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So I decided to try writing in first person, ya know, just to try getting more into the character. I hope y’all don’t mind!

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As I strapped the bandage around my arm, I was amazed that the dinosaur was so strong he had ripped through my shoulder guard and completely shredded it — and I didn’t buy cheaply when it came to quality armor. I tied a tight knot in the red cloth from my cape and then bit my lip when a hot pain shot through my veins. Ha. It was nothing, nothing at all. I have had worse. I am fine.

I had lost a lot of blood, however, and I needed to be careful. Standing up too quickly could result in a faint or severe dizziness.

Even so, when I got to my feet, my head swam, churning like the Silver Sea; my legs started to collapse beneath my weight. Any other time I would’ve said it was all muscle and brains. But not now. I staggered over to a tree and leaned my side against it, then hissed because it was my wounded side. I closed my eyes, squinting them tightly shut as I heard and felt my heart pounding in my ears. It seemed to me like it was beating out the moments till my death. I would die, assuredly, one way or another. I was vulnerable. With this much precious blood lost, I wouldn’t be able to think — or move as well, for that matter. And if I didn’t get food — namely liver or dark, leafy green vegetables and such — I wouldn’t be well off.  And water was important. Clean, mineral filled spring water.

Suddenly, I nearly fell. I hadn’t had water or food for hours, and as far as I knew, days. Bad, very very bad. But I wasn’t hungry, and I wasn’t thirsty. Some part of my brain suggested the dangerous magic of the castle, but all I knew was that somehow food and drink could be the last thing on my mind. I needed to focus on getting out and getting my wound cleaned. And staying alive. Alive.

“Even if I wander this God-forsaken hunk of stone for the rest of my life; even if I never get back to Rondona, even if I never see Jezebel or get a proper meal again.…. so long as I don’t die.”

A shudder coursed through my body and I gripped the tree tighter. No. No. No. Death was too much. I couldn’t dwell on that. I had to think of something else. Just staying alive. Focus on what is in your favor, and go against what is not.

At least my sword arm was unhurt. And if I got the proper nutrients, I’d be steadier. But if I stayed here, I’d most surely die. I took a deep breath and ground my teeth. I would get out of here. I would get out of the green house and then get out of the castle: I would get back to Jezebel and the Palace and my duty. I took a weary step, and then another. I focused on that, and my head cleared. I clenched my fists. Ah, I was still here. It would take much more to crush me. I took several deep breaths and cracked my neck — a habit I had when I needed to relax or look even tougher. Yeah. I was not a child or even a man. I was a warrior. I had been trained in the very halls of King Adrian; I had risen to the top of my class; I had gone up in rank after rank. And if I got back to Rondona, I would continue to climb even higher until….

Resolve. A purpose. Fate. I had a life yet to fill. I decided to continue down the overgrown path, and picked up my wayward staff. It would probably come in handy for more than picking out booby-traps. I was about to turn when I sensed a presence — it was Calixta. That girl. I could hear the limping steps.

I whipped around and saw her emerge from the bushes. She looked at me with wide eyes, and after what seemed a seconds thought, warily crept toward me. Just a couple feet away she looked up at me with bright blue eyes. She wore a gruff face and had a rough tone as she said, “Can you walk?” I didn’t answer. I was startled. I suppose I hadn’t wondered where she had got to; she must have run away when the raptor appeared. Didn’t really blame her, what could she have done anyway? Even a man as powerful as I was barely escaped with a life to claim. But I narrowed my eyes. She could have — yet again — put that ax through my back from the safety of those bushes — but why didn’t she?

“Can you?”

Her voice was slightly softer, and I saw what might have been shame and worry in her melting-ice eyes. I forced myself to grin and stepped back-wards, then to the side. She nodded, then glanced toward the brushes with a bit of a concerned or agitated expression on her face.

I looked down at Calixta, and couldn’t help but to think that she was a bit like I was — when I was a kid. Yeah. Tough, willing to hold ‘er own, and with a hurting heart. But I knew where compassion got you, and I had warded it off. I had steeled my heart to the pain of others and kept myself from loving too deep. I could see she was not yet there. She would feel heart-ache someday, and it would break her as it did so many others. But I wouldn’t let myself be broken, and tried to quiet my burning conscience to turn to other matters….

I didn’t feel like I had to put on a show to her and Ehud and the fairy to prove I was steady and still strong; they could tell just by instinct it was not a good idea to try anything rash. But if Erin came around, I would have to make her see that she was to mind her own business. Still, I was not about to turn my back on Calixta and anybody with her — I suspected there was someone following her. But she might try to secretly creep after me, and if I had her out in the open things might fare better.

“I am getting out of here, but you can follow if you may. Just don’t try any tricks, alright?”

I made sure to not give her any condescending looks. I just didn’t want to irritate her so she would be more tolerating and less likely to throw something. Even if she didn’t agree to come with me, she might still try to follow. But I hoped she would just go away, to stop reminding me of what once was.

I turned around, listening for any sounds of movement from her, when suddenly the world around me started to whirl in fantastic colors and I began to get dizzy. “Great___!” I shouted. Why oh why did this keep happening?….

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So, I was supposing when the whirling died down they’d be facing their fear, whatever it was 😉 I think I know what I’m doing for Ahab, but I’ll have to think on it….