Legend Reborn

Chapter 6: From Woods to Mountains

The further we press into Bear Territory, the more mountainous the land becomes. The southwest portion of Elarium, where the Bears live, is known for its dense forests and gigantic mountain ranges, and we're experiencing it all.

It's been three days since we got attacked by Kirkland and his shadow forces, and we've made pretty good progress. Ludwig keeps us moving at a fast pace. He's like a drill sergeant or something. Kiku and I can keep up pretty well, so we're usually in the front by Ludwig. Plus Kiku needs to help set our course because he has the maps. Behind us is Lovino because he doesn't want to walk in the front with the "Bear bastard". Feliciano and Gilbert bring up the rear, mostly because the former is unmotivated, and the latter is just plain lazy.

"Hey! Slow down up there!" Gilbert yells from the back.

"No!" I shout back. "You two catch up!"

"We're too tired!" Feliciano calls from behind Gilbert.

"Quit whining and hurry up before I kick you both in the rear!" Lovino shouts. This ends all discussions, and the two slowpokes book it into high gear. They can actually move really fast when they want to.

We stop in a rocky clearing to eat lunch. The further we've gotten the sparser the forest has become, so it gets pretty hot when we can't find any shade. I sit by Ludwig and Kiku in a small patch of shade as I munch on my share of beef jerky.

"So what's it like to be a Bear, Ludwig?" I ask him before chewing some more jerky. The dry meat is hard to chew, so I gnaw on it while I listen to Ludwig.

"Well, we're all rather large in build, so the buildings are usually very big," he says thoughtfully. "We train with battle axes mostly, and sometimes broad swords too. When we're not doing that we're usually doing other strength training or battle strategy."

"Is there anything that doesn't involve training?" I ask. It seems like that's all they do.

Ludwig thinks for quite a long time. I'm afraid he's going to say no, so I switch the subject. "What are the people like?"

"That depends on where they come from. The Bears from the mountains are larger, and they are better warriors but not good at anything agricultural. My father is one of these kinds of Bears," Ludwig says with an amused grin. "The Bears from the forest are not as large, and they excel at strategy more than brutal strength. That's not to say they aren't strong either. My mother is a forest Bear, and she could probably beat my father in an arm wrestle any day." He shudders slightly at the idea.

"So you take after both of your parents quite a bit then," I say. Ludwig smiles slightly, and I assume he sees it in himself too. "What about Gilbert? Who's he like?"

"Brother?" Ludwig repeats with knit eyebrows. "He looks a lot like our mother, but he's as bull headed and obnoxious as our father. He never thinks before acting, and he's always getting in trouble." I don't doubt anything Ludwig just said. "But he's also very brave. He'll fight hard for something he cares about, and he doesn't give up when he sets his mind to something." Ludwig smirks. "That may or may not be a good thing."

I think about what Ludwig just said as I watch Gilbert eat an apple he picked out of the tree he's sitting in. I didn't realize he's the kind of person Ludwig says he is. Although I do remember he was the first one to help me fight when we were attacked by the shadows.

Gilbert's red eyes flick toward me, and our eyes meet for a brief moment. I look away quickly out of embarrassment, but not before I could see the intensity in his gaze. I blush when I hear him chuckle from his perch in the apple tree.

"Are you not feeling well Elizabeta?" Kiku asks. "Your face is quite red."

"I-I'm fine!" I stammer. "I just spent too much time in the sun."