UNDER SIEGE |COMPLETED|

⚔️Chapter Seven⚔️

Chpt. 7.)
FEATHER-BORN

Kyah felt much better the next day, a bit sore... well, a lot sore, but the bleeding had stopped thanks to the materials Outcast had delivered to him.

He wasn't afraid of the griffin anymore, he was just entirely confused. Outcast had initially attacked him, and after one mini battle against the knights, Outcast saved him.

Kyah wanted to rest, but he had already spent a night in the cave. Time wasn't something he could enjoy. He stood up, ignoring the searing pain running down his arm. Outcast, who had been laying down peacefully, abruptly stood up. He flicked his tail in annoyance, eyeing the prince with irritation.

"I have to go. My friends rely on me, and Ari's my brother, I have to go to them. You understand?" The griffin snarled, a dullness shadowed his usual bright intelligent eyes. He did understand Kyah.

"Help me down, please. At least to where Astoria, my horse, is laid." Outcast defiantly flicked his tail, but he wouldn't run from the prince's will.

The animal flew into the air, latching his talons around Kyah's shoulders before he dove out of the cave. Kyah clenched his jaw as every small movement jarred his injured shoulder.

In less than two minutes Outcast had spotted the clearing Astoria's body rested in. He roughly flipped upside down in a nose dive; that of which made the Prince hiss in pain and want to throw up what little food he still held in his stomach.

Outcast landed unceremoniously on the ground, dropping Kyah just before. He had expected it this time and caught himself, but his shoulder was practically set ablaze.

He clutched his injury, focusing on regulating his breathing as Outcast looked at him curiously. He didn't understand why the prince seemed to be in so much pain when his wound was bandaged.

Five minutes later, and the immense agony passed, allowing Kyah to do what he came here to do. He sighed, a heavy stone settling in his abdomen as his eyes met his fallen friend's limp figure.

Slowly, he approached her, tenderly stroking her ear before he picked up both logs. His shoulder screamed as he tried to pull it, but it was no use. He couldn't do it before, and he definitely couldn't do it now with an injured shoulder.

Outcast silently walked near him, looking over the horse's cold body before staring quizzically at the boy. "I, I need to bring her with me. I can't leave her here. I can't."

Seeing the prince emotional wasn't new for the griffin, but this was a different kind of sadness. It was hopelessness, defeat, and a blooming bud of acceptance.

Kyah knew he wasn't strong enough to pull her, he knew that he would never be strong enough, and he knew he would eventually have to leave her here. In the forest, alone, cold, and a free meal for scavengers.

He focused his strength on his good shoulder, pulling the right log as hard as he could. He was straining himself the longer he kept at it, but to his amazement, she moved.

Not just a small centimeter either, no, an entire foot. Kyah looked behind him and Outcast had his beak pressed to the end of the stretcher. He helped him move her.

Relief fluttered into the prince, maybe he wouldn't have to leave her. "Hey, Outcast, try pulling this log. It might be easier?" The griffin huffed but listened, stepping forward to grab onto the left log with his beak.

Kyah was left floored as the griffin easily tugged Astoria another few feet before shooting the dumbfounded boy a confused look.

"You're going to help me?" The griffin nodded, something he had picked up from observing knights when they agreed with each other. "You know I'm traveling to Feather-Born territory?"