Faerie Faerie

16- Wild and Dangerous

"Soooo.... where are we going." Sheila asked, shifting uncomfortably on her horse. "Damn saddle."

Wolfe held Phoenix in front of him on the flat saddle. It barely held an arch that seated them, and the small curves that contorted to their thighs was the most that held them. She was sitting with both legs over to the side, the back of her head resting on the crook of his neck."

"I... want my own horse." she groaned, mouth hanging open some.

"The hell you will." Wolfe held one arm around her waist. She shifted some, he could feel her slipping. "You'd just about fall flat on your face. Go to sleep."

She let out a raspy laugh. "I'll show you who's sleepy."

Wolfe guided the stallion along. He was a huge beast, that had been riley in the King's stables. He had been a gift from another kingdom. The moment Wolfe had met him, the horse had tried to bite his face off. Once he had been showed whose boss, it was easy.

Sheila's mare was some half wild pony who was barely broken in. One touch from the seer and she was a precious little pony.

Sheila watched the clouds and stars pass over head. "We might need to take shelter soon... For her wounds."

Wolfe felt her forehead. "I'm fine." she batted his hand away. "I don't need bread."

"We can't stop." he grumbled, "We're being followed."

"I didn't feel anyone." Sheila said, having their horses run at the same canter.

"Who says they're people?" Phoenix slurred. "Dearest sister, you should smell them." Her eyes sparked with small amounts of fire light. Essence of the Sunbringer. Blasphemous substance. "They're talking so loud."

Sheila gripped the reigns and her cloak. Now that she was actually listening for them, she heard them clearly. They were hissing and snarling. They spoke softly, and demanded blood.

Wolfe kept riding. They'd need consecrated ground, the next town with a church sounded like a prime idea. "Sleep Phinny." he growled, his golden eyes seeing perfectly well in the dark.

"We'll be in Garland in no time." Phoenix smiled. "I can smell the grassy knolls and sweet peaches."

Sheila smiled a bit under her cloak. Peaches this time of year sounded wonderful. "But it's too late for the fruit." Sheila said.

"They know how to pickle." Phoenix pulled herself up. Wolfe kept a firm grip on her so she wouldn't fall. "Get us out of this forest. Now."

The horses tore through the forest, a sound roared in the forest behind them. The howl of an elk or a caribou even. Wolfe grit his teeth. The horses were unnerved and whinnied. They did not stop their journey, but did thrash at their reigns.

"What the hell is that!" Wolfe snarled, a silvery form surpassing his steed's run. It was thin and built like a deer. The moment it was visible, it disappeared into the night. There were multiple quadrupeds, their foot falls barely heard unless they tore through bushes. They barked and howled at them, chittering noises that ranged from so many animal calls. Jay screeches, squirrel chirps, wolf growls, elk screams-- beasts of the forest.

"Faye." Phoenix snarled. "....We need a tribute."

Sheila felt along her bags. "Maybe some fruit-- o-or something--"

The horses tore through the forest and into an open field. Phoenix reached up, her arms pulling Wolfe forward by securing her grasp around his neck. "We've crossed the threshhold." she murmured.