Golden

Chapter Eleven: Night

When we'd started on our long as hell journey again, there were a lot of small little arguments between Castor and Anwyl. The current one was about how Castor kept purposely calling Anwyl "White Puppy" and how Anwyl kept calling Castor "Spoiled Prince". Saros and I walked annoyedly behind them, trying to tune their stupid argument out. Suddenly, Saros sighed giving up.

"Dammit, would you two just get over it already and make sure you're leading Miss Isla and I correctly?! If the two of us end up lost with you in a different place than where we'd wanted to go, then you two will certainly pay the price!"Saros shouted. The two jumped in surprise, stopping the entire group. They turned and gazed at him with similar expressions of astonishment. I sighed.

"He's right...you two arguing is getting annoying,"I told the two with a pointed look. Both of them gaped. Castor pouted and grabbed my hand.

"I'm sorry,"He apologized.

"Me too! I'm sorry too!"Anwyl exclaimed, bouncing to me and grabbing my other hand. I shook them both off and frowned.

"Just lead us please?"I asked. We started off again. Eventually we got on a wagon and let the driver take us further north. I sat beside Castor silently, my cloak swept around my legs that were pulled up to my chest. Saros and Anwyl were having a quiet discussion when the wagon driver interrupted them.

"Ya'll going north?"the driver asked.

"Yes sir,"Saros immediately answered. The driver hummed in response.

"Headed for the execution? Or are you going somewhere else?"The driver asked. I narrowed my eyes. Why does he care? Castor placed his arm around me and squeezed me gently, calming my nerves.

"Execution?"I asked. "Who's being executed?"

"Ah, you must be inter-Kingdom traveling then. A traitor is being executed. Tried to sell Queen Snow White out to her enemies in the Dark Forest, I hear,"the driver spoke. He cracked his whip making the horses go faster. I shivered at the mention of the Dark Forest. I hoped we wouldn't have to travel through it. "Awful thing, really. Anyhow, where are you all headed?"

"Slumber,"Anwyl answered. The driver hummed again.

"Interestin'. Sure hope you folks'll be safe travelin' there. Just up here 'cross that bridge, I gotta drop ya off, I'll be takin' a left turn there, takin' me back east,"The driver informed. He crossed the bridge and we got off, thanking him and watching him as he took off. From there we walked. We made our way into a large forest and Anwyl stopped short, causing Castor, Saros, and I all to bump into him and eachother. I rubbed my face in annoyance.

"What?"I demanded. Anwyl glanced back at me and then forward.

"This is the forest surrounding the castle. We have to go around the castle, and then make our way to Slumber's border. We also have to be careful not to go through the Lost Forest's border, it's hard to distinguish,"Anwyl explained. I sighed. "Tread lightly." We followed him and then Saros started muttering about him being hungry. I kicked a stone as I walked.

"I'm hungry,"Saros whined. I ignored him and kicked the stone in front of me again, following after Anwyl. I noticed a dear a little ways away. "I'm sooooo hungryyyyy." I sighed in annoyance and pulled out an arrow and my bow quickly, aiming and hitting the deer, dropping it. I glanced at Saros dangerously. I'd scared him a bit when I'd pulled out my weapon, so he was staring at me in slight fear.

"Stop whining,"I growled. Castor went and retrieved the deer, dragging it over to me. He was overjoyed.

"We haven't had deer since we left Kalpana!"He beamed. Anwyl started a fire and I sat beside Castor as he started to skin it. He noticed me watching and stopped. "Isla...you don't have to watch." He must've noticed my horror at the scene. I shook my head.