The pale moon shone softy white in the midnight darkened sky. The winds from the south had changed abruptly that morning, and now had a crisper edge to them. Eerie music of fowl and strange insects mingled and buzzed relentlessly in the rising breeze. A white opaque mist swirled about with a quiet hunger, obscuring the treacherous swamp terrain of rotting logs and tangled vines. The gases from the rotting trees and fungi mingled with the mists; making everything glow with a soft purple faerie light.


Raiana brushed away the mists in front of her with a sharp word of magic. She could do simple magic such as that without him noticing. Her white loose blouse billowed about gently in the cool breeze, and her long dark curls fell into her face, making Raiana shake her head impatiently to clear them.
She waded waist deep in murky water, constantly tripping over rotting trees and tangled waterweeds. Her progress was slow, even though she had been traveling for two days now. Not using magic was a pain, and Raiana frowned as she thought of all the time she could have saved if she could use more without being spotted.


Another log, with weeds to match made Raiana trip and almost fall face first in the dark smelly water.
Damn it! She thought, as she barely saved herself from falling for what seemed like the 10th time that night.
She signed with frustration, and decided enough was enough. Let him try to catch me! She thought with defiance. She knew he would spot the magic use, but pinning exactly where she was, would take more time that she needed for the actual spell.
She yanked the opal and gold amulet from under her blouse. The small intricate runes carved around the black opal stone were already glowing with Raiana’s pent up fear and anger. Reds and sharp swirls of green and blue shot through the actual stone in preparation for the spell. Raiana closed her fist tightly around the amulet and summoned her magic within herself. Hot, sensual as it always was, the magic curled and twisted throughout her chest and lower extremities, making Raiana gasp with the sudden heat of it.
She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, willing herself to control the rush of emotions and burning heat of her magic. She had been away from it for too long, and it was pissed.


The swirling sensations quieted to a more controlled state, and Raiana started to shape the power slowly to what she intended it for.
She pictured what she wanted clearly in her mind, something strong and swift, intelligent and willing to serve her needs.
Gradually a dark mist began forming in front of Raiana, gathering its strength and becoming more solid.
Finally a dark shape flew out suddenly from the twisting smoke and lighted itself on a near, rather large rotting tree trunk with a sharp piercing cry.
The raven Raiana summoned shook itself violently, its glossy dark feathers ruffled greatly and then smoothed back to a more relaxed state. The raven eyed her with a quiet expectation and made a impatient “caw” noise.

“Lead me wise one, through brush and mist, through water and weed. Lead me to my journey’s end”

Raiana stated these words carefully and simply, willing the guide the understand her will and desire.
The Guide cocked his feathered head at her for a moment, then made a sharp cry and started flying ahead of her. Raiana followed without delay.
He went slow, lighting from tree to tree when Raiana fell behind. At least now she could clear this bog in a matter of hours not days, and that was just the lead she needed on the one who pursued her relentlessly.
Raiana pursed her lips with determination and started wading faster through the dark waters. He will not find her before she reached the city; and there at least she would be safe.
For a while.
Short story by me...(I did used to be a writer in high school..)

Old piece, commission, colored pencil with acrylic accents.