Chapter Five

Bright Eyes

The rest seemed to fully refresh the companions. Elyan stood up and raised her voice to be heard. "We need to be moving on now. Pack up everything and get ready for the last stretch. We should reach home shortly before the evening meal." Grabbing up her crossbow, she slung it over her shoulder. With a nod she took her leave from Trudy, Amber, and Jay, and headed over to confer with her two lieutenents, Mercedes and Graf.

Trudy stood up and scooped Brady into her arms. "I wonder what their home is going to be like? Do you think they'll all be this friendly?"

Amber shrugged. "We won't really know for sure, but this Ghost she spoke of seems to be kind. Although we should keep in mind, that she's a leader. Her people will most likely come first." Jay merely nodded as he helped roll up the blanket they had been sitting on.

Several paces away Jack and Ellie were also deep in discussion with May, Salene, Ruby, and Lottie. "It was nice of them to let us eat their rations. I'm so glad to have something in my belly other than fish." Ruby was saying. She took another bite of a dried piece of meat. "This is really good. It almost tastes fruity instead of salty."

May nodded. "It must be how they preserve it. Fruit acids as opposed to salt." She stuffed a roll in her pocket. "I'm a bit partial to this amazing bread myself."

"Same here." Darryl came up to them. "Can I have one of those for later too?" May nodded and handed him one. "Thanks."

"So what do you think of these people so far?" Salene asked. She motioned for them to follow her to the spring. Kneeling, they filled up their water bottles. "I think they seem to be really good and honorable people, myself."

Jack nodded. "I think so too. Honestly I don't think they would go through all of this trouble just to kill us or keep us as slaves." Ellie smiled at him and capped her bottle.

"You may have a point there Jack, but I'm still going to be a little careful, yet."

"I agree with that, too. I mean, they're very kind, especially Elyan. But I do think it is wise to stay a little wary, too." Ruby stood up.

"Alright, everyone. Let's get going." The Tree Guard had finished packing up, and everyone had refilled their water bottles. Elyan took up the point position and led them a ways down the spring to an ancient-looking rope bridge. Several planks were missing, but the remaining ones did seem sturdy. She stopped and turned to address the large group. "Alright. We have to cross this bridge two at a time or less. It's stable, but I don't want to overburden it."

"You call that stable?" Ebony snorted. "It looks more like a death trap to me."

"Even if you did fall, you'd only get wet and have a few splinters. Maybe a bruise from the occasional stone. I'd just rather not have anyone walking in wet shoes. We still have a ways to walk." Slowly by twos, the large group made it across the bridge. They kept a fair pace, walking in much the same manner as before. The Guard keeping watch around the unarmed Mall Rats, mild conversation with each other helped pass the time quickly. Finally Elyan called a stop. "We'll take a five minute break. The last leg of our trek is uphill. Followed by a short tunnel trip. We've made excellent time, so we can afford to take this more dangerous part easily."

"What do you mean by that?" Lex demanded. "How dangerous?"

"Scared?" Slade asked with a chuckle.

"No." Lex snorted, returning to where he had been sitting. "Just don't want 'em to think they have the upper hand."

Elyan laughed and motioned for Mercedes to join her for a chat. The younger lieutenant stood a whole foot or more shorter than Elyan, who was tall by any standard. The girl's golden locks contrasted her superior's chocolate brown. Only one feature belied their differernt looks and told of their sisterhood, matching pairs of green eyes. "I want you to scout ahead, the road patrol should be out by now, being close to sunset. Let them know we are coming. Ghost will likely want a conference with them immediately. Especially the ones with the marked foreheads."

"Yes, ma'am." Mercedes nodded. Then, as she turned to go, nudged her sister with an elbow. "See you back at home, sis." She jogged away down the road. Elyan turned back to the others. "Alright, let's get a move on. The hardest part is yet before us."

The trek uphill was indeed draining. Gel complained furiously that her feet hurt, Lottie tripped and fell halfway up. Seeing the girl fall, Graf knelt down beside her, he was rather large, and imposing at first glance. Yet he had the biggest soft side of any of the guard. "Are you alright?" She nodded. He readjusted his crossbow. "I can carry you if you want." Lottie nodded again. He wrapped her arms around his neck, helping her onto his back. "Now hold on, alright?" With the girl attached to his back, he resumed his march.

Elyan dropped back a few paces and walked alongside Amber. "As soon as we make this next turn, look to your right. The view is breathtaking." Not wanting to be seen as a bad example, she returned to her point position. Slowly, they rounded the turn and Amber looked out to her right. The view did indeed take her breath away. The forest they had come through could be seen, as well as the beach and the bright blue expanse of the ocean. It seemed untouched by human hands. The sky had slowly started to adapt the colors of evening. A soft pink dusted the brighter blue. She paused for only a moment, but her stare caused others to look that way as well.

"It's magnificent." Trudy whispered. Salene smiled wistfully, knowing one person who would really appreciate the view. Slowly, they moved on, each impressed with the view, though some more than others.

At the mouth of the cave, Elyan called the final halt. Graf lowered Lottie from his back. Wordlessly, the members of the Tree Guard pulled out torches from two oil-filled barrels on either side of the entrance. Lighting them at braziers, attached to the rock, Elyan motioned for them to follow. With the torch bearers evenly spaced out, the tunnel seemed warm and welcoming in the light. Brilliant paintings lined the corridor, and the gentle sound of water dripping somewhere could be heard.The passages narrowed considerably, until they were forced into a single file line. As they emerged into the brilliant sunshine again, torches were deposited into two water barrels, extinguishing them. Mercedes was sitting on the trail, waiting for them. "Hey Bright Eyes!" She called out.

"Hey yourself. Did you do what I asked?" Elyan called to her sister, knowing the answer was yes of course. Her sister was very good at her job, that's why she had fought to have her in her patrol.

"Yup. Reporting back for duty, ma'am." She got up and brushed herself off.

"Very good." The forest broke a few yards later, revealing what appeared to be a very well-planned settlement. About two dozen wooden buildings with thatched roofs made up the apparent residential area. A few larger ones clustered about a bustling marketplace. While one even larger stood off to the other side. The Mall Rats finally got their first view of what may very well become their new home. "Welcome to South, the largest of the four sister cities. Well," Elyan chuckled, "if you can call them cities." She headed on down the trail, which seemed more worn than the one they had followed earlier. "Ghost is waiting for you."