Born of Flames

Chapter 12 ~ Gold and Wildflowers

    It was a relief to be back in the forest after so long. Arlon had spent every moment since they passed the tree line as his panther, weaving in between tree trunks and climbing up into the branches. Neeri spent an equal amount of time as her wolf.

    The first three days of their journey, neither of them shifted into their Fae forms. They hunted, ate, and slept as their animal counterparts. Today was the first day they walked as Fae once again. Arlon was a few yards ahead of Neeri, scouting the path ahead.

    No fresh scents reached him thankfully and nothing seemed out of place. Quite the opposite, in fact. The Vidar had fully awakened with the coming of spring and everywhere he turned, growth was in full bloom.

    The canopy overhead was thick and green, allowing only a few rays of sunlight to filter down to the forest floor. Moss covered sturdy trunks and scattered stones. There were even a few patches of wildflowers. Neeri had picked some when they stopped for a break earlier. The flowers were now a woven bracelet around her wrist.

    And thinking of breaks, they were due for one about now, Arlon decided. They could rest for thirty minutes and walk another two hours before nightfall. He slowed his pace as they neared a clearing in the trees. Neeri's pace matched his and when he stopped to set down his pack, she did the same.

    "Thirty minutes," Arlon said. "Then we can still cover some ground before making camp for the night."

    Neeri dropped to the ground and sprawled out in the grass, stretching her arms over her head. "Finally. I was thinking you'd have us walking until the moon rose."

    "We can always do that, if you prefer."

    "No, thank you," she scoffed. "We already did that so we could pass the Mouth of Hadeon and cross the Une River in a day, unless you've forgotten."

    "I haven't. You've complained about it ever since."

    "Because it was ridiculous. I don't think Tarion and Morana expect us to be there right this minute. They know how long the trip can take."

    "So do I. That's why I'm shortening it."

    Neeri just rolled her eyes and twisted onto her stomach. She propped her arms on her elbows and rested her chin in her hands, watching a small butterfly that had appeared. Arlon sat down on a moss covered boulder and took a drink from his waterskin, fighting a wince.

    His feet already ached thanks to their fast pace and due to his time in his panther form, his hands weren't faring much better. Neeri had already complained of blisters yesterday.

    "What do you think Morana is really looking for?" Neeri asked, drawing his attention. The butterfly had landed on her bracelet and her head was cocked as she watched it, loose curls sweeping against her cheeks. "I've been trying to figure it out and I can't think of what she'd hope to find in Astaroth's archives, or why she wants to know if there could be another hidden one."

    "I don't know," Arlon admitted. "I've been thinking about that too. The only thing that comes to mind is maybe she's looking for a way to track Astaroth instead of letting him come to her?"

    "It's not possible," Neeri mumbled, and laid her head in her arms. "He was a being of shadows. He could transport himself anywhere he wished to go at any given moment, without leaving a trace of himself behind."

    "There is what Rehema said about him enduring through whatever amount of his power remains in Rhidian. Maybe she's going to track Rhidian instead."

    "But Rhidian vanished the same way, at the same time as Astaroth." Arlon tracked her hand to her nose. She rubbed it briefly, then turned her head towards him. "Do you think his power will fog the minds of the Ash Fae again if he does return?"