Eyes Of The Forest

Chapter 1: The Arrival

Airlia POV

We are finally here! Kali said excitingly. I drop my bags beside me as I look up to see the large acres of land. It was so beautiful, I was amazed. The land was bright as the sun. The grass was freshly cut and complimented the vivid colors of green and the flowers. The insects were collecting sweet nectar from the roses and dandelions. They did their duty unbothered. The scent was so sweet and yet delightful. I look at Kali as her smile was bigger than ever.

"Okay Airlia! We need to get going. Before all the good bedrooms are taken!"

"Well I'm pretty sure this castle has just enough rooms for about ten people.." I say doubtfully.

Kali looks at me and sighs. She continues walking through the entrance towards the castle. I look at her and chuckle to myself as I grab my bags and follow her. Suddenly I hear leaves cracking in a distance. The noise makes me nervous. There was a pond near us and I thought about defense. I didn't want to look scared before meeting the other members.

Kali looks behind her and stops to see that I look frightened.

"Are you okay Airlia? Stop playing around. We need to meet our head hunters."

I look around once more and face her direction.

"Y-yes.. I'm sorry! I thought I heard something." I say loudly.

Ugh! You know what? When you're done being silly I'll be getting our room ready. She says with irritation. She continues to walk to the castle finally at the doors. They open with a slow pace. Suddenly, I feel a presence near me. I slowly grab my bow from behind my back. Someone out of nowhere jumps out the trees.

"HEY THERE!" The person says loudly. I look at them and jump with fear. It was a girl, somewhere near my age. She had long blonde hair, put up in a ponytail. Her wardrobe was green and she seemed very.. Spirited.

"Haha I'm so sorry to startle you!" She said with a smile. "My name is Jola." She looks at me with her hand out, ready to give me a handshake. "I'm one of your allies in this camp." 

"So I will see you around here often huh?" I ask shaking her hand.

"Of course! I tried to greet you two at the gate but obviously the surprise was too much. I assumed you guys might attack me haha. That was your sister right?"

"Yes that was my sister. But I should get going. She's waiting on me." I look at Jola and smiled. As I walk away she nods and just waves. She seems pretty nice, but I can't let hospitality or kindness be the key to betrayal. Seen it too much before to let it happen to me.. Or even Kali.

Jola POV
"They are both very pretty..." I say to myself.
But looks won't get them anywhere. I assure myself that I can and will destroy them before we are crowned to be Royal guardian's of the kingdom we stand on. But I think I forgot where I put my snacks this morning. I believe the squirrels probably took them again. This is certainly a treat to see." I say to myself. As I'm looking at her walk into the castle, I see Lethei coming towards me. I'm wondering will this be a wonderful season to compete with others, or a rather despiteful war against each other.
"Jola, please tell me you didn't try to surprise greet the new members..once again." Lethei says displeased.

"I kinda did, but she didn't attack me which was the good part haha."

"I'm not very concerned for the attacking, but please stop trying to greet others. We can't trust no one."

Lethei looked at me and shook her head. She grins and walked towards the garden. But sadly the plants started to die slowly. Only a little though. I look at the sky and it's very bright. I wonder what the others are up to in the castle. So I continue to walk toward the entrance for curiosity.

Talia POV
I sit on the stairwell railings, calm, collected. Hearing down below on the main hall to see two girls walk in. The other girl came in about 2 minutes later as the huge doors closed with dust particles dancing towards the ground. A bit on the luggage and their clothing. The elite counsels of this camp was very happy and greeted them as the butlers took their luggage. They are the head hunters of this camp. Respect is granted whenever they are near us. conversation. The walls here pretty much echoes and loud noises are so annoying. I observe them as I eavesdrop into the conversation.

"Welcome Kali and Airlia! We have been waiting for your presence to walk through those doors." One of the counsels say with poise. The other elite councils were standing there, with an intimidating figure. Further into the conversation was boring. I couldn't take another minute sitting and listen to such a irrelevant greeting. No one is strong enough to be here. They are going to embarrass themselves fighting like wusses. As I get off the railing to leave, I hear my name being mentioned in the conversation of the counsels about the rooms.

"Talia, one of our best archers has a bed for a roommate. Sadly we are full, so I hope you two weren't thinking about having a room together." The council said with ease. "Sorry."

"Oh that's fine!" Kali said. Even though she looked at her as if she wanted to punch her arm hard to give me that "I told you so" Face. Airlia shrug her shoulders as a sign of not caring. But Kali looks at the councils and ask, "Who am I rooming with?"

"I was just getting to that miss. You will be roomed with Lethei. She is very... Timid, but I think you guys will get along fine! And Airlia, you will be roomed with Talia."

Talia..? She asked herself. Why I considered this very spontaneous, She looks up to see smoke up the stairs. There I was standing there. She looked quite scared. But I looked at her as if I I was disgusted. My face changed and soon stared at her with a grin on my face. Afterwards, I disappear with smoke left behind. Stuffy clouds dissolved in the air..

Lethei POV

"Gardens of the living souls are perfect in this weather today.." I say to myself, continuing to walk through the flowers of the nutrition that sucks the life out of them. I always wondered why I even love nature when all my presence do is kill them.  I go to the range practice of the big mansion and  see Calix. She is very sweet but dark in the inside when it comes to new people. she's practicing her range while the meet and greet has already started.

"Calix!" I exclaimed. "We have new members of the camp here today."

Calix lowers her bow and observes the range target. She sighs heavily and gets up from the ground.

"Great.. we are dealing with newcomers." She says with a smirk. "This should be interesting!" She laughs with excitement and throws a ball of fire at the target range. It sets on fire but the fire started to go out.
"Let's see how this goes.." she whispered.

I walk along with her, as I smile to myself. Wondering all the possibilities to doubt their abilities. Even better, their existence.

Calix POV
I walk with lethei to the Grand Hall. I assumed that the council was already there giving assigned rooms to them. I just wondered how many people were there. Many of the people that they choose to be a guardian of the empire usually punk out and leave. Many things will become so spontaneous. That it is very visible to the mastered eye. But let's see how this goes. We are near the grand entrance of the building as Lethei walks up before me.

"Hey, Lethei! I'll be there in just a second." I yelled. As soon as I turn my head around I see Talia behind me.

"Ah! Crap. TALIA! Don't do that!" I say startled.

She smirks at me and laughs a bit. "Well Calix.. I know newcomers isn't your thing. And it's not my cup of tea either. She says so  calmly. "So let's go inside."