"Tundra Quenn"

[Dark Siela]

Today seemed normal, not like yesterday when Zion was busy defeating many fiends. He almost was killed yesterday day several times, and today was glad yesterday was over. That was Zion’s most least favorite part of being the towns hero. Hero's aren't hero's if they don't do anything, and that was why Zion was a hero. He always was protecting the town and the towns people.
Today was a hot and bewildering day. The sun was shining bright over the everglades, in the forest in the out skirts of town. Bee's hovered lazily around the gardens in the town, and collected the nectar from the flowers. And pollinated the plants.
The birds sung their spring song, and skipped and hoped around the towns streets eagerly, searching for grasshoppers and other insects. Always flying over to the women in the town that would toss bread crumbs—or if the birds was lucky, a few slices of bread that had gone bad—scoffing them down.
The towns children were busy playing games in the towns. The girls playing hopscotch, and the boys, acting like their adventurers. Today was a busy day in the town and it seemed almost restless. But some of the town's folk managed to lay back and call it a slow day.
Zion was laying back in his bed...in bandages...Rikki was dancing back and forth trying to take care of her other patients. Most of them young children who fell down while playing and got cut on broken sword pieces.
"I swear! Why isn't the black smiths being careful enough to pick up their trash? They should know that these poor children had to be the ones to suffer, because the smiths were to lazy to pick up after themselves!" Rikki said angrily. Mostly it was all a bunch of complaints, but it was because one of the children could bleed to death. Or instantly die because of the broken weapons.
"You swear? Now Rikki, you know it's not good to swear." Zion said, as he sat up watching Rikki with a slight grin. And stifling a laugh. He was about to burst. Rikki looked at him.
"Are you laughing at me?" Rikki asked her hands on her hips looking almost seriously at Zion.
"No, no. Of course not! Why would I be...be..." Zion then laughed aloud not able to hold it back any longer. The look on Rikki's face was just hysterical. Rikki then started laughing too. Once they had both stopped laughing Zion looked at Rikki. "Well, well, well. Rikki it looks as if your busy today. Amazingly busy, I'm surprised that this many children could actually be hurt here in Kakoyi." Zion said his voice sounded sincere and surprised.
"Yes, it is quite...amazing...it's been really busy around here. All the other medics have rather gone somewhere. Or are taking vacation in their own homes. Which leaves only me here, to do all this work." Rikki said her voice sounded almost helpless, and despairing.
"Hey. It's okay Rikku. If I was a medic I would help you but well...as you know, I can't heal worth a dime so...You would probably be pretty well off without my help." Zion said.
"But at least maybe some engorging words! Those help everybody during rough times." Rikki said. Feeling better, but not entirely.
"Sure I could do that for you. I'll give you a list of all the things some men in the town say about you." Zion said giving a broad smile.
"What is it? What is it?" Rikki said anxiously looking at Zion with wide blue eyes.
“Zion! We need your help imedatly!” a messanger said as he poped inside of the room.
“I guess we’ll have to save this for later.” Zion said, standing up and grabing his black hang-down jacket, and sliping it on. He grabed his belt, and puted it on as well. Puted his seath in the belt. Zion then grabed his sword and puted it in the seath and followed the messanger. He ran up the towns hall steps. And almost fell on his face because of being so weak after yasterdays battle. He made it inside and followed the messanger to the council room. Zion then sat down.
“Zion there’s many fiends outside of town and they are aprocing fast. This Elven scout came back here to warn us.” The council head anounhed to Zion.
“The fields were very large and great in number. They were northen fiends. Not comonly seen around in these parts. I ran away because of some hauting voice which loomed and haunted in my head. I would suggest runing.” The Elven scout anouched.
“Run? Are you mad? Your only a mere Elven scout! And you DARE tell us to run?” The head council members asked.
“It was only a mere suggestion...” The Elven scout said cut off by the councils words.
“A mere suggestion? Guards slay this Elf!” they yelled.
"Stop!" Zion said standing up urgently. And rushing in the way of the guards. Grabbing their swords in his hands. His hands were slowly bleeding, and then bleeding less slowly. Zion squinted in pain, then focused once more. "Stay your hand's this isn't our enemy." He spoke, his voice not sounding not he was in as much pain as he was. And he tried to hide his pain further.
"Stop! Guards lower your weapons!" The mayor said. Immediately the guards lowered their weapons and stood up next to the saluting. Zion went on his knees in the presence of the mayor, and would stay there until the mayor told him different. Zion respected the mayor because the mayor brought Zion in when he was little and lost his family.
"Zion. You may stand. And you two do not have to salute." The mayor spoke. And as magic Zion stood up, and the guards ceased their saluting.
"Sir. You don't actually plan on killing this Elf do you, sir?" Zion asked the mayor his voice sounded like he didn't want the Elf to die.
"No, of course not. Guards please escort our Elven friend, outside. If you will." The mayor ordered, in a few minutes the Elf, was outside with the guards. Zion saluted and then ceased.
"Sir. You wish to address me of something?" Zion asked, not thinking anything could go wrong.
"Zion, I am sorry. But your only a townsman not a member of the council. You can't decide who lives and who dies. And you CANNOT stop a decision the council makes, Zion. Zion I am truly sorry, but you leave me with no choice..." The mayor spoke, his voice sounded sorrowful. And the look in his eyes, addressed Zion to know he didn't want to do this. "...I must exile you...Good-bye you are no longer a member of our town." The mayors final words crushed Zion.
"Yes, sir." Zion said saluting and turned away. When he turned away and opened the door and was about to leave, he heard some of the council giggling at Zion's exile. Zion became very angry and left.
First Zion went to the cottage Rikki was at to get all of his other stuff. Rikki saw how angry he was, and knew something bad had to of happened.
"Zion? Is something wrong?" Rikki asked, trying to look into his eyes, but failing. Zion didn't reply. "Zion? Please answer me!" Rikki said, her voice was very sincere.
"Rikki...I've been exiled by the mayor I have to leave." Zion said, fixing his jacket better, and fixing his belt.
"Exiled? Now Zion that isn't funny." Rikki said, thinking he was joking.
"That's the point. I know it's not funny, so that's why I'm leaving. The mayor wouldn't joke about it." Zion said knowingly. His voice was serious, and his expression was grim. He was packing and getting ready mighty fast. And didn't even stop to look at Rikki.
"Zion, please stop and look at me." Rikki asked Zion. He was all ready, and then looked at his sword and then put it in the sheath.
"I can't. I have to leave as soon as possible. Rikki...I'll see you again someday...but until then I must leave. Farewell." Zion said as he started walking out the door.
"Zion! Please don't leave me again..." Rikki said about to cry. Zion was quiet, he couldn't bare talking to Rikki any longer. They were friends for so long, and he left once before. It tore him apart to have to do it again.
Rikki on the other hand wasn't going to accept this. She ran into her house and put on her fighting uniform, which she rarely ever wore. And got her equipment. She ran outside near where Zion was at. Zion was near the town gates speaking with the Elf.
"I am truly sorry...You didn't need to save me from my death...doing so as cost you exile. And all the friends you know." The Elf apologized, his voice sorrowful. "I am sorry!" He said bowing.
"There's no need to bow to me. And don't be sorry. I couldn't just let you die, it would be against my vows." Zion said comfortingly.
"I must go. I feel I am not welcome here. I must leave anyway for the beasts will come and destroy this town and everyone in it. I will leave with you, you seem a trust worthy companion." The Elf told Zion. "Ah, my apologizes. I am Elk. And I am in your service." The Elf named Elk said bowing momentarily.
"And I'm Rikki!" Rikki said as she dashed out from where she was hiding. She looked like she wouldn't take "No, go home." For an answer. "And I am in your service also." She said seriously knowing this isn't a matter to play around with.
"Rikki...fine Rikki you can come along too. And it's a pleasure to meet you Elk." Zion said as he extended his hand. Elk and Zion shook hands. "I'm Zion. And that's my friend Rikki." Zion said pointing to Rikki. Rikki smiled.
"Nice to meet you!" She said shaking his hand. Zion looked at Elk and then Rikki.
"So Elk, your an archer?" Zion asked looking at Elk's bow, that was strapped around his shoulder. Elk nodded.
"Yes, I am. Elves are amazingly talented at bows, and I was trained with them from a young age." Elk explained to Zion. Zion turned his attention to Rikki now.
"And Rikki? What do you know? I don't see any weapons on you." Zion asked. Rikki done a ball of flame in the palm of her hands and her eyes during that time, turned fire red.
"I specialize in black and white magic.” Rikki explained to Zion.
“So we have an mage, an archer, and an warroir? That’s really all we need is it?” Zion said making sure he had everything. “We should get going now.” He said, as he marched off through the gates, Elk, and Rikki following him.

...........To be continued