Chapter 6

           I followed this strange large cat into the woods not knowing or feeling the danger it may have held. Grant I was only eight years old . I was foolish and didn't know what dangers was out there. The cat sat down beside a fallen log. The scene almost looked like an outdoor living room area. Completed with logs as sofas and stumps from all the trees we cut down for fire wood as tables.
             We sat there in silence . The cat nor I acknowledged each other . We just sat in silence.
       " You are stronger than you should be little one."
           I heard in everywhere but nowhere at the same time. The wind perhaps but the air was still and at peace. I looked around paranoid I was loosing my mind. Hearing voices that had mouths to speak.
                 " I could not defeat you,and I am trained against your kind."
               Again. What the hell was going on? Why am I hearing these voice ? Where are they coming from? I looked around to see if I was alone . Prickes formed on my back and my skin rose like it did last time I was in these woods. Last time I fought a hooded man doing his best to kill me. He wanted me dead.
                     " You look like my daughter. "
        The voice persisted . Now I was on edge. I closed my eyes and asked my question out loud not knowing if I would get a response.
                     " What was her name?" I said squeezing my eyes shut waiting for something. Anything to happen.
                     "Little one. Names have power in it. It's not wise to relinquish ones name even if it's the dead."
                       I opened my eyes and looked around frantically now. Am I really answering my own question now. I must be going crazy. Then my eyes fell on the cat inches from my face. Standing tall baring it's teeth.
                      I scooted back until I hit the stump the log I was sitting on fell from. The cat advanced on me teeth showing. I was cornered.  I looked at its eyes and I saw a raw need in its eyes . I'm going to die today I thought.
                          I hesitantly reached out to touch the cats head like I did Thunder. The energy I felt from the cat was heavy and vicious right then I knew this was no cat.
              " You should run."
              So I jumped up and ran. This was insane I'm trying to out run a cat. I Stopped and faced the cat.
              " No! " I exclaimed.
               " I'm tired of running. If this is why you brought me here do it. " I dropped to my knees . Head held high. Eyes looking straight. Waiting for my execution.
                       The cat transformed into the cloaked man. Sword in hand . He put the blade to my throat. My eyes now on his glowing green eyes . Marks glowing on his neck and arms visible from his cloak.
                        " I would like to know the name of my killer?" I said eyes lock fear trickling my heart. Show no fear. I repeated to myself.
                          He lowered the blade and shove the end into the ground into frustration. I looked at the blade now out of his hands . I closed my eyes at thought. " Take the blade earth below me."
                 The blade sunk in the ground and disappeared. The man scrambled to reclaim the blade clawing at the earth. His frantic moment made me realize I took what he valued most. His marks on his skin went dull. His eyes shut off like a light switch . Now it was a dark brown eyes.
                  " Give it back now!" He screamed.
                My mind still processing what just happened. Did I do that? Did I take his sword from him? How did I do that?
               " That was not yours to take. Give it back now or so help me." He screamed panicked.
                    " Your name?" I demanded not forgetting any original question.
                      " No. My sword for exchange of my name." He tried to barter a deal with me.
                     " What is this word exchange?" I questioned not knowing the meaning of it .
                " To trade . To replace. Just give me my damn sword, witch"! He exclaimed.
                    " I'm eight. I haven't seen or learned that word yet.  Ex ch ange" I played with the new word on my lips testing out the sound like a spelling bee.
                          " Damn it witch. Give me what is mine." He yelled angerly.
                            " Earlier I was little one now witch." I said aloud as a statement rather than a question.
                      " You said I looked like your daughter and her name had power even dead . Did she die?" I mused as the shock expression on his face paled. It was then I knew I wasn't suppose to hear what he said.
                        " You are more powerful than I was intelled." He replied softer now.
                     " Intelled? " I said the word over and over not knowing what it meant . He sighed.
                        " What I was told." He simplified.
                      " Oh. In  tell ed." I said the word slowly try to pronounce each syllable." Intelled" I shouted proudaa  I said it all together.
                     He looked at me oddly. Then turned his head.He looked as confused as I did when the sword was swollen by the earth before me.
            He paced pushing his forehead as I looked around my surroundings. There was a merky lake beside us and woods .  But I remembered a hidden space me and Scarlett build as a hiding place when we were friends. It was covered by a net under leaves. We would sit there and talk in our own little place.
                         I stood up streching my legs . They were sore from kneeling so long. I backed up as I stretched them out as he pause to look then he continued pacing. I looked around . Where was the tree we marked to show the location. We carved our intals in the trunk .  Wait can he hear me when I think if I heard him.
                      " Big scary cat man." I thought as that was the only words that came to mind. " Hey stupid." I recited .
            Nothing he couldn't hear me. So I ran for the hiding spot. My little legs cut through the woods before he could realize I was running I looked behind seeing him coming  after me. Then I fell in the hole we dug. I looked up in the sky woods in vision.i pulled leaves on me as I heard frantic steps .
                    " Where did she go." He hissed.
                     " Witch." He screamed
                   I waited forever it seemed . I heard footsteps . I held my breath fearing he found me. The blanket I fell on was pulled as I rolled slightly.
             I closed my eyes as hand pawed at the leaves on me. I clinched thinking I'm about to die.
                " What are you doing here?" Demanded Scarlett. My eyes shot open I was so happy to see her at this moment I lept up  to hug her and she pushed me off. She looked around to see anyone was watching . I knew that look. She was up to no good. Last time I saw that look she dragged me through the garden by my hair.
                       Then I ran. I wasn't going to fight her. Not now not here. Not with him in these woods.

                    
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