Angel of Light: I know I haven't been working on this, but I was hoping to get more reviews on it……..anyways, I'll try maybe a couple more chapters, and if I don't get much response, I'll stop this one. Again, this is all up to you guys!
Princess Hikari rode astride Prince Takeru. The two refused to look at each other, much less talk. The only conversation was to make fun of the other, or point out the other's faults.
They walked through a forest, which bordered the domain of Kari's kingdom. The forest was dense, preventing light from getting through. However, some rays of sunshine were able to sneak through the canopy of trees. Many creatures lived in the forest, many common things, like squirrels and rabbits, but there were also others. There were legends of creatures that lived in the forest. None of them had actually peen proven, but they were still told none the less.
One legend tells that a massive beast lives in the forest. It is said to have seven heads, each adorned with three horns, and thousands of razor-sharp teeth. They say golden armour covers its body, melted together from the possessions of its victims. There is some argument to its colour, some say a fiery red, others say it's an emerald green, to hide in the forest. More have come to believe that it lives in the lake, therefore it would be blue. No one even knows if such a creature exists, and most people don't want to.
The day was growing old, and the dim light in the forest was fading. It was impossible to travel at night, for it was completely dark. There would be no way to tell where the path was.
"It would be stupid to go on any further." Kari said curtly.
"Well, I think we should keep going. Those stories, some could be true" Takeru replied in the same tone.
"You actually believe those things? I mean, come on. You don't even live in this kingdom. What, are you scared?" She taunted.
Takeru gave her a dirty look, "I'm just taking precautions."
"Well then, you can take all the precautions you want, because I'm staying. I don't care what you have to say, and you can't make me go on." He dismounted, and tied her mare to a nearby tree. She unpacked some food, and sat down on the other side, away from him.
"Fine! But I'm only staying because you're father will have my head if something happens!"
Kari gasped dramatically, "Wait, is that…………do I actually hear a sense of caring in your voice?" This was again, sarcastic.
"How could anybody actually care about you?" He asked.
There was no response. The princess just ignored him.
Night finally fell, and, as predicted, the forest turned to an endless sea of black. Kari had been right, and Takeru had been wrong, but he wasn't about to admit that.
The horses were unusually calm. There was something different about them, but it wasn't something that you could notice right away. They were perfect, almost too perfect. Their bodies were perfectly proportioned, and their coats were flawless. Their tails were not like that of a normal horse. They were long and skinny, then puffed out at the end. One might compare them to that of a donkey's, but they were much more elegant.
The night brought many things. Though it was impossible to see, the forest seemed to be more alive. Maybe it was the fact that most animals come out at dusk, or maybe it was just that travellers are more aware of their surroundings.
Both humans slept restlessly, but wouldn't admit that to the other. Hikari even sat up for a while during the night. The ground was hard and uneven, making it difficult to sleep on.
The horses, however, slept standing up. Therefore, they had no trouble.
~*~
In the morning, Takeru was the first one up. He started a small fire, and placed some of the fish he had just caught. They weren't hard to catch, as they were in a very small pond, and there were many of them.
The smell was what woke Kari up.
"Ew, what is that awful smell?" she demanded.
"It's just fish, and if you can't deal with that, you're not fit for such a journey." He replied.
"I wasn't talking about the fish, stupid. I know what fish smells like." she gave him an annoyed look, which he gave right back.
The Princess then ventured just outside their small campsite, to find a rather dead bear. Kari looked it over, and found that something had killed it. These bears were rarely seen, and were highly dangerous. Obviously, the bear had come by during the night, probably picking up their scent. What confused her was that she didn't hear it, or anything else for that matter. If this bear hadn't have been killed, they would have been. These bears are stealthy hunters, and prey never gets away.
The bear had suffered from serious gashes to its body. It was a rather horrid sight, as blood was splattered everywhere, and its front leg was severed badly. The final blow looked to have been given to the neck, where an artery was struck, thus ending the life of the bear.
Another thing caught Kari's eye. There were no signs of any struggle, between the bear and its killer. However, she looked up, and many tree branches were broken, but still clung to the trees.
"How is this possible?" she thought to herself, "the branches are broken, but I didn't hear anything last night………what really happened?"
She didn't want to find out. She rushed back to the camp, and grabbed one of Takeru's fish, then packed her things, and untied Erowin, her mare.
"Hey! That was mine! And where are you going so fast?" he demanded.
"Shut up and get ready to go. As for the fish, thank-you for making it for me." she replied brusquely.
"What's your problem?"
"Just get your horse! Is that too much to ask?"
The Prince sighed and rolled his eyes. He then went to untie Tallow, his stallion.
She wasn't about to explain to him the story of the bear. She wouldn't admit that it had frightened her, and that she wanted to get out of the forest, as fast as possible.
"So what's with the sudden change of mind? Finally realize that I'm right?"
He was, but she wouldn't say. "NO, I'm just thinking of my father, and that we should get help fast. If we don't get there in time, all hope is lost." the princess lied.
As soon as he mounted, Hikari urged the white mare into a gallop. In contrast to the unpredictable woods, the path was rather smooth and strait. People galloped through it all the time, making it relatively safe for the horse to go through.
Frustrated, he urged his horse on as well, chasing after her.
They raced on for the rest of the day, never once letting the horses stop for a break. The animals took this surprisingly well. Finally, they emerged from the other side of the forest, and out into a rocky pass.
The path continued on, though it was rougher than before. This was because of all the rocks.
That night, it stared to rain. Weather in the mountains was far worse, because they were higher above sea level. They found a cave, or rather some over hanging rocks, to take shelter under. The overhang was big, so they were able to stay far away from one another, just like they wanted.
~*~
A shadow loomed above them, though they were oblivious to it. Something lurked in the shadows above the Price and Princess. It's eyes glowed red, and it's breath scorched the humid air. It crouched, concealed by the rocks, watching, and waiting. The creature was massive, and only because of the size of the rocks, was he able to stay hidden. It growled slightly, from the depths of its throat.
The mare heard this, and looked up. Her eyes skinned the rocks, not seeing anything. She did a second sweep, and this time, her eyes fell upon the loitering figure. A shiver ran through her body, though she did not run. She only stood, watching the creature. Erowin made no indication to the others that there was anything unusual about.
~*~
Once again, Takeru was the first to wake. This time, he made only enough food for himself, and ate it fast. He then packed his things, and waited.
When the Princess finally did stir, he scolded her and told her to get her horse. The only thing she ate, were the words she had spoken the day before.
Bitterly, she mounted, and they raced off again, this time, at a slower pace.
The deeper they got into the mountains, the less they saw of the living things. Plants became scarce, and they would only see a small rodent or a bird now and then. The path had narrowed considerably, and they were forced to travel in single file. Eventually, there was no life at all, and the silence was deafening.
