The+Camping+Trip

**As he ran, more cries sounded and he began to regret escaping in the first place. He came to a sudden halt as a cliff face came into view. He could hear the bushes rustling and the howling getting louder. He knew they were chasing him – they were getting closer. Beck gulped, placed his hands upon the cliff face and began to climb. He heard the wolves emerge from the trees but he didn’t look back, instead, he continued to climb.**
 * As the cry of the wolf echoed over the forest, the fire went out and Beck was left in darkness. He reached for his knife, hurriedly shoved it inside his backpack and started running.**
 * About half way up, hear war cries sounded and the heavens opened. Beck stopped for a moment and tried to steady himself on the rocks. Suddenly, he felt something puncture the skin on his leg. He grimaced with pain and felt fresh blood trickle down his calf. He looked down to see it go limp. An arrow was sticking out of it. Another just missed his head and another wedged itself into his hand which slipped off and he held on for dear life. The rain came down harder and Beck gasped for air as more arrows came his way. He blinked hard and squinted. Reaching up with his wounded hand, he grabbed the nearest foot hole. He repositioned his feet and, heaved himself up the side of the cliff. Arrows continued to miss him, as he neared the top. He heaved himself up and again he gasped for air, but he did not stop climbing. **
 * Thunder sounded and lightening struck as he reached up one last time, grabbing the top of the cliff and pulling himself over. Once over, he stood and caught his breath. Then, he cried out in pain and fell forward as an arrow struck his back. He tried desperately to push himself back up, but his body felt like a ton of bricks. He slumped to the floor. As darkness enveloped him, he knew what was coming, and yet he wished it wouldn’t. He felt something familiar coming towards him, but as life oozed out of him his senses began to fail him and he lay as nothing; a dying soul on the face of a non – existent map in a land of cruel, heartless Gods. **
 * A soft breeze swept over his face and he opened his eyes, finding that he was in the safety of the forest he knew so well. He eased himself up and leaned against the stump behind him. Across from him sat a man smoking a pipe. He was about three foot tall and had a brown beard. Tufts of hair stuck out from his red hat and he wore tatty travelling clothes. **
 * ‘Naraheim?’ he said shaking his head in disbelief. The man snorted and continued to smoke, a look of hatred smeared across his face. **
 * ‘Don’t mind him!’ a woman emerged from the bushes. She had long red hair with green eyes and wore a chain mail sheet that covered her top half. Around her waist was a strip of animal skin, forming a makeshift skirt over her front and back, leaving her legs bare. Furry boots reached her knees and tribal paintings patterned her skin. It was Mendala and she was as beautiful as he remembered. **
 * ‘Mendala?’ he said, astounded. **
 * ‘You better believe it…My Lord!’ she exclaimed. **
 * ‘Lord…what are you talking about?’ **
 * ‘You’re father is dead Beck…I’m sorry!’ **
 * ‘But how…why?’ **
 * ‘Many of us still do not trust you after what you did. Many…like Naraheim…wish you had died on that cliff face. Few…like me…believe you have changed. Do not prove me wrong!’ **
 * ‘How did he die?’ He asked. **
 * ‘That should be obvious…you did it.’ Naraheim replied in a gruff voice. It then occurred to Beck; his father had risked his life for the rebellion, just as Isaac had done about twenty years ago. //What have I done? I deserve to die!// But not now-the rebellion needed him and he needed them. **
 * ‘Where is the rebellion?’ asked Beck. **
 * ‘I don’t know!’ stuttered Mendala. **
 * ‘I said…where are they?’ **
 * ‘I’m not telling you.’ Beck sighed angrily and eased himself up. A tear slid down her cheek. Beck knew that she did not want to disobey him but she had no choice. He stood and limped towards Mendala. **
 * ‘Where are they Mendala?’ he kept asking her. Naraheim was now standing beside Mendala. ‘Please!’ Beck begged. **
 * ‘This ain’t your war... so shove off!’ boomed Naraheim. **
 * ‘You know that’s a lie!’ As Naraheim’s expression remained, Beck began to think he would have been better off on the cliff face…dead! Mendala sighed and shook her head as Beck continued to beg. Naraheim straightened up and sighed grudgingly. Then, he eased off his pack, and reached into it. **
 * ‘I dunno know why I’m doin’ this!’ He pulled out Beck’s t-shirt and animal skin jacket and handed it to him. Beck took them, grimacing as his ankle gave way and he fell to the floor. Naraheim bent down next to him and clipped him round the ear. ‘I’ll tell why I’m doin’ this, because it’s what you’re father would have wanted. Mendala can you please help me?’ She leant by him and placed a delicate hand over his ankle and closed her eyes. After a while, she removed her hand and handed Beck his other boot. He returned it to his foot and stood up. As Mendala turned, he grabbed her arm and kissed her passionately on the lips. **
 * ‘Thank you!’ he said as he pulled away. ‘I didn’t want to betray you…really…but I didn’t wanna die either. This is my war now…where is The Isaac Rebellion?’ **
 * ‘Follow me.’ Mendala exclaimed and ran off into the trees. **
 * ‘’Ow the ‘ell am I gonna keep with ‘er?’ Naraheim complained. Beck smirked and grabbed him by the arm, swinging him onto his shoulders and racing after Mendala. **
 * A horn sounded and Mendala stopped with Beck and Naraheim close behind. **
 * ‘What is it?’ asked Beck. **
 * ‘We’re too late….the war has begun!’ she explained. **
 * Metal clanged against metal as countless soldiers met their deaths. War cries sounded and the rain beat harder. ‘Come on!’ Mendala grabbed him by the arm and pulled him in the opposite direction, heading straight for the battle. As they neared the edge of the forest, she stopped and handed Beck a sword. Naraheim jumped off Beck’s shoulders and ran through the trees, his war hammer at hand. Mendala turned to face Beck and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Now is the time to lead your people to victory.’ She said. ‘You’ll know what to do when the time is right.’ Beck nodded to her and watched her race off into the distance. Then, breathing deeply he ran in the opposite direction. **
 * He neared a clearing and bought himself to a halt, hiding in the shadow of a tree. Camped in the centre of the clearing was the Isaac Rebellion. Beck smiled, stepping out of the shadows, deliberately crushing a branch underneath his foot. The rebellion turned and faced him. **
 * ‘Get him!’ one of them shouted. **
 * ‘Wait!’ Beck gasped, holding out his hands. ‘I’m sorry I betrayed you…I didn’t want to die!’ **
 * ‘Why are you here?’ **
 * ‘I wish to redeem myself for my sins. I’m also here to seek revenge on my father’s killer…I can’t do that without your help.’ **
 * ‘And you have it!’ a soldier in the background stood and held his sword high in the air. ‘For I am Quintus…son of Isaac…I await your command!’ he bowed his head low and lead the army in a series of cheers. ‘Lead the way Beck!’ Beck smiled, leading them back the way he had come and into the heat of the battle. **
 * ‘CHARGE!!’ he shouted, and the Isaac Rebellion raced forward, striking any soldier unlucky enough to get in their way. **
 * Beck raced through the crowd, killing every soldier that came his way. A horn sounded as the rain came down and the commander of the soldiers appeared in front of him. The man grinned at him and stabbed out, missing by a mile. Beck rebounded and slashed out, striking the man across the face. The man recovered fast and swung at Beck’s feet, knocking him to the floor. The man lifted his sword high above his head. Beck tried to reach for his sword but it was too far away. He reached into his belt and pulled out his knife, stabbing at the soldiers gut and stealing his life. He stood slowly and shoved the soldier off his knife, wiping it clean on his jacket. But victory did not remain! Just as he bent down to retrieve his sword another stabbed through him and he fell to the floor. He was dead! **