Launi and Swift were on their own again. The forest was quiet, only normal forest sounds reaching their ears. Though Launi felt at home in the woods, ever since she had run into the children she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone, or something, was watching her.
Swift didn’t seem to notice anything different, so Launi tried to put it out of her mind. It would come to her randomly. She would be thinking about her family, checking the map or taking a sip of water, when a shiver would travel down her spine.
Launi hoped it was just her nerves getting to her. She’d been traveling two days now and had no idea if the dark curse had already been called upon. She hoped with all her heart that it hadn’t.
The sun was low in the sky and beginning its slow decent. The shadows amoung the trees lengthened, and the world around them began to darken. Launi wanted to keep going. She wanted to travel as far as she could, needing to reach the witch as soon as possible. According to the map, she still had five or so days to go. Launi sighed, and a knot in her stomach tightened. She hoped she’d get there in time.
As the shadows finally shifted into darkness, Swift began to slow, the horse needed a rest, as did Launi now that she thought about it.
Anxious to keep going, she decided they would take a short rest, an hour, two at the most. Peering into the darkness, Launi searched for a clearing.
It didn’t take long for her to find a suitable one a short way from the trail. Launi dismounted and led Swift through the trees. She tied him to a low hanging branch making sure he’d still be able to graze. Removing the packs from his back, Launi took out a few pieces of dried meat and the water. She sat down, back against the tree and ate slowly, savoring the taste.
I hope everyone is okay. I wish I’d had time to move them all into their homes. I should have done that! Why didn’t I think of that? Now they’re just laying there in the dirt waiting for me to return with a cure. Launi didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that finding the witch did not mean she would come home with a cure.
After she was finished eating, Launi returned the food and water to the bag. She settled back down against the tree and closed her eyes. She was asleep before long, pleading with her enteral clock to wake her up after a couple hours.
The first time Launi woke, she forced herself to stay awake. Groggily, she used the moonlight that was filtering down from above to find her way over to Swift. She untied him from the tree and replaced the bags. Yawning, she led him back out to the trail, mounted and they continued on their way.
Launi was drowsy. Sleep continued to relentlessly pull at her, begging her to close her eyes and drift off. From time to time, she has to shake her head to wake herself. She began to sing to herself, trying to stay awake. Swift walked steadily on, following the trail, rarely needing Launi to guide him.
They continued on this way, Swift leading the way and Launi singing until the sun began to rise. When it did, the forest came to life. Birds began to sing their dawn chorus and animals began to venture out for the day. As the forest woke, so did Launi. The sunlight seemed to provide her with extra energy. Her mind seemed to wake and her body felt slightly renewed. She knew she’d need to stop before too long, but for now, she would continue on. They would be leaving the forest soon.
Around midmorning, the surrounding trees began to thin. More and more sunlight was able to make its way through the leaves, warming Launi and the forest. Soon, they were able to make out open land between the trees and a few minutes later a spectacular view greeted them.
Launi had never seen the mountains before and so wasn’t prepared for the reality of a mountain range.
The horizon was jutting high into the sky. White and brown streaked across the peaks. The sunlight shone upon them, making them glow. The jagged mountains stunned Launi and she wasn’t able to think for a moment. She looked from right to left, following the range as it stretched across the horizon in both directions.
Launi wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but this hadn’t been it. That’s where she was headed. She checked the map again; yes those were the mountains she was supposed to traverse.She’d never thought they’d be so big and according to the map they were still a few days away.
She wished her father could have been there with her to see the towering landmasses. He’d love this, she thought. When I get back and he’s well again, I’ll bring him here.
Launi hoped with all her heart, that she would get back in time to do just that. But she had no way of knowing. The only thing she could do was move forward, on toward the mountains, glittering in the morning sun.
Thank you for this new installment!
You’re welcome!
Nicely done! Can’t wait to read more.
Thank you! More will be out next well
*week