Touched By A Beast

Chapter 5

The lanterns glowed softly as I enjoyed a cup of hot lavender tea. It soothed my throat while I examined the maps. Even though I didn't fully grasp the details, the lines were easy to interpret. I took another sip of tea and glanced at Alex and Cyan, who were playfully sparring. I smiled for a moment before returning my focus to the maps. Jewls was sharpening her knives, while Ezra and Sorin were brainstorming ways to keep us hidden. We didn't blend in as Beasts, making it tough to enter the village. I set my tea down and stretched my legs before standing up. Ezra caught my gaze as I stepped out of the tent into the crisp autumn air.

"Good morning," he said, as if he hadn't spent the whole night holding me close. "Good morning," I replied, walking toward them. "When are we leaving?" I asked, taking a deep breath as the cool breeze tousled my wavy brown hair.

"Soon." Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, sounding uncertain. His long, shaggy hair was tied back, with a few strands falling over his pointed ears. He looked even more attractive with his hair pulled up, but I took a deep breath to push those thoughts aside.

Sorin smiled as I lowered my head. Ezra seemed to sense my thoughts, and Sorin shot him a teasing glance. It was embarrassing and awkward. Ezra scanned the forest, a confident smile on his face. "So, I'm not handsome at all?" Sorin said with a sarcastic pout. My throat tightened as I looked at him. "Keep dreaming, brother." Ezra patted Sorin on the shoulder, making me smile. Sorin rolled his eyes, still pouting. "Well, the blue-eyed redhead thinks I'm quite charming. She hasn't taken her eyes off me since I came out of the bushes." I raised an eyebrow. If only Grace knew what she was getting into. I thought she and Cyan were a thing. I tapped my foot lightly, choosing not to comment on Sorin's remark. "We should probably start walking, or we won't make it before evening." Ezra spoke as we began our walk back to the tent. Packing was quick since Alex and I only had what we carried on our backs. Grace and Cyan had just a simple dagger and some nuts and berries they found in the bushes. Jewls and Sorin held the maps to guide us as we moved through the forest.

Ezra worried that if we stayed out in the open too long, we would be caught. It was safer to stay in the forest, but he remained careful.

The forest was lovely as we walked among the bushes and wild oak trees. Occasionally, birds flew overhead. Alex seemed to think we were on a grand adventure. According to Jewls' map, we still had several miles to cover. I finally had a moment to appreciate the scenery.

The trees were twisted and covered in vines, yet they still looked like oaks. The bushes were vibrant, and berries grew in clusters. I enjoyed the fresh air, my hair in a tight ponytail swaying as I walked.

As I breathed in the fresh air, I noticed Grace looking at me a few times. She was truly stunning. Her bright blue eyes sparkled, and her freckles made me a bit envious. Her clothes were slightly torn but still decent. She seemed younger than me, but I felt it would be rude to ask her age. It hardly mattered now, given the state of the world.

Grace looked at me again, and when our eyes met, she quickly turned away, causing a small smile to appear on my face. She reminded me of Alex in a way—shy yet brave.

I moved closer to her as we walked at the back of the group. "You don't have to be scared anymore, you know?" I said. She looked down at her feet as we navigated through the bushes and vines. "When I met Ezra, I was terrified he would hurt me."

When I first met him and got to know him, I felt sure he wouldn't hurt me." She kept her gaze on her shoes. "So... why did this happen?" she asked while pushing through the bushes. "Well, it was really my fault."

"You?" She looked up at me, puzzled.

"Yeah, kind of. Ezra saved my life during the attack. In doing so, he broke some rules, or at least that's what Jewls said." She nodded, stepping over some logs and moving past the brush. "So they won't hurt us?" She still seemed curious and confused, but I nodded. She peeked at Sorin's back and smiled. "That's a relief." I giggled softly, noticing her rosy cheeks. It was clear she liked Sorin, but I couldn't help but think about Cyan.