Beyond The Well Chapter One.

~Chapter One~

I awake in a cold sweat, dreams, dreams from my old self, from my old future. Even though l can’t remember, somehow l still dream. I reach for my glass of water, drinking the cold fluid to heal my aching and throbbing head. As l lie studying my surroundings in my little dark, cold room, l had fixed up for my family when we made our home in Clovenfast, the chair to my desk was topped over onto its side, and had scratches and some sort of blue mold on its legs. My desk now had a huge ink stain on it from my ink jar tipping over. I sat there watching as each drop of ink plopped onto the ground near my toppled chair. This is not the life l deserve, l thought. I shouldn’t have to wake up to this every morning. I slowly stand to my feet, well, hooves, l feel weary, l grab my red cape off my desk, and slowly make my way outside. It was foggy that morning, no sun or clouds in sight; that’s how it’s been for the last couple of weeks, nothing but feeling soggy and plain. I decided to take a walk on a new trail; the trail l usually took had been washed away by the thunderstorm that had swept into Skree a couple days ago. The trail l decided to take today was covered in rocks, not usual rocks though, rocks that looked like they had been there for ages. I was confused; l didn’t know where l was walking, or where l would end up. I guess l just needed to clear my mind of everything I’ve been feeling, but how do l do that? No one understands me in the first place, not even other Cloven, hardly. Or at least the Cloven who haven’t been healed, but they’re doing fine, so why can’t l? Why do l still feel this way? I need to stop, before l hurt someone, before l hurt myself. I decided to go to town today, maybe l can get some items for my long journey ahead, but what will they think of me? Even if the Cloven are allowed in the Green Hollows, won’t they stare at me? Think I’m still just a melded monster? But l need supplies; all l have in a couple of ropes and my dagger, which will be nothing to provide for myself on my journey. But what if they don’t? What if they don’t think I’m still just a monster. The high king even declared that all Cloven shall be allowed. As l walked down the trail, hoping it would lead me into town, l heard crying. Crying? Who would be out this far? I heard it coming from behind one of the berry bushes that l was walking towards. Then l saw it, something l shouldn’t have ever seen, something out all by itself. A baby, a baby Cloven. I walked toward it, trying to comfort it. It was crying, sobbing even, it didn’t look like any Cloven I’ve ever seen, it was maybe only a couple years old, it probably couldn’t even walk yet. But why would someone just leave it here? I had to help, so l picked up the Cloven in my arms, cradling it so it stopped crying. What was l to do now? I couldn’t leave it here to die, so l took my cape and wrapped it around the child. I need to get you back, back to my home, so we can get you fed and well nourished.