Chapter 3

“S-so he’s not going to eat us?” Reyah whispered, almost completely inaudible. Feyth sighed, finally admitting defeat. If she had known bringing Reyah would be a problem, she wouldn’t have brought her. The young girl had been fretting about Korin the entire time, since they entered the forest until now. Reyah, for some reason, believed that Korin would eat her. Feyth had tried to assure her that if Korin would eat anybody, it would be herself or Shazkai, as the two of them would surely fill him up more, but Reyah still wasn’t calm. 

“If you want to go back home you can,” Feyth said, losing all her patience. She knew it was rude, but hoped that Reyah would leave so that not only would she finally relax, but also no longer bother Feyth. Reyah shook her head and put on a brave face. 

“I want to see the cyjur,” she said. All of sudden, every movement she made was an effort to make herself look stronger. She took longer strides, trying to cover more distance at a time. She stuck out her chest slightly, trying to make herself look bigger of more muscular. She even clenched her fists and tensed her arms, making her tiny muscles bulge out. Feyth was amused by her efforts, though she knew it was wrong, it was hilarious the way the small child wanted to be bigger and stronger. 

“Hey Korin, can you hear my thoughts now? Where are you?” Feyth wanted to contact him, mostly just to be sure he hadn’t run off or died. Somebody could have come and killed him, or maybe he bled to death. So much can go wrong when one is injured. She hoped he had found a safe place to rest while waiting for Feyth to return. Shazkai looked at Feyth with a perplexed expression plastered across her wise face. 

“What are you doing?” she muttered. She had noticed Feyth trying, too hard, to contact Korin. Feyth had scrunched up her face in concentration, though it did not change the effectiveness of her attempt. After a while, she finally received an answer from Korin. I’m where you found me Feyth, but I found some bushes to hide amongst. 

“I didn’t want to be spotted by any other humans.” His voice sounded upset, in pain. Feyth felt pity for him, surely it would be torture, alone in the wild, probably bleeding. Korin must have been feeling agonizing pain. Feyth hoped she and Shazkai could reach him soon, before it was too late to save him. She picked up her pace, walking faster than before. She, like Reyah, took longer strides and covered more distance than she had been. 

“C’mon,” she said quickly before breaking into a sprint. She headed to the crater, the clearing she had discovered Korin tangled in. She searched across the area for his hiding place, the one he had mentioned when they read each other’s minds. She hastily looked under bushes and peered behind trees, thought couldn’t spot his orange and black pelt. 

“To your left,” he sounded weary. She looked to her left, seeing him limping to her. Blood was drizzling down his body again, probably bleeding because he stood up and revealed himself to her. She stepped up to him and pressed his back downwards, motioning for him to lie down. He did so, collapsing slowly to the ground. His paws were spayed in many directions and his head lay motionless in the brown dirt. His tail lay across his back left paw and trailed along the dirt beyond his paw. His claws were digging into the dirt, tense and trembling ceaselessly. He looked so vulnerable, so fragile, as if a single movement would shatter him. The loss of blood was affecting him extensively. 

Feyth petted his warm fur tenderly, hoping that in some way it was helping him. A few tears trickled down her cheeks, she had tried to assist him and yet she was losing him. She was a failure, truly worthless. Tears streamed down his own face, disappearing into his soggy fur. His eyes were glazed, losing all life in them. Within their depths, she saw his despair. It pained her, so she shut her eyes tightly and refused to look anymore. 

Behind her, she heard the rustling of bushes. She gasped, looking quickly towards the disturbance. Shazkai emerged, trailed closely by Reyah. They had followed her after she had run, though slower due to their ages. Shazkai dropped to her knees beside Korin and quickly removed the satchel she had brought with her from her shoulder. Her hand plunged into the bad and returned out, grasping herbs and a bottle of some foreign liquid. 

Shazkai lifted Korin’s wing which was now limp. Korin lifted it for her, despite his growing weakness and held it above the wound. It too was trembling, due to the effort needed to hold it high. Shazkai carefully removed Feyth’s coat from his wound, letting loose a stream of blood. She closed her eyes, her face calm with concentration. She poured the liquid onto the blood, her eyes still shut.

Feyth was bewildered by her precision. Shazkai’s eyes were closed and yet she poured the liquid perfectly, covering the entire length of the wound without wasting a single droplet. The bleeding instantly stopped and clogged itself up. The liquid used was effective, though there was still work to be done. Shazkai put some of the leaves in her mouth and chewed them thoroughly until they were nothing but a green mush. She rubbed the mush across his wound, spreading it. Her eyes were still shut, her face still emotionless. 

Feyth watched with wide eyes, impressed and astounded by the skill Shazkai possessed. The swelling of the wound rapidly decreased, making the wound seem smaller, more like a simple cut than a fatal wound. Reyah had no interest in the healing process whatsoever, she was too engrossed with hugging Korin’s head. He didn’t seem to mind though, it had brough a half hearted smile to his face. Shazkai took more leaves and offered them to Korin. She held them in front of his mouth. They smelled bitter and probably tasted no better. Korin was reluctant to eat them and rejected them even before she held them for him to eat. 

“Eat them,” she said in a superior tone, “they’ll ease the pain and help the healing,” she finished. Korin rolled his eyes, though only Feyth noticed. Korin lapped up the herbs with his tongue, wincing at the flavour. He rested his wing back down across his body, obviously relieved to no longer have to hold it up. Shazkai smiled and finally opened her eyes. 

“I am done, I have no healing to do anymore, though he cannot stay out here. Most of the herbs are temporary, he’ll need more through the night. We have to find somewhere where he can stay,” her voice turned from glad to grave. Feyth had no idea where he would stay, it would have to be someplace where nobody else would find him. Another issue was the transportation, how would they get him to wherever they decided on without him being spotted. Feyth thought for a moment, but no place came to mind. She shook her head in defeat. 

“I have no idea where we could hide him,” she said softly. Reyah’s head perked up from where it had been laying on Korin. 

“Hey, I know a place!” she said, bubbling with excitement once again. Shazkai and Feyth both turned their gazes to her expectantly. “You know how I live on a farm, and you know how we used to have cattle? Well, we sold the cattle to expand our farm land” she continued. Feyth and Shazkai both nodded in unison, though were confused about where Reyah was headed with her speech. “So, we now have an empty barn, the one we originally kept the cattle in. Nobody in my family goes in there anymore and our farm is so secluded, there is only a small chance anybody will find Korin. Also, our farm is at the edge of the forest, nobody will see us going there!” she finished with pleasure. She was beaming, her entire face lit up. She was so proud of her accomplishment, producing a plan that made complete sense, one that could solve their problem. 

“That sounds great,” Feyth said, glancing at Shazkai for her approval. Shazkai nodded, “I think that could work,” she stood up, swinging her shoulder bag across her back. “So are we just going to lead him there?” Feyth glanced at Korin, who was staring at her attentively. 

“Yes, I believe I can sneak around,” he assured her. Feyth nodded, still watching Korin, “Yes, we’ll just have to be stealthy.” Feyth noticed out of the corner of her eye her black coat. She ambled over to it, bent down and lifted it up, holding it away from herself. It was heavy and dripping with crimson blood. Below it a pool formed, glistening in the sunlight that leaked through the canopy. 

“What am I going to do with this?” she groaned, the smell of it was foul, a putrid stench that was blown into her face by a warm breeze. Korin stretched his head forward and grasped the coat in his jaws. 

“I’ll carry it for you, you can cleanse it in the lake when you’re free. She looked down at her feet and shook her head. 

“I don’t think I could possibly clean it enough to permanently remove the stench and blood,” she sighed. 

“Come on, let’s go!” Reyah exclaimed in impatience. She began walking in the general direction of the abandoned barn, beckoning for them to follow. Feyth placed a hand on Korin’s shoulder, careful not to hurt him further. 

“C’mon, let’s follow her,” she spoke to him, trying to sound kind, though she didn’t really know how you could change the voice of your thoughts. She would just have to learn. She headed into the forest, only just noticing how dark it was getting. As the sun set the trees cast tall shadows, which were quite frightening, and would scare many away from this peaceful forest. 

Feyth glanced around, on the lookout for any danger that may harm Korin. As they trekked, their footsteps crunched against the ground, branches, twigs and leaves were scattered across the forest floor and were the cause of these sounds. The air was thick and smelled of pine, though the forest contained no pine trees. Sudden vertigo overcame Feyth, and she began to stumble and walk crookedly. Only Korin noticed the sudden change, the other two were too far ahead to notice. He tried to balance her, but his efforts were useless. 

Feyth tripped and toppled to the ground, her outstretched arms slamming against the ground first, followed by her head and the rest of her body. She rolled over onto her back, preparing to stand back up, but the world was spinning above her, making her feel nauseous. She rolled back onto her stomach, closed her eyes. Her hands were stretched out above her head, one was lying on the ground and a few leaves, but the other lay upon something oddly cold, which intrigued her. She opened her eyes and gazed upon a gleam, concealed by leaves and twigs. 

Feyth grasped it with her hand and pulled it up to her to have a better look at it. It glistened, though no light shone upon it. It was a perfectly round orb, clear but with a cloudy centre. The orb had a slight blue tinting to it, making it quite attractive. Attached to it was a long silver chain, which Feyth ran through her fingers. The entire object, including the chain, was cold, with no reason for being so. Feyth’s eyes were wide with wonder as she stared down at the object she had discovered. It could be worth a lot, something poor people like herself and her father could do with, but it was so beautiful, she desperately wanted to keep for herself. 

“What are you looking at, did you find something?” His voice startled her, interrupting her thoughts. She looked behind her and up at him. He was watching her intently, curious as to what had gained so much of her attention. She enclosed the orb in her hand and quickly said 

“Nothing,” forgetting that she could simply think what she wanted to say. He watched her still, unconvinced that she had found nothing, but didn’t pry. It was her business, he respected that. She put aside her selfish desires and decided then and there that she would sell it for as much as she could. She stood up, all dizziness gone, clutching the orb with the chain dangling out the side. She ran to catch up to Shazkai and Reyah, followed closely by Korin. She changed her pace to match Shazkai’s and opened her hand to show her what she had found.

Korin, who was behind them, looked at the orb with awe, he had never seen anything like it, just as Feyth hadn’t. Shazkai looked down on it, and her expression showed a mixture of amazement and malice. 

“Where did you find that?” she said menacingly, scowling at Feyth. Feyth was taken aback, she had not expected this reaction, rather the same reaction that she and Korin shared.

“O-on the ground,” Feyth stammered, enclosing her fingers around it again and bringing it close to her, in fear that Shazkai might take it from her. 

“I’m going to sell it,” Feyth said which only angered Shazkai further. 

“It chose a girl! A child!” she began talking to herself, while slapping her palm to her face numerous times. Feyth hadn’t seen her, or possibly anybody so distressed. 

“Shazkai…” Feyth murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to get her attention. Shazkai turned her head to glare at Feyth, a malicious look clouded her eyes as she shook Feyth’s hand from her shoulder. 

“How could this happen,” she sighed, closing her eyes and allowing a calmness to engulf her. She couldn’t understand why, but it would be wrong to treat Feyth, despite the turn of events, any different to how she had always treated her, as a friend. Feyth simply stared at Shazkai in utter shock, her legs trembling from the shock that the fury had caused. Never had anybody shown such hatred towards her, and she had no idea what she had done to deserve such a look. Shazkai now opened her eyes, her expression, but not her emotion, completely changed. 

“I’m sorry for my reaction,” she apologized, in almost a whisper. What she said would have been inaudible had Feyth not been so near to Shazkai at the time. Feyth glanced at Reyah and Korin quickly, Korin was by her side as she had expected, but Reyah had walked on ahead, unaware of Shazkai’s fury and their now seemingly private conversation. 

“We should get him to the barn,” Shazkai whispered again, though she sounded defeated, as if she had wanted to say something, desperately, but in the end hadn’t. Feyth placed her hand on the elderly woman’s shoulder again, though this time she was not rejected. Feyth’s bewilderment was evident in her glistening blue eyes. She gave Shazkai a questioning look, but abandoned the idea of understanding what she had said when Shazkai walked away, following Reyah’s trail. 

Feyth was left standing next to Korin, who nudged her forwards and too began following. Feyth looked down at her hands again, once again opening them to peek at the orb. How could a simple trinket cause any trouble or damage? What could possibly anger Shazkai about a necklace?

Feyth slipped the orb and chain into her pocket for safekeeping. She ran to catch up to the others, but made sure to keep her distance from Shazkai. Who knew what the shaman’s abilities were, especially when her emotions were unknown. Instead, Feyth walked alongside Korin,

“How is your wound?” Korin’s head lowered a little, only then did she notice the glazed look in his eyes. She had no idea that cyjurs, or even animals could cry. 

“It’s fine, just painful,” he replied solemnly, though she could sense the pain in his voice. She smiled at him, not knowing what else to do. Calming another person was hard enough, calming a cyjur even more difficult. 

“Soon, we’ll be back at the barn, soon you’ll be safe. Shazkai can probably heal you better when she is closer to her hut, where she stores all her shaman potions and herbs and remedies.” His head hung low as they walked along the forest path. She felt pity for him, and hoped that because of what she had done for him, that they could be friends, whether he stayed near Solare or not. She then remembered that she was supposed to be tracking creatures, for killing rather than saving. She hoped her mentor would not be too bothered that she hadn’t found anything today. 

The two of them caught up to Shazkai and Reyah, who had stopped at the edge of the forest where the trees stood in a line against a grassy field. Near the other side of the field was the large barn, near the barn was the farmhouse.

“Nobody is currently home right now,” Reyah said, “They’re in town shopping for supplies.” Shazkai nodded, then took the first step out into the field. The other three followed, Reyah taking the lead once more. They walked at a brisk pace, their feet crunching on the grass. They could still hear the sounds of the forest behind them, rustling, birds singing and the patter of tiny paws. Feyth kept glancing at Korin, her concern increasing. His legs had begun trembling, his head still drooped along with his tail. He looked not only tired and weak, but as if he was going to drop. 

“You can make it”. Eventually, they did make it to the barn without Korin going unconscious. Once they were inside, he found a corner where the ground was covered in scattered hay. He didn’t necessarily collapse, rather lay down and instantly fell asleep, but he did it all so fast, so ungracefully, that it seemed as if he collapsed. Feyth took the opportunity to run her hand along the top of his head, down to his back and all the way down to the base of his tail. He had a peaceful expression on his face, while he was asleep. 

Feyth smiled to herself, before leaving first. She knew he would be cared for, while she was gone. She had left him with Shazkai and Reyah, whom she trusted. She ran back to the village, quick as her legs would allow her to go. This was when she realised how exhausted she was. She dashed through the gate, leaping over large bag of hay that was placed in her way. She darted back and forth, dodging varied items and people. She was headed to her mentor’s home, to convince him that she had been gone, and had caught nothing because of a reason she had yet to decide. 

When Feyth had finally reached the familiar house, amongst the other houses, she stood there, bending over to catch her breath. She knocked on the door quickly, made sure she was standing straight and prepared herself for the worst. Her mentor emerged from the door, a relieved expression flooded his features. He was a tall, lanky man with dark brown hair and similarly coloured brown eyes, one of the few hunters who excelled at tracking in Solare. 

“Thank goodness you’re back,” he said quietly before stretching out his arms. She smiled at him and hugged him. His arms wrapped around her and squeezed her tightly. Feyth let out a low grunt, which was more or less forced out of her when he squeezed. This was their usual embrace, bone crushing. When he finally released her, she was staring at her feet, guilty again that she had brought nothing back. 

“I’m sorry I failed you,” she gulped, her voice betraying her distress. She had no idea what punishment she had earned with her failure, she had not yet failed him. She hadn’t exactly been his trainee long, only a few years, so she had not experienced his anger yet. He had always been a kind, empathetic man and had always cared about her wellbeing. He noticed her discomfort,

“My dear child, whatever is the matter?” he said softly, soothingly. Her gaze lifted, to stare at him, searching his expression. His returning gaze showed kindness, there were few as benign as him.  

“Are you not mad? I have brought you nothing, nothing to show from a day’s work. I am a terrible hunter, and I am an even worse tracker. I do not deserve your incredible teachings.”  He sensed her increasing distress, but he was not upset. 

“But that is not true, you are an excellent hunter, and you are improving with your tracking. It’s a new skill and you still have time to learn. Do not pull yourself down, you have the gift of many skills you should honour. You have learned so much, and become skilful in your area of expertise. I am proud to be your mentor.” She looked down at her feet once more, dubious and sceptical. He could not possibly be telling the truth, how could be so calm about it? She sighed in exasperation, 

“If you say so.” He could tell she was still unhappy, and was worried about her. Lately, she hadn’t been the joyous, enthusiastic young girl whom he had been eager to teach, but rather a friend who he needed to help through some depression. He only hoped that he wasn’t going to increase her melancholy. 

“Are you okay?” She blinked up at him, wishing she could explain her feelings of inadequacy and uselessness to him, but he would never understand. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be as unwanted as her. 

“Yes...”

~~~

 Ooooooooh, quick mini-spoiler, something terrible is coming! Prepare yourself for the main event, in a couple chapters time! After that, the real story begins... C'mon Feyth, step it up, we're all waiting! (at least I am, and I wrote this story XD)

♥

Still no readers...but seeing as I have already written it, I guess it does not matter whether or not people read it, I will upload it anyway. I just REALLY want somebody to help edit XD

Or at least provide solid feedback...

Nevertheless, HAPPY LATE VALENTINE'S DAY! Love you all c; (nobody will read this)