The Scavenger Hunt

Chapter 1 part 2

Thud. It was all Mango and I heard for a moment. Something dropped on the ground behind her. I looked down below and saw a white bird resting motionless. I got down on my horse and picked it up very carefully. It looked as if it had a golden crown stuck on it's head. "This is an Ethereal Crowned Nightingale. But how - " I was more shocked to see it laying gently on my hands.

"Don't worry, it's not dead." I turned around and saw Kristof standing there but his eyes were fixed on his slingshot.

"You dope! You could've mentioned to me a few minutes ago you were there."

"Well I didn't want to scare away that thing you have in your hands. It's not everyday you get to find something as rare as that standing at the back of a horse." He wasn't paying any attention to me while saying that, he looked more tense and kept looking around.

"You mean to tell me that this was sitting on Mango's butt?"

"I didn't want to put it that way but yes, it was." Kristof finally gave me a nod and the rest was history.

We all headed back to my house. It was just supposed to be me and Mango but Kristof just insisted on coming along. He said that if I was the way I acted a few minutes ago and if it wasn't him, then I would've been in serious trouble,

"I can handle myself you know." I began to say confidently.

"I know you can, but that doesn't change the fact that your already far beyond the city premises and far beyond your own protection. This is already the Fifth Woods."

I was shocked. Frozen in time for a few seconds. The thought that I've already reached the very end of the city doesn't do me any good at all. If the citadel were to find out, I would have been punished, arrested for trying to break free or even worse, death. "I didn't expect myself to go this far. My mind was just messed up and I couldn't clear my head. To think that I'd even put Mango in this situation." I knew that I was turning pale. My hands were beginning to shake.

"Let's just be thankful nothing happened alright?" I didn't feel any less comfortable, but I was glad he said that.

"Hey Kristof, can you do me a favor then? Can we just keep this to ourselves? I don't want Hunter to give me another reason not to trust me."

"Hey, don't worry too much okay? I wouldn't have told Hunter anything even if you hadn't asked me that."

I didn't have a reason to smile after everything that's happened, but I was thankful that Kristof was there. That he made things lighter. Mango was also a big help, I could feel her energy moving through me in some way even if I wasn't riding her, I was walking with her with one hand gripped to her harness, I couldn't just leave Kristof walking by himself while I was on my horse.

I began to notice a cage that he'd slipped out of his backpack. "By the way, what are you going to do with the nightingale you just shot earlier?"

"But didn't you know? The market would pay a fortune for this."

"I never thought that they were that special. I always knew that they were rare but not that much."

"Well, they also pay extra if you catch them alive. The Ancients even say that the sound that these birds make can cure any sickness, maybe even revision from death itself, but they would have to sing a specific song with a specific melody. I would've kept this to myself but I'm not dumb enough to find the secret song. It could be any song or it could be something we haven't even encountered before which makes things just more complicated."

Kristof gave me a friendly grin while I patted Mango. "Amazing what this little bird can do. Oh, and I guess we'll be reaching my house just before nighfall if we keep up this pace."

I could see the silhoutte of our house as we neared it. The willow tree at close quarters of the house looked beautiful as the winds gently caressed it's leaves. Our house wasn't big but it wasn't small either, it was just the right size for Hunter and I to live in. The roof of our house was crawling with vegetation. The grass and vines that covered it tried their best to keep away from the inside of the house by not making it's way through the little cracks on the roof. I guess that was all natural since our house was secluded away from the city and that a little hill was just inches behind us which made it easier to get on the roof. Hunter and I didn't mind everything at all. The smell of freshly rained on grass was good. It felt clean and fresh. We were still in the city premises though, but we were at the farther end next to the woods.

The decision to transfer there had never been my plan, it was my brother's, Hunter, he gave the citadel a sign that he wasn't complying with any of their actions but he didn't want to start a rebellion. He knew that he wouldn't stand a chance against the citadel, if they just hadn't took mom away or everyone for that matter, maybe everything wouldn't turn out the way it is now. The people of Plethora never argue about anything the citadel orders to do, but I know they don't agree one bit. From the moment they led the people out in the city grounds one hundred years ago to announce the newly approved proclamation, to the mere second Hunter and I stood there as they took mom away infront of us. Hunter was at a young age of nine that time while I was five, barely even remembering the way she looked, but instead remembering the smell of the cookies she baked, how they tasted, how they were crunchy on the outside but soft and mushy on the inside.

We were able to make it to my house just before sundown which was good because the sentries would be patrolling the city soon enough. Anyone caught within ten meters away from their house would be brought back to the city for questioning. It wouldn't usually be all bad but they recently tightened up everything ever since the Ancients prophesized the start of an insurgence, the start of a revolt against the citadel. It was something they took very seriously. Whether the prophesies would be true or not, they have done nothing but keep a watchful eye on everyone.

Kristof told me to stay out of trouble next time and I gave him a pleasing nod even though both of us knew that was never possible. "Hibiscus, I think I need to go now. I've led you straight to your house. You should be thankful I've got your back."

I punched his arm, but I think I was the one who got hurt a bit. "Yeah, well self flattery won't get you anywhere but, thanks anyways for making sure I got home safe. Wait, what about the sentries? They'd definitely spot you."

Kristof just turned back and looked away. "C'mon Hibiscus, I know my way around this place like the back of my hand. I was born and raised in the woods. They'd be lucky to find my footprints."

"Mm, well that's true. Fine then, you are dismissed." He gave me a slightly devilish smirk when he turned around then left.