Here's the chapter! I think I might be uploading faster than I can write, so I might need a few days for the next chapter, but it will be up soon! Please review! Ideas always welcome! And even if you don't live in Canada, Happy Canada Day!
Athena flew to the cove and lit a fire, as a decoy, to offset the guards search. Then she followed the path she remembered to the cave.
When she got there, she saw Talon waiting for her. Beside him were to sail fish.
"Caught you some food." He said. "I know how much you love sail fish."
"Thanks." Athena nodded to him.
"So what did they ask you?" Talon asked, as if he already knew exactly what had happened.
"They locked me up and asked a lot of questions about you." Athena answered hesitantly.
"Like?"
"Where you lived, who you were, how long I'd been seeing you." Athena said between mouthfuls of fish.
"What else happened?" Talon asked.
"I attacked him." Athena said.
"You attacked him?!" Talon said, laughing a bit.
"Yep. Fractured his wing, dislocated his shoulder. Possibly gave him a concussion." Athena smirked.
Talon laughed. "He deserved it." He said. Athena nodded and yawned. "You should get some sleep. We've got to leave tomorrow." He said.
"Where are we going?" Athena said sleepily.
"You'll see when we get there." Talon said.
"Alright." Athena said, and ten fell asleep.
Talon went to the mouth of the cave to make sure that no one had followed Athena there. He turned to look at Athena. She was shivering and mumbling things sadly in her sleep. Talon sighed and came to lie down next to her. She stopped shivering and seemed to calm down a bit. Talon smiled at his friend, and then fell asleep.
***** The next morning *****
Athena woke up to the sun in her eyes and Talon sitting next to her, shaking her awake gently.
"Come on. Get up. We need to get food." He said.
"Then call Sari, she's always up early." Athena mumbled, not fully awake yet.
"Who's Sari?" Talon asked.
Athena looked up at him and then remembered where she was. "Oh. Sorry." She said, getting up.
They both flew out of the cave over the water. When they were far enough away to not be seen, Talon circled in the air.
"I don't suppose you know how to fish?" He said, even though he already knew the answer. Athena shook her head shyly. "Alright, I'll teach you." He said.
Talon spent the next hour teaching Athena how to dive for fish and how to grab the fish with her claws or teeth. Athena was a quick learner, and soon they were both happily diving in and out of the water at top speed.
When they returned to the cave at nightfall, they were greeted by the sight of Connor leading a patrol along the cliffs at the edge of the ocean, right above the cave. If they went back to the cave, they knew they would be caught.
"What now?" Athena asked.
Talon thought for a minute. "I know where we can go." He said, and flew towards the forest.
"Where are we going?" Athena asked, following him.
"Follow and find out." Talon answered. Athena flew in front of him. "Where are we going?" she asked again.
"Trust me. I can't tell you with all the patrols around here. You'll figure it out when we get there." Talon told her. Athena nodded. They flew through the forest, looping around past the cove. They could hear voices when they got close to it.
Talon looked at Athena and gave a silent signal to go into the trees. The two of them leapt from tree to tree until they were above the cove.
The cove was swarming with knights and guards. Just below the trees where Athena and Talon were stood Finley and Joel.
"We have to find her." Joel said, pacing back and forth.
"I know." Finley said, his wing still in a splint.
"No, you don't understand. She's in danger with that dragon, Talon. He could hurt her." Joel said.
"We'll find them both. You get your sister back, and I take care of the Talon guy." Finley growled.
Joel nodded, and the two future kings split up and went to search with their troops. Athena and Talon moved away from the cove.
"Well we sure can't go back there again." Athena said.
"How do they know my name?" Talon asked.
"Finely must have heard it when he was spying on us." Athena answered.
"Exactly how much did you tell them about me?" Talon questioned.
"Nothing, I swear!"
"Athena?"
Athena sighed. "I told them what you taught me, that's it. Just like I told you before." She answered. Talon nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Nope, that's all I said. They wanted to know where you lived though. And how you learned to fight, I think." Athena answered.
"But you didn't tell them anything except what I taught you?" Talon asked, making sure. Athena shook her head. "Good. Come on, we've got to go. They'll search the forest soon and I want to be far away when they do."
He led Athena through the maze of trees until they came to an open plain. The plain separated one forest from another.
"You wanted to go to places outside your kingdom? Here's your chance." Talon said over his shoulder. "Welcome to the Courtnere Plain."
Athena looked around at the wide open space of tall grass. The grass was tinted a greenish yellow colour from the rising sun.
"It's an old overgrown farm. There's still a few types of grains left. Most of it is overgrown by weeds and grass through. Talon explained as they made their way through the plain. Athena couldn't remember seeing any of this farm on the maps in her father's map room, not even some of the older maps.
"I've never heard of this place." Athena said.
"That's predictable. This used to be the farm of Shane and Stacie Courtnere, who were two of the biggest rebel leaders during the Bleak Wars. WE couldn't find a better name for it, so we just named it after them. Merchants and foresters will call it different names though. The king though, meaning your grandfather, wiped it off the map completely. Talon explained.
"So that means…" Athena trailed off.
"You're not in Darkoba anymore. You're on the west farms, which means you're in my territory." Talon finished.
At the end of the plain was a forest. The forest went up into tall mountains that went so high you couldn't see the top of them.
"The Legendary Mountains." Athena breathed.
"Yep." Talon said. Then he started walking into the forest. "Stay close princess." He smirked.
"Don't call me that." Athena mumbled, following him.
They walked a bit further through the forest, until they were ambushed by Nadder spikes.