Final Flight (EDITING)

Chapter Eight: Aceti

Chapter Eight: Aceti

Leah sat in the woods after Tris had left her. The princess had a lot on her mind from what Seth had said. I would change things between them now that she know this.

'Why would he like me?' Leah thought to herself. 'He's like a brother to me,even if I did like him it would turn out feeling wrong and weird.' She was stopped in her thought.

There was movement back in the woods. A low growl had formed as a large snow leopard leaped from the undergrowth. "Princess Leah" The snow leopard said as he bowed for her. The cloak he was wearing grazed the ground. "The woods is getting cold,food is scarce,there will soon be know where to hide. I must find somewhere new to live through the winter." He said urgently.

"Yes,Aceti,I'm aware of that. Why can't you go back to your village?"

"Because Leah,I was banned for use of magic. I cannot go back,the guards will find me and send me to prison. No questions asked." Aceti started to pace.

He had been in hiding from the start of spring. It had be easy for him to survive. There was plenty of prey and thick undergrowth to hid in. Now,it was autumn. The air was starting to be come cold and almost all prey was gone.

"I know,Aceti,I know. I can't bring you back to the castle,they will recognize you as an outlaw." Leah said hanging her head. "Aceti there might just be a way I can help you." The princess said said standing up. Aceti paused his pacing,sat and listened. "I seem to think that there is an abandoned tunnel under my bedroom. There's a hatch in my closet. No one uses it but me,Seth,Tobias,and Tris. It's our hangout spot." Leah said looking into Aceti's eyes. "And you will be able to hide in there. Come on." Leah started running through the woods with Aceti following her.

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"Leah,are you sure this will work?" Aceti asked sticking his head up the tunnel hatch.

"Yeah." Leah said "As long as you stay quiet."

Leah had brought Aceti through the woods and near the walls of the castle. They managed to evade the guards and entered the castle. Their main problem was Leah's parents. Their room was across the hall from Leah's. Aceti and Leah entered without having to be caught.

"Aceti,I'll bring you food and a mat tomorrow. Okay?" Leah said to the half asleep snow leopard.

"Uh,what? Oh,okay." He mumbled as he drifted of the sleep in the dark,cold tunnel.