The Glade and Its Glitch: Book 2 Allies or Enemies

Chapter 29

 A person came sprinting out of the bushes near Lloyd. They wielded a silver staff and swung it at Lloyd.

Lloyd lifted his sword to stop the newcomer's blow but kept his hold on his power. The light it gave illuminated the person's face.

Green eyes were met with equally green eyes, yet Lloyd's were brighter. Lloyd sucked in a gasp of recognition, they were the same eyes he had dreamed about. Fierce and strong, but they softened after a moment.

They pushed back against Lloyd, separating them. "Lloyd," they said, with minimum emotion in their voice, the small amount that was there sounded like surprise.

Lloyd shook his head slightly in disbelief, "Huntress. What are you doing out here?"

"You shouldn't be here Lloyd." Huntress turned to leave.

"Wait no. I have so many questions."

"No. You need to leave." Huntress looked back towards Lloyd.

"Why were you in my dream?"

"Your dream?"

"How could you attack Cole and Soar?"

"Me attack Cole?"

"Why are you out here at the same time Soar is?"

"Soar is here?"

"Are you planning to attack him?"

Huntress advanced towards Lloyd. Her face was still hidden, and her staff was still out, ready for attack. She was terrifying.

Lloyd backpedaled. "Are you planning to attack me?!"

Using her free hand, Huntress shoved Lloyd against a tree. "Soar is here?"

"Guh-" Lloyd's back slammed into the tree, "Y-yeah. I followed him out here. He left after Cole woke up. Why?"

"Cole's awake," Huntress muttered to herself, looking away for a moment. "Good." she looked back at Lloyd. "Where's Soar?"

"I don't know, he ran off. I lost sight of him." Lloyd attempted to push Huntress off of him, "Did you say it's good Cole's awake?"

"Yeah. Why would that be bad? He's awake, which means he'll recover."

"I just... You attacked him."

Huntress squinted and made a look somewhat close to disgust. "Pfft, no. I attacked Soar. I saved Cole."

"But... That's not what Soar said happened. He said you attacked him and Cole. How else did Cole get that cut on his chest? And the wound on his leg?"

"Soar attacked Cole. I saved Cole from Soar."

By this time Huntress' arms had relaxed and she let go of Lloyd. He gaped like a fish. How could Soar have attacked Cole?

"It doesn't make sense."

Huntress' eyes softened, although Lloyd couldn't see them. "You really have no idea what mess you've gotten yourself into."

Lloyd looked up in confusion, "What?"

Shaking her head, Huntress grabbed Lloyd's arm again, softer this time. "Come on, if Soar's out here he'll come for us. Mostly for me, but if he finds out you know he's bad he'll attack you too."

Lloyd yanked his arm out of her grip, "I know nothing about you! How can I trust you?"

"I'm sure Soar's told you a lot about me."

"But now I don't know who to believe."

Huntress shrugged in understanding, "That makes sense. Most of it was probably lies anyway."

"How are you so calm about all this?!" Lloyd burst out.

"Shh," Huntress turned her head and looked behind her.

"No, wait, let me finish. I have next to no idea who you are-"

"Lloyd be quiet."

"You know who I am, but I don't know who you are. You know my name but I only know you as Huntress."

"I'm not kidding Lloyd," she warned.

Lloyd grunted, "No. I don't trust you. Why are you out here at the same time I am? Why did you come to the monastery the night Cole was injured?"

"Hush Lloyd."

"Stop telling me to-"

Huntress slapped her hand over Lloyd's mouth. "Do you hear that?"

Lloyd attempted to remove her hand but failed. Instead, he fell back against the tree giving in to the girl's strength. But despite all the strength she had, there was definite fear in her voice.

Once he gave up, Lloyd settled for watching Huntress. Her head snapped around as she listened for whatever sound it was she kept hearing. Her breathing was steady, yet fast.

Huntress had also lowered the arm that held her staff and seemed no longer concerned with attacking Lloyd. Flicking it, the staff compacted down to a third of the size it used to be, and she slipped it into a holster on her thigh.

Lloyd widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows, trying to convey a look that said 'What's happening? What do you hear? Tell me what's going on.'

"Someone's moving," Huntress whispered so quietly Lloyd almost had to strain to hear her. "I hear their footsteps."

Making a face again, Lloyd questioned wordlessly. 'How?' He didn't hear anything.

"I, uhm. I have good hearing. Better than most." Huntress explained. It wasn't technically a lie, she did have better hearing. She just didn't tell Lloyd how she had better hearing.

Lloyd wasn't fully satisfied with the answer, so he tried to ask another question. But Huntress stopped him.

"Stop it. Someone's out there." She grabbed Lloyd's arm, "We need to go. I know you don't trust me but please." Huntress looked back behind her again. "Whoever that is, I highly doubt they're a friend."

Nodding as best he could, Lloyd gently pushed back against Huntress. She removed her hand from his mouth but kept her hold on his arm. After one last look back at the trees where something was hiding, Huntress pulled Lloyd behind the tree she had pinned him against.

"You don't have to lead me around like that." Lloyd pulled his arm out of her grip. "I'm not a child."

Huntress said nothing and continued to lead Lloyd away from the sounds. Unbeknownst to them, the thing causing the sounds knew they were there. And it started to follow them.