There were no demons that night. Gladio and Prompto dragged Noctis awake before dawn, but the prince stopped complaining when he realized they wanted him to fish. He had two lures on him that he'd found while wandering Gralea. He explained that he'd stuck them in the fabric of his pants so they wouldn't get lost since he couldn't access the armiger right then; later he'd simply forgotten them. The lures were useless without any fishing line, so Prompto had removed one of his precious sweat bands and carefully unraveled the knit fabric until it was a long string.
"A man's gotta eat," the blond sighed, "And we didn't see any animals yesterday."
Noctis settled himself in with his makeshift line and devoted himself to his favorite hobby. "I'll do my best, guys," he said. He had a surprising amount of luck considering his lack of tools. When he pulled in his second enormous trout, he moved to stop, but Gladio encouraged him to continue.
"It's good fishing here," the shield said. "I don't want to take the time to stop again." While Gladio cleaned and tried to roast the fish, Prompto fashioned himself a rough spear and went for a quick run down the river to scout the upcoming terrain. As Noctis laid his sixth fish on the bank, the young man hurried up.
"No sign of Ignis," he said anxiously. "I went to the top of the bluff, but nothing."
"He's smart, and he's strong," said Gladio, putting down King Regis' blade and pausing his bloody work for a moment. "He's gonna be okay." None of them were fooled by the confident words.
"We're running out of time," complained Noctis.
"This fish will be done in just a minute," said Gladio. "I'm gonna finish making myself a weapon. Then we can get underway." He held up a thick branch. Gladio had split the end in half and wedged the wood around a large river stone to form a crude mace. Noctis realized he just needed something to fasten it in place. Strips of bark maybe? He would need a specific type of tree, something with long, bendy, strong branches.
"I saw some ceder last night," said the shield, weighing his creation in his hands. He scooped up the sword and lunged to his feet. "Be back in a minute." He loped into the woods. Noctis started gathering the cooked fish together while Prompto scuffed sand into the fire to extinguish it.
That was when the screaming started.
"Gladio!" shouted Noctis. Leaving everything, he and Prompto sprinted after the man. Prompto burst into the clearing, the prince close behind. The shield was backing away, sword held high, as clouds of leaves and blossoms swirled around him, occasionally forming into vague humanoid shapes that shrieked before rushing at him once more.
"Go!" yelled Gladio, slashing again but doing no damage against...whatever...that was. They certainly weren't demons. There was no black miasma, and it was the middle of the day. "Run!" Noctis wished again that he could warp or access the armiger or something as they turned tail and sprinted along the river. Behind them, he could hear the rush of wind as the creatures followed them. Prompto led the way as Gladio brought up the rear. Eventually, when all they could hear was their breathing and the pounding of their feet, they slowed to a light jog.
"What the hell, man?" gasped Prompto. "What happened?"
"Are you alright?" asked Noctis, and Prompto looked guilty for not asking that first.
"I'm fine, it just surprised me," said Gladio. "It was in the tree," he explained. "I cut the bark, and it screamed at me and burst out of the wood, right into my face. It didn't hurt me. But then more of them came out of the other trees and I couldn't hit them. Maybe elemancy could've done something, but it was like fighting a ghost."
"Dude, you totally were destroying its house!" said Prompto.
"Look, we just need to be more careful," said Noctis. "We don't know anything about this place. They didn't hurt you, but they could've. We need to stick together and find Iggy and figure out how to get back to Lucis."
"Let's keep going downriver," said Gladio. "Everyone needs water. If there's a city nearby, it'll be there."
"That's as good a plan as any," said the prince. "Let's go."
It was late afternoon when the pack of hunting beasts burst from the treeline to surround them. They looked similar to coeurls minus the long whiskers, with dappled fur and long teeth and claws. "Incoming!" called Prompto. Noctis held up his sword as Gladio and Prompto brandished their improvised weapons.
"Don't get separated," warned Gladio, hefting the riverstone club that he'd finished along the way.
"Not like I can warp around," said Noctis sarcastically.
"We are so gonna die!" moaned Prompto. The animals bounded nearer, and the boys drew closer together.
"Hold," the largest creature said, turning to his fellows. Noct's jaw dropped. "Strangers, by order of the High King, put down your weapons."
"...the hell?" mumbled Gladio behind him.
"It talks," squawked Prompto.
"We're fine, thanks," said Noctis. He could hear the sound of hoofbeats, and a large band of creatures emerged from the woods and headed towards the riverbank. They were mostly strange hybrids, half-human, half animal, standing at least 10 feet tall, like a spiracorn but covered in soft hair instead of boney scales. However, unlike demons, who could only emerge in the night, these creatures stood unharmed in the bright sunlight. These creatures showed none of the deranged, frantic bloodlust of demons, either. They were obviously intelligent. Two men rode large, four-legged beasts at the head of the group.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in Narnia?" asked the eldest man. He wore chainmail like some of the ancient warriors of Lucis, a sword sheathed at his waist. The golden crown on his head marked him as royalty, but Noctis would've known that this regal, commanding man was a king without it.
"Who's asking?" said Prompto boldly. Noctis heard Gladio hiss quietly, and he would've slapped himself in the forehead if he wasn't trying so hard to stay alert. Several of the human-beast hybrids carried longbows, and if they were accompanying their king (kings?) he could only assume that they were very competent.
"Show some respect!" snarled the coeurl-like beast. "This is His Majesty King Peter, High King of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, and his most noble brother, King Edmund the Just, Duke of Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March and Knight of the Noble Order of the Table." The two kings exchanged amused glances as the creature rattled off their titles indignantly. Noctis saw Gladio grin smile, showing teeth, and the nearest beast crouched lower, ready to spring. Two could play this game.
"Your Majesties," he said, bowing shallowly to continue watching for any sudden movement. "This is the King of Light, Noctis Lucis Caelum, King of Lucis, one hundred fourteenth of his line, Ruler of Insomnia, and Chosen of the Six."
"Your Majesty," said the high king, somehow managing to give an elegant half-bow while sitting astride his beast. Noctis bowed back, lowering his sword slightly but refusing to drop his guard entirely.
"We've never heard of Lucis," said King Edmund mildly. "How did you come to be in our country, King Noctis?"
"It's a long story," said Noctis.
"You seem to be in a bit of distress," said King Peter, his eyes taking in the rough weapons and their dirty clothing. "We can hardly leave you wandering our country alone. Why don't you come with us." It was not a suggestion. "Oreius, perhaps your warriors could bear them back to camp?"
"As you wish, my king," said one of the hybrid beasts.
Noctis and Gladio exchanged a look. On one hand, they needed the help. On the other, they didn't know if they could trust the high king and his followers. True, they were surrounded by monstrous creatures, but they weren't being attacked and they seemed to be in little danger, at least for the moment. And they needed to find Ignis.
"It's up to you, dude," said Prompto cheerfully.
"Thank you, King Peter," said Noctis formally. He lowered his sword and bowed again, this time properly. "I accept your gracious offer of hospitality." The words sounded stilted, but hey, at least he'd known what to say! Ignis would be pleased.
"Your Majesty," said one of the half-human demons, stepping forward. "It would be my honor to carry you." Two others approached his friends.
"Um...thanks," said Noctis awkwardly. The creature extended one long arm, and Noctis used it to swing himself astride.
"I am Tarkam, Your Majesty," said the beast. He wore armor around his human half; Noctis idly wished there was a saddle, but he'd ridden chocobos bareback with Prompto before, so he was confident he wouldn't slip.
Once Prompto and Gladio were up as well, King Edmund nodded and the entire group moved on. Many of the coeul-like beasts ran out ahead, continually circling back. Tarkam ran near the front, with the other kings, Oreius, and another, while the rest of the group hung back respectfully. Noctis could see how much it bothered Gladio to not be right at his side, but these creatures didn't seem to be a current threat.
"Your Majesty?" asked Noctis. "We were searching for one of my retainers, a man about my age, but taller. He's blind, and he might be injured. Please, you have to help us find him!"
"Where did you lose him? How did it happen?" King Peter's eyes were sharp. Noctis opened his mouth, but what could he say? It sounded crazy in his head.
"We woke up yesterday in the middle of a forest," said Noctis finally. "I don't know how we got there, but Ignis was with us before, and after we woke up, there wasn't a trace of him." King Peter's lips thinned, and he took a long look at Noctis, seeing every detail of his appearance.
"Oreius," said the high king.
"Your Majesty?"
"Send messengers to the local outposts," said the man. "Have the birds and the griffins start a search for the missing blind man. Have the dryads take care of the forests." The creature bowed and fell back to speak to his men.
"Thank you," said Noctis fervently. "If there's anything I can do..."
"I want to know every detail of your story when we return," said the High King. King Edmund exchanged a glance of significance with his brother, but Noctis didn't understand. He merely bowed his head gratefully and prayed to the Six that they would find Ignis, that he would be alive.
They arrived in a rough-looking camp a little over an hour later. King Peter wasted no time in dismissing his retainers until only Oreius and his brother remained. Noctis, Prompto and Gladio followed them into a tent dimly lit with oil lamps. Prompto flicked on his light out of habit, and Oreius lept in front of his kings, sword dawn. Gladio ripped Noctis out of the way, easily stripping King Regis' sword from his hands to meet the threat himself.
"What magic is this?" thundered the beast.
"Peace Oreius," said the High King. "All will be made clear."
"I have seen such things before," said King Edmund. "It runs in my mind as if it were a dream, or a dream of a dream."
"Indeed," said his brother sharply. "I think it is high time you explain your adventures, King Noctis."
They all seated themselves; Gladio took the chair closest to their hosts, placing himself between his king and the nearest threats. Prompto flopped casually over the arms of his chair, blocking the door. Noctis shot them a glance-he knew what they were doing, but he took a deep breath and tried to channel all of his lessons on etiquette.
"Your Majesties," he said, taking a deep breath. For Ignis, he could do this. "Two days ago, my friends and I were in a city called Galea in the Niflheim empire. We touched the Crystal, the stone of legend, and a bright light sucked us inside of it. We woke up in the forest. We have no idea where we are, but one thing is clear. The stars above us are not the stars above Eos, our home." Noctis opened his hands helplessly. "I know it sounds crazy."
"Such a fantastical tale," murmured King Peter, but he had a strange look on his face. "King Noctis, we believe you."
"You do?" Prompto's voice cracked awkwardly, but he wasn't the only one surprised. Even Oreius had turned to stare incredulously at his king.
"Since I saw you," said King Edmund, "I have begun to remember things that were obscured, distant memories. You see, Narnia is a land of magic, of talking beasts. My royal siblings and I are human. We rule by the grace of Aslan, the Great Lion. But we were brought to Narnia by magic as well. We hail from a land of electricity and technology not unlike your own."
"Our first home was a different place," sighed the high king. "We have been here these twelve years and have forgotten much."
"We were but children when we arrived, dear brother," agreed the just king.
"Tell us everything," said King Peter earnestly. So Noctis did. He explained Lucis and Niflheim. He shared the prophecy, the way he had traveled collecting the royal arms and gaining the favor of the Astrals. He told them of Luna, of the way his beloved had sacrificed herself to heal him after the disastrous encounter with the Tidemother, Goddess of the Sea. He described the events of Cartanica, of Gralea, and of Zegnautus Keep. He spoke of the demons, of trying to gain the crystal's power so that he could fulfill his destiny.
"We woke up in the forest, and Iggy was gone," Noctis finished.
"Have faith in Aslan," said King Peter. "Do not yet give up hope."
"You were brought here for a reason," agreed King Edmund.