//------------------------------// // (Sub)Chapter 30: Walking away // Story: New Beginnings // by Black Alicorn //------------------------------// As the Hunter sped away from the canyon, Wolf off towards the lake. It was so beautiful...The clear blue water was visible even from so high up. But something else caught his eye. The hill, which was overlooking the lake. The lone evergreen standing on it dredged up old memories. He pushed them back. The past was behind him, he couldn't dwell on it. He couldn't let past tragedies keep him from moving on, and he knew this. But the fear was always present. The sheer dread that something would happen to take everything away from him again. - - - - - - "Damn it Wolf, don't let fear control you!" - - - - - - The voice...that damn voice...He couldn't get it out of his head, no matter how much he wanted to, no matter how much he knew it was right. But then the harsh voice of his instructor was replaced by a much more gentle one, one he could never ignore. - - - - - - "You should always face your fears..." - - - - - - The second voice, Nyx's voice, was what he needed to hear. Now he knew, without a doubt, what he had to do. "Set her down Sam..." The beeps eminating from the Hunter's front were barely audible over the roar of it's engines. But he knew what Sam was trying to say. "You heard me Sam, set her down, and take her back to the hangar. She's done for the day." The Hunter banked to the left, and with a sharp turn was heading towards the ground. Altitude rapidly decreased by the second as the Hunter went lower and lower. With a sudden change in nose angle, the Hunter slowed down almost to a complete stop above the ground. It's engine shifted it's angle, now pointing downwards. It slowly descended further to the ground, hovering a few feet above it. Wolf took the chance and jumped off. He winced a bit as a sudden surge of pain came from his leg. Those paramedics back at the edge of the forest did a good job patching up his leg, but it still hurt. He looked around a bit, trying to locate the hill. He found it, just couple hundred meters behind him. He began a slow but steady limp in that direction, letting the crisp, cool breeze blow in his face. A few minutes later and he has reached the top of the hill. He just stared off into the distance. Then he realizes how a vast new world was given to him. Was it fate, divine intervention, or just sheer dumb luck? He didn't know, and to tell the truth he really didn't care much. What he did know was that this was a fresh start, a new beggining. And in order to seize it to it's fullest potential he had to leave his dark past behind him. Forget the hardships, forget the heartbreaks, and move on. He felt something on his neck. Something he had forgotten was there. He reached into his shirt and pulled it out. The necklace. The necklace he had been wearing and hadn't taken off, at least not willingly, for six straight years. He knew where it came from all too well. He still remembered every detail about her. Her long golden hair, her bright green eyes, and her smile. Everytime she smiled at him, he could almost forget everything. Forget the bugs, the war, his duty... Until she finally left him. * * * * * (And just a bit of music... something that fits the scene... * * * * * - - - - - "COUGAR!!!" - - - - - He winced a bit at that one memory that had plagued him every day since she died. He let single tear flow from his face and fall to the green blue gem in the middle. She was gone now, and he knew that nothing could bring her back. So what was the point? He smiled at the necklace as he ripped it off his neck. He held it in his hand, just looking at it, letting the metal cord dangle in his hand. "We had a good run. But it wasn't meant to last. I know you understand what I'm doing...And although I'm leaving it all behind, I'll always remember you. Goodbye, Cou-" He stopped as he remembered one certain thing. "-Sarah." Gazing off into the lake before him, he took one last deep breath before he threw the necklace into the lake with all his might. As the golden piece of jewlery fell beneath the water, he felt a massive weight lifted off his shoulder. He took another deep breath. The air was so much cleaner. Breathing it in felt better than ever before. Everything seemed better. The sky was bluer, the grass was greener...Then another sight met him, which was even more majestic than ever before. The morning sun rose from behind the hill, beating back the lingering darkness of the night. The sun shone in his eyes. He stretched out his arms as he let the suns rays warm him. They felt so good...Everything was so much better in his newfound freedom. For the first time in what seemed like ages, he shed tears, not of sorrow but of joy. With new found confidence and optimism he walked off towards the sunrise, knowing what waited for him just over the hills. No matter what would be said, no matter what would happen, seeing Twilight and Nyx again would be a much welcome relief. He could finally walk away from his past... End (Sub)chapter 30.