Caidoz

Chapter 33

Hands gently shook me. They must belong to the severials that had kidnapped me. "Let me sleep." I said in a grumbling tone.
   The shaking continued.
   "Go away." I rolled over in the crumbled leaves, and sighed in relief. The ground was soft and comfortable.

I was covered by a nice warmth and everything was good. Then, as though ice cold water was hurled my face, I jolted to alertness, my eyes snapping open. I had believed I had been taken away by the severials, but here I was on the wet ground.
   The shaking continued.
"Did you wake her up yet, boy?" A familiar voice asked in sounding irritation.
   The shaking went harder. "Ali, we gotta move!"
   I stifled a yawn as I shot up, the red blanket falling off my chest and onto my legs.

"Where are the severials?!" I asked, my heart racing in my chest. The men that had evidently wanted to take me and I had fallen asleep during the chase that had drained me completely of physical will to continue on.

Heartbeats echoed through my head as I heard the living things around me. The forest was alive with wildlife as birds chirped in the trees. Squirrels scurried past with acorns in their stuffed cheeks. I think I even saw a small fawn with its mother, both of them grazing on the little grass that remained of the dying grass of fall. Millions of giant trees shot up into the sky, white branches extending into blue skies with dying leaves only slightly containing their usual green as the color had began to shift to shades of a golden scarlet. Sunlight tricked through upon my form, barely providing heat to warm me. The ground was slightly damp, covered by the changing colors of the falling leaves. A chilly gust of wind blew past me, causing a small shiver as I wrapped the blanket tighter around me. I inhaled a steadying breath to calm myself and realized the air contained a faintness of... was that smoke?

My sight fell on the two males, one a boy and the other, adult.
   Procyon's strange eyes darted to Boötes. "That's what I  would like to know." He said. His arms crossed as he tilted his head in question.
   The large blond man shrugged.  "All you need to know is that you owe me in information."
   I blinked in confusion. Owe him? But for what and why?  "I think you have it wrong." I said as I gave Procyon the red blanket.

Only a small twinge of pain sparked through my wrists and the boy folded it inside his satchel.
   Boötes snorted in laughter. His sides heaved as he shook his head and smiled. "Tell me, girl-"
"Princess. You will refer to her as Princess." Procyon said, growls loudly coming from his throat. I felt the very much the same way, for I did feel disrespected when spoken to in that address.
   "Whatever. I want you to tell me exactly why  severials are coming after us, trying to kill the, ahem, extras."
    I shook my head to clear my puzzling thoughts as they swarmed my brain.

What did I do? Did I hurt someone? Did I say something? Did I break something? Wait. Ha, yeah, I did. Did I question someone? Did I forget something? Did I disobey the rules in this world?
  "Are we safe right now?" Procyon asked, failing to meet my eyes. There was the similar emotion again. It was tight and powerful, never forgetting to loosen its grip on me. Protectiveness. His heart was racing faster and faster. His movements were jerking and distracted.
  "If you mean the world's most hidden place of which I ever discovered and which only three living people know about to my knowledge, then, yeah. We'll live. Now spill."

Boötes' hands tightened on the staff.
   I tried to get to my feet only to be forced down hard with the wooden weapon.
   Procyon's growling increased in volume. "That's Ali's business. No concern of yours. We'll just be on our way."
   The staff pointed to him. "I don't think so, boy. I want specifics." The brown eyes twinkled suddenly and he smiled. Curiosity swiveled in the air around the man.
   There was movement beside me as Procyon's hands inched towards his daggers.