Page 5 of Pisces Rising
And as she stood on the edge of that cliff, teetering on the brink of doubt, Pisces knew there was no turning back—that her destiny awaited her, whether she was ready for it or not.
"I won't let them get me," Pisces declared, her voice trembling with determination as she thought of that cold dungeon and those shackles.
With a defiant glance at Aries' approaching figure, Pisces took a deep breath and stepped off the edge, hurtling into the unknown with nothing but courage and determination to guide her. As she plummeted toward the waiting embrace of the river below, she couldn't help but wonder what other betrayals awaited her in the shadows and whether she would have the strength to overcome them.
Chapter
Five
Pisces gasped for air as she climbed the riverbank. The rushing water should have taken her with it, but the river lifted her onto land instead. With a grunt, she got to her feet and dashed through the dense forest, the rich, earthy aroma welcoming her as she put as much distance as possible between herself and Aries. Branches whipped past her, and leaves crunched underfoot, the rhythm of her frantic footsteps echoing through the silence of the woodland. Aries was fast, but she could feel the forest come alive with her presence, enveloping her in its maze of leaves and darkness.
She didn't stop until she stumbled upon a clearing, the trees parting to reveal a majestic oak standing tall and proud amidst the sea of green. Its ancient branches stretched skyward, casting dappled shadows upon the forest floor.
Drawn to it by an inexplicable force, Pisces approached cautiously, her senses tingling with anticipation. She reached out a trembling hand, fingers grazing the rough bark, and felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins, connecting her to the very heartbeat of the forest.
Lost in the moment's tranquility, Pisces was startled when a voice pierced through the silence, pulling her from her trance. “There you are.”
Pisces looked up to find a woman perched upon a low-hanging branch of the oak—a woman unlike any she had ever seen before...that she could remember.
Petite and slender, with chin-length reddish brown hair, a lean frame, and striking features, the woman exuded an otherworldly beauty. Her huge green eyes gleamed with intelligence, and her perked ears and prominent nose gave her an air of regal elegance. Yet, there was an undeniable oddity to her appearance.
Pisces’ caution deepened as the woman leaped down like a sprite, almost floating to the ground.
“Chill, water girl. I don’t bite,” the woman said. Something about her demeanor—a playful twinkle in her eye and a hint of mischief in her smile—put Pisces more at ease despite her wariness.
The woman brushed the leaves from the arms of her tight-fitted green leather jacket and giggled, her voice lilting with amusement. "I've been looking all over for you. I expected to find you doing the backstroke with the dolphins. Instead, I find you hugging a tree." She tilted her head with a smirk. “Hm. That’s cute.”
Pisces blinked, taken aback by the woman's unexpected arrival. "Who are you?" She was almost afraid of the answer. Of the two celestial beings she’d met thus far, one wanted her dead, and the other was a traitor. There wasn’t much hope in Pisces’ heart for the intentions of this one.
The woman's lips curled into a grin, her demeanor exuding confidence and charm. "I'm Gemini," she replied, “But you used to know that. Before your memory was yeeted.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm. “And you, my dear—are in quite a predicament. Lucky for you, I’m here to save your ass."
“I’ve heard that one before,” Pisces said, suspiciously eyeing her new savior.
This seemed to intrigue the green-eyed sprite of a woman. “Interesting. I suppose you mean Scorpio and Aries.” She waved a hand as though swatting away a mosquito. “Forget them. They got you into this mess in the first place.” Gemini’s friendly gaze remained on Pisces as she pointed to herself. “I, on the other hand, am here to get you out of it.”
Despite the gravity of her situation, Pisces couldn't help but feel drawn to Gemini's magnetic personality. There was a warmth to her words that filled Pisces with an inexplicable sense of comfort, given the hostile savior she’d just escaped.
"How? Because I’ve had enough surprises for a while," Pisces said, her curiosity piqued.
Gemini's grin widened, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, you'll see." Her voice trailed off teasingly as she extended a hand toward Pisces. "You can trust me. Under normal circumstances, when you’re not Captain Amnesia, we are great friends.”
Pisces shook Gemini’s hand, feeling her trepidation nearly vanish.
“But first,” Gemini said with a clap of her hands, “let's get you out of this forest. There's much to discuss, and time is of the essence. Say adios to the tree, and let’s haul ass before that fire sheep tracks you and sets this whole place ablaze with his big feelings." A melodic laugh sprang from Gemini as she offered her hand again. “Oh, wait.” Gemini looked down at Pisces’ bleeding bare feet and thoughtfully put her fingers to her lips. “That looks painful.”
Pisces nodded, feeling the pulse of each step she’d taken to get there.
“We can fix that,” Gemini said. With a snap of her fingers, a pair of boots appeared on Pisces’ feet.
“Perfect fit,” Gemini exclaimed, reaching for Pisces. “I’m sorry I can’t heal you. It’s not in my celestial DNA.”
Pisces took Gemini's hand with a hesitant nod, feeling a strange sense of trust wash over her. “Friend,” her intuition purred. Pisces sighed in relief and quickened her steps as they disappeared into the forest's depths together. Somehow, Pisces knew that her encounter with Gemini would prove interesting.
Chapter
Six
Pisces followed Gemini out of the forest with a welcome blend of excitement and curiosity swirling within her. The dense canopy of trees gradually gave way to patches of silver moonlight filtering through the leaves, and soon, they emerged onto a paved road, the hum of distant traffic filling the air.