand him. I looked at them both helplessly for a moment. It was as if I had become mute for a moment. I thought I could feel myself trembling.
"Please, help me," I managed to say before bursting into hysterical tears.

They took me to a nearby town, which they told me was called Darkshire. None of their doctors or magi could figure out where I had come from or why I couldn't remember. They decided to see if I could remember anything by finding out what sort of skills I possessed. It took a week to determine that I could cook, I could adequately practice simple first aid, I could wield any weapon except very heavy ones, and I learned that I enjoyed the company of beasts. I soon had an interesting menagerie that staying in the room given to me out of pity. I tried explaining that I understood the animals somehow, as if they could talk, but no one would hear any of that. They tried teaching me to be a hunter, but I was terrible with bows and guns, even small ones. Occasionally some of the herbalists or healers would ask me to gather flowers for them, since I had my spider Teresa and my wolf(at least I think he's a wolf) Flip to help protect me. I wasn't known to carry anything larger than a dagger with me. When I returned with the plants I'd been asked to get, they were always surprised at how many I'd found. I told them it wasn't hard.

One day I was asked to keep an eye on a small group of children, orphans on their way to Stormwind, while most of the town's guards investigated something or other. I couldn't tell you what it was or why I was asked to watch them. We all went to the inn and I gathered the children around the table. They were all very curious about me. The little girls wanted to touch my hair, they'd never seen hair so curly they told me. The boys wanted me to show them my dagger and let them pet Flip. I was as accommodating as I knew how to be, despite not being terribly fond of children. I remember when the ground shook and I could feel it in my bones; something was very wrong. I hurried to the door and bolted it. I told the now frightened children to get to the back of the room and stay out of sight of the windows. Disregarding my own instructions, I peered out the window. There were civilians running around frantically, and I heard screaming. I couldn't see what was coming, but I ran to where I sent the children and slipped another dagger out of my hip holster. I made a soft clicking noise and both my pets slipped/skittered out of the shadows where they'd been watching the children for me.

Almost immediately I heard a crash in the other room. I knew that something had broken through the door. I whisper at the children to stay behind me and close their eyes until I told said to open them again. I was scared, just like when I'd first woken in the graveyard. I pushed my fear down and focused on protecting those children. I told myself that no one was going to harm them without killing me first, which at that point I knew was very likely. The horrible stench was the first thing I noticed. It was all I could do not to gag. The floor boards creaked and splinted as something lumbered into view. I couldn't have told anyone what it was I was looking at, only that it was most definitely dead and most definitely here to kill us. It's putrid face cracked into what I can only presume was a malicious grin and it began to stomp toward the children and me. I felt my hands starting to shake and tightened my grip on my daggers.

I remember that the gigantic rotting monster charged toward us. I was certain I was going to die, but I felt a surge of bravery(or maybe insanity) and decided that the creature would die with me, saving the children. I roared with a mix of rage and terror and then everything went black. I was pretty sure that I had just died. Imagine my surprise a day later when I awoke in the home of one of the other residents of Darkshire. I was very confused. I was immediately assured that the children were safely in Stormwind now.I was informed by the senior hunter that my pets had been found dead on top of my body. They had given their lives to protect me and I was heartbroken. Both the druid trainer and the trainer of the few local magi were present and staring at me intently. I had gathered various plants for them both. I sat up and stared at the floor. I finally had to ask,

"What happened? How did I get here?"

((to be continued in a second post cause it was too long))

[Sylbrina]

The druid looked at the mage and then back at me. "It will be easier to show you," he said quietly. They led me out into the middle of town and pointed at what was left of the inn. Half of the building looked as if it has simply been ripped away. I didn't understand at first. I gave them a questioning look.
"You did this. There are traces of magic there, bits of elemental dust. We do not know how you did it, but we are certain you did," the mage told me evenly. I looked from him to the ruined building. I didn't possess magic, I'd never been able to do anything so destructive before.

"How could I have done this?" I asked staring at them. Instead of answering me, the druid asked,
"Before you fainted, what happened?" I started to say something impatient, but closed my mouth. This was the second time that I had woken with missing memories. Maybe telling them would help me remember.

"I was scared. I wanted to protect the children. Then, I saw this horrible monster. It smelled terrible, and I knew it would kill us all. I just remember screaming when it charged us," I said staring forward blankly. I didn't remember having any explosives, so I couldn't figure out how I could have destroyed so much of the building.

They exchanged looks and began to walk away. I followed them and they led me to where they spent most of their time. They started showing me books with old symbols in them, asking me if I could read things, if I understood other things. They asked me all sorts of questions, asked me to try doing certain things. None of it made any sense until after the mage back handed the druid and swore at him.

I ran to help the druid up, but he pushed me aside and began threatening the druid's life. I was confused, nervous, and a little scared. I stepped between them and tried to calm the mage down. It was as if he'd suddenly gone mad. The druid said he was defenseless without his staff, which was on the opposite corner of the room. The mage started raving about how he'd kill us both if I didn't stop him, and the look in his eyes had me convinced that he would. I did not want to die.

I balled my hands into fists, preparing to tackle the mage. I felt a rage inside my heart at such a horrible betrayal, after how kind the man had been to me when I'd gathered his flowers. The druid was his best friend...I didn't understand. I remember thinking for a brief second that my hands were hot. The next thing I saw nearly stopped my heart. Without a single word of warning, a ball of fire shot from my direction toward the mage. Much to my confusion and astonishment it seemed to hit an invisible barrier just in front of him and fizzle away harmlessly. The druid suddenly exploded into laughter and the mage started laughing so hard he collapsed on the floor.

When they were all done laughing, they apologized for frightening me and explained that I was a newly awakened mage, which was uncommon for someone my age. They said I had much to learn if I was to gain control and understanding of my powers. They sent a letter to Stormwind, and upon receiving a reply I was sent to Northshire to begin my training. That is why I am here. I intend to use my powers to protect not just the people in the woods, but everyone who needs me.

Yours Truly,
Sylbrina the Protector

((Sorry it had to be two posts. It was just really long. I hope everyone likes it...))

[Azunara]

I like it, really. You never know how you got to Northshire besides you were likely born there, so I think it's neat that it's neat you covered that.

It's sad Flip and Teresa died, though. ):

[Sylbrina]

Thank you Azunara. <3 I had a lot of fun writing it.

[Ikutai]

I like it!

[Turgus]

I enjoyed your story quite a bit.

[Sylbrina]

I am so glad you guys liked it! *blush* A big thanks to Iku especially for inspiring me.

[Azunara]

*mutters darkly.*

All you awesome people are going to inspire me to write something. And that's never good.

[Sylbrina]

DO IT!!!! I require writings of DOOOOM!!

[Ikutai]

I am so glad you guys liked it! *blush* A big thanks to Iku especially for inspiring me.

Aww! You're very welcome!

[TygerDarkstorm]

Very nice, I loved it. ^_^