Bold Souls

Halfblood

Blake

- Hey Blake, time to wake up! - Denali said and I opened my eyes slowly. I passed out while she carried me back to their tribe. When we arrived everyone gathered around tye little group of warriors to welcome them back. What I have noticed was that all of the snow ghosts were insanely tall, both men and women, except Denali. They gasped in unison seeing my eyes, and gave space for an older man, he was even taller than the rest of them. His well built body was covered with scars at every visible spot and his back was covered with the fur of a grisly bear, with the head of the animal as his hood. He leaned closer to Denali and I.

- Explain. - he said to her and I got off of Denali's back. She pulled straighter and explained briefly what happened. The man grabbed her by her hair and lifted Denali a few inches from the ground.

- You still don't know your place halfblood. You brought an outsider to our home, bringing danger to us all! - despite the obvious pain her eyes didn't even flinch.

- I take full responsibility for the boy. - she said and the leader of their tribe laughed loudly. His wide chest trembled and he released harshly Denali, who landed on her feet.

- If he causes us trouble, I'll kill you first and I'll hang him up with your intestines, halfblood. - Denali bowed and the warriors she was with, along with the other members of the tribe left us alone. She ran her fingers through her hair and turned to me with a smile.

- Follow me Blake. - she headed towards the outskirts of the village, we arrived to the bottom of a cliff and there was a tiny house craved into the wall of the hill. Denali turned around opening her arms wide and with a bright and proud smile she said.

- Welcome home! - than, she whistled and four wolf cubs ran to us.

- Blake meet your new family. Guys this is Blake. - she introduced me one by one to the dogs and I tried to comprehend what was happening to me. After the brief introduction we headed inside the cave house.

- I'll set the fire and fetch some food for dinner until then, - she put a thick blanket around me and pat my head. - just warm up a little and rest. Can't wait to hear your story! Be right back! - she said grabbing a bow and arrows and leaving the house with the dogs.

- What the actual f**k is going on?! Let's think about it rationally. I might be dreaming, but if I'm why am I feeling everything so intensely? Am I in coma or something? Well... Until I have no reasonable evidences, I must stay alive here. But who is she? And why am I still alive? The whole plot started with Prince Blake Wessex's death. He was kidnapped and murdered that's why his father King Edgar Wessex started the great war. She is interested in my story? I don't even have one! I never cared about writing a back story for Blake, since he was destined to die. I'm lucky if I can recognize the king if we meet! OH f*****g hell! If I wasn't that lazy with the background for Blake, I would know why he was kidnapped... At least I know each tribe and noble, also know what they'd do in certain outcomes. So I just have to lay low and let the story unfold with the king believing in Blake's death. Denali arrived back with firewood on her back and on the back of the wolf pups there were two big birds.

- Hi! We'll have a delicious dinner tonight! - I got up and took the logs off of her back.

- Let me help you. - Denali's laughter echoed in the room.

- Don't fret yourself Blake! You are still weak, there's going to be lots of occasion when you can help me in the future. But until you get yourself together, let me take care of these things. - she pat my head and lit the fire in the fireplace. Denali put the blanket back on my back and walked to her tiny kitchen. She lit the fire under the stove and stepped out for a moment. When she came back, she had a jar in her hand. Denali poured the milk in a bowl and started to heat it up. After a couple of minutes she poured the warm milk in two, clay made mugs and handed one to me. With the other she sat in front of me in the other armchair and sipped her milk slowly.

- It is fresh goat milk, I warmed it up a bit more. Do you like it? - she asked and I nodded drinking the warm milk and watching how she enjoyed hers, while Denali watched the fire dancing in the fireplace.

- How old are you? - she asked and I had to think quickly about Blake's age.

- Thirteen, what about you?

- I'm seventeen! What were you doing on the battlefield today? Chained like a slave, and all alone... - her eyes reflected sympathy.

- I don't remember anything to be honest. My past and how I got there is all...blurry.- Denali got up from her armchair and put the mug on the tiny table between us. She walked behind me and started to check my head.

- What are you doing? - I tried to turn back to face her, but she held my head firmly.

- Don't move, I'm checking out if you have any head injuries. But luckily, seems to be none. That would've explained your memory loss, but it could be the shock as well. Hopefully you'll remember everything with time. - Denali sat back in her armchair and kept drinking the milk. My jaw dropped. Who could be such a complex character with knowledge of my world at a savage tribe?! We never designed her! Could it be that our AI technology is this advanced already?! - Denali noticed that I was staring at her.

- What is it?

- I just wondered, how do you know so much of head injuries and stuff like that. - she giggled.

- If you are left alone at a young age, you take every opportunity to learn how to survive! Recognizing issues and their explanations is the key for survival. That's what my father used to tell me.

- Where is him, and why did that mountain called you halfblood? - Denali got up and grabbed a bucket of water she dipped her hair in it revealing its true color. While the snow ghosts main characteristics were; insane height, white hair, fair skin, ice blue, almost white eyes, strength and uncivilized personality, Denali was totally different. After washing her hair, I could see in the dim light that it had a dark silver color. Her eyes were red as blood, her skin a bit darker than the other snow ghosts, but still pretty fair, and she was much shorter than the others from the tribe.

- Faruqe called me halfblood, because my mother, fall for a scholar while she was wondering around the world. My father came come with her and tried to educate the tribe, but they treated him as an outsider all his life. After my mother passed away, Faruqe killed my father blaming him for not protecting her correctly.

- I'm really sorry, Denali. I might sound insensitive, and you don't have to answer me if you feel uncomfortable, but, why did he leave you alive? - Denali shrugged and with a smile on her face she walked to the kitchen and started to prepare our dinner. After a brief silence she answered.

- I guess he couldn't kill the last legacy of his daughter, but whenever Faruqe looks at me, despite being my mother's carbon copy, he sees my father in me. He had eyes like yours, that's why I picked up! - I watched as Denali prepared dinner for us and kept drinking the warm milk. Eyes like mine... Her father was probably from the Desert Kingdom. Red eyes, are the main characteristics of the people from that kingdom, and mostly, dark hair. But there are exceptions. When I thought about that an image flashed in front of my eyes. A red-eyed woman hugged Blake to her chest and kissed his head, saying: Fear no my son! You'll be unstoppable one day but for now, just be happy, mom is going to take care of the obstacles. King Edgar walked to them hugging both the woman and Blake with a bright smile. A tear ran down my cheek as the memory of Blake's character felt too real to be a fantasy.