Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 15

"Aiden, Rina." Grape said, shaking both gently. "It's time to wake up."

The two children slowly got out of bed and began gathering their supplies that they had gathered over the trip so far. Rina with her daggers, cloak, and a small bag of food that she was given the night before. Aiden grabbed his sword, his cloak, and looked for his shield only to be told that Jr. and Arlington had already gone ahead of them, taking his shield and some of the extra supplies with them. Ellie trotted around the room, anxious to be done with the journey.

Squishy, Grape, Aiden, and Rina traveled across the last part of the desert, seeing an open field in the distance and towering pine trees that waited for them on the horizon. The group walked in silence as the sun rose behind them, lighting the path ahead. The closer they got to the trees, the colder the air became. Squishy explained that beyond the woods were mountains and that it was their destination, and the closer they got to the mountains, the colder the weather would become, that it could potentially snow while they were there. Both Aiden and Rina looked at each other, never witnessing snow for themselves and always wanting to see what it was like. All they knew of it was from the stories their parents told them.

As they entered the woods, Squishy explained that this part of the country had very little civilization, which is why Toogal is such a large city. There were a few people who lived in the woods, but most of the people in the area resided in the city, which was good for them on the last part of their journey.

"Are we going to Toogal?" Rina asked, wanting to see a city.

"No." Grape replied. "Toogal is a very dangerous city. It's no place for you two, especially since you're wanted by Cladon. We are heading up the mountain."

"We should be on the outskirts of Toogal by nightfall." Squishy explained to Aiden and Rina. "When we get near, we will find a place to camp for the night, then we will head for the base of the mountain early tomorrow morning."

"You have a house on the mountain?" Aiden asked, curious how a house could have been built on a mountain.

"Not quite. It's not so much a house. We live in the mountains." Grape answered, confusing Aiden and Rina more than they already were. "You'll understand when we get there." She laughed.

"How do you know which way you're going in these woods?" Aiden asked, amazed that they knew one direction from another, when all he saw were towering trees above them.

"You could navigate the woods around your home, right?" Squishy asked. "It's the same. We grew up out here and memorized the surrounding areas."

The group stopped for a break when the sun was high in the sky. Squishy checked on Aiden's wound, changing the bandage to keep it clean. They ate quietly and drank water, Ellie laying by Rina's side. They were all tired from the journey, lacking the energy to have anything to say. They wanted it to be over. After the small meal, Squishy decided it was best that they kept moving, the sooner they reached the borders of Toogal, the sooner they could rest for the night.

They walked for hours through what seemed like an endless forest to Aiden. His shoulder aching from his wound. Aiden's pace began to slow as he was too drained to keep up with the group, only when Ellie barked at the group did they realize how much he was falling behind. Squishy asked if he wanted to take another break to catch his breath, which Aiden declined, not wanting to be the one who held them from their destination. Rina insisted that he needed to wait, not wanting to see him in pain, tears strolling down her cheeks.

"What are you doing?" Arlington said as he joined the group. "We can't sit still!"

"What's wrong?" Squishy asked. "Where's Jr.?