Chapter 8 ~ The Huntress

Chapter 8 ~ The Huntress

A few good hours had passed since Kari and Folken split up. It was now an early night, and Kari decided to make camp and rest. She looked around and discovered a small brook. Kari decided that she could make a fire, and catch some fish, thus saving her provisions for later on in the journey when she might need them. From her recollection of Gaean geography, Kari knew that Zaibach was now a deserted country. That meant that most of the regions were arid and unfertile. Food would be hard to find. She needed to conserve her food until the harshest of times. Some fish would be good. Kari only wished she had brought a fishing rod. However, she was an inventive person, and with the help of some string and a sturdy tree branch, she made her fishing rod. Afterwards, Kari brought up some dried tree leaves and wood, and started her fire.

"Dinner will be ready as soon as I catch the fish." She muttered. Kari wished she had some company. She really didn't like travelling alone, and especially didn't like to be alone at night. Just as she was getting ready to stand up and check her catch, Kari heard a small crack behind her. "Damnit, now I really wish I had some company." Kari thought. The woods were dangerous at night. A sound like that could be made by some wild animal, or by the raiders which often inhabited the woods. Dryden and Millerna insisted that each of them have an escort, but one of Kari's recent dreams forbade any kind of military intrusion. Kari also refused, because she was supposed to keep a low profile. An urgent letter from Merle told her that the council was doing everything they could to find Folken and her. Kari unsheathed her sword. The noise had stopped, but she was sure the predator was somewhere in the nearby bushes. Kari realised that it was aware that it had startled her, and now the woods were quiet again. When she had been 10, her brother had started his sword fighting training. Kari smiled thinking the tantrum she threw when they wouldn't let her join him. However, she had managed to persuade her mother and father, and Kari had learned right along side him. The yearly voyages into the wilderness had taught her a lot about herself and about nature. Kari was able to recognise between different kinds of predators. For now though, she just had to catch the one that was hunting her. From the corner of her eye, Kari caught the shining glimpse that indicated eyes. She had now pinpointed the location. Kari faked going to the river to check her catch. In fact, half way there she went into the woods and came up behind the predator. A darkly cloaked figure was spying behind the bush she had anticipated.

"Gotcha!" Kari whispered, and came up closer behind him.

The man turned around. Cloaked as he was, Kari couldn't distinguish any features. He reached for something under his cloak. Kari's only chance was to throw herself onto him, and prevent him from taking on the object. She did just that. With all her weight pressed on top of him, the man was immobilised. Kari struggled to reach for his throat. Maybe strangling him would knock him out. There was no time to reach for her sword. However, the man shifted, and threw Kari on her back, immobilising her hands. "Oh no, what do I do now?" Kari asked herself. Well, if she couldn't use her hands, she would use her feet. Kari kicked him hard in his stomach. The man grunted, but did not let go of her hands. Kari tried again, and this time she managed to free one hand. However, the man quickly grabbed her other and managed to roll over. By now, they were out of the bushes and into the camp site. Kari still struggled, with her free hand. She pulled his cloak deeper over his eyes, and tried to suffocate him, but the man proved to be stronger. In a matter of seconds he had her pinned down, arms legs and any other part of her body that could hurt him. Kari was gasping for air, since his whole weight was on her.

"Jesus, girl! You'd think that even after all these years you would calm down!" the man told her. His voice was masked by the cloak, but Kari felt like she knew him.

"Who are you, and what do you want with me, you brute!" Kari asked defiantly.

"Now, I think you should behave more respectfully towards me. After all, I do hold you prisoner." He told her chuckling.

"Not for long!" Kari told him breathing hoarsely. She made another attempt to get out of his grip. It only resulted in him pressing harder onto her. "Get off me! You're squishing my guts out!" she told him.

"I'm sorry princess, but I can't do that! If I let you go you're probably going to make an attempt at my life again, and this time I think it's going to be more than just a slap." He told her.

Kari looked at the cloaked face confused. The voice was sounding more and more familiar to her. Just then, it dawned on her. "Duncan! You idiot! Is that you?" she asked.

"Always so full of love, aren't we?" he asked her sardonically.

"Duncan! Get off me!" Kari ordered.

"Nope. I want your promise for a truce first." He demanded, pressing his body harder on her.

"Ouch! You beast! You're hurting me! Get off!" Kari told him.

"Nope, who knows how you're going to hurt me this time! I want your promise first." He let his full weight on her.

"Ok, ok, I promise that I won't hurt you in any way. Please let me go now." Kari said.

"Hmm… I've learned not to trust you that easily. We need to seal this pact." Duncan told her and leaned closer to her.

Kari could feel his regular heart beat as he was sitting on top of her, not allowing her the freedom of movement. She looked at his face, and surrounded by darkness as it was, she thought she saw him smile, and his beautiful blue eyes twinkle mischievously. Somehow Kari couldn't help but feel that she had lost this fight from the beginning. What was it with Duncan that made her go crazy. There was not a moment that passed between the two of them that Kari didn't want to slap him. Yet, she also felt that she could trust him. Kari didn't know what to think about the dark haired boy that always managed to get on her nerves. She knew something for sure, she wanted him off of her! Then it happened again. She didn't know how, but his lips were against hers once again. Kari could feel their softness, and it was almost like she lost herself in it. When she came back to her senses, there was nothing more. That was just a small peck on the lips, yet Kari felt how her stomach was churning. What was wrong with her? Duncan had always been her arch enemy, this was just his way of taunting her!

"There, that's a pact now." He told her and got off, allowing her to move.

Kari looked at him darkly. "What do you want Duncan? I don't have time to fight with you every time we meet!" she told him.

"I know. First of all, I owe you an apology. I didn't mean to say that about your parents the other night." He told her sincerely.'

Kari raised an eyebrow. What kind of game was he playing? "What do you want. Why are you here?" she asked him boldly.

"Well, I got bored of hanging around the palace, and decided I needed an adventure. Yours seems interesting enough." He told her.

"Duncan, what I'm doing is not play. I don't need a companion that doesn't understand the gravity of the situation! I have to make it back to Asturia in two weeks. I don't need you around!" she told him.

"On the contrary! I think you do. Listen, I didn't come here just for the fun of it. I really want to help you find the pendant at Dragon's Nest and beat that wench so you can get your mother back. I think I can be of help. I have some connections that might provide us with food and a decent bed. All I want to do is help you." He told her.

"Right, ever since when did you become such a good Samaritan?" Kari asked.

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn! I thought that you might be happy of company on this journey." He told her.

"I'm not going to lie to you. I don't like going alone, but I have to. I would enjoy company on this journey. Just not yours." She told him.

"Why not mine?" Duncan asked getting infuriated.'

"Because your always comes with a price. I'd rather go alone than compromise this because of you. To you it's a game. To me it's more!" she told him.

"Oh, I see. You regard me as a self centred egotistical jerk! How about you put your prejudices aside for one second, and try to imagine me like a person!" he snapped.

"I've tried, it doesn't work!" she fired back.

"Kari, look, I want to help. I realise you dislike me, but I thought that maybe, we could be friends. Could you just put all your caution aside and take a blind leap of faith?" Duncan asked.

"How will I know that this is not some stupid joke you're playing on me?" Kari asked.

"Are you really that blind? Don't you think I realise the fate of Gaea is in you and Folken's hands? I wouldn't joke about something like that Kari!" Duncan exclaimed.

"So you're in it just for the fame!" Kari acused.

"No! All I want to do is offer some company and maybe some help. I came here with an offering of peace. Maybe we could put our rivalry aside. I'm tired of fighting with you, but I guess you can't see past that. I'll go now." Duncan told her and turned around, heading for the woods.

"Wait, don't go. I guess I am too stubborn, and I would enjoy company on this journey. You can stay." Kari suddenly told him.

Duncan turned around. You could read pure delight on his features. "Friends?" he asked.

"Friends." Kari smiled for the first time at him. It was a smile Duncan found warming and relaxing. Maybe this friendship with her would be a good thing after all.

~~~~~

Folken woke up in a dark cage. A small fire was cackling beside him. He groaned and tried to sit up, however, his headache aggravated. Out of precaution, he laid back down. "Where am I? What happened to me? Who knocked me out?" Folken asked himself. He had a splitting head ache and could barely figure out anything. Through all the pain, Folken heard some steps outside the cave he was in. Mustering all his strength, he got up and took his sword. He took a few clumsy steps and felt the need to sit back down. However, he was in danger and needed protection. The intruder was like nothing Folken imagined. It was actually a girl. She looked about his age, and was carrying a few fruits. Folken took a look at her. She had a slim athletic body, and she was pretty tall. She was dressed in a red shirt and some black pants. However, that was not what was special and intriguing about the girl. She had the most beautiful red hair. It was long and straight, and allowed to flow freely down her shoulders, down to her mid back. Folken was taken aback by the simple beauty of the girl. He looked at her and tried to concentrate, but his headache was getting worse.

"Who are you?" he asked her.

"Ssh, come sit down. I will explain everything when you feel better." The girl told him and guided him back towards the fire. She then gave him one of the fruits to eat.

"What is this?" Folken asked weakly.

"It will make you better. It will get rid of your head ache. I'm afraid I hit you kind of hard when I attacked you." She told him.

Folken bit into the fruit, his head spinning in circled. "I have a splitting head ache!" he muttered. However, a few minutes later the fruit was taking effect. His head cleared up, and he was able to concentrate. He looked again at the girl in front of him. She was biting into a fruit herself. Aside from her hair, Folken noticed her eyes. They were truly amazing. Grey. He had never seen eyes like hers.

"Damn you hit hard!" he said bringing his hand to the bump on his head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you. You see, I got a message that the leader of a raider band was passing through here. I wanted to catch him so I could get back something that belonged to me." She told him.

"How do you know I'm not that leader?" Folken asked.

"You don't have the tattoo, and plus, I searched your stuff. You don't have it." she told him.

"Have what?" Folken inquired.

"You're a little too curious boy. I can't tell you everything. After all I don't know who you are, or where you're from, or what are you doing on this path." She told him.

"Well, I'm just a mere traveler. And you do owe me some answers. After all, you almost killed me, and now delayed me from my mission." Folken told her seriously.

"You delayed me! Now I have to go all they way to the raider camp to retrieve what was stolen from me!" she told him.

"And I will have to rush my horse to get to my destination!" Folken fired back.

They both began to laugh. "It looks like we both lost from this encounter!" the girl told him.

"Well, it was dark and I was planning to stop anyway, but now I have a huge head ache!" Folken told her smiling.

"I'm sorry, by the way, what's your name? You seem friendly enough." The girl told him.

"Folken. What's yours?" he asked.

"Ghanima. Folken, that's all?" she asked him.

"Folken for now. That's all anyone needs to know." he told her. "Ghanima is a very unusual name you know." he told her.

"Yes, but people usually call me Ghani." Ghanima told him.

"Where are you from?" Folken asked.

"You're not the only one that has secrets Folken. Since this is just a brief encounter, I don't think I can trust you with that." Ghanima told him.

"Ok, you have a point. Then I guess where are you headed?" he asked.

"Well, I'm headed to the nearest village. I need to get supplies for my horse, and then I'm going to go after the raiders, you?" she asked.

"Same place, only I'm heading for the Everglades after that." He told her.

"They're a dangerous place. Are you planning on getting a guide?" she asked.

"No, I think I can manage." Folken confessed.

"Don't be too over-confident. Many other people older than you died in the Everglades." She told him.

"I have to go there. I'm on a mission." Folken told her.

"I see, well good luck to you." Ghanima told him.

"I only know one route to the nearest village. Do you know another?" Folken asked.

"Yeah, I know a short cut. Why?" Ghanima asked.

"Well, I've lost rather precious time getting knocked out by you. Maybe you could do me a favour and take me there on your own path?" Folken asked smiling.

"Well, I do need to make it up to you. After all, I did attack you. I guess." She said a little unsure of herself.

"I could pay you if you wanted." Folken offered.

"No, I'll do you a favour. Who knows. Maybe later on I'll be in need of one." Ghanima smiled.

"Well, it's late, and I think I'm going to go to bed. Should we stand watch?" Folken asked.

"No, this region is safe. No one dares enter my lair." She told him.

"Your lair? Are you like a huntress or something?" Folken asked.

Ghanima was silent. He guessed he had touched a weak spot. Not wanting to embarrass her, Folken was silent and closed his eyes. It had been a most interesting day. He hoped his sister made a better progress. He couldn't feel her any more, and felt how a part of him was missing. But then again, his encounter with the mysterious Ghanima almost made up for it. With that, Folken slipped in the realm of dreams.

~~~~

"Curses!!! That blasted woman! How did she meet up with him! This complicates everything! They must be separated! That fool doesn't know how his odds of getting the pendant grow! No, this must be a journey from which he must not return! Curses! The pieces of the fate alteration engine don't work! I must try something else!" the woman screamed in her cave.

"Oh, your plans are foiled again, how sad!" Hitomi said sarcastically from her cage.

"You, shut up, or else you will pay dearly!" the woman told her.

"You won't dare hurt me, or else your hope at getting the pendants is gone! So you're going to have to put up with me, you lazy wench!" Hitomi smiled victoriously.

"I don't have to put up with any one. One more peep out of you and I will cut off your food for the whole month." She threatened.

"Good ridden! I'd rather starve than eat the slop you feed me!" Hitomi told her.

"Don't you dare talk that way to me!" the woman told her menacingly.

"And who're you? You don't even have a name!" Hitomi pointed out.

"My dear queen, my name is Lucilla, and I would appreciated it if you shut up. I'm trying to think!" Lucilla yelled.

"I never realised you undergo that sophisticated process." Hitomi told her sarcastically.

"You bug. Soon, I will be rid of you." Lucilla told her and left in digust.

Hitomi stood up smiling broadly. She had won that battle. Maybe, just maybe, if irritated enough Lucilla would tell her what she was planning to do with the three pendants once she had them. "Oh Van, hold on, we'll help you!" Hitomi thought as she felt his presence weaken. Hitomi closed her eyes, and wished herself closer to Van. He needed all the help he could get.

*Author's Note*

Here's chatper 8. I hope you like it. comments are always appreciated. I hope you liked what I did with everybody. For all of those who were asking for duncan, well, there he is!!! Happy now?