Sarid

What am I? I don't know. Who am I? I had a name once, but it eludes me. Where do I come from? It doesn't matter. Where am I going? Anywhere but where I am now. How am I going to get there? The same way I've survived for almost as long as I can remember.

For almost as long as I could remember I'd been on the run, hiding in forests and running through fields. I'd been caught a few times but they'd let me go. I guess they'd thought I was good sport to hunt, being untrained and malnourished made it almost impossible for me to fight back. Whenever they caught me they kept me for a few weeks and fed me well and then let me go. Last time I was caught was five years ago. I hope they've given up.

I looked somewhat human, enough to pass off as a large human at a distant or if you couldn't see my face. My ears were slightly elongated and I had retractable claws on my hands and feet. I also had some feline tendencies, such as playing with my food. These days, with the trackers either far behind me or not behind me at all, I had plenty of time to practice fighting. I knew it wouldn't help but it gave me something to do.

My ears perked up and I sensed heard armor through the trees. Soldiers didn't chase me with armor, it would slow them down too much. I decided to investigate. They were the same race of creatures that chased me, I could here them talking to someone, in the common tongue.

I crawled into the tree and moved above the leader's head. They were on foot and surrounding a wagon with a human girl riding in the front.

"Now where is your master?" The leader asked. "Give us a straight answer, I won't ask again."

She blinked at them, "I think I took a wrong turn back there somewhere. Perhaps I should just return the way I came."

"Doesn't work that way," The leader said. "Now that you are in our lands you are subject to our laws. We can make you a slave and I think I will, at least until I can sell you. You look handy enough knowing how to run a wagon all by yourself should be a hefty price."

They weren't soldiers, that became apparent, they were bandits of some kind. A couple of them said unkind things about the girl in their own language.

I growled and jumped on the leader and held my claws at his throat. I whispered fiercely, "Tell them to put down their weapons."

"Do it," He managed to say. They did as he commanded but they moved to surround me, except for the two holding the harnesses on the horses, keeping them from getting away.

"Tell them to back away," I insisted.

"Or what?" He asked me. "You'll kill me? A few of them are probably looking forward to that."

I heard a few chuckles to back his claim up. I didn't know how to fight that well but I held my ground and grip.

I heard a sigh from the wagon and the girl got down, "Oh bother. Well I guess I can't just leave you here seeing as you were trying to save me."

She disappeared and I felt a hand on my back and an instant later I was in a different place.

I jumped away from her and stared, "How did you do that?"

"Magic," She shrugged. She handed me a piece of paper and I laughed. She asked, "What's so funny?"

"I can't read," I answered. "You're lucky I can speak common. I've been on the run my entire life, well practically."

"Can you read a map?" She handed me the paper again. I took it and she pointed, "That's where you are." There was a small dot. She pointed at the 'X', "That's the location of my tower. You are part human right?"

I shrugged, "I guess."

"Well I guess I should tell you how to use magic and you can practice on your way," She grinned. "Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Kindra."

I remembered hearing about a woman named Kindra when as was very little, but she would have been ancient.

"You must be wondering why I look so young, well it's a long story suffice it to say I've already died once and my body stopped aging after I got back. At least visibly aging," She answered my blank look. "The secret to having magic is simply desiring it. Sounds easier than it is. I want you to break out and give it your best shot before you come to me. I guess I'll see you whenever. Oh and that map won't work for anyone else so don't even try."

What am I? I don't know. Who am I? I had a name once, but it eludes me. Where do I come from? It doesn't matter. Where am I going? I'm going to find this tower of magic. How am I going to get there? By any means necessary.