The Glade and Its Glitch: Book 2 Allies or Enemies

Chapter 27

 By this point, Lloyd reached the area outside the monastery gates. Just a ways away, he could see the border of the forest. He also knew that the Glade was only a little further.

Soar had entered the forest a few moments ago, but Lloyd didn't follow yet. Instead, he stood at the border thinking. Why would Soar go into the Glade? Especially when Cole's only just woken up? It didn't make any sense.

Finally making up his mind, Lloyd stepped out into the thick woods. After looking around for a minute, he walked forward. In his hesitation, he'd lost sight of Soar. Now he was alone with his thoughts.

"I should be back with Cole. He needs me. Well, I guess technically he doesn't need me... but I should still be there. Right?" He muttered to himself.

"Look at me now, talking to myself in the middle of the woods, most likely only a few yards from the Glade's border, what a smart idea!" Lloyd shook his head and kicked at the ground.

In addition to his predicament, the rain had begun to pick up. It was only a light drizzle when he first came outside, but now it was nearing pouring. Lloyd attempted to take shelter under a nearby tree's leaves.

Once Lloyd was sure the rain wasn't letting up anytime soon, he kept walking. His hair was soaked through and dripped cold water down the back of his neck. Shivering, he started a light jog.

But out of the corner of his eye, something moved. Lloyd's jog sped up turning into more of a light run. He heard a snarling sound from behind him and broke out into a sprint.

~~~

Not far from where Lloyd was running, Huntress stalked through the trees. Something was going to happen, she could feel it, and she needed to be there. She pulled her scarf higher over her mouth and nose to hide her face. Not only was something happening, someone was out there. And Huntress didn't want to risk anyone recognizing her.

A black wolf had started following Huntress at some point and was now stuck at her side. Rider. Huntress had tried to shoo him away and send him back to the Glade, but the stubborn wolf was set on sticking with her.

As the pair walked, Huntress thought she'd heard a noise. It happened every so often, like the sound of leaves rustling, or a branch snapping. Most people wouldn't have heard the noises, but Huntress could. Heightened senses came in handy every once and a while but they gave Huntress a weird feeling. There were times when she felt more like an animal than a human.

"I'm not imagining that right? You hear them too?" Huntress whispered to Rider. Some people in the Glade found it weird that Huntress treated and talked to animals like they were humans. But Huntress liked to treat animals like equals, after all, sometimes she really was the same as them.

Rider growled in response, and Huntress took that as a yes. With large strides, the wolf ran ahead trying to find the source of the sounds. Without warning, he lept into the bushes.

"Rider?" Huntress stopped and turned towards where Rider had walked off to.

The wolf disappeared into the bushes by Huntress' left. Confusingly, she heard more noises come from the right. She turned to face the direction they came from.

Rider had, by this point, fully walked into the bushes. When he came out the other side, it didn't take long for him to run off. He let out a yip, catching Huntress' attention.

"Rider?" Huntress whirled back around to look for Rider. Finding nothing, she stumbled backward. Fear shot through her chest, and she rested her hand on her thigh. Preparing to grab her weapon and attack.

"Anyone there?" Huntress whispered. With shaking hands, she adjusted her scarf and hood to hide her face more.

~~~

Lloyd heard the snarl again and pulled out his sword. Brandishing above his head, he turned to face the right.

"Show yourself! Who are you?"

A black wolf lept out of the bushes. When it caught sight of Lloyd, it hunched down and growled.

"You're Huntress' wolf. I've seen you before." Lloyd held his sword out. "Get back."

The wolf just growled louder and stood like it was defending something. But what? Whatever it was, the wolf was determined to protect it. Lloyd didn't notice, he was too focused on the fact that Huntress' wolf was standing in front of him.

Lloyd swung his sword at the wolf. It yipped, Lloyd's sword striking its side. Shrinking back, the wolf whined before it fled.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Anyone there?"

Lloyd turned back to where the wolf had come from. The tone was strong and warning. Yet the voice wavered as it questioned.

Pulling on his power, Lloyd stepped closer to the voice. The energy ignited his palm, emitting a green glow that lit up the woods for a little ways in front of Lloyd. "Hello?"

He heard a sharp intake of breath come from whatever it was that had spoken.

Lloyd moved closer, "Uhh, hi. Who's there?"

A branch snapped, and something came flying at Lloyd.