The Queen of the Light Forest

Chapter 11 part 1

                                                                                           Elise

I get back to the tent and very slowly open the flap, making sure not to make much noise. I walk over to look at Ryan's bed and see that he is out cold. He looks so harsh when he sleeps, almost as if he is in battle constantly. I pull up the blanket and watch him snuggle into it.

I turn and walk over to Archer and see him the total opposite. He looks peaceful almost as if he is in a bed of flowers with the sun glowing off his face. Archer was always the peaceful one of the three of us. He was always smiling and having fun while Ryan and I dealt was our Dad. It was one of the many things I always admired about him.

I walk over to my cot and slowly lay down. Just as I get comfortable I feel a mouse climb up my arm and sit on my chest.

"Where were you?!"

"What do you mean? I was here the whole time, I just went to the bathroom." I say trying to act as if I did just go to the bathroom.

"No, you have been gone all night," Mad says as his mouse nose scrinches up in disgust.

"I have not I only went out for maybe thirty minutes tops."

"Oh, so you went to the bathroom fully clothed in your fighting gear?" He says with a tone that makes him seem all high and mighty.

"Yes, I did. You never know what might attack you while you're trying to go to the bathroom." I say making that the end of it.

"Fine, I believe you. I just got worried for you." Mad says as he scurries down and to the edge of the bed. I'm not 100% sure that he believes me but I brush it off. I lay down and think about all the things that just happened. I close my eyes trying to calm my heartbeat. Once my heartbeat calms down I sit up and go to Ryan's cot. 'He should be up by now. How shall I wake him up?' I bend down and grab the side of his cot. "1......2......3!!!!" I shake his cot vigorously like an earthquake.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" Ryan screams as he jumps up. He reaches for his sword, Slap him in the face and he falls right on his but. "HEY!"

I grin. In all this commotion Archer is up also laughing. "That was the funniest thing I have ever seen. She was..., You ...., You jumped..., She slapped...., You fell... Oh My God that was amazing." Archer says out of breath.

"That was pretty funny." I smile, as Ryan starts making a angry face at me. The lines of his face darkened. "Oh come on that was funny, and I wouldn't have had to do that if you weren't already up in the first place. The sun is up and your fight is in the next couple of hours." I huff at him.

"Ok, fine I'll get up." He says as he gets out of his cot stretching.

I go over to the table where all our weapons are and say over my shoulder, "Good, and go start getting warmed up because if you lose I am going to kill you then I'll disown you."

"Dang that's a very far way to go for just losing one battle," Archer responds with a smile as he walks outside letting some of the sunlight in.

"Have you made your decision yet?" Ryan speaks softly like its a touchy subject as he walks up behind me.

On edge not really wanting to tell him till after his fight. I don't want him to worry about me and not be focused. "On what?" I say acting dumb.

"Fighting."

"Oh um," I really didn't want to tell him this now, " I haven't quite decided yet, I was going to wait till after your fight."

" Oh yeah?"

"Yea, I thought your fight could give me some insight into what the next couple of weeks could be like," I say avoiding the subject and walking outside. I feel Ryan fall behind me, he picks up something on the way.

"Okay I just think you should really be careful on making this decision, it could change your life forever and you might not get it back." Ryan is starting to get on my nerves. I turn around and see him craring a towel over his shoulder. My eyes narrow in. Does he really not think I know that, does he think I can't think for myself. He continues, "I mean think about it. If you go through with this you will never get to stay home all day and do nothing. You will never again be able to run through the forest to run away from your problems. You aren't ready for this!" The second he says it he realizes he made a mistake.

I lose it. "Nothing. You think I do nothing. NOTHING! I'm sorry if you guys are off hunting most of the time but I do not do NOTHING. I clean, so when you get back it's not a mess from Father. I cook, so you have food in your stomach." I feel so much rage wash on me, I see Ryan's face change and he looks terrified. My eyes feel as though they get darker. "I do not do nothing. You think I run from my problems. I can't they are everywhere. You want to know why I go to the woods so often when you and Archer are around. It's because Father leaves bruises all over and I cover them up so YOU don't worry. YOU! I do not run from anything. If you think I'm not ready then you need to keep your mouth shut because I DO NOT CARE!." With that a stop away to go cool off. I have always hated when people think they know best for me and he knows that more than anyone.

I walk into the forest. I keep walking until I feel my eyes go back to normal and my body is less tense. I am surrounded by thick trees that go all the way up to the sky. I find a small patch of grass just a few feet over. I go over a slowly drop myself down. I look up and see the beautiful sky and listen to all the birds chirp. I see a particular bird come down and land on the tree right above me.

"I don't want to talk. Just get me up by the time it's time for the fight." I say as my eyes close.