[ OT ] Sunday Free Write : Leave A Story , Leave A Comment - The Dark Gift Edition !

Chapter 7: Kansas 
 
 The crew of the Orange Dragon walked in chains across the vast expanse of the American grasslands. There were only three features on the landscape. Grass, sky, and the people around Augustus. Once the sun had begun to set, the warriors who captured them set up a makeshift camp with a cook fire in the middle. 
 
 `` Do n't try to run off during the night, my new shadows. If you do, I will send you to Chaos with great speed.'' A warrior clad in brown leather and a teardrop shaped helmet said to the crew as he tied them together to a steel post. 
 
 `` Who are you people?'' Augustus demanded. 
 
 `` We are the Storm Riders, the caretakers of the grasslands, and the chosen emessaries of the god of Chaos.'' The warrior said smiling. Before Augustus could ask any more questions, the man had walked away to the cook fire to join his friends. 
 
 They were a strange people, these storm riders. For one, they were fairly shorter than most people on Mars. Their temprament seemed very easy going, and if it had n't been for the weapons, and the fact that he had been captured, Augustus would have thought them a peaceful folk. 
 
 The night was increadibly cold for a summer, and the crew huddled together for warmth. The sound of wolves howling at the moon kept Augustus awake for most of the night. In the morning, the sun crested over the vast horizon and painted the land gold. 
 
 The crew was marched toward the sun again, and for a second day they walked. Johnny got some bad blisters on his feet and had to be tied to one of the storm rider's hover bikes. It did n't look very comfortable at all. 
 
 Luckily, by the time the sun had hung low in the sky again, the group came upon a large concrete structure with the word `` NASA'' on the side of it. Augustus could make out a slab of concrete that went on forever into the distance to the right of the massive structure. To the left were large corn and wheat fields. 
 
 The smooth building was in the shape of a tuna can, and spotted all along the sides were tiny lights of amber where the people inside were preparing their meals. 
 
 The massive gate of the structure opened and guards welcomed the storm riders in. Children who snuck out of their homes looked at the crew of the Orange Dragon with great interest. One even ran up and touched Augustus' boots before being shooed away by one of the warriors. 
 
 The walls were all painted concrete, and were decorated with very intricate drawings of battles, harvests, and weddings. The smell of fried corn came from every corner and the scent made Augustus' stomach growl. 
 
 The crew was taken to a small side room where they were chained to a steel table and ordered to wait. 
 
 An old woman wearing black brought a tray of cornbread for the crew to eat. After a few minutes, all had been eagerly devoured. 
 
 The crew was incredibly exausted and before long, they were all asleep. This did n't last long however, as the steel door slammed shut. Three warriors and the woman who had been wearing steel wings on her back walked up to the front of the room. 
 
 The woman wore her red hair in an intricate braid, and her eyes were green as spring grass. She had a feeling of lethality about her, as if she were ready to kill at any second. When her eyes met Augustus, he felt true fear for the first time in a decade. 
 
 `` My name is Elizabeth Knoll, the priestess of Change, and flag lancer of the Storm Riders. I have decided to spare your lives and grant you the honor of becoming our slaves. Let it be known that it was not by my choice, but by the will of Chaos himself.'' Her voice was smooth, yet harsh, like cold flowing water. 
 
 Amy stood up immediately. `` Slaves? I'd rather die. I did n't come all this way just to work for some feral pack of barbarians.'' 
 
 The insult was lost on Elizabeth, or so it seemed. `` If death is what you wish, I ca n't grant it to you. Chaos has spoken, and I ca n't set you free. It would seem as though you have no choice in the matter.'' 
 
 `` Bullshit. I always have a choice.'' Amy said. 
 
 `` Choice is simply a gambit that our god presents to us every day. If you do n't want to work, I can have it arranged for you to stay locked in your bedroom, but be warned that those who do n't work, do n't eat.'' Elizabeth replied. 
 
 Amy took Elizabeth up on the offer. Over the next few days, the crew learned the ins and outs of the manual labor that was expected of them. They were treated well, but kept at a distance, like a cute stray dog. Eventually Amy got hungry and agreed to do the work. She was so weak from not eating that Augustus worked extra hard so that she would have time to rest. 
 
 On the third week of living amoungst the storm riders, a dark cloud filled the horizon to the east. The black cloud lit up in parts momentarily, as if light explosions were detonating inside of it. Augustus had heard of the great disasters of Earth, and wondered if this would be a kind of heavy rain storm. 
 
 An excited rider ran up and down the concrete halls yelling, `` Challenge! Challenge!'' All riders who had the title of warrior got on their gear and followed him out of the massive NASA building. 
 
 `` What's going on?'' Augustus asked. `` Should n't they get to safety?'' 
 
 The old woman who he queried laughed heartily. `` Chaos has sent us a challenge shadow. He wishes to test the faithful. Our riders will drive out and meet the challenge head on.'' 
 
 `` They're driving into the storm? Why?'' Augustus asked. 
 
 `` You will soon see why.'' 
 
 `` They'll be killed! There is n't any way that they will survive getting that close to a storm like that.'' 
 
 `` If our god wishes to harvest a soul, it is his wish. If he is pleased with our faith, he will spare the riders.'' 
 
 Bewildered, Augustus walked to one of the armoured windows and watched the riders drive out to the storm. The bikes were swift, and must have been moving at over 200 miles an hour. Soon the riders were out of site, but the storm drew nearer. A great funnel cloud appeared and hit the ground. Trees were picked up and tossed aside like playthings. It destroyed all in its path. In a few minutes a bright blue flash hit the bottom of the cloud, and the whole storm began to disappear.
