The Forest's Secret

Chapter Two: Being Played for a Fool

      As they began making their way down the path the girl couldn't help but notice that not once did the boy stop smiling.

       "Are you having the time of your life back there or what?", she said annoyed at how he wasn't trying to find his lost horse.

       "You could say that", he responded with a smirk.

      In all truth though, he couldn't be happier. He thought of how every other girl he'd ever met avoided him because of his devilish black hair and devious personality. It might also have something to do with his line of work, too, but he thought being a bounty hunter would make him more appealing.

     "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you my name!", he stated, "I'm Levi."

     "Like I care", she mumbled as she walked ever faster. "What's this horse look like anyway?"She added.

      "Uhm...  He's a bay", he responded as if unsure.

      "Okay, whatever, tell me when you see him. I'm only with you so you don't get any ideas", She said with a glance backwards.

      "You don't trust me!", he said acting hurt.

      "Not in the slightest", she whispered under her breath.

      They continued till dusk searching for a nonexistent horse until finally the girl came up with a suggestion.

     "Maybe we should search more tomorrow. The things that live in this forest at night are unforgiving of invaders", she spoke aloud.

     "I'm an invader? Then what are you?", he questioned.

      "Just like them", she said softly.

   

      They continued to the middle of the forest where the girl had set up a small home made of the trees that died of natural causes.

       "Oh, so you can use the trees but others can't? I see how it is." he accused.

        "I live here unlike you", she scoffed.

        She walked through the makeshift but well made door to show Levi where he would be sleeping. What he found was a cot that looked a little less comfortable than he was used to.

      "Uhm, here", he pointed to the cot,"right?"

      "Yeah,  that's where I used to sleep until I got enough resources to build a bed." she exclaimed.

        He started to lie down while she went to the only other room to change.  When he thought about it though she was pretty poor. Her clothing consisted of silk from the native worms named after the product they produce but it was roughly spun silk, obviously the result of poor weavers. Then he thought that she had obviously woven it herself and it was probably her first time.

     He couldn't help but to think of home as he drifted off. Wow, his parents were going to be mad. Sometimes he wished he wasn't royalty. He hated being Prince Levi III, especially since his older brother would be inheriting the throne.

      Soon he drifted off thinking negative things of his brother but he couldn't believe what he woke up to.