Eterna

~Chapter 13~ Reuben

We followed Arneda through the forest for some time, until we made it to a small clearing.

"My home is only a few more minutes away." She said before she stretched her limbs.

I nodded and looked around for some sign of a trap. Still nothing. We continued through the trees until we met the forests edge. There, beyond the trees and on the side of a dirt path was a house. It was a decent size and had a foreign look to it.

"There it is!" Smiled Arneda. She skipped over to the house with us in tow, before she wrapped at the door about three times. Soon after, movement was heard from inside the house, and a tall, beautiful young woman answered the door. She had hair the color of fire like Arneda, but her locks were in a long, thick braid. She had emerald eyes that glistened from the light that shown through the canopy-forming trees. Her horns were just like Arneda's, but larger and wrapped with deep blue ribbons.

She looked over each of us, then stopped. Tears began to form in her eyes as she froze in place.

"Mother?" Arneda took a step toward her mother. "I brought back warriors, just like you asked."

I looked around at my comrades to see Reuben returning the woman's stare.

"I thought you were dead." Arneda's mother whispered. "I thought they killed you."

Reuben just stood there with a blank expression. It was as if he had seen a ghost.

"Ahzra..." He breathed.

She scooped up Arneda and slammed the door in our faces.

I exchanged glances once more with my comrades.

"The hell was that?" Said Roxy, who had finally sobered up completely. Sera was thrown over Reuben's shoulder, still unconscious and snoring heavily.

"Ahzra." Reuben spoke out once again.

I crossed my arms and tilted my head. "Care to share?" I questioned.

"I-" Reuben started. You could hear Arneda and her mother arguing in their Dragon Tongue.

"We should head back to the clearing, just before the canopy. We have a decent view of the home and can rest there for the night." Devon cut in.

I nodded and everyone followed, still confused about what was going on. As we made it back to the clearing, Reuben laid Sera down carefully against a tree. He stood with his back turned to us and his arms folded.

As everyone began to set up camp, I walked over to Reuben and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Reuben.."

"No more secrets." He said blankly. I stood beside him and looked up at him. His silver eyes were glazed and he had a look of sadness I'd never think to suit him. He turned and walked back toward the center of the clearing.

"If I share this story, I want to share it with everyone." He sat down on the soft grass while everyone else followed suit.

"So, who is she?" Roxy asked. "Who is she to you?"

There was a chilling moment of silence as we all looked to Reuben for an answer.

"Ahzra is the reason I was banished from Clan Blood Claw. I was asked to join my Brothers on a hunt, and being the rambunctious young man that I was, I joined them without hesitation."

"But.." Said Roxy.

"But when I saw what we were hunting, who we were hunting...I couldn't. It was Azhra. She was helpless and in need. I couldn't bring myself to harm her."