Kyera was resting on the grass looking up at the canopy, trying to relax away the tension that this forest was causing . Her mind was taking in all the smells and feelings here trying to place this campsite in relation to the Bazaar and the Ash Forest . A chill ran down her spine, and she slowly sat up and looked toward the south .
The forest looked no darker, no more dangerous than any other area but something was off . Kan starred in the same direction coming to stand beside her . "You sense it too?" He asked and Kyera nodded slowly .
Advertisement"The Forest of Ash is crying…" Kyera replied standing, a burst of dizziness rushing to her head as she did . Kan bumped behind her knees, knocking them out from under her . She landed as gently as he could manage on his back .
"Should we investigate? It could be a trap . " He pointed out and Kyera shook her head . She could feel it deep inside, the cries of the fallen warriors . Something was forcing them to be called to arms .
"We can not ignore the call of the forest . Follow the cries . " Kyera replied settling into place on his back . Part of her was annoyed he had knocked her off her feet, but then the other part was grateful . Her body was behaving as though it was quite weak despite the rest . She knew the majority of it was the baby in her womb but something still felt wrong . The sensation of being drained was so… unsettling .
"Princess, are you alright?" Lazren asked seeing she was mounted up . Kyera flashed him a bright smile, she knew he couldn't go with her . She knew the rules of the heir games frowned on escorts entering the forest for the actual hunt . There would be no way to prove if the kill belong to the princess, or the guard . Rather than open up the chance for that misunderstanding, it had been banned for the escourts to leave the camp . Kyera sighed knowing she was going to have to lie . If Lazren knew she was going to the Ash Forest he would never allow it .
"I am going to go hunting . The quicker I get my kills the more the baby and I can rest . " Kyera replied and nodded at Kan . It didn't take but a second for him to understand her expression . The tiger took heed and began to dash into the woods before Lazren could ask further questions . They never saw the concern on the wolf's face .
They traveled in companionable silence, the tension not between them but between their aura's and the forest itself . Kyera could feel the souls of the fallen pulling her closer, drawing her into the trees while Kan felt their utter rejection . He had not traveled this path since the night Keenan died, and for good reason .
"How long has it been since you visited the Ash Forest?" Kan asked, knowing the Princess had been away for a while . Her mind tried to think back to the last time she had been among those somber trees . Sadness pierced her heart as she came to a realization .
"I don't remember . " Kyera replied, her hands gripped his fur a bit tighter . In truth she did remember . How could she forget… but she wanted to . Oh how she wanted to forget those moments beneath the ashen trees . So many things were witnessed by the trees of that dark grove, and the elder spirits called to her screamed her name .
"Kyera, you aren't a good lier . " Kan replied shaking his head as he started to slow his steps, having covered quite a lot of ground . She sighed softly and nodded . She could lie, but it was something she had to work at . Hiding the truth wasn't the same, it was something she had to do for her people and her survival . Lies were fabrications that she wasn't very skilled at .
"I know . At any rate we will have to investigate this and bring back a kill in a hour . " Kyera pointed out and Kan sighed . This was going to be interesting . They were already twenty minutes into the trip, and had another fifteen before she would reach the Ash Forest .
"Alright, Princess . Hold on tight . " He replied increasing the speed and distance of his bounds . Kyera held tight, something still prickling at her heart, like eyes boring into her back . There was no turning back now, no matter what lay ahead .
Chapter end
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