The Hope That Lives Within Me

Chapter 8

Luna

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I was dreaming but it felt so real. I really hope it wasn't real. I heard a strange sound then I saw Hope getting up. Her eyes were red and glowing. I tried stopping her but she bit me. That strange sound carried on until I blacked out.
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I woke up and didn't feel Hope by my side. I shot up and looked all around the tent but didn't see her. I didn't even bother to see the hole that was at the side of the tent. I just opened quickly and ran out of the tent.

"Hoooooopppee. Where are you?" I called out. I heard that strange sound again but it was faint. I called Lucas to come out of his tent. Tears were streaming down my face. I kept running my hands through my hair. It's probably messy now but i don't care. Lucas came out without a shirt on but i didn't care. He just looked at me and hugged me. I was breathing hard and fast but the hugging helped a bit.

"Luna, are you okay? What happened?" He said calmingly in my ear.

"I woke up and I didn't find Hope...... next to me where...... she usually is and........ I thought she...... was playing but......... I went outside and couldn't find her... and then...." I was bawling. My tears wouldn't stop streaming down my face. I was on the ground sobbing. I can't lose Hope. She is the only person who makes me feel safer than I've ever been. Lucas kept hugging and we stayed like that for a while.

Once I stopped sobbing, I got up and headed to my tent. I changed into a dark blue, knee length dress with blue combat boots. I packed everything and I packed Hope's stuff as well. Tears still streaming down my face. I went out of the tent and packed it up. I put it on the horse. Lucas was sitting by the pit, eating.

"Luna you want something to eat?" Lucas asked trying to lighten the mood. I shook my head and turned to the horses, stroking them. I hummed the tune Hope usually beeped and I sighed.

"Where are you Hope?" I whispered to myself while a single tear dropped onto my cheek. Lucas finished eating and stood up. He got on the horse and started trotting off. I followed. I was slightly slower than him, my pace did match my mood. She couldn't have up and run like that. I refuse to believe that she could have left like that. Maybe I did something but i don't remember saying anything to her that made her feel bad.

"Luna, I'm sure she will turn up somewhere." Lucas said with a sincere smile. I looked up at him with teary eyes.

"She doesn't know the place like you do heck I dont even know the place myself."

"Hey, hey its okay. We'll find her." He told me hugging my side. I believed him for now.

During the journey, it got colder as we went on. It was as if the seasons were changing quickly as we walked. I was walking along the colourful road. The leaves, orange, brown, yellow and red, making the crunching sound underneath my boots. I looked at the trees, Autumn was my favourite season. I can imagine Hope running around the leaves causing it to rain warm colours.

Then at another section of the forest I saw snow. I thought it was going to spread into the whole autumn forest. But it didn't. I looked at Lucas and he seemed to read my mind.

"We are here. Reflusia. It's the balance. The seasons shift throughout the kingdom. Every 3 months is a new season. Speaking of seasons. You didn't buy any warm clothes. Did I not tell you that we were going to winter?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"Well sorry about that. Anyway I brought you some warm clothes. I figured you were gonna need them." He took a bag off the horse and gave it to me.

"Oh thank you. I'm gonna go change." I went right and he went left, not too deep into the forest though. In the bag I found a night blue dress with golden laces tied around the waist. It was beautiful. Plain yet elegant. I really find it hard to believe that Lucas picked it out. I put on my cloak. When I put it on it, reminded me of Hope's midnight blue scales. I wore the same boots because it was good for snow.