Reaper

Chapter 11

"Morgana," Lauren said, "I think that we should go exploring."

I looked up at her and Claire exclaimed, "Oh, I agree with Lauren! We should go explore. I think it'll be fun."

I hesitated in answering them. One part of me wanted to agree and explore more of the forest that none of the Ravencrofts had shown me yet but another part of me wanted to refuse and convince them to go back to the cottage.

Finally, I answered, "I suppose we could explore for a little while but I'm sure that Mother and Aunt Maria will want us back before long."

My cousins grinned and I stood. Claire excitedly started running to the other side of the clearing with Lauren and I close behind and I hoped that Claire wouldn't accidentally lead us to the pond.

Luckily she turned and started walking down a path that curved and twisted around trees. We walked for a few more minutes before she suddenly stopped, forcing Lauren and I to stop as well.

"Why did you stop?" Lauren asked.

"Look," Claire pointed. My eyes followed where she had pointed to. Two young boys were sword fighting each other with sticks while an older boy watched silently a few feet away. "Who are they?"

Lauren and Claire looked at me and I shook my head. "I have no idea who they are. I've never seen them before."

"I think that we should go introduce ourselves," Claire proclaimed.

"What?" Lauren and I asked in disbelief.

"I think that we should go introduce ourselves to them," Claire repeated. Silence surrounded us for a moment before Lauren spoke.

"Claire, I don't think that's a good idea," she said gently. "We don't know who they are; for all we know, they could be dangerous."

"They don't look dangerous," Claire pointed out.

"We should still be cautious," I said carefully. "People can be very deceiving and there are some very dangerous people that live in this forest."

"Joseph, you have to be faster," the older boy said suddenly, startling us. We looked back down at the three boys and I saw the older boy had gone over to the younger two. "You can't afford to be slow in a fight."

The one he had called Joseph nodded. "Okay, Travis."

Travis looked at the other boy and said, "Marcus, you need to stop hesitating when attacking. Hesitation is the best way to lose." Marcus mumbled something inaudible and I found myself leaning in to hear, though I knew it was pointless. "Speak up, Marcus."

"I said, why do we even bother trying to fight them? They've got powers and we've got swords and knives. It's-it's pointless." Marcus looked up at Travis and I could see that while his voice and words sounded brave and fearless, it was clearly the opposite. Though his face remained calm, his eyes held fear.

Travis's eyes flashed angrily and for a split second, anger flashed across his face as well. As quickly as it came, the anger left his face but remained in his eyes. "Go one more round and then we'll stop." he said calmly.

Joseph and Marcus started to fight once more and Travis stood back, silently watching. "Why does he want them to fight?" Lauren asked, bewildered.

"I have no idea," I responded. I looked from the three boys to my cousins. "I have a feeling that we should leave, though. It doesn't feel safe here."

Lauren nodded. We turned and walked back the way we came. "I wonder who they were," Claire thought out loud. Her bright eyes looked at me. "Are you sure you don't know who they are?"