In The Shadows

Travelling

*"Rivers, Creeks, Streams and Lakes, Don't they all seem the same?"*

The bore of walking and seeing the same sights caught up to me and Gabby as we travelled to where she had heard word of Jordan. "How do you know we are even going the right way!" I wined and playfully punched her shoulder over her cloak. "Shut up Ana, I know where im going" Gabi rolled her eyes under her cloak hood and shifted the bag on her shoulders.

I swatted the bug that had landed on my cloak shoulder. "Damn bugs are crazy out here" I mumbled and rubbed a bug bite on my neck. A stream trickled nearby and we stopped to fill our bottles. I looked at my reflection in the crystal pool that had been naturally created by the rushing water. Sighing I filled the rest of my bottle full and looked over at Gabi. She sat at the edge of the crystal pool opening a pouch with and handed me 2 Biscuits and a peice of dried meat. "Thank you" Smiling I grabbed the food and started eating. 

"How are we for food Gabi?" I asked and set my bottle of water in the pouch. "We should maybe hunt.. We've seen plenty of wildlife around." She exclaimed as she stood up, wiping off the dirt and other stuff off her cloak. I stood up and looked at Gabi. "Can we even do that..? Why would we kill an ani-" Gabi cut me off. "Ana we have to or we'll starve before we reach the next town." Sighing I nodded and reached for my belt. My fingers ran across the several pouches of medicines, bits of food, and finally to my one weapon. 

I curled my fingers around the end of my blade. Its thin figure made it easier to use. My other hand found my other weapon in its holster. Its curved blade fit perfectly in its leather pouch. I pulled the weapons out and looked over at Gabi. She had her long bow in her left hand and grabbed an arrow. "Ready?" She smirked and readied herself. "Of course" I slyly smiled.

The deer fell into a rose bush as an arrow pierced through its chest. We ran towards the dead animal and looked at the thick rose bush. I sighed and reached in to pull out the dead carcass of the deer. The rose bushes moved past my arm and cleared what seemed like a path to the dear. I chuckled and pulled the deer out. Gabi stood behind me and helped me pull the good sized deer to a clearing. I gathered up some branches and dried grass to create a fire as Gabi started to prepare the deer.

After a few sparks from the flint and steel, we had a blaring fire going. Smiling I put the flint and steel back into my pouch and sat near the fire warming my hands. Gabi walked over to the fire and placed a skewer of deer meat over the fire. I looked back over to where the dead deer lay bloodied. Gabi's hands were soaked in the deers crimson red blood. She handed me the branch the treated meat was skewered on and walked over to the nearby creek. The fire danced in the small pit I had created. They snaked and wiggled over the meat that cooked over the fire.

The morning came fast and we were on the walk again. Its starting to become colder. "Why didn't we stay at the town until winter had gone" I wined and took a sip from my water. "If we stayed there, Don't you think the CloudClan would have attacked?" Gabi stated. "Never thought of it like that.." I set my water back into its place on my belt and continued walking with Gabi.

We crossed a cobble bridge with a large dragon head engraved on the top. I rubbed the grime from the wooden sign that read *"DragonBridge"* I looked over at Gabi and tilted my head quizzingly. She nodded in responce and we continued crossing. 

"So this is it?" I asked, looking at the various log buildings that lined over a threatening drop into a rushing lake below. "Last I heard, He was here" Gabi draped her bow onto her back and walked to the nearby inn. We paid for a room and heaved our knapsacks onto our beds in exhaustion. I buried my face into the makeshift pillow. Gabi laughed and threw her cloak onto the floor. I rolled over and looked at her. "That's no way to treat your cloak, Darling." I smirked. "Oh sorry 'Mother'." Gabi rolled her eyes and grabbed the cloak off the floor and hung it in the wardrobe.

The night came briskly and cold. News spread around the town quickly that 2 strange women had arrived at the Inn. "Won't be long until the wrong people hear that we're here" Gabi sighed and laid down hard onto her bed, making it groan under the sudden pressure. I shrugged and wrapped my cloak tighter around me. It wasn't long before I was lost in deep thought. I never thought I would become leader, Or why they followed me. I was a child. Nothing but a mer child. They looked up to me as a wise, strong leader. But I never once thought about the bravery I showed. The stubborness to give up.

A knock at our door inturrupted my thoughts. I gathered myself together and ran to the door. The door opened before I could reach for the handle. Gabi hustled to her feet and stared in awe. I pushed my cloak's hood away from my face and looked up at the person who stood before me. Gabi rushed from behind me and embraced the male at the door, I found myself doing the same.

*"Jordan!"*