Earth and Sky

Chapter 12

Scarlet

As we ride along in the early morning light, I spy a wisp of smoke circling into the sky a little while off.

"Zeru, do you think they could have camped there last night?"

He glances at me, hesitant to answer. He would have to be deaf to not have heard my hopeful tone.

He sighs. "They could have been there. But if we check it out and they already left..."

I nod. "We'll be farther behind." I tap my chin until I come up with an idea. "We don't both have to go... One can continue on this trail and the other can go check out the smoke."

"Absolutley not, who would protect you?"

I stubbornly cross my arms. "I can."

Zeru laughs, clutching his stomach. Finally after a good minute, he wipes away a fake tear and sits up.

"But seriously, no."

"I'm not defenseless!" I cry. "I have magic too!"

"Against an assassin?"

"Araquiel will be there!"

"Tied up, I suppose."

"Well then, what fantastic idea do you have?!"

Zeru turns away, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "No, it's just... You're idea is not that great..."

"Neither is your nonexistent one."

After a few moments of glaring at me, I can tell Zeru is starting to give in.

"Fine, I'll let you go. If you take this."

He reaches behind him and pulls out a sword. He cautiously hands it over to me.

"Be safe."

I grin and throw my arms around Zeru's neck. "I will."

My pony steps towards me and I jump onto it's back.

"Farewell for now."

With that, I trot towards the smoke, leaving behind a bewildered Zeru.

***************
Araquiel

"No." I say, arms folded across my chest.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Yes." I switch my answer.

"No."

I smirk. "Glad we can agree Mr. Cyanide."

Cyanide groans and runs his hand through his hair. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? And what's wrong with this dress?!"

I raise one eyebrow. "Excuse me, are you dying today? No, I don't think so. So, fulfill my last wish and let me wear what I wish!"

He throws his hands into the air, completely exasperated. "Fine, do whatever you want. It's not like I was gonna win this anyways."

I grab the white dress and duck inside the tent to change. I slash some water onto my face and not for the first time, wish that Cyanide didn't block my magic. Of course, he only did it because I tried to attack him. I just lifted the ground under his feet a few hundred feet into the air. Then relinquished my control on it. Then didn't do anything as Cyanide fell throughout the air. Let's just say I was very upset when he sprouted wings and safely landed on the ground. He was also upset with me because apparently, trying to kill someone is considered 'morally wrong'. But somehow it's okay for him to try and kill me. I slip on my white silk dress, and silken shoes. I grab the crown I was wearing at my birthday party and plop it on my head before marching out the door.

I spin in a circle, modeling my floor length dress for Cyanide. "How do I look?"

"Like a bride. Not that you'll get to be one of course..."

I glare at him. "Well I'm sorry, I'm marrying death. Now your not invited."

I'm fearing that I'm losing my sanity. I'm making morbid jokes about my own death.

Cyanide disassembles the tent and shoves it into the bag on top of his horse. I careless hop onto my pony and slide off the other side. I stare at the sky until a hand enters my view.
Cyanide grabs my shoulders and hauls me up. He lifts me onto his horse and we ride off.

*****************
Scarlet

I stare at Araquiel as she rides off with her kidnapper. They didn't appear to dislike each other, even joking around. But Araquiel jokes about death... It's not like her. What exactly has that guy done to her? I shake my head to clear my thoughts and realise what I have to do. I dig my heel into my pony's side and race off to find Zaru. He'll know what to do. The only problem is he's probably miles ahead and I have to keep out view so Araquiel and her companion don't notice me. But courage and happiness courses through my body because, Araquiel is alive.