Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter two of "Of Wars and Wounds." I can't believe I got two reviews for chapter one. I didn't think that would happen, but I am happy it did. I want to thank the two people who reviewed. As for other readers, don't hesitate to review. I'd love to hear your ideas for this fic. Anyway, this chapter contains a little bit of Bow/Adora. Stay tuned for chapter three.
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Chapter 2: Through the Forest
Arrow and Spirit emitted soft whinnies as Bow and Adora pulled them along an hour later. They snorted before adjusting the metal bits in their mouths. Madame Razz and Broom walked alongside Spirit. Kowl sat on Bow's shoulder. Lily was riding with Sea Hawk because she began crying for him and to be changed not long after the group got going. Broom groaned in a bit of annoyance.
"It feels like this forest will never end!" Broom griped.
"Don't get so glum, dearie. We'll be out of here eventually," Madame Razz assured.
"That's what you said an hour ago," Broom pointed out as he gave her a glare.
"Well, we can't really move that fast due to Sea Hawk's injury," Madame Razz said, looking at him. "He may be sitting on Arrow, but he risks aggravating it or getting another one if something were to spook that horse and make him bolt. Lily could get hurt or worse."
"Madame Razz is right, Broom," Kowl agreed and flew away from Bow's shoulder. "Slow and steady is best in a situation such as this." He scratched his neck and cleared his throat. "Let's not forget the soldiers who killed Angel could be hiding somewhere waiting to finish the job they started."
"It makes sick to my stomach those sons-of-bitches showed no remorse over what they did that to that poor mother," Bow said, anger lining his voice. "You would expect that from the Horde, not Etherian soldiers."
"Some soldiers become so overzealous at achieving victory that they don't care who they hurt in the process," Adora muttered, a heavy sigh leaving her mouth. "It doesn't matter what side they are on."
"We can't deny we've killed people, but it was never on purpose," Bow commented, eyeing her.
"We do everything we can to avoid hurting civilians, but it isn't always possible," Adora replied and swallowed hard. "Sea Hawk, Angel, and Lily were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Every one of us has been in such a situation, darling," Bow admitted and put his arm around her. He kissed her forehead. "We've managed to get away without any major injuries."
"Luck runs out eventually," Adora said and planted a kiss to his cheek. "It's the way of the universe."
"That is true," Bow commented while letting go of her. "Life can come at you so fast that you don't have time to blink."
Adora nodded in agreement. She and the others spotted a small stream not far from them. They stopped before it. Spirit and Arrow leaned down and proceeded to drink water. Their owners released their holds on their reins. They took their wineskins off their shoulders. They opened them before squatting down. They started to fill them with water. Sea Hawk whistled, causing Madame Razz to look at him.
"Madame Razz, could you fill my wineskin with water?" Sea Hawk asked as he removed his wineskin from his shoulder. He tossed it to her. "Lily and I could use some."
Madame Razz nodded as she caught it. "Sure thing, dearie."
Madame Razz set the backpack down. She went to Bow's side as he and Adora finished filling their wineskins. She opened the wineskin and proceeded to fill it. The couple sipped a little bit of water before rising to their full height. Kowl flew up to Bow.
"Bow, could I have a little water myself?" Kowl asked curiously.
"Of course, Kowl," Bow responded and handed the wineskin to him. He watched him drink carefully. "That's it. Take it slow."
Kowl finished drinking and sighed contently. "That was really good. Water is such a precious resource." He gave the wineskin back to him. "Some places have very little of it."
"Like deserts," Bow said and closed it, as did Adora with hers. "Sometimes, they go for years without rain."
"When it rains in deserts, it pours," Adora commented honestly.
Madame finished filling the wineskin and closed it. "No one wants to get caught in a downpour, dearies. Not even Perfuma likes it, though it does help make flowers grow."
Madame Razz went to Arrow's side and gave the wineskin to Sea Hawk, who opened it and sipped some water. He put it to Lily's mouth and tilted it upward slightly. She placed her hands on it as she drank the water. He ran his hand over her head.
"Good girl. Drink the water," Sea Hawk whispered in a gentle way. He took the wineskin away once she turned her head to the side. He closed it before putting it over his shoulder. "That water tasted so good."
"Pure water is hard to come by these days," Madame Razz admitted in a sad voice. She went to the pirate's backpack to pick it up. She put it over her shoulders. "Many water systems are polluted due to the Horde's drilling, mining, and clearcutting."
"Just like the water systems on Earth," Adora muttered with a heavy sigh. "Eternia suffers from pollution problems too, but they are nowhere near as bad."
Bow eyed the horses. "I am sure the horses will be finished drinking before long."
"Oh, I hope so. I hate standing here," Broom commented in much impatience and fear. "Who knows where those soldiers could be hiding? They could make all of us their next targets."
"Nobody blames you for being scared, Broom," Madame Razz responded truthfully. "We are scared too. At the same time, we have to face that fear."
"I was scared out of my mind while I was hiding with Lily," Sea Hawk admitted. "I kept thinking the soldiers would find and kill me. They would've probably taken Lily with them." He swallowed hard as his friends looked at him with the exception of Spirit. "We would've had to get going eventually because we were running out of food and water. It would've been very risky, but we wouldn't have had a choice. Thank the First Ones that all of you came along when you did."
Kowl blew softly. "I say we saved your lives in the process."
Adora pressed her lips together. "I have a feeling we will be reaching shelter very soon."
Spirit and Arrow finished drinking and lifted their heads. They snorted before letting out soft whinnies. Adora grabbed the former's reins, as did Bow with the latter's. They gave them gentle tugs. This caused the horses to begin walking. They, their owners, Madame Razz, and Broom crossed the stream carefully. Kowl flew after them. He came to Bow's shoulder, landing on it.
"That water tasted so good," Spirit said with a warm sigh. "It is better than what Arrow and I get in the troughs at the rebel camp. Isn't that right, Arrow?" He smiled when Arrow whinnied in agreement. "I thought so."
"Arrow may not able to talk like you can, Spirit, but you understand each other very well," Kowl responded matter-of-factly.
"He didn't take very well to me when I first came to live in the camp. He would snap at me every time I tried to talk to him. He eventually warmed up to me," Spirit explained as he gazed at Arrow in the corner of his eye.
"I remember the time I smacked Arrow on his butt. He got mad and kicked me in mine. I fell face first into the dirt. His kick left a hoofprint on my pants. Bow said I shouldn't have hit him on the one place he hated to be hit on," Sea Hawk said. "I haven't done it since."
"Most horses do not like to be smacked on their butts," Bow said and ran his tongue all over the inside of his mouth. "That's for sure."
"If only—" Adora started.
Suddenly, Spirit and Arrow came to a halt and whinnied in alarm. This caused the others to stop. Kowl flew to the front of Arrow as he bobbed his head four times. He heard him snort.
"What's wrong, Arrow, Spirit?" Kowl wondered.
"I have no idea," Spirit admitted. He swiveled his ears, as did Arrow with his. They picked up the sound of talking. They turned their heads. "It's coming from that direction."
Bow exhaled. "We better check it out."
Adora pointed her finger at the ground. "Stay here."
Bow and Adora let go of their horses' reins. They walked toward a tree that was in the form of a V-shape. They stopped before it. They could see a general and three young men talking not very far from it. The general appeared to be no more than fifty years old. His short black hair was full of gray streaks. His skin was so pale that he appeared to be a ghost. His eyes were brown and had bags underneath him. He was muscular and happened to be around Bow's height. His face had a number of wrinkles.
"I am telling you, my men. Victory is near. The annihilation of Kiforth is at hand. These bastards will soon have the hands of justice on their asses," the general insisted.
"I can't wait for that to happen, General Chase," the first man said eagerly.
"I want to slit as many throats as I can," the second man added.
"You can count me in on that," the third man agreed with a smirk.
"May the First Ones bless the Palassians today!" Chase shouted while pumping his fist. "Let's go."
Chase and his men ran off. Bow and Adora watched until they were gone. They swallowed hard before returning to the others.
"Madame Razz, I want you and the others to get to a safe place," Adora commanded firmly. "Bow and I have some business to deal with."
"Don't tell me you are going to—" Madame Razz started.
"Please, Madame Razz," Bow interrupted in a sharp manner. "Don't argue."
"If you say so, dearie," Madame Razz relented with a heavy sigh. She frowned as she approached Spirit to take his reins. She eyed Bow, who gave Sea Hawk Arrow's. "This shouldn't happen to a witch."
Madame Razz gave Spirit's reins a gentle tug, causing him to begin walking. Sea Hawk nudged Arrow's sides, and the stallion proceeded to go after Spirit. Broom and Kowl followed them close behind. Bow and Adora looked at each other once they were gone.
"It's time to teach that general a lesson he will never forget," Adora declared.
"I agree, darling," Bow responded. He and his girlfriend proceeded to head down the path that Chase and his men had taken.