Adventure Awaits

Chapter Nine: It's a Jungle Out There

The next morning, Lucas and Scarlet had some fruit and water and fed the horses some carrots. Nightshade was feeling a little bit better, but she had to limp in order to walk. So Scarlet decided that she wouldn't ride her until she was fully healed. Lucas and her debated on weather they should wait another day or not, but they eventually decided to go and not risk the wolves returning.

     It took double the amount of time it would've normally taken them that day then if Nightshade would've been at her normal speed. A million thoughts were in Scarlet's head, but she kept walking and couldn't decide on what their next move should be.

     Lucas noticed Scarlet's strange behavior. Her shoulders were drooped, her eyes only looked at where her feet were, and she didn't seem to be fully there. "You okay?" he asked, snapping her out of her gaze. Scarlet looked up at him, her eyes full of guilt and sadness, "I don't know," was all she replied. "It's not your fault, Scarlet." he tried to reassure her. "Yes it is," she looked back at the ground "Something like this has already happened to her, but I keep pushing her. I'm surprised she hasn't kicked me yet."

     Lucas sighed and ran up in front of her, she didn't even flinch. "C'mon, Scarlet! Don't treat me like a stranger. I'm just trying to help you." Scarlet looked at him again, her face full of no expression, "I don't need help," she looked at her horse "Nightshade does." Nightshade neighed, "I'm completely fine, Master." Scarlet shook her head, "No you're not and... you don't have to call me that. We're friends."

      Nightshade suddenly had an ounce of strength that came out of no where. Scarlet glanced at her ring, it was glowing. "I get it, now!" she exclaimed "This pearl has the power of animals, and that means that I can talk to them, heal them, or anything really. So I can heal you!" And that's exactly what she did.

     Nightshade had never felt so good, she had so much energy that they made up all of the lost time and even more than that to where Abu was the one that was tired. Lucas and Scarlet started camp and made sure that it was safe this time by setting up some traps around them.

Scarlet put a piece of wood on the fire and sighed, "Lucas?"

He sat down beside her, "Yeah?"

"I think we should head back."

"What!?" he exclaimed "Why? We're literally a day away! Why turn back now!?"

"Just that..." Scarlet looked over at the horses "I don't want anything else to happen... I don't want anything to happen to you."

Lucas smirked, "Oh, Scarlet nothing's going to happen to us again. The odds of that happening is like one in a million."

"But what if we are that one?" Scarlet asked.

"I don't know," was all he could say "Scarlet you're stronger than this! We can do it! And I know that the horses can too."

"I am not strong." she protested "I-"

     She was interrupted by Lucas who had put his arm around her and kissed her. It caught her off guard, but she didn't complain. "What does that mean?" she asked. But before he could reply she kissed him again.

A.N/ They're almost to New York! That'll be the next chapter and I might even do a double update! :) Bye!