The Crown Of Fire

Aria IV

They kept trudging along.

In the night earlier, Aria had heard hyenas off in the distance. Miles away, but still too close. It was decided that they'd walk until later in the night from then on to put more distance between them.

But as the days went on, it got colder. And then the storms would come. Aria knew that the two children would be the first to freeze. And Alex couldn't carry both of them, especially if his exhaustion got the better of him.

It didn't help that he wasn't wearing the necessary attire for the weather. That none of them were really. Aria lent Octavia her jacket to keep her warm. But there was only so much that they could take. The weather was only going to get worse from there.

She stopped when Alex stopped to put Octavia back down on the ground. He was nearly too tired. But he was also too stubborn to admit it, he would keep pushing until his exhaustion killed him.

"Let's take a break," Aria suggested. "We have time." she paused and looked at the two kids. "Go play or do whatever otherworld children do."

Octavia and Eddie glanced at each other before running off to go play in the snow. They were lucky on this day. There were no storms.

Alex was hunched over, trying to catch his breath. But he straightened up and tried to hide it. Hide the fact that he was slowly killing himself with his stubbornness. "I'm fine. We should keep moving."

"Sit." Aria told him as she pointed at a rock that stuck out of the snow, with next to no snow on it. He didn't argue with her. He was too tired. "You need to take care of yourself. Do you understand what happens to the body when it's overworked?" he didn't answer. "You're killing yourself, Alexander. And that's not an option."

"I didn't think you cared that much."

"Well, spending weeks on end with the same people can make them grow on you. And besides all that, you've come this far, it'd be a shame to see you go out without a fight." Aria stated. She glanced around. "I do know that without the proper attire, none of you are going to make it far. The storms are getting worse."

He nodded. "I know."

"The best we can do is slow down," she told him. "If we can't get through the storm, neither can they. We'll continue after the storms finish."

He nodded again. But paused. "Do you know where you're going?"

"None of the others made it this far. Of course, they didn't have my help. They always get caught in the Wood Of Saffron." she told him. "The best I can do is get you as far away from the mage as possible. And then you can figure out how to get to your land from there."

"Thank you." He spoke. She let out a breath.

"Don't thank me until you're there," she spoke. She looked out to where she saw Octavia and Eddie run off and noticed the complete lack of sound. It was odd. "Do children usually play in complete silence?"

"No."

"Then, come on," she spoke as she took off in the direction the children went off in. Alex followed after her. They came across a strange sight. The two kids were talking to a badger. Casting confused glances at each other, they circled the area. Aria picked the badger up by the scruff on its neck, it just dangled there with a pouty expression.

Meanwhile, Alex was knocked off his feet by an unseen foe. That is until a tiny little mouse wielding a tiny little blade stood on his chest.

"Why is there a mouse holding a needle at my throat?"

"I'll have you know that I wield a sword, you little brat." the little mouse snapped in reply. It was too much.

Aria burst into a fit of laughter that caused her to drop the badger. She laughed so hard that her stomach hurt, and tears stung her eyes. She almost lost her balance, as well.