To the Sky (The Pack ff)

Chapter 6: 'I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly'

"It's not working! Why isn't it working?" An exasperated Prince screams.

The sun is setting behind him and he is struggling to light a fire, there only chance to ward off evil creatures of the night.

"Just calm down, biggums. You can do it." Jerome soothes, looking anxiously around for moving leaves or waiting eyes watching them.

The Prince quickly snaps his fingers over and over, concentrating as hard as he can on the pile of twigs in front of him.

"You're never going to do it in that state." A voice sounds.

Everyone snaps their head round to see the nomad from earlier, leaning against a tree. The dark forest is nothing more than a black backdrop.

"You're too worked up. You need to clear your mind."

The boy takes a couple steps forward, his mask blowing slightly in the breeze, as Mitch glares at him.

"I'd like to see you try it." Mitch snaps, annoyed that this boy has returned just to point out things that he should, but can't, do.

"Adustionem ignis." The boy says, his voice deep and eyes glowing gold.

The twigs ignite in a bright flame that causes everyone to jerk back in surprise.

"Aren't you supposed to be able to attract fireflies? They give off a good amount of light." He questions, ignoring everyone's blank, wide eyed stares.

Lachlan comes to at the sound of the boy talking to him.

"Um, yeah. I haven't been able to do that since I was little. I trapped a bunch in jars and they got mad at me."

Surprisingly, the boy laughs. Even he is surprised, he hasn't laughed in so long.

"Well, that was stupid. Do you mind if I join you for the night?" He yawns, showing his tiredness in hope that they are kind enough to give him refuge from the dark forest. Not that he finds it scary, he had spent seven winters in it and no longer feared the noises that came if you stayed still too long.

"No, you can't. You can bugger off back where you came from!" Mitch snaps, scowling at the fire with his arms crossed and eyebrows slanted.

"This is where I came from. I've been sleeping here for the past fortnight so if anyone should go back to where they came from, it's you!"

"Gladly." Mitch quips, standing and stalking off in the general direction of the kingdom. He will not sit there and listen to some low-life scum insult him, he is a Prince for God's sake.

"Prince, you can't. It's night and it's dangerous!" Rob stands, hesitantly reaching towards the Prince.

"Aggh." The boy chuckles, throwing his head back as he sits on the floor next to Lachlan, who doesn't want to speak because he wants this boy to stay because he could know things he doesn't, "You're a Prince. That explains a lot."

"I suggest you shut your mouth or I will have your head!" Mitch spins, pointing a scolding finger in the face of the nomad.

"Aww, you going to get your daddies men to kill me? You stuck up pig."

"You know nothing of what it means to be royalty!" Mitch shouts, his eyes starting to burn a bright, fierce red.

The boy stands, holding his hand towards Mitch for him to shake. The Prince stares back at him with confusion, the anger still burning in his eyes.

"My name is Vikram Barnes. Prince of Aerenthorpe and it seems that you also know nothing of royalty." He leans in, a smirk on his face, "You're supposed to shake it."