Mismatched(A collab with EmeraRider)

Chapter 4

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Hey everyone! Hope you like the story so far! Anyway, just wanted to say a few things: 1) you guys gotta check out EmeraRider's page! In case you're new, Emera writes from Nathan's POV, and her latest chapter is AMAZING, and I have to admit, it's my favorite so far. :) She wrote a VERY interesting training session between Nathan and Zoe..you get to see a side of him that's not shown very often. 2) Sadly, I cannot put on a picture of Nathan just yet :( my laptop is just...I don't know. So, I'm so sorry guys, but don't be expecting a pic of the legendary Halfsoul in this chapter. I'm still trying, though. Anyyywayy.....I'd love to have some feedback! Comment below to tell me what you think will happen next! :)

---DD32

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We arrived back at our campsite within a matter of minutes. It wasn't much, though: a sack of food, some extra clothing, a few blankets, and the charred remains of last night's roaring fire. Within a few minutes, Nathan had secured all of our--I mean his--belongings onto Tempest's saddle. I watched him as he gracefully loped around our tiny campsite, making sure we didn't leave anything behind...anything that could hint the Keepers that we were here.

That reminded me that I couldn't let my guard down around him. This was Halfsoul, the most cruel, heinous criminal in all Lornia. He had killed people before, and wounded countless others. I would not let this charming persona weaken me. I would be strong, which is what my mother and father would want me to be, until I had an oppurtune time to escape. Besides, that moment when Halfsoul had shown me how to swordsfight was absolutely nothing. I had beat a killing monster at his own game, that was all. And I had probably won out of sheer luck, too. So I put up a wall in my mind, brick by brick, thought by thought,  one that would not be broken by that surly smile of his.

I looked at the sword he had given me earlier, which was now in its scabbard and hanging on my belt. This weapon wasn't like the fake ones I had seen in plays; this one could wound and kill. That thought sent shivers down my spine.

"You still want this?" Nathan inquired, breaking my train of thought. In his tan hand he holds my necklace, and the gem catches the light, sending shard of green and blue light everywhere. I had kept it with me, but had left my old dress by the river. Nathan's eyes were the same shade of blue as my necklace, calm and placid as the dark night sky. I blinked, trying to refocus my thoughts.

 It was just a reminder of the past, and I should have been able to just toss it like Nathan did with his, but everything was too recent, too fresh.

I nodded mutely, my arm stretched out for it. Our fingers met at one point and I tried not to focus on that. I quickly fastened it onto my neck while Nathan hurriedly readied Tempest. She pawed at the ground impatiently, sensing her rider's unease.

"Come on, we don't have all day." Nathan said irritably, "The Keepers are looking for us. We musn't dawdle."

I snorted.

" 'We musn't dawdle.'' You sound like my mother--" I stopped there. Too soon. I reluctantly inched nearer to the horse, "What? Aren't you going to bind my hands?"

"No," he replied curtly as I swung onto Tempest, "I'm sure you're mature enough to stay put like a good little girl."

" Yes, because good little girls end up being held captive by criminals and are forced to run away with them." I added sardonically.

"Of course." He said curtly, though I felt him tense.

He then flicked the reins, which was the cue Tempest had been eagerly waiting for. She galloped nimbly on the forest floor, like a speeding arrow. At first, the sudden burst of speed had slightly frightened me, but now I had adjusted, and the rythymic sound of Tempest's hooves hitting the ground was familiar and somewhat comforting.