Okay! No more Miss Nice Authoress! I'm not gonna make my announcements anymore—
I'm too lazy. So…-closes eyes, spins around and stops- SOREN!
Soren: What?
You're my…muse.
Soren: Why me?
Fine. Ilyana, you help him.
Ilyana: what?
Go ahead, he won't bite.
Soren: -growls and bares teeth-
OO'
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Chapter Four…
The camp was totally quiet. Ilyana walked to her tent, massaging her temples. Outbursts weren't her thing, frankly. Now she was absolutely starving. She casually sauntered over to Zihark, fluttering her eyelashes as if she were about to faint. He glanced at her briefly, but turned back to what he was doing…staring at Lethe.
Ilyana bit back a sigh and walked away, to try her luck elsewhere.
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After an hour, Soren decided to find his way back to camp. Somehow.
As he strolled through the forest, he noticed something different. The scent of flowers had assaulted his senses, the muck dissolved into fresh, green grass. The thick fog evaporated and patches of sunlight shone through the trees. He heard two voices intertwined, a bass and a soprano, rising up into the air. It didn't sound like the death toll he had heard before. It sounded like a life-giving song.
It must be those herons. Ike can't sing for his life. Mist can't hold a note. Titania…goddess, don't think about it! Soren thought with a shudder. He saw fluttering flags in the distance. He had told Ike that they attract too much attention in the dead forest, but now they blended in well. Suddenly a flash of orange impaired his vision and he stumbled backwards.
"Ha! Stupid…beorc cannot keep his balance?"
"…Shut up…"
"And you wear skirts!"
"I said to shut up."
"More like dresses."
"Are you dumb! Silence!" Lethe hissed, and backed into the trees, seeming to disappear. Soren sighed and straightened his shoulders, trying to appear calm. But as soon as he entered camp, the buzz of activity stopped. It was as if someone had pressed the mute button. Slowly, he walked towards Ike's tent. Then Lethe jumped in front of him, in laguz form.
"Visitors aren't allowed right now." She hissed, her haunches rising.
"I go where I want to, laguz." He retorted.
"I mean it. He wants to be alone." She grumbled. "I'm telling the truth."
"…Would you send for me, then, when he has recovered?" Lethe hissed again.
"Thy will be done." She smirked, transforming back to beorc form. Then she walked off to find Ranulf. Soren already had a headache. Dinner was almost ready, though, and a commander, even a tactician, needed to be present at everything.
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Ilyana checked the sky. The sun was almost down. Dinner was almost ready! Almost! And she needed some food right now, or else…
That would happen again. Not that she thought that feet were particularly delicious, but Mia's boots had a food stain on it. It was staring right up at her, just begging her to eat it! What could she do?
Arriving at the dinner area, Tormod was blowing campfires into life. He waved to Ilyana cheerily and moved to the next fire. Lucia was cooking up something that smelled delicious. She probably would've swallowed the whole pot on the spot. Then she saw a shadow standing near the tree line. Probably Soren. What was he doing up? He looked tired when she talked to him. He should've slept. There will be a hostile air as soon as he enters the meal grounds. Ilyana predicted. Maybe I should go talk to him… But as soon as she thought that, her belly growled in protest. Food. Then Soren.
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Well, Soren? Your cue. –Poke-
Soren: -swipes at imaginary contaminated spot-…I don't 'stroll'.
Ilyana: Well, then, what do you do?
Soren: Walk leisurely.
-Rolls eyes-
Ilyana: Reviews are welcome! (As are cookies!)