Legend of Jaluga

Chapter 3

Adeline stood in her hut, her home. She wanted to believe she would see it again, but she knew it was foolish. She grabbed her clothes quickly and was about to leave when she caught sight of her mothers necklace and her uncles matching bracelet.

She picked them up and inspected their design. The necklace was golden while the bracelet was silver. They both had a sun with the moon and three stars inside of it. The stars were made out diamonds while the moon was of sapphires.

Tears formed in her eyes as she but the jewelry on and left her hut for the last time. She quickly returned to the group just as they entered the forest. She made her way to the front, offering words of encouragement to those consumed by sadness and grief. She finally joined Cedric's side, up front. Leading the group.

Towards what?

. . . She did not know.

"What took you so long?" Cedric inquired while keeping his eyes straight ahead.

Adeline did not reply. Instead she toyed with the necklace around her neck. He glanced down at her and caught sight of the bracelet.

"Isn't that your uncles?"

"It is."

He said no more. Instead turned his focus back towards the forest, searching for signs of danger.

Hopefully, he thought, we are finally safe.

⤐

"We've been walking for three days! Let us rest!" one of the males screamed from inside the crowd.

"We should let them rest, Adeline. We've walked far enough," Cedric suggested.

She shook her head. "We need to be farther from the village before stopping."

"Adeline." He jerked on her arm causing her to spin around. "We're not saying this is where we should stay. They only want to rest. For a few hours."

She hung her head in shame. 

How could she be so foolish? She was so focused on getting everyone to safe location that she completely forgot about their other needs.

She nodded her head slowly and Cedric gave her a sympathetic smile. He turned towards the crowd and shouted, "We rest for two hours! Then we move out!"

Everyone grumbled different things under their breath as the all sat upon the ground.

"I'm going to search for water," Adeline told no one in particular. Before anyone could stop her, she darted off, hoping she would not find the river for some time.

She walked for a solid thirty minutes before finally giving up. She plopped herself on the ground and just sat there in silence. She closed her eyes and listened. Listened to the peaceful nature around her.

Adeline shot up in alarm. There were voices close to her, but they were not her kind. No. They were talking in a different language.

They were talking in Badurein.

She tried listening to the conversation but, unfortunately, could not understand half of their language. She did catch one sentence though.

"Where do you think the Jaluga went?"

She silently slipped away and waited until she was far enough away before she sprinted back towards the group. Moments later she crashed through the huddled group, startling everyone.

"We have to leave!" She exclaimed breathlessly.

Cedric jogged up to her and inquired, "What did you say?"

"There were..." She pointed behind her as she panted. "We have... if don't... leave now."

"What is she babbling about?"

"Adeline. Take a breathe." She did as instructed and her breathing soon returned to normal. Cedric nodded and continued, "Now, what were you saying?"

"Badure are searching for us. We need to leave now."

The crowd panicked and began running this way and that. Children cried out for their mothers, not understanding why people were running.

"Everyone!" Cedric's voice boomed as loud as he dared. The running stopped. "There is no need to panic." He turned to Adeline. "Where did you see them?"

"They are thirty minutes south of us."

"Then we head north," Blank advised.

Adeline turned towards her and warned, "I don't think we should."

"And why not?" Blank snapped as he rolled his eyes at her.

"Because they came from the east. They won't search that area again." She turned to Cedric and continued, "If we head north, we risk the chance of them finding us again. Keeping east is our safest bet."

He stood there a moment, contemplating her words. Adeline feared he would ignore her words, that he would see her views as childish, but he soon stared, "We continue heading east!"

She let out a sigh of relief as the group gathered their things and continued on its way. Cedric pulled her aside and whispered harshly, "I hope you're right."

"So do I."