A Game of Flags

Chapter Twelve: Three Horses, Seven Riders

𝗧he Younglings apart from Merry were now asleep, as Arathor, Greflyn and Eli were still awake. It was pitch black, they were riding side by side in a dark forest. Occasionally hearing birds chirping, or looking at an Owl on a tree, other then that; it seemed fine.
Arathor mainly kept to himself, as Eli was talking to D'Angelo the Dwarf, with Greflyn muttering things to himself, things that could not be translated.
“How's the Youngling?” said Arathor to Greflyn.
“He is doing fine,” said Greflyn, “although, he did wake up a few times. Ask me a few questions, i don't blame him. Of course, we have been riding for a tad too long now.”
“I know, but it is the only way,” said Arathor. “We need to be constantly riding, especially in the first night. Who knows what wildlife will come at us in the wild?”
“Not a Dwarf, nor a Youngling!” said D'Angelo chuckling. “Eli is a genius!”
“How?” asked Arathor.
“Why ride all night — when we can live in a cave! Or a mine! I know a few mines myself, to be exact.”
“Forget it,” said Arathor, “i am the leader of this group. I am the one who makes the calls.”

Perrin slowly tilted his head up. “Greflyn,” he said, “when are we stopping?”
“Atleast in a few more miles,” said Greflyn. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, this Youngling is hungry. And thirsty, of course. So he was just wondering when we are stopping.”
Greflyn chuckled. “Perekin, my boy, don't be so down about yourself,” said he; “you're a youngling? Who cares! It's not like that devalues you whole. Like Gimigrin said, even the Small Ones like Dwarves and Younglings can be good use.”
“And sure was he right!” said D'Angelo. “If it was not for me, the Valf would be dead as soon! Look, he is laughing! If i wasn't here. He'd be quite the miserable bastard!”
“As i hate to say it, you are right,” said Eli; “if you wasn't here. I'd be miserable, thank you.”
“Oh, ho! Don't thank me!” said D'Angelo. “Thank the Younglings who gave that short speech to be allowed on this adventure!”
“You see?” said Greflyn to Perrin. “You younglings are not the most annoying here.”
Perrin chuckled. “Well i'm glad that's the case,” he said. “I think i shall get back to sleep.”

Eleven hours had passed since then, the Sun was out now. As The Solidarity set there things down, with Perrin eating the food that Arathor and Greflyn cooked (with some witch magic, that is), Eli was training Gimitri and Evera.
“You guys know the drill,” said Eli. “One-two, go!”
Eli swung his sword very lightly as Gimitri blocked it twice. “Nice!” he turned to Evera. “One-two, go!”
He swung the sword lightly again, as Evera used both hands on his sword, raising it up as he blocked the swings. “You guys got the hang of it,” said Eli. “Good job!”
“Who knew sword-fighting could be so easy!” laughed Gimitri. “This was way more simpler than i thought!”
Eli chuckled, as he used both of his katanas to disarm Gimitri and grab him in an armlock. “Gah!” said Gimitri. “Help, somebody! I'm being attacked! Eli went mad!”
“Sword-fighting is not easy,” said Eli sternly, “you are way too ahead of yourself. Both of you, practice the blocking excerise. One-two, go!”
Eli walked over to Arathor. “Are you alright?” he asked. “You seem to be rather quiet today.”
“Trying to navigate our way through the forests,” said Arathor, “you know how dangerous the wild country can get. Do you?”
“Yes, during my escort days, i found many strange folk,” said Eli. “Although years have passed since then, i do not know if they still wander about now.”
“Oh they still wander, alright,” said Arathor. “They will come at us when we are not looking, they're like predators stalking their preys, except they are worse. Very worse.”
“Ouch!” said Gimitri. “You prick! That hurt!”
Gimitri kicked Evera in the Knee, as Evera tackled Gimitri to the ground, with Arathor grabbing them both from eachother. “That's enough!” said Arathor. “No more fighting, sit down. Have some food!”
He let go of the Younglings, as Gimitri grabbed some food and went to sit by Perrin, who seemed to be enjoying the steak.
Eli searched around the place, with his dual katanas in his hand, he noticed a sound playing in his ears. “Can you guys hear that?” he asked.
“Hear what?” said D'Angelo.
Eli looked at his surroundings again, it was just above the mountains he could see an army of birds flying towards them, pitch-black birds, it was, they had red eyes in them. And they would kill you as they touched you.
“Oh, no!” said Eli. “Everyone, run! Demobirds! Demobirds!”
Everyone caught sight of the Demobirds as they got up and ran away, Perrin had a tight grip on his sword as they seemed to chase the entire Solidarity, D'Angelo wasn't far behind from Eli, as Eli managed to slash a few away, Greflyn and Arathor were ahead of the others; and Evera luckily managed to find his fellow Younglings.
“Where do we go!” said Gimitri. “Where do we go!”
“That way!” said Evera. “That little Cave, it can fit the three of us. Hurry!”
The Three Younglings ran in single file: Evera, Gimitri, and Perrin, Evera turned around at the others, before jumping into the small gap first, with Gimitri and Perrin in at the same time.
As the Demobirds tried to squeeze in, Perrin and Evera slammed the Boulder down, killing quite the few birds, the room was pitch black; as Merry turned his flashlight on.
“That was close,” said Perrin. “Evera, this isn't no game. We have to hurry, find the others. If we get lost out here, it's game-over.”
“Don't worry, i got you,” said Evera, “we'll stay here for a bit. And then we will make the run to the ford, okay?”
Perrin nodded, as they lurked around for a few minutes, as the two slowly threw the Boulder out of it's way, and the daylight flashed in their eyes. “Sherry Ford, follow me!” Evera said.
And then, the Three Younglings ran out like a pack of cheetahs.

Book Two: Owl, is soon!