I See Fire

The short woman sat at one of the tucked away tables at the tavern. Her food was getting cold as her blue eyes stared transfixed upon the flames within the lantern centerpiece.

Within the flames danced her memories. 

Her home set ablaze, her lover and family devoured by fire. Her people scattered and strewn about as hell beasts laid waste to the entire city. She fought what foes she could along with the other soldiers, but to no avail. One by one another warrior slain. The General’s final command, shouting as he fell, echoed through her mind as the fire of her woes stoked once more.

“FALL BACK! SAVE YOURSELVES, FALL BACK!” the cries rang out.

The woman, clad in golden armor, rushed through the streets to the stables. Taking off her heavy vestments piece by piece so they wouldn’t slow her down. Screeches and yells filled the air. Every corner seemed to reveal a new struggle.

As much as her heart told her to stay and fight, to help her comrades. She had her orders, and her head knew to listen.

Reaching the stables now in only the common clothes she wore under her gilded protection, she wasted no time in getting her mount unhitched.

Her steed was no horse or pony, but a more exotic creature. An albino theropod, something most would call a dinosaur. Large and proud and dwarfed the beasts that whinnied and panicked in their stalls.

The woman took a moment as she was about to hop up on her mount…she wasn't going to leave them chained, to die horribly because they couldn't leave.

Running to a lever at the end of the line of mounting posts, and with a mighty pull, all of the hitchings were released, and the various animals were free to run, to get out of danger.

Her own steed waited patiently for her rider. Then bolted out the second she was mounted.

"Let's go, Limbani. Fast as you can." Said the woman, and as quick as the fires that raged behind them, they took off into the wilds. Away from home, away from everything they'd ever known.

The flames flickered off for a moment in the lamp. Snapping the woman back to the present, eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall. It'd been a year now, and the pain was still so fresh.