The Abyss: Confusion

Chapter Nine: Fear Not

"Stay safe." Joseph said to me calmly.

" I will." I smiled at him. I looked at Amber about to say goodbye when she jumped at me and hugged me tightly. "Look after Rain." I told her stepping back from the hug, she nodded. "And Louise." I added.

"You can count on me." She said to me.

"I know. That's why I'm leaving you to watch things until I get back. You know how I run things, I can trust you." I told her. She looked at me shocked nodding her head again tears forming in her eyes. I turned about to mount my horse when I heard a small voice.

"You're leaving?" It was Louise. I closed my eyes and let out a breath before turning to look at her.

"I have to. It's for the good of the people." I told her. I hugged her before mounting Xander, my horse. Quinn stepped forward and took her hand as she started sobbing, he whispered into her ear and she tried to stop crying. "I'll be back before you know it." I told her with a small smile. "Amber is going to care for you in my wake but I need you to care for Xander when he returns to camp. Can you do that for me?" I asked her.

She nodded her head, "Oh, I will." She said, " I will." Quinn nodded agreeing with her.

I smiled at them," I'll see you soon then." I announced. I waved to everyone before heading off. I was followed by the group of people on the boat and some guards. We were almost to the boat when I heard a growl and a stream of grey fur before I was knocked off of Xander. I grunted upon impact with the ground and quickly jumped up looking around. Xander was stomping on a grey wolf, I assumed it was the one that knocked me off the horse. I heard someone else cry out in pain and saw the younger man of the group get pulled off of his horse by a brown wolf. Another wolf lurked behind one of the guards. I tossed one of my short swords at the lurking wolf and ran to the other brown wolf. While it was distracted it was easy to slash the beasts throat.

I helped the man up and looked around knowing their was at least a few more. I saw another grey wolf jump from one tree to another a few metres away. I braced for its attack knowing it was coming. I heard a wail of pain and see that one of the guards dispatched another wolf with help from a guy from the boat. I heard the younger man grab one of my longer daggers but I chose to let him keep it. Time seemed to slow down and the wolf ran out I dodged it in time mangling to slice the side of its body. It growled in pain and turned back to me. Before it was able to pounce on me the younger man tossed my dagger into its skull. The dagger sunk in deep and the wolf dropped to the ground.

"Thanks." I said to him walking up to the wolf.

"Likewise." He said before I pulled the dagger out of its skull. I wiped the weapon before putting it away and going for my other sword.

"Here Princess." One of the guards said. It took me a moment to realise he was talking to me and I turned to face him. The guard handed me my sword and I took it thanking him. I sheathed my weapons and called Xander over to me.

"Check the horses." I called out before I checked Xander for wounds. He was fine it seemed the wolves didn't touch the horses but rather went for us instead. We went on our way as if nothing had happened. When we made it to the boat the group collected the weapons that we had left on the ground when we first met them this morning.

I got off Xander taking my things and told him to go back to camp. One of the guards went to reach for his reins but I stopped him. "He knows what to do." I told him. "Go." I commanded Xander and he took off galloping back to camp. I turned to go to the boat but stopped when I heard one of guards say something.

"Kill if you must, but never hate," the guard said. "Man is but grass and hate is blight;" the guard beside him joined in the chant. "The sun will scorch you soon or late, Die wholesome then since you must fight."