We Ran, Again

---Indigo---

I was so scared when I saw Linda's broken form lying in Aunt Jenny's trembling arms. I got more scared when Rachel couldn't heal her. When Katherine stepped up to use her healing magic again, I was afraid that she would faint again or worse, pass out and never wake again. But I couldn't just let Linda die. She was my cousin. She was family. I trusted that Katherine knew what she was doing.

At first, I thought even Katherine wouldn't be able to save Linda from whatever darkness was inside her. Then the blue magic swelled strong and a blue cocoon formed around them once more. I don't think Katherine noticed what was happening, but everyone outside saw.

Wisps of black smoke darted out and took the shape of a monster with long claws. Swirls of blue magic became a phoenix. The two shapes dueled. It was breathtaking. I heard Ashley and Rachel mutter stuff about the magic to each other. The villagers murmured in amazement. It was amazing. The monster swiped at the phoenix but it dodged and clawed at the monster. It was a fight between good and evil. Around and around they went, until the phoenix struck a death blow and the monster shattered into a hundred thin tendrils of smoke. The phoenix spread its wings and loomed over the blue cocoon in all its glory. Then the magic was sucked inward, and everything disappeared. Linda woke up.

"Linda!" I ran forward to join the family hug. Aunt Jenny was weeping with relief and even Uncle George had tears in his eyes. Alex hugged his sister tightly and I wrapped my arms around them both.

"They are armed and ready to fire! They're coming for the chosen ones!" another villager cried, bursting through the circles of people till he reached us. "You have to leave now!"

"Wait, armed horsemen? Coming for us? How did they know?" Aaron demanded.

"What did they look like? Any crests, flags, anything?" Lucian asked. The villager, a young man in his early twenties, shook his head.

"All we saw was an army of dark-clad figures heading this way. They have weapons. The temperature dropped, like, ten degrees. I even saw some sorts of magic like she did, except it was a sickly green color and felt evil." He gestured towards Katherine.

"Evils?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know. Could be. But there were horsemen, too, so it has to be partly human," I said. "What do we do now?"

"The proper thing to do would be to stay and fight. We can't let innocent people fight our battle." said Jason, rolling up his sleeves.

"You can't stay here." An elderly man hobbled up to us, his cane tapping the ground. I recognized him as the village elder. "You all must leave. We can delay the army to buy you time. You're the chosen ones. You must not be captured."

"But the village was never prepped to fight," Jason argued. "They will kill you."

"Child, I would gladly sacrifice my life so that you seven can save the world," the old man said. "We all would. We know about the prophecy. We know that you are the chosen seven. And after your help today, we owe you something." People nodded around us. Jason looked at me for help.

"Indigo, you call the shots. What do we do?"

"You know we're the chosen ones," I murmured. "How?"

"It was prophesied, long ago, by a seer who passed through our village. He said that seven shall come our way, armed with abilities beyond our imagination. He said that when trouble fell on the village, the seven will reveal themselves to help and prove that they are the chosen Rosewood seven. And here you are, decades later," the elder said. "Now, you all must leave! Quickly!"

"But what about the village? The women, the children?" Jason asked again, worried.

"Don't worry about us," the old man smiled. "We have our secrets." Out of the corner of my eye I saw people emerging from houses, pulling out crossbows and swords, axes and spears. I saw cannons being wheeled out from barns. I saw many of the older people straighten their backs and take on a familiar glimmer in their eyes. Northbell isn't just any village, I remembered. Most of these people come from ancient bloodlines full of warriors and prophecies. Many of the elderly were once great warriors and maidens on horseback in their youth. And after all these years, they will be able to fight one last time.

"Go, children! The world needs you!"

I turned back to face my friends. "He's right. We have to go. The village is capable of defending itself. We have to go, or everything before now will be in vain." My statement was met with reluctant but grim nods. As much as our fiery souls told us to stay and fight, we knew that there was a bigger war waiting for us. Without another word, I headed for our horses.

"Indy!" I turned around. Uncle George, Aunt Jenny, and my cousins came up to me. "Stay safe, Indy. We're so proud of you."

"Thanks." Giving them one last embrace, I mounted my horse. Aaron helped a stumbling Katherine onto her steed. She looked deathly pale. I reminded myself to tell her not to use the healing magic unless she absolutely had to.

I could see a dark mass heading through the forest towards the village. Meanwhile, orders were shouted, cannons were readied, and everyone suddenly became a fighter. As the approaching enemy cleared the trees, I heard a war cry and the landscape was consumed by smoke and fire and metal ringing through the air.

"Don't let them get away! The lord wants them alive or dead!" came a shrill cry.

"Hya!" I shouted. Willow obeyed my command and took off at a gallop. I looked back to see my friends following closely behind, and we left yet another battle behind with innocent people fighting so that we could escape.

"Where to now?" Lucian called out. I consulted the plan we came up with earlier in my brain.

"North," I called back. "Just follow me."

We thundered down the road, heading for the road that would take us north up to Strongfair.