Theo

Darkened Night

A breeze rustled the tree limbs as Shayla dashed underneath on the darkened pathway, Julia holding on to the reigns as the moon watches from above. The chatter of bats could be heard drifting upon the wind against Julia's face while hoots from owls came from above. Crickets sang their song louder in the awakening night. Shayla kept her ears perked for any signs of other beings coming around. 

Julia looked ahead at the clearing coming up slowing Shayla down as the glow of fire lit the area. The sounds of horses being fed and relaxing tied up to trees nearby filled the air as men laughed by the fires around the tents. Cheers and the smell of cooking meat and vegetables filled Julia's nose as her eyes adjusted to the light from being in the dark for so long. 

Swinging her legs off of Shayla and landing quietly on the padded grass, Julia held her dagger on her belt and walked forward. 

"Julia, be careful," Shayla warned quietly before slipping away so not to bring attention their direction. 

Julia nodded as she skirted the encampment looking for the bigger tent holding her target. Guards were posted throughout the camp, stationed up in the trees and roaming between tents vigilant in case of any intruders. The moon crept up higher watching as Julia danced around each guard towards the other side of the clearing and spotting the giant tent she knew would be there. 

A gruff voice commanded the air as it left the tent demanding where his food was. Julia slowly moved out from the foliage towards the tent aiming to slip under the covers as a guard spots her just barely turning the corner. 

Fuck, Julia turned towards him just before he could yell and sliced his throat in seconds pulling him away from the rest of the area to where she had just been. As lanterns came around the same corner just moments after, the guards catch the glistening red wetness on the ground leaning down. Julia held the man she just killed as his body fully relinquishes its hold on life. 

Lowering the lifeless man to the ground, She watched as more guards come around to check out the blood that had fallen to the ground and looking at its path. Gritting her teeth, the leaves whipped past her as she rushed off to another point of the camp and away from the suspicion of the camp. It wasn't long before she heard the horn blow announcing that they had an intruder after they found the body she disposed of. 

Gripping her dagger she watched as the men immediately spread out into the forest looking for her. Not just on the side of where the body was, but even on the new areas, she didn't expect them to look. Lanterns frequented the camp now illuminating the shadows that used to be around. 

Shayla came by her quietly hearing the commotion farther back in the forest worried that Julia needed her. She nuzzled Julia and watched as the camp became a hive of bees under attack constantly watching now for anything suspicious and questioning anyone who enters the camp. Fury burned through Julia at having to pull back and her stupidity at not paying attention for the guard movements on her targets area. 

The commander of the camp stepped out his voice booming, "Whoever you may be, know we will find you and slice you up for killing one of our own." He stood in the light a great sword hanging on his side while watching the forest line his men moving in and out replacing dying lanterns with new ones as they continued their search. 

Julia kept quiet and moved Shayla back into the forest and away from the light telling her to be careful and hidden. She moved back towards the clearing breaking the barrier of the forest line to look closer at the man she came for. He spotted her and didn't say anything as his men were oblivious to the fact she calmly walked past each one towards the commander employing an assassin technique only known to a select few in the world that she designed herself. It kept her in command of the area she stood in forcing anyone to think she is just like them and belongs.