Chapter 8: Hunting For The Lost


Something stirred in the darkness, the leaves rustling along the floor at a frantic pace as a disturbance grew in the cold air. A loud pulse of sound broke the silence before a bright light filled the small clearing, two males stumbling out in an uncoordinated manner.

The shorter of the pair stood and looked around his sword raising in a protective manner as he ran his gaze over the area. Strange, very strange. It had been day not a moment prior and now this blanket of darkness covered them. Witchcraft. It at must've been, what else could've created that strange portal. His free hand ran through his long mane of hair as he realised they were alone. "They came through here, I saw Merlin fall through mere moments ago, but where could they be?"

Percival took his stance back to back with his comrade keeping his own weapon ready for any potential attacks in the strange woodland. "We can't be sure they are still here. We've lost the day. Perhaps we should make camp for the night and search more at first light? We can't take the risk of running into an ambush with but two of our number."

"Oh come on you big oaf, we've taken on more alone and you know it" Gwaine joked, his teeth flashing bright white in the moonlight. "This area is unfamiliar. I know that forest Percival, this isn't it. We've been...taken elsewhere somehow." he stepped several feet away towards the edge of the clearing shaking off his friend's restraining hand when it gripped him. "Look at this." he bent down to wipe away several fallen leaves. "It's Arthur's boot print. I'll bet we can follow these. We have to go now, we can't risk the chance of rain fall."

The taller knight stepped passed his kneeling friend towards the trees, parting the branches to step through. He shifted his sword down resting the point of it over the ground ahead to disturb the leaves covering any potentially hidden footprints. "There is another one here" he called out, taking a glance back to see the familiar brunette appear in his line of vision.

For several minutes the pair moved through the winding trees slowly and cautiously. Percival acting as a lookout as Gwaine's well trained eyes searched the floor for signs of their location. As his eyes found another footprint the brunette led them to the left his mind drifting to Camelot as they moved. It was unspoken that they wouldn't even consider returning to the kingdom without Arthur and Merlin but even then how would they even get there? The light was long gone and the likelihood was that it wouldn't reopen again for them. Nothing was ever that easy especially if it was Morgana's doing. And what of everyone back there? The witch could be ravaging the kingdom, could the depleted knights cope with her power. Would they return to a bloodbath?

"What's that up ahead?" Percival called out, interrupting the other's thoughts. He brushed past quickly breaking through the trees to reach what appeared to be some sort of road. "This is definitely not home" he muttered to himself as he glanced around looking for any sort of clue to where on Earth they could be.

"Up there. What's that?" Gwaine called out, moving to where a pile of shattered glass spread across the road. He dropped carefully to one knee and picked up a fragment of the darkened glass, lifting it up to glance at it clearly through the moonlight. "A tradesman passing through perhaps?" he questioned, sceptical of the theory himself. The glass was strangely thick and like nothing he had come across before. Had Arthur and Merlin come across the source of this glass?

Percival looked up the road as two lights rose up in the distance, coming towards them at a quick pace. He stepped in front of his distracted friend protectively, raising his sword once more. "Gwaine. Potential threat oncoming." he stated in a calm manner though confusion reigned within him. This was like nothing he'd ever seen before, though he'd said that before and looking at how the day was going he had a theory that it wouldn't be the last.

The knight rose to his feet, stepping forwards till he stood shoulder to shoulder with his comrade, his own sword glimmering in the moonlight above. The lights grew brighter and larger as they drew closer neither man looking away even as the brightness grew uncomfortable for their eyes. A knight would never turn their back on a threat, to do so would almost certainly mean death, training and experience of action had taught them that well. Only as the lights stopped their progression did the men make their move, making their way slowly across the ten feet dividing them. Gwaine's hand tightened their grip on his sword as he saw a figure emerge from the strange object up ahead.

"Woah! At ease boys I'm just here to give you a ride" A voice quipped as he stepped in front of the car, the lights bringing him fully into their view. "I am unarmed...well...I'm not here to hurt you anyway." Owen raised his hands above his head as he walked up towards the knights. "I'm Owen. Seems it's my duty to get you boys back to base seen as your mates decided to trash the company vehicle." he rolled his eyes.

Gwaine sheathed his sword first, offering his hand out to the male with the curious accent. "Gwaine." he greeted as they shook. "Our friends? You've found Arthur and Merlin? Are they harmed?"

"They're fine. They're back at base. Which is where we'll be going if you'd just get into the car." the doctor answered, tilting his head towards the vehicle.

Percival gripped his friend's bicep and pulled him back several steps, his tone dropping as he addressed his friend. "How are we to know this isn't a trap? If it's the only way to get Arthur back to Camelot we have to go of course but I'd rather have a plan of action."

"When do we ever have a back up plan Percy?" Gwaine teased, shoving him playfully. "Come on. Arthur and Merlin need our aid. This is the only option we have currently, we have to take it." he turned and returned to Owen. "Lead on."

"Right. Rule number one. Do not attack my car, I'm just a few payments away from owning the bloody thing. Just think of it as a carriage." he looked over the chain mail covering both knight's bodies. "Then we'll have to get you some proper clothes. People'll think there is a medieval convention going on at this rate" he mumbled as he opened up the back doors, coaxing in both knights one by one then jumping in the front seat himself. "Hold on to your scabbards boys"