Tainted Scars

Chapter Four

The next few days passed with the boys being ordered to help around the ship along with the other men. Leyna worked in the kitchen. The cook, surprised to hear that she didn't know a thing about cooking, began teaching her the basics. She had never taken any interest in the culinary arts. Most of her life consisted of roasting fish over an open fire and buying cheap food and pre-made bread and cheese at the market. So she just stood there, dumbfounded at all the different spices, meats, and vegetables laid out in front of her. Even the pots and pans were a mystery to her.

The cook had just about given up on her when Xander walked into the room.

"So how is lunch coming along?" He asked the cook.

"It's a lost cause. The girl doesn't know a thing about cooking. And to think she had come from such a low caste, that she would've learned about this type of work at a young age. Yet, she barely even knows a thing about cooking," the cook said, his face red with frustration.

Leyna's own face turned red from embarrassment.

"I'm sure she'll learn when given enough time and patience," General Horus said simply.

"With all due respect, General, but you are one to talk when it comes to patience."

The general smiled, exonerating the cook's insult. "Ah," he said, "Which is why I am confident that you are capable of having more patience than I."

General Horus left shortly after, leaving the cook to his own devices.

The cook ushered Leyna out of the room, saying that he would finish up the meal, but that she should know that this was not the end of her cooking lessons.

Leyna did as she was told and was relieved for the break. She found Kaleb soon enough. And told him about the cook. Kaleb listened to her rant, all the while smiling with amusement at her words.

• • • •

A few more days passed before they made it to land. It took about half an hour for everyone to leave the ship with all their belongings. Half an hour of men carrying supplies down the ramp and onto the beach.

Leyna didn't know what to expect, but she was surprised to see no buildings or cleared land in sight. All that stood before her was a forest full of trees.

Though the darkness of the forest seemed to reach out toward her, beckoning for her to come underneath its canopy.

"The camp is almost an eight mile trip. If we go now we'll be there before nightfall. The forest is...easier to walk through when the suns up," Xander said, coming up to stand next to her," I'll go on ahead. You can walk with Kaleb," he gestured behind Leyna before stepping into the forest. The others soon followed The three boys, Carson, Shilo, and Kaleb with Leyna beside him walking between the rest of the crew. Three ahead of them and four flanking them.

The forest itself was alive with birds and other critters. The occasional chirp and buzzing of the woodland creatures were almost soothing to Leyna. It had been a while since she had last been surrounded by trees instead of people. Her father never let her go into the forest near her village unless he was with her. In fact, he didn't let her go anywhere alone. Though he never told her, she knew that it was because he was afraid of losing her like he had lost her mother. She didn't blame him.

2 hours later, Leyna, who wasn't used to walking long distances without a break, was exhausted. Her legs and ankles were aching, but she refused to complain. Another hour passed before she began lagging behind. Kaleb noticed, and slowed down beside her.