The Kingdom of Orenda

Chapter 4: Runaway Carnie

"This forest is so thick." Lidya mentioned as they walked.

"This forest is nothing." Axle chuckled, "There's a forest that stretches all around the land, connecting each kingdom, at Least as far as I know it does, and some say that the forest is so thick and deep you could be lost in there for days and never see a sign of civilization the whole time."

Lidya's eyes were wide with curiosity, Acer on the other hand- grimaced slightly.

"That's- a bit of a grim statement. Don't you think?" he asked.

"Maybe-" Axle shrugged. "I know I'm a bit more accustomed to the 'darker' things in life than most others are. Can't exactly help it can I?" Axle held up his hand and rotated it once more.

"Me too." Lidya smiled. "Probably why the people at school didn't like me all that much." she sighed, looking down.

Acer looked down at her concerned,

"They didn't like you?" he asked,

"Yep, the other students at least. The teachers were quite nice to me actually, but I've only been able to make one friend since starting public school. She was really nice, quiet but nice." Lidya started twisting her pendant as she talked, "She also could talk about things that others found disturbing fairly easily too. But she had to move away to Canada when they found out she had family living there, she had lost her parents and was in a foster home while she was in school with me. We were writing to each other through the mail after she left but, due to money issues I had to stop sending her letters. I haven't talked to her since but- the last letter I got from her said she was really enjoying her life in Canada."

"Well- that's good." Axle said, "Maybe your family's money situation will get better and you can start writing to her again."

"Hopefully." Lidya shrugged.

They continued through the forest, the thick green trees surrounding them on all sides. Near claustrophobically, if it wasn't for the sky poking out from the few and far between gaps in the canopy of trees.

Lidya glanced around at the wild flowers and free growing grass, birds and small forest creatures were darting from tree to tree with ease due to how close they all were. It was rather beautiful despite its imposing aura.

"Are these all Pirae trees?" Lidya asked.

"No- the ones with the curving and swirling bark pattern are Pirae trees, the ones with the lighter and semi spotted bark patterns are Culae trees," Axle said as he began listing off the different kinds of trees in their current area and how he knows the difference.

"Just how much do you know?" Acer asked.

"A little bit of everything, my dad taught me himself." Axle shrugged.

Izarra had been walking happily alongside them until her ears pricked up again, she looked forward and turned her ears in each direction, listening.

"Izzy?" Lidya said when she noticed the change in the dog's behavior. Acer and Axle took notice as well, and moved their gaze to match Izarra's. Readying themselves to fight if need be.

The group followed Izarra as she moved towards some rocks and trees.

Noises of something moving made them all tense up.

They moved closer to the rocks and tree, an obscured large object darted from the rocks to the tree, followed by more odd sounds.

Acer held up his hand, looked at Izarra as she continued forward, and then motioned them to move forward, hand on his sword.
They stepped around the rock towards the tree, Axle had his hands on his crowbar- aimed to strike, as Acer started to unsheathe his sword.