Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 20 - Hide-And-Seek

"One, two, three, four..." Ava called out as the little Momos scurried into the field to hide. Their grey and brown fur blended seamlessly with the boulders scattered nearby. The Momos loved this new game, delighted to spend time with their new friend. Meepat motioned for Lundas to follow him to the center of the rock pile. They curled up into tight, furry balls, waiting for Ava to finish counting. "Ready or not, here I come!" she announced, setting off to find them.

Ava searched high and low, her eyes darting between the boulders. A soft giggle from the center of the pile caught her attention. "They're hiding in the rocks," she thought, smiling to herself. Climbing over a few boulders, she spotted two distinctly furry lumps nestled in the center. "I see you!" she exclaimed, laughing as the little Momos uncurled themselves, giggling with delight.

"Our turn, our turn!" Lundas shouted, his excitement contagious, making Ava laugh even more.

"Okay, but no peeking! You have to count to twenty," Ava instructed, watching closely to ensure their little hands covered their eyes. As they began counting, she darted off toward an old overturned wagon sitting in the field. "This is so much fun," she thought, grinning as she found a small opening in the side of the wagon and squeezed through it.

Crouching inside the wagon, Ava listened intently for the sounds of the little Momos searching for her. The muffled counting faded, and she held her breath, waiting for the inevitable "found you" cry. But instead, something else caught her attention. Peering cautiously through the hole she had crawled through, she froze at the sight before her—large feet and legs, covered in brown scales, were approaching the wagon. A foul stench of dead fish and rotting garbage filled the air, making Ava wrinkle her nose in disgust. She pinched her nose, heart pounding in her chest, knowing instinctively that this wasn't one of her friends. She remained as still and silent as possible, hoping that whatever it was would move on if she didn't make a sound.

uddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air, followed by the thunderous sound of Harvan's heavy footsteps and someone else racing toward the road. Before Ava could react, the wagon she had hidden in was lifted clear off the ground, and she was unceremoniously scooped up and thrust into a large, coarse sack. She felt a hard jolt as the sack was slung over the shoulder of a hulking figure, and with terrifying speed, they began to move away. Ava tried to scream, but her voice was swallowed by the chaos—the shouts of Harvan and the others faded rapidly into the distance. A cold wave of fear swept over her as she was carried further from her friends. Her mind raced with panicked thoughts: Where were they taking her? Who had captured her? Were they working for the queen? The possibilities swirled in her mind, each more terrifying than the last, as they sped through the countryside.

Meanwhile, the little Momos had finished their counting and uncovered their eyes, eagerly scanning the field for Ava. With excitement, they dashed toward the ruins of the old house, certain she might have hidden there. Meepat hurried into one of the bedrooms while Lundas took the other. As Meepat knocked over a few scattered objects, he poked his head out of the room, reassuring Taci and Lanonir, who were deep in conversation. "Just me. I'm okay," he chirped, oblivious to the danger unfolding nearby. Taci shook her head at the commotion but continued her discussion with Lanonir.

Meepat soon joined Lundas in the second bedroom, where something outside caught his attention. Through the cracked window, he spotted a shadowy figure lurking near the overturned wagon. "Who is that?" Meepat whispered, his voice trembling with unease. Lundas sidled up beside him, peering through the grimy glass.

"Let's go check it out," Lundas suggested, though his voice wavered with uncertainty. Together, they crept outside, inching closer to the stranger.

As they neared the figure, a chilling cry echoed from the road, followed by a heart-wrenching scream. The two Momos whipped around just in time to see a Bulkru warrior lifting the wagon and stuffing Ava into a large, grimy sack. Without hesitation, the brute slung her over his shoulder and bolted northward. "Oh no!" Meepat shrieked in horror. "The Swamps of Coden! If they take her there, we'll never get her back. We have to help her!"