The Woods

The Capitol

            Two long days had passed. I was tired, filthy and all I wanted was to sleep on an actual bed instead of the ground. Pinto looked excited because she knew we were close to the Capitol. I must admit that I was pretty excited too, but I was also miserable from traveling. I felt a cold coming on too. Adam had shifted into human and was riding behind me. It was best that he wasn’t seen as a wolf because we didn’t want to frighten anyone when we entered the Capitol.

            “Daniel is going to kill me.” Adam says. I turn my head around and look at him. Why would that happen? So far I had yet to be in danger and Adam was doing a good job of providing for me.

            “Why?” I ask. Pinto shrugged her shoulders and pats Blossom on the neck. Both of the horses were also exhausted from the four days of long travel. 

            “In my human form, I cannot speak to him and give him updates.” Adam says. I raise my brow at him. I knew that they could communicate with each other in human form, but I didn’t know Adam was giving updates.

            “Your giving Daniel updates on how I am doing?” I ask him. Adam nods slightly and I sigh. I wish I was able to speak to Daniel because I really missed him. I missed his touch and his voice—just all of him.  

            We rode on for a while in silence and then something amazing caught my eye. A large bridge that looked of silver. It was in the far distance, but I could tell how grand and lavish it was. I had never seen such an amazing structure and I could not wait to be up close to it so I could inspect it further. Adam muttered something and I couldn’t really make out what he said.

            “There it is! The Capitol.” Pinto said pointing behind the silver like structure. My eyes followed her finger and I saw a bunch of tall structures that looked small from all the way over here but you could tell that people lived in those buildings.

            “It is amazing! What are those buildings called?” I ask. My eyes were just glued on the Capitol. It was a sight that all of my people would never see. To think that a place like this really did exist. Pinto was telling the truth and despite Daniel’s doubts, she knew the way to the Capitol and she was certainly not lying to me.

            “They call them skyscrapers.” She says. My eyes widen. What an odd term to name a building.

            Pinto took Blossom into a gallop and I urged Delilah to as well. I wondered where we would put our horses, but that was a minimal worry. The bridge that looked so small from so far away was now huge as we got up close to it. I also noticed the people and carriages coming on and off the bridge. Some of the people looked just as I was while others were odd looking.

            Some had soft, pale faces and the biggest of hats. Their outfits were insanely colorful and they walked with this sort of confidence that I could never master. They had tall, pointy shoes and the women had bows everywhere on their clothes and hair. The makeup they wore was really eccentric. I must say that I didn’t really like it all that much. Pinto leaned in close to me and Blossom’s body pushed against my leg.

            “Believe it or not, those clothes are fashionable here.” She says with a snicker. I smile slightly and then focus ahead. The bridge we were on was high up from the sea. The Capitol was actually on a large island. The only way to get out was the bridge which was slightly unnerving. What if something happened and the bridge collapsed? We would be trapped.

            “There is a fee to enter the Capitol.” Pinto tells us. I frowned. I had money that I had been saving up for a long time. I got five shillings every year from my grandmother for my birthday since I was five. I hadn’t spent a single shilling since because I had been saving up. For what, I didn’t know quite yet.