Don't Be Curious- A criminal who did the impossible

Chapter Four

3 days later...

The two were now only a few days' journey, and they were more than excited. His life long dreams were about to happen, and yet, he felt strange, as though something was missing. Jaksa hadn't a clue what was up there, all he had to go off were stories.

The older boy was pulled out of his thoughts when Kass called him. "Jaksa, look! I think I found something!" Jaksa jogged over to the blonde boy to see tall stone walls covered in moss and ivy, and inside he could hear many voices. Jaksas eyes widened. "Only a kingdom could have walls like these!" he exclaimed. Kass's face lit up.

"Are we in the mountains?" he asked. Jaksa shook his head, slowly looking up.

"I think this is the woodland kingdom." Kass snickered.

"What a stupid name! Can't they be more original?" he laughed, but Jaksa frowned.

"Stupid name, but they are a very feared nation. They are the one of the most dangerous, with one of the biggest armies in the land."

"How do you know all this?" Kass questioned, feeling slightly nervous.

"I've been here a very, very long time pal. I met someone that told me-" Kass cut him off. " wait! I know this kingdom! My father told me about it, the king is lord Karlia, with his son Zander."

"Zander.." Jaksa thought. The name seemed painfully familiar. He brushed it off thinking he was just being irrational. "Alright, let's have a look around, see if we can get in for a while."

As the boys looked around the walls, Jaksa spotted something nailed to a tree up ahead. The closer he got the further his heart sank. There were pieces of paper all over the trees and the wall, almost buried by the moss and ivy. They were 'Wanted' posters. The boys shared a scared glance before taking a poster off one of the trees. He examined it, tears threatening to spill. His and Kass' faces were printed with "dangerous, wanted dead or alive" written underneath. It had each and every one of Kass's freckles and slightly curly hair. It even had the scar just above Jaksas nose. They weren't safe here. "Kass, we need to leave right now-" he was cut off with a yell. The two snapped their attention towards the source of the noise. There was a group of soldiers coming their way, swords out. "Kass RUN!" The boys fled, a small battalion behind them. They didn't know the forest well, but they knew they had to run. Arrows started to fly but only hit the trees next to them. Jaksa only had a small pocket knife, so fighting wasn't an option. Was this it? Were they finally going to pay for their crimes?

Jaksa and Kass were following along a river, hoping to find somewhere to hide from the soldiers. Jaksa glanced behind him and mentally slapped himself. They were heading the opposite direction of the mountains! How could he not realise? Kass, however, was too focused on running for his life. An arrow flew past Jaksas head, narrowly missing his cheek. He continued to run, just behind Kass as he prayed to the stars that he would not slip on the wet ground next to the river. Luck wasn't on their side that day. Jaksa heard a waterfall in the distance, they were running straight for it. Jaksa groaned. He then got an idea. "Kass, don't stop running, no matter what's ahead!" Jaksa called. Kass looked at him bewildered.

"What about the waterfall?!" he yelled. Jaksa smirked.

"I think you know!"

"Are you crazy!?" Kass screamed. Jaksa laughed in response.

"Probably!"

They reached the cliff edge, the waterfall spraying them with a light mist. "STOP!" one of the guards demanded. Kass glanced behind him, then at Jaksa. The older boy had pure determination on his tanned face. He stopped right at the edge, then looked at Kass. the boys face showed fear, but none the less he nodded, willing to follow his brotherly figure to the end of the world. They jumped. Jaksas heart lurched as they glided down. It was much higher than he expected. The boys seemed to fall in slow motion as the water below neared. They both landed in the lake with a loud splash, then vanished in the dirty water. Jaksa's skin burned from the fall, but he stayed underwater for a moment longer. The knights looked over the edge to see no one, lingering for a moment then they disappeared back into the woods. Jaksa and Kasumi two flung their heads up out of the water, panting heavily. They stayed in the water for a while, processing what just happened. They had won. For now.

The pair swam to the lake shore and collapsed onto the sand. After a while, Jaksa started to laugh to himself. "We just did that! We escaped ROYAL guards!" Kass huffed a laugh. When the blond tried to stand however, his leg buckleed and he fell back down. "Kass! Are you okay?" Jaksa panicked, helping the small boy back up.

"Yeah, but I really hurt my leg. I think it was the impact of the water, i'll be fine.'' Jaksa looked at the boy's swollen leg and frowned. He made sure Kass could stand before pulling his bed roll off his back, now soaking wet. "Oh god damn it! The food is ruined!" he says, pulling out a soggy loaf of bread. Kass looked over and winced. "At least we still got 'em apples?" he chided hopefully. Jaksa smiled, appreciating his friend's optimism.

The next day the two spent trying to get back to where they were, since they ran so far from the mountains, and the lake took them further. It was even worse with Kass's leg injury and trying to avoid the royal guards. They had to stop frequently, and their hunger wasn't helping them. But they had to push on. They had to get as far from the woodland kingdom as possible. They tried searching for more food, but were only able to find a sick pig which they were barely able to cook.

Jaksa was growing more and more anxious. They had a few days left. A day longer travel, and they should be there, it was going to be very close however. The pair were sleeping less too, and were growing weaker by the day. They were trying to use as much of the day as they could, so late nights and early mornings was the only way. Were they going to make it? Was this journey going to be worth it in the end? Jaksa didn't know anymore. The cliff jump had set them back, but they still weren't willing to give up. Not yet.