I decided to give Angelinia an hour to get herself ready for our trip, while I did some last-minute shopping. I wasn't real keen on Niel staying at my house by himself, but knew there wasn't anywhere else he could go at the moment. "I'll be back in forty-five," I announced, checking my watch. The others nodded and I headed to the shopping district.
My top priority was travel safe food and something for Angel to carry water in. I started looking through the shops. Most of them held racks upon racks of clothing items, a handful had food supplies and only one was filled with hiking/traveling gear. I started there, looking at everything with wonder. I had never traveled before, so this was my first time in this shop. "What's a young girl like you doing in a shop like mine," A husky voice asked, making me jump with surprise, "Huh, Ericha?" I turned to see a large man with grassy green wings and scruffy facial hair, he was dressed in baggy jeans and a torn-sleeved flannel shirt.
"I'm going on a trip," I answered, not at all surprised that he knew who I was. "Angelinia and I are going away for a week or two, so I thought I'd pick up some gear," I explained as if it were no big deal.
"Dressed like that," He asked chuckling and gesturing to my outfit, "are you expecting a battle young lady?" The man's face suddenly turned serious, "Where exactly are you headed?"
"I-I'm not exactly sure," I admitted, "we just wanna get out there. Ya know? It's just one of those things that is probably going to backfire, but you just can't help yourself," I stated. "I feel like every fiber of my being is standing on end in anticipation." The man grinned, seemingly pleased with my reasoning and began to rummage through something in the back. A few minutes later he returned with a pouch in his right hand.
He held the bag out to me, "Here. This should be everything the two of you will need," He said with a smile. I took the bag from him hesitantly, "Don't worry about the cost," he added.
I nodded, "Thank y-"
"And Ericha," He said, cutting me off, "please be careful." I nodded again and left his shop, slinging the bag over my shoulder, and heading home.
When I returned home, Angel and Niel were sitting at the kitchen table chatting in hushed voices. As soon as they heard the door close behind me, they stopped talking. I sat down with them, emptying the continence of the bag onto the table in front of us. There were a few large sacks of dried fruits and meats as well as two canteens for water. "What's this," Angel asked, holding up two tightly wrapped packages.
"I'm not sure," I answered, examining one of them curiously.
"Let me have a look," Niel said. Without waiting for approval, he took the package I was holding and studied it. I saw his eyes widen, "These are throwing knives," he exclaimed, "and by the looks of the packaging," he added, "they are quite expensive. How much did you pay for these Ericha?"
I felt my face flush, "I didn't." I could feel their eyes boring into me in shock, "No!" I shouted, "I didn't steel them! The shop owner just gave them to me..." I noticed that both Niel and Angel had bags hanging on the backs of their chairs. "Why do you have a bag packed," I asked Niel, "are you planning to go somewhere?"
He stared at me blankly for a minute or two, "Ericha... I'm going with you two." My jaw dropped open. "I know what we're up against, I've seen what she can do," He explained, "You need me," He smirked and it irritated me.
I looked at Angel, who was smiling at Niel and completely ignoring me. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard," I stated flatly. Angelinia looked at me pleadingly and I just caved, "But I guess I can't stop you." The prince grinned and stood, obviously ready to go. "Hold on," I said, grabbing his bag, "If you're coming with us, you get to carry your own food and water," I finished, gesturing to the table full of food. "You might as well take one of these too," I handed him one of the packages of throwing knives, "keep it somewhere easy to reach." Niel looked at me and opened his mouth in protest, "You and Angel will carry those and I've got my parents' blades," I assured him.
We had barely gotten five miles out of the city when we were stopped by a filthy traveler. He stood a good head taller than me with cropped brown hair and deep green eyes. He eyed Niel, Angel, and myself in turn, trying to figure out our ranks. He moved like the wind and before any of us had the chance to react, he had Niel in a choke-hold. I reached for my mother's blade, but he just tightened his grip.
I glanced at Angel from the corner of my eye. She looked pissed. Her body began to shake violently and she hissed through her teeth, "Let. Him. Go." The man simply laughed. I shot him a death glare and his laughing stopped. That's right, I thought, be very afraid. I looked at Angel and my eyes bulged. Her bag and clothes were in a heap on the ground and in her place was a huge snow leopard. The leopard looked from me to Niel's captor. The man stiffened, staring right into Angelina's light blue eyes.
