The World's End || warriorqueenofcamelot
It was midnight, probably the most dangerous time of day. At least that's what Athaela believed, so she always made sure to be awake at that time. It was easier when she had a companion, as that way she could sleep while they watched the area and she could do the same while they slept. But she no longer had her companion- she was all alone in this dark, gruesome world she called home. It wasn't even a proper home. It was a forest with darkness festering in every corner, every clearing.
But there was no other place she could go. She could not go back to the city she was trained in, they wouldn't accept her there. She couldn't go back to her place of birth, Eefryst- it was overrun now by monsters. There where other kingdoms, though she was fearful. She did not want to chance going somewhere new when there could always be more monsters lurking, ready for the kill- or other innocents like her, fighting to survive.
She couldn't even remember what the world was before this. She was only the age seven at the time. But she remembered the disasters. A virus was what took place first, wiping almost half of the population. Then there was an earthquake, so many lives were lost in that too. And the next three natural disasters after that. All together it left on quarter. It didn't take long after that for the creatures to come. Those who commited suicide or died from fear alone started coming back to life, but different. They were rotting corpses but moving, and they were cold blooded killers.
Out here it was always kill or be killed. Athaela never had the heart to kill anybody she came across, not unless they decided to strike against her. She had even saved a few people, but never stayed around long enough for them to thank her. Her only thought was to keep moving. Keep moving, they won't find you. Keep moving, you'll survive. That's what she told herself. And That's what she was telling herself now.
But noises broke her from her thoughts. Footsteps in the distance. She wandered over to the nearest tree and began climbing upwards. Athaela perched on top of a branch, eyes roaming over the forest floor. She could see one of those creatures, and someone else. Possibly an innocent. She immediately drew an arrow from her quiver, sliding her bow off her shoulder. The next few moments were just a dull blur- she didn't really care for them. The arrow hit its target, straight through the creatures head, between the eyes. Perfect. That's all she needed to see before she made her descent back to ground.
Her life wasn't supposed to be like this. Hiding in trees, killing whatever seemed to be a threat, living in a forest and eating whatever she animal she could kill. No, in the old times she was a Princess of Leidon. She was supposed to be living in a castle, married perhaps by now. And her family should have still been alive. But they were all dead, and she was far from a princess now. She was a killer, even if she didn't want to be. No matter what, she would never be able to wash the blood off her hands.
