I ran as fast as I could through the forest. I did not know where I was going, but anything was better than back in that small cart with people who didn't seem to want me. I did not want pity though; I just wanted to be a little respected. Kygo had only known me for a couple of days and he was already starting to treat me like a plain woman. I was not just a woman! I was his mirror dragoneye, and even though I did not have power now, I would… eventually. Crack! I quickly dove into a pile of bushes nearby. I heard a voice coming closer, than another one. There were two men walking towards me. I chanced a look. I saw one; he was very tall and had black hair. The other was very lanky and was small compared to his companion. As they walked I noticed that the big one looked familiar. In an instant, the tall man pulled a silver knife from behind his back and ambushed the smaller one from behind. I watched the knife come down into the man's right shoulder. I winced has I heard the light thud of the blade hit flesh. He croaked and fell to his knees, staring up at his killer, before he landed in the decaying leaves and twigs. I smelled the release of urine, and tried not to gag.
"Well, now that's taken care of." The big one muttered. I recognized his voice, and shivered. I was stuck in the woods with Ido. My mind started to race. Should I stay hidden, or make my whereabouts known. I decided that I did not have enough food to last me long and I did not have shelter so he was probably my best chance.
"Ido, is that you?" I asked, stepping out of the bushes. I had to be careful; he did have a knife.
"Eona? You did not seem like the type to run away from friends." He stated bluntly, not surprised to see me.
"Well, his majesty and his resistance did not seem to enjoy my company." I muttered.
"That doesn't surprise me either. The people he put in charge of me did not seem too thrilled to have me there."
"Yes, but you did kill all the other dragoneyes and their apprentices. That can be a little intimidating," I replied with a hint of sarcasm, "anyway, I need help. I can't survive out here by myself. I did not have enough time to grab everything I needed. And I have no shelter."
"What makes you think I will help you?" he sneered.
"Well, were the last two dragoneyes, we both do not like Kygo, and as of right now do you really have a choice? I will follow you anyway, even if you do not wish for my company." I counted of my fingers. He looked at me for a few minutes, his eyes narrowed.
"Alright, but do not get in my way, and you must do what I tell you to do if we are in trouble, without asking why." He growled. I smiled and nodded.
It was mostly awkward, walking with Ido. I did not try to start a conversation, mostly because he seemed to be preoccupied with his own thoughts and I did not know what to say. We had been walking for a couple bells and my feet were blistered and sore and I could feel the sharp stomach pains of hunger start to set in, but I refused to complain.
"Look, there's a tavern up ahead. We can stay there for the night." Ido said. I glanced up at the tattered looking building we were going to stay in and frowned.
"Were going to stay in that?" I asked giving Ido a look.
"Yes we are." Ido answered in a matter of fact tone, getting some pleasure out of the fact that I did not want to rest there.
"Won't soldiers be there?" I questioned.
"No, they would stay in the taverns closer to the streets, not ones in the middle of a forest."
"Oh, well then let's get a move on." I muttered unenthusiastically.
The tavern was everything I thought it would be; cheap, dirty, and rundown. The owner could only give us a bedroom with one floor mat. He had told us that they were running low. He had brown teeth, a long nose like the foreign devils, and dark skin. He seemed nice, but a little stressed. With our luck he didn't seem to notice who we really were, but we still used fake identities and purposes. Once we settled in our small room Ido had food delivered.
"I think I saw a rat." I groaned, losing my feeling of hunger.
"This place is not exactly a lord's room, if you have not noticed." Ido stated without concern.
"How are we going to sleep." I asked.
"Well, first we are going to lay down, then close our eyes, and that's how most people sleep." Ido answered, the sarcasm dripping off his tongue
"You know what I mean!" I snapped. He laughed.
"You can sleep on the bedroll and I will sleep on the floor. Unlike you, I am not scared of rats. After all, I am the rat dragoneye. " Ido snickered.
"But you will be cold." I stated.
"Awe, Eona do actually care about me now." He laughed again. I glared at him while I chewed on a dumpling.
"You know, I think staying in that cart with Kygo wasn't so bad after all." I muttered. Again he laughed. I had never seen the man so care free. The thought made me smile.
I was falling through the clouds. Watching as the beautiful celestial dragons circled around me like acrobats in the air. The green tiger dragon swirled around me, his olive muzzle close to my face. Then the lavender claws of the ox dragon appeared in my peripheral vision. Next, my dragon, her stunning features blinding me, but there was sadness in her eyes, in all their eyes. They seemed to be trying to tell me something. Suddenly, a black wave swept through the sky, the dark energy crashing through me. I tried to scream, but it was useless. My lungs felt like they were on fire, I could not breathe. The dragons were nowhere in sight. I looked down feeling something snake around my ankles. The string of pearls from the black folio, they were holding me down, drowning me in gan-hua. I was shaking, cowering under the strength and heaviness that weighed down the cold air. I looked behind me, realizing that I was still in the sky. The ground was coming up fast, but I could do nothing but watch as I fall to my death. I closed my eyes tears running down my cheeks.
A bright light came into view, and then shapes and sounds. Men were standing over me. I looked up, the blurry figures coming into view and I could hear voices.
"What have you done to her?" an angry voice demanded. The voice sounded familiar…Kygo! How did he find us?
"I didn't do anything! I found her in the woods, we walked to this tavern, we ate, went to sleep, and I woke up to her screaming her lungs out!" That was Ido's voice.
"Keep it down! It's still late!" Dela snapped. I opened my eyes a little more, scared that they would be mad that I had run away, my dream already forgotten.
"Wait, she's waking up." Kygo shushed. I sat up and held my head. Slowly, I met each person's eyes. Ido was annoyed, Kygo and Dela were worried, Tozay was impatient, and Meeko uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry I ran away." I murmured. They all gave me a sympathetic, yet stern, look. Kygo looked down, as if to contemplate something.
"I apologize for treating you like you were unimportant. The truth is I'm not going to be able to win this war without you." I knew it took a lot of strength for him to say that.
"I was angry. I did not want to be watched after. I was bored and I couldn't talk to anyone." I explained.
Dela sighed, "Well, I can't blame you, but how did you end up with Ido?"
"We found each other in the forest. Apparently, he had run away also." I said.
"And what were you doing running away?" Tozay questioned Ido.
"I was bored. I needed something to do." Ido stated confidently.
"Yes, well the next time you become bored, just tell me and I will have a pair of dice and irons waiting for you." Tozay responded just as confident. I giggled.
"Apparently, boredom can make all of us do very mischievous things." I said.
"Yes, apparently it can." Kygo chuckled.
"Now for the real problem, why were you screaming so loud?" Ido asked, ignoring our banter. My smile faded and I turned away.
"I had a horrible dream," I murmured, "everything was dark and I was suffocating, and falling, and black energy was everywhere."
"Well, your fine now, we are all here with you and I will let nothing happen to you." Kygo whispered, Ido was glaring at him, looking anxious. Kygo went to pull me up, but Ido quickly stepped in front of him, wrapping his arm around my waist and yanking me up. He gave me a strange smile when he let me go. We all started to move towards the exit and as Kygo and Ido led me out of the small, dingy room I noticed Ido smirking at Kygo, and Kygo glaring at him. Why were they mad at each other? I shrugged, not wanting to dwell on their relationship.
Okay, hopefully since this chapter was long you guys will forgive me for the very very late update on the last chapter; I had bad writers block and a summer job. Anyway, I WILL try better, but no promises. Please R&R! and thank you for all the reviews so far! They really do help
